The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 1976
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1975
Edwin C Purinton, Oreland, PA (US);
Carl S Holzinger, Coopersbury, PA (US);
Robert Auger, Lansdale, PA (US);
The Magnavox Company, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for detecting the presence, in an inspection area, of a marker tag having preselected properties. Transfer of articles from a protected area can be monitored by coupling a marker tag with each article and by including an inspection area in all transfer paths. In a theft detection system, the coupled marker tag can be removed or made inoperative in some manner for authorized withdrawal of an article from the protected area. The marker tag is comprised of a small, thin strip of magnetic material. A time-varying magnetic field is provided for interacting with a marker tag located in the inspection area. The magnetic field, which includes components having frequencies f.sub.1 and f.sub.2, has a time-dependent spatial orientation which permits interaction with a marker tag having an arbitrary orientation in the inspection area. The magnetic field components of frequency f.sub.2 produce changes in the magnetic properties of the marker tag, resulting in the generation of a signal having components of frequencies f.sub.1 .+-.2f.sub.2. When the magnitude and phase of the signal having the component f.sub.1 + 2f.sub.2 falls within a range of values of magnitude and phase peculiar to the marker tag, an alarm is activated by signal detection apparatus. The restricted nature of the signals producing an alarm effectively distinguishes a marker tag from signals produced by other objects in the inspection area.