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:
Apr. 11, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1993
Fred W Herman, Tampa, FL (US);
Lincoln H Charlot, Jr, St. Petersburg, FL (US);
Ming R Lian, Clearwater, FL (US);
Douglas A Drew, Tampa, FL (US);
Security Tag Systems, Inc., Deerfield Beach, FL (US);
Abstract
An EAS presence detection system includes a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic radiation signal of a first predetermined frequency into a surveillance zone; a tag for attachment to an article to be detected within the surveillance zone, the tag containing a transponder including a material that, when in the presence of a magnetic bias field within a predetermined magnetic field intensity range, responds to detection of electromagnetic radiation of the said first predetermined frequency by transmitting electromagnetic radiation of a second predetermined frequency that is either a multiple harmonic or a frequency-divided quotient of the first predetermined frequency or at the first frequency; a detection system disposed for detecting radiation of the second predetermined frequency within the surveillance zone; and a magnetic field source for providing a magnetic bias field within the predetermined magnetic field intensity range within the surveillance zone. The magnetic field source includes a coil disposed in or adjacent the surveillance zone and an adjustable current source for causing a current to flow through the coil to provide a magnetic bias field within the surveillance zone. The coil is a large aperture solenoid coil wound on a core of metallic material of high permeability and high magnetic saturation. The core may be shielded from the electromagnetic radiation field of the first predetermined frequency by a non-ferrous electrically conductive tube disposed around the coil. The amplitude of the current is adjusted to provide a magnetic bias field within said predetermined magnetic field intensity range within the surveillance zone. The amplitude of the current is varied to sweep the intensity of the magnetic bias field through such a range of magnetic field intensities as to cause the magnetic bias field within each portion of the surveillance zone to be within said predetermined magnetic field intensity range during at least a portion of said sweep. A control system is coupled to the detection system and the adjusting means to determine whether detection by the detection means of electromagnetic radiation at the second predetermined frequency is due to the movement of a tag through the surveillance system or is due to the presence of a stationary tag in or near the surveillance zone.