Anti-theft electronic tag

Details Anti-theft electronic tag Anti-theft electronic tag

1999-03-03

2001-07-03

Mullen, Thomas (Department: 2736)

Communications: electrical

Condition responsive indicating system

Specific condition

C340S539230, C340S568200, C340S568800

Reexamination Certificate

active

06255958

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to anti-theft devices generally, and particularly to anti-theft electronic tags for attaching to objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to attach to an object an electronic tag that can be monitored, sensed, or interrogated for purposes of preventing theft of the object. Such systems generally rely on the detection of tagged objects when they are removed from a designated area by one or more detectors positioned at various locations bounding the designated area.
Applicant/assignee's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/815,389, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a battery-operated electronic tag that, when tampered with, communicates via a transceiver to a detection system for providing an alarm signal or other indication, and thereby detect the tampering and/or removal of the tag from a tagged object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved multi-purpose tamper-resistant anti-theft tag assembly capable of detecting the removal of an object to which the tag is attached.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an anti-theft tag assembly including an electronic tag, a monitored attachment mechanism which attaches the tag to an object to be protected and which provides an output indication of tampering with the attachment mechanism, a monitored proximity determination mechanism which monitors a proximity of the tag, and thus of the object to be protected, to a given object and which provides an output indication of tampering with the proximity determination mechanism, and a communicator for providing a sensible indication of receipt of at least one of the output indications. Preferably the communicator includes a wireless communicator.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communicator distinguishes between the output indication of tampering with the attachment mechanism and the output indication of tampering with the proximity determination mechanism.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the monitored attachment mechanism includes a sticker which is frangible upon becoming unstuck, thereby providing the output indication of tampering with the attachment mechanism.
Still further the monitored attachment mechanism includes a frangible element, which when broken provides the output indication of tampering with the attachment mechanism.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the monitored proximity determination mechanism includes a transceiver which transmits energy onto a surface of the given object and senses energy received therefrom.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the monitored proximity determination mechanism is operative to sense the proximity of the tag to a particular location on the surface of the given object.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the monitored proximity determination mechanism monitors a unique characteristic of energy reflected from a particular location on the surface of the given object back to the tag.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the communicator includes a wireless communicator which provides a signal indicating tampering to a remote location.


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