[0001] The invention relates to a device for interacting with an electronic article surveillance
system and to a device for use in a system for providing a facility with articles
to which devices have been attached according to the preambles of independent claims
1 and 8, respectively.
[0002] The so-called "electronic article surveillance" involves the use of electronically
detectable tags or labels which are attached to articles of merchandise in order to
protect these articles from unauthorized removal, such as by shoplifting.
[0003] For enhanced security and inventory control, the use of electronic article surveillance
(EAS) systems has become increasingly widespread. These systems utilize tags or labels
which contain an electronic circuit (e.g., a resonant circuit) for interacting with
an applied (e.g., swept radio-frequency) electromagnetic field. A transmitter and
accompanying antenna produce this field, and a nearby receiver and accompanying antenna
detect variations in the received field caused by the presence of a tag. This transmitting
and receiving equipment is positioned at the location or locations where it is desired
to detect the unauthorized removal of tag-bearing articles, e.g., at the exit of a
retail store.
[0004] The tags attached to those articles whose removal is authorized (e.g., because these
articles have been properly checked out) are either physically removed from the articles,
or deactivated, i.e. treated so that they become incapable of producing detectable
variations in the received field. Otherwise, these tags will be detected and an alarm
signal will be produced by the equipment. Commercial EAS systems as generally described
above are available from manufacturers such as Checkpoint Systems, Inc. of Thorofare,
New Jersey, among others.
[0005] An important consideration in the use of such EAS systems is the manner in which
the detectable tags or labels are applied to the articles which are to be protected.
Some retail stores, for example, wish to have tags applied to all the articles in
their inventory, while others wish to have tags applied only to some of these articles,
leaving others untagged. Likewise the selection of the kinds of merchandise to be
tagged may vary from store to store, and from time to time within the same store.
Even within a common "family" of stores, such as the member stores of a chain, these
practices may--and frequently do--vary from one store to another. This variety, coupled
with the absence until now of any practical technique for avoiding local tag application,
has led to the common practice for users of EAS systems to tag articles locally, at
each EAS equipped store.
[0006] However, such "store" tagging is time consuming and labor intensive. Also, store
tagging is often delegated to personnel who may be limited in training or interest.
This can compromise the effectiveness of EAS, which is obviously significantly dependent
upon proper tagging of the articles to be protected.
[0007] In view of all this, theoretical consideration has previously been given to the possibility
of performing the desired tagging of articles at some other point, upstream from the
store itself in the distribution chain, such as at the merchandise manufacturing stage,
or at some intermediate stage of warehousing or distribution. This theoretical possibility
has not found practical realization because of certain formidable obstacles.
[0008] If detectable tags were to be applied to articles of merchandise at their manufacturing
stage, then a given product line would have to be processed in two different varieties,
one tagged and one not tagged. Moreover, this segregation would have to be perpetuated
throughout the subsequent distribution channels. The reason for this is that many--indeed
most--stores do not yet use EAS. These non-EAS using stores would need to be reliably
supplied with non-tagged articles; otherwise EAS tags would leave these stores, still
attached to the articles being sold, and thereby create what is sometimes called "pollution"
of the marketplace with EAS tags. Conversely, stores which do use EAS would have to
be reliably supplied with tagged articles, or their EAS protection would become ineffective.
[0009] If, on the other hand, EAS tags were to be applied at an intermediate distribution
stage, this would require breaking the bulk packaging which is typically used at those
stages, handling the individual articles, and repackaging them in bulk. Furthermore,
subsequent segregation of tagged and not-tagged articles would again be required.
[0010] US-A-4 021 705 discloses a device for interacting with an electronic article surveillance
system wherein said device comprises a resonant circuit responsive to an applied radio-frequency
field, and includes means for interacting with said electronic article surveillance
system in a first mode of operation (fuse 23 destructed, fuse 32 intact) in which
said resonant circuit is configured to resonate at a first frequency (detection frequency)
corresponding to an operative frequency of said electronic article surveillance system,
and in a second mode of operation (fuses 23 and 32 intact) in which said resonant
circuit is configured to resonate at a second frequency (enabling frequency) different
from the operative frequency of said electronic article surveillance system, said
interacting means being capable of interacting with said electronic article surveillance
system for activation thereof, said' interacting means including means for modification
from said second mode of operation to said first mode of operation (application of
energizing field in order to destruct fuse 23), said modification means being operative
at said second frequency (enabling frequency). All embodiments disclosed in US-A-4
021 705 include circuits having simultaneous double resonances.
[0011] The present invention is suitable for a technique for protecting articles by means
of EAS, without having to apply the necessary detectable tags or labels to these articles
at the actual EAS-using stores.
[0012] The present invention is also suitable for a tagging technique which no longer requires
a store to individually tag articles which are to be protected by EAS.
[0013] The present invention is also suitable for a tagging technique which can be performed
without having to break the bulk packaging of the articles to be protected by EAS.
[0014] The present invention is also suitable for a tagging technique which can be performed
without having to break bulk packaging, while still enabling individual stores to
adhere to their individual practices with regard to which articles are to bear EAS
detectable tags.
[0015] The present invention is also suitable for an EAS tagging technique which makes it
unnecessary to create two segregated varieties of the same articles, one tagged and
one not tagged, upstream from the stores in which these articles are to be retailed.
[0016] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide EAS tags or labels which
are particularly suitable for the achievement of the above-stated objects.
[0017] This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a device comprising
the features of the characterizing parts of independent claims 1 and 8, respectively.
[0018] The device according to the present invention is used for tagging the articles in
question, not at the individual EAS equipped stores, as heretofore, but upstream in
the distribution chain, preferably in conjunction with their manufacture. This upstream
tagging is performed by means of tags which, at that stage, are not yet detectable
by the EAS equipment with which they are ultimately destined to function. Furthermore,
these tags remain undetectable through the subsequent distribution channel, until
they reach that stage at which it is inherently determined that all the so-tagged
articles in a given bulk package will be used in an EAS equipped store. This will
typically occur at the merchandise receiving facility of such an individual store.
At that stage, the tags previously attached to the individual articles are rendered
detectable and the articles with the now-detectable tags attached, are then processed
through the store in conventional manner.
[0019] By proceeding in accordance with the above described technique, the time and labor
required for store tagging is eliminated and the reliability of the tagging procedure
greatly enhanced. Moreover, it becomes practical to tag articles in ways which are
less visible to the shopper, thereby further improving the protection provided by
EAS, and also overcoming possible esthetic as well as functional objections to the
use of visible EAS tags.
[0020] For further details, reference is made to the detailed description which is provided
below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0021] Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the present invention form the
subject-matters of the dependent claims.
[0022] Figure 1 is a flow diagram of the treatment technique of a device according to the
present invention.
[0023] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a tag according to the invention which is
useful in implementing the technique diagrammed in Figure 1.
[0024] Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the tag of Figure 2, taken along
the line 3-3 in Figure 2.
[0025] Figure 4 is a diagram of the equivalent circuit of the tag of Figure 2.
[0026] In the several figures, like reference numbers denote similar structure.
[0027] Referring to the flow diagram of Figure 1, block 10 represents the manufacturing
stage of the articles of merchandise which are to be subjected to a technique described
in the following.
[0028] As indicated by block 11, EAS tags are applied to these articles in conjunction with
their manufacture.
[0029] Further these tags are then in a state in which they would not be detectable by the
particular type of EAS equipment with which they are designed to ultimately function.
[0030] Block 13 represents the distribution channel through which these now-tagged articles
then pass on their way to the retail stores.
[0031] Block 14 represents the merchandise receiving facility of one of these retail stores.
[0032] Block 15 represents means, located preferably at store receiving facility 14, for
"activating" the EAS tags attached to the articles which reach receiving facility
14 from distribution channel 13. By "activating" is meant rendering these tags detectable
by the store's EAS equipment.
[0033] Block 16 represents the retail store in which the received articles, now bearing
tags which are detectable, are displayed for retail sale.
[0034] Block 17 represents the means, in store 16, for deactivating those tags which are
attached to articles whose removal from store 16 has become authorized, by virtue
of the fact that these articles have been properly checked out.
[0035] Block 18 represents the EAS detection equipment with which the store 16 is equipped
and the activity of detecting tags which have not been deactivated at checkout.
[0036] In the flow diagram of Figure 1, the manufacturing stage represented by block 10
may be entirely conventional, with the sole exception that EAS tags are applied to
the merchandise at that stage. However, this application can also be carried out by
various, but well known and conventional means. For example, an EAS tag may simply
be adhesively attached either to each article itself, or to the individual package
for that article. Since these EAS tags are typically similar in external configuration
to a thick piece of paper, 25,4 mm or 50,8 mm (an inch or two) square, and coated
on one side with pressure sensitive adhesive, such application may involve nothing
more than simply pressing them against a surface of the article or its individual
packaging. In this regard, the application procedure may be the same as would previously
have been performed at the retail store, itself, except that it can now be performed
more efficiently, and more reliably, by means of the same type of machinery which
is conventionally used in manufacturing to apply other kinds of tags and labels to
articles of merchandise.
[0037] The distribution channel represented by block 13 in Figure 1 may be entirely conventional,
comprising the various transportation means for moving merchandise to retail stores,
the warehouses in which it is stored, etc. While in this channel, the merchandise
is typically contained in bulk packaging, such as cardboard cases, each containing
multiple units of the individual articles. These cases now contain articles to which
not-yet-detectable EAS tags have already been attached.
[0038] Store receiving facility 14 may also be conventional, in that it comprises the customary
unloading location and material handling equipment used by retail stores to receive
their merchandise.
[0039] However, there is also provided at this receiving facility 14 the means 15 for activating
the heretofore not-detectable tags attached to the received merchandise. How this
is done is described later in this specification.
[0040] Thereafter, this received merchandise is treatedinthesame wayasinanyother EAS equipped
store. That is, it is processed through store 16 in conventional manner, e.g. by being
displayed in the merchandise display area and checked out after being selected by
customers for purchase. As part of the checkout operation, the EAS tags are subjected
to deactivation by means 17, or alternatively are detected by EAS detection equipment
18 upon unauthorized removal. All of this may be accomplished in completely conventional
manner by completely conventional means.
[0041] In particular, the conventional EAS equipment 18 used to detect EAS tags which have
not been deactivated by means 17 may be of the so-called swept-frequency RF type.
Briefly, this type of equipment transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal whose frequency
is periodically varied between, say, 7.4 and 9.0 MHz. The EAS tags for use with this
type of equipment comprise an inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit which is resonant within
that transmitted band, e.g. at approximately 8.2 MHz. The presence of the EAS tag
distorts the RF signal and that distortion is detected by a nearby receiver which
then gives an alarm.
[0042] Such swept-frequency RF EAS-detection equipment is disclosed for example, in US-A-3
500 373, US-A-3 810 147 and US-A-3 828 337. As for the deactivating means 17, this
may also operate on a swept-frequency RF basis in the 7.4 to 9.0 MHz range. Such deactivatring
means is disclosed, for example, in US-A-4 498 076 and in US-A-4 567 473.
[0043] Commercial EAS detection equipment, as well as deactivation equipment of this swept-frequency
RF type is available from Checkpoint Systems, Inc. of Thorofare, New Jersey.
[0044] Turning now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, these diagrammatically illustrate a kind of EAST
tag according to the present invention, in conjunction with EAS equipment of the above-mentioned
swept-frequency RF type.
[0045] This tag 20 comprises a dielectric substrate 21, which may be made of polyethylene
and which bears on each side a conductive pattern 22 and 23, respectively, which may
be of aluminum.
[0046] As is particularly clearly visible in Figure 2, the angular spiral portion of pattern
22 defines an inductor 22a, while the square portion in the center defines one plate
of a capacitor 24. The opposite plate of capacitor 24 is defined by the corresponding
square portion of pattern 23 which is shown in phantom by broken lines in Figure 2.
One plate of a second, smaller capacitor 25 is defined by the triangular portion at
the upper right-hand end of the spiral portion of pattern 22. The opposite plate of
this second capacitor 25 is defined by the corresponding triangular portion of pattern
23 shown in phantom by broken lines in Figure 2. Also in pattern 23, a conductive
path 26 (shown in phantom by broken lines in Figure 2) connects the plates of capacitors
24 and 25.
[0047] Referring to Figure 4, the equivalent circuit of the EAS tag 20 shown in Figures
2 and 3 is seen to consist of a resonant circuit defined by inductor 22a and capacitors
24 and 25.
[0048] In accordance with the present invention, the tag 20 is further provided with two
indentations, 26a and 27. Indentation 26a is formed in capacitor 24, while indentation
27 is formed in capacitor 25.
[0049] Given that the EAS equipment 18 in Figure 1, by which tag 20 is to be ultimately
detectable, and the deactivating equipment 17 by which tag 20 is to be ultimately
capable of being deactivated, are both of the swept-frequency RF type previously mentioned,
with transmitted signals varying in frequency between 7.4 and 9.0 MHz, then the values
of inductor 23 and capacitors 24 and 25 are so chosen that tag 20 initially forms
an LC circuit which is resonant at a frequency substantially above the 7.4 to 9.0
MHz range, e.g. at a frequency of approximately 18 MHz. The values of inductor 22a
and capacitor 24 are further so chosen that, if capacitor 25 is shorted out, then
tag 20 forms an LC circuit which is resonant within the 7.4 to 9.0 MHz range, e.g.
at approximately 8.2 MHz.
[0050] The above-mentioned US-A-4 498 076 and US-A-4 567 473 disclose the use of indentations
such as 26a and 27 provided in capacitors 24 and 25 of tag 20 in order to create a
short circuit between the conductive patterns on opposite sides of the dielectric
substrate. In these documents, the shorting out is used to deactivate an EAS tag which
is designed for use in conjunction with swept-frequency RF EAS equipment.
[0051] In the present invention, the indentation 26a in capacitor 24 is provided for the
very same purpose, namely for use in ultimately deactivating tag 20 at state 17 in
Figure 1. However, in the present invention, the indentation 27 in the other capacitor
25 is provided for the exact opposite purpose, namely for use in activating tag 20,
which had previously been not-detectable at the EAS detection stage 18 in Figure 1.
[0052] The electronic equipment which is used at activation stage 15 in Figure 1 in cooperation
with a tag 20 may be the same as illustrated and described in said US-A-4 498 076
and US-A-4 567 473, with two exceptions.
[0053] One exception is that the frequencies at which it operates are in a range which includes
the higher frequency (of approximately 18 MHz) at which tag 20 is initially resonant.
This higher range may be from 16.5 to 19.5 MHz.
[0054] The other exception is that this electronic equipment operates at a substantially
higher power.
[0055] By operating in the higher frequency range, the equipment becomes capable of shorting
out the capacitor 25 via indentation 27. By operating at high enough power, it becomes
capable of shorting out that same capacitor simultaneously in a plurality of tags
20, such as would be present in a bulk package containing multiple units of merchandise
articles to which such tags had been attached at the manufacturing and tag application
stage 10, 11 of Figure 1.
[0056] With their capacitors 25 so shorted out, all the tags 20 in the bulk package at receiving
facility 14 in Figure 1 have now become activated, and have therefore become detectable
at stage 18 in completely conventional manner.
[0057] Moreover, they have now also become deactivatable at stage 17, also in completely
conventional manner.
[0058] Detection at stage 18 would result simply from having such an activated tag 20 present
in the swept-frequency RF field, whose distortion by that tag is then sensed by the
EAS receiver, causing an alarm.
[0059] Deactivation at stage 17 would result from operating as disclosed in said US-A-4
498 076 and US-A-4 567 473, namely by shorting out capacitor 24 via its indentation
26a. With both capacitors 24 and 25 (see Figure 4) so shorted out via respective indentations
26a, 27, the tag 20 again becomes undetectable at stage 18 of Figure 1.
[0060] As previously noted, in order to perform the simultaneous activation of the tags
attached to all the articles in a bulk package of merchandise, it may be necessary
to operate the activating means 15 at higher power than the deactivating means 17,
which is typically used to deactivate only one tag at a time. Such higher power may
exceed the limit imposed by regulatory agencies such as the United States Federal
Communications Commission. If that should be the case, then a simple treatment is
to provide an enclosure which contains the RF fields produced by the activating means
and which is large enough to contain both that means and the EAS tag bearing merchandise,
still in its bulk package. This enclosure may take any of various conventional forms,
such as a metal box. The same treatment, namely enclosure of the activating means
and the bulk package, may also be used if the frequency range within which the activating
signal is transmitted presents a problem in terms of regulatory requirements. That
frequency range is preferably so chosen that it does not include integral multiples
of the frequency range within which the deactivation signal is subsequently transmitted.
That is to forestall the possibility that the activating signal may also cause deactivation
of the now-activated tags due to possible spurious resonances at multiples of the
resonant frequency of the activated tags.
[0061] As previously noted, in order to activate tag 20 by changing its resonant frequency
from its initial value (e.g. approximately 18 MHz) to its second value (e.g. approximately
8.2 MHz), capacitor 25 is shorted out by the application of a sufficiently strong
field at the initial frequency. The total voltage developed by this applied field
will appear across the series combination of that capacitor 25 and capacitor 24 (see
Figure 4). However, this total voltage will be distributed between those capacitors
in inverse proportion to their plate sizes. By making capacitor 25 substantially smaller
than capacitor 24, the voltage across the former will always be substantially larger
than that across the latter. In view of this, and in view of the fact that the indentations
in both may be made substantially similar, capacitor 25 will break down before capacitor
24, as is desired.
[0062] By proceeding in accordance with this technique, it is not necessary to distinguish,
in manufacturing or distribution, between products to be delivered to EAS equipped
stores and others. Rather, all products can be tagged, and the EAS equipped stores
themselves can then activate those which they receive, while other stores need do
nothing at all.
[0063] Moreover, these tags can now be applied to the individual articles of merchandise
in a manner which would not be convenient for store tagging. For example, there would
be no problem, at the manufacturing and tag application stage (10, 11 in Figure 1),
to apply EAS tags on the inside of the "bubble pack" or on the inside of a cardboard
box containing a particular article. This would have the advantage of concealing the
EAS tag, so that a shopper would not even know that this particular article is protected.
[0064] It will be understood that many other variations to use the device according to the
invention are possible, without departing from the inventive concept.
[0065] For example, the use is not limited to articles for sale in retail stores. Other
applications can also benefit, such as book stores, video stores, etc.
[0066] Also, although the preferred application of the above described technique is to situations
in which all the tagged articles in a bulk package are activated simultaneously, it
will be understood that the same technique can be utilized to activate these articles
after they have been subdivided into smaller quantities, or even one at a time. The
other advantages which arise from having applied the tags in conjunction with the
manufacture will then still apply.
[0067] Accordingly, it is desired that the scope of the present invention be defined only
by the appended claims.
1. A device (20) for interacting with an electronic article surveillance system wherein
said device (20) comprises one and only one inductor (22a), the inductor forming a
portion of a resonant circuit, the resonant circuit being responsive to an applied
radio-frequency signal generated by said electronic article surveillance system said
resonant circuit interacting with said electronic article surveillance system in a
first mode of operation for detection of said device (20), in which said resonant
circuit is configured to have a single resonance at a first frequency corresponding
to an operative frequency of said electronic article surveillance system, and in an
initial second mode of operation for activation of said device (20), in which said
resonant circuit is configured to have a single resonance at a second frequency corresponding
to an activation frequency different from the operative frequency of said electronic
article system, said resonant circuit including activating means (27) for modifying
said resonant circuit from being capable of resonating at the second frequency to
being capable of resonating at the first frequency by exposure of said resonant circuit
to the applied radio-frequency signal at the second frequency, and deactivating means
(26) for modifying said resonant circuit from being capable of resonating at either
the first or the second frequency by exposure of said resonant circuit to an applied
radio-frequency signal at the first frequency.
2. The device (20) of claim 1 wherein said resonant circuit is comprised of etched circuit
portions (22, 23) formed on opposing sides of a substrate (21), wherein said activation
means is an indentation (27), formed at a first selected location along one of said
etched portions (22, 23) to define a narrowed space between said etched circuit portions
(22, 23) at said first selected location.
3. The device (20) of claim 2, wherein said first location is selected to comprise a
series resonant circuit operative at said first frequency following exposure of said
device (20) to an applied radio-frequency field at said second frequency.
4. The device (20) of claim 1, wherein said deactivation means is an indentation (26a)
formed at a second selected location along one of said etched circuit portions (22,
23) to define a narrowed space between said etched portions (22, 23) at said selected
location.
5. The device (20) of claim 4, wherein said second location is selected to develop a
short circuit in said series resonant circuit following exposure of said device (20)
to an applied radio-frequency field at said first frequency.
6. The device (20) of claim 5, wherein said device (20) is configured so that the indentation
(26a, 27) provided at said first location will operate to complete said series resonant
circuit before the indentation (26a, 27) provided at said second location will operate
to develop a short circuit in said series resonant circuit upon exposing said device
(20) to an applied radio-frequency field at said second frequency.
7. The device (20) of claim 4, wherein said series resonant circuit includes two capacitor
elements (24, 25), a first of which defines said first location for an indentation
(26a, 27) and a second of which defines said second location for an indentation (26a,
27), and wherein the first of said capacitor elements (27) is comprised of plate portions
which are smaller than plate portions comprising the second of said capacitor elements
(24).
8. A device (20) for use in a system for providing a facility (16) with articles to which
said device (20) has been attached, said device (20) being capable of being detected
by an electronic article surveillance system, said system for providing a facility
with articles comprising:
means for attaching to said articles, before they reach said facility, said device
(20) which is not capable of being detected by said electronic article surveillance
system at the time it is attached, but which is capable of being activated to become
capable of being so detected;
means (13) for supplying said articles to said facility (16);
means (15) operative at a second frequency for activating said device (20) upon receipt
at said facility (16); and said electronic article surveillance system comprising:
means (18) operative at a first frequency for detecting said device (20); and
means (17) operative at a first frequency for deactivating said device (20), wherein
said device (20) comprises a single tuned resonant circuit having two capacitors (24,
25) and one and only one inductor (22a) said single tuned resonant circuit being resonant
at said second frequency as supplied to said facility, and activating means (27) for
selectively disabling one of said capacitors (24, 25) whereby said circuit becomes
resonant at said first frequency.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein said capacitors (24, 25) are of different sizes and
said disabling means comprises an indentation (26a, 27) in one of said capacitors
(24, 25).
10. The device of claim 9, wherein there is also an indentation (26a, 27) in the other
one of said capacitors (24, 25).
1. Vorrichtung (20) zum Zusammenwirken mit einem elektronischen Warenüberwachungssystem,
wobei die Vorrichtung (20) eine und nur eine Drosselspule (22a) aulweist, die einen
Teil eines Schwingkreises bildet, wobei der Schwingkreis auf ein angelegtes Hochfrequenzsignal
anspricht, das durch das elektronische Warenüberwachungssystem erzeugt wird, wobei
der Schwingkreis mit dem elektronischen Warenüberwachungssystem in einer ersten Betriebsart
zum Erfassen der Vorrichtung (20) zusammenwirkt, in welcher der Schwingkreis so konfiguriert
ist, daß er eine einzelne Resonanz bei einer ersten Frequenz hat, die einer Betriebsfrequenz
des elektronischen Warenüberwachungssystems entspricht, und in einer anfänglichen
zweiten Betriebsart zum Aktivieren der Vorrichtung 20, in welcher der Schwingkreis
so konfiguriert ist, daß er eine einzelne Resonanz bei einer zweiten Frequenz hat,
die einer Aktivierungsfrequenz entspricht, welche von der Betriebsfrequenz des elektronischen
Warenüberwachungssystems verschieden ist, wobei der Schwingkreis eine Aktivierungseinrichtung
27 aufweist zum Modifizieren des Schwingkreises so, daß er nicht mehr in der Lage
ist, bei der zweiten Frequenz in Resonanz zu schwingen, sondern in der Lage ist, bei
der ersten Frequenz in Resonanz zu schwingen, indem der Schwingkreis mit dem Hochfrequenzsignat
bei der zweiten Frequenz beaufschlagt wird, und eine Deaktiviereinrichtung (26) zum
Modifizieren des Schwingkreises derart, daß er weder bei der ersten noch bei der zweiten
Frequenz in Resonanz schwingen kann, indem der Schwingkreis mit einem angelegten Hochfrequenzsignal
mit der ersten Frequenz beaufschlagt wird.
2. Vorrichtung 20 nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Schwingkreis aus geätzten Schaltungsteilen
(22, 23) besteht, die auf entgegengesetzten Seiten eines Substrats (21) gebildet sind,
wobei die Aktiviereinrichtung eine Vertiefung (27) ist, die an einer ersten ausgewählten
Stelle längs einem der geätzten Teile (22, 23) gebildet ist, um einen schmalen Raum
zwischen den geätzten Schaltungsteilen (22, 23) an der ersten ausgewählten Stelle
zu definieren.
3. Vorrichtung 20 nach Anspruch 2, wobei die erste Stelle so ausgewählt wird, daß sie
einen Serienschwingkreis umfaßt, der bei der ersten Frequenz operativ ist, nachdem
die Vorrichtung (20) mit einem aufgebauten Hochfrequenzfeld mit der zweiten Frequenz
beaufschlagt worden ist.
4. Vorrichtung 20 nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Deaktiviereinrichtung eine Vertiefung (26a)
an einer zweiten ausgewählten Stelle längs eines der geätzten Schaltungsteile (22,
23) ist, die einen verschmälerten Raum zwischen den geätzten Teilen (22, 23) an der
ausgewählten Stelle bildet.
5. Vorrichtung 20 nach Anspruch 4, wobei die zweite Stelle so ausgewählt wird, daß in
dem Reihenschwingkreis ein Kurzschluß vorhanden ist, nachdem die Vorrichtung 20 mit
einem aufgebauten Hochfrequenzfeld mit der ersten Frequenz beaufschlagt worden ist.
6. Vorrichtung 20 nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Vorrichtung 20 so konfiguriert ist, daß
die Vertiefung (26a, 27), die an der ersten Stelle vorgesehen ist, bewirken wird,
daß der Reihenschwingkreis geschlossen wird, bevor die Vertiefung (26a, 27), die an
der zweiten Stelle vorgesehen ist, wirksam wird, um einen Kurzschluß in dem Reihenschwingkreis
bei Beaufschlagung der Vorrichtung 20 mit einem aufgebauten Hochfrequenzfeld mit der
zweiten Frequenz zu bilden.
7. Vorrichtung 20 nach Anspruch 4, wobei der Reihenschwingkreis zwei Kondensatorelemente
24, 25 aufweist, von denen ein erster die erste Stelle für eine Vertiefung (26a, 27)
definiert und von denen ein zweiter die zweite Stelle für eine Vertiefung (26a, 27)
definiert und wobei das erste und das zweite Kondensatorelement (27) aus Belagteilen
besteht, die als die Belagteile, welche das zweite der Kondensatorelemente (24) umfaßt.
8. Vorrichtung 20 zur Verwendung in einem System zum Versorgen eines Geschäfts (16) mit
Waren, an denen die Vorrichtung 20 befestigt worden ist, wobei die Vorrichtung 20
in der Lage ist, durch ein elektronisches Warenüberwachungssystem erfaßt zu werden,
wobei das System zum Versorgen eines Geschäfts mit Waren umfaßt: eine Einrichtung
zum Befestigen an den Waren, bevor diese das Geschäft erreichen, der Vorrichtung 20,
die zu der Zeit, zu der sie befestigt wird, nicht durch das elektronische Warenüberwachungssystem
erfaßbar ist, die aber aktivierbar ist, um so erfaßbar zu werden;
eine Einrichtung (13) zum Liefern der Waren zu dem Geschäft (16);
eine Einrichtung (15, die bei der zweiten Frequenz wirksam ist, um die Vorrichtung
(20) nach Empfang in dem Geschäft (16) zu aktivieren; und
wobei das elektronische Warenüberwachungssystem umfaßt:
eine Einrichtung (18), die bei der ersten Frequenz wirksam ist, um die Vorrichtung
(20) zu erfaßen; und
eine Einrichtung (17), die bei der ersten Frequenz wirksam ist, um die Vorrichtung
(20) zu deaktivieren, wobei die Vorrichtung (20) einen einzelnen abgestimmten Schwingkreis
umfaßt, der zwei Kondensatoren (24, 25) und nur eine Drosselspule (22a) aufweist,
wobei der einzelne abgestimmte Schwingkreis bei der zweiten Frequenz in Resonanz schwingt,
so wie er zu dem Geschäft geliefert worden ist und eine Aktiviereinrichtung (27) zum
wahlweisen Unwirksammachen von einem der Kondensatoren (24, 25), wodurch die Schaltung
in die Lage versetzt wird, bei der ersten Frequenz in Resonanz zu schwingen.
9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Kondensatoren (24, 25) unterschiedliche Größen
haben und wobei die Inaktiviereinrichtung eine Vertiefung (26a, 27) in einem der Kondensatoren
(24, 25) umfaßt.
10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, wobei es auch eine Vertiefung (26a, 27) in dem anderen
der Kondensatoren (24, 25) gibt.
1. Dispositif (20) destiné à entrer en interaction avec un système électronique de surveillance
d'objets, dans lequel ledit dispositif (20) comprend une et une seule inductance (22a),
l'inductance constituant une partie d'un circuit résonant, le circuit résonant étant
sensible à l'application d'un signal radiofréquence généré par ledit système électronique
de surveillance d'objets, ledit circuit résonant entrant en interaction avec ledit
système électronique de surveillance d'objet selon un premier mode de fonctionnement
destiné à la détection dudit dispositif (20), dans lequel ledit circuit résonant possède
une configuration telle qu'il a une résonance unique à une première fréquence correspondant
à une fréquence de fonctionnement dudit système électronique de surveillance d'objets,
et dans lequel, selon un deuxième mode initial de fonctionnement destiné à l'activation
dudit dispositif (20), ledit circuit résonant possède une configuration telle qu'il
a une résonance unique à une deuxième fréquence correspondant à une fréquence d'activation
différente de la fréquence de fonctionnement dudit système électronique de surveillance
d'objets, ledit circuit résonant comprenant un moyen d'activation (28) destiné à modifier
ledit circuit résonant pour le faire passer de la capacité à résonner à la deuxième
fréquence à la capacité à résonner à la première fréquence par exposition dudit circuit
résonant à l'application du signal radiofréquence à la deuxième fréquence, et un moyen
de désactivation (26) destiné à modifier ledit circuit résonant pour lui retirer la
capacité à résonner soit à la première fréquence, soit à la deuxième fréquence, par
exposition dudit circuit résonant à l'application du signal radiofréquence à la première
fréquence.
2. Dispositif (20) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit circuit résonant est composé
de parties de circuit gravées (22, 23) constituées sur les côtés opposés d'un substrat
(21), dans lequel ledit moyen d'activation est une entaille (27), formée en un premier
emplacement choisi le long de l'une desdites parties gravées (22, 23) afin de définir
un espace plus étroit entre lesdites parties gravées (22, 23) audit premier emplacement
choisi.
3. Dispositif (20) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ledit premier emplacement est
choisi de manière à comprendre un circuit résonant série fonctionnant à ladite première
fréquence à la suite de l'exposition dudit dispositif (20) à un champ radiofréquence
appliqué à ladite deuxième fréquence.
4. Dispositif (20) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit moyen de désactivation
est une entaille (26a) formée en un deuxième emplacement choisi le long de l'une desdites
parties de circuit gravées (22, 23) afin de définir un espace plus étroit entre lesdites
parties gravées (22, 23) audit emplacement choisi.
5. Dispositif (20) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ledit deuxième emplacement est
choisi de manière à développer un court-circuit dans ledit circuit résonant série
à la suite de l'exposition dudit dispositif (20) à un champ radiofréquence appliqué
à ladite première fréquence.
6. Dispositif (20) selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit dispositif (20) possède
une configuration telle que l'entaille (26a, 27) prévue dans ledit premier emplacement
fonctionne pour compléter ledit circuit résonant série avant que l'entaille (26a,
27) prévue dans ledit deuxième emplacement ne fonctionne pour développer un court-circuit
dans ledit circuit résonant série à l'exposition dudit dispositif (20) à un champ
radiofréquence appliqué à ladite deuxième fréquence.
7. Dispositif (20) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ledit circuit résonant série
comprend deux éléments de condensateurs (24, 26), le premier d'entre eux définissant
ledit premier emplacement pour une entaille (26a, 27) et le deuxième d'entre eux définissant
ledit deuxième emplacement pour une entaille (26a, 27), et dans lequel le premier
desdits éléments de condensateur (26) est composé de parties de plaques qui sont plus
petites que les parties de plaques composant le deuxième desdits éléments de condensateur
(24).
8. Dispositif (20) prévu pour l'emploi dans un système destiné à fournir une installation
(16) munie d'objets auxquels ledit dispositif (20) a été fixé, ledit dispositif (20)
étant capable d'être détecté par un système électronique de surveillance d'objets,
ledit système étant destiné à fournir une installation (16) munie d'objets comprenant
:
un moyen de fixation aux dits articles, avant qu'ils n'atteignent ladite installation,
ledit dispositif (20) n'étant pas capable d'être détecté par ledit système électronique
de surveillance d'objets à l'instant auquel il est fixé, mais étant capable de se
voir activé afin de devenir capable d'être détecté ;
un moyen (13) destiné à fournir lesdits articles à ladite installation (13) ;
un moyen (15) fonctionnant à une deuxième fréquence, destiné à activer ledit dispositif
(20) lors de sa réception à ladite installation (16) ; et ledit système électronique
de surveillance d'objet comprenant :
un moyen (18) fonctionnant à une première fréquence, destiné à détecter ledit dispositif
(20) ; et
un moyen (17) fonctionnant à une première fréquence, destiné à désactiver ledit dispositif
(20), dans lequel ledit dispositif (20) comprend un circuit résonant à accord unique
comportant deux condensateurs (24, 25) et une et seulement une inductance (22a), ledit
circuit résonant à accord unique étant résonant à ladite deuxième fréquence quand
il est fourni à ladite installation, et un moyen (27) d'activation destiné à mettre
hors service sélectivement l'un desdits condensateurs (24, 25), à la suite de quoi
ledit circuit devient résonant à ladite première fréquence.
9. Dispositif selon la revendication 8, dans lequel lesdits condensateurs (24, 25) sont
de tailles différentes et dans lequel ledit moyen de mise hors service comprend une
entaille (26a, 27) dans l'un desdits condensateurs (24, 25).
10. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel il y a aussi une entaille (26a, 27)
dans l'autre desdits condensateurs (24, 25).