WO1984002789A1

WO1984002789A1 - Anti-shoplifting system

Info

Publication number: WO1984002789A1
Application number: PCT/US1983/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Scarr; Edward R Fearon
Original assignee: Shin Myong
Priority date: 1983-01-03
Filing date: 1983-01-03
Publication date: 1984-07-19
Also published as: FI843445A; FI843445A0; DK420084A; NO843503L; DK420084D0; EP0130973A1; AU1152083A

Abstract

An object tagged with a label (8) is detected on passing through a surveillance zone (6). Driving transmitting coils (48) in housings (2, 4) on either side of the zone (6) with an a.c. power source so they are repetitively in and out of phase with one another, produces an electromagnetic interrogation field having three separate and distinct vector components. This produces a magnetic field having flux lines with one component during the in-phase mode and two vector components during the out-of-phase mode. The label (8) interacts with the magnetic field to produce signals received by coils (36) in the housings (2, 4). Electronic circuitry (10) processes received signals to distinguish label signals from spurious signals with great accuracy. The label (8) can be deactivated to pass through the surveillance zone (6) with no alarm.

Description

ANTI-SEOPIJITING SYSTEM Field of TnVen ion

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for surveiling articles and in particular to improvement in a method and apparatus for detecting or preventing the theft of articles of value and more particularly it concerns the method and apparatus capable of distinguishing labels from other objects within an oscillitory electromagnetic field.

Background to Invention

There are in existence several systems for detecting or preventing the theft of articles of value. One of these corresponds to U. S. Patent No. 3,292,080 granted to E. M. Trikilis on December 13, 1966 which makes use of a magneto¬ meter and utilizes a magnetized object which identifies the article unless check-out procedure has removed the magnetism from the object.

Another system involves radioactive material which emits nuclear radiation. When the label containing the magnetic material is removed from the merchandise, the radiation is no longer emitted, and therefore radiation detectors situated in the doorway are not energized. On the other hand, if the radiation emitters remain on the merchan¬ dise, doorway sensors of nuclear radiation react, and security personnel are in a position to prevent the theft. However, there are severe health problems with this system involving danger to people from the nuclear radiation.

A further system involves the use of a radio frequency generating device imbedded in a rubber pad. The radio frequency emitting device is fastened to articles and if not removed will energize radio frequency detecting atenna at the doorway. In the normal course of events, when the mer¬ chandise is sold, a special fastener is unlocked and the radio frequency emitter is removed from the clothing at the time it is sold, permitting the buyer to pass through the doorway without attracting the attention of the store detectives. However, this system is extremely costly and is therefore undesirable.

OMPI The following United States patents, illustrate a number of alternative proposals which ^"will serve as back¬ ground to the invention described and illustrated herein namely:

U.S.P. No. 3,631,442 U.S.P. No- 3,747,086 U.S.P. NO. 3,754,226 U.S.P. NO. 3,790,945 U.S.P. No. 3,820,103

Objects of the Invention

The principal object of this invention relates to providing an improved method and apparatus in detecting or preventing the theft of articles of value.

Another very important object of this invention is to provide electrical circuitry which has inherently high resolution characteristics so as to distinguish between marker signals from those of other signals such as pop cans or key chains.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for generating an oscillating magnetic field in three vectors.

Still another very important object of this invention is to provide apparatus for generating an oscillating mag¬ netic field within a surveilance zone whereby said oscillating magnetic field has three vector components so as to eliminate blind spots to the passage of a label through said surveil¬ ance zone.

Features of Invention

It is a feature of this invention to provide apparatus for detecting the passage of an object through a surveilance zone comprising of a transmitting coil for generating an oscillitory electromagnetic interrogation field within the surveilance zone, a label secured to an object, whereby said label is adapted to cut or link up with, the electromagnetic field during its traversal through, the electromagnetic interrogation field regardless of the label's spacial

OMPI orientation, and thereby generating signals, captured by a receiving coil including electronic circuitry adapted to set off an alarm.

More particularly, the electronic circuitry is adap¬ ted to minimise distortion of the generated signal by the label. The electronic circuitry is also adapted so as to differentiate label signals from other signals such as pop cans generating lower harmonics. Foreign objects such as tin cans or chairs emit harmonics up to and including 50th harmonic when in a strong enough magnetic field.

More particularly, the label utilized has a maximum permeability of 100,000 and a coercive force of .05 oersteds.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide for a field generating system which shall generate suffi¬ cient lines of flux to switch a label in any one of three vectors.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide for a broad band passive fundamental filter and signal amplifier system receiver antenna which while having a sig¬ nal gain of ten substantially nulls the fundamental frequency of the generated oscillating magnetic field and is DQ'd sufficiently such that it does very little-or no wave shaping to the signal generated by the label.

More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide for electronic circuitry capable of processing the signal such that it is not distorted or wave shaped and the signal retains its inherent characteristics.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide coherent filtering of said signal generated by the label from other signals.

Yet another feature of this invention resides in providing transmitting coils capable of being driven in and out of phase with respect to one another so as to generate oscillating magnetic lines of flux having one vector in the in phase mode and two vectors in the out of phase mode. The label is adapted to cut or link up with one or more of the vectors. It is another important feature of this invention that the phase of the receiving coils match that of the transmitting coil so as to maximize the capture ^"of signals generated by a label in response to th in and out phase generation of oscillating magnetic field produced by the transmitting coils.

Still another important feature of this invention resides in providing for transmitting coils having a parallelogram configuration inclined 25° to the horizontal capable of generating magnetic lines of flux equivalent to a parallelogram twice its size.

More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide electronic circuitry capable of time domain blanking and signal recognition. The signal may be recog¬ nized by utilizing pulse width detection or correlation.

It is a further feature of this invention to provide for a method for detecting the presence of an object when the object is in an interrogation zone having an oscillatory electromagnetic field. More particularly, the method com¬ prises of securing to the object a label capable of generating signals when placed in the surveilance zone, whereby the signals are captured by receiving coils including electronic circuitry adapted to set off an alarm.

More particularly, the method includes labels capable of generating signals of low harmonics such that when the label is excited by an oscillating electromagnetic field having a fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz the upper¬ most detectable signal generated by the label will be approximately the 160th harmonic or 2 M hertz.

These and other objects and features will become apparent in the following description to be read in conjunc¬ tion with the sheets of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the anti-shoplifting system illustrating coil housing units, electronic circuitry device, and alarm. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the label illustrating its internal magnetic materials.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the deactivating system.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of one of the coil housing units which includes a partially broken view to illustrate its internal components.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the coil housing unit taken along the lines 5-5 in figure 4 revealing the transmitting coil and receiving coil.

Figure 6 is a diagram to assist in the explanation of the operation of the aiding and opposition mode.

Figure 7a is a schematic illustration of the inter¬ connection of the transmitting coil in the constant mode.

Figure 7b is a schematic illustration of the interconnection of the transmitting coil in the alternating mode.

Figure 8a is a graphic illustration of the alterna¬ ting current along corresponding points of the transmitting coil when driven in phase.

Figure 8b is a graphic illustration of the alterna¬ ting current along corresponding points of the transmitting coil when driven out of mode.

Figure 9 is a diagram to assist in the explanation of generated vectors.

Figure 10 is a further diagram to assist in the explanation of generated vectors.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatical view of the receiving coils mounted within the coil housing units.

Figure 12 is a graphic illustration of the funda¬ mental frequency.

Figure 13 is a graphic illustration of the funda¬ mental frequency including the fundamental frequency of the signal generated by the label.

Figure 14 is a block diagram illustrating the various components in the electronic circuitry device. Figure 15 is a schematic illustration of the impedance matching and gain stage.

Figure 16 is a schematic illustration of the summing stage.

Figure 17 is a schematic illustration of the high- pass filter.

Figure 18 is a schematic illustration of the low- pass filter.

Figure 19 is a schematic illustration of the auto¬ matic gain control stage.

Figure 19a is a schematic illustration of the auto¬ matic gain control stage as in the preferred embodiment.

Figure 20 is a schematic illustration of the timer card and time domain blanking stage.

Figure 20a is a schematic illustration of the timer card and time domain blanking stage used in the preferred embodiment.

Figure 21 is a schematic illustration of the pulse width detection of the preferred embodiment.

Figure 22 is a diagram to assist in the explanation of the pulse width detection system of figure 21.

Figure 23 is a diagrammatical view of the alternate method- of recognizing the signal by correlation.

Figure 24 is a diagrammatical view to assist in the explanation of correlation.

Detailed Description of Invention

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the improved system for detection of marked or tagged objects within a magnetic field has been adapted to comprise an improved anti-shoplifting device generally depicted in figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 1 includes two coil housing units 2 and 4 which are a surveilance zone 6 intermediate said spaced coil housing units 2 and 4. The two coil housing units 2 and 4 are adapted to generate an oscillatory electromagnetic

5 3Rl4

OMPI l^ WT O SN lό interrogation field within said surveilance. zone 6 in a manner to be described herein.

A marker element, tag or label generally illustrated as number 8 in figure 2 is attached to each object or article (not shown) to be surveyed by the system described herein. When there has been an unauthorized passage of the label 8 through the surveilance zone 6 (as in the case of shop¬ lifting) the label 8 will cut or link a sufficient number of generated lines of flux thereby generating a signal to be received by the coil housing units 2 and 4. The signal is communicated to an electrical detection circuitry 10 by means of electrical conductors 12 and 14, which will activate the alarm 14.

When the shopper has paid for the article or object the label 8 is inserted into the deactivating device 46 illustrated in figure 3. The deactivating device 46 will deactivate the label 8 so that when the label 8 is passed through the surveilance zone 6 there are no signals generated by the label 8; this avoids any false alarm of shoplifting through alarm 44.

The coil housing units 2 and 4 are each more parti¬ cularly described in figures 4 and 5. Each coil housing unit 2 or 4 is so constructed and driven repetitively alternatively in phase (or aiding mode) and out of phase (or opposition mode) such that a label 8 will cut or line a sufficient number of lines of magnetic flux generated by the two magnetic field producing coil housing units 2 and 4 at some point doing its traversal through the interrogation zone 6 regardless of its angle with respect to the magnetic filed producing coil units 2 and 4.

In the preferred embodiment the coil housing units 2 and 4 respectively include a transmitting coil 48 having four turns as illustrated in figures 4 and 5. Each of the turns of transmitting coil 48 are insulated from each other by insulating material 40.. The transmitting coil 48 is wound in a parallelogram configuration as illustrated in figure 4. The slope of the two longest inclined members 22 and 24 respectively are approximately 25^β from the horizontal plane. The other two shorter members 26 and 28 respectively ar-e in the vertical position. The length of the^'inclined members 22 and 24 and the length, of the vertical members 26 and 28 are 46' and 19" respectively.

The transmitting coil 48 is disposed in such a manner that the vertical member 26 at the point of entry extends from 10" to 29" above the floor and the vertical member 28 at the point of exit extends from 29" to 18" above the same floor. The field generated from the transmitting coil 48 so disposed will in the case of the vertical members 26 and 28 respectively have the same effect as a longer single conductor whose length is from 10" to 48" continuous and shall produce lines of flux generally in the horizontal plane.

The vertical member 28 has been designed to commence at a point 29" above the ground, which is the same height that vertical member 26 extends to, so as to avoid designing a system having a gap in the horizontal magnetic lines of flux generated by the vertical members 26 and 28 r spectively. Accordingly, the horizontal magnetic lines of flux generated by the two vertical short vertical members 26 and 28 will have the same effect as a continuous longer conductor whose length extends from 10" to 48" above the floor.

Inclined member 22 commences at a height of 29" above the floor, and terminates at a height of 48" and is 46" long; inclined member 24 commences at a height of 10" above the floor and terminates at a height of 29" above the floor and is also 46" long.. The slope of both long members 22 and 24 is approximately 25° from the horizontal; and the lines of flux generated by the long members 22 and 24 respectively are generally 25° from the vertical. Since said lines of flux are generated 25° from vertical from conductors that begin at 1Q" and terminate at 29" in height above the floor, an equivalent single conductor whose lines of flux were 25° from the vertical would have a length of 92" main¬ taining the same slope. As disclosed in figure 6, one notable exception to the similarity of the conductors A, B and C, D with respect to the above mentioned equivalent longer conductors is that the electrical current travelling in A and B and also in C and D will be in opposite directions, since the referenced members are in all cases on opposite sides of the transmitting coil 48 and the electrical current which always flows in the same direction at the same point in the time domain of a continuous conductor, will necessarily be flowing in the opposite direction due to the geometry of the transmitting coil 48 and the fact that the sides are opposite. Therefore, if the current were flowing in an upward direction in element A, it would have a downward direction in element B and likewise for elements C and D.

The transmitting coil 48 in each of the coil housing units 2 and 4 are driven by an alternating current source; however the alternating current source applied to one of the transmitting coils 48 in coil housing unit 2 is fixed while the alternating current applied to the other trans¬ mitting coil 48 in the coil housing unit 4 is operated so that the alternating current within transmitting coil 48 of coil housing unit 4 is in phase with the alternating current within transmitting coil 48 of coil housing unit 2 for a portion of time, and is then out of phase for a portion of time.

Figure 7a is a schematic illustration of the trans¬ mitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 2 and figure 7b is a schematic illustration of the transmitting coil 48 in the coil housing unit 4.

Figure 8a is a graphic illustration of the alternating current along corresponding points of the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing units 2 and 4 when the transmitting coils 48 are operated in phase or in the aiding mode. Figure 8b is a graphic illustration of the alternating current along corresponding points of transmitting coil 48 in coil housing units 2 and 4 when the transmitting coils 48 are driven out of phase or in the opposition mode. Consideration must now be given to the case of the generated magnetic field or lines of flux generated in the aiding and opposition modes of operation.

In the case of the aiding.configuration, it is noted that conductors A and A (which represents the portion of transmitting coil 48 in the vertical members 26 in the coil housing units 2 and 4 respectively) have electrical current travelling in the same direction, but conductors A and A , are displaced in space by their separation distance of about 38" center to center. By applying the right-hand rule with respect to the flux generated by an electrical current travelling in a conductor, it is observed that the lines of flux at a point equidistant from the two conductors A and A shall have an opposite direction and shall in fact cancel if the current in the two conductors were the same.

The same discussion applies to the ^"flux producing elements B and B . Generally, the same applies to D and D , and C and C , with the exception that these flux pro¬ ducing elements have a slope of about 25°.

In the case of the opposition configuration, it is noted that conductors A and A have electrical current travelling in opposite directions, but conductors A and A are displaced in space by their separation distance of about 38" center to center. By applying the right-hand rule with respect to the flux generated by an electrical current travelling in a conductor it is observed that the lines of flux at a point equidistant from the two conductors shall have the same direction and shall add and produce twice the flux if the current in the two conductors were the same.

This addition to produce twice the flux if the electrical current in the two conductors were the same holds true for flux producing elements B and B , and also to C and C , and D and^:D , with the exception that the latter four flux producing elements have a slope of about 25°.

It is further understood that the predominant field or lines of flux generated by the transmitting coil 18 are in a vector perpendicular to the place in which the coil exists and that the strongest field is within, or through

OMP «I the transmitting coil 48, since all four sides or current producing members add to one another. The magnetic field in the center of the coil 18 would be about four times as much as the fringing field as if a measurement were made at a distance equal to 1/4 of the sum of the distance from the center to each edge of the conductor, from any one of the conductors on the outside of the coil 18.

Figure 10 illustrates that three vectors of magnetic flux are generated in the surveilance zone 6 over a height of at least 10" to 48" above the floor, and that two of the vectors are perpendicular with respect to one another while the third vector is displaced 25° from the vertical.

The aiding configuration is used primarily to pro¬ duce the magnetic field which is generally at a point in the center of one of the coils perpendicular to the plane in which the coil lies and is in the same direction as the other- transmitting coil 48 at the same point in time domain producing the strongest field of the three vectors produced, as illustrated in figures 9 and 10.

The opposition configuration as illustrated in figures 9 and 10 is used to generate the fringing fields that produce the other two vectors, and that the exact vector produced will be determined by the plane in which the two conductors lie. The vector produced in the opposition con¬ figuration will be at right angles with respect to said conductors. The fringing fields add at points equidistant from the two conductors. All other points between the two conductors produce a strong magnetic field across the entire 38" spread in all vectors.

In the preferred embodiment, the transmitting coils 48 in coil housing units 2 and 4 are driven in phase for 13 to 15 milliseconds. During this time interval an oscillating magnetic field is generated; the vector of said generated magnetic field is perpendicular to the face of the trans¬ mitting coils 18 as illustrated in figures 9 and 10. The application of alternating current to transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4 is then stopped for 8 milliseconds so as to allow switching said alternating current to drive the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing, unit 4 in the out of phase mode as previously described. During the opposing configuration an oscillating magnetic field is generated having two vectors, one of which is perpendicular to the plane formed by the two conductors A and A and that the other of which is perpendicular to the plane formed by the conductors B and B . The transmitting coils 48 in coil housing units 2 and 4 are driven in the out of phase mode for 13 to 15 milliseconds.

The cycle of generating one vector in the aiding configuration for 13 to 15 milliseconds, stopping for 8 milliseconds, and then generating the vectors in the opposing configuration for 13 to 15 milliseconds is repeated during the entire operation of the antishoplifting system.

In this manner, the transmitting coils 48 of coil housing units 2 and 4 generate a prescribed fundamental frequency suitable to resonate the coils 18 in coil housing units 2 and 4. In the preferred embodiment the capacitance and inductance of the transmitting coils 18 in coil housing units 2 and 4 are selected so that they operate in resonance to generate an oscillating magnetic field having a funda¬ mental frequency of 12.5 K hertz, which is graphically illustrated in figure 12.

As previously described the transmitting coils 48, in coil housing units 2 and 4, operate in resonance to generate an alternating magnetic field having a fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz. During this in phase operation, a magnetic field will be generated in the surveilance zone 6, whose vector is orientated as described in figures 9 and 10. During the out of phase operation, a magnetic field will be generated in the surveilance zone 6, having two vectors as described in figures 9 and 10.

Since an oscillating magnetic field is generated having three separate and distinct vector components, any label 8 which, traverses through the interrogation zone 6, will be cut or link a sufficient number of lines of flux at some point during its passage through the field, regardless of the angle of the orientation of the label 8. The label 8 of the preferred embodiment consists of the use of Supermalloy. The prior art discloses the use of a Supermalloy marker element 8 having, a maximum permeability of 800,000 and a coercive force of .002 oersteds. However, the label 8 used in the preferred embodiment comprises an alloy, similar to Magnetics Inc. No. 25-7904 which has a maximum permeability of 100,000 and a coercive force of .05 oersteds.

The prior art also discloses that the use of grain or domain orientated material was necessary in the use of marker elements 8. However, a label 8 having a unipolar orientation may be utilized where the anisotrophy is such that the He is the same regardless of whether the applied magnetic field is parallel to the longest dimension or the shortest one.

In the preferred embodiment, the label 8 comprises of ferromagnetic material 30, which is magnetically soft or easily magnetized. When the label 8 passes through the magnetic field oscillating at the fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz, the ferromagnetic material 30 becomes magnetized by the oscillating magnetic field. As the oscillating magnetic field alternates, the ferromagnetic material 30 switches poles at a fundamental frequency of 125 K hertz and induces perturbations or anomolies on the oscillating lines of flux of the generated magnetic field. This induced signal has a fundamental frequency of 125 K hertz and harmonics thereof which combine with the funda¬ mental frequency of the generated magnetic field, as illustrated in figure 13. The signal generated by the label 8 is depicted as number 32 in figure 13.

The upper most detectable signal generated by the marker element 8 in response to being excited by a funda¬ mental frequency of 12.5 K hertz shall be approximately the

160th harmonic or 2 MHZ. The prior art discloses that har- g monies of 10 are detectable which is not true. The harmonic signal 32 is received by a receiving coil 32, located within coil housing units 2 and 4.

As previously stated the marker elements 8 may be deactivated in the deactivating device 46 so that no signals 32 will be generated in the surveilance zone 6 during the passage therethrough. This is accomplished by including magnetically hard material 34 within the label 8 which becomes magnetized in deactivating system 46 to such an extent that the magnetically hard material 34 will prevent the switching of the ferromagnetic material 30 in surveil¬ ance zone 6.

The receiving coil 36 is more particularly disclosed in figures 4 and 5. The particular configuration of the receiving coil 36 is that of a figure eight. The reasoning behind the particular choice is that the receiving coil 36 acts as a passive filter element; that is, if the area of the two halves of figure eight are the same, the fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz is nulled; yet, the signal 32 induced by the marker element 8 is not nulled, since the marker element 8 cannot be in both regions of the figure eight at the same time.

In the preferred embodiment, the receiving coil 34 comprises of ten turns of wire located in a wire ribbon cable, the ends being so interconnected such that a ten turn coil formed, as illustrated in figure 5. Since the receiving coil 34 is comprised of ten turns of wire, the receiving coil 34 also acts as a passive gain stage; that is, by utilizing ten turns a voltage gain of 10 is accomplished.

Electrostatic shielding 36 is placed over the receiving coil 36 so as to shield the receiving coil 36 against receiving electrostatic signals from the ambient atmosphere. However, it is obvious that the electrostatic shielding 38 does not extend over the entire extent of the figure eight of the receiving coil 36, otherwise, the elec¬ trostatic shielding 38 would change the characteristics of the receiving coil 36. Other receiving coils used in the. trade have a resonant frequency of approximately 13Q K hertz., which is where most of the energy from the signal 32 of the label marker element 8 lies.

The receiving coil 36 herein, is designed to have a much higher resonant frequency than used in the trade. In the preferred embodiment the resonant frequency of the receiving coil 36 is 280 K hertz. The reason why the receiving coil 36 was designed to have higher resonant frequency than the signal 32 generated by the iabel 8 is that a coil when excited at its resonant frequency will ring or resonate; once a receiving coil 34 rings, one loses the characteristic of the exciting signal and obtains the charac¬ teristic of the receiving coil 34, and accordingly, the sig¬ nal 32 generated by the label 8 loses its distinctiveness. A flat ribbon cable is used to form the receiving coil 36 since it has a lower distributed capacitance and gives a resonant frequency of approximately 280 K hertz.

The receiving coil 34 is DQ'd and made more lossy by the placement of one K ohm resistor across its terminals as illustrated in figure 14. The K ohm damping resistor is added to prevent the receiving coil 34 from ringing with anything but a large signal at its resonant frequency.

Therefore, a receiving coil 34 is disclosed which has a filter gain system with a broad band pass of about 280 K hertz with a gain of ten that does not distort the signal at all and yet, is a passive element.

It is important that the phase of the receiving coil 36 match that of the transmitting coil 48 so as to maximize the capture of signal 32 generated by the label 8 in response to the in and out of phase generation of oscillating magnetic field produced by the transmitting coils 48.

Accordingly, the phase of the receiving coil 36 mounted adjacent the transmitting coil 48 within coil housing unit 2 is wired so as to be in phase with the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 2. Since the phase of the transmitting coil 48 in the toil housing unit 2 is held constant the phase of the receiving coil 36 in coil housing

WTP unit 2 is also held constant.

The^" phase of the receiving coil 36 mounted adjacent the transmitting coil 48 within coil housing unit 4 is wired so as to be in phase with, ^"the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4. Since the phase of the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4 is alternated to be in and out of phase with respect to the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 2, receiving coil 36 mounted within coil housing unit 4 is wired in phase with respect to the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4 so as to be alternating in and out of phase with respect to the receiving coil 36 in coil housing unit 2, but remain in phase with transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4. Therefore, the phase of the receiving coil 48 in coil housing unit 4 remains in phase with the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4 as the phase of the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 4 is switched to be in and out of phase with respect to the transmitting coil 48 in coil housing unit 2.

Once the^'signal is recovered from the receiving coil 36 without any wave shaping the signal 32 is extracted from the signal without substantial alteration by the electronic circuitry generally depicted as number 10 in figure 1 and more specifically itemized in figure 14.

Figure 14 is a block diagram of the circuitry which extracts the generated signal 32 and which is capable of differentiating between signals. The block diagram includes two receiving coils 36; impedance matching and gain stages 15A and 15B, summing station 16, high-pass filter system 17, low-pass filter system 18, automatic gain control stage 19, time card and time domain blanking stage 20, signal recogni¬ tion stage 21 and alarm circuitry 14.

Figure 15 illustrates the impedance matching stage generally referred to as 15A and 15B in block diagram of figure 14. When wire is added to the receiving, coils.36 the capacitance of the receiving coils 36 increases; accordingly the impedance matching stage 15A and 15B is necessary so that the coax connecting the receiving coil to the interro¬ gator will not detune the receiving coil 36.

The xmpedance matching stage 1A and IB also includes a gain stage. In practice it was discovered that by adding gain at this point, the signal to noise ratio (S N) was greatly improved. The gain is so designed that the funda¬ mental frequency of 12.5 K hertz is not amplified and the lower cut-off frequency is 96 K hertz. This stage has a gain of 20 for frequencies above 100 K hertz and below 400 K hertz and a gain of approximately unity at the fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz. The upper cut-off frequency of 400 K hertz was inserted to eliminate the radio frequency pick from the receiving coil 36.

The values for the various electrical components of the impedance matching and gain stage are disclosed in figure 15.

The impedance matching and gain stage essentially amplifies the fundamental frequency of signal 321 twenty times while the fundamental frequency of the oscillating magnetic field is amplified by one. In this manner the fundamental frequency generated by the label 8 is emphasized so as to facilitate its analysis.

Figure 16 particularizes the summing stage generally referred to as 16 in block diagram of figure 14. When the signals from either gate of 1A or IB reach the interrogator they will be summed together, so a weak signal from the ^' center of the gates will be doubled in amplitude and then only circuitry need to handle one signal will be required.

The signal e out is then processed through a filter¬ ing system (which will be more fully described herein) with maximum care being given to do as little wave shaping as possible, since the electronic circuitry described herein is adapted to isolate the distortion caused by the label 8, therefore the electronic circuitry must be designed so as not to cause or generate a distortion through our own faulty systems.

Care must be given to the filtering system utilized otherwise problems result where due to system non-linearities which are induced by our own system signals could be gener¬ ated which look very similar to the generated marker element signal 32.

For this reason, one preferred filtering technique is the use of a transversal filter in a band-pass configura¬ tion such as a sampled data filter which is linear in phase. These filters typically have transition rates exceeding 150 dB/oσtave, and have more than 40 dB stop band^'rejection making them ideal for critical filtering situations.

Where less critical filtering is acceptable, the more common types of design, such as Butterworth may be employed with the final result being that some additional processing may be required to give close to the accuracy of a system employing a transversal filter.

Figure 17 illustrates the high-pass filter utilized in the preferred embodiment. The cut-off frequency is selected to be high enough with a steep enough slope to effectively remove the fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz from the signal; but leaving enough lower order harmonics to be able to discriminate signals which generate large lower order harmonics along with higher order harmonics such as-pop cans and large ferrous objects.

A Butterworth*s filter (flatest response) was utilized so that the signal is free from any wave shaping. It was determined that a 60 K hertz lower cut-off frequency and a scope of 24 dB one octave gave the best results.

Referring to figure 17 Cl, C2, C3 and C4 are each. 260 picofarads and the integrated circuits ICl and IC2 are each NE 5534 ultra low noise with 15 MH band width. There is a component tolerance of 5%.

The high-pass filter imparts a slight gain of 2.6 or amplification of 8.3 dB to the signal eN.

-s^β OraMPIc]

^ WIPO < RNAΥ\ Figure.18 illustrates the low-pass filter of the preferred embodiment generally referred to as 18 in figure 14. Since a high-pass filter enhances noise, a low-pass filter with, a flat response was installed to clean up signal and get rid of any radio frequency that was picked up by the circuit.

The upper cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter was determined experimentally to operate optimumly at 500 K hertz or more. Integrated circuits IC3 and IC4 are each NE 5534 type ultra low noise 15 M hertz BU. Capacitors Cl, C2, C3 and C4 each have values of 39 picofarads.

The low-pass filter imparts a gain of 2.6 to e in or amplifies e in by 8.3 dB.

Once the signal has been filtered, it is passed through an automatic gain control stage 19 so that the ampli¬ tude of each signal will be substantially equal before attempting signal recognition.

Figure 19 generally discloses the automatic gain control stage 19 illustrated in figure 14.

A fairly efficient automatic gain control system is required having a dynamic range of 60 dB without distortion. The automatic gain control system must be designed so as to accommodate a very weak signal in the middle of the gates (2 mv) are a strong signal almost touching the gate (500 mv) . The output of the automatic gain control will be constant therefore all signals will be of equal amplitude when attempting signal recognition.

The gate input signal is first amplified then part of this signal is sent to the feedback network which will control the level of the input to maintain a constant genera¬ ted output.

Figure 19a depicts the automatic gain control stage utilized in a preferred embodiment. The integrated circuit IC1 utilized in the automatic gain control stage in the preferred embodiment comprises of an NE 5534 integrated circuit.

Since the signal 32 generated by the label 8 occurs only at certain points in time corresponding to the in phase and out of phase timing any signal generated during any other interval of time may be blanked out by a time domain blanking circuit so as to. further eliminat any false alarms.

Figure 20 generally illustrates the time domain blanking circuit.

When the signal has been retrieved correctly it will appear only at certain points in time corresponding to in phase and out of phase timing. If one blanks the signal out except for the correct moment only those signals generated by the label 8 will appear.

In previous systems time domain blanking was imple¬ mented but since the signal was ringing, the signal would spill over into the time when the label 8 signal would appear and thus cause a false alarm. The stronger the signal, the longer the ring and the more likely that it would spill over into the time domain where the signal from the label 8 would appear. Therefore, in previous systems a strong signal from something like a pop can^*would ring long enough to spill over into the time where the signal 32 from the label 8 would appear and thus cause a false alarm.

Since the precise location of the signal 32 is known the aperture in the time domain blanking circuit can be made much narrower so as to eliminate further the possibility of false alarms.

The time domain blanking circuitry used in the pre¬ ferred embodiment is more particularly disclosed in figure 20a.

Once the signal has been retrieved, kept at a uniform amplitude, and having 95% of the false signals discarded by utilizing time domain blanking, the signals can then be analyzed to determine whether it is the correct signal.

Two methods for analyzing or recognizing the signal are pulse width, detection and correlation.

Once the signal 32 has been retrieved without altering its characteristics it must then be analyzed in order to determine whether it is the signal of interest.

One method of recognizing a signal is by utilizing the pulse width, detection circuitry illustrated in figure 21.

OMPI The exact width, of the signal 32 should be 4 uv. All other objects which, might give off harmonics would be much, slower and have longer widths or pulses. For example a pop can would have a pulse width of approximately 8 uv. Any spurious noise pulses would be of a higher frequency having narrower pulses.

Figure 21 in conjunction with figure 22 describes electronic circuitry which will only generate an output for a pulse having specified limits. A pulse longer or shorter in time will not generate an output.

The lower time TL which is equal to TA in figure 21 is set by varying RA and CA. The upper time TU is equal to the sum of TA plus TB. The value of TB can be set by varying RB and CB.

Figure 22 illustrates that if the test pulse TPW is less than TL there is no output; and that if the test pulse is greater than GU there is also no output. However, when TPW is greater than TL and less than TU as in the case of recognizing the generated signal 32 an output will be gener¬ ated which will activate the alarm 44.

An alternative method of recognizing the signal 32 is by the use of correlation.

Cross-correlation is a mathematical operation which indicates the degree of similarity between two signals. The mathematical function is as follows: Rxy (Tn) sipi χ(m)y(m-Tn) m=( x = first signal y = second signal Tn = time broken up into intervals m = total number of divisions In particular cross-correlation means that if two signals x and y are utilized, one signal x would be held stationary and the other signal y would slide past the first stationary signal x. The signals x and y would be divided up into a certain number of parts. Then at regular intervals one signal y slides against the other signal x; this multi¬ plies the corresponding parts together. The sums are then added. The output is maximized when two. identical signals line up, giving maximum output proportional to the degree of similarity of the signals.

Figure 24 discloses two signal wave forms, where one signal is held stationary and the other will slide by the held signal. Each signal is divided up into thirty-two equal segments. The segments on the held signal are identified as a, b, c, d, etc. The segments of the sliding signal are also identified as a, b, c, d, etc.

The mathematical relation that exists is as follows: (a x a) + (b x b) + ...

This is repeated at every segment as one signal slides relative to the other.

Figure 23 describes an integrated circuit manufac¬ tured by Reticon Corporation of California which will perform the correlation function (R 5403) . This integrated circuit can be utilized to store a replica of the signal in memory and clock it into one register of the integrated circuit. The signal 32 one register of the integrated circuit.

Correlation may be the ultimate solution for signal recognition as it is possible to alter the signal 32 from the label 8 from one label 8 to the next at the manufac¬ turing level and thus differentiate between the different signals 32 from the different label 8. Both signals could be stored to set off the alarm. However, correlation is a much more expensive proposition.

Correlation may also be accomplished by utilizing a pair of charge-transfer devices each with thirty-two taps equally spaced one sample time apart along the device, along with a pair of thirty—two bit binery shift registers for providing binery weighting of the analogue taps and thereby providing correlation.

When working with weaker signals caused by either spreading the transmitting coils 48 further apart in order to afford a wider passageway and a large surveilance zone 6, or by reducing the label 8 length to extend its utility and reduce its costs another method of signal recognition, is the use of signal averaging. In a preferred form, signal averaging consists of two charge—transfer devices, each with thirty-two taps equally spaced one sample time apart, but with the taps individually connected to a set of capacitors by means of a transfer gate. Each set of capacitors also has a reset switch to delete the previously stored infor¬ mation before accepting signals from a new signal inter- ration cycle, thus allowing flexibility in selecting any number of signals to be averaged with a signal processing algorithm based on the first order differential equasion of each of the individual storage sights or taps. The algorithm is effectively the same as that of a single pole recursive filter; however, it is not subject to the degradation of the signal to noise ratio inherent in recur¬ sive integration passed by the process recycling a "coherent noise"

Whereas, the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to emcompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

ϊJREXi OMPI

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which, an ex¬ clusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for detecting the passage of an object through a surveilance zone comprising of means for generating oscillitory electromagnetic interrogation field within said surveilance zone, a label secured to an object, said label being adapted to cut or link up with said gener¬ ated electromagnetic field during its traversal through said electromagnetic interrogation field regardless of labels spacial orientation, thereby generating signals captured by receiving means including circuitry means adapted to set off an alarm.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereby said electronic circuitry means minimize distortion of said signals.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 whereby said electronic circuitry means differentiate label signals from other signals.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 whereby said label has a maximum permeability of a 100,000 and coercive force of .05 oersteds.

5. A method for detecting the presence of an object when said object is in an interrogation zone having an oscillitory electromagnetic field comprising of, the securing to an object a label capable of generating signals when placed in said interrogation zone, wherein said signals are captured by receiving means including electronic circuitry means adapted to set off an alarm.

6. A method according to claim 5 whereby said label generates signals of low harmonics such that when said label is excited by an oscillating magnetic field having a fundamental frequency of 12.5 K hertz the uppermost detectable signal generated by said label will be approxi- mately the 160th harmonic or 2 hertz.

'- REA^",

OMPI ΪNA lθ