HK1213355B - Mobile eas deactivator - Google Patents

Description

Mobile EAS deactivator

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/784,929, filed March 14, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, and more particularly to EAS functionality in mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) retail systems.

Background Art

Recently, some retailers have introduced mobile point of sale (mPOS) services in which a store associate meets a customer somewhere on the sales floor and, using a handheld device (e.g., a cell phone or tablet), creates an invoice, processes the payment (e.g., using the customer's credit card), creates a receipt (typically electronic), and sends the sale details to the store's back-end systems for processing (e.g., updating the store's sales totals and perpetual inventory database).

EAS systems are well known in the art and are used for inventory control and to prevent theft and the like from being removed from a controlled area. Typically, in such systems, a system transmitter and a system receiver are used to establish a monitoring zone that any merchandise to be removed from the controlled area must pass through.

EAS security tags are attached to each item and contain a marker or sensor adapted to interact with a signal transmitted by the system's transmitter into the surveillance zone. For systems using acousto-magnetic EAS tags, a 58 kHz frequency is used to establish the surveillance zone. This interaction causes another signal to be created within the surveillance zone, which is received by the system's receiver. Therefore, as the tagged item moves through the surveillance zone, the signal will be received by the system's receiver, thereby identifying the unauthorized presence of the tagged item within the surveillance zone.

In an mPOS retail system, checkout is performed using a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone or tablet) that incorporates the necessary software. The benefits of mPOS would be hampered if EAS needed to be deactivated at a fixed location (e.g., at a fixed point of sale). Therefore, it is best to provide EAS tag deactivation so that it is associated with the mobile device used for mPOS checkout.

Prior art deactivators are either cabled (i.e., not mobile) or too large and heavy to be used in mPOS systems. Previous wireless products were much larger and designed to be stand-alone. For example, many conventional deactivators require large, high-voltage capacitors and large coil antennas, which translate into large, heavy deactivators. The weight, cost, and size of such deactivation solutions limit the portability and usability of the devices. Furthermore, the high energy requirements of the devices eliminate the possibility of powering the unit with batteries or other small power sources. Because of this, conventional deactivators that operate via batteries require large, heavy batteries, thereby further increasing the size and weight of the devices.

Another type of conventional deactivator uses a magnetic field generated by a pair of permanent magnets rotated by an electric motor (e.g., a DC motor) to deactivate EAS tags or merchandise. Since the DC motor itself uses a magnetic field for power, this arrangement requires the use of two separate and independent magnetic fields that must be maintained. This increases the complexity and number of components of the system, as well as the size and power requirements.

Thus, there is a growing need to overcome the problems of the prior art, and more particularly, a growing need for more efficient, lightweight, and user-friendly deactivators for EAS tags or merchandise that can be used with mPOS systems.

Summary of the Invention

In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a deactivation device for an mPOS system. The deactivation device comprises a pair of spaced, fixed electromagnets positioned and configured such that the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets mutually assist to form a combined magnetic field. The device also comprises a battery, a capacitor, and an electronic assembly. The electronic assembly comprises a microcontroller configured to control the storage of energy from the battery in the capacitor and selectively provide deactivation or activation pulses from the capacitor to the electromagnets.

In at least one embodiment, the deactivation device includes a housing within which the components are located. The housing is configured to be attached to the mPOS mobile device. In such an embodiment, the housing preferably has a two-dimensional form factor that is approximately equal to or smaller than the two-dimensional form factor of the mobile device.

In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an mPOS assembly comprising an mPOS mobile device configured to perform at least one point-of-sale transaction and a deactivation device coupled thereto. The deactivation device comprises a pair of spaced, fixed electromagnets positioned and configured such that the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets mutually assist to form a combined magnetic field. The device further comprises a battery, a capacitor, and an electronics assembly. The electronics assembly comprises a microcontroller configured to control the storage of energy from the battery in the capacitor and selectively provide deactivation or activation pulses from the capacitor to the electromagnet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a deactivation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of the deactivation device of FIG. 1 with the housing removed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic field pattern of the deactivation device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electronic circuit of the deactivation device of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view of an exemplary deactivation device positioned in conjunction with a mobile device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the expansion of the magnetic field of the deactivation device of FIG. 5 relative to the mobile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same elements throughout the drawings. Specific terms are used herein for convenience only and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below. However, it should be understood based on this disclosure that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described herein.

A mobile deactivation device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The exemplary deactivation device 10 includes a housing 12 having a battery compartment 14. The housing 12 and battery compartment 14 are preferably a closed, unitary structure, however, other structures may also be used. In addition, while the illustrated embodiment includes a protruding battery compartment 14, this is not required and the housing 12 and battery compartment 14 may have any desired configuration. As explained below, the form factor of the housing 12 is preferably such that the deactivation device 10 can be connected to a mobile device 50 and generally fit within the form factor of the mobile device 50 (see Figure 5). A charging input 16 preferably extends through the housing 12 for charging the internal battery 22, and a trigger 18 communicates with a controller for activation of the device 10, as explained below.

Within the housing 12, the deactivation device 10 generally includes an electronic assembly 20, a capacitor 24, and a pair of fixedly positioned and spaced electromagnets 26. Each electromagnet 26 includes a magnetic core 28 around which a coil 30 is wound. The magnetic core 28 can be made of a variety of materials, such as iron powder or transformer steel. The coil 30 is made of a conductive material, such as copper. A return bar 32 can be provided between the electromagnets 26a, 26b and the electronic assembly 20 to reduce stray magnetic fields, however, the return bar 32 is optional and can be removed to reduce weight. The capacitor 24 is positioned between the electromagnets 26a, 26b to help maintain a small form factor. The capacitor 24 preferably has a depth approximately equal to the depth of the electromagnets 26a, 26b.

The electromagnets 26 are configured and positioned so that they have opposite magnetic properties. In the embodiment shown, the upper end of the electromagnet 26a defines a north pole and the lower end defines a south pole, and the upper end of the electromagnet 26b defines a south pole and the lower end defines a north pole. In this way, the magnetic field 34a of the electromagnet 26a and the magnetic field 34b of the electromagnet 26b assist each other to provide a combined magnetic field 34, as shown in FIG3. The combined magnetic field 34 allows the deactivation device 10 to generate the magnetic field 34 over a sufficiently large distance (e.g., 2 inches) while having a relatively small form factor and using minimal energy, e.g., a peak energy of 0.5 joules.

Referring to FIG. 4 , an example of circuitry for implementing deactivation device 10 is shown for generating an EAS tag deactivation pulse. To charge battery 22, microprocessor 40 communicates with charging inlet 16. Charging inlet 16 is configured to connect to a docking station, charging cable, etc. (not shown). Battery 22 can be a variety of rechargeable batteries. Base interface circuitry 610 can provide communication, charging signals, and power protection to microcontroller 40 to control the charging of battery 20.

For deactivation, microprocessor 40 controls the generation of the EAS tag deactivation pulse. Pulse width modulator 42, along with capacitor 24 and inductor 44, forms a step-up inverter for converting the nominal DC battery voltage of battery 22 to a higher voltage (e.g., 125 VDC). When switch 46 closes upon command from microprocessor 40, such as in response to activation of trigger 18, the fully charged capacitor 24 is connected to both coils 30. Alternatively, the device may not include trigger 18, and instead, microprocessor 40 may automatically open and close the switch at timed intervals, e.g., closed for 3 seconds and then open for 12 seconds.

When capacitor 24 is connected to coil 30, this initiates a natural resonant discharge, thereby generating a decaying alternating sinusoidal current waveform within coil 30. The deactivation frequency is preferably in the range of approximately 1.5 kHz to 3.5 kHz, with a 25% decay rate. The inductance, capacitance, and initial voltage of the capacitor determine the intensity of the current waveform. In an exemplary embodiment, these parameters are sized to produce a relatively low-intensity current waveform, for example, on the order of a peak energy level of approximately 0.5 joules, with magnetic fields 34a, 34b assisting each other, while still providing a sufficient magnetic field 34 strength to deactivate an EAS tag within a range of approximately 2 inches.

The deactivation device 10 can be configured to determine the location of the EAS tag by sending a sensing pulse, as is known in the art, but the illustrated embodiment does not include such a configuration. Instead, the illustrated device assumes that the orientation of the label is known. For example, the label orientation may be consistent with the barcode. The device can be configured to deactivate or reactivate the label. The range required for reactivation is less than the range required for deactivation. An exemplary range of approximately 1 inch can be provided for reactivation, while a range of approximately 2 inches can be provided for deactivation.

5 and 6 , the deactivation device 10 is preferably configured to be coupled to a mobile device 50 (e.g., a mobile phone or tablet). The housing 12 can be connected to the mobile device 50 using any of a variety of techniques. For example, the housing 12 can be coupled to the device 50 using a detachable adhesive. Alternatively, a fastener (e.g., a hook-and-loop fastener) can be positioned between the housing 12 and the device 50. As another exemplary alternative, the housing 12 can be provided with a clip or the like (not shown) that extends from the housing 12 and engages with the mobile device 50 to facilitate such coupling. Although the deactivation device 10 is coupled to the mobile device 50, the deactivation device 10 preferably operates independently of it, having self-contained electronics and power supply. In this way, the deactivation device 10 can be interchanged between various mobile devices 50 without any system reconfiguration.

As shown in FIG5 , housing 12 preferably has a two-dimensional form factor, defined by its length and width, that is the same as or smaller than the two-dimensional form factor of the mobile device, such that housing 12 does not substantially extend beyond the sides of mobile device 50. The small size and light weight allow users to operate the mPOS with minimal changes to their accustomed devices. When a user wishes to deactivate an EAS tag, they simply position the area of electromagnets 26 a, 26 b near the EAS tag and depress trigger 18. If device 10 does not include a trigger, deactivation device 10 will be held near the EAS tag for at least a period of time sufficient for microcontroller 40 to complete one cycle of automatic closing and opening of switch 46. As shown in FIG6 , when deactivation device 10 is activated, magnetic field 34 extends laterally and longitudinally from mobile device 50.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Therefore, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but is intended to encompass all changes and modifications that come within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (15)

1. A deactivation device for a mobile point-of-sale system, comprising: A pair of spaced-apart, fixed-position electromagnets are positioned and configured such that the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets complement each other to form a combined magnetic field, which is strong enough to activate a security tag near the mobile point-of-sale system. Battery; Capacitor; An electronic component including a microcontroller configured to control the storage of energy from the battery in the capacitor and selectively provide deactivation or activation pulses from the capacitor to the electromagnet; and The housing has a mechanical coupling mechanism configured to mechanically attach the deactivation device to the outer surface of the mobile point-of-sale device. The housing has a two-dimensional shape factor equal to or smaller than the two-dimensional shape factor of the mobile point-of-sale device. The capacitor is positioned between the spaced-out electromagnets and has a depth approximately equal to the depth of the electromagnets. 2. The deactivation device of claim 1, wherein each electromagnet comprises a linear magnetic core around which a conductive coil is wound. 3. The deactivation device of claim 2, wherein one of the electromagnets is configured such that its upper end defines its north pole, and the other of the electromagnets is configured such that its lower end defines its north pole. 4. The deactivation device according to claim 1, wherein a return bar is provided between the electromagnet and the electronic component to reduce stray magnetic field. 5. The deactivation device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller provides the deactivation or activation pulse upon receiving an activation signal from a trigger. 6. The deactivation device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller provides the deactivation or activation pulses in a cyclic manner by cyclically opening and closing a switch between the capacitor and the electromagnet. 7. The deactivation device of claim 1, wherein the deactivation or activation pulse uses a peak energy of 0.5 joules or less. 8. The deactivation device according to claim 1, wherein the deactivation or activation pulse is a decaying alternating sinusoidal current waveform. 9. The deactivation device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet, the battery, the capacitor and the electronic components are located within a housing. 10. The deactivation device of claim 9, wherein the battery is rechargeable, and the housing defines a charging input associated with the battery and the microcontroller to facilitate charging of the battery. 11. The deactivation device of claim 9, wherein the trigger communicating with the microcontroller is supported by the housing. 12. The deactivation device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes one or more clips configured to couple the housing to the mobile point-of-sale device. 13. A mobile point-of-sale component, comprising: A mobile point-of-sale device configured to execute transactions at at least one point of sale; and Deactivation device, the deactivation device comprising: A pair of spaced-apart, fixed-position electromagnets are positioned and configured such that the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets complement each other to form a combined magnetic field. Battery; Capacitor; An electronic component including a microcontroller configured to control the storage of energy from the battery in the capacitor and selectively provide deactivation or activation pulses from the capacitor to the electromagnet; and The housing has a mechanical coupling mechanism configured to mechanically attach the deactivation device to the outer surface of the mobile point-of-sale device. The housing has a two-dimensional shape factor equal to or smaller than the two-dimensional shape factor of the mobile point-of-sale device. The capacitor is positioned between the spaced-out electromagnets and has a depth approximately equal to the depth of the electromagnets. 14. The mobile point-of-sale assembly of claim 13, wherein the electromagnet, the battery, the capacitor, and the electronic components are located within the housing. 15. The mobile point-of-sale assembly of claim 14, wherein the mechanical coupling mechanism comprises one or more clips.