EP0355355A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable scanning system including a surveillance tag deactivator
Assignee: Symbol Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1989-07-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for reading bar code symbols and for electronically monitoring articles including a surveillance tag having an activated and a deactivated state including a scanner, a sensor having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the symbol and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity. The apparatus further includes a processor to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of a predetermined indicia pattern such as a bar code symbol; and a deactivating module for transmitting a deactivating signal to said tag so as to change the state of the tag from an activated to a deactivated state.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome Swartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:45
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; G08B13/242; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10881; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/0036; G07G1/0045; G07G1/0054; G07G3/00; G07G3/003; G08B13/2451; G08B13/246; G08B13/2465; G08B13/248; G08B13/2482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In a system for reading bar code symbols and for electronically monitoring articles including a surveillance tag having an activated and a deactivated state, apparatus normally supportable only by a user throughout the reading of the symbols, comprising: (a) means for scanning a label containing a bar code symbol; (b) sensor means having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the label and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (c) means for processing said electrical signal to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of a predetermined indicia pattern such as a bar code symbol; and (d) means for transmitting a deactivating signal to said tag so as to change the state of the tag from an activated to a deactivated state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a system for reading bar code symbols and for electronically monitoring articles including a surveillance tag having an activated and a deactivated state, apparatus normally supportable only by a user throughout the reading of the symbols, comprising: (a) means for scanning a label containing a bar code symbol; (b) sensor means having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the label and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (c) means for processing said electrical signal to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of a predetermined indicia pattern such as a bar code symbol; and (d) means for transmitting a deactivating signal to said tag so as to change the state of the tag from an activated to a deactivated state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises means for demagnetizing a magnetic media in said tag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises a current source for making electrical contact with said tag and shorting an electrical path component disposed in said tag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises an antenna for generating an electromagnetic field which functions to deactivate said tag by inductive coupling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises means for generating a laser light beam which functions to deactivate said tag by changing the state of a semiconductor component disposed in the tag in the path of said light beam.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for detecting indica having portions of different light reflectivity such as bar code symbols on a label associated with an article and for deactivating a surveillance tag associated with the label and the article comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a label containing a bar code symbol; (b) detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the label with a sensor and generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (c) processing said electrical signal to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of a predetermined indicia pattern such as a bar code symbol; and (d) transmitting a deactivating signal to said tag so that a physical characteristic of said tag is changed so as to deactivate the tag.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for detecting indica having portions of different light reflectivity such as bar code symbols on a label associated with an article and for deactivating a surveillance tag associated with the label and the article comprising the steps of: (a) scanning a label containing a bar code symbol; (b) detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the label with a sensor and generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (c) processing said electrical signal to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of a predetermined indicia pattern such as a bar code symbol; and (d) transmitting a deactivating signal to said tag so that a physical characteristic of said tag is changed so as to deactivate the tag.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of processing said electrical signal to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of predetermined indica pattern such as a bar code symbol further comprises the step of generating an enabling signal if a symbol has been detected; and said step of transmitting a deactivating signal to said target is responsive to said enabling signal so that a physical characteristic of said tag is deactivated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of scanning a label comprises the steps of: (a) providing means for illuminating said label with a laser beam; and (b) directing said laser beam along an optical path toward the label so as to scan spatially adjacent portions of the label.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of transmitting a deactivating signal comprises generating an electromagnetic field in the region of said label.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said step of transmitting a deactivating signal changes the characteristic of a diode disposed in said surveillance tag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of transmitting a deactivating signal comprises transmitting a laser beam to a light sensitive electronic element disposed on the surface of said surveillance tag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
A point-of-sale checkout system for reading bar code symbols and for electronically monitoring articles including a surveillance label having an activated and a deactivated state including a bar code symbol comprising: (a) means for scanning a label containing a bar code symbol; (b) sensor means having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the bar code symbol on the label and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (c) means for processing said electrical signal to generate a data representation associated with the bar code symbol being scanned; (d) means for displaying said data representation to enable the customer to compare the data representation with the article; and (e) means for transmitting a deactivating signal to said label so as to change the state of the label from an activated to a deactivated state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
A point-of-sale checkout system for reading bar code symbols and for electronically monitoring articles including a surveillance label having an activated and a deactivated state including a bar code symbol comprising: (a) means for scanning a label containing a bar code symbol; (b) sensor means having a field of view and operative for detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the bar code symbol on the label and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; (c) means for processing said electrical signal to generate a data representation associated with the bar code symbol being scanned; (d) means for displaying said data representation to enable the customer to compare the data representation with the article; and (e) means for transmitting a deactivating signal to said label so as to change the state of the label from an activated to a deactivated state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating a deactivating signal comprises means for generating an electromagnetic field which functions to deactivate said label by inductive coupling.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises means for generating a laser light beam which functions to deactivate said label by changing the state of a semiconductor component disposed in the label in the path of said light beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as definied in claim 12, further comprising means for processing said electrical signal to determine whether the reflected light of variable intensity is indicative of the presence of a predetermined indicia pattern such as a bar code symbol.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined in claim 15, further comprising means for generating an enable signal when the reflected light of predetermined indica pattern such as a bar code symbol, and for transmitting deactivating signal to said label in response to said enable signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for scanning a label comprises: (a) means for illuminating said label with a laser beam; and (b) means for directing said laser beam along an optical path toward the label so as to scan spatially adjacent portions of the label.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises means for generating an electromagnetic field in the region of said label.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said label comprises means for transmitting a return signal to the checkout system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as defined in claim 12, wherein said means for transmitting a deactivating signal comprises transmitting laser beam and said label comprises a light sensitive electronic element responsive to said laser beam to change from and activated to a deactivated state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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