US4394645A — Electrical surveillance apparatus with moveable a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for detecting the presence within a surveillance zone of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed in a gate-like structure that is mounted for rotation to and fro about a vertical axis with substantially all of said structure extending horizontally to one side of said axis.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 111 words

Apparatus for detecting the presence within a surveillance zone of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed in a gate-like structure that is mounted for rotation to and fro about a vertical axis with substantially all of said structure extending horizontally to one side of said axis.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said radiator and receptor is disposed in a separate gate-like structure that is mounted for rotation to and fro about a respective vertical axis with said axes spaced apart, substantially all of each said structure extending horizontally to one side of its respective axis, and said structures are constrained to assume a standby orientation extending toward each other in a common vertical plane.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said radiator comprises a coil element of generally planar pancake construction configured as a loop with its plane oriented vertically and all of its turns encircling a central point in the same direction with mirror symmetry about a horizontal axis passing through said point, each section of said loop on opposite sides of a vertical axis passing through said point being of generally elliptical shape with one of said sections having a greater radius of curvature than the other, and said section of lesser radius of curvature is disposed on the side of said vertical axis that places it closer to said receptor than said section of greater radius of curvature when said structures assume said standby orientation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 125 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said receptor comprises a pair of substantially identical coil elements of generally planar pancake construction configured as loops in a common vertical plane, all of the turns of each receptor loop encircle a respective central point in one direction, each loop being generally elliptical in shape wih a major and minor axis, said loops being disposed one above the other in said plane and connected to form a figure eight type coil, the major axes of said loops being positioned equidistant from and on opposite sides of the plane containing the horizontal axis of said radiator coil element, said major axes diverging in a direction toward said radiator coil element when said structures assume said standby orientation.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that both said radiator and receptor are disposed in the same gate-like structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 115 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said radiator and receptor comprise first and second coil elements, respectively, said coil elements being of generally planar pancake construction disposed side-by-side horizontally in a common vertical plane, said first coil element being configured as a loop with all of its turns encircling a central point in the same direction and with mirror symmetry at least about a horizontal axis, and said second coil element being configured as a vertically oriented figure eight with the upper and lower halves of the eight electrically balanced with respect to undisturbed magnetic field signals received directly from said first coil element when the latter is energized with an AC signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said radiator and receptor comprise at least one dipole microwave antenna for radiating and receiving a microwave carrier signal, and a layer of conductive material for radiating an electrostatic field signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said radiator comprises a first dipole microwave antenna for radiating said microwave carrier signal, and said receptor comprises a second dipole microwave antenna disposed orthogonally to said first dipole antenna for receiving from any said marker said microwave carrier signal with said electrostatic field signal modulated thereon.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 113 words

Apparatus for detecting the presence within a surveillance zone of a body of high permeability material wherein a transmitter is coupled to a first coil element for establishing in said zone an AC magnetic field, and a receiver is coupled to a second coil element for detecting a predetermined disturbance to said field caused by the presence of said body within said field, characterized in that said coil elements are mounted respectively on opposite sides of said zone, each element for rotation about a vertical axis, said elements being constructed and arranged to confine to a region straddled by said axes substantially all of said field that is effective for detecting said body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 113 words

Apparatus for detecting the presence within a surveillance zone of a body of high permeability material wherein a transmitter is coupled to a first coil element for establishing in said zone an AC magnetic field, and a receiver is coupled to a second coil element for detecting a predetermined disturbance to said field caused by the presence of said body within said field, characterized in that said coil elements are mounted respectively on opposite sides of said zone, each element for rotation about a vertical axis, said elements being constructed and arranged to confine to a region straddled by said axes substantially all of said field that is effective for detecting said body.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said elements are constrained to assume a standby orientation extending across the space between said axes transverse to the path of any body traversing said surveillance zone and are constructed and arranged to move from said standby orientation upon passage of said body whenever said body traverses said zone.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said coil elements are of generally planar pancake construction and disposed within a respective panel structure, said structures being mounted on said axes as swinging gates, and said standby orientation is such that said structures extend toward each other in a common vertical plane.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 84 words

Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said first coil element is configured as a loop with all of its turns encircling a center point in the same direction and with mirror symmetry about both a vertical and a horizontal axis passing through said point, and said second coil element is configured as a vertically oriented figure eight with the upper and lower halves of the eight electrically balanced with respect to undisturbed magnetic field signals received directly from said first coil element.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said coil elements have substantially equal external dimensions and said panel structurs are substantially identical in external size and configuration.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said first and second coil elements are constructed and arranged to minimize the generation, in any electrically conductive material disposed adjacent the boundary of said region, of a third harmonic signal detectable by said receiver.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said first and second coil elements are constructed and arranged to minimize reception by said receiver of any line frequency signals generated in proximity to said region.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 147 words

Apparatus for detecting, witin a surveillance zone confined to a pathway along which a pedestrian is constrained to travel when proceeding between two areas within a building, the presence of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one gate-like structure is mounted on one side of said pathway for rotation to and fro about a vertical axis, said structure being rotatable about said axis between positions respectively barring and permitting passage of said pedestrian along said pathway, and at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed in said structure.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 147 words

Apparatus for detecting, witin a surveillance zone confined to a pathway along which a pedestrian is constrained to travel when proceeding between two areas within a building, the presence of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one gate-like structure is mounted on one side of said pathway for rotation to and fro about a vertical axis, said structure being rotatable about said axis between positions respectively barring and permitting passage of said pedestrian along said pathway, and at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed in said structure.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 167 words

Apparatus for detecting, within a surveillance zone region of an aisle traversed by shopping carts, the presence of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed in a gate-like structure that is rotatably mounted relative to said aisle for movement between two positions, one of which is transverse to said aisle for barring passage of said cart along said aisle while the other of which is arranged to permit passage of said cart, and said radiator and receptor establish an effective surveillance zone for detecting all said markers that are carried along said aisle past said gate-like structure by a person propelling said cart.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 167 words

Apparatus for detecting, within a surveillance zone region of an aisle traversed by shopping carts, the presence of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed in a gate-like structure that is rotatably mounted relative to said aisle for movement between two positions, one of which is transverse to said aisle for barring passage of said cart along said aisle while the other of which is arranged to permit passage of said cart, and said radiator and receptor establish an effective surveillance zone for detecting all said markers that are carried along said aisle past said gate-like structure by a person propelling said cart.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 107 words

Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said radiator and receptor are in the form of generally planar pancake coil elements disposed within respective gate-like structures mounted on respective vertical axes as swinging gates constrained to assume said one position as a standby orientation with said structures extending toward each other in a common vertical plane, said coil elements being constructed and arranged to minimize the generation in the electrically conductive material of an adjacent checkout counter of a third harmonic signal detectable by said receiver, and to minimize reception by said receiver of any line frequency components emanating from any cash register at said counter.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 146 words

Apparatus for detecting, within a surveillance zone region of an aisle traversed by shopping carts, the presence of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed within a gate-like structure mounted for rotation about an axis positioned relative to said aisle for establishing said zone within said aisle and moveable between a first position transverse to said aisle for engagement by a shopping cart traversing said aisle and a second position substantially parallel to said aisle for permitting passage of said cart thereby.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 146 words

Apparatus for detecting, within a surveillance zone region of an aisle traversed by shopping carts, the presence of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is disposed within a gate-like structure mounted for rotation about an axis positioned relative to said aisle for establishing said zone within said aisle and moveable between a first position transverse to said aisle for engagement by a shopping cart traversing said aisle and a second position substantially parallel to said aisle for permitting passage of said cart thereby.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 132 words

Apparatus for detecting the presence within a surveillance zone of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is mounted for rotation about an axis through an arc no greater than 180°, and positioned relative to said zone, for confining to a region substantially entirely on one side of a given plane containing said axis, as it is rotated about said axis, that field which is effective to detect said marker.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 132 words

Apparatus for detecting the presence within a surveillance zone of an electrical energy responsive marker wherein a transmitter is coupled to an electrical energy field radiator for establishing throughout said zone an AC energy field, and a receiver is coupled to an electrical energy field receptor for detecting a predetermined alteration of said AC energy field caused by the presence of said marker within said AC energy field, characterized in that at least one of said radiator and receptor is mounted for rotation about an axis through an arc no greater than 180°, and positioned relative to said zone, for confining to a region substantially entirely on one side of a given plane containing said axis, as it is rotated about said axis, that field which is effective to detect said marker.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-07-18	1987-01-17	1987-07-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-07-18	1991-01-17	1991-07-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-07-18	1995-01-17	1995-07-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical surveillance apparatus with moveable antenna elements

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