Optical cable security system with standby and automatic re-arming features

Claim 1

A system for securing articles, the system comprising an optically transmissive, flexible cable capable of attachment to said articles, said cable comprising: a plurality of links; and a plurality of separable connectors, each connector joining two links together to permit optical transmissions therethrough; a transmitter connected to said cable, for transmitting optical pulses into said cable; a receiver connected to said cable for receiving the pulses from said transmitter after passage through said cable; and control means connected to the receiver for detecting perturbations in the received pulses and activating an indicator in response thereto; for allowing stand-by operation wherein the indicator is disabled while one or more connectors are separated for authorized purposes and for automatically re-arming the system when the connectors are re-engaged.

Claim 2

A system for securing articles, the system comprising an optically transmissive, flexible cable capable of attachment to said articles, said cable comprising: a plurality of links; and a plurality of separable connectors, each connector joining two links together to permit optical transmissions therethrough; a transmitter connected to said cable, for transmitting optical pulses into said cable; a receiver connected to said cable for receiving the pulses from said transmitter after passage through said cable; and control means connected to the receiver for detecting perturbations in the received pulses and activating an indicator in response thereto; for allowing stand-by operation wherein the indicator is disabled while one or more connectors are separated for authorized purposes and for automatically re-arming the system when the connectors are re-engaged.

Claim 15

A system for securing items of merchandise, the system comprising: an optically transmissive, flexible fiber capable of attachment to said items and having a peak transmissibility for light at about 600-700 nanometers in wavelength, the fiber further comprising: a plurality of links; and a plurality of separable connectors, each connector joining two links together to permit optical transmissions therethrough; a portable battery; a light emitting diode powered by said battery and connected to one end of said fiber for transmitting optical pulses into said fiber; a receiver also powered by said battery and connected to the other end of said fiber for receiving the optical pulses from said light emitting diode after passage through said fiber; and control circuitry also powered by said battery and connected to the receiver for detecting perturbations in the received pulses and for activating an indicator in response thereto, for allowing stand-by operation wherein the indicator is disabled when one or more connectors are separated for authorized purposes, for automatically re-arming the system when the connectors are re-engaged, and for activating a second indicator in response to a low voltage condition in said battery.

Claim 16

A system for securing items of merchandise, the system comprising: an optically transmissive, flexible fiber capable of attachment to said items and having a peak transmissibility for light at about 600-700 nanometers in wavelength, the fiber further comprising: a plurality of links; and a plurality of separable connectors, each connector joining two links together to permit optical transmissions therethrough; a portable battery; a light emitting diode powered by said battery and connected to one end of said fiber for transmitting optical pulses into said fiber; a receiver also powered by said battery and connected to the other end of said fiber for receiving the optical pulses from said light emitting diode after passage through said fiber; and control circuitry also powered by said battery and connected to the receiver for detecting perturbations in the received pulses and for activating an indicator in response thereto, for allowing stand-by operation wherein the indicator is disabled when one or more connectors are separated for authorized purposes, for automatically re-arming the system when the connectors are re-engaged, and for activating a second indicator in response to a low voltage condition in said battery.

Claim 18

A method for securing articles, the method comprising: attaching an optically transmissive, flexible cable having a plurality of links and a plurality of connectors to said articles, the connectors permitting addition and removal of articles when disconnected and permitting optical transmissions through the cable when connected; transmitting an optical pulse into said cable; receiving the transmitted optical pulse after passage through said cable and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; generating an indicator signal when the optical pulses are interrupted as a result of a connector being disconnected; generating a stand-by signal which disables the indicator when authorized separation of connectors occurs; and reverting to normal operations after a predetermined period of time has elapsed in the stand-by condition.

Claim 19

A method for securing articles, the method comprising: attaching an optically transmissive, flexible cable having a plurality of links and a plurality of connectors to said articles, the connectors permitting addition and removal of articles when disconnected and permitting optical transmissions through the cable when connected; transmitting an optical pulse into said cable; receiving the transmitted optical pulse after passage through said cable and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; generating an indicator signal when the optical pulses are interrupted as a result of a connector being disconnected; generating a stand-by signal which disables the indicator when authorized separation of connectors occurs; and reverting to normal operations after a predetermined period of time has elapsed in the stand-by condition.