Patent ID: 6400271
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: G08B

Abstract:
A security tag for use with an electronic security system which functions within a second frequency range, the tag comprising:a substantially planar dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side; a first conductive pattern on the first side of the substrate, the first conductive pattern comprising at least a first inductive element, a second inductive element, a first plate of a first capacitive element, and a first plate of a second capacitive element; a second conductive pattern on the second side of the substrate, the second conductive pattern comprising, at least a second plate of the first capacitive element and a second plate of the second capacitive element, the plates of each of the capacitive elements being generally aligned, the inductive elements and the capacitive elements forming a resonant circuit, which resonates at a first frequency within a first frequency range which is outside of the second frequency range; a direct electrical connection extending through the substrate to electrically connect the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern to thereby continuously maintain both sides of the substrate at substantially the same static charge level, wherein the first capacitive element includes an activation feature for short circuiting the first capacitive element when the resonant circuit is exposed to electromagnetic energy within the first frequency range of at least a predetermined minimum power level to short circuit the first inductive element and thereby change the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit to a second frequency within the second frequency range.