Abstract:
A high frequency (HF) generator projects an electronic wave into a surveillance area to establish a first field. At least one control zone is set up within the surveillance area by two frequency modulated (FM) generators. The first FM generator establishes a second field in the control zone. The second FM generator establishes a third field only at a control zone margin, thereby defining the limits of the control zone. Presence within the control zone of a transponder cause reradiation of a signal comprised of the high frequency and FM signal, which provides an output signal. Additional control zones may be set up within the surveillance area by the addition of further FM generators.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part to Applicant&#39;s copending application, Ser. No. 689,336, filed May 24, 1976, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OF PRECISELY DEFINED CONTROL ZONE, now U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,087,802, and another copending application entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, Ser. No. 883,059 filed Mar. 3, 1978. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for electronic surveillance that detects and may electronically locate the presence of telltale elements in one or more control zones within a larger surveillance area. More particularly, it is directed to a method and apparatus that sets up one or more control zones within a surveillance area, defines in a predetermined manner the precise dimensions of at least one of those control zones, and subjects all control zones set up to electronic surveillance, identifying which of a plurality of control zones a telltale element is within. The method and apparatus may be used for electronic monitoring of manufacturing processes, inventory control, or for pilferage control. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern industrial manufacturing technology is producing ever increasing mechanization in fabrication, and inventory and quality control, frequently utilizing electronic data processors and computers. Mass production of electronic data processors, computers, software and supporting services is now widespread, but connection of this technology with a multiplicity of mechanical functions in manufacturing and everyday life has necessitated much subsidiary inventive activity. One area of major concern is the transformation of the movement of material into an electronics signal. Such material may vary from material-in-process or tools in a factory to bulk commodities, goods, or merchandise in a warehouse or retail store. The present invention is broadly directed at all types of electronic surveillance. 
     It is, however, designed with circuitry that is analogous to that previously known in the field of pilferage control. In fact, while the present invention is not particularly limited to pilferage control, it is especially well suited to that application. In that application it is established to secure specifically constructed telltale tags to merchandise which is likely to be pilfered, and it is known to electronically monitor the exits of stores and ware houses, etc., where such merchandise is dispensed to ascertain that the tags are deactivated or detached in the manner provided for authorized removal of the merchandise. In the past various methods and apparatus along these lines have been employed, as recited in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,895,368; 3,711,848; and 3,707,711, and in Applicant&#39;s copending applications, Ser. No. 689,336, filed May 24, 1976, now U.S. Letters Pat. No. 4,087,802, Ser. No. 883,059 filed Mar. 3, 1978, but many of these known methods and apparatus have limitations on their reliability, tolerance and sensitivity. Some are susceptible to false triggering by metallic structures coincidentally manifesting similar properties to the special tags. In some, proximity of the human body to the apparatus tends to mask the effect of the equipment and to interfere with reliable operation. 
     The limitation on the method and apparatus disclosed in the above patents are such that their respective systems have proved incapable of discerning with a high level of reliability whether a tag has been moved into a zone being monitored, i.e. a control zone, or is merely in proximity to it. This causes too many false signals when there is no telltale element actually in a control zone, and virtually eliminates their applicability to industrial electronic surveillance usage. Moreover, the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,368 has the additional limitation that the frequencies selected for use therein were limited by an attempt to avoid frequencies that would be very susceptible to false triggering, and thus there is little or no choice of frequencies for the plurality of remotely distinguishable control zones likely to be needed for industrial applications. Furthermore, that system is subject to over-range difficulties, particularly if the LF or electrostatic signal is strengthened, as needed if employed with multiple control zones within a larger surveillance area, which the present invention contemplates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for precisely defining at least one control zone within a larger surveillance area, within which zone or zones may be electronically detected the presence of a telltale element. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to permit a plurality of precisely defined control zones to be set up within a larger surveillance area. 
     It is a related object of the present invention to accomplish the preceding objects with the present invention while electronically detecting in which of plurality of control zones a telltale element is located. 
     It is another principal object of the present invention to minimize inadvertent signals from electronically monitored control zones by precise definition of those zones, thus avoiding the triggering of a signal by the presence of a telltale element in proximity to, but outside of, the control zone in question. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide means which will give a subsidiary output that may serve as a warning that a telltale element has been moved close to a control zone but without actually generating a false signal that a telltale element is actually in a given control zone. 
     It is a resulting object that the subsidiary output provides advance notice that a telltale element is about to enter a control zone, thereby allowing more time to respond thereto. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which allows greater flexibility in the choice of frequencies and components capable of being used in the apparatus or in practicing the method of electronic surveillance of at least one control zone by the use of means for precisely defining the limits of those control zones. 
     A further principal object of the present invention is to accomplish all the foregoing objects and advantages with apparatus that is significantly simplified over what was previously known, thus permitting practice of the art at lower cost, or in permitting its use for a plurality of control zones within a surveillance area. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide &#34;plug in&#34; capability to add in additional control zones within a larger surveillance area as needs change. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following descriptions of the invention and upon reference to the drawings. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for detecting within at least one precisely defined control zone the presence of a telltale element the heart of which is a transponder which has signal mixing capability. The apparatus includes a source of high frequency (HF) signals; means coupled to the source of the HF signals for propagating in a surveillance area an electronic wave corresponding to the HF signals, which means may include transducers or antennae; a source of first low frequency (LF) (or LF oscillator) signals; a first modulation oscillator coupled to the first source of LF to frequency modulate (FM) said source of first LF signals (creating a source of first FM signals); a first means which may be transducers or antennae, coupled to the source of first FM signals for establishing through a control zone within the larger surveillance area an electronic field corresponding to the first FM signals; a source of second LF signals (LF oscillator) with a frequency close to, but not necessarily the same as that of any other LF signals and coupled to a second modulation oscillator to frequency modulate said source of second LF signals (creating a source of second FM signals), a second means, which may also be transducers or antennae, coupled to the source of second FM signals for establishing throughout a control zone margin an electronic field corresponding to the second FM signals and thereby precisely defining the limits of that control zone; signal detecting means; means for coupling the detecting means with that control zone for receiving the signals therefrom, with the detecting means being constructed and arranged to detect the FM signals only when received in combination with the HF signals; a first terminal coupled to the detecting means for transmitting an output responsive to the detection, when that occurs, of the first FM signals. The second modulation oscillator may, but need not, have a different characteristic than the first modulation oscillator. 
     Alternatively, there may be provided a second terminal coupled to the detecting means for activating a subsidiary output responsive to the detection, when that occurs, of the second FM signals. This subsidiary output may serve as a warning that a telltale element is close to a control zone. 
     Of course, additional FM signal generating means may be added with accompanying means such as transducers or antennae to set additional control zones at other points in the larger surveillance area defined by the HF electronic wave. These additional control zones may either be precisely defined using a pair of FM sources, as in the first control zone, or may be proximity zone devices utilizing a single FM signal generating means with connections. The system may be built so these additional FM generators, either singly or in pairs, could be merely plugged into the system with transmitting means appropriately positioned in the surveillance area and with output means also plugged in, providing significant user flexibility and inexpensive expansion. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for detecting within a control zone the presence of a transponder which has signal mixing capability, said method comprising the steps of generating HF signals to define thereby a surveillance area; propagating through at least one control zone located in the surveillance area an electronic wave corresponding to the HF signals; generating first LF signals using an oscillator (also called an LF oscillator source or signal generator), frequency modulating said first LF signals with a first modulation oscillator; defining a control zone by propagating an electronic field corresponding to the first FM signals; generating second LF signals with another oscillator those signals having a frequency close to, but not necessarily the same as that of any other LF signals; frequency modulating said second LF signals with a second modulation oscillator; establishing throughout a control zone margin an electronic field corresponding to the second FM signals to precisely define the limits of the control zone; detecting the signals in such manner as to detect the FM signals only when received in combination with the HF signals; and translating the detection, when that occurs, of first FM signals into delivery of an output. Alternatively, the method comprises the additional step of translating the detection, when that occurs, of second FM signals into delivery of a subsidiary output which may serve as a warning that a telltale element is near a control zone. 
     The invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a precisely defined control zone in a larger surveillance area. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing the utilization of both an output A and a subsidiary output A 1  warning of the approach of a telltale element to a control zone. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuit in a typical transponder having signal mixing capability. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the invention showing a preferred embodiment of the filter shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the invention showing a preferred embodiment of the filters when there is utilization of both an output A and subsidiary output A 1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing two precisely defined control zones having differing geometry and one proximity zone. 
     FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the filters shown in FIG. 6. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a first LF oscillator 32 generates first low frequency (LF) signals which are frequency moduated using a first modulation oscillator 30 via conductor 31 to create first FM signals at 33. The FM output of oscillators 30 and 32 is fed via conductor 33 to signal transmitting means 34 and 35 and radiated into a control zone 38. 
     There is also provided another LF oscillator 132 which generates second LF signals with a frequency close to, but not necessarily the same as, that of the first LF signals. These, too, are frequency modulated with a second modulation oscillator 130 via conductor 131 to create sound FM signals at 133. The characteristics of each modulation oscillator may, but need not, be different than others in the system. The FM output of oscillators 130 and 132 is fed via conductor 133 to signal transmitting means 134 and 135 and radiated into a control zone margin 138 outboard of the control zone 38. 
     An HF oscillator 10 functions as a source of HF signals and has its output connected over conductor 11, to a directional coupler 12. Output of the directional coupler 12 is connected via conductor 13 to signal transmitting and receiving means 14. Optionally, a plurality of such means may be employed, connected to the directional coupler 12 in the same manner. The nature of the directional coupler 12 is such that most of the signal from the source 10 goes to the conductor 13. However, a small amount of output from the coupler 12, termed leakage, does flow through to conductor 17. This leakage is utilized to bias an HF detector 18, providing a reference. 
     The control zone 38 shown generally by phantom line 29 is located anywhere within the surveillance area 36 shown generally by phantom line 37. The control zone is substantially between signal transmitting means 34 and 35 which confront each other. Signal transmitting means 134 and 135 are facing the control zone margin 138 and radiate their signals toward the margin. This concentrates the energy from signal transmitting means 34 and 35 in control zone 38 and places the principal energy from the signal transmitting means 134 and 135 outboard of the control zone in the control zone margin 138. 
     In this configuration, when a transponder, such as shown in FIG. 3, is moved into the control zone 38, it will reradiate a composite signal to signal transmitting and receiving means 14 which will be primarily the signal radiated from signal transmitting means 34 and 35, combined with that from signal transmitting and receiving means 14. However, some of the composite signal reradiated from the transponder may be a signal component radiated from signal transmitting means 134 and 135 combined with a signal component from transmitting and receiving means 14. 
     The signals received by signal transmitting and receiving means 14 pass through conductor 13 to the directional coupler 12, isolated from signals on path 11, and sent out conductor 17 to the HF detector 18. In a known and standard manner, the HF detector 18 will remove the HF component and supply the detected FM signals via path 19 to the FM receiver 20. 
     The FM receiver 20 is tuned so its pass band includes both of the similar but not identical signals sent out over conductors 33 and 133. It is a well known fact that an FM receiver will only &#34;lock on&#34; to the strongest of a plurality of slightly different signals that are within its pass band. Therefore, the FM receiver 20 will select the FM signal radiated from signal transmitting means 34 and 35 while the transponder is in the control zone 38, despite the fact that some signal from transmitting means 134 and 135 may have also been picked up. This is because signal radiated from transmitting means 34 and 35 will be stronger when the transponder is in the control zone 38 than the signal from transmitting means 134 and 135. 
     In like manner, if the transponder is moved outboard to the control zone margin 138, the composite signal reradiated to signal transmitting and receiving means 14 will be primarily the signal radiated from signal transmitting means 134 and 135 combined with the HF signal later removed by HF detector 18. Secondarily, signals from transmitting means 34 and 35 may be included in the composite signal, but the FM receiver 20 will again &#34;lock on&#34; to the strongest signal, in this case the one radiated from signal transmitting means 134 and 135 because the transponder is in the control zone margin 138. 
     The output of FM receiver 20 is connected via conductor 21 to filter 60. Filter 60 is constructed such that signals from transmitting means 34 and 35, which originated in oscillators 30 and 32, will pass through it. However, other signals will not. Thus, if the transponder is located in the control zone margin 138, and signals from transmitting means 134 and 135 accordingly predominate over signals from transmitting means 34 and 35, the FM receiver 20 will lock on to the signals from the transmitting means 134 and 135 which originate in oscillators 130 and 132, and the output from FM receiver 20 will exclude any signals to which filter 60 is receptive. Therefore, when the transponder is in the control zone margin 138, the output from FM receiver 20 will be eliminated by filter 60, and there will be no signal to reach terminal 62. Thus there will be no Output A at 64. 
     Contrarywise, if the transponder is moved into the control zone 38, signals from transmitting means 34 and 35, originating in oscillators 30 and 32, will predominate and will pass through FM receiver 20 via conductor 21 to filter 60, which will pass those signals through to terminal 62, rendering output at 64. Output A at 64 could be used for numerous purposes including connection to a data acquisition system for a computer or merely to activate an alarm. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown an alternative embodiment, wherein the output of the FM receiver 20 is additionally connected via a conductor 21 to a filter 160. This filter 160 is constructed such that signals from transmitting means 134 and 135, which originated in oscillators 130 and 132, will pass through it. However, other signals will not. Filter 160 is connected via terminal 162 to transmit Output A 1  at 164, which may serve as a warning and which also may be connected to a data acquisition system for use by a computer. 
     FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the transponder circuit, wherein each terminal of a diode 45 is connected to parallel inductance and capacitance elements, 41 and 44 and 40 and 42 respectively which are embedded in a carrier and comprises a telltale element 43. The circuit is passive, requiring no battery or other power source connected to it. This circuit may be embodied in numerous ways, including an unbreakable capsule for industrial applications or in paper or plastic tags, such as disclosed and claimed in Applicant&#39;s copending application for a &#34;Lock Tag&#34;, Ser. No. 870,673 filed Jan. 19, 1978. 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the filter 60 shown in FIG. 1. The output of FM receiver will be random noise when no telltale element is in a position to mix HF and FM signals. However, when there is signal mixing from a telltale element, the FM receiver output will have a DC characteristic that is proportional to the deviation of the FM signal received from the center of the FM receiver pass band. In FIG. 4, that DC output from FM receiver 20 will be connected via conductor 21 to a frequency and phase comparator 54, which also receives an output via conductor 53 from oscillators 30 and 32. The output of the frequency and phase comparator 54 passes over path 55 to integrator 56 and thence over conductor 57 to a threshold level detector 58, such as a Shmitt trigger. If the comparator 54 determines that the characteristics of the signals received from FM receiver 20 are substantially identical for a given period of time to those received from oscillators 30 and 32, then the output from integrator 56 on conductor 57 will rise to the triggering point of the threshold level detector 58, providing Output A at 64 over terminal 62. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the alternative shown in FIG. 2, utilizing the same type of members used in FIG. 4. Thus there is provided a second frequency and phase comparator 154 which receives outputs from the FM receiver 20 via conductor 21 and from oscillators 130 and 132 via conductor 153. The output of the frequency and phase comparator 154 passes over path 155 to integrator 156 and thence over conductor 157 to a threshold level detector 158, such as a Shmitt trigger. If the comparator 154 determines that the characteristics of the signals received from FM receiver 20 are substantially identical for a given period of time to those received from oscillators 130 and 132, then the output from integrator 156 on conductor 157 will rise to the triggering point of the threshold level detector 158, providing Output A 1  at 164 over terminal 162. Any other signals from FM receiver 20, such as those emanating in oscillators 30 and 32 will not cause an output at terminal 162 resulting in no subsidiary output A 1  at 164. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which are included two precisely defined control zones 38 and 238, as well as a proximity zone 438. Description of control zone 38, control zone margin 138, and the use of HF oscillator 10 and oscillators 30, 32, 130 and 132 to create three electronic fields will not be repeated, since it is identical to that description relating to FIG. 1. 
     Oscillators 230, 232, 330 and 332 are used with HF oscillator 10 to create three fields with respect to control zone 238. HF oscillator 10 does so in the same manner as in FIG. 1, through conductor 11 to directional coupler 12, to conductor 13 to signal transmitting and receiving means 14. LF oscillator 232 and modulation oscillator 230 do so through conductor 233 to signal transmitting means 234 and 235. LF oscillator 332 and modulation oscillator 330 do so through conductor 333 to signal transmitting means 334A, 334B, 335A and 335B. The use of a different geometry and more signal transmitting means for oscillators 330 and 332 is to illustrate that the control zone margin 338 can be reshaped and even more precisely defined than control zone margin 138 was with respect to control zone 38 in FIG. 1. 
     Signals are received in the same manner with respect to control zone 238 and control zone margin 338 as described for FIG. 1 (for control zone 38 and margin 138), i.e., through signal transmitting and receiving means 14, conductor 13, directional coupler 12, conductor 17, HF detector 18, FM receiver 20, and conductor 21. LF oscillators 232 and 332 may also have different frequencies than any other oscillators in the system, but must be within the FM receiver pass band nonetheless. FM receiver 20 will still lock on to the strongest signal and will pass on that signal to the filters 60 and 160 already described, as well as analogous filters 260 and 360. These in turn will yield outputs B or B 1  when signals emanating respectively from oscillators 230 and 232, or 330 and 332 predominate in the FM receiver 20 output. 
     FIG. 6 also discloses a single additional pair of oscillators, LF oscillator 432 and modulation oscillator 430. The LF oscillator 432 meets the same requirements as to frequency as all other LF oscillators. Modulation oscillator 430 is connected via conductor 431 to LF oscillator 432. Signal generated by oscillators 430 and 432 is connected through conductor 433 to signal transmitting means 434 and 435. This creates a proximity zone 438 with some over-range (behind signal transmitting means 434 and 435) and without the precise definition of control zone 238 or 38. If a transponder enters proximity zone 438, signal mixing will occur between the FM signals from oscillators 430 and 432, and HF oscillator 10 signals, resulting in a DC output from FM receiver 20, for which additional filter 460 is designed, and this will yield Output C at 464 from terminal 462. There can be no subsidiary Output C 1 , without further additional oscillators and connections. 
     Turning finally to FIG. 7, the preferred embodiments of filters 60, 160, 260, 360 and 460 are illustrated. The pattern of FIG. 5 is followed. Frequency and phase comparators 254, 354 and 454 are in parallel to each other and receive outputs from FM receiver 20 via conductor 21. Comparator 254 also receives output from oscillators 230 and 232 via conductor 253. Comparator 354 also receives output from oscillators 330 and 332 via conductor 353. Comparator 454 also receives output from oscillators 430 and 432 via conductor 453. 
     The output of comparator 254 passes over path 255 to integrator 256 and thence over conductor 257 to a threshold level detector 258. An output B is produced at 264 over terminal 262 in the same manner as described with respect to FIG. 5, except as to oscillators 230 and 232 in FIG. 7. The same is true for subsidiary output B 1  at 364 through terminal 362, but as to oscillators 330 and 332, and utilizing comparator 354, path 355, integrator 356, conductor 357 and threshold level detector 358. 
     So also output C is produced at 464 through terminal 462 as to oscillators 430 and 432 utilizing comparator 454, path 455, integrator 456, conductor 457 and threshold level detector 458. Of course, more control and proximity zones may be set up in the same manner, and could be merely plugged in. 
     It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that substantial advantages accrue from the present invention. These include setting up a plurality of precisely defined control zones in a larger surveillance area. Moreover, the ability to vary either the frequency of the LF oscillator or the characteristics of the modulation oscillator results in a far larger number of distinctive signals that can be created within the pass band of one FM receiver, than is possible with Applicant&#39;s copending application entitled &#34;Method and Apparatus for Electronic Surveillance&#34;, Ser. No. 883,059 filed Mar. 3, 1978. In that case, only the frequency of the LF oscillators can be varied. Another advantage is the facility to change the geometry of the control zones and to plug in additional control zones as needed within a larger surveillance area, both features tending to provide great flexibility in the use of the system. 
     Having described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention it should be understood that various changes in construction and arrangement will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are fully contemplated herein without departing from the true spirit of the invention. Accordingly, there is covered all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.