Patent Description:
Frequently in retail settings, product security tags and other devices attached to products or product packaging are commonly used to deter and intercept theft activities. Such devices operate to deter theft by notifying retailers that a theft event may be occurring. Many systems that are utilized in a retail setting, often referred to as electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, use pedestals or towers located at the exits of a retail establishment that include antennas for detecting RF signals emitted by a product security device that is affixed to a product for sale. Such product security devices can be either disposable or reusable. Disposable devices may be affixed to a product permanently as a one-time-use device that is deactivated at the POS and leaves the retail store with the purchasing customer. On the other hand, a reusable device may be removably locked to the product and can be unlocked and separated from the product at the POS. As such, the reusable security device may stay in the retail store to be applied to another product for sale to repeat the process. If a security device does not pass through the POS to either be deactivated or removed, then the existence of an active device on the product can be detected by the EAS system antennas at the exits of the retail store and cause an alarm to sound.

The removal or deactivation of such security devices continues to be an issue with retail establishments. Retailers are continually working to improve customer experience which includes minimizing or eliminating queuing and wait times at the POS. The time required to remove a security device can add to the queue time leading to delays and a less desirable customer experience. Additionally, such security devices can pose issues for self-checkout POS systems as well because special keys are processes are often required to remove the products from the product.

For example, many reusable security devices require application of a key, often a magnetic key, to remove the security device from the product at the POS without sounding an alarm. Application of the key can increase the time needed to, for example, remove the security device. Additionally, such security devices may require only a magnetic key for removal, which can create weaknesses in the security approach. For example, such magnetic keys may be fabricated or stolen thereby creating the risk that such keys can be used by thieves in an unmonitored or "dark" area of the store to remove the security devices from the products and then simply carry the products through the EAS systems at the exits without detection.

As such, there continues to be a need for improvement in the area of product security devices. In particular, there is a need for security devices that increase the efficiency of the POS queue and also offer additional degrees of security features beyond what is offered by, for example, a magnetic key-based locking mechanism.

<CIT> discloses a security device comprising a plurality of cables which are securable about an item of merchandise with a locking member and a cable-tightening mechanism each connected to the cables in a spaced apart manner. The locking member includes a key portion for unlocking the tightening mechanism when the cable is removed from the item. The tightening mechanism includes a spool and a ratchet mechanism (Abstract).

<CIT> discloses an electronic article surveillance apparatus for monitoring large objects, comprised of a base, at least one segment of tape, and an electronics housing. The segment of tape has at least one electrically conductive element running the length of the tape. The base rests on an object to be monitored, and the housing releasably latches onto the base, while each tape segment wraps around the object with each end of tape segment being fixed between the base and housing. Electronics within the housing complete a circuit through each tape segment and monitor the tape segments for electrical continuity. If electrical continuity is lost, either by cutting a tape segment, or unauthorized unlatching of the housing, an alarm can be sounded by the electronics within the housing. The electronic housing may be disarmed by a remote device and delatched from the base. Both base and tape segments may have adhesive elements (Abstract).

<CIT> discloses a security device for attachment to an article to deter theft comprising a housing containing an alarm system including an audible alarm speaker. The alarm system includes a conductor located within the housing which forms a loop that extends at least partially about the alarm speaker or about the periphery of the housing. The conductor which can be an electrical conductor, fiber optic conductor, light pipe, etc., when severed by a thief will actuate the audible alarm. In another embodiment, the conductor forms a loop about a simulated speaker grille formed in the housing to prevent tampering, wherein the audible alarm is located in the housing remote from the simulated speaker grille.

The invention is defined in the independent claims, while advantageous embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used herein, operable coupling should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.

Among other example embodiments, an example security device is provided herein that includes both local alarming anti-tamper features, in addition to being deactivatable at, for example, a point-of-sale (POS) via a deactivator. The example security device may be comprised of an alarming unit and peripheral components that can assist with affixing the alarming unit to a product or extending the anti-tamper functions of the alarming unit. According to some example embodiments, the example security device may be embodied as a one-time-use, disposable device that can be deactivated at the POS and leave the retail establishment with the purchased product. Accordingly, no removal of the alarming unit by store personnel may be required. However, according to some example embodiments, the security device may alternatively be implemented in manner where the device is removed and reusable within the retail establishment. In this regard, the security device may be removable from the product after being deactivated to disable the anti-tamper features. After being deactivated, removal may be performed, for example, via a magnetic key, a push button, or the like, and the alarming unit may be removed from the product and reused on another product for sale within the retail establishment.

According to some example embodiments, the example security device may include an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag. The EAS tag may be deactivatable (e.g., for a disposable security device) or non-deactivatable (e.g., for a reusable security device). As a deactivatable EAS tag, the tag may be deactivated (e.g., permanently) such that the tag no longer operates to trigger an alarm by an alarming gate at the exits of a retail establishment thereby allowing a customer to leave the store with the tag, after deactivation, and not trigger the alarm. As a non-deactivatable EAS tag, the tag cannot be deactivated and would be included in a reusable security device that does not leave the retail establishment, but is repeatedly reused after the product to which the security device is attached is sold. The EAS tag may be a radio frequency (RF) label (e.g., resonant at <NUM> or <NUM>) or an acousto-magnetic tag (e.g., resonant at <NUM>). As mentioned above, the EAS tag may be configured to resonate and return a signal to, for example, an EAS gate when exposed to an electromagnetic field generated by the gate (i.e., a gate field) at the resonant frequency of the EAS tag. The EAS gate, for example, may be located at the exit of a retail store. Upon detecting the EAS tag's return signal, the EAS gate may trigger a gate alarm to indicate that a possible theft may be occurring and alert store personnel.

In example embodiments where the security device is disposable, a deactivatable EAS tag may be used, which may be deactivated at a POS in association with the successful purchase of a product to which the security device is affixed. In this regard, the POS may include a deactivator device that may be incorporated into, for example, a deactivator pad. Alternatively, such a deactivator may be incorporated into various devices that may include the deactivator as a component, such as devices with an integrated barcode scanning device, and RFID reader, or a deactivator wand. The deactivator may be configured to output a wireless signal at, for example, the resonant frequency of the deactivatable EAS tag. Upon detecting the presence of an EAS tag within the deactivator field at the POS (e.g., deactivatable or non-deactivatable), due to receipt of a return signal from the EAS tag, the deactivator may be configured to increase the power of the deactivator field to attempt to deactivate the EAS tag. The increased power of the deactivator field may operate to deactivate a deactivatable EAS tag, for example, by increasing a current in an RF resonant circuit of an RF deactivatable EAS tag to breakdown the dielectric between the plates of a capacitor (e.g., a location of an dimple in the dielectric) and cause a short between the plates thereby preventing further resonating of the deactivatable EAS tag after being exposed to the deactivation field. Alternatively, the increased power of the deactivator signal may operate to change the magnetism in a metal strip within an AM deactivatable EAS tag thereby preventing the AM EAS tag from further resonating due to the induced change in magnetism of the metal strips within the tag. As such, the deactivation field generated by the deactivator may be output a higher power than the gate field, with the increased power causing the deactivation. However, the deactivation field and the gate field may be generated at a same signal frequency. In an instance in which the EAS tag is non-deactivatable, the deactivator may be configured to output the higher power field, however, the EAS tag may not deactivate. Nonetheless, the higher power deactivation field triggered by the presence of an EAS tag in the deactivator field may be useful for other purposes with respect to tamper detection circuitry as further described herein.

In addition to the EAS tag, the example security device may include tamper detection circuitry within the alarming unit that is configured to implement an anti-tamper feature having a local audible alarm. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry may include a tamper sensor that may be implemented in a number of forms. For example, according to some example embodiments, the tamper sensor may include contacts that may be affixed to a conductive strip that can be monitored for connectivity. A breaking or severing of the conductive strip may constitute a tamper event that is detected by the tamper sensor, and the tamper detection circuity may be configured to trigger an audible alarm in response to a tamper signal provided by the tamper sensor in response to the tamper event. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper sensor may include a tamper switch (e.g., a plunger switch) that is positioned to detect that the alarming unit is in contact with the product. A change in the state of the tamper switch, e.g., due to movement of the alarming unit away from the product, may be another type of tamper event that generates a tamper signal to trigger the tamper detection circuitry to emit an audible alarm.

More specifically, with respect to monitoring a conductive strip, the example security device may include tamper detection circuitry that monitors, for example, a conductive strip that forms a loop that may be wrapped around an item to secure the item physically and with an alarming feature. According to some example embodiments, the conductive strip may include an adhesive that affixes the conductive strip to the item to, for example, prevent flaps of the box from being opened. Further, the conductive strip may be connected to the example security device at both ends to form a loop that may be monitored for connectivity via a tamper sensor. As such, the example security device may be configured to monitor the connectivity of the conductive strip, and if the conductive strip is severed (e.g., due to the conductive strip being cut in an attempt to open the product packaging or in an attempt to otherwise separate an alarming unit of the example security device from the product), then the tamper detection circuitry may trigger a sense loop alarm, local to the example security device, to, for example, audibly alert store personnel of a possible theft.

According to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry that supports the tamper sensor and alarming functionalities may also include a deactivation sensor that operates to permit the tamper detection and alarming features of the security device to be selectively deactivated, for example, permanently for a disposable security device or temporarily for a reusable security device. In this regard, the deactivation sensor may include a deactivation field-controlled switch, and may use operation of the switch to generate a deactivation signal. In this regard, the deactivation sensor may be operable to deactivate the tamper detection circuitry to prevent, for example, an audible alarm from occurring after deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry. As such, where the example security device is disposable, deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry and the deactivatable EAS tag via a deactivator may permit the security device to leave the retail environment with the purchasing customer and without either the deactivatable EAS tag or the tamper detection circuitry sounding an alarm. Alternatively, where the example security device is reusable, deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry may permit the alarm unit of the security device to be removed from the product, without triggering an audible alarm.

According to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor may be operated to deactivate the tamper detection circuitry's ability to trigger the audible alarm in response to receipt of a deactivation field from a deactivator. Further, the deactivation sensor may be configured to operate to provide an output in the form of a deactivation signal (e.g., opening a switch or generating a high resistance state) in response to receiving or being present within the deactivation field generated by the deactivator. As such, in an example embodiment that is a disposable security device, interaction with the deactivator at the POS may permit both the deactivatable EAS tag and the tamper detection circuitry to be deactivated rendering the security device disposable.

According to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor may comprise a reed switch, having reeds that may deflect to contact each other to close the switch, or deflect away from each other such that the reeds do not contact to open the switch. The deactivation sensor may also include magnetizable strips, for example, disposed on opposite sides of the reed switch. If the magnetizable strips are properly magnetized, the reeds of the switch may be affected by the fields generated by the magnetizable strips and the reeds may be urged into contact with each other to close the switch. In response to the switch being closed, the tamper detection circuitry may be in an active state to permit triggering of the sense loop alarm if the conductive strip is severed. However, if the deactivation sensor, and more particularly magnetizable strips, are demagnetized due to the exposure to the deactivator field, then the reeds may open and the tamper detection circuitry may be deactivated and not sound the sense loop alarm if the conductive strip is severed.

The deactivation sensor may also be embodied by other devices that can perform a switching-type operation in response to receipt of the deactivator field. In this regard, for example, other types of sensors that comprise an antenna (e.g., an inductor) or a resonant circuit may be configured to detect the deactivator field. Alternatively, other, for example, thin-film devices may be components of a deactivation sensor such as a tunnel-magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor.

Accordingly, example embodiments provide for a security device that includes both local alarming features for use within the retail store, and also deactivation features which permit the security device to be disposable or reusable. The inclusion of the deactivation sensor offers the advantage of permitting the alarming security device to be completely deactivatable and therefore disposable (i.e., can leave the store with a properly purchased product). Alternatively, the security device may include tamper detection circuitry that is temporarily deactivatable, via a deactivation field intended for a deactivatable EAS tag, for use in a reusable security device. In other words, some example embodiments of the security device are deactivatable using the same deactivator as the deactivatable EAS tag, thereby permitting the tamper detection circuitry to be deactivated without introducing a unique deactivator for the tamper detection circuitry and without introducing new procedures for store personnel to perform a deactivation of a security device at the POS.

In accordance with some example embodiments, <FIG> illustrates an example security device <NUM> affixed to an item <NUM>. The example security device <NUM> may be configured to a disposable or reusable security device. In this regard, the security device <NUM> may include an alarming unit <NUM> and, for example, a conductive strip <NUM>. The alarming unit <NUM> may, for example, be affixed to the item <NUM> along an edge <NUM>. Alternatively, the alarming unit <NUM> may be affixed to the item <NUM> at a position away from the edge <NUM> or any other edge of the item <NUM> or internal to the enclosure of the item <NUM>. Further, the conductive strip <NUM> may loop around the item <NUM> and be connected at each end to electrical contacts of the alarming unit <NUM> to form an electric circuit or sense loop through the conductive strip <NUM> back to the alarming unit <NUM>. The conductive strip <NUM> may include at least a conductor such as aluminum thread that is continuously connected throughout the length of the conductive strip <NUM>. The conductive strip <NUM> may be affixed to the item <NUM> via an adhesive. According to some example embodiments, the conductive strip <NUM> may include an adhesive backing (e.g., adhesive tape) with a conductor affixed thereto via the adhesive, where the conductor extends along a length of the conductive strip <NUM> and is exposed for electrical connection on an adhesive side of the backing. In this regard, for example, the conductor may be affixed to the backing such that the conductor is exposed to form an electrical connection on a first side of the backing and insulated from forming an electrical connection on a second side of the backing. The alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to electrically connect to the conductive strip <NUM>, monitor the connectivity of the conductive strip <NUM>, and trigger a sense loop alarm if a discontinuity is introduced to the conductive strip <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example system <NUM> including a security device <NUM> and a deactivator <NUM> generating a deactivation field <NUM> according to some example embodiments. As such, the security device <NUM> is being subjected to the deactivator field <NUM>, presumably at a POS. As a result, in example embodiments where the EAS tag is deactivatable (e.g., the security device <NUM> is disposable), both the deactivatable EAS tag of the security device <NUM> and the tamper detection circuitry of the security device <NUM> may be deactivated by the deactivator field <NUM>. Alternatively, in example embodiments where the EAS tag is non-deactivatable (e.g., the security device <NUM> is reusable), the presence of the non-deactivatable EAS tag still sends a response signal <NUM> back to the deactivator <NUM> to generate the deactivation field <NUM>, and the tamper detection circuitry is deactivated to permit removal of the alarming unit <NUM> without triggering an audible alarm. The deactivator field <NUM> is provided by the deactivator in response to detecting the presence of the deactivatable or non-deactivatable EAS tag of the security device <NUM>. However, the same deactivator field <NUM> may be used to deactivate both the EAS tag, in instances in which the EAS tag is deactivatable, and the tamper detection circuitry. According to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry may be configured to deactivate in response to receipt or detection of a deactivation field that exceeds a threshold power level. Further, the deactivation field may be generated at a given frequency such as, for example, <NUM> or <NUM> for an RF deactivator system or <NUM> for an AM deactivator system.

<FIG> illustrate perspective views of the example alarming unit <NUM> of a security device <NUM> according to some example embodiments. In this regard, the alarming unit <NUM> may include an edge plate <NUM> that extends at a right angle to a top housing portion <NUM> to facilitate affixing the security device <NUM> on an edge of the item to be protected. According to some example embodiments, the alarming unit <NUM> need not include an edge plate <NUM> to facilitate placement of the alarming unit <NUM> at locations, other than at an edge. Also with reference to the exploded view of the alarming unit <NUM> of <FIG>, the security device <NUM> may include the top housing portion <NUM> and a bottom housing portion <NUM>. In this regard, <FIG> shows a top view of the alarming unit <NUM> with the top housing portion <NUM> removed. According to some example embodiments, the bottom housing portion <NUM> may include the edge plate <NUM>. Further, the alarming unit <NUM> may also include a EAS tag <NUM>, which may be a deactivatable or non-deactivatable radio frequency (RF) label or an acousto-magnetic (AM) tag. Further, the alarming unit <NUM> may also comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM>, conductive strip contacts <NUM> and <NUM> for connecting to the conductive strip <NUM>, a deactivation sensor <NUM>, batteries <NUM> and <NUM>, and a sounder <NUM> (e.g., piezo buzzer, speaker, or the like). The security device <NUM> may also include an adhesive <NUM> (e.g., in the form of an adhesive pad), which may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). In this regard, the adhesive <NUM> may be used to affix the alarming unit <NUM> to product packaging. The conductive strip contacts <NUM> and <NUM>, the deactivation sensor <NUM>, the batteries <NUM> and <NUM>, and the sounder <NUM> may be populated on the PCB <NUM> and, where necessary, electrically connected to support operation as described herein.

Having described aspects of some example embodiments of a security device as provided with respect to <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates a functional block diagram of another security device <NUM> in accordance with some example embodiments. The security device <NUM> may be an example embodiment of the security device <NUM>. In this regard, the security device <NUM> may comprise a housing <NUM> for an alarming unit of the security device <NUM>, within which an EAS tag <NUM> and tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be disposed. The housing <NUM> may be an enclosure that the EAS tag <NUM> and the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> are disposed within, and can be affixed to product packaging via, for example, an adhesive. According to some example embodiments, the housing <NUM> may be formed of, for example, plastic and may comprise components, such as, top housing portion <NUM> and bottom housing portion <NUM> to form the housing <NUM>.

The EAS tag <NUM> may be the same or similar to the EAS tag <NUM> described above. Further, according to some example embodiments, the EAS tag <NUM> may be disposed within the housing <NUM> and configured to resonate to provide a wireless response signal in response to a being disposed within a gate field. In this regard, the EAS tag <NUM> may be a resonator configured to provide a return wireless signal in response to receiving a signal at a resonant frequency for the EAS tag <NUM>. As such, when the EAS tag <NUM> is subjected to an electromagnetic field generated by, for example, an EAS security gate, the EAS tag <NUM> may become excited and resonate, thereby causing a response signal to be generated by the EAS tag <NUM>. Further, when the EAS tag <NUM> is subjected to a "sense" field or an interrogation field provided by a deactivator, the EAS tag <NUM> may be configured to resonate and provide a wireless response signal. Based on receipt of the response signal from the EAS tag <NUM>, the deactivator may be configured to increase the power of the field from the sense field to a deactivation field that attempts to deactivate the EAS tag <NUM>. If the EAS tag <NUM> is a deactivatable EAS tag, then the deactivation field may operate to deactivate the EAS tag <NUM>. If the EAS tag <NUM> is a non-deactivatable EAS tag, then the configuration of the EAS tag <NUM> may not permit the EAS tag <NUM> to be deactivated.

In example embodiments where the EAS tag <NUM> is deactivatable, the EAS tag <NUM> may also be configured to deactivate in response to being disposed within a deactivation field. In this regard, the deactivation field (e.g., deactivation field <NUM>) may be generated by a deactivator (e.g., deactivator <NUM>) at, for example, a point of sale (POS) within a retail establishment during a purchasing event of a product to which the security device <NUM> is attached. To deactivate the EAS tag <NUM> embodied as a deactivatable RF EAS tag, the EAS tag <NUM> may be affected by the deactivation field such that a current within the tag exceeds a threshold where insulation between two capacitive plates of the tag break down destroying the tag's ability to provide a response signal when exposed to a gate field. In example embodiments where the EAS tag <NUM> is a deactivatable AM EAS tag, the deactivation field may change the magnetism of ferrous strips within the tag, thereby changing the resonant characteristics of the tag and preventing further operation in response to a gate field. As such, when deactivated, the EAS tag <NUM> may be configured to no longer provide the wireless response signal in response to a being disposed within a gate field.

Regardless of whether the EAS tag <NUM> is deactivatable or non-deactivatable, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may also be disposed within the housing <NUM> with the EAS tag <NUM>. The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may comprise a number of electronic components connected and configured to perform the operations and functionalities of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> as described herein. To power the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may include a battery <NUM>. According to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may include alarm control circuitry <NUM>. The alarm control circuitry <NUM> may be a control center of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> and may include components such as a processing device or transistors (e.g., metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)) connected and configured to control the activation and deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> and tamper alarming. According to some example embodiments, the processing device (e.g., a processor, microprocessor, etc.) may be configured via execution of software commands to be a special-purpose device for performing the functionalities described herein. In this regard, the alarm control circuitry <NUM> may also include a memory where such software commands are stored for execution by the processing device. Alternatively, the processing device may be configured in hardware as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) to be a special-purpose device for performing the functionalities described herein. Further, the alarm control circuitry <NUM> may be implemented, according to some example embodiments, without a processing device using circuit design configured to generate the logic described herein. In general, the alarm control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to receive signals from sensors in the form of inputs to generate controlled outputs (e.g., triggering a sounder). In this regard, for example, the alarm control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to control the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> to implement a sense loop alarm function and activate or deactivate the sense loop alarm function as described herein.

The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may also comprise a tamper sensor <NUM>, a sounder <NUM>, a light <NUM>, and a deactivation sensor <NUM>. According to some example embodiments, the tamper sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect, for example, a discontinuity in a conductive strip <NUM> (e.g., due to a tamper event, which may be a severing of the conductive strip <NUM>). In this regard, the tamper sensor <NUM> may comprise a pair of electrical contacts that permit the conductive strip <NUM> to be connected as a sense loop to the tamper sensor <NUM> (e.g., while being wrapped around product packaging). The conductive strip <NUM> may be the same or similar to the conductive strip <NUM> described above.

The tamper sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect a tamper event and generate a tamper signal in response to the tamper event. In this regard, detection of the tamper event may be detection of the loss of electrical continuity in the conductive strip <NUM> due to a severing of a conductive strip <NUM> that is electrically connected to the tamper sensor <NUM> to form a loop. As such, the tamper signal may be generated as, for example, a loss of current flow through and output from the conductive strip <NUM>. For example, in an example embodiment where the conductive strip <NUM> is connected to ground on one end of the conductive strip <NUM> (e.g., via a contact of the tamper sensor <NUM>), the voltage at the other end (i.e., the sensor end) of the conductive strip <NUM> may be used as a tamper signal. When the conductive strip <NUM> is not severed current will flow through the conductive strip <NUM> to ground and the voltage at the sensor end will be low. However, if a tamper event occurs and, for example the conductive strip <NUM> is cut, the voltage at the sensor end will increase to a high voltage (since the connection to ground has been lost and no current flows through the conductive strip <NUM>). In this example embodiment, the presence of a high voltage at the sensor end may be the tamper signal.

It is understood that the tamper sensor <NUM> may be any type of tamper sensor for detecting attempts to remove the security device <NUM> from a product. As such, the tamper sensor <NUM> coupled to the conductive strip <NUM> to detect the occurrence of a tamper event in the form of a severing of the conductive strip <NUM> is one example tamper sensor <NUM> implementation. Other implementations of tamper sensor <NUM> are therefore also contemplated, such as, for example, tamper sensors that comprise a plunger switch that mechanically actuates in response to removal of the security device <NUM> from product packaging and changes state (e.g., closed to open) to generate the tamper signal.

The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> also includes a deactivation sensor <NUM>. In general, according to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may include a device that may changes between a high resistance and a low resistance when the sensor detects the presence of a deactivation field. In this regard, the deactivation field that the deactivation sensor <NUM> is configured to detect may be the same deactivation field (e.g., have the same required characteristics, such as frequency and power) that operates to attempt to deactivate the EAS tag <NUM>. As such, a single field generated by a deactivator (e.g., deactivator <NUM>) may operate to both deactivate a deactivatable EAS tag <NUM> and be detected by the deactivation sensor <NUM>. Additionally, the single deactivation field may be triggered by the presence of the EAS tag <NUM>, for detection by the deactivation sensor <NUM> of the tamper detection circuitry. Further, as mentioned above, the presence of the EAS tag <NUM> may cause a deactivator to increase the power and generate the deactivation field in response to a response signal provided by the EAS tag <NUM> to permit the deactivation sensor <NUM> to detect the deactivation field. Further, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured to generate a deactivation signal within the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> in response to detecting the deactivation field. The deactivation signal may, according to some example embodiments, be a change in voltage due to an open or close switch operation or operation of a transistor (e.g., MOSFET) or similar device to permit or prevent current flow.

According to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may include a switch (e.g., in the form of a magnetically operated reed switch, a semiconductor switching device implemented as a transistor (e.g., MOSFET), or the like). As further described below with respect to <FIG>, example embodiments of a reed switch implementation of the deactivation sensor <NUM> are provided.

Alternatively, according to some example embodiments, other implementations of a deactivation sensor <NUM> may be employed. For example, an antenna (e.g., an inductor) or a resonant circuit may be utilized in some example embodiments. Alternatively, a thin-film device may be utilized as the deactivation sensor <NUM>. In this regard, for example, a tunnel-magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor may be used. A TMR may be implemented as a thin-film technology that utilizes a magnetoresistive effect that can occur in a magnetic tunnel junction of the device to detect a deactivation field. In this regard, the TMR may comprise two ferromagnetic films separated by an insulator (e.g., a thin insulator on the order of a few nanometers) that permits electrons to tunnel from one ferromagnetic film to the other based on quantum mechanics. Electrical junctions may be disposed on each ferromagnetic film. Accordingly, a direction of the magnetizations of the ferromagnetic films may be switched individually by an external magnetic or electromagnetic field (e.g., the deactivation field) which can cause the TMR to transition between high electrical resistance state between the junctions and the low resistance state between the junctions. As such, the TMR may be configured to operate similar to a switch that is controllable by the deactivation field and may be implemented within the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> as the deactivation sensor <NUM>.

Further, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may also include a sounder <NUM> and a light <NUM>. The sounder <NUM> may be any type of audio device capable of being controlled to selectively emit an audible sound. In this regard, the sounder <NUM> may be the same or similar to sounder <NUM> and may comprise piezo buzzer, speaker, or the like. According to some example embodiments, the sounder <NUM> may include a transformer to facilitate generation of louder audible sound. As described herein, the sounder <NUM> may be triggered to emit sound in response to a tamper event (e.g., severing of the conductive strip <NUM>) to alert store personnel of a possible theft event. In this regard, the sounder <NUM> may be configured to emit an audible sound in response to a tamper signal, when the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is active as further described herein.

The light <NUM> may be a device such as, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) or the like, that can be controlled to selectively emit light. In this regard, the light <NUM> may be configured, as further described herein, to emit light in response to a tamper signal. Additionally or alternatively, the light <NUM> may be configured to emit light in response to the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> being in an active state and not emit light in response to the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> being in an deactivated state. As such, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the light <NUM> in response to the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> being in the active state, and not illuminate the light <NUM> in response to the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> being in the deactivated state.

With respect to the operation of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be in an active or deactivated state. In the active state, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is "armed" and will cause, for example, the sounder <NUM> to output an audible sound in response to receipt of a tamper signal from the tamper sensor <NUM> due to a tamper event. Alternatively, in the deactivated state, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is "disarmed" or deactivated and does not respond to a tamper event, and therefore, for example, the sounder <NUM> is not caused to emit an audible sound when a tamper event occurs (e.g., the conductive strip <NUM> is severed). As such, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be in the active state when the security device <NUM> is affixed to a product in a store waiting to be purchased. Further, the conductive strip <NUM>, implemented as a sense loop, is operating to protect the product from theft in the active state. In the deactivated state, the product with the security device <NUM> attached has been purchased and exposed to the deactivation field, and the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is disarmed to permit a customer to bring the product home and remove the security device <NUM> (i.e., sever the conductive strip <NUM>) without, for example, the sounder <NUM> emitting an audible sound.

Accordingly, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is configured to trigger the sounder <NUM> to emit an audible sound in the form of an alarm sound in response to receiving the tamper signal from the tamper sensor <NUM> when the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is in the active state. Further, the tamper detection circuitry is configured to transition the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> to the deactivated state in response to receiving the deactivation signal from the deactivation sensor. As mentioned above, in the deactivated state, receipt of the tamper signal does not trigger the sounder to emit the alarm. The state of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> (i.e., active or deactivated state) is based on the state of the deactivation sensor <NUM>. For example, in an implementation where the deactivation sensor <NUM> is a TMR, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be in the active state when the TMR has a low resistance between the junctions and in a deactivated state when the TMR has a high resistance between the junctions.

As mentioned above, the EAS tag <NUM> and the deactivation sensor <NUM> may detect and take action in response to the same deactivation field. As such, according to some example embodiments, the EAS tag <NUM> may be configured to respond to a sense field of a deactivator to trigger a deactivation field. If the EAS tag <NUM> is a deactivatable EAS tag, the EAS tag <NUM> may deactivate in response to being disposed within and detecting the deactivation field. Additionally, the deactivation sensor <NUM> is configured to generate a deactivation signal in response to the deactivation field. Further, the deactivation field is required to have at least a threshold power to deactivate a deactivatable EAS tag <NUM>, and, the deactivation sensor <NUM> provides the deactivation signal in response to detecting the deactivation field having at least the threshold power. Further, the EAS tag <NUM> and the deactivation sensor <NUM> are tuned to a frequency of the deactivation field, and the EAS tag <NUM> is tuned to the same frequency. According to some example embodiments, the deactivation field and the gate field (described above) that are detected by the EAS tag <NUM> and the deactivation sensor <NUM> operates to generate a field at the same frequency. Example frequencies for the deactivation field and the gate field may include <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. Further, although the gate field and the deactivation field are the same frequency, the gate field may provide a field power that is not high enough to cause the deactivation sensor <NUM> to generate the deactivation signal. As such, the gate field is insufficient to deactivate the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>.

In view of the block diagram of <FIG>, <FIG> illustrates an example circuit diagram for tamper detection circuitry <NUM> of a security device (e.g., security device <NUM>) according to some example embodiments. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may include a battery <NUM> (e.g., battery <NUM>), integrated processing circuit chip <NUM> (e.g., alarm control circuitry <NUM>), sounder <NUM> (e.g., sounder <NUM>), sounder transformer <NUM>, conductive strip <NUM> (e.g., conductive strip <NUM>), and a deactivation sensor in the form of deactivation switch <NUM> (e.g., deactivation sensor <NUM>). In operation, the chip <NUM> may be configured to monitor the connectivity of the conductive strip <NUM> and monitor the switch state (e.g., open or closed) of the deactivation switch <NUM>. If the conductive strip <NUM> is severed while the deactivation switch <NUM> is activated (e.g., closed), then the chip <NUM> may be configured to cause the sounder <NUM> to emit an audible alarm with the assistance of the sounder transformer <NUM>. If, however, the conductive strip <NUM> is severed while the deactivation switch <NUM> is deactivated (e.g., open), then the chip <NUM> may be configured to maintain the sounder <NUM> in silence and not trigger the sense loop alarm.

<FIG> illustrates another example circuit diagram for tamper detection circuitry <NUM> for a security device (e.g., security device <NUM>) according to some example embodiments. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> does not include an integrated circuit to perform the functionalities described herein, rather, a circuit leveraging the operation of a transistor <NUM> is used. According to some example embodiments, the transistor <NUM> may be a MOSFET. The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may include batteries <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (e.g., battery <NUM>), a deactivation sensor in the form of deactivation switch <NUM> (e.g., deactivation sensor <NUM>), a sounder <NUM> (e.g., sounder <NUM>), transistor <NUM> (alarm control circuitry <NUM>), conductive strip contacts <NUM> (e.g., conductive strip contacts of tamper sensor <NUM>), and a light <NUM> (e.g., light <NUM>). In this regard, due to the operation of the transistor <NUM> within this context, the functionalities of the security device <NUM>, as described herein, may be performed. The transistor <NUM> may be configured to control current to the sounder <NUM> based on the connectivity of a conductive strip connected between the conductive strip contacts <NUM>. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, via the transistor <NUM>, may be configured to monitor the connectivity of the conductive strip connected to conductive strip contacts <NUM> and monitor the switch state (e.g., open or closed) of the deactivation switch <NUM>.

With respect to the operation of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, while the deactivation switch <NUM> is activated (e.g., closed), if the conductive strip connected to the contacts <NUM> is severed, then the sounder <NUM> may emit an audible alarm because the gate terminal of the transistor <NUM> will be electrically biased to permit current to flow through the sounder <NUM> from the batteries <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to ground (e.g., the negative terminal of battery <NUM>). If, however, the conductive strip connected to the contacts <NUM> is severed while the deactivation switch <NUM> is deactivated (e.g., open), then the sounder <NUM> may remain silent and the sense loop alarm will not be sounded because, with the deactivation switch in the open position, no current can flow from the batteries <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the sounder <NUM>, regardless of the biasing on the gate terminal of the transistor <NUM>. The light indicator <NUM> may be configured to emit light, for example, when the deactivation switch is closed indicating that the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> is in the active state and ready to be armed by connecting a conductive strip to the contacts <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates another example circuit diagram of another tamper detection circuitry <NUM> according to some example embodiments. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> includes many of the same components as the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, however, in a slightly different electrical configuration. Again, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to monitor the connectivity of the conductive strip connected to contacts <NUM> and monitor the switch state (e.g., open or closed) of the deactivation switch <NUM>. If the conductive strip connected to the contact <NUM> is severed while the deactivation switch <NUM> is activated, then the sounder <NUM> may emit an audible alarm. If, however, the conductive strip connected to the contacts <NUM> is severed while the deactivation switch <NUM> is deactivated, then the sounder <NUM> may remain silent and the sense loop alarm will not be sounded. However, in the example embodiment of <FIG>, the light indicator <NUM> may be configured to emit light when the sense loop alarm is activated and the sounder <NUM> is emitting audible sound. The light indicator <NUM> may be configured to emit light when the sounder <NUM> emits sound.

<FIG> illustrates the example deactivation sensor <NUM>, which may operate as described with respect to deactivation sensor <NUM>. The deactivation sensor <NUM> may comprise a reed switch <NUM> and at least one magnetizable strip <NUM> in close proximity to the reed switch <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the reed switch <NUM> is closed as indicated by the physical contact at <NUM> between the reed blades <NUM> and <NUM>. The reed switch <NUM> may include a capsule <NUM> (e.g., a glass capsule), an inert gas <NUM>, reed blades <NUM> and <NUM>, switch terminals <NUM> and <NUM>, and at least one magnetizable strip <NUM>. In the closed state, as shown in <FIG>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> would be in an active state and can be armed via connection of a conductive strip. In this regard, the magnetizable strip <NUM> has been magnetized and thus may generate a magnetic field that causes the reed blades <NUM> and <NUM> to deflect into a closed position where the reed blades <NUM> and <NUM> are in contact with each other, thereby permitting electric current to flow between terminal <NUM> and terminal <NUM>. Magnetic strip <NUM> may be formed of magnetic iron, steel, or another ferrous material capable of being magnetized. A strong magnet may be used to magnetize the magnetic strip <NUM>, for example, at manufacturing or after a use cycle if the security device <NUM> is being used as a reusable security device.

<FIG> also illustrates another example embodiment of the example deactivation sensor <NUM> and the reed switch <NUM>. The magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM> may be demagnetized in response to receiving a deactivator field as described above. Magnetizable strip <NUM> may be same or similar to magnetizable strip <NUM> as described herein. Due to being demagnetized, magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM> may no longer provide a field to maintain the reed blades <NUM> and <NUM> in the closed positions, and the reed blades <NUM> and <NUM> may deflect into an open position and separate to form a gap <NUM> opening the reed switch <NUM> and deactivating the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>. In this regard, the magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM> have been demagnetized and therefore no field is generated by the magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM> to deflect the reed blades <NUM> and <NUM> out of the open position and into the closed position. As such, with the deactivation switch <NUM> in the open position, terminal <NUM> is not connected to terminal <NUM> and no electric current may flow between the terminal <NUM> and terminal <NUM>.

As such, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured within the tamper detection circuitry (e.g., tamper detection circuitry <NUM>) to perform the functionalities as described with respect to deactivation sensor <NUM>. In this regard, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may include one or more magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM> disposed adjacent the reed switch <NUM>. The one or more magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM>, when magnified, may be configured to generate a field that maintains the reed switch <NUM> in a closed position which maintains the tamper detection circuitry in the active state. Further, in response to being disposed within the deactivation field, the one or more magnetizable strips <NUM> and <NUM> may be demagnetized such that the reed switch <NUM> opens, transitioning the tamper detection circuitry (e.g., tamper detection circuitry <NUM>) to the deactivated state.

Now referring to <FIG>, according to some example embodiments, a system <NUM> or components thereof are provided that comprises product packaging <NUM> (e.g., a box), and a product <NUM> within the product packaging <NUM> in the internal cavity <NUM>. With respect to the side cross-section view of <FIG>, the system <NUM> may also comprise a security device <NUM> having an alarming unit <NUM> affixed to an interior surface of the product packaging <NUM> in electrical connection with a conductive strip <NUM> that is disposed on the exterior of the product packaging <NUM>. As such, an interior packaging installation of an alarming unit <NUM> is shown. In this configuration, the security device <NUM> may be applied with the alarming unit <NUM> within the product packaging <NUM> "at-source" when the product <NUM> is also placed into the product packaging <NUM>.

In this regard, the security device <NUM>, which may be the same or similar to the security device <NUM>, may include a main housing <NUM> with electronics disposed therein, and a conductive strip <NUM> that is configured to be wrapped around the product packaging <NUM>, and, in particular, over seams or openable flaps of the product packaging <NUM>. The alarming unit <NUM> may comprise an electronics board <NUM> which may be populated with various components including those described with respect to the security device <NUM>. In <FIG>, the electronics board <NUM> is shown with tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM>. Also, a sounder <NUM> is shown.

To affix the alarming unit <NUM> to the interior of the product packaging <NUM> an adhesive may be applied between the internal surface of the product packaging <NUM> and the alarming unit <NUM>. Further to extend the tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM> to the exterior of the product packaging <NUM>, openings <NUM> and <NUM> may be made in the product packaging <NUM>. In this regard, for example, the tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed as flexible conductive tabs that extend from the alarming unit <NUM> through the respective openings <NUM> and <NUM> and folded over onto the exterior of the product packaging <NUM> to form the contacts <NUM> and <NUM> for connection with a later-applied conductive strip <NUM> to form a sense loop as described herein. Additionally, an opening <NUM> may be made in the product packaging <NUM> that is adjacent to or aligned with the sounder <NUM> to facilitate emitting audible sound from the sounder <NUM> without being muffled by the surface of the product packaging <NUM>.

In this regard, <FIG> shows a top view of the product packaging <NUM> prior to application of the alarming unit <NUM> within the product packaging <NUM>. As shown, the opening <NUM> and <NUM> are spaced apart to facilitate receipt of the flexible tab contacts <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, opening <NUM> is shown that can be adjacent or aligned with the sounder <NUM>.

Following from <FIG>, <FIG> shows a top view of the product packaging <NUM> with the alarming unit <NUM> now installed within the product packaging <NUM>. As shown, tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM> have been inserted into the respective openings <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, as flexible tabs, the tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM> have been folded onto external surface of the product packaging <NUM> to increase the surface area for electrical connection with a conductive strip <NUM>.

In this regard, <FIG> shows a top view of the product packaging <NUM> with the alarming unit <NUM> installed internal to the product packaging <NUM> and a conductive strip <NUM> applied on an external surface or face of the product packaging <NUM>. As shown, the conductive strip <NUM> overlays the tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM> and is therefore electrically connected to the tamper sensor contacts <NUM> and <NUM>. The conductive strip <NUM> comprises a backing <NUM> with adhesive disposed on the underside of the backing <NUM>. The adhesive facilitates attachment of the conductive strip <NUM> to the external surface of the product packaging <NUM>. Additionally, the adhesive may affix a conductor <NUM> to the backing, where the conductor <NUM> runs along a length of the conductive strip <NUM>. The conductor <NUM> is therefore exposed for electrical connection with a contact <NUM> or <NUM> on one side of the conductive strip <NUM>, but is insulated from making an electrical connection on the other side of the conductive strip <NUM> due to the backing <NUM>. As such, while <FIG> shows the conductive strip <NUM> as extending only from the contact <NUM> to the contact <NUM>, if the conductive strip <NUM> extended past the contact <NUM> to overlap contact <NUM> again, no additional connection to contact <NUM> would be made.

Additionally, <FIG> also shows a placement for a product identifying feature at <NUM>. In this regard, the product identifying feature may be a bar code or QR code. According to some example embodiments, the product identifying feature may be an RFID tag. Regardless of the type of product identifying feature, the alarming unit <NUM> may be disposed near or adjacent the product identifying feature at <NUM>. Having the alarming unit <NUM> placed near the product identifying feature may be beneficial because, in some instances, the product identification scanners (e.g., barcode or QR code scanners, RFID readers, etc.) may also include components to generate a deactivation field. As such, by being located near the product identifying feature, the alarming unit <NUM> is likely to be placed within the deactivation field when the product identifying feature is being scanned or read during a purchasing event.

<FIG> shows another example embodiment where the alarming unit <NUM> includes circuitry to detect tampering of two different conductive strips <NUM> and <NUM>. The conductive strip <NUM> may be constructed in the same fashion as the conductive strip <NUM> described above. The tamper detection circuitry of the security device of <FIG> may cause a tamper signal to be generated when the tamper detection circuitry is active and either of the conductive strips <NUM> or <NUM> are severed. In this regard, the product packaging <NUM> may include two additional openings <NUM> and <NUM> through which contacts <NUM> and <NUM> pass and are folded over to increase the surface area for electrical connection. The conductive strip <NUM>, comprising the backing <NUM> and conductor <NUM>, may be wrapped around the product packaging <NUM>, such that, for example the edges of the two surfaces and associated edges of the product packaging <NUM> that were not engaged by the conductive strip <NUM> are engaged by the conductive strip <NUM>. As such, in this configuration, all edges of the product packaging <NUM>, as a box, are therefore protected by the conductive strips <NUM> and <NUM>.

Now referring to <FIG>, another example embodiment as system <NUM> where the sounder <NUM> directed into the internal cavity of the product packaging <NUM>. In this regard, the security device <NUM> and the associated alarming unit <NUM> may be similar to the security device <NUM> and the alarming unit <NUM>, with the exception that the sounder <NUM> is directed to fire sound towards the interior of the product packaging <NUM>. To do so, according to some example embodiments, the sounder <NUM> may be disposed on the electronics board <NUM> on an interior facing surface with the sound port of the sounder <NUM> directed internally. In this configuration, when a sound is emitted due to a tamper event, the sound volume will substantially increase when the thief opens the product packaging <NUM> and the emitted sound is permitted to escape from the product packaging <NUM> unmuffled. Since the sounder <NUM> does not fire sound towards the exterior of the product packaging <NUM>, the opening <NUM> in the product packaging <NUM> may not be needed.

According to some example embodiments, an example method <NUM> is provided in <FIG>. The example method <NUM> may comprise, at <NUM>, resonating, by an electronic article surveillance tag (e.g., EAS tag <NUM>) disposed within a housing (e.g., housing <NUM>) of a security device (e.g., security device <NUM>), to provide a wireless response signal to a deactivator to trigger generation of a deactivation field (e.g., deactivation field <NUM>) by the deactivator (e.g., deactivator <NUM>). The example method <NUM> may also include, at <NUM>, receiving, by the electronic article surveillance tag, the deactivation field from a deactivator. Further, the example method <NUM> may also include, at <NUM>, simultaneously receiving, by a deactivation sensor disposed within the housing of the security device, the deactivation field. Additionally, at <NUM>, the example method <NUM> may include, in response to simultaneously receiving the deactivation field by the deactivation sensor, deactivating tamper detection circuitry of the security device such that receipt of a tamper signal after deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry does not trigger a sounder to emit the alarm. Additionally, according to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor may comprise a reed switch or a tunnel-magnetoresistance sensor. Additionally or alternatively, a frequency of the deactivation field is about <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

As mentioned above, example embodiments of a security device as provided herein may be disposable or reusable. With respect to the aspects of deactivation, according to some example embodiments, a disposable security device may operate in the same manner as a reusable security device, with the exception that an EAS tag in the disposable security device may be deactivatable and the EAS tag in the reusable security device may be non-deactivatable. The following provides further description of additional example embodiments that may be implemented as either disposable or reusable security devices, according to some example embodiments.

Among other example embodiments, an example security device is provided herein that includes an alarming unit and a cleat for attaching the alarming unit to a product to protect. The alarming unit may include local alarming tamper detection features that may be disarmed at, for example, a point-of-sale (POS) via a deactivator and, if the security device is reusable, may be configured to subsequently re-arm the tamper detection features under certain conditions for reuse in the retail environment. Further, according to some example embodiments, the security device may comprise an alarming unit that includes a locking mechanism to removably secure the alarming unit to a product. As such, according to some example embodiments, to remove the alarming unit in an authorized fashion and avoid triggering a tamper alarm, the tamper detection features may be required to be deactivated or disarmed by detecting a deactivation field (for example, as described above) prior to unlocking the alarming unit from the product. If a deactivation field is not first detected, then removal of the alarming unit can result in a tamper event and an audible alarm in the form of a tamper alarm may be sounded. According to some example embodiments, the alarming unit may be designed such that no key is required for mechanical removal of the security device. In this regard, for example, the security device may include a push button or other mechanical feature that may allow a user to unlock and remove the alarming unit without a tool. In some example embodiments, an alarming unit may be required to interface with a key or other tool, such as a magnetic key, to facilitate removal of the alarming unit from, for example, a cleat or other member that facilitates attachment of the alarming unit to the product. However, if the security device does not first detect the deactivator field, then an alarm will sound when the security device is removed from the product.

In this regard, the security device (e.g., alarming unit and cleat) may be configured to be applied to a retail product to protect the retail product from theft. The security device may include tamper detection circuitry that is configured to cause a local alarm to be sounded when a tamper event is detected indicating that an unauthorized removal of the security device from the product or tampering of the security device is being attempted. According to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry may include, for example, a tamper switch that may be positioned to actuate and trigger an audible tamper alarm if the security device is pulled away from the product to which the security device is affixed. Additionally or alternatively, according to some example embodiments, a security device may include a conductive loop with an electrical conductor that can be wrapped around or passed through an opening in the product to secure the security device to the product. In this regard, the conductive loop may be wrapped around a box-shaped item in a crossover fashion such that the continuous conductive loop wraps around each planar surface of the box-shaped item. According to some example embodiments, a crossover cleat may be used with a security device to facilitate both coupling the security device to the product and electrically connecting two conductive strips into a conductive loop that forms a continuous electrical path between two contacts on the security device. As such, the conductive loop which may be formed using one or more conductive strips as described below, which may be any type of conductor such as a wire or cable that may locked in connection with the alarming unit when installed on a product. If the conductive loop is opened, e.g., due to tampering that severs the electrical conductor of the conductive loop, the security device may detect the open state of the conductor and trigger an audible tamper alarm due to the detection of the tamper event. The audible tamper alarm may notify store personnel that a tamper event has occurred. As further described herein, a tamper event may occur if a key (e.g., magnetic key) is used to remove the security device from the product prior to the security device detecting a deactivator field.

In this regard, according to some example embodiments, the conductive loop may include adhesive that affixes the conductive loop to the item to, for example, prevent flaps of a box or packaging housing the product from being opened. Further, the conductive loop may be connected to the tamper detection circuitry of the example security device at both ends. As such, the example security device may be configured to monitor the connectivity of the conductive loop, and if the conductive loop is severed (e.g., due to the conductive loop being cut due to an attempt to open the product packaging or due to an attempt to otherwise separate the security device from the product), then an alarm, local to the security device, may be sounded to alert store personnel.

According to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry of the security device may be deactivated to allow, for example, an authorized removal of the alarming unit from the product by store personnel or removal of the alarming unit by a customer after leaving the store with the purchased product. As described herein, to deactivate the tamper detection circuitry of the security device, the security device may be configured to detect an EAS deactivator and, more specifically, the electromagnetic fields generated by a deactivator. The deactivator may be a device that can be used to deactivate certain electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags (e.g., labels) by altering or destroying the resonant characteristics of the tags using the electromagnetic field of the deactivator so that the EAS tag no longer resonates when exposed to a field within a given frequency band. In this regard, as described herein, EAS tags may be of two types, i.e., deactivatable and non-deactivatable. Deactivatable EAS tags may configured such that when a deactivatable EAS tag is subjected to an electromagnetic field having select characteristics (i.e., at a certain frequency and at certain power levels), the EAS tag may be deactivated. On the other hand, a non-deactivatable EAS tag may not be deactivated, and will continue to resonate, even after being exposed to an electromagnetic field that is attempting to deactivate that EAS tag. Accordingly, as referred to herein, a generic reference to an "EAS tag" may be referring to either a deactivatable or non-deactivatable EAS tag, unless the context deems otherwise.

In this regard, a POS may include such a deactivator device that may be incorporated into, for example, a deactivator pad. Other types of deactivators may also be utilized such as ones that are integrated into a barcode scanning device or a deactivator wand. The deactivator may be configured to output an electromagnetic field at the resonant frequency of the EAS tag. In operation, the EAS deactivator may first undertake an interrogation process to determine that an EAS tag is within a deactivation zone (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM> inches) of the deactivator. The interrogation process may involve outputting an interrogation (or sense) field to excite the EAS tag to provide a detectable return signal from the EAS tag. The interrogation field may be of a sufficient power level to excite the EAS tag without deactivating the EAS tag. Upon detecting that an EAS tag is present in the deactivation zone, the EAS deactivator may output a deactivation field to deactivate the EAS tag. The deactivation field may have certain characteristics (e.g., frequency and power level) to deactivate a deactivatable EAS tag. In this regard, some EAS deactivators may use multiple field pulses. The frequency of the field generated by each pulse may be different such that the pulses scan across of a range of frequencies. Additionally, the rate at which the pulses are output (e.g., the pulse rate) may be defined for a deactivator and the deactivator may be identified by sensing the pulse rate. Further, according to some example embodiments, for AM systems, the deactivation field may be a degaussing field that has a high magnetic component that decays over time to reduce or eliminate the magnetism of the AM EAS tag. Thus, upon detecting the presence of the EAS tag within the deactivator field at the POS due to receipt of a return signal from the EAS tag, the deactivator may be configured to output a different field to deactivate the EAS tags, and the characteristics of the deactivation field may be detectable by a security device to differentiate between a field generated by an EAS deactivator and a field generated by an EAS gate. The deactivator field may operate to deactivate the EAS tag, for example, by increasing a current in a radio frequency (RF) resonant circuit of an RF EAS tag to breakdown the dielectric between the plates of a capacitor and cause a short between the plates thereby preventing further resonating of the EAS tag. Alternatively, the deactivator field may operate to change the magnetism in a metal strip within an acousto-magnetic (AM) EAS tag thereby preventing the AM EAS tag from further resonating due to the change in magnetism.

However, according to some example embodiments, such a deactivator may also be leveraged to deactivate the tamper detection circuitry of an example security device as described herein. In this regard, upon detecting the deactivation field generated by the deactivator, the security device may be configured to implement a process that, in some instances, may conclude with the tamper alarm being disarmed to permit unlocking and removal of the alarm unit from a product, without sounding an alarm. Further, according to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry of the security device may remain disarmed until a user (e.g., store personnel) takes steps to re-arm the security device. To detect the deactivator field, the security device may employ a receiving device in the form of a field sensor referred to herein as a deactivation sensor capable of detecting an electromagnetic field of a deactivator. Such a deactivation sensor may be, for example, an antenna that is implemented in the form of an inductor, a resonant circuit, a reed switch, a tunnel-magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor, or the like as described herein.

Additionally, an example security device may include an EAS tag (e.g., deactivatable or non-deactivatable) that is detectable by the deactivator and an EAS gate. An EAS gate is typically installed at the ingress and egress of a retail store. The EAS tag may be an RF tag (e.g., resonant at <NUM> or <NUM>) or an AM tag (e.g., resonant at <NUM>). The EAS tag may be configured to resonate and return a signal to, for example, an EAS gate when exposed to an electromagnetic field at the resonant frequency of the EAS tag. Upon detecting the EAS tag's return signal, the EAS gate may trigger a gate alarm to indicate that a possible theft may be occurring.

As such, according to some example embodiments, a security device is provided that leverages the functionality of a standard deactivator that is used to deactivate EAS tags to also disarm or deactivate the tamper detection circuitry of the security device. By employing such a security device, the deactivator may therefore offer dual functionality to assist in the implementation of both deactivatable EAS tags and reusable security devices in a retail environment, in accordance with some example embodiments. Further, by requiring the detection of the deactivator field prior to disarming the tamper detection circuitry, a security device, according to some example embodiments, may provide an added level of security relative to a device that merely requires, for example, a specialized magnetic key to mechanically unlock the device.

In accordance with some example embodiments, <FIG> illustrates an example security device <NUM> affixed to an item <NUM> (e.g., a product). The security device <NUM> may comprise, for example, an alarming unit <NUM>, a cleat <NUM>, and a conductive strip <NUM>. In this regard, the alarming unit <NUM> may be, for example, physically and electrically connected to a conductive strip <NUM>. The alarming unit <NUM> may be affixed to the item <NUM> along an edge <NUM> via a cleat <NUM>. Further, the conductive strip <NUM> may loop around the item <NUM> and be connected at each end to the alarming unit <NUM> to form an electric circuit through the conductive strip <NUM> back to the alarming unit <NUM>. The conductive strip <NUM> may include at least a conductor such as aluminum that is continuously connected throughout a length of the conductive strip <NUM>. The cleat <NUM> may be affixed to the item <NUM> via, for example, an adhesive, and the alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to mechanically lock onto the cleat <NUM>. The alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to monitor the connectivity of the conductive strip <NUM> and trigger a conductive loop alarm if discontinuity is introduced to the conductive strip <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example cleat <NUM> that can be used in conjunction with the security device <NUM> and the alarming unit <NUM>. The cleat <NUM> may be formed of, for example, plastic. The cleat <NUM> may include a base plate <NUM> and a side plate <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> of the cleat <NUM> may be oriented at a right angle or about a right angle to the side plate to facilitate attachment of the cleat <NUM> to an edge of a box-shaped item or an item with a right angle edge. Since the base plate <NUM> and the side plate <NUM> may be affixed to a surface of an item via an adhesive (e.g., an adhesive strip), opening the box-shaped item may be inhibited by the application of the cleat <NUM>.

Further, the cleat <NUM> may include a channel <NUM> disposed on the base plate <NUM>. The channel <NUM> may be positioned to receive the conductive strip <NUM> and facilitate electrical connection with contacts on a bottom side of the alarming unit <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> may also include lock openings <NUM>. Lock openings <NUM> may be configured to receive locking pins or slugs of the alarming unit <NUM> (described below) when the alarming unit <NUM> is locked to the cleat <NUM>. Additionally, the cleat <NUM> may include a tamper plunger opening <NUM> that may be configured to permit a tamper plunger to pass through the tamper plunger opening <NUM> to physically contact the item, when the alarming unit is in the locked position. As such, the tamper plunger opening <NUM> may permit a tamper plunger of the alarming unit <NUM> to extend and actuate an associated switch (e.g., tamper sensor, such as tamper sensor <NUM>) within the alarming unit <NUM> to detect removal of the alarming unit <NUM> and the cleat <NUM> from the item. Also, the base plate <NUM> may include stops <NUM>. In this regard, the alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to slide onto the base plate <NUM> and the stops <NUM> may be positioned to prevent further sliding motion beyond the locked position, when the alarming unit <NUM> is being slid onto the base plate <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the item <NUM> is shown with the cleat <NUM> and the conductive strip <NUM> affixed. In this regard, cleat <NUM> is affixed to an edge of the box-shaped item <NUM>, which may operate to deter opening the item <NUM>, for example, in a retail store to remove and steal the contents. Further, the conductive strip <NUM> is shown as being wrapped around the item <NUM>. Although not shown in detail, the conductive strip <NUM> may be disposed in the channel <NUM> of the cleat <NUM> to ensure proper alignment with contacts of the alarming unit <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a top perspective view of the alarming unit <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the alarming unit <NUM> may include housing comprising a housing cover <NUM>. The housing cover <NUM> may partially house internal electrical and mechanical components that facilitate the operation of the alarming unit <NUM>. The housing cover <NUM> may be formed of plastic and may have a concave shape. The housing cover <NUM> may include an opening through which a light pipe <NUM> for a light emitting diode (LED) may pass. The housing cover <NUM> may include a speaker grill <NUM> comprised of openings that permit sound generated by a sounder to escape from the internal cavity formed by the housing cover <NUM> when the alarming unit <NUM> is alarming.

The housing cover <NUM> may also include, according to some example embodiments, key locators <NUM>. The key locators <NUM> may be indentations in the housing cover <NUM> configured to receive complementary prongs of a magnetic key that can be used to unlock a locking mechanism of the alarming unit <NUM>. Alternatively, according to some example embodiments, the alarming unit <NUM> may include a push button rather than the key locators <NUM>. The push button may be configured to mechanically operate the locking mechanism to unlock the alarming unit <NUM> from the cleat <NUM> without a key (e.g., magnetic key) or other special tool.

The alarming unit <NUM> may also include a bottom plate <NUM>, that together with the housing cover <NUM> form the housing of the alarming unit <NUM>. The bottom plate <NUM> may therefore couple with the housing cover <NUM> to form an internal cavity for housing electronic and mechanical components. Additionally, the housing cover <NUM> may include inward extending tabs <NUM>. The bottom plate <NUM> may be disposed above the tabs <NUM> to form a cleat receiving slot <NUM> between the tabs <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM>. As such, the alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to slide onto the cleat <NUM> by engaging the cleat <NUM> in the cleat receiving slot <NUM> and sliding the alarming unit <NUM> relative to the cleat <NUM> that has been affixed to an item <NUM>.

Now referring to <FIG>, a bottom perspective view of the alarming unit <NUM> is provided, where additional features of the bottom plate <NUM> are visible. In this regard, the bottom plate <NUM> may include various openings that support the operation of the alarming unit <NUM> and the security device <NUM>. For example, the bottom plate <NUM> may include openings to permit slugs <NUM> to pass through to engage with and lock into openings <NUM> of cleat <NUM> when the alarming unit <NUM> is in the locked position. In this regard, slugs <NUM> may be comprised of a ferrous metal that is attracted to a magnet. As such, the slugs <NUM> may be spring biased into an extended position. However, when a magnetic key is applied to the alarming unit <NUM>, the slugs <NUM> may be pulled upward and into the internal cavity of the alarming unit <NUM> to unlock the alarming unit <NUM> from the cleat <NUM> and permit removal of the alarming unit <NUM> from the cleat <NUM>.

Additionally, the bottom plate <NUM> may include an opening that a tamper plunger <NUM> may pass through. In this regard, the tamper plunger <NUM> may be sufficiently long enough to extend through an opening <NUM> in the cleat <NUM> to directly contact the item <NUM>. As further described below, the tamper plunger <NUM> may be coupled to a tamper sensor to allow the alarming unit <NUM> to detect when, for example, a potential thief is attempting to remove the alarming unit <NUM> from the item <NUM> by lifting the alarming unit <NUM> and the cleat <NUM> away from the surface of the item <NUM>.

Further, the bottom plate <NUM> may include openings to permit tamper contacts <NUM> to pass through and be exposed to contact the conductive strip <NUM>. In this regard, the tamper contacts <NUM> may be configured to physically and electrically contact the conductive strip <NUM> to form a circuit around the item <NUM>. As such, the security device <NUM> may be configured to detect an break or discontinuity in the conductive strip <NUM> since a connection between the tamper contacts <NUM> will have been opened. The tamper contacts <NUM> may be positioned such that the contacts align with ends of the conductive strip <NUM> in order to form a loop through the conductive strip <NUM> back to the alarming unit <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the alarming unit <NUM> with the housing cover <NUM> removed to reveal some of the internal electrical and mechanical components of the alarming unit <NUM>. In this regard, with respect to some of the electrical components, alarming unit <NUM> may include a circuit board <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a sounder <NUM>, a tamper sensor <NUM>, and an EAS tag <NUM>. Further, electrical components may be disposed on the opposite, out-of-view side of the circuit board <NUM>, such as processing circuitry and a deactivation sensor. In this regard, as shown in <FIG>, the battery <NUM> and the sounder <NUM> may be disposed on the circuit board <NUM>. Additionally, an LED and the light pipe <NUM> may be disposed on the circuit board <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> may be a power source (e.g., the same or similar to battery <NUM>) that operates to provide electrical power to the various electrical components of the security device <NUM>, including processing circuitry as described below. The sounder <NUM> may be any type of device that may be driven to produce an audible sound for an alarm (e.g., the same or similar to the sounder <NUM>). In this regard, the sounder <NUM> may be embodied as a speaker, piezoelectric sounder, or the like.

The tamper switch <NUM> may operate with the tamper plunger <NUM> to form a tamper sensor (as an example of tamper sensor <NUM>) that can detect when the alarming unit <NUM> is being pulled away from the item to which the security device <NUM> is affixed. In this regard, the tamper switch <NUM> may be operably coupled to the tamper plunger <NUM> such that when the tamper plunger <NUM> moves, an actuator of the tamper switch <NUM> may actuate. Actuation of the tamper switch <NUM> may generate a tamper signal to be detected by the alarming unit <NUM> via processing circuitry as further described below. According to some example embodiments, the tamper plunger <NUM> may be biased towards an extended position (e.g., extending downward) by spring <NUM>.

The EAS tag <NUM> may be disposed within the internal cavity of the alarming unit <NUM> and may be configured to operate as described above and otherwise herein. The EAS tag <NUM> may be an RF tag (e.g., an RF label) or an AM tag (e.g., an AM chicklet). In some example embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the EAS tag <NUM> may be disposed separate from the circuit board <NUM> in the internal cavity of the alarming unit <NUM>. However, according to some example embodiments, the EAS tag <NUM> may be disposed on the circuit board <NUM>. The EAS tag <NUM> may be configured to resonate in the presence of an appropriate field to thereby send a return wireless signal for detection by an EAS gate or a deactivator as described herein.

Additional mechanical components are also shown in <FIG> that are part of a locking mechanism. In this regard, the slugs <NUM> are shown, which, as described above, are configured to lock the alarming unit <NUM> to the cleat <NUM>. Slugs <NUM> may be biased into an extended position by respective springs <NUM>. As described above, the slugs <NUM> may be magnetically attractable into a retracted position and out of engagement with the cleat <NUM> by a magnetic key. With the slugs <NUM> in the retracted position, the security device <NUM> may be said to be in an unlocked state, and the alarming unit <NUM> may be slid off and away from the cleat <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a functional block diagram of the security device <NUM> and various components thereof. In this regard, the security device <NUM> as shown in <FIG> may include the alarming unit <NUM>, the cleat <NUM>, and the conductive strip <NUM>. The alarming unit <NUM> may include tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, an EAS tag <NUM>, and a locking mechanism <NUM>.

The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may include the processing circuitry <NUM> (e.g., including the memory <NUM> and processor <NUM>), battery <NUM>, sounder <NUM>, deactivation sensor <NUM>, tamper contacts <NUM>, the tamper switch <NUM>, and the tamper plunger <NUM>. The sounder <NUM> may be driven by the processing circuitry <NUM> to cause an alarm to sound when triggered by the processing circuitry <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may provide electrical power to electrical components of the alarming unit <NUM> including the processing circuitry <NUM>. The tamper contacts <NUM> may be selectively connected to the conductive strip <NUM> as described herein, and the tamper switch <NUM> may be mechanically coupled to the tamper plunger <NUM>. According to some example embodiments, one of the tamper contacts <NUM> may have a switch or contact that is depressed or actuated when the alarming unit <NUM> is installed on the cleat <NUM>. This switch or contact may provide the processing circuitry <NUM> with an indication that the alarming unit <NUM> is installed in the cleat <NUM>, and this status may be used to determine operational behavior of the security device <NUM>. The locking mechanism <NUM> may be configured to permit mechanical locking and unlocking of the alarming unit <NUM> to the cleat <NUM>. As described above, the locking mechanism <NUM> may be configured to operate with a key, such as magnetic key to permit unlocking of alarming unit <NUM>. Further, according to some example embodiments, the locking mechanism <NUM> may include a push button <NUM>, slugs <NUM>, or other mechanical actuator that is configured to allow a user to unlock the alarming unit <NUM>. According to some example embodiments, such as where the push button <NUM> is implemented, the alarming unit <NUM> may be removed from the cleat <NUM> without the use of a tool.

The alarming unit <NUM> may also include a deactivation sensor <NUM> electrically connected to the processing circuitry <NUM>. The deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect an electromagnetic field, for example, generated by an EAS deactivator. In this regard, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be an antenna that is implemented in the form of an inductor, a resonant circuit, a reed switch, a tunnel-magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor, or the like. In this regard, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may have an output in the form of a deactivation signal that is provided to the processing circuitry <NUM> for evaluation. According to some example embodiments, the EAS tag <NUM> may operate as the deactivation sensor <NUM>. In this regard, the processing circuitry <NUM> may be connected to the EAS tag <NUM> and the processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to detect resonant current in the EAS tag <NUM> due to the presence of an EAS gate or deactivator field. According to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect a field generated by an EAS tag, such as EAS tag <NUM>. In this regard, for example, an AM deactivatable EAS tag may generate a magnetic field due to its magnetism. As such, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect the absence of a field being generated by the AM deactivatable EAS tag after a deactivation, which may be used to trigger a deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>. According to some example embodiments, as described herein, a deactivation sensor, such as the deactivation sensor <NUM>, may be configured to detect a deactivation field provided by an EAS deactivator. Additionally, the deactivation sensor <NUM> and the EAS tag <NUM>, as separate components, may be housed within the housing of the alarming unit <NUM>.

The alarming unit <NUM> may also include processing circuitry <NUM>. The processing circuitry <NUM> may comprise a memory <NUM> and a processor <NUM>. In this regard, the processor <NUM> may be any type of processing device that is either hardware configured to perform defined functionalities (e.g., an field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) or the processor <NUM> may be configured via execution of instructions (e.g., compiled software or firmware instructions), possibly stored in the memory <NUM>. The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> and, more specifically the processing circuitry <NUM>, may be configured to perform various functionalities including those described in association with the flowchart of <FIG>. In this regard, <FIG> provides a method that may be performed by the security device <NUM>, implemented as a reusable security device.

With reference to <FIG>, at <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to arm the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>. To do so, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to determine that the conductive strip <NUM>, for example, is installed on an item and forms a circuit to the tamper contacts <NUM>. The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may also be configured to detect that the tamper switch <NUM> with the tamper plunger <NUM> is depressed due to interaction with an item. By detecting that the conductive strip <NUM> forms a circuit and that the tamper switch <NUM> is actuated due depressing the tamper plunger <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to determine that the alarming unit <NUM> has been locked into a cleat <NUM> and has been installed on an item.

With the security device <NUM> installed on a product, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, at <NUM>, may be configured to monitor and detect whether a tamper event has been detected or occurred as indicated by a tamper signal from a tamper sensor, which may be implemented via the combination of the tamper switch <NUM> with the processing circuitry <NUM> or the tamper contacts <NUM> with the processing circuitry <NUM>. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to monitor the conductive strip <NUM> for the occurrence of a tamper event and an associated tamper signal, where, for example, the tamper event may be a break or discontinuity in the circuit formed by the conductive strip <NUM> with the tamper contacts <NUM>. The tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may also be configured to monitor the tamper switch <NUM> for the occurrence of a tamper event in the form of a tamper signal as indicated by an actuation of the tamper switch <NUM> indicating that the alarming unit <NUM> has been pulled away from an item by a sufficient distance. According to some example embodiments, the break or discontinuity in the conductive strip may be the result of applying a proper key (e.g., magnetic key) to the security device <NUM> and removing the alarming unit <NUM> from the cleat <NUM> prior to the alarming unit <NUM> detecting a deactivation field, either of which may cause a tamper event.

If the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> detects a tamper event as indicated by a tamper signal from a tamper sensor, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to sound an alarm at <NUM>. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to drive the sounder <NUM> to cause and audible alarm in response to the tamper event.

If, however, no tamper event is detected by the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may, at <NUM>, be further configured to monitor for the detection of an EAS deactivator, for example, at a POS. In this regard, if no EAS deactivator is detected, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to revert back to monitoring for a tamper event or a deactivation field which may be repeated until either a tamper event is detected or a deactivator field is detected.

If, however, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> does detect an EAS deactivator via the deactivation sensor <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, at <NUM>, disarm or deactivate tamper detection circuitry and associated functionality to permit removal of the alarming unit <NUM> from the cleat <NUM>, and the item being protected, without sounding the alarm. In this regard, <FIG> illustrates an example system <NUM> including security device <NUM> and a deactivator <NUM> generating a deactivation field <NUM> according to some example embodiments. As such, the security device <NUM> is being subjected to the deactivation field <NUM>, presumably at a POS. According to some example embodiments, the deactivation field <NUM> may be provided by the deactivator <NUM> in response to detecting the presence of the EAS tag <NUM> of the security device <NUM>.

According to some example embodiments, to detect an EAS deactivator, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> of the security device <NUM> may be configured to detect characteristics of the deactivation field. These characteristics may be different than those of a field, for example, generated by an EAS gate at an exit of a retail store, and therefore the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to differentiate between a deactivation field and a gate field. Therefore, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be able to trigger functionality based on the detection of a deactivation field, such as deactivating the tamper detection circuitry. According to some example embodiments, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to leverage the deactivation sensor <NUM> to detect relatively high power pulses, at a given rate and at one or more given frequencies that would indicate the presence of an EAS deactivator attempting to deactivate, for example, an RF EAS tag. Alternatively, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to leverage the deactivation sensor <NUM> to detect a deactivation field in the form of a degaussing field that oscillates at a given frequency (e.g., <NUM>) and then decays in power over time (e.g., <NUM>% decay rate), which would indicate the presence of an EAS deactivator attempting to deactivate, for example, an AM EAS tag. Further, according to some example embodiments, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured and positioned within the alarming unit <NUM> to detect changes in the deactivator field caused by presence of an EAS tag to determine the presence of an EAS deactivator. Further, the deactivation sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect a field generated by magnetism of a deactivatable AM EAS tag housed within the alarming unit <NUM>. In this regard, when such a deactivatable AM EAS tag is subjected to a deactivation field, the deactivatable AM EAS tag may become demagnetized. As such, the field sensor <NUM> may no longer detect the field of the deactivatable AM EAS tag, which is indicative of the presence of an EAS deactivator.

Referring again to <FIG>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to begin a timer at <NUM> in response to detection of the EAS deactivator. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to begin a timer in response to deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> due to detection of the deactivation field. The timer may run for a period of time (e.g., <NUM> seconds) to provide time for store personnel to, for example, apply a key (e.g., a magnetic key) to the security device <NUM> to unlock the alarming unit <NUM> and remove the alarming unit <NUM> from the cleat <NUM> and the item without sounding the alarm. As such, at <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to detect if the removal of the security device <NUM> has taken place. In this regard, detecting removal of the security device <NUM> may include detecting that, subsequent to detection of the deactivator field, a removal action has taken place as indicated by the tamper sensor. For example, the tamper sensor may indicate a removal action has occurred when, for example, the circuit to the tamper contacts <NUM> has been broken or discontinued or detecting that the tamper switch <NUM> has been actuated. If, however, removal of the security device <NUM> has not been detected, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured, at <NUM>, to determine whether the timer has expired. If the timer has not expired and a tamper sensor has not indicated removal, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to continuously monitor for a removal action and expiration of the timer. If however, the timer does expire without detection of a removal action, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to re-arm the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> at <NUM>. As such, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be further configured to detect, via a tamper sensor, that a removal action has not occurred prior to the timer expiring and, in response to the timer expiring, arm the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>.

However, if a removal action is detected, then at <NUM>, the security device <NUM> may enter an inactive state. In this regard, prior to the timer expiring, store personnel have removed the alarming unit <NUM> from the item. As such, the security device <NUM> is no longer protecting an item and the alarming unit <NUM> may be stored for reuse on another item. However, at <NUM>, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to monitor for detection of an installation action of the alarming unit <NUM> (e.g., on a new product for sale). In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to detect from a tamper sensor that an installation action has been taken. An installation action may be indicated by detecting that a circuit has been formed between the tamper contacts <NUM> (e.g., via the conductive strip <NUM>) and that the tamper plunger <NUM> has been depressed to actuate the tamper switch <NUM> to indicate that the alarming unit <NUM> has been installed. If the alarming unit <NUM> has not been installed, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be configured to repeatedly monitor for detection of an installation action. Alternatively, if the installation of the alarming unit <NUM> is detected by the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>, then the alarming unit <NUM> may transition back into an active state at <NUM> and proceed to arm the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> at <NUM>. As such, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be further configured to detect, via a tamper sensor, that an installation action has occurred and, in response, arm the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> for tamper signal detection at <NUM> and responsive alarming at <NUM>.

Although the flowchart of <FIG> is indicative of the operation of a reusable security device, a subset of the operations shown in <FIG> may be indicative of the operation of a disposable security device. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be in the inactive state <NUM> awaiting an installation action. As described above, if no installation action is detected, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may remain in the inactive state at <NUM>. However, if an installation action is detected, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may enter the active state at <NUM> and the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may be armed at <NUM>. Subsequently, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may monitor for a tamper event at <NUM> and alarm at <NUM> if a tamper event is detected. If no tamper event is detected, then the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may monitor for detection of an EAS deactivator. If no EAS deactivator is detected, the processing circuitry may again monitor for a tamper event at <NUM>. If an EAS deactivator is detected, the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> may deactivate the tamper detection circuitry <NUM>. Having deactivated the tamper detection circuitry <NUM> and the deactivatable EAS tag due to the exposure to the deactivation field, the process may end at <NUM> and the product with the security device <NUM> affixed thereto can be removed or moved through the EAS gates without triggering a local alarm or a gate alarm, respectively.

Additionally, <FIG> shows an alternative cleat in the form of crossover cleat <NUM> that may be utilized in accordance with various example embodiments. The crossover cleat <NUM> operates similar to cleat <NUM> with respect to providing a base upon which the alarming unit <NUM> may be affixed by sliding the alarming unit <NUM> onto the crossover cleat <NUM>. In this regard, crossover cleat <NUM> may be formed of, for example, plastic. The crossover cleat <NUM> may include a base plate <NUM>. Unlike the cleat <NUM>, the crossover cleat <NUM> may be placed in locations on an item that are not necessarily on an edge to facilitate more central positioning of the conductive strip <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> of the crossover cleat <NUM> may be affixed to a surface of an item via an adhesive (e.g., an adhesive strip) disposed on a bottom side of the crossover cleat <NUM>.

Further, the crossover cleat <NUM> may include channels <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the base plate <NUM>. The channels <NUM> and <NUM> may be positioned to receive the conductive strip <NUM> and facilitate electrical connection with contacts on a bottom side of the alarming unit <NUM>. In this regard, the channels <NUM> and <NUM> may be oriented in a perpendicular fashion to facilitate wrapping the conductive strip <NUM> around an item as a single strip that forms a crossover on the side of the item opposite the affixed crossover cleat <NUM>, or two separate conductive strips <NUM> may be used to form two loops that are connected into separate sets of contacts on the alarming unit <NUM>.

The base plate <NUM> may also include lock openings <NUM>. Lock openings <NUM> may be configured to receive locking pins or slugs of the alarming unit <NUM> (described above) when the alarming unit <NUM> is locked to the crossover cleat <NUM>. Additionally, the crossover cleat <NUM> may include a tamper plunger groove <NUM> that may be configured to permit a tamper plunger to pass through the tamper plunger groove <NUM> to rest within the cleat <NUM> in an extended position or physically contact the item, when the alarming unit <NUM> is in the locked position. As such, the tamper plunger groove <NUM> may permit a tamper plunger of the alarming unit <NUM> to extend and actuate an associated switch within the alarming unit <NUM> to detect removal of the alarming unit <NUM> and the crossover cleat <NUM> from the item. Also, the base plate <NUM> may include stops <NUM>. In this regard, the alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to slide onto the base plate <NUM> and the stops <NUM> may be positioned to prevent further sliding motion beyond the locked position, when the alarming unit <NUM> is being slid onto the base plate <NUM>.

In example embodiments where the crossover cleat <NUM> uses two separate conductive strips, contacts and connections on the crossover cleat <NUM> may form the two separate conductive strips into a single continuous electrical loop. In this regard, the crossover cleat <NUM> may include cleat contact pads <NUM> and <NUM>, both of which are formed of a conductive material, such as, a metal (e.g., aluminum). The crossover cleat <NUM> may also include conductive strip connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The conductive strip connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be raised portions of metal that have been formed into convex leaf springs to facilitate forming a reliable, pressure connection between the conductive strip and the conductive strip connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> due to pressure applied on the conductive strip connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by the alarming unit <NUM>.

The cleat contact pads <NUM> and <NUM>, the conductive strip connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the two conductive strips may form one continuous electrical connection. This continuous electrical connection may be connected between the contacts <NUM> of the alarming unit <NUM>. To do so, the connection may begin at cleat contact pad <NUM>, which may be connected to one of the contacts <NUM> when the alarming unit <NUM> is installed on the crossover cleat <NUM>. The cleat contact pad <NUM> may be electrically connected to conductive strip connector <NUM>, which in turn may be connected to one end of a first conductive strip. The other end of the first conductive strip may be connected to the conductive strip connector <NUM>. Conductive strip connector <NUM> may be electrically connected, on the crossover cleat <NUM>, to the conductive strip connector <NUM>. Conductive strip connector <NUM> may be connected to one end of a second conductive strip. The other end of the second conductive strip may be connected to the conductive strip connector <NUM>. Conductive strip connector <NUM> may be electrically connected, on the crossover cleat <NUM>, to the cleat conductive pad <NUM>. Cleat conductive pad <NUM> may be connected to the other one of the contacts <NUM> when the alarming unit <NUM> is installed on the crossover cleat <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the security device <NUM> with alarming unit <NUM> installed on the crossover cleat <NUM> on the item <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the conductive strip <NUM> may be wrapped around the item <NUM> in a first direction and connected into the crossover cleat <NUM>. The conductive strip <NUM> may be wrapped around the item <NUM> in a second direction, that is perpendicular to the first direction, and connected into the crossover cleat <NUM>.

As described herein, the security device <NUM> and the alarming unit <NUM> may be configured to monitor tamper detection circuitry including a conductive strip that forms a loop. In this regard, when the loop is severed, the tamper detection circuitry may trigger an alarm. According to some example embodiments, the sense loop may take on a number of forms with one or both ends being mechanically lockable into the alarming unit <NUM>. In this regard, the sense loop may be formed by a cable or multiple cables that may be wrapped around an item or the cables may be passed through an opening in the item. Further, in some example embodiments, the loop may include a series switch that is closed when the alarming unit <NUM> is affixed to an item and open when the alarming unit <NUM> is removed from the item. In this regard, example embodiments with a series switch in the loop may be implemented in the form of an alarming hard tag or a safer-type lockable box.

The following provides some additional example embodiments in view of the description provided herein. In this regard, according to some example embodiments, a security device is provided. The security device may comprise a housing, an article surveillance tag, and tamper detection circuitry. The electronic article surveillance tag may be disposed in the housing, and may be configured to resonate to provide a wireless response signal to a deactivator to trigger generation of a deactivation field by the deactivator and resonate to provide the wireless signal to a gate to trigger a gate alarm in response to a gate field. The tamper detection circuitry may be disposed within the housing, and the tamper detection circuitry may comprise a tamper sensor configured to generate a tamper signal in response to detecting a tamper event, a deactivation sensor configured to generate a deactivation signal in response to detecting the deactivation field, and a sounder. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry may be configured to trigger the sounder to emit an alarm sound in response to receiving the tamper signal from the tamper sensor when the tamper detection circuitry, and deactivate the tamper detection circuitry in response to receiving the deactivation signal from the deactivation sensor such that receipt of the tamper signal after deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry does not trigger the sounder to emit the alarm. According to some example embodiments, the electronic article surveillance tag may be configured to deactivate in response to being disposed within the deactivation field. The deactivation field has at least a threshold power to deactivate the electronic article surveillance tag. The deactivation sensor is configured to generate the deactivation signal in response to detecting the deactivation field having at least the threshold power. The electronic article surveillance tag and the deactivation sensor are tuned to a frequency of the deactivation field. The frequency of the deactivation field has the same as a frequency of the gate field. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper detection circuitry may be further configured to begin a timer in response to deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry due to detection of the deactivator field. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper detection circuitry may be further configured to detect, via the tamper sensor, that a removal action has not occurred prior to the timer expiring and, in response to the timer expiring, arm the tamper detection circuitry. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper detection circuitry may be further configured to detect, via the tamper sensor, that an installation action has occurred and, in response, arm the tamper detection circuitry. Additionally or alternatively, the deactivation sensor may comprises a tunnel-magnetoresistance sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper sensor may be configured to generate the tamper signal in response to detecting the tamper event. The tamper event may be a severing of a conductive strip that is electrically connected to the tamper sensor to form a loop. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper sensor may comprise two electrical contacts, and the conductive strip may be electrically connected between the two electrical contacts. Additionally or alternatively, the two electrical contacts may comprise flexible tabs configured to extend through respective openings in a product packaging surface to enable application of the security device on an internal face of the product packaging surface while the flexible tabs are accessible for electrical connection on an external face of the product packaging surface. Additionally or alternatively, the conducive strip may comprise a backing and a conductor. The conductor may be affixed to the backing such that the conductor is exposed to form an electrical connection on a first side of the backing and insulated from forming an electrical connection on a second side of the backing. Additionally or alternatively, the tamper detection circuitry may further comprise a light and the tamper detection circuitry may be configured to illuminate the light based on the tamper detection circuitry being active or deactivated. Additionally or alternatively, a frequency of the deactivation field and the gate field may be about <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the security device may further comprise an adhesive to affix the security device to product packaging.

According to some example embodiments, another security device is provided. The security device may comprise a housing, an article surveillance tag, and tamper detection circuitry. The electronic article surveillance tag may be disposed in the housing, and may be configured to resonate to provide a wireless response signal to a deactivator to trigger generation of a deactivation field by the deactivator and resonate to provide the wireless signal to a gate to trigger a gate alarm in response to a gate field. The tamper detection circuitry may be disposed within the housing, and the tamper detection circuitry may comprise a tamper sensor configured to generate a tamper signal in response to detecting a tamper event, a deactivation sensor configured to generate a deactivation signal in response to detecting the deactivation field, and a sounder. The tamper event may be a severing of a conductive strip that is electrically connected to the tamper sensor to form a loop. In this regard, the tamper detection circuitry may be configured to trigger the sounder to emit an alarm sound in response to receiving the tamper signal from the tamper sensor when the tamper detection circuitry, and deactivate the tamper detection circuitry in response to receiving the deactivation signal from the deactivation sensor such that receipt of the tamper signal after deactivation of the tamper detection circuitry does not trigger the sounder to emit the alarm. Further, the electronic article surveillance tag and the deactivation sensor may be tuned to a frequency of the deactivation field. According to some example embodiments, a frequency of the deactivation field and the gate field may be about <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A security device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing;
an electronic article surveillance tag (<NUM>) disposed in the housing, the electronic article surveillance tag being configured to:
resonate to provide a wireless response signal in response to an output field of a deactivator to cause the generation of a deactivation field by the deactivator by increasing a power of the output field at a same frequency;
resonate to provide the wireless response signal to a gate to trigger a gate alarm in response to a gate field; and
tamper detection circuitry (<NUM>) disposed within the housing, the tamper detection circuitry comprising:
a tamper sensor configured to generate a tamper signal in response to detecting a tamper event;
a deactivation sensor tuned to the same frequency and configured to:
detect the deactivation field having at least a threshold power; and
generate a deactivation signal in response to detecting the deactivation field; and
a sounder;
wherein the tamper detection circuitry is configured to:
trigger the sounder to emit an alarm sound in response to receiving the tamper signal from the tamper sensor when the tamper detection circuitry is in an active state; and
deactivate the triggering of the sounder by transitioning the tamper detection circuitry from the active state to a deactivated state, in response to receiving the deactivation signal from the deactivation sensor such that receipt of the tamper signal while the tamper detection circuitry is in the deactivated state does not trigger the sounder to emit the alarm.