CN1454374A - A marker for remote detection of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A market for remote detection of articles has an elongated sensor element with magnetic and electric properties. The elongated sensor element provides an electromagnetic reply signal when receiving an electromagnetic input signal. The elongated sensor element modulates the electromagnetic reply signal in response to an external magnetic modulating field. The marker also has means positioned in a vicinity of the elongated sensor element in the marker. The means is adapted to influence either the magnetic or the electric properties of the elongated sensor element in response to incident electromagnetic or magnetic energy, so that either the electromagnetic reply signal itself or the modulation thereof is substantially changed from an active state to a deactivated state.

Description

The mark of goods remote probe

Technical field

The mark that uses in the electric theft-proof system that the present invention relates to use in goods Long Range Detecting and Ranging such as the market.More particularly, the present invention is directed to a kind of like this mark, it comprises the elongate sensor element with magnetic and electrical characteristics, this sensor is suitable for when receiving the electromagnetism input signal, a kind of electromagnetism answer signal is provided, and wherein the elongate sensor element can be modulated its electromagnetism answer signal in response to the external magnetic modulated Field equally.

Background technology

At for example WO 97/29463, disclose the mark of the above-mentioned type among WO 97/29464 and the WO 98/36393 and be used for the electronic products monitoring system that goods detect.Disclosed mark comprises the line sensor of amorphous state or ultracrystallite (nano-crystalline) metal alloy separately in these files, and diameter generally is approximately the 10-100 micron.In these marks, its line sensor element has the very thin glass coating of one deck.A key property of amorphous state or ultracrystallite metal alloy can be controlled its perviousness by alternation magnetic modulated Field exactly.When mark receives electromagnetism input signal (request signal), the physical influence of-mangneto impedance huge by being called, the amplitude of the electromagnetism answer signal of mark is modulated by the magnetic modulated Field.The modulation of answer signal amplitude is detected and be used to measure whether have mark in the detection zone.

The very thin amorphous state or the ultracrystallite line that have benefited from using in the above-mentioned mark, they are particularly suitable for " source marking " application scenario, and wherein those goods are equipped with its mark respectively when producing or packing.If doubt goods are dress, so, described very thin amorphous state or ultracrystallite line just are sewn to neck collar end or cuff, or by being knitted in the cloth of this part clothes, and it is first-class to be attached to trade mark.Perhaps, this thin line can be put the wrappage of being made up of cardboard or plastics into.

The common mark that need can cancel the electronic products monitoring system.WO 98/36394 discloses a kind of method of cancelling the above-mentioned type mark, wherein by on sensor element, adding heat energy (best form) with microwave radiation, make the temperature of amorphous state or ultracrystallite material surpass its Tc and make the sensor element crystallization, mark is just cancelled.But, to have only when temperature surpasses 450 ℃, this structural change just can take place in material.Reach the required heat energy of this temperature and can cause serious shielding problem, so that office worker and client in the protection market avoid radiation, because the safe distance of the energy has only 0.5 meter.Will cause handling problem at the charge platform in the market of using this system like this, it is very complicated that the shielding problem also becomes.

Summary of the invention

One object of the present invention is improved above-mentioned electromagnetic detection mark exactly.More particularly, the objective of the invention is to allow safety to cancel by reducing to cancel the required energy of the above-mentioned type mark greatly.

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention provides the mark of the above-mentioned type, and it can not only be cancelled by safety, and can repeatedly activate again.

Above-mentioned purpose is to realize by the mark of appended independent claims.

More particularly, the improved mark of the above-mentioned type obtains like this: attachment device is provided, and it is arranged near the elongated amorphous state or ultracrystallite line sensor element of mark.Said apparatus is suitable for responding the incident of electromagnetic energy or magnetic energy, influences the magnetic characteristic or the electrical characteristics of elongate sensor element, makes electromagnetism answer signal itself or its modulation become the state of cancelling from state of activation basically.According to some embodiment, this device can be: half permanent magnetism line, half permanent magnetism magnetic stripe or half permanent magnetism tape; Half permanent magnetism powder as the elongate sensor coating; The fusible coating that contains conductive powder; Perhaps with the fusible coating of conductor wire, bar or band combination etc., circlewise or spiral fashion be wrapped on the coating sensor element.

Other purposes of the present invention, feature and advantage will be expressed by detailed description, accompanying drawing and each dependent claims of following different embodiment.

Brief description of drawings

Describe the present invention below with reference to accompanying drawings in detail, in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates the synoptic diagram of the electronic products monitoring system that wherein can use mark of the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates the top view of the mark of first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates the top view of the mark of second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates the top view of the mark of third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates the top view of the mark of four embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates the top view of the mark of fifth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is the sectional view of the signal of mark shown in Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is the sectional view of the mark of sixth embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 9 is the sectional view of the mark of seventh embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the present invention

Fig. 1 explanation is used to detect the goods recognition system of the mark 30 that is attached on the article 20.Being similar to system shown in Figure 1 has detailed description at file WO 97/29463, WO 97/29464 and WO98/36393, and above file all is attached to herein as a reference.Transmitter antenna 11 and receiver antenna 12 are arranged on detection zone 10.Be connected to output stage 13 during transmitter antenna 11 work, output stage 13 is connected to controller 14 thereupon.Output stage comprises a plurality ofly can be used to produce high frequency f at driving and the amplifying circuit and the device of commercial acquisition _HFExchange current, it just flows therein back and forth when described electric current being transported to transmitter antenna 11, at this moment produces the electromagnetic field of high frequency around transmitter antenna.As will be described in detail, this electromagnetic field is used to inquire about the mark 30 in the detection zone 10, result queue is when electromagnetism input that receives transmitter antenna 11 or request signal 50, will launch electromagnetism answer signal 60, this signal receives and converts to corresponding electric signal 70 by receiver antenna 12.

Be connected to input stage 15 during receiver antenna 12 work, it comprises the usual means of amplification and signal processing function, as bandpass filtering and amplifying circuit etc.Input stage 15 also comprises the device that is used for demodulation received signal 70 and this signal is offered controller 14 as last answer signal 80 simultaneously.

Transmitter antenna 11 is the same with receiver antenna 12, and their purpose is for by known methods, conversion between high frequency electrical signal and electromagnetic signal.These antenna can be to have the rotary polarization helical aerials of (being used for covering all directions best), or the half-wave whip antenna of feedback of traditional end or centre feed.But other known antenna types also are same available.

And detection zone 10 is equipped with device 16, as coil, is used to produce magnetic modulated Field H _ModDevice 16 is connected to controller 14 by driving stage 17.The device that driving stage 17 comprises is used to produce modulating current, offers device 16, wherein magnetic modulated Field H _ModResult from the main region of detection zone 10.Magnetic modulated Field H _ModFrequency be about the 500-800 hertz, electromagnetism excitation and answer signal in kilo-mega cycles per second audio range frequency scope, for example 1.3 kilo-mega cycles per seconds or 2.45 kilo-mega cycles per seconds.But the frequency outside these scopes also can.

As mentioned above, goods 20 illustrate with case shape profile in Fig. 1, are equipped with mark 30 of the present invention, and this will have more detailed description in all the other accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figure 2, first embodiment of mark 30 comprises elongate sensor element 34, it is arranged on the thin non-magnetic substrate 31 of one deck (for example paper or plastics), and the thin electric wire that is rich in the metal alloy of cobalt by an amorphous state or ultracrystallite constitutes, and starts as described in the patent disclosure of classifying reference as this paper.Therefore, elongate sensor element 34 has magnetic characteristic and electrical characteristics.Sensor element 34 is used for by magnetic modulated Field H _ModFrequency modulation (PFM) receive electromagnetism input signal 50 and answer signal 60 through ovennodulation be provided.The mark 30 of the modulation of electromagnetism answer signal 60 amplitudes in detection zone 10 provides signal, and this signal can be detected by the signal 70 and 80 that receives by controller 14, as mentioned above.

As the above-mentioned patent disclosure that relates to is explained, when line sensor element 34 is exposed to electromagnetism input signal 50, line sensor element 34 will produce exchange current.Have benefited from the amorphous state of sensor element 34 or the magnetic characteristic of ultracrystallite metal alloy, the magnetoconductivity of metal alloy can be passed through magnetic modulated Field H _ModControl.More particularly, the amplitude of electromagnetism answer signal 60 can be controlled by the huge-mangneto impedance effect or the skin depth effect of amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element material.The electrical impedance of line sensor element 34 depends on the magnetoconductivity and the resistivity of amorphous state or ultracrystallite metal alloy, and the frequency of electromagnetism input signal 50.Because magnetoconductivity is depended in impedance, and magnetoconductivity is at magnetic modulated Field H _ModThe middle variation is so electric current can be subjected to magnetic modulated Field H equally by the amplitude of line sensor element 34 _ModEffect and change.Like this, finally the electromagnetism answer signal 60 that the electric current of circulation produces in sensor element 34 will be by magnetic modulated Field H _ModModulation, and be presented at signal or the indication that there is mark 30 in detection zone 10.

The amorphous state of sensor element 34 or ultracrystallite material see it is very soft from the angle of magnetic, and unique magnetic anisotropy is arranged, and this will make its magnetic state be easy at alternating current magnetic biasing field H _ModIn modulated.Therefore, comprise being marked at institute and will normally activating (that is to say) in free of elongate sensor element 34, as the mark of above-mentioned prior art in response to the incident of electromagnetism request signal 50.

With reference to figure 2, substrate 31 is provided with half permanent magnetism line 40 again, is arranged on the place (preferably parallel with it) of proximity sense element 34.According to an aspect of the present invention, elongate sensor 34 can activate or cancel, and this depends on that half contiguous permanent magnetism line 40 is magnetized or demagnetization.Suppose that initial half permanent magnetism line 40 is not magnetized, mark 30 is activated under normal duty, thereby in response to the electromagnetism input signal 50 in the detection zone 10.But if mark 30 is exposed to continuous magnetic field (for example magnetic field that is produced by outside permanent magnet), half permanent magnetism line 40 will be magnetized.Perhaps, can make line 40 magnetization by mark 30 being exposed to of short duration magnetic-pulse.After removing outside permanent magnet (or of short duration magnetic-pulse finish back), line 40 will continue to keep magnetizing, and wherein belonging to the amorphous state of soft magnetism or ultracrystallite sensor element 34 will be by magnetic shielding, thereby to magnetic modulated Field H _ModInsensitive.Mark 30 after cancelling will still produce electromagnetism answer signal 60, and still, this signal will be no longer by magnetic modulated Field H _ModModulation.Demagnetization by half permanent magnetism line 40 can make mark 30 activate again.This can obtain by the following method: mark 30 is introduced the AC magnetic field that amplitude slowly reduces, for example, make mark 30 away from Magnetic Field Source.Perhaps, mark 30 can be exposed in the erase signal of magnetic.In case half permanent magnetism line 40 is by demagnetization, sensor element 34 will be subjected to magnetic modulated Field H once more _ModInfluence, thereby produce normal modulation electromagnetism answer signal 60.

Circulation between 40 magnetization of half permanent magnetism line and the demagnetization can repeat repeatedly, and wherein mark 30 also can be activated or cancel corresponding number of times.

Half permanent magnetism line 40 preferably is made of the metal alloy that contains cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron.The semi-hard magnetic materials of line 40 for example, has the remanent magnetization of 0.1 tesla and probably is the coercive force of 1,000 peace/rice.

" the magnetic sealing " of amorphous state under the state of cancelling or ultracrystallite sensor element 34 is to obtain by following technique effect.

Amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34 have the on the whole domain structure of annular, and starting point is at its outer surface.Such structure is by the anisotropy decision of the magnetic of just introducing when the preparatory stage of this element.Magnetic modulated Field H _ModProduce the magnetization variable of annular, when flag activation, this variable is detected with electromagnetic method, as mentioned above.

When cancelling, when half adjacent permanent magnetism line 40 is exposed to DC magnetic field to sensor element, and this magnetic field is greater than annular anisotropy field the time, and the magnetization of sensor element 34 just rotates to the DC magnetic direction of half permanent magnetism line 40 from circumferential direction.In this case, amorphous state or 34 pairs of magnetic modulated Field of ultracrystallite sensor element H _ModInsensitive, sensor element is considered to " magnetic sealing " (mark is cancelled).Then, when activating again, cause sensor element 34 to be returned to initial domain structure state (mark is activated again) from the disappearance in the DC magnetic field of half contiguous permanent magnetism line 40.

Second embodiment of mark 30 is shown in Fig. 3.Here, by half permanent magnetism line being separated into the effect that two independent short- term 42a and 42b have improved semi-hard magnetic materials, these two short-terms still are arranged on the substrate 31 of contiguous amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34.Test proof, the distance between half permanent magnetism line 42a and the 42b be preferably amorphous state sensor element 34 length L 1/5, as shown in Figure 3.

Similarly embodiment is shown in Fig. 4, still, comprises three half independent permanent magnetism line 44a here, 44b and 44c, the distance between them be approximately sensor element 34 length L 1/5.

To embodiment shown in Figure 4,, just can control the external magnetic modulated Field H that makes flag activation respectively or cancel with regard to Fig. 2 by the relevant magnetic characteristic of control and amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34, the length and the position thereof of half permanent magnetism line _ModThe essential value of magnetic influence.By these parameters of careful selection, just can avoid owing to contiguous mark 30 exists the pseudo-source of permanent-magnetic field that the mark accident is cancelled.

The 4th embodiment of Fig. 5 flag activation 30.The mark 30 of Fig. 5 is equipped with half permanent magnetic strip or is with 46, has replaced the semi-hard magnetic materials 40,42 and 44 of wire.Bar or be arranged on the substrate 31 of sensor element 34 of contiguous and previous embodiments with 46.Bar or can make with the identical or similar material of half permanent magnetism line of previous embodiment with 46.

The 5th embodiment of Fig. 6 flag activation 30.Here, substrate 31 is equipped with coating linear device 50, and it will be shown in detail in the sectional view of Fig. 7.Linear device 50 is rich in the magnetic core 34 that the soft magnetic material of cobalt constitutes by amorphous state or ultracrystallite to be formed, and is equivalent to the elongate sensor element 34 of previous embodiment.Magnetic core or sensor element 34 are coated with half permanent magnetism powder and suitable adhesive combination 52.Best, this half permanent magnetism powder is ferrite or materials similar.Corresponding with previous embodiment is, the embodiment of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 equally can be respectively by half permanent magnetism powder magnetization of coating 52 or demagnetization and activate respectively or cancel.

The sectional view of Fig. 8 shows a different embodiment.Substrate 31 is identical with previous embodiment or equivalent, and linear device 50 is arranged on the substrate 31, with embodiment illustrated in fig. 7 identical.But linear device 50 comprises first coating 54 of wax-like materials here, and it has relatively low fusing point (for example about 150 °) and comprises for example conducting powder of metal powder and so on.Linear device 50 also has skin or second layer coating 56, and it comprises the shrinkable material of for example non-hardened foam tygon and so on.By mark 30 is exposed to extra power, amorphous state or ultracrystallite magnetic core (sensor) 34 will absorb energy and be heated.The heat energy that is produced by sensor element 34 will melt cured matter coating 54 and shrink skin 56, and wherein the conducting powder that comprises in internal layer 54 will be squeezed between the skin that has shunk and amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34.Because the high-frequency that relates in skin effect and the detection system, all electric currents or most of electric current will flow through from real sensor element 34 conducting powder on every side, make 34 pairs of magnetic modulated Field of sensor element H _ModInsensitive, thus mark 30 is cancelled.

Best, the external heat that is used to melt coating 54 is a microwave radiation, for example, and the same frequency when having in detection zone 10 normal the use.Clearly, when mark 30 is cancelled, must adopt a kind of signal amplitude that exceeds normal range to carry out microwave radiation.But, perhaps can add heat label with electric energy or magnetic energy source.

The replacement scheme of Fig. 8 embodiment is shown in Fig. 9.Here conductor wire, band or bar 60 have replaced conducting powder, be looped around amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34 and inner wax coating 58 around.Conducting element 60 can twine repeatedly along sensor element 34 and wax coating 58, perhaps makes an annulus, places the outside of wax coating 58.Wax coating 58 type as shown in Figure 8 similar (but without any conducting powder), it is by being exposed to extra power to mark, temperature for as be melted during 150 ° of left and right sides.After wax coating 58 is melted, conductor wire, bar or be with 60 will electrically contact with amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34.

The improvement of above-mentioned at least some embodiment is on these elements because of the dielectric load effect of these coatings the required length of mark to be reduced coated with dielectric substance.The suitable coating compounds element can be as plastics or silica etc.

The another kind of improvement is to curl up a large amount of man-made fabric fibers around described element, invades lacquer thereupon and handles.The purpose of doing like this is, the mark that having very thin amorphous state or ultracrystallite and combination has shallow layer or add half permanent magnet component is very little, in process of production intractable.Invade the lacquer fiber and will make conducting element or magnetic cell location, thereby guarantee that mark is in the state of cancelling.

Also have another improvement to be exactly, two coatings can be provided, wherein the function of external skin is to keep amorphous state or ultracrystallite sensor element 34 to contact with the perseverance of half permanent magnet component, when mark is in the state of cancelling, can avoids being marked under the unnecessary situation and activate.

In actual applications, can be according to the final mark of above-mentioned any embodiment with covering or integrate as paper, natural or nonmagnetic substances such as synthon, glass and plastics.

Below the present invention has been described with reference to some embodiment.But only otherwise exceed the appended described scope of independent patent claim of the present invention, other embodiment outside the embodiment described here are available equally.

Claims (11)

1. mark (30) that is used for goods (20) remote detection, it comprises elongated amorphous state or ultracrystallite line sensor element (34), the latter has magnetic and electrical characteristics, is suitable for providing electromagnetism answer signal (60) when receiving electromagnetism input signal (50), and described elongate sensor element can be in response to external magnetic modulated Field (H _Mod) and modulation electromagnetism answer signal is characterized in that:

Device (40; 50), it is arranged on described in the described mark 30 near the elongate sensor element (34), described device be suitable for responding the incident of electromagnetic energy or magnetic energy and influence described elongate sensor element (34) magnetic characteristic or electrical characteristics, make described electromagnetism answer signal (60) itself or its modulation become the state of cancelling from state of activation basically.

2. mark as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described device (40) comprises at least one half permanent magnetism lines (40; 42a-b; 44a-c), bar or band (46), they are arranged near the, preferably parallel with it of described elongate sensor element (34).

3. mark as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that: described at least one half permanent magnetism lines (40; 42a-b; 44a-c), bar or band (46) are made by the metal alloy that comprises cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron.

4. mark as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described device (50) comprises coating (52), and the latter is arranged on described elongate sensor (34) and comprise half permanent-magnet powder on every side.

5. mark as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that: described coating (52) also comprises the bonding agent that is used for described half permanent-magnet powder.

6. as claim 4 or 5 described marks, it is characterized in that: described half permanent-magnet powder comprises ferrite.

7. mark as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that: described device (50) comprises coating (54), and the latter is arranged on described elongate sensor (34) and comprise non-conductive element of the first non-magnetic with relatively low fusing point and second element of conduction on every side.

8. mark as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that: described second element comprises conductive powder.

9. mark as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that also being included in the outside three element (56) of described first and second elements (54), and described three element comprises heat-shrinkage material.

10. mark as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: described device (50) comprises coating (58,60), the latter around described sensor element (34) and comprise the lower non-conductive element of the first non-magnetic (58) of fusing point and conductor wire, bar or band forms, circularize or second element (60) of spirality on described first element.

11. as mark as described in any among the claim 7-10, it is characterized in that: described first element comprises cured.

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