JPH09185781A - Device and system for article monitoring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify fitting work of a tag device to merchandise and to reduce time for the work in an article monitoring device used for preventing shoplifting, etc. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a stand-by setting circuit 26 opening a gate circuit 28 to make the tag device being in a stand-by state when both conditions of recognizing the fitting of the tag device to merchandise, etc. (recognizing by a fitting recognizing switch 22 and a fitting recognizing circuit 25) and identifying the reception of a stand-by radio signal used in common with the stoppage radio signal of the tag device (identifying by a receiving antenna 23 and a received signal identifying circuit 24) are satisfied. In a stand-by state where the gate circuit 28 is open, when the tag device receives an operating radio signal or recognizes the tag device removed from merchandise, an alarm generation circuit issues an alarm.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to shoplifting in stores and the like.
The present invention relates to an article monitoring device and an article monitoring system used for theft prevention or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an article monitoring system, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, operating radio signal transmitters 3 and 3 for radiating an operating radio signal to a doorway 2 of a store 1 within a predetermined range (for example, only near the doorway). It is known that the tag device 6 (article monitoring device) which is installed and which receives an operating radio signal from the operating radio signal transmitting device 3 and emits a warning sound is attached to the product 7.

In such a device, if the customer tries to take the product 7 to which the tag device 6 is attached without going through the doorway 2 without permission, the product 7 near the doorway 2 A tag device 6 attached to a working radio wave signal transmitter 3 installed in a doorway 2
The operating radio signal from the tag device 6 is received.
Makes a warning sound. Further, when the tag device 6 is to be removed from the product 7, the tag device 6 senses this and issues a warning sound.

Usually, the customer pays for the product at the accounting office 4 and asks the clerk to remove the tag device 6 attached to the product 7. The accounting office 4 has a stop radio signal transmitter 5 that generates a stop radio signal so that the tag device 6 does not generate a warning sound even if the tag device 6 is removed from the product 7. Signal transmitter 5
The tag device 6 within the range in which the stop radio signal emitted by the device reaches (only in the very vicinity of the stop radio signal transmitter 5).
Remove from.

The operating radio signal transmitter 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, an operation signal generator 30 for generating an operation radio signal for operating the tag device 6, and the operation signal generator 3
It is composed of an amplifier 31 for amplifying a signal from 0 and a transmitting antenna 32 for transmitting the signal amplified by the amplifier 31 to the atmosphere as a radio wave (electromagnetic wave).

On the other hand, the stop radio wave signal transmitter 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a stop signal generator for deactivating the tag device 6 (not generating a warning sound or stopping a warning sound of a tag device that has already generated a warning sound) generates a stop radio signal. 18, an amplifier 19 for amplifying the signal from the stop signal generator 18, and a transmission antenna 20 for transmitting the signal amplified by the amplifier 19 to the atmosphere as a radio wave (electromagnetic wave).

Further, the tag device 6 is, as shown in FIG.
The receiving antenna 13 for receiving the operation radio signal from the operation radio signal transmitter 3 or the stop radio signal from the stop radio signal transmitter 5 and ON / OFF depending on whether the tag device is attached to or detached from the product (or OFF /
Attachment recognition switch 14 to turn on), the receiving antenna 1
3 recognizes the signal received (that is, determines whether the received signal is a working radio signal or a stop radio signal), the received signal identification circuit 15, and the state of the attachment recognition switch 14 (the attachment identification switch 14 Attachment recognition circuit 16, which determines whether it is ON or OFF, generates an alarm sound when the tag device receives an operating radio signal from the transmitter as described above or when the tag device is removed from the product. A circuit 17 (including a warning signal generating / amplifying circuit and a speaker), a battery 11 serving as a power supply for the tag device, and a standby switch 12 for supplying / shutting off the power supply to each circuit of the battery 11.

Further, the tag device 6 has an external appearance as shown in FIG. 4, for example, and the attachment recognition switch 14 has its operation portion (OFF / O when it appears and disappears in the direction of arrow A).
(Switching to N) protrudes from one surface of the main body, and is OFF in this state (outgoing state). And tag device 6
By attaching the switch to the product, the attachment recognition switch 1
The operation portion 4 is pushed in (depressed state) and turned on, whereby the attachment recognition circuit 16 shown in FIG. 6 recognizes attachment of the tag device to the product.

Further, in FIG. 4, a through hole 10 is formed on the side surface of the tag device 6, and the standby switch 12 is provided in the back thereof (in this example, the standby switch 12 is in the direction of arrow B). It is composed of a slide switch that turns on and off when the operation part moves.)

Then, a rod-shaped jig 9 is inserted through the through hole 10 and the standby switch 12 is operated to turn it off.
From ON to ON to start power supply to the battery 11 and power supply to the tag device.

Therefore, the tag device is fixed to the product or the packaging box containing the product with tape or the like in a state in which the attachment recognition switch 14 is turned on, and then the standby switch 12 is applied by the jig 9. When the tag device is attached to the product by operating, the power supply is started.

As described above, when the tag device is detached from the product, the attachment recognition switch 14 is turned off.
The attachment recognition circuit 16 recognizes this and operates the warning sound generation circuit 17 to generate a warning sound.

[0013]

However, with such a structure, it is necessary to perform a troublesome work such as inserting a rod-shaped jig and operating a standby switch after attaching the tag device to a product with a tape or the like. is there. Further, if the store becomes large, the number of products becomes huge, and there is a problem that the work of attaching the tag device becomes extremely heavy labor.

[0014]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an article monitoring device which is detachably attached to an article to be monitored, the warning means generating an output indicating an alarm state, and the article. An attachment recognizing means for recognizing an attached state and a detached state of the article monitoring device with respect to the above, and a received signal identifying means for receiving and identifying a radio wave signal, and receiving or operating the operation radio wave signal by the received signal identifying means. In an article monitoring device which operates the alarm means in response to the recognition of the detached state by the recognition means to generate an output indicating the alarm state, the attachment state recognition by the attachment recognition means and the stop radio wave by the received signal identification means By receiving the signal, the reception signal identification means receives the operation radio wave signal or the attachment recognition means recognizes the detached state. To there is provided cents article surveillance system having a control unit which constitutes a state in which it becomes possible to generate an output indicating an alarm condition by operating the warning means.

Further, according to the present invention, an alarm means that is removably attached to an article to be monitored and that generates an output indicating an alarm state, and an attachment recognizing means that recognizes the attachment state and the removal state of the article monitoring device with respect to the article. And a reception signal identification means for receiving and identifying a radio wave signal, and actuating the alarm means in response to reception of an operation radio wave signal by the reception signal identification means or recognition of a detached state by the attachment recognition means. And a response to the reception of the control radio wave signal in response to the recognition of the attachment status by the attachment recognition means and the reception of the stop radio wave signal by the received signal identification means. The alarm signal in response to the reception of the operating radio signal by the reception signal identification means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring device having a control means that can be activated to generate an output indicating an alarm state, an operation radio wave signal transmission means for transmitting the operation radio wave signal, and the stop radio wave signal It is intended to provide an article monitoring system characterized by comprising stop radio wave signal transmitting means.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of the tag device in the article monitoring device of the present invention. In the tag device 21, the operation portion 22a of the standby switch 22 is exposed outward in the direction of arrow C through a hole 21a provided on one surface of the main body housing. In this tag device,
There is no standby switch provided in the conventional tag device.

The operation radio wave signal transmission device and the stop radio wave signal transmission device are the same as the conventional operation radio wave signal transmission device and the stop radio wave signal transmission device, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the tag device of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 23 is a receiving antenna for receiving a working radio signal from the working radio signal transmitter or a stop radio signal (also serving as a standby radio signal described later) from the stop radio signal transmitter, and 22 is a product of the tag device 21. ON / OFF (or OF
F / ON) attachment recognition switch, 24 is a reception signal identification circuit for determining whether the signal received by the reception antenna 23 is an operating radio signal or a stop radio signal (also a standby radio signal), and 25 is an attachment recognition switch 22. An attachment recognition circuit for determining whether the switch is ON or OFF, 29 is a tag device 21
A warning sound generation circuit (composed of a warning signal generation amplification circuit and a speaker) that generates a warning sound in response to the operation radio signal from the transmitter or the tag device 21 being detached from the product. Is a battery serving as a power source of the tag device 21.

Further, in the tag device 21 of the present invention, the tag device is in the standby state (normal operating state) in response to the reception of the standby radio signal which also serves as the stop radio signal.
The standby setting circuit 26 and the gate circuit 28 controlled by the standby setting circuit 26 are provided.

Next, the work of attaching the tag device of the present invention to a product will be described. First, in the state before the tag device is attached to the product, the gate circuit 28 is closed, and the receiving antenna 23 receives the operating radio signal (or a noise signal which happens to be similar to the operating radio signal) from the transmitting device. ON, or the operation part of the attachment recognition switch 22 (the operation part 22a in FIG. 1) is operated.
Even if the control signal is output so that the reception signal identifying circuit 24 or the attachment recognizing circuit 25 outputs a warning sound to the warning sound generating circuit 29, the gate circuit 28 outputs the control signal warning sound generating circuit. It is blocking transmission to 29. Therefore, the tag device 21 does not generate a warning sound.

Next, when the tag device 21 is fixed to the product or the packing box of the product with tape or the like while the operation portion 22a of the attachment recognition switch 22 is pushed in, the attachment recognition switch 22 turns from OFF to ON. As a result, the attachment recognition circuit 25 recognizes that the tag device 21 is fixed to the product. The recognition result is also transmitted to the standby setting circuit 26.

Further, in this state, the standby radio wave signal which is also used as the stop radio wave signal shown in FIG. 3 is supplied to the tag device 21 from the stop radio wave signal transmitter (or a portable small transmitter which outputs the same radio wave signal). Then, the standby radio signal (stop radio signal) is received by the receiving antenna 23.
The reception signal identifying circuit 24 identifies that the standby radio signal (stop radio signal) has been received, and transmits the identification result to the standby setting circuit 26.

In this way, both the recognition result of the attachment recognition switch 22 being ON from the attachment recognition circuit 25 and the reception identification result of the standby radio signal (stop radio signal) from the reception signal identification circuit 24 are standby. By giving it to the setting circuit 26, the standby setting circuit 26
Opens the gate circuit 28.

As a result, the tag device 21 enters a standby state, and thereafter, in response to a control signal output from the reception signal identification circuit 24 or a change in the state of the attachment recognition switch 22 by receiving an operation radio wave signal from the transmission device. The control signal output from the attachment recognition circuit 25 is the gate circuit 2
8 is transmitted to the warning sound generating circuit 29, and the warning sound can be generated.

As described above, the two conditions of mounting the tag device on the product and receiving the standby radio signal (stop radio signal) are met, and the tag device automatically enters the standby state. There is no need to operate the standby switch with a jig like.

Further, since the stop radio signal and the standby radio signal are shared, the cost can be reduced as the whole article monitoring system.

The operating radio wave signal and the stop radio wave signal (and the standby radio wave signal) shown in FIG. 3 have the same carrier frequency but are different only in the burst interval, so that they can be received by one receiving antenna 23. Is configured.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
An article monitoring device removably attached to an article to be monitored, an alarm means for generating an output indicating an alarm state, an attachment recognizing means for recognizing an attachment state and a removal state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to an article, and a radio wave. Receiving signal identifying means for receiving and identifying a signal, and activating the alarm means in response to the reception of the operating radio signal by the receiving signal identifying means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognizing means to activate the alarm state. In the article monitoring apparatus for generating an output indicating the above, the attachment recognition means recognizes the attachment state and the reception signal identification means receives the stop radio signal, and the reception signal identification means receives the operation radio signal or the attachment identification means. It is possible to activate the alarm means in response to the recognition of the removal state to generate an output indicating the alarm state. Since it is equipped with a control means for achieving the following condition, the tag device can be put into the standby state simply by giving the standby radio signal that also serves as the stop radio signal after fixing the tag device to the product with tape or the like. Unlike the tag device, it is not necessary to insert a jig to put the tag devices into the standby state one by one, and the tag device can be attached very easily and without time.

Further, according to the present invention, an alarm means that is removably attached to an article to be monitored and that generates an output indicating an alarm state, and the attachment state and the removal state of the article monitoring device with respect to the article are recognized. And a reception signal identification means for receiving and identifying a radio wave signal, and the alarm is issued in response to the reception of the operation radio wave signal by the reception signal identification means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring device for activating a means to generate an output indicating an alarm state, the control radio wave signal being generated in response to the attachment state recognition by the attachment recognition means and the reception of the stop radio wave signal by the received signal identification means. In response to the reception, an alarm is issued in response to the reception of the operating radio wave signal by the reception signal identification means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring device having a control means for activating a step to generate an output indicating an alarm state, an operation radio wave signal transmission means for transmitting the operation radio wave signal, and the stop radio wave signal. Since the article monitoring system is characterized in that it comprises stop radio wave signal transmitting means for transmitting, the cost can be reduced without the need for a separate device for supplying a standby signal.

Furthermore, in a store that handles a large number of products (such as a department store or a supermarket), after the work of fixing a large number of tag devices to each product is completed, the tag device is used at once by using the standby radio signal transmission device. Since they can be put into the standby state collectively, it is extremely useful for shortening the work time.

Needless to say, even when a large number of products cannot be placed in the standby state for all tag devices at a time, a plurality of items can be placed in the standby state, which is effective in reducing the working time. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a tag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a tag device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing waveforms of an operating radio signal and a stop radio signal (also a standby radio signal).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an appearance of a conventional tag device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission device.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional tag device.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a stop radio wave signal transmission device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method of using the tag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Tag Device 21a Hole 22 Attachment Recognition Switch 22a Operation Part 23 Reception Antenna 24 Reception Signal Identification Circuit 25 Attachment Recognition Circuit 26 Standby Setting Circuit 27 Battery 28 Gate Circuit 29 Warning Sound Generation Circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Matsudaira 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An article monitoring device removably attached to an article to be monitored, comprising alarm means for generating an output indicating an alarm state, and attachment for recognizing an attachment state and a removal state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to an article. The alarm means in response to the reception of the operating radio wave signal by the received signal identification means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognition means. In an article monitoring device that is activated to generate an output indicating an alarm state, by recognition of the attachment state by the attachment recognition means and reception of the stop radio signal by the received signal identification means,
The control means is provided to activate the alarm means in response to the reception of the operating radio wave signal by the received signal identification means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognition means to generate an output indicating the alarm state. An article monitoring device characterized by the above. 2. An alarm means detachably attached to an article to be monitored and generating an output indicating an alarm state, an attachment recognizing means for recognizing the attachment state and the removal state of the article monitoring device to the article, and a radio wave. Receiving signal identifying means for receiving and identifying a signal, and activating the alarm means in response to the reception of the operating radio signal by the receiving signal identifying means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognizing means to activate the alarm state. And a reception signal in response to the reception of the control radio wave signal in response to the recognition of the attachment state by the attachment recognition means and the reception of the stop radio wave signal by the reception signal identification means. In response to the reception of the operation radio signal by the identification means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognition means, the alarm means is activated to generate the alarm state. An article monitoring device having a control means for generating an output indicating a state, an operation radio wave signal transmission means for transmitting the operation radio wave signal, and a stop radio wave signal transmission for transmitting the stop radio wave signal An article monitoring system comprising: means.