KR20030013068A - Apparatus and method for deactivating magnetic markers in an electromagnetic article surveillance sytem - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device and method for deactivating a magnetic marker in an electromagnetic article monitoring system are provided to prevent many articles form being carried out illegally and to make an effective management possible by removing a sensitivity of a maker in accordance with carried book or article information. CONSTITUTION: In a deactivating device having identified bar codes stuck on the upper surface and the lower surface horizontally thereto and for removing a sensitivity of an article having a magnetic marker at adjacent to a side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, a platform(3) is provided for loading the article. The lower bar code reader(10) irradiates a light on a bar code stuck on the lower surface of the article and is mounted in the platform(3) for processing the reflected optical signal. The upper bar code reader(20) irradiates a light on a bar code stuck on the upper surface of the article and is mounted corresponded to the lower bar code for processing the reflected optical signal. A sensitivity removing unit(30) is mounted between the upper bar code and the lower bar code for removing a sensitivity of the magnetic marker. A control unit judges whether optical signals processed and inputted in the lower bar code reader(10) and the upper bar code reader(20) are identified therewith. If the optical signals are identified therewith, the control unit operates the sensitivity removing unit(30) for removing a sensitivity of the magnetic marker.

Description

Apparatus and method for deactivating magnetic markers in an electromagnetic article surveillance sytem}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for deactivating a magnetic marker in an electromagnetic article monitoring system, and more particularly, to read barcodes attached to upper and lower surfaces of articles used in the electromagnetic article monitoring system. After determining whether the information is the same, and relates to a device for removing the sensitivity of the magnetic marker attached to the article and a method for removing the sensitivity to deactivate.

Electromagnetic article surveillance (EAS) systems are designed to prevent the taking of books or merchandise without permission from a library or store. In general, an EAS system generates an alternating magnetic interrogation field in an interrogation zone and detects and processes a specific signal generated from the marker when a magnetic marker is located in the search zone. As an article monitoring system that emits an alarm sound, it is widely used in books, audio tapes, video tapes, compact discs, and the like.

The magnetic marker is a dual status marker made of a magnetic material having low-coercivity and is secretly attached to a book, especially in an open library. When the marker is not magnetized, the low-magnetism magnetic material generates a specific harmonic and disturbs the alternating magnetic field of the search area, thereby causing an alarm alarm, which is a state in which the marker is sensitive. On the other hand, when the marker is magnetized, the generation of specific harmonics is prevented so that the alarm does not sound by disturbing the alternating magnetic field. This state corresponds to a state in which the marker is not detectable.

When a library is borrowed from the library, the marker is magnetized by a deactivator to allow the book to be taken out and upon return, the magnetization state is released.

In relation to such markers, Elder's U. S. Patent No. 3,665, 449 discloses a very elongated shape of a high-investment material, and Peterson's U. S. Patent No. 3,747, 086 also discloses a dual-status marker. have.

Meanwhile, barcode systems are widely used to manage books and video tapes. These barcode systems help to manage the book and video tape serial number, name, borrower, loan date, and return date. .

In fact, when a book is borrowed from the library, the manager reads the barcode attached to the borrower's ID with the barcode reader, inputs the borrower's information into the book loan management system, and then reads the barcode attached to the book to be borrowed. The information is stored and managed to match the lender's information. Then, the magnetic marker attached to the book to be borrowed is magnetized by the desensitization apparatus to remove the sensitivity to allow the release of the book.

Recently, unmanned loan systems have been proposed to improve the book loan management system so that the lender can perform the loan procedure without a manager. However, in such an unmanned loan system, the lender often borrows one book and actually exports several books. For example, the lender borrows his / her personal information and After inputting the information into the unmanned loan system and processing multiple books together in the process of removing the sensitivity of the marker attached to the book by the deactivation device, the deactivation device does not detect the number of books. It removes the sensitivity of the markers attached to all detected books. Thus, the unmanned loan system would treat one book as borrowed, but in reality the lender borrowed several books illegally. This situation is a serious problem that causes theft or loss of books. Furthermore, this can be caused not only in books but also in articles such as videotape, audiotape and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the device for deactivating the magnetic marker in the improved electromagnetic article monitoring system to prevent the unlawful release of multiple articles, especially books at once, and the The purpose is to provide a method.

In addition, the present invention can improve the operation reliability and efficient management of the unmanned release system by removing the marker in response to the book or article information to be taken out.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a device for deactivating a magnetic marker in an electromagnetic article monitoring system according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an apparatus for deactivating a magnetic marker in an electromagnetic article monitoring system according to the present invention.

3 is a perspective view showing an example of the magnetic field generating means of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of deactivating a magnetic marker in an electromagnetic article monitoring system according to the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, in the electromagnetic article monitoring system, the same bar code is attached to each of the upper and lower surfaces parallel to each other, and the sensitivity of the article installed magnetic markers in the vicinity of the side between the upper and lower surfaces An inactivation device for removal, comprising: a platform on which the article can be placed; A lower bar code reader installed on the platform for irradiating light to a bar code attached to the lower surface of the article and processing the reflected optical signal; An upper barcode reader facing the lower barcode to irradiate light to the barcode attached to the upper surface of the article and process the reflected optical signal; An sensitivity remover installed between the upper barcode and the lower barcode to remove the sensitivity of the magnetic marker; And a controller configured to determine whether optical signals processed and input by the lower and upper barcode readers coincide with each other, and if so, operate to remove the sensitivity of the magnetic marker by operating the sensitive remover.

Preferably, the lower and upper barcode readers, respectively, a light source for generating light; Light irradiation means for focusing and irradiating the light generated by the light source to the barcode; Optical signal detecting means for receiving light reflected from the barcode; And an optical signal processor for processing the received optical signal and converting the received optical signal into a digital signal.

Preferably, the sensitive eliminator, magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field by the supplied power; And a control circuit unit which receives a power supply control signal from the controller and controls the power supplied to the magnetic field generating means.

In addition, the device of the present invention preferably further comprises a display for outputting a method of use and guidance messages.

In addition, the device of the present invention is preferably further provided with a printer for issuing the loan or take out confirmation of the goods.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in an electromagnetic article monitoring system, a deactivation method for removing the sensitivity of a magnetic marker installed on an article having an upper surface and a lower surface parallel to each other, the method comprising: (a) an upper surface and a lower surface of the article; Attaching the same barcode to each other, and installing the magnetic markers adjacent to one side between the upper and lower surfaces; (b) extracting a top bar code signal by reading a bar code attached to the top of the article with a bar code reader; (c) extracting a barcode signal when the barcode attached to the lower surface of the article is read by another barcode reader; (d) comparing the upper bar code signal with the lower bar code signal to determine whether they match with each other; And (e) removing the sensitivity of the magnetic marker when the barcode signals match in step (d).

Here, the step (e) may include extracting item information corresponding to a bar code according to the optical signal from a memory; And providing the extracted article information to a user and requesting confirmation.

Preferably, the method further includes the step of outputting a printer to confirm the release confirmation of the article from which the sensitivity has been removed and providing the user.

Preferably, the method of the present invention comprises the steps of extracting user information by reading a barcode attached to the identification card of the user with any one of the barcode reader; And storing the user information and the export information of the article in a memory.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

1 shows an appearance of a deactivation apparatus of a magnetic marker in an electromagnetic article monitoring system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The deactivation device according to the present invention is mainly used for checking and permitting a loan of a book, and is applicable to not only the book but also an article, in particular, a video tape, an audio tape, a compact disc, etc. having upper and lower surfaces parallel to each other. In the following description, these articles are roughly described as examples.

Referring to the drawings, the external appearance of the deactivation device of the present invention is composed of a main body housing 1. In the upper part of the main body housing 1, a display 2 is provided for guiding a procedure required for carrying out a book 100 or an article and outputting various messages according to a predetermined graphical user interface (GUI). The display 2 may employ various display devices including a conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD).

The body housing 1 comprises a platform 3 on which a book 100 or article can be placed for scanning and a side surface 4 which is generally perpendicular to the platform 3.

A transparent lower window 5 is installed on the platform 3 so as to form a continuous plane with the platform 3, and a barcode attached to the lower surface of the book 100 inside the lower window 5 as described later. The lower barcode reader 10 for scanning 101 is provided.

In addition, a side window 6 is also provided on the side surface 4 of the main body housing 1, and in this side window 6, the marker 103 attached to the book 100 is magnetized to remove its sensitivity. An insensitive eliminator 30 is provided.

The protruding case portion 7 is extended to the side surface 4 of the main body housing 1 so as to face the platform 3, and the lower surface of the protruding case portion 7 also has a lower window 5. An upper upper window (not shown) is formed, and an upper bar code reader 20 for scanning a bar code 102 attached to an upper surface of the book 100 is provided inside the protruding case part 7. Therefore, the lower barcode reader 10 and the upper barcode reader 20 are installed to face each other and operate.

In front of the main body housing 1, an input means 9 such as a keypad is also provided for inputting various character information. Although the input means 9 is illustrated as being attached to the body housing 1 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be provided in a separate keyboard form.

In addition, a printer 8 is provided at one side of the keypad, which is to provide a lender by outputting a confirmation including a loan result and various guides of the book 100.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the same bar code is attached to each of the upper and lower surfaces parallel to each other, and a magnetic marker is provided at a portion adjacent to one side between the upper and lower surfaces. Accordingly, the same barcodes 101 and 102 are attached to the lower surface and the upper cover of the book 100, respectively. These barcodes 101 and 102 contain unique book information such as the classification and name of the book. In addition, the magnetic marker 103 is attached and fixed near one side of the book 100, that is, near the bookbinding portion connecting the upper and lower covers.

The marker 103 is composed of an amorphous metal in the form of a strip and a hard metal formed at a predetermined interval therebetween, and is secretly attached between the paper and the paper at a position close to the bookbinding portion of the book. It is fixed. However, such a marker is not limited by this embodiment and various kinds of magnetic markers may be employed.

A more detailed configuration of the deactivation apparatus of the magnetic marker in the electromagnetic article monitoring system according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 shows a more detailed configuration of the lower and upper barcode readers 10 and 20 and the sensitive remover 30.

The lower barcode reader 10 installed on the platform 3 of the main body housing 1 includes a configuration of a light source 11, a light irradiation means 12, an optical signal sensing means 13, and an optical signal processor 14. .

The light source 11 is a portion for generating and irradiating light, it is preferable that the light source 11 is generally made of one or more LEDs. The light irradiation means 12 allows the light generated from the light source 11 to be irradiated with a barcode 101 attached to the book 100 and includes an optical assembly such as a lens and a reflector for focusing the light. . The optical signal detecting means 13 may include a charge coupled device (CCD), a CMOS image sensor, or the like as a means for detecting light reflected from the barcode 101. The light source 11 and the optical signal detecting means 13 are not limited by the present embodiment, and means for generating a laser or light, and various optical sensors for detecting an optical signal may be substituted. It should be understood that.

The optical signal processor 14 is a part for processing the optical signal sensed by the optical signal detecting means 13, and amplifies the input optical signal, removes the noise signal, and converts the analog signal into a digital signal.

The upper barcode reader 20 installed to face the lower barcode reader 10 also includes a light source 21, a light irradiation means 22, an optical signal detecting means 23, and an optical signal processing part 24, and functions thereof. And the operation is the same as described above.

The desensitizer 30 removes sensitivity by magnetizing the magnetic marker 103 attached to the bookbinding portion of the book 100, and magnetic field generating means 31 generating a strong electromagnetic field as shown in FIG. 2. It includes a control circuit unit 32 for controlling the power supplied to the magnetic field generating means (31). The magnetic field generating means 31 generates an electromagnetic field by supplying a current, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the magnetic field generating means 31 is composed of a coil assembly 31a to which current is supplied and a magnetic core 31b connected to the coil assembly 31a. When a current is applied to the coil assembly 31a, a magnetic field is generated at the tip tip 31c of the magnetic core 31b, and the marker (103 in FIG. 2) is magnetized by the magnetic field to remove sensitivity. Although the specific configuration of the magnetic field generating means is exemplified in the present specification, the configuration of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it should be understood that various kinds of magnetic field generating means that are well known may be employed.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the controller 40 includes a programmable microprocessor and / or an integrated circuit device (ASIC) and the like, and compares the optical signals inputted from the optical signal processing units 14 and 24. It is determined whether they coincide with each other, and a power supply control signal is output to the control circuit unit 32 to control the operation of the sensitivity remover 30. In addition, the controller 40 controls each component such as the display 2, the printer 8, and the input means 9 connected through an interface not shown.

The memory 50 includes a RAM, a ROM, and a separate auxiliary memory device. For example, book information such as the serial number, name, publication date, and author of the book 100 or the article is stored in correspondence with a barcode. In addition, the memory 50 may store a user database such as a user's name, department, student number, social security number, etc. to authenticate the user. In addition, the memory 50 is updated and stored in the loan information of the book, such as the name of the borrower, loan date, return date.

Then, a method of deactivating the magnetic marker in the electromagnetic article monitoring system of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a deactivation method according to the present invention.

Initially, the deactivation device of the present invention is in the standby state, whereby the display 2 can display simple usage and guidance. For example, the display 2 may output a guide message, "If you want to loan, please enter your personal information or bring your ID to the scanner."

A user who wants to borrow a book inputs user information by placing a barcode attached ID card containing his / her personal information in one of the lower 5 or upper windows of the platform 3 and exposing it to the user. (Step S100). At this time, the light generated from the light sources 11 and 21 of the lower or upper barcode readers 10 and 20 is focused by the light irradiation means 12 and 22 and placed on a bar coder (not shown) attached to the identification card. Is investigated. Subsequently, the light reflected from the bar coder is received by the optical signal detecting means 13 and 23, processed by the optical signal processing unit 14 and 24, and then converted into a digital signal and input to the control unit 40. As an alternative, the user can enter the corresponding personal information directly via an input means 9, such as a keypad, in the absence of an identification card.

The controller 40 searches whether the input user information matches the data registered in the memory 50 to determine whether the user is an authorized user, and if not, the controller 40 requests re-entry of the user information (step S110). ).

If it is determined that the inputted user information is the allowed user information, for example, the display 2 outputs a guide saying "Place a book to be loaned on the scanner one by one". Accordingly, the user places the book 100 on the platform 3 in the direction of the arrow so that the bookbinding portion of the book, to which the magnetic marker 103 is attached, is in contact with the insensitive eliminator 30, as shown in FIG. Put it up. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the barcodes 101 and 102 attached to the lower and upper surfaces of the book 100 face the windows 5 of the lower and upper barcode readers 10 and 20, respectively. do.

Then, as described above, the lower and upper barcode readers 10 and 20 read the barcodes 101 and 102 attached to the lower and upper surfaces of the book, respectively, and transmit the optical signal to the controller 40 (step S120). ). Preferably, by installing a separate sensor on the platform (3) of the inactive device according to the present invention will be configured to detect the user and put the book reader 10 and 20 to operate the book.

Subsequently, the controller 40 compares the optical signals transmitted from the lower and upper barcode readers 10 and 20, respectively, and determines whether the barcode information and the upper barcode information are completely matched (step S130). If only one book 100 is placed on the platform 3, the barcodes attached to the upper and lower surfaces thereof are the same, and thus the input barcode information will be identical. However, when at least two books 100 are placed on the platform 3, the barcodes attached to the uppermost surface and the barcodes attached to the lowermost surface are different from each other, so that the input barcode information is different from each other. In this case, the control unit 40 causes the display 2 to output an error message such as, for example, "Please check again if there is one book placed" (step S131).

If the bar code information input in step S130 coincide with each other, the controller 40 extracts book information corresponding to the input bar code information, for example, information such as serial number, name, issue date, and author from the memory 50 ( Step S140). In addition, the controller 40 may search for necessary data from the memory 50 to determine whether a book for which a loan is requested is available for loan or take out.

Next, the book information is displayed on the display 2 and a message for confirmation from the user can be output (step S150).

When the user confirms the details of the confirmation request and presses the enter key of the input means 9, for example, the control unit 40 removes the sensitivity of the magnetic marker 103 attached to the corresponding book 100 and can be carried out. Sends a power supply control signal to the control circuit unit 32 to make.

In response to the signal, the control circuit unit 32 operates the sensitive eliminator 30 by supplying power to the magnetic field generating means 31 from an unshown power source (step S160). Accordingly, as the current is supplied, a magnetic field is formed in the magnetic field generating means 31, and the magnetic marker 103 attached to the book 100 is magnetized by the magnetic field, thereby removing the sensitivity. As a result, the book 100 is in a state capable of being taken out and does not trigger an alarm even if it passes through the search area.

Finally, the loan information of the book is updated and stored in the memory 50, and a confirmation document recording the loan history of the book is output to the printer 8 (step S170).

Although the invention has been described in terms of books, the invention is applicable to articles having both parallel top and bottom surfaces.

According to the present invention, since the sensitivity of the magnetic marker is released after reading the barcodes attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the book or the article, respectively, it is possible to prevent the unfairly carrying out of a plurality of books or articles at once. .

Claims (9)

An inactive device for removing the sensitivity of an article having an identical bar code attached to the upper and lower surfaces parallel to each other and having a magnetic marker installed near the side between the upper and lower surfaces in an electromagnetic article monitoring system. A platform on which the article can be placed; A lower barcode reader (10) installed on the platform for irradiating light to a barcode attached to the lower surface of the article and processing the reflected optical signal; An upper bar code reader (20) mounted to face the lower bar code to irradiate light to a bar code attached to an upper surface of the article and process the reflected optical signal; An sensitivity remover (30) installed between the upper barcode and the lower barcode to remove the sensitivity of the magnetic marker; And And a control unit 40 for determining whether the input and output optical signals processed by the lower and upper bar code readers match each other, and if so, the controller 40 to control the magnetic marker to remove the sensitivity of the magnetic marker. Disabling device characterized in. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower and upper barcode readers, respectively, Light sources 11 and 21 for generating light; Light irradiation means (12) (22) for focusing and irradiating the light generated by the light source to the barcode; Optical signal detecting means (13) (23) for receiving the light reflected from the barcode; And And an optical signal processing unit (14) (24) for processing the received optical signal and converting the received optical signal into a digital signal. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensitive eliminator, Magnetic field generating means (31) for generating a magnetic field by supplied power; And And a control circuit unit (32) for receiving a power supply control signal from the controller to control the power supplied to the magnetic field generating means. The method of claim 1, Deactivation apparatus further comprises a display for outputting a usage message and the like. The method of claim 1, Deactivation device characterized in that the printer is further provided for issuing a loan or take out confirmation of the article. A deactivation method for removing the sensitivity of a magnetic marker installed on an article having an upper surface and a lower surface parallel to each other in an electromagnetic article monitoring system. (a) attaching the same barcode to the upper and lower surfaces of the article, and installing the magnetic markers adjacent to one side between the upper and lower surfaces; (b) extracting a top bar code signal by reading a bar code attached to the top of the article with a bar code reader; (c) extracting a barcode signal when the barcode attached to the lower surface of the article is read by another barcode reader; (d) comparing the upper bar code signal with the lower bar code signal to determine whether they match with each other; And (e) removing the sensitivity of the magnetic marker when the barcode signals match in step (d). The method of claim 6, wherein step (e) Extracting article information corresponding to a barcode according to the optical signal from a memory; And Providing the extracted item information to a user and requesting confirmation. The method of claim 6, And outputting a printout confirmation history of the article from which the sensitivity has been removed to the user. The method of claim 6, Extracting user information by reading a barcode attached to an identification card of a user with any one of the barcode readers; And And storing the user information and the export information of the article in a memory.