JP3011644B2 - Article monitoring device and article monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

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 emitting an operating radio signal to an entrance 2 of a store 1 within a predetermined range (for example, only near the entrance). It is known that a tag device 6 (article monitoring device) that is installed and receives an operation radio signal from the operation radio signal transmitting device 3 and emits a warning sound is attached to the product 7.

[0003] In such an apparatus, if a customer tries to take out the store through the entrance 2 without permission without purchasing the commodity 7 to which the tag device 6 is attached, the commodity 7 near the entrance 2 An operating radio signal transmitting device 3 in which a tag device 6 attached to the
Operating radio signal from the tag device 6
Produces an audible alarm. When the tag device 6 is to be detached from the product 7, the tag device 6 detects this and also emits a warning sound.

[0004] Usually, a customer pays for the product at the accounting office 4 and asks a clerk to remove the tag device 6 attached to the product 7. The accounting office 4 has a stop radio signal transmitting device 5 for generating a stop radio signal so that the tag device 6 does not generate a warning sound even when the tag device 6 is removed from the product 7. Signal transmission device 5
The tag device 6 is attached to the product 7 within a range where the stop radio signal generated by the
Remove it from.

[0005] 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 comprises an amplifier 31 for amplifying a signal from 0 and a transmitting antenna 32 for transmitting the signal amplified by the amplifier 31 as radio waves (electromagnetic waves) to the atmosphere.

On the other hand, the stop radio wave signal transmitting device 5 is shown in FIG.
A stop signal generator for generating a stop radio signal to deactivate the tag device 6 (to prevent a warning sound from being generated or to stop a warning sound from a tag device that has already generated a warning sound), as shown in FIG. 18, an amplifier 19 for amplifying the signal from the stop signal generator 18, and a transmitting antenna 20 for transmitting the signal amplified by the amplifier 19 to the atmosphere as a radio wave (electromagnetic wave).

The tag device 6 is, as shown in FIG.
A receiving antenna 13 for receiving an operating radio signal from the operating radio signal transmitting device 3 or a stop radio signal from the stop radio signal transmitting device 5, and ON / OFF (or according to attachment / detachment of a tag device to / from a product) OFF /
ON) the mounting recognition switch 14, the receiving antenna 1
The received signal identification circuit 15 recognizes the received signal in step 3 (that is, determines whether the received signal is an operation radio signal or a stop radio signal), and recognizes the state of the mounting recognition switch 14 (the mounting recognition switch 14 The attachment recognition circuit 16 determines whether the tag device receives the operating radio signal from the transmitting device or generates an alarm sound when the tag device is removed from the product as described above. It comprises a circuit 17 (comprising a warning signal generation amplifier circuit and a speaker), a battery 11 serving as a power supply for the tag device, and a standby switch 12 for supplying / cutting power to the respective circuits of the battery 11.

Further, the tag device 6 has, for example, an appearance as shown in FIG. 4, and the mounting recognition switch 14 has an operation part (OFF / O by protruding and retracting in the direction of arrow A).
N) is projected from one surface of the main body, and in this state (out state), it is OFF. And tag device 6
By attaching to the product, the installation recognition switch 1
The operation portion 4 is pressed (submerged) and turned ON, whereby the attachment recognition circuit 16 shown in FIG. 6 recognizes the attachment of the tag device to the product.

In FIG. 4, a through hole 10 is formed in the side surface of the tag device 6, and the standby switch 12 is provided at the back of the through hole 10 (in this example, the standby switch 12 is moved in the direction of arrow B). It consists of a slide switch that is turned on / off by moving the operation part).

The rod-shaped jig 9 is inserted through the through hole 10 and the standby switch 12 is operated to turn off the jig.
From ON to ON, the power supply of the battery 11 is started, and the power supply of the tag device can be started.

Therefore, the tag device is fixed to the product or the packing box containing the product with tape or the like so that the attachment recognition switch 14 is turned on. To start the power supply, the attachment of the tag device to the product is completed.

As described above, when the tag device is removed from the product, the mounting recognition switch 14 is turned off from ON.
This is recognized by the attachment recognition circuit 16 and the warning sound generation circuit 17 is operated to generate a warning sound.

[0013]

However, such a configuration requires a troublesome operation such as inserting a bar-shaped jig and operating a standby switch after attaching the tag device to the product by using a tape or the like. is there. In a large store, the number of products becomes enormous, and there is a problem that the work of attaching the tag device becomes extremely hard.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided an article monitoring apparatus detachably attached to an article to be monitored, comprising: an alarm means for generating an output indicating an alarm state; The attachment monitoring means for recognizing an attached state and a detached state of the article monitoring device with respect to the received signal, and a received signal identifying means for receiving and identifying a radio signal, and receiving the operating radio signal by the received signal identifying means or the attachment. In an article monitoring device that activates the alarm unit in response to the recognition of the detached state by the recognition unit and generates an output indicating the alarm state, the recognition of the attachment state by the attachment recognition unit and the stop radio wave by the reception signal identification unit. In response to the reception of the signal, it is possible to respond to the reception of the operating radio signal by the reception signal identification unit or the recognition of the removal state by the attachment recognition unit. 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 which is detachably attached to an article to be monitored and generates an output indicating an alarm state, and an attachment recognizing means for recognizing an attached state and a detached state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to the article. And receiving signal identification means for receiving and identifying a radio signal, and actuating the alarm means in response to reception of an operating radio signal by the reception signal identification means or recognition of a detached state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring device that generates an output indicating an alarm state by responding to the reception of a control radio signal by recognizing an attachment state by the attachment recognition means and receiving the stop radio signal by the reception signal identification means. Alarm means in response to reception of the operating radio signal by the received signal identification means or recognition of the removal state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring apparatus having a control means for generating an output indicating an alarm state by operating the article monitoring apparatus; an operating radio signal transmitting means for transmitting the operating radio signal; and transmitting the stop radio signal. An article monitoring system comprising stop radio signal transmission means is provided.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a tag device in an article monitoring apparatus according to the present invention. In the tag device 21, the operation portion 22a of the attachment recognition switch 22 faces outward so as to be able to protrude and retract in the direction of arrow C from 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 operating radio signal transmitting device and the stop radio signal transmitting device are the same as the conventional operating radio signal transmitting device and the stop radio signal transmitting device, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the tag device of the present invention. In the figure, 23 is a receiving antenna for receiving an operating radio signal from the operating radio signal transmitting device or a stop radio signal (also serving as a standby radio signal to be described later) from the stopping radio signal transmitting device, and 22 is a product of the tag device 21. ON / OFF (or OF
F / ON), a reception signal discriminating circuit for judging whether a signal received by the reception antenna 23 is an operation radio signal or a stop radio signal (also a standby radio signal), and 25 is the attachment recognition switch 22. 29 is an attachment recognition circuit for determining whether the tag is ON or OFF.
27, a warning sound generating circuit (including a warning signal generating amplifier circuit and a speaker) for generating a warning sound in response to receiving an operating radio signal from the transmitting device or when the tag device 21 is removed from the product; Denotes a battery serving as a power supply for the tag device 21.

Further, in the tag device 21 according to the present invention, the tag device is set in the standby state (normal operation state) in response to the reception of the standby radio signal also serving as the stop radio signal.
And a gate circuit 28 controlled by the standby setting circuit 26.

Next, the operation of attaching the tag device of the present invention to a product will be described. First, before the tag device is attached to the product, the gate circuit 28 is closed, and the receiving antenna 23 receives an operating radio signal (or a noise signal that happens to be similar to the operating radio signal) from the transmitting device. Or the operation part of the attachment recognition switch 22 (the operation part 22a in FIG. 1) is operated and turned on.
/ OFF, and even if the received signal identification circuit 24 or the attachment recognition circuit 25 outputs a control signal to the warning sound generation circuit 29 so as to generate a warning sound, the gate circuit 28 generates a warning sound generation circuit of the control signal. The transmission to 29 is blocked. Therefore, the tag device 21 does not generate a warning sound.

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

Further, in this state, the standby radio signal which is also used as the stop radio signal shown in FIG. 3 is supplied to the tag device 21 from the stop radio signal transmitter (or a portable small transmitter which outputs the same radio signal). Then, the standby radio signal (stop radio signal) is transmitted to the receiving antenna 23.
The received signal identification 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 ON of the attachment recognition switch 22 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 in the standby state. 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 by receiving an operating radio signal from the transmission device or a change in the state of the attachment recognition switch 22. The control signal output from the attachment recognition circuit 25 is the gate circuit 2
The warning sound is transmitted to the warning sound generation circuit 29 through the switch 8 and the warning sound can be generated.

As described above, the tag device automatically enters the standby state when the two conditions of the attachment of the tag device to the product and the reception of the standby radio signal (stop radio signal) are satisfied. There is no need to operate the standby switch with a jig as in the above.

Further, since both the stop radio signal and the standby radio signal are used, the cost of the entire article monitoring system can be reduced.

Since the operating radio signal and the stop radio signal (also a standby radio signal) shown in FIG. 3 have a difference only in the burst interval at the same carrier frequency, they can be received by one receiving antenna 23. Is configured.

[0029]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
An article monitoring device detachably attached to an article to be monitored, an alarm means for generating an output indicating an alarm state, an attachment recognition means for recognizing an attachment state and a removal state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to the article, and a radio wave. Receiving signal identifying means for receiving and identifying a signal, and operating the alarm means in response to the reception of the operating radio signal by the received signal identifying means or the recognition of the detached state by the attachment recognizing means. In the article surveillance device that generates an output indicating that the attachment state is recognized by the attachment recognition unit and the stop radio signal is received by the reception signal identification unit, the reception of the operation radio signal by the reception signal identification unit or the attachment recognition unit The alarm means can be activated in response to the recognition of the removal state to generate an output indicating the alarm state. Since the tag device is attached to the product with a tape or the like, the tag device can be brought into a standby state only by giving a standby radio signal that also serves as a stop radio signal. Unlike the tag device, it is not necessary to insert the jigs and set the tag devices one by one in a standby state, so that the tag device can be attached very easily and without much time.

Further, according to the present invention, an alarm means which is detachably attached to an article to be monitored and generates an output indicating an alarm state, and recognizes an attached state and an detached state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to the article. And a receiving signal identifying unit that receives and identifies a radio signal. The alarm is issued in response to reception of an operating radio signal by the receiving signal identifying unit or recognition of a detached state by the attachment recognizing unit. An article surveillance device that operates means to generate an output indicating an alarm state, wherein the recognition of the attachment state by the attachment recognition means and the reception of the stop radio signal by the reception signal identification means cause a control radio signal to be generated. In response to receiving, receiving the operating radio signal by the reception signal identification means or alarming in response to recognition of the removal state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring apparatus including a control unit configured to be capable of generating an output indicating an alarm state by operating a step, an operating radio signal transmitting unit that transmits the operating radio signal, and the stop radio signal. Since the article monitoring system is characterized by comprising a stop radio signal transmitting means for transmitting, a separate device for supplying a standby signal is not required, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, in a store handling a large number of products (a department store, a supermarket, etc.), after finishing the work of attaching a large number of tag devices to each product, the tag devices are simultaneously mounted by using the standby radio signal transmission device. Since the standby state can be put together, it is extremely useful for shortening the working time.

It should be noted that even when there are a large number of products and all the tag devices cannot be placed in the standby state at once, the tag devices can be placed in the standby state at a time, so that it is effective in reducing the working time. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of the 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 the appearance of a conventional tag device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram illustrating 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 signal transmitting device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how to use the tag device.

[Description of Signs] 21 Tag device 21a Hole 22 Mounting recognition switch 22a Operation part 23 Receiving antenna 24 Reception signal identification circuit 25 Mounting recognition circuit 26 Standby setting circuit 27 Battery 28 Gate circuit 29 Warning sound generation circuit

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Shinji Matsudaira 2-5-1-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A 9-185783 (JP, A) (58) Investigated Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08B 13/22-13/26

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An article monitoring apparatus detachably attached to an article to be monitored, an alarm means for generating an output indicating an alarm state, and an attachment for recognizing an attachment state and a removal state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to the article. A recognizing means, and a received signal identifying means for receiving and identifying the radio signal, and activating the alarm means in response to receiving the operating radio signal by the received signal identifying means or recognizing the detachment state by the attachment recognizing means. An article monitoring device having a function of generating an output indicating an alarm state by recognizing an attachment state by the attachment recognition means and receiving a standby radio signal by the reception signal identification means, and setting the reception signal to the reception signal. In response to receiving the operating radio signal by the identification means or recognizing the removal state by the attachment recognition means Serial article surveillance system, characterized in that it comprises control means for the standby state capable of generating an output indicating an alarm condition by operating the warning means. 2. The article monitoring device has a function of stopping the operation of the alarm unit in response to reception of a stop radio signal by the reception signal identification unit. 2. The article monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article monitoring apparatus comprises the same radio signal. 3. An article monitoring apparatus detachably attached to an article to be monitored, an alarm means for generating an output indicating an alarm state, and an attachment for recognizing an attached state and a detached state of the article monitoring apparatus with respect to the article. A recognizing means, and a received signal identifying means for receiving and identifying the radio signal, and activating the alarm means in response to receiving the operating radio signal by the received signal identifying means or recognizing the detachment state by the attachment recognizing means. The article monitoring device has a function of generating an output indicating an alarm state by recognizing the attachment state by the attachment recognition means and receiving a standby radio signal by the reception signal identification means. The alarm means is activated in response to the reception of the operating radio signal by the means or the recognition of the removal state by the attachment recognition means. An article monitoring apparatus including control means for setting a standby state capable of operating to generate an output indicating an alarm state, an operating radio signal transmitting apparatus for transmitting the operating radio signal, and a stop for transmitting the standby radio signal An article monitoring system, comprising: a radio signal transmitting device. 4. The article monitoring device has a function of stopping the operation of the alarm unit in response to reception of a stop radio signal by the reception signal identification unit. 4. The article monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the article monitoring apparatus, the operating radio signal transmitting apparatus, and the standby radio signal / stop radio signal transmitting apparatus are composed of the same radio signal. 5.