CA2494255C - Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same - Google Patents
Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2494255C CA2494255C CA002494255A CA2494255A CA2494255C CA 2494255 C CA2494255 C CA 2494255C CA 002494255 A CA002494255 A CA 002494255A CA 2494255 A CA2494255 A CA 2494255A CA 2494255 C CA2494255 C CA 2494255C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- magnetostrictive element
- marker
- alternating
- magnetostrictive
- surveillance system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 5
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 79
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000010941 cobalt Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 229910017052 cobalt Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000005672 electromagnetic field Effects 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000004576 sand Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 29
- 238000009738 saturating Methods 0.000 abstract description 6
- ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Boron Chemical compound [B] ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 3
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 3
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract 1
- 229910001004 magnetic alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000000137 annealing Methods 0.000 description 21
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 229910000697 metglas Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000696 magnetic material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910017061 Fe Co Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000002425 crystallisation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008025 crystallization Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009849 deactivation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- NLZUEZXRPGMBCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Butylhydroxytoluene Chemical compound CC1=CC(C(C)(C)C)=C(O)C(C(C)(C)C)=C1 NLZUEZXRPGMBCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- POSKOXIJDWDKPH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Kelevan Chemical compound ClC1(Cl)C2(Cl)C3(Cl)C4(Cl)C(CC(=O)CCC(=O)OCC)(O)C5(Cl)C3(Cl)C1(Cl)C5(Cl)C42Cl POSKOXIJDWDKPH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010358 mechanical oscillation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
- Soft Magnetic Materials (AREA)
Abstract
A ribbon-shaped strip of an amorphous magnetic alloy is heat treated, while applying a transverse saturating magnetic field. The treated strip is used in a marker for a pulsed-interrogation electronic article surveillance system. A preferred material for the strip is formed of iron, cobalt, silicon and boron with the proportion of cobalt exceeding 30% by atomic percent.
Description
This application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,146,814 filed April 11, 1995.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to magnetomechanical markers used in electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, and methods of making same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to provide electronic article surveillance systems to prevent or deter theft of merchandise from retail establishments. In a typical system, markers designed to interact with an electromagnetic or magnetic field placed at the store exit are secured to articles of merchandise. If a marker is brought into the field or "interrogation zone", the presence of the marker is detected and an alarm is generated. Some markers of this type are intended to be removed at the checkout counter upon payment for the merchandise. Other types of markers are deactivated upon checkout by a deactivation device which changes an electromagnetic or magnetic characteristic of the marker so that the marker will no longer be detectable at the interrogation zone.
One type of magnetic EAS system is referred to as a harmonic system because it is based on the principle that a magnetic material passing through an electromagnetic field having a selected frequency disturbs the field and produces harmonic perturbations of the selected frequency. The detection system is tuned to recognize certain harmonic frequencies and, if present, causes an alarm. The harmonic frequencies generated are a function of the degree of non-linearity of the hysteresis loop of the magnetic material.
Another type' of EAS system employs magnetomechanical markers that include a magnetostrictive element. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,510,489, issued to Anderson et al., discloses a marker formed of a ribbon-shaped length of a magnetostrictive amorphous material contained in an elongated housing in proximity to a biasing magnetic element. The magnetostrictive element is fabricated such that it is resonant at a predetermined frequency when the biasing element has been magnetized to a certain level.
At the interrogation zone, a suitable oscillator provides an ac magnetic field at the predetermined frequency, and the marker mechanically resonates at this frequency upon exposure to the field when the biasing element has been magnetized to a certain level.
According to one technique disclosed in the Anderson et al. patent:, the marker has, in addition to the aforesaid resonant frequency, an "anti-resonant frequency"
at which the stored mechanical energy resulting from magneto-mechanical coupling is near zero. An interrogation circuit which provides the magnetic field at the interrogation zone is swept through a frequency range that includes the marker's resonant and anti-resonant frequencies, and receiving circuitry is provided at the interrogation zone to detect the marker's characteristic signature by detecting a peak transmitted energy level which occurs at the resonant: frequency, and a valley level at the anti-resonant frequency.
Anderson et al. also propose that the magnetostrictive element be subjected to annealing over a period of 7-120 mins. at a temperature in the range of about 300°-450° C in the presence of a saturating transverse magnetic field of a few hundred oersted to enhance a magnet=o-mechanical coupling factor k which is related to the difference in frequency between the resonant and anti-resonant frequencies of the marker. According to Anderson et al,, a larger coupling factor k increases the detectability of the marker's characteristic signature.
In still another surveillance system proposed by Anderson et al., a magnetostrictive marker is used with an interrogation frequen<:y that is not swept, but rather remains at the marker's resonant frequency. The interrogation field at this frequency is provided in pulses or bursts. A marker present in the interrogation field is excited by each burst, and after each burst is over, the marker undergoes a damped mechanical oscillation. The resulting signal radiated by the marker is detected by detecting circuitry which is synchronized with the interrogation circuit and arranged to be active during the quiet periods after bursts. EAS systems of this pulsed-field type are sold by the assignee of this application under the brand name "Ultra*Max" and are in widespread use.
For markers used in pulsed-interrogation systems, the amplitude and duration of oscillations which the member continues to exhibit after the end of each excitation pulse are very important. The greater the amplitude and duration of the residual oscillations (known as "ring down"), the more unique is the signal during the quiet period in the interrogating zone and therefore the easier it is for the marker to be detected by the detecting circuitry.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to magnetomechanical markers used in electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, and methods of making same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to provide electronic article surveillance systems to prevent or deter theft of merchandise from retail establishments. In a typical system, markers designed to interact with an electromagnetic or magnetic field placed at the store exit are secured to articles of merchandise. If a marker is brought into the field or "interrogation zone", the presence of the marker is detected and an alarm is generated. Some markers of this type are intended to be removed at the checkout counter upon payment for the merchandise. Other types of markers are deactivated upon checkout by a deactivation device which changes an electromagnetic or magnetic characteristic of the marker so that the marker will no longer be detectable at the interrogation zone.
One type of magnetic EAS system is referred to as a harmonic system because it is based on the principle that a magnetic material passing through an electromagnetic field having a selected frequency disturbs the field and produces harmonic perturbations of the selected frequency. The detection system is tuned to recognize certain harmonic frequencies and, if present, causes an alarm. The harmonic frequencies generated are a function of the degree of non-linearity of the hysteresis loop of the magnetic material.
Another type' of EAS system employs magnetomechanical markers that include a magnetostrictive element. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,510,489, issued to Anderson et al., discloses a marker formed of a ribbon-shaped length of a magnetostrictive amorphous material contained in an elongated housing in proximity to a biasing magnetic element. The magnetostrictive element is fabricated such that it is resonant at a predetermined frequency when the biasing element has been magnetized to a certain level.
At the interrogation zone, a suitable oscillator provides an ac magnetic field at the predetermined frequency, and the marker mechanically resonates at this frequency upon exposure to the field when the biasing element has been magnetized to a certain level.
According to one technique disclosed in the Anderson et al. patent:, the marker has, in addition to the aforesaid resonant frequency, an "anti-resonant frequency"
at which the stored mechanical energy resulting from magneto-mechanical coupling is near zero. An interrogation circuit which provides the magnetic field at the interrogation zone is swept through a frequency range that includes the marker's resonant and anti-resonant frequencies, and receiving circuitry is provided at the interrogation zone to detect the marker's characteristic signature by detecting a peak transmitted energy level which occurs at the resonant: frequency, and a valley level at the anti-resonant frequency.
Anderson et al. also propose that the magnetostrictive element be subjected to annealing over a period of 7-120 mins. at a temperature in the range of about 300°-450° C in the presence of a saturating transverse magnetic field of a few hundred oersted to enhance a magnet=o-mechanical coupling factor k which is related to the difference in frequency between the resonant and anti-resonant frequencies of the marker. According to Anderson et al,, a larger coupling factor k increases the detectability of the marker's characteristic signature.
In still another surveillance system proposed by Anderson et al., a magnetostrictive marker is used with an interrogation frequen<:y that is not swept, but rather remains at the marker's resonant frequency. The interrogation field at this frequency is provided in pulses or bursts. A marker present in the interrogation field is excited by each burst, and after each burst is over, the marker undergoes a damped mechanical oscillation. The resulting signal radiated by the marker is detected by detecting circuitry which is synchronized with the interrogation circuit and arranged to be active during the quiet periods after bursts. EAS systems of this pulsed-field type are sold by the assignee of this application under the brand name "Ultra*Max" and are in widespread use.
For markers used in pulsed-interrogation systems, the amplitude and duration of oscillations which the member continues to exhibit after the end of each excitation pulse are very important. The greater the amplitude and duration of the residual oscillations (known as "ring down"), the more unique is the signal during the quiet period in the interrogating zone and therefore the easier it is for the marker to be detected by the detecting circuitry.
Deactivation of magnetomechanical markers is typically performed by degaussing the biasing element, so that t:he magnetostrict:ive element ceases to be mechanically resonant or its resonant frequency is changed. However, when the biasing element i:~ degaussed, although the marker is no longer detectable in a magnetomechanical surveillance system, the magnetostx~ictive element may nevertheless act as an amorphous magnetic element which can still produce harmonic frequencies in response to an electromagnetic interrogating field. 'this is undesirable because after a purchaser of an item bearing the magnetomechanical marker has had the marker degaussed at the checkout counter, that purchaser may then enter another retail shop where a harmonic EAS system may be in use and where it would be possible for the degaussed marker to set off an alarm because it may generate harmonic frequencies in response to an interrogation signal in the second retail store.
The present inventors have found that when conventional magnetostrictive materials used in a pulsed interrogation system are annealed in the presence of a transverse magnetic field, the ring down characteristic of the materials is adversely affected. The time of ring down is substantially reduced thereby rendering the marker less unique as a magnetomechanical marker.
U.S. Patent No. 5,252,144, issued to Martin, has proposed that various magnetostrictive materials be annealed to improve the ring down characteristics thereof. However, unlike the present invention, the Martin patent does not disclose applying a magnetic field during heating.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Tt is accordingly a primary object of the invention to ~5rovide a magnetomechanical marker that is suitable for use in a pulsed-field EA5 interrogation system.
The present inventors have found that when conventional magnetostrictive materials used in a pulsed interrogation system are annealed in the presence of a transverse magnetic field, the ring down characteristic of the materials is adversely affected. The time of ring down is substantially reduced thereby rendering the marker less unique as a magnetomechanical marker.
U.S. Patent No. 5,252,144, issued to Martin, has proposed that various magnetostrictive materials be annealed to improve the ring down characteristics thereof. However, unlike the present invention, the Martin patent does not disclose applying a magnetic field during heating.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Tt is accordingly a primary object of the invention to ~5rovide a magnetomechanical marker that is suitable for use in a pulsed-field EA5 interrogation system.
5 Tt is a further object to provide such a marker that, when deactivated, does not generate harmonic signals of substantial amplitude in response to interrogation by harmonic detecaion EAS systems.
It ~_s another abject of the invention to provide a magnetostrict~.ve marker that is easier to manufacture than conventional ntagnetamechanical markers.
It ~s yet another object of the invention to provide a magr~etomechanieal marker that is thinner than conventional n~agnetomechanical markers.
It is still another abject of the invention to provide a magnetomechanical marker with improved ring down characteristics.
Acccrding to one aspect the invention provides a marker far use in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, comprising: (a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element formed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30$ cobalt by atomic percent; (b? a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostricta.ve element: (c) said magnetostrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing; (d} the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.065 inches.
In a specific embodiment the overall structures of the housing i:a less than 0.030 inches, for example 0.005 inches.
In « preferred embodiment the inventian provides magnetastrict~.ve element is farmed of an allay having a combined prapc~rtion of iron and cabals of at least 70$ by atomic pereenu.
Aecc.rding to another aspect the invention provides a rnagnetomechpnical electronic article surveillance system comprising: to) generating means for generating an electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogation zone, said genexating~means including an interrogation coil; (b) a marker secured to an article appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said z5 marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetastrictive element farmed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30~ cobalt by atomic percent; said ~nagnetQStrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing, the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.065 inches, said biasing element being magnetically biased co cause said magnetostrictime element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to sai~~ alternating field: and=(c) detecting means for detecting osaid mechanical resonance of said magnetostricti~re element.
6a According to another aspect the invention provides a marker for t~se in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, comprising_ (a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element; (b) a biasing element located adjacent said magnetostrictive element; and (c) said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field.
I0 According to another aspect the invention provides a method of making a mar)ter for use in a magnetamechanical electronic article surveillance system, the method Comprising the steps of: (a) making an amorphous magnetostrictive element: and (b1 mounting said magnetostrictive element adjacent to a biasing element; said magnetostrictiJe element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce delectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating el~~ctromagnetie field.
, According to another aspect the invention provides a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system comprising: (a~ generating means for generating an electromagnetic. field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogaticm zone, said generating means including an interrogation coil; (b) a marker secured to an article 6b appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field, said biasing element being magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to said alternating field at said selected frequency; and (c) detecting means for detecting said mechanical resonance of said magnetostrictive element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing components of a magnetomechanical marker provided in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a graph showing amounts of induced anisotropy over a range of annealing temperatures.
Fig. 3 illustrates respective hysteresis characteristics of a prior art magnetostrictive marker and a marker fabricated according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a graph showing respective ring down characteristics obtained over a range of annealing temperatures.
Fig. 5 is a histogram showing resonant frequencies of a group of samples cut to a uniform length and annealed in accordance with the invention.
Figs. 6A and 6B are respectively schematic elevat:ional views in ejection of a marker according to the prior art and a marker according to the invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic article surveillance system which uses the magnetomechanical marker of Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description the term "magnetostrictive element" refers to the active magnetic component (element 12 shown in Fig. 1) that is capable, when properly activated, of producing a unique ring down signal in response to an interrogation signal. The term "biasing element" refers to a control element (element 16 of Fig. 1) comprised of a magnetic material having a relatively high coercivity, as compared to the coercivity of the magnetostrictive element, and which is capable of being magnetized or demagnetized (i.e., biased or unbiased) to control the mechanical resonant frequency of the magnetostrictive element. The term "marker" (generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in Fig. 1) refers to the combination of the magnetostrictive element 12 and the biasing element 16 usually contained within a housing (element 14 in Fig. 1) and capable of being attached or associated with merchandise to be protected from theft.
Conventional materials used in the prior art, such as Metglas0 2826 MB (which has a composition of Fe4oNi3aMo4B1$) , are used as magnetostrictive elements in markers without annealing. Annealing such materials tends to reduce the ring down period, which tends to make such materials, if annealed, unsuitable for use in pulsed-field magnet.omechanical EAS systems.
In accordance with the invention, a material that is rich in cobalt is cut into strips having a uniform fixed length. The strips are annealed to provide a magnetostrictive element to be used in fabricating a marker for a pulsed-field EAS system. A preferred material according to the invention is an amorphous ribbon of Fe-Co base alloy, for example, (Feo.SCoo.S) -,9Si6B15 or (Feo,SCoo.S) ~9S1zB19. It is believed that Fe-Co alloys containing at least 30% Co by atomic percent will produce satisfactory results. For example, alloys containing a combined proportion of iron and cobalt of at least 70%, with at least 30% cobalt, by atomic percent, and the balance silicon and boron, are believed to be suitable. The combined proportion of iron and cobalt in such suitable alloys may exceed 90%, and it is believed that the maximum combined proportion of iron and cobalt is only limited by the need to include sufficient silicon and boron so that the alloy can be cast in amorphous form.
In a preferred embodiment, the material is cast as a ribbon that is 0.5 in. wide. The ribbon is cut before annealing into uniform lengths of 1.56 in. to obtain a resonant frequency of 58 KHz (corresponding to conventional pulsed-field detection equipment) upon application of a conventional do magnetic biasing field.
Although it is preferred to apply the invention to a material that has been cast as a ribbon, it is also possible to use materials in other strip shapes, including wires, for example. Annealing is carried out in accordance with t:he invention using a strong (saturating) do magnetic field applied transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cut ribbon strips. In the presence of this magnetic field, the ribbon strips are heated at a temperature of 300° to 540° C for a period of 5 to 60 minutes and then allowed to cool to room temperature, while maintaining the magnetic field at least until t:he material has cooled to below 200°C.
The method by which cooling is performed is not of great significance as long as the cooling is not too rapid. For example, it is believed that cooling to room temperature in less than two minutes will not produce optimum results, and it is therefore better that cooling not take place simply by immediate exposure to open air. According to a preferred technique, the material is cooled by being conveyed through an unheated but enclosed tube to permit cooling to room temperature to take place over a period of at least two minutes.
Fig. 2 illustrates how the degree of anisotropy induced by annealing varies with the annealing temperature.
Specifically, the abscissa axis in Fig. 2 is indicative of the annealing temperature, while the ordinate axis indicates the degree of anisotropy induced, represented by the strength of field that would be required to overcome the anisotropy. It is within the contemplation of the present invention to use annealing temperatures in the range 300°C up to about 540°C A preferred temperature range would be 390°C-500°C. Satisfactory results have been obtained with an annealing temperature of 450°C applied for about 7~
minutes, with cooling to room temperature over a period of about 7~ minutes.
As indicated above, the transverse saturating magnetic field is maintained during both heating and cool 5 down. The required minimum strength of the transverse magnetic field applied during annealing and cool down periods depends on the particular material being treated.
The field should be strong enough to be saturating for the particular material. For most materials discussed above, the 10 optimum field will be in excess of 500 Oe, and a field of 800 Oe or more will often be necessary to achieve saturation. Increasing the field strength beyond that required for saturation is contemplated by the invention but causes no adverse or beneficial effect.
It is to be noted that the annealing temperature should not be so high, nor the period of treatment so long, that more than a minimal amount of crystallization occurs, since severe crystallization tends to adversely affect ring down characteristics and imparts an undesirable degree of brittl.eness.
Magnetostric:tive strips formed in accordance with the invention can be incorporated in markers that are of substantially the same construction as conventional magnetomechanical markers. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a marker 10 may be formed in accordance with the present invention from a magnetostrictive strip 12 which has been fabricated and treated as described above, a rigid housing 14 formed of a polymer such as polyethylene, and a biasing element 16. The components making up the marker 10 are assemr>led so that the magnetostrictive strip 12 rests within a recess 18 of the housing 14, and the biasing element 16 is held in the housing 14 so as to form a cover for the recess 18. It: will be understood that the recess 18 and the magnetostrictive strip 12 are relatively sized so that the mechanical resonance of the strip 12, caused by exposure to a suitable magnetic field, is not mechanically inhibited or damped by the housing 14 or the biasing element 16.
The length to which the strips are cut is selected, according to a preferred practice, to produce a marker that is resonant at 58 KHz, to provide compatibility with existing detection equipment, while using a conventional biasing element 16, magnetized at a level used in conventional magnetomechanical markers.
A marker 10 fabricated in accordance with the invention may be deactivated in a conventional manner by degaussing the biasing element 16, so that the marker 10 is "detuned" and therefore is no longer responsive to the predetermined interrogation frequency.
As shown in Fig. 3, a marker 10 which incorporates a magnetostrictive strip formed and treated in accordance with the present application, has a hysteresis characteristic indicated by the curve (b) in Fig. 3. It is to be noted that this characteristic is considerably more linear and less steep, for relatively small applied magnetic fields (less than 10 Oe), than the characteristic illustrated by curve (a), which is exhibited by markers incorporating conventional magnetostrictive strips, such as untreated (as cast) strips formed of the alloy Metglas~
2826MB marketed by Allied Corporation. As a result, markers fabricated in accordance with the present invention, when deactivated in the magnetomechanical EAS system by degaussing, generate a much lower harmonic signal in response to interrogation fields provided by conventional harmonic detection EAS systems, and are therefore much less likely to occasion alarms by harmonic systems than a conventional deactivated magnetostrictive type marker. For example, a degaussed marker prepared according to the present invention provides a reduction of at least about 60 dB in harmonic generation, upon exposure to an interrogation signal, as compared to a marker used in the conventional harmonic detection EAS system marketed by the assignee of the present application under the trademark "AisleKeeper". Although a preferred practice of the invention achieved a 60 dB reduction in harmonic generation, it is believed that a reduction in harmonic generation of about 20 dB would be sufficient to achieve the purpose of substantially eliminating alarms by harmonic detection EAS
systems in response to deactivated magnetomechanical marker's. It will be understood that the annealing process serves to smooth the hysteresis characteristic of the material by reducing nonlinearity therein.
Another advantage of the present invention is that markers which include magnetostrictive materials formed as described herein provide more favorable ring down characteristics than conventional markers using the as-cast Metglas material referred to above. In particular, Fig. 4 illustrates the superior ring down amplitudes realized with markers constructed with magnetostrictive strips treated in accordance with the invention using a range of annealing temperatures. The curve AO shown in Fig. 4 is illustrative of amplitudes of the radiated signal obtained from the marker immediately after the end of the excitation pulse, curve A1 represents the amplitudes obtained 1 msec after the end of the pulse, and curve A2 represents the amplitudes obtained 2 msec after the end of the pulse. The results shown in Fig. 4 reflect an annealing time of 30 minutes. The biasing field during interrogation was 5 Oe. Fig. 4 indicates that, over the range of about 410°-510°C, higher ring down amplitudes are obtained by using higher annealing temperatures. In general these amplitudes are higher than the amplitudes provided by the conventional markers using as-cast Metglas as the magnetostrictive material.
Still another advantage provided by the treatment disclosed herein is improved consistency in terms of the resonant frequency of the magnetostrictive strips.
Because of variations in conventional as cast magnetostrictive materials, cutting the material into strips of uniform fixed length does not necessarily result in markers that all have the desired mechanical resonant frequency. If a marker' does not have a resonant frequency that is sufficiently close to the frequency of the interrogation field, the marker will not be adequately excited by the interrogation field. The variations in the conventional magnetostrictive materials is so great that in one process it is necessary to measure the resonant frequency of each strip. If required, the length to which each strip is cut, after the third strip of a batch, is adjusted based on the measured resonant frequencies of the previous three strips. In general, the cut length must be adjusted often, sometimes for every strip, and generally after no more than five or six strips. Thus, to compensate for the variation in the conventional as cast material, the conventional processe~~ for manufacturing magnetostrictive elements includes frequent testing of the resonant frequency of the cut strips, and then adjusting the length to which the strips must be cut: to obtain the desired resonant frequency.
However, this invention produces magnetostrictive elements that exhibit quite consistent resonant frequencies for a preselected strip length. It is believed that the greater consistency provided by the present technique results because the present annealing technique can be contrc>lled to produce a consistent degree of anisotropy, whereas the anisotropy of the conventional as cast materials is a product of the composition resulting from the casting process, which is inherently subject to variation.
As shown in Fig. 5, in a sample of approximately 150 strips, which were all cut to a uniform length (1.56 in.), heat treated in accordance with the present invention (7.5 minutes at 450°C with a saturating transverse do magnetic field) and then subjected to a biasing field of 5 oersteds and tested for resonant frequency, nearly all of the strips had a resonant frequency within a 200 Hz range around the desired resonant frequency of 58 KHz. This high degree of consistency provides increased yield, and makes it unnecessary either to test for variations in resonant frequency or to compensate for such variations by periodically adjusting the length of the strips, as is required when the conventional Metglas material is used.
Yet another advantage provided by the present invention is that the annealing process disclosed herein 77496-~109E
produces magnetostrictive strips that are relatively flat as compared to the conventional as-cast magnetostrictive strips. For example, F'ig. 6A shows a marker 10' in accordance with the prior art, including an as-cast 5 magnetostrictive strip 12'. As somewhat schematically illustrated in Fig. 6A, there is a significant degree of curling in the strip 12' believed to be due to residual stress. Therefore, the housing 14' provided for a conventional marker 10' must have a relatively great height 10 H' to accommodate the curled strip 12' without inhibiting the desired magnetomechanical resonance of the strip. If the conventional strip is annealed to relieve stress, it has been found that the unique ring down signal is substantially reduced.
15 However, as shown in Fig. 6B, the strip 12 prepared in accordance with the present disclosure is essentially flat, and has only minimal curling, so that the housing 14 provided in accordance with the present invention can have a much lower profile than the conventional marker 10' anal a height H that is much less than the height H' of the conventional marker. For example, a housing 14' having H'=70 to 110 mils may be needed to accommodate a conventional 1 mil thick Metglas strip 12', but the housing 14 need only have H=5 to 30 mils to accommodate a 1 mil thick strip 12 treated in accordance with the present invention. This provides for a thinner marker that is more conveniently attached to merchandise. Markers that are thinner or less bulky are much more desirable. The overall thickness of the housing for a marker is also dependent on the thickness and uniformity of the material used to form the housing.
It should be noted that the annealing process described herein can also be used to form magnetostrictive strips into desired curved shapes, rather than the flat strip shown in Fig. 6B.
Fig. 7 illustrates a pulsed-interrogation EAS
system which uses the magneto-mechanical marker fabricated in accordance with the invention. The system shown in Fig. 7 includes a synchronizing circuit 200 which controls the operation of an energizing circuit 201 and a receiving circuit 202. The synchronizing circuit 200 sends a synchronizing gate pulse to the energizing circuit 201, and the synchronizing gate pulse activates the energizing circuit 201. Upon being activated, the energizing circuit 201 generates and sends an interrogation signal to interrogating coil 206 for the duration of the synchronizing pulse. In response to the interrogation signal, the interrogating coil 206 generates an interrogating magnetic field, which, in turn, excites the marker 10 into mechanical resonance.
Upon completion of the pulsed interrogating signal, the synchronizing circuit 200 sends a gate pulse to the receiver circuit 202, and the latter gate pulse activates the circuit 202. During the period that the circuit 202 is activated, and if a marker is present in the interrogating magnetic field, such marker will generate in the receiver coil 207 a signal at the frequency of mechanical resonance of the marker. This signal is sensed by the receiver 202, which responds to the sensed signal by generating a signal to an indicator 203 to generate an alarm or the like. In short, the receiver circuit 202 is synchronized with the energizing circuit 201 so that the receiver circuit 202 is only active during quiet periods between the pulses of the pulsed interrogation field.
Various other changes in the foregoing markers and modifications in the described practices may be introduced without departing from the invention. The particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are thus intended in an illustrative and not limiting sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.
It ~_s another abject of the invention to provide a magnetostrict~.ve marker that is easier to manufacture than conventional ntagnetamechanical markers.
It ~s yet another object of the invention to provide a magr~etomechanieal marker that is thinner than conventional n~agnetomechanical markers.
It is still another abject of the invention to provide a magnetomechanical marker with improved ring down characteristics.
Acccrding to one aspect the invention provides a marker far use in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, comprising: (a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element formed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30$ cobalt by atomic percent; (b? a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostricta.ve element: (c) said magnetostrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing; (d} the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.065 inches.
In a specific embodiment the overall structures of the housing i:a less than 0.030 inches, for example 0.005 inches.
In « preferred embodiment the inventian provides magnetastrict~.ve element is farmed of an allay having a combined prapc~rtion of iron and cabals of at least 70$ by atomic pereenu.
Aecc.rding to another aspect the invention provides a rnagnetomechpnical electronic article surveillance system comprising: to) generating means for generating an electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogation zone, said genexating~means including an interrogation coil; (b) a marker secured to an article appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said z5 marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetastrictive element farmed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30~ cobalt by atomic percent; said ~nagnetQStrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing, the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.065 inches, said biasing element being magnetically biased co cause said magnetostrictime element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to sai~~ alternating field: and=(c) detecting means for detecting osaid mechanical resonance of said magnetostricti~re element.
6a According to another aspect the invention provides a marker for t~se in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, comprising_ (a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element; (b) a biasing element located adjacent said magnetostrictive element; and (c) said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field.
I0 According to another aspect the invention provides a method of making a mar)ter for use in a magnetamechanical electronic article surveillance system, the method Comprising the steps of: (a) making an amorphous magnetostrictive element: and (b1 mounting said magnetostrictive element adjacent to a biasing element; said magnetostrictiJe element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce delectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating el~~ctromagnetie field.
, According to another aspect the invention provides a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system comprising: (a~ generating means for generating an electromagnetic. field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogaticm zone, said generating means including an interrogation coil; (b) a marker secured to an article 6b appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field, said biasing element being magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to said alternating field at said selected frequency; and (c) detecting means for detecting said mechanical resonance of said magnetostrictive element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing components of a magnetomechanical marker provided in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a graph showing amounts of induced anisotropy over a range of annealing temperatures.
Fig. 3 illustrates respective hysteresis characteristics of a prior art magnetostrictive marker and a marker fabricated according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a graph showing respective ring down characteristics obtained over a range of annealing temperatures.
Fig. 5 is a histogram showing resonant frequencies of a group of samples cut to a uniform length and annealed in accordance with the invention.
Figs. 6A and 6B are respectively schematic elevat:ional views in ejection of a marker according to the prior art and a marker according to the invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic article surveillance system which uses the magnetomechanical marker of Fig. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description the term "magnetostrictive element" refers to the active magnetic component (element 12 shown in Fig. 1) that is capable, when properly activated, of producing a unique ring down signal in response to an interrogation signal. The term "biasing element" refers to a control element (element 16 of Fig. 1) comprised of a magnetic material having a relatively high coercivity, as compared to the coercivity of the magnetostrictive element, and which is capable of being magnetized or demagnetized (i.e., biased or unbiased) to control the mechanical resonant frequency of the magnetostrictive element. The term "marker" (generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in Fig. 1) refers to the combination of the magnetostrictive element 12 and the biasing element 16 usually contained within a housing (element 14 in Fig. 1) and capable of being attached or associated with merchandise to be protected from theft.
Conventional materials used in the prior art, such as Metglas0 2826 MB (which has a composition of Fe4oNi3aMo4B1$) , are used as magnetostrictive elements in markers without annealing. Annealing such materials tends to reduce the ring down period, which tends to make such materials, if annealed, unsuitable for use in pulsed-field magnet.omechanical EAS systems.
In accordance with the invention, a material that is rich in cobalt is cut into strips having a uniform fixed length. The strips are annealed to provide a magnetostrictive element to be used in fabricating a marker for a pulsed-field EAS system. A preferred material according to the invention is an amorphous ribbon of Fe-Co base alloy, for example, (Feo.SCoo.S) -,9Si6B15 or (Feo,SCoo.S) ~9S1zB19. It is believed that Fe-Co alloys containing at least 30% Co by atomic percent will produce satisfactory results. For example, alloys containing a combined proportion of iron and cobalt of at least 70%, with at least 30% cobalt, by atomic percent, and the balance silicon and boron, are believed to be suitable. The combined proportion of iron and cobalt in such suitable alloys may exceed 90%, and it is believed that the maximum combined proportion of iron and cobalt is only limited by the need to include sufficient silicon and boron so that the alloy can be cast in amorphous form.
In a preferred embodiment, the material is cast as a ribbon that is 0.5 in. wide. The ribbon is cut before annealing into uniform lengths of 1.56 in. to obtain a resonant frequency of 58 KHz (corresponding to conventional pulsed-field detection equipment) upon application of a conventional do magnetic biasing field.
Although it is preferred to apply the invention to a material that has been cast as a ribbon, it is also possible to use materials in other strip shapes, including wires, for example. Annealing is carried out in accordance with t:he invention using a strong (saturating) do magnetic field applied transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cut ribbon strips. In the presence of this magnetic field, the ribbon strips are heated at a temperature of 300° to 540° C for a period of 5 to 60 minutes and then allowed to cool to room temperature, while maintaining the magnetic field at least until t:he material has cooled to below 200°C.
The method by which cooling is performed is not of great significance as long as the cooling is not too rapid. For example, it is believed that cooling to room temperature in less than two minutes will not produce optimum results, and it is therefore better that cooling not take place simply by immediate exposure to open air. According to a preferred technique, the material is cooled by being conveyed through an unheated but enclosed tube to permit cooling to room temperature to take place over a period of at least two minutes.
Fig. 2 illustrates how the degree of anisotropy induced by annealing varies with the annealing temperature.
Specifically, the abscissa axis in Fig. 2 is indicative of the annealing temperature, while the ordinate axis indicates the degree of anisotropy induced, represented by the strength of field that would be required to overcome the anisotropy. It is within the contemplation of the present invention to use annealing temperatures in the range 300°C up to about 540°C A preferred temperature range would be 390°C-500°C. Satisfactory results have been obtained with an annealing temperature of 450°C applied for about 7~
minutes, with cooling to room temperature over a period of about 7~ minutes.
As indicated above, the transverse saturating magnetic field is maintained during both heating and cool 5 down. The required minimum strength of the transverse magnetic field applied during annealing and cool down periods depends on the particular material being treated.
The field should be strong enough to be saturating for the particular material. For most materials discussed above, the 10 optimum field will be in excess of 500 Oe, and a field of 800 Oe or more will often be necessary to achieve saturation. Increasing the field strength beyond that required for saturation is contemplated by the invention but causes no adverse or beneficial effect.
It is to be noted that the annealing temperature should not be so high, nor the period of treatment so long, that more than a minimal amount of crystallization occurs, since severe crystallization tends to adversely affect ring down characteristics and imparts an undesirable degree of brittl.eness.
Magnetostric:tive strips formed in accordance with the invention can be incorporated in markers that are of substantially the same construction as conventional magnetomechanical markers. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a marker 10 may be formed in accordance with the present invention from a magnetostrictive strip 12 which has been fabricated and treated as described above, a rigid housing 14 formed of a polymer such as polyethylene, and a biasing element 16. The components making up the marker 10 are assemr>led so that the magnetostrictive strip 12 rests within a recess 18 of the housing 14, and the biasing element 16 is held in the housing 14 so as to form a cover for the recess 18. It: will be understood that the recess 18 and the magnetostrictive strip 12 are relatively sized so that the mechanical resonance of the strip 12, caused by exposure to a suitable magnetic field, is not mechanically inhibited or damped by the housing 14 or the biasing element 16.
The length to which the strips are cut is selected, according to a preferred practice, to produce a marker that is resonant at 58 KHz, to provide compatibility with existing detection equipment, while using a conventional biasing element 16, magnetized at a level used in conventional magnetomechanical markers.
A marker 10 fabricated in accordance with the invention may be deactivated in a conventional manner by degaussing the biasing element 16, so that the marker 10 is "detuned" and therefore is no longer responsive to the predetermined interrogation frequency.
As shown in Fig. 3, a marker 10 which incorporates a magnetostrictive strip formed and treated in accordance with the present application, has a hysteresis characteristic indicated by the curve (b) in Fig. 3. It is to be noted that this characteristic is considerably more linear and less steep, for relatively small applied magnetic fields (less than 10 Oe), than the characteristic illustrated by curve (a), which is exhibited by markers incorporating conventional magnetostrictive strips, such as untreated (as cast) strips formed of the alloy Metglas~
2826MB marketed by Allied Corporation. As a result, markers fabricated in accordance with the present invention, when deactivated in the magnetomechanical EAS system by degaussing, generate a much lower harmonic signal in response to interrogation fields provided by conventional harmonic detection EAS systems, and are therefore much less likely to occasion alarms by harmonic systems than a conventional deactivated magnetostrictive type marker. For example, a degaussed marker prepared according to the present invention provides a reduction of at least about 60 dB in harmonic generation, upon exposure to an interrogation signal, as compared to a marker used in the conventional harmonic detection EAS system marketed by the assignee of the present application under the trademark "AisleKeeper". Although a preferred practice of the invention achieved a 60 dB reduction in harmonic generation, it is believed that a reduction in harmonic generation of about 20 dB would be sufficient to achieve the purpose of substantially eliminating alarms by harmonic detection EAS
systems in response to deactivated magnetomechanical marker's. It will be understood that the annealing process serves to smooth the hysteresis characteristic of the material by reducing nonlinearity therein.
Another advantage of the present invention is that markers which include magnetostrictive materials formed as described herein provide more favorable ring down characteristics than conventional markers using the as-cast Metglas material referred to above. In particular, Fig. 4 illustrates the superior ring down amplitudes realized with markers constructed with magnetostrictive strips treated in accordance with the invention using a range of annealing temperatures. The curve AO shown in Fig. 4 is illustrative of amplitudes of the radiated signal obtained from the marker immediately after the end of the excitation pulse, curve A1 represents the amplitudes obtained 1 msec after the end of the pulse, and curve A2 represents the amplitudes obtained 2 msec after the end of the pulse. The results shown in Fig. 4 reflect an annealing time of 30 minutes. The biasing field during interrogation was 5 Oe. Fig. 4 indicates that, over the range of about 410°-510°C, higher ring down amplitudes are obtained by using higher annealing temperatures. In general these amplitudes are higher than the amplitudes provided by the conventional markers using as-cast Metglas as the magnetostrictive material.
Still another advantage provided by the treatment disclosed herein is improved consistency in terms of the resonant frequency of the magnetostrictive strips.
Because of variations in conventional as cast magnetostrictive materials, cutting the material into strips of uniform fixed length does not necessarily result in markers that all have the desired mechanical resonant frequency. If a marker' does not have a resonant frequency that is sufficiently close to the frequency of the interrogation field, the marker will not be adequately excited by the interrogation field. The variations in the conventional magnetostrictive materials is so great that in one process it is necessary to measure the resonant frequency of each strip. If required, the length to which each strip is cut, after the third strip of a batch, is adjusted based on the measured resonant frequencies of the previous three strips. In general, the cut length must be adjusted often, sometimes for every strip, and generally after no more than five or six strips. Thus, to compensate for the variation in the conventional as cast material, the conventional processe~~ for manufacturing magnetostrictive elements includes frequent testing of the resonant frequency of the cut strips, and then adjusting the length to which the strips must be cut: to obtain the desired resonant frequency.
However, this invention produces magnetostrictive elements that exhibit quite consistent resonant frequencies for a preselected strip length. It is believed that the greater consistency provided by the present technique results because the present annealing technique can be contrc>lled to produce a consistent degree of anisotropy, whereas the anisotropy of the conventional as cast materials is a product of the composition resulting from the casting process, which is inherently subject to variation.
As shown in Fig. 5, in a sample of approximately 150 strips, which were all cut to a uniform length (1.56 in.), heat treated in accordance with the present invention (7.5 minutes at 450°C with a saturating transverse do magnetic field) and then subjected to a biasing field of 5 oersteds and tested for resonant frequency, nearly all of the strips had a resonant frequency within a 200 Hz range around the desired resonant frequency of 58 KHz. This high degree of consistency provides increased yield, and makes it unnecessary either to test for variations in resonant frequency or to compensate for such variations by periodically adjusting the length of the strips, as is required when the conventional Metglas material is used.
Yet another advantage provided by the present invention is that the annealing process disclosed herein 77496-~109E
produces magnetostrictive strips that are relatively flat as compared to the conventional as-cast magnetostrictive strips. For example, F'ig. 6A shows a marker 10' in accordance with the prior art, including an as-cast 5 magnetostrictive strip 12'. As somewhat schematically illustrated in Fig. 6A, there is a significant degree of curling in the strip 12' believed to be due to residual stress. Therefore, the housing 14' provided for a conventional marker 10' must have a relatively great height 10 H' to accommodate the curled strip 12' without inhibiting the desired magnetomechanical resonance of the strip. If the conventional strip is annealed to relieve stress, it has been found that the unique ring down signal is substantially reduced.
15 However, as shown in Fig. 6B, the strip 12 prepared in accordance with the present disclosure is essentially flat, and has only minimal curling, so that the housing 14 provided in accordance with the present invention can have a much lower profile than the conventional marker 10' anal a height H that is much less than the height H' of the conventional marker. For example, a housing 14' having H'=70 to 110 mils may be needed to accommodate a conventional 1 mil thick Metglas strip 12', but the housing 14 need only have H=5 to 30 mils to accommodate a 1 mil thick strip 12 treated in accordance with the present invention. This provides for a thinner marker that is more conveniently attached to merchandise. Markers that are thinner or less bulky are much more desirable. The overall thickness of the housing for a marker is also dependent on the thickness and uniformity of the material used to form the housing.
It should be noted that the annealing process described herein can also be used to form magnetostrictive strips into desired curved shapes, rather than the flat strip shown in Fig. 6B.
Fig. 7 illustrates a pulsed-interrogation EAS
system which uses the magneto-mechanical marker fabricated in accordance with the invention. The system shown in Fig. 7 includes a synchronizing circuit 200 which controls the operation of an energizing circuit 201 and a receiving circuit 202. The synchronizing circuit 200 sends a synchronizing gate pulse to the energizing circuit 201, and the synchronizing gate pulse activates the energizing circuit 201. Upon being activated, the energizing circuit 201 generates and sends an interrogation signal to interrogating coil 206 for the duration of the synchronizing pulse. In response to the interrogation signal, the interrogating coil 206 generates an interrogating magnetic field, which, in turn, excites the marker 10 into mechanical resonance.
Upon completion of the pulsed interrogating signal, the synchronizing circuit 200 sends a gate pulse to the receiver circuit 202, and the latter gate pulse activates the circuit 202. During the period that the circuit 202 is activated, and if a marker is present in the interrogating magnetic field, such marker will generate in the receiver coil 207 a signal at the frequency of mechanical resonance of the marker. This signal is sensed by the receiver 202, which responds to the sensed signal by generating a signal to an indicator 203 to generate an alarm or the like. In short, the receiver circuit 202 is synchronized with the energizing circuit 201 so that the receiver circuit 202 is only active during quiet periods between the pulses of the pulsed interrogation field.
Various other changes in the foregoing markers and modifications in the described practices may be introduced without departing from the invention. The particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are thus intended in an illustrative and not limiting sense. The true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.
Claims (18)
1. ~A marker for use in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, comprising:
(a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element formed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30% cobalt by atomic percent;
(b) a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element;
(c) said magnetostrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing;
(d) the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.065 inches.
(a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element formed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30% cobalt by atomic percent;
(b) a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element;
(c) said magnetostrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing;
(d) the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.065 inches.
2. ~A marker according to claim 1, wherein the overall thickness of said housing is less than 0.030 inches.
3. ~A marker according to claim 1, wherein the overall thickness of said housing is 0.005 inches.
4. ~A marker according to claim 1, wherein said magnetostrictive element is formed of an alloy having a combined proportion of iron and cobalt of at least 70% by, atomic percent.
5. ~A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system comprising:
(a) generating means for generating an electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogation zone, said generating means including an interrogation coil;
(b) a marker secured to an article appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetostrictive element formed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30% cobalt by atomic percent; said magnetostrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing, the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.055 inches, said biasing element being magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to said alternating fields and (c) detecting means for detecting said mechanical resonance of sand magnetostrictive element.
(a) generating means for generating an electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogation zone, said generating means including an interrogation coil;
(b) a marker secured to an article appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetostrictive element formed of an alloy that comprises iron and at least 30% cobalt by atomic percent; said magnetostrictive element and said biasing element being contained within a housing, the overall thickness of said housing being less than 0.055 inches, said biasing element being magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to said alternating fields and (c) detecting means for detecting said mechanical resonance of sand magnetostrictive element.
6. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system according to claim 5, wherein said housing has an overall thickness of less than 0.030 inches.
7. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system according to claim 6, wherein said housing has an overall thickness of 0.005 inches.
8. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system according to Claim 5, wherein said generating means operates to generate said alternating field in a pulsed fashion and said magnetostrictive element produces mechanical perturbations that are detectable by said detecting means during a period of time after the alternating field has stopped.
9. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system according to claim 5, wherein said 19a alloy has a combined proportion of iron and cobalt of at least 70% by atomic percent.
10, A marker for use in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, comprising:
(a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element;
(b) a biasing element located adjacent said magnetostrictive element; and (c) said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field.
(a) an amorphous magnetostrictive element;
(b) a biasing element located adjacent said magnetostrictive element; and (c) said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field.
11. A marker according to claim 10, wherein said biasing element is magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency.
12. A marker according to claim 11, wherein said magnetostrictive element is mechanically resonant and produces mechanical perturbations at a frequency detectable by a receiver tuned to said frequency during a period of time after the alternating electromagnetic field has stopped; and said magnetostrictive element is incapable of producing mechanical perturbations at said frequency detectable by said receiver during the period of time after the alternating electromagnetic field has stopped when said biasing element is in a degaussed condition.
13. A method of making a marker for use in a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) making an amorphous magnetostrictive element;
and (b) mounting said magnetostrictive element adjacent to a biasing element;
said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field.
(a) making an amorphous magnetostrictive element;
and (b) mounting said magnetostrictive element adjacent to a biasing element;
said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said biasing element is magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said magnetostrictive element is mechanically resonant and produces mechanical perturbations at a frequency detectable by a receiver tuned to said frequency during a period of time after the alternating electromagnetic field at said selected frequency has stopped; and said magnetostrictive element is incapable of producing mechanical perturbations at said frequency detectable by said receiver during the period of time after the alternating electromagnetic field has stopped when said biasing element is in a degaussed condition.
16. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system comprising:
(a) generating means for generating an electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogation zone, said generating means including an interrogation coil;
(b) a marker secured to an article appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field, said biasing element being magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to said alternating field at said selected frequency; and (c) detecting means for detecting said mechanical resonance of said magnetostrictive element.
(a) generating means for generating an electromagnetic field alternating at a selected frequency in an interrogation zone, said generating means including an interrogation coil;
(b) a marker secured to an article appointed for passage through said interrogation zone, said marker including an amorphous magnetostrictive element and a biasing element located adjacent to said magnetostrictive element, said magnetostrictive element having a hysteresis loop characteristic such that said magnetostrictive element does not produce detectable harmonic frequencies when in an alternating electromagnetic field, said biasing element being magnetically biased to cause said magnetostrictive element to be mechanically resonant when exposed to said alternating field at said selected frequency; and (c) detecting means for detecting said mechanical resonance of said magnetostrictive element.
17. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system according to claim l6, wherein said generating means operates to generate said alternating field at said selected frequency in a pulsed fashion and said magnetostrictive element produces mechanical perturbations that are detectable by said detecting means during a period of time after the alternating field at said selected frequency has stopped.
18. A magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system according to claim 17, wherein said magnetostrictive element is incapable of producing mechanical perturbations detectable by said detecting means during the period of time after the alternating electromagnetic field at said selected frequency has stopped when said biasing element is in a degaussed condition.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/269,651 US5469140A (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1994-06-30 | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same |
US08/269,651 | 1994-06-30 | ||
CA002146814A CA2146814C (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1995-04-11 | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002146814A Division CA2146814C (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1995-04-11 | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2494255A1 CA2494255A1 (en) | 1995-12-31 |
CA2494255C true CA2494255C (en) | 2007-04-10 |
Family
ID=34378549
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002492950A Expired - Lifetime CA2492950C (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1995-04-11 | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same |
CA002494255A Expired - Lifetime CA2494255C (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1995-04-11 | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002492950A Expired - Lifetime CA2492950C (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1995-04-11 | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (2) | CA2492950C (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN110544356A (en) * | 2019-09-20 | 2019-12-06 | 深圳亿东科技股份有限公司 | Anti-theft label |
-
1995
- 1995-04-11 CA CA002492950A patent/CA2492950C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-04-11 CA CA002494255A patent/CA2494255C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2494255A1 (en) | 1995-12-31 |
CA2492950C (en) | 2007-06-26 |
CA2492950A1 (en) | 1995-12-31 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5469140A (en) | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same | |
US5495230A (en) | Magnetomechanical article surveillance marker with a tunable resonant frequency | |
JP4030586B2 (en) | Magneto-mechanical electronic article surveillance marker having low magnetic biasing element | |
AU738369B2 (en) | Magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical surveillance system | |
US6018296A (en) | Amorphous magnetostrictive alloy with low cobalt content and method for annealing same | |
EP1562160B1 (en) | Amorphous magnetostrictive alloy and an electronic article surveillance system employing same | |
US6181245B1 (en) | Magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance marker with bias element having abrupt deactivation/magnetization characteristic | |
CA2319334C (en) | Redistributing magnetic charge in bias element for magnetomechanical eas marker | |
EP0885432B1 (en) | Curvature-reduction annealing of amorphous metal alloy ribbon | |
US5949334A (en) | Magnetostrictive element having optimized bias-field-dependent resonant frequency characteristic | |
CA2494255C (en) | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same | |
AU711803B2 (en) | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same | |
AU738871B2 (en) | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same | |
EP0895208A2 (en) | Transverse magnetic field annealed amorphous magnetomechanical elements for use in electronic article surveillance system and method of making same | |
CA2149380C (en) | Magnetomechanical article surveillance marker with a tunable resonant frequency |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20150413 |