PROGRAMMABLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MERCHANDISE

1 . A programmable security system for protecting merchandise comprising:

a programming station adapted for generating a security code and having a memory for storing the security code;

a programmable key adapted for being operably coupled to the programming station to receive the security code from the programming station and having a memory for storing the security code; and

a security device adapted for being attached to the merchandise and for being operably coupled to the programmable key to receive the security code from the programmable key, the security device having a memory for storing the security code;

wherein the programming station initially communicates the security code to the programmable key and the security code is stored in the memory of the programmable key;

wherein the programmable key subsequently communicates the security code to the security device and the security code is stored in the memory of the security device; and

wherein the programmable key operates the security device upon a matching of the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key.

2 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein each of the programming station and the programmable key comprises a communication circuit for communicating the security code therebetween.

3 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein each of the programmable key and the security device comprises a communication circuit for communicating the security code therebetween.

4 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein the programming station comprises a housing having a key receiving port and the programmable key comprises a housing having a transfer end adapted to be positioned adjacent the key receiving port of the programming station.

5 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein the security device comprises a housing having a key receiving port and the programmable key comprises a housing having a transfer end adapted to be positioned adjacent the key receiving port of the security device.

6 . The programmable security system of claim 2 , wherein each of the communication circuit of the programming station and the communication circuit of the programmable key comprises an infrared (IR) system for optically communicating the security code therebetween.

7 . The programmable security system of claim 3 , wherein each of the communication circuit of the programmable key and the communication circuit of the security device comprises an infrared (IR) system for optically communicating the security code therebetween.

8 . The programmable security system of claim 3 ,

wherein the programmable key comprises an internal battery and one or more electrical contacts and the security device comprises one or more electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the programmable key; and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the internal battery to the security device via the electrical contacts of the programmable key and the electrical contacts of the security device.

9 . The programmable security system of claim 8 , wherein the power transferred from the programmable key to the security device is operable to unlock a lock mechanism.

10 . The programmable security system of claim 8 , wherein the security code is communicated between the communication circuit of the programmable key and the communication circuit of the security device via the electrical contacts of the programmable key and the electrical contacts of the security device.

11 . The programmable security system of claim 3 ,

wherein the programmable key comprises an internal battery and means for inducing a magnetic field and the security device comprises means for inducing an electrical current from the magnetic field; and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

12 . The programmable security system of claim 11 , wherein the power transferred from the programmable key to the security device is operable to unlock a lock mechanism.

13 . The programmable security system of claim 3 ,

wherein the programmable key comprises an internal battery, a ferrite core and a conductive wire forming a plurality of windings about the ferrite core and electrically connected to the internal battery of the programmable key such that passing an electrical current through the conductive wire of the programmable key induces a magnetic field in the programmable key;

wherein the security device comprises a ferrite core and a conductive wire forming a plurality of windings about the ferrite core and electrically connected to the communication circuit of the security device such that the magnetic field in the programmable key induces an electrical current in the conductive wire of the security device; and

wherein the programmable key is adapted to transfer power from the programmable key to the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

14 . The programmable security system of claim 13 , wherein the power transferred from the programmable key to the security device is operable to unlock a lock mechanism.

15 . The programmable security system of claim 13 , wherein the security code is communicated between the communication circuit of the programmable key and the communication circuit of the security device via the magnetic field induced in the programmable key and the electrical current induced in the security device.

16 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein the programmable key comprises a timer and wherein the programmable key is inactivated if the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key is not reprogrammed or refreshed by the programming station within a predetermined period of time.

17 . The programmable security system of claim 17 , wherein the timer is reset when the programming station reprograms or refreshes the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key.

18 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein the programmable key comprises a counter and wherein the programmable key is inactivated after a predetermined maximum number of activations of the programmable key.

19 . The programmable security system of claim 1 , wherein the security device comprises an end of life timer and wherein the security device is inactivated after a preset period of time.

20 . A method for protecting merchandise, comprising:

providing a programming security system comprising a programming station, a programmable key and a security device each having a memory and a communication circuit;

generating a security code in the programming station and storing the security code in the memory of the programming station;

using the communication circuits of the programming station and the programmable key to communicate the security code from the memory of the programming station to the memory of the programmable key;

using the communication circuits of the programmable key and the security device to communicate the security code from the memory of the programmable key to the memory of the security device; and

subsequently matching the security code stored in the memory of the security device with the security code stored in the memory of the programmable key to operate the security device.

21 . The method claim 20 , further comprising providing the programmable key with an internal battery and using power from the internal battery of the programmable key to operate the security device.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein power is transferred from the programmable key to the security device via the electrical conduction.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein power is transferred from the programmable key to the security device via inductive transfer.