Merchandise tags with removal detection for theft prevention
View Patent ↗Security tags such as hang tags are provided for mounting on merchandise in a retail setting. The security tags include a substrate, an RFID chip, an antenna, and a protection circuit. The chip is affixed to the substrate, while the antenna and the protection circuit are electrically connected to the chip. The security tag is connected to a piece of merchandise by an attachment element associated with the substrate. The attachment element is configured such that removal of the security tag from a piece of merchandise will damage the protection circuit. The RFID chip is configured to generate a first signal which triggers an alarm if the first signal is received by an RFID reader of a security system. The RFID chip will also trigger an alarm if the protection circuit is damaged by the security tag being removed by a customer in the shopping area or other secure area.
1. A merchandise security tag comprising:
a substrate;
an RFID chip affixed to the substrate;
an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip;
a protection circuit electrically connected to the RFID chip; and
an attachment element associated with the substrate and configured such that removal of the security tag from a piece of merchandise will damage the protection circuit such that the attachment element comprises an opening defined in the substrate and a fastener received by the opening and the protection circuit substantially encircles the opening, wherein the RFID chip is configured to:
(i) generate a first signal which triggers an alarm if the first signal is received by an RFID reader of a security system, and
(ii) generate a second signal if the protection circuit is damaged, thereby triggering an alarm if the second signal is received by an RFID reader of a security system.
2. The merchandise security tag of claim 1 , wherein the attachment element comprises a sewn-in line.
3. The merchandise security tag of claim 2 , wherein the sewn-in line intersects the protection circuit.
4. A merchandise security tag comprising:
a substrate;
an RFID chip affixed to the substrate;
an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip;
a protection circuit electrically connected to the RFID chip; and
an attachment element associated with the substrate and configured such that removal of the security tag from a piece of merchandise will damage the protection circuit such that the attachment element comprises a sewn-in line and the sewn-in line intersects the protection circuit, wherein the RFID chip is configured to:
(i) generate a first signal which triggers an alarm if the first signal is received by an RFID reader of a security system, and
(ii) generate a second signal unless the protection circuit is damaged, thereby triggering an alarm if the second signal is not received by an RFID reader of a security system.
5. The merchandise security tag of claim 4 , wherein the protection circuit substantially encircles the RFID chip.
6. The merchandise security tag of claim 4 , wherein the protection circuit substantially encircles the antenna.
7. The merchandise security tag of claim 4 , wherein the protection circuit substantially encircles the RFID chip and the antenna.
8. The merchandise security tag of claim 4 , wherein the attachment element comprises an opening defined in the substrate and a fastener received by the opening.
9. The merchandise security tag of claim 8 , wherein the protection circuit substantially encircles the opening.
10. A method of detecting the attempted theft of a piece of merchandise, comprising:
providing a merchandise security tag comprising an RFID chip, an attachment element having a sewn in line, and a protection circuit electrically connected to the RFID chip such that the sewn in line intersects the protection circuit;
connecting the merchandise security tag to a piece of merchandise;
triggering an alarm if a first signal generated by the RFID chip is received by an RFID reader of a security system; and
triggering an alarm if the protection circuit is damaged.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said triggering an alarm if the protection circuit is damaged includes an RFID reader of a security system receiving a second signal generated by the RFID chip.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said triggering an alarm if the protection circuit is damaged includes an RFID reader of a security system failing to receive an expected second signal generated by the RFID chip.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said triggering an alarm if the protection circuit is damaged includes an RFID reader of a security system receiving a third signal generated by the RFID chip instead of receiving an expected second signal generated by the RFID chip.