Systems and methods for adaptively controlling a transmitter field

1. A method for adaptively controlling a transmitter field in an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

detecting, by at least one first proximity sensor, a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system;

determining a first distance from the first proximity sensor to the first person;

determining a second distance from a second proximity sensor to the first person or a second person;

comparing the first distance to the second distance; and

using the results of the comparing to adaptively control the transmitter field of the EAS detection system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining if the first person is located in a back-field of a radiation pattern of an antenna of the first pedestal.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising performing the using step only if it is determined that the first person is not located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising returning a transmit power of the first pedestal to a previous level when the first person moves out of an antenna field pattern.

5. A method for adaptively controlling a transmitter field in an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

detecting, by at least one first proximity sensor, a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system;

determining a first distance from the first proximity sensor to the first person; and

using the first distance to adaptively control the transmitter field of the EAS detection system;

determining if the first person is located in a back-field of a radiation pattern of an antenna of the first pedestal; and

performing the using step if it is determined that the first person is located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal and if distance information associated with a person located in the back-field should be used to control transmit power of a pedestal.

6. A method for adaptively controlling a transmitter field in an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

detecting, by at least one first proximity sensor, a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system;

determining a first distance from the first proximity sensor to the first person; and

using the first distance to adaptively control the transmitter field of the EAS detection system;

determining a second distance from a second proximity sensor to the first person; and

determining if the first and second distances are the same.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

selecting either of the first and second distances for use in controlling transmit power if a determination is made that the first and second distances are the same, or selecting a smallest distance from the first and second distances if a determination is made that the first and second distance are not the same; and

using the first, second or smallest distance which was previously selected to control transmit power.

8. A method for adaptively controlling a transmitter field in an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

detecting, by at least one first proximity sensor, a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system;

determining a first distance from the first proximity sensor to the first person; and

using the first distance to adaptively control the transmitter field of the EAS detection system;

detecting a presence of a second person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system while the first person is located in proximity to the pedestal;

determining a second distance from the pedestal to the second person; and

determining if the first and second distances are the same.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising selecting either of the first and second distances for use in controlling transmit power if a determination is made that the first and second distances are the same.

10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

selecting a smallest distance from the first and second distances if a determination is made that the first and second distance are not the same; and

using the smallest distance to control transmit power

(A) if it is determined that the person associated with the smallest distance is not located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal, or

(B) if it is determined that the person associated with the smallest distance is located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal and if distance information associated with a person located in the back-field should be used to control transmit power of a pedestal.

11. An Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

at least one proximity sensor detecting a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system; and

a system controller

determining a first distance from a first proximity sensor to the first person,

determining a second distance from a second proximity sensor to a second person,

comparing the first distance to the second distance, and

using the results of the comparing to adaptively control a transmitter field of the EAS detection system.

12. The EAS detection system according to claim 11 , wherein the system controller further determines if the first person is located in a back-field of a radiation pattern of an antenna of the first pedestal.

13. The EAS detection system according to claim 12 , wherein the system controller uses the first distance to adaptively control the transmitter field only if it is determined that the first person is not located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal.

14. The EAS detection system according to claim 11 , wherein the system controller further returns a transmit power of the first pedestal to a previous level when the first person moves out of an antenna field pattern.

15. An Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

at least one proximity sensor detecting a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system; and

a system controller determining a first distance from a first proximity sensor to the first person, and using the first distance to adaptively control a transmitter field of the EAS detection system;

wherein the system controller further determines if the first person is located in a back-field of a radiation pattern of an antenna of the first pedestal; and

wherein the system controller uses the first distance to adaptively control the transmitter field if it is determined that the first person is located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal and if distance information associated with a person located in the back-field should be used to control transmit power of a pedestal.

16. An Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

at least one proximity sensor detecting a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system; and

a system controller

determining a first distance from a first proximity sensor to the first person,

using the first distance to adaptively control a transmitter field of the EAS detection system;

determining a second distance from a second proximity sensor to the first person; and

determining if the first and second distances are the same.

17. The EAS detection system according to claim 16 , wherein the system controller further:

selects either the first distance or the second distance for use in controlling transmit power if a determination is made that the first and second distances are the same, or selects a smallest distance from the first and second distances if a determination is made that the first and second distance are not the same; and

uses the first, second or smallest distance which was previously selected to control transmit power.

18. An Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) detection system, comprising:

at least one proximity sensor detecting a presence of a first person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system; and

a system controller

determining a first distance from a first proximity sensor to the first person,

using the first distance to adaptively control a transmitter field of the EAS detection system;

detecting a presence of a second person located in proximity to a pedestal of the EAS detection system while the first person is located in proximity to the pedestal;

determining a second distance from the pedestal to the second person; and

determining if the first and second distances are the same.

19. The EAS detection system according to claim 18 , wherein either the first distance or the second distance is selected for use in controlling transmit power if a determination is made that the first and second distances are the same.

20. The EAS detection system according to claim 19 , wherein

a smallest distance is selected from the first and second distances if a determination is made that the first and second distance are not the same, and

the smallest distance is used to control transmit power

(A) if it is determined that the person associated with the smallest distance is not located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal, or

(B) if it is determined that the person associated with the smallest distance is located in the back-field of the radiation pattern of the antenna of the first pedestal and if distance information associated with a person located in the back-field should be used to control transmit power of a pedestal.