Security tag for inventory and anti-theft alarm system
The disclosed technology relates to a security tag. The security tag can include a tamper assembly having a clutch mechanism capable of affixing the security tag to a merchandise item and a locking device for inserting into the clutch mechanism. An insertion of the locking device into the clutch mechanism causes a transmission of a closed signal indicating a closed status for the security tag, and a displacement of the locking device causes a transmission of an open signal indicating an open status for the security tag.
1. A security tag comprising:
an RFID chip having a passive transmitter/receiver operable at a first frequency;
an active transmitter/receiver operable at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency;
a solar panel, the solar panel providing energy to the active transmitter/receiver; and
a tamper assembly, the tamper assembly including a clutch mechanism capable of affixing the security tag to a merchandise item and a locking device for inserting into the clutch mechanism, an insertion of the locking device into the clutch mechanism causes the active transmitter/receiver to transmit a closed signal indicating a closed status for the security tag, and a displacement of the locking device causes the active transmitter/receiver to transmit an open signal indicating an open status for the security tag.
2. The security tag of claim 1 wherein the second frequency is a 433 MHz uhf.
3. The security tag of claim 1 further comprising:
an on-board memory.
4. The security tag of claim 3 wherein the active transmitter/receiver receives price changes from a master computer and stores the price changes on the on-board memory.
5. The security tag of claim 3 wherein the active transmitter/receiver receives SKU changes from a master computer and stores the SKU changes on the on-board memory.
6. The security tag of claim 3 wherein the active transmitter/receiver receives product description changes from a master computer and stores the product description changes on the on-board memory.
7. The security tag of claim 3 further comprising:
a display, the display showing at least one attribute of merchandise data.
8. The security tag of claim 7 wherein the display is an electronic paper display.
9. The security tag of claim 7 wherein the at least one attribute of the merchandise data is a price, a SKU number or a product description.
10. The security tag of claim 1 wherein the displacement of the locking device is one of:
cutting of the locking device, removing of the locking device from the clutch mechanism, cutting a body of the security tag at any location and applying pressure to the locking device.
11. The security tag of claim 1 , wherein the second frequency is a 433 MHz uhf.
12. The security tag of claim 1 , further comprising:
an on-board memory.
13. The security tag of claim 12 , wherein the active transceiver is configured to receive price changes from a master computer and stores the price changes on the on-board memory.
14. The security tag of claim 12 , wherein the active transceiver is configured to receive SKU changes from a master computer and stores the SKU changes on the on-board memory.
15. The security tag of claim 12 , wherein the active transceiver is configured to receive product description changes from a master computer and stores the product description changes on the on-board memory.
16. The security tag of claim 12 , further comprising:
a display, the display showing at least one attribute of merchandise data.
17. The security tag of claim 16 , wherein the at least one attribute of the merchandise data is a price, a SKU number or a product description.
18. A security tag comprising:
an RFID chip having a passive transceiver operable at a first frequency;
an active transceiver operable at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency;
a power source configured to provide energy to the active transceiver; and
a tamper assembly, the tamper assembly including a clutch mechanism configured to couple the security tag to a merchandise item and a locking device configured to be inserted into the clutch mechanism, wherein insertion of the locking device into the clutch mechanism causes the active transceiver to transmit a closed signal indicating a closed status for the security tag, and a displacement of the locking device causes the active transceiver to transmit an open signal indicating an open status for the security tag.