IP Library Granted Patent US 12,437,621
Granted Patent B2
US 12,437,621 · App. 18/329,230 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

System and method for foil detection using millimeter wave for retail applications

Inventors: John A. Allen (Pompano Beach, FL); Michael Del Busto (Lake Worth, FL)
Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
G08B13/2468G08B13/2451
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,437,621
App. No.
18/329,230
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an aspect, the present disclosure includes a system for detecting metal foil using millimeter wave (mmWave) for retail applications. The system comprises one or more pedestals positioned to define an exit portal leading to a point of exit, one or more security tag readers, fixedly positioned with the one or more pedestals, configured to read data from a security tag passing through the exit portal and one or more mmWave receivers, fixedly positioned near the point of exit, configured to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams from metal foil, wherein the detection of metal foil results in an alert message.

Claims (29)

1. A system for detecting metal foil using millimeter wave (mmWave) for retail applications, comprising:

one or more pedestals positioned to define an exit portal leading to a point of exit;

one or more security tag readers, fixedly positioned with the one or more pedestals, configured to read data from a security tag approaching the exit portal; and

one or more mmWave receivers, fixedly positioned near the point of exit, configured to receive one or more reflected mm Wave beams from metal foil, wherein the one or more mm Wave receivers is further configured to detect the metal foil based on receiver frequencies of the one or more reflected mmWave beams without receiver phases of the one or more reflected mmWave beams, wherein the detection of metal foil results in an alert message.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more mmWave transmitters configured to transmit one or more incident mm Wave beams toward the metal foil.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more mmWave receivers is further configured to compare the one or more incident mmWave beams and the one or more reflected mmWave beams.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein comparing comprises comparing at least one of transmitter frequencies or transmitter frequency shifts of the one or more incident mmWave beams and at least one of receiver frequencies or receiver frequency shifts of the one or more reflected mm Wave beams.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mmWave receivers is further configured to detect the metal foil based on a received signal strength of the one or more reflected mm Wave beams.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein detecting the metal foil comprises:

comparing the received signal strength to a threshold; and

generating the alarm message in response to the received signal strength being larger than the threshold.

7. A method of detecting metal foil, comprising:

transmitting one or more incident mm Wave beams toward the metal foil;

receiving one or more reflected mmWave beams;

detecting the metal foil based on receiver frequencies of the one or more reflected mm Wave beams without receiver phases of the one or more reflected mmWave beams; and

generating an alarm in response to detecting the metal foil.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting the metal foil further comprises comparing the one or more incident mmWave beams and the one or more reflected mmWave beams.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein comparing further comprises comparing at least one of transmitter frequencies or transmitter frequency shifts of the one or more incident mm Wave beams and at least one of receiver frequencies or receiver frequency shifts of the one or more reflected mm Wave beams.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting the metal foil comprises detecting the metal foil based on a received signal strength of the one or more reflected mm Wave beams.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the metal foil further comprises comparing the received signal strength to a threshold.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause one or more mmWave transmitters to transmit one or more incident mm Wave beams toward the metal foil;

cause one or more mmWave receivers to receive one or more reflected mmWave beams;

detect metal foil based on receiver frequencies of the one or more reflected mmWave beams without receiver phases of the one or more reflected mm Wave beams; and

generate an alarm in response to detecting the metal foil.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for detecting the metal foil further comprises instructions for comparing the one or more incident mmWave beams and the one or more reflected mmWave beams.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions for comparing further comprises instructions for comparing at least one of transmitter frequencies or transmitter frequency shifts of the one or more incident mm Wave beams and at least one of receiver frequencies or receiver frequency shifts of the one or more reflected mmWave beams.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for detecting the metal foil comprises instructions for detecting the metal foil based on a received signal strength of the one or more reflected mmWave beams.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions for detecting the metal foil further comprises instructions for comparing the received signal strength to a threshold.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CITY AND STATE OF THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 65917 FRAME 648. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST.. Recorded Sep 12, 2025
From: ALLEN, JOHN A.; DEL BUSTO, MICHAEL
To: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072868/0273 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: ALLEN, JOHN A.; DEL BUSTO, MICHAEL
To: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065917/0648 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17162689 · Jan 29, 2021
Provisional Application 62968971 · Jan 31, 2020
Related Publication 20230316885A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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