Anti-theft Tether Cable Optical Reflection Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-theft devices for securing merchandise on display counters are complex and unreliable due to the need for bidirectional optical communication between separate transceivers, requiring synchronized timing and multiple power sources, leading to increased costs and potential for false alarms.
Innovation Solution
A simplified anti-theft device using a single optical transmitter and sensor integrated into a tether cable, where the optical transmitter emits a signal that is reflected and detected by the sensor, triggering an alarm if the cable is cut or disconnected, eliminating the need for separate power sources and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bidirectional optical communication is implemented between separate transceivers, then security monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to synchronized timing requirements and multiple power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security monitoring function from a complex bidirectional communication system and implements it through a simple unidirectional optical reflection mechanism. The optical transmitter emits light that reflects off the tether cable, and the optical sensor detects the reflected light to monitor cable integrity. This eliminates the need for bidirectional communication, synchronized timing, and multiple power sources while maintaining security monitoring capability.
2Reliability
If two separate power sources are used to power bidirectional transceivers, then communication reliability is improved, but cost and potential points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single power source universal by using it to power both the optical transmitter and optical sensor that work together in a unidirectional reflection-based monitoring system. This eliminates the need for separate power sources for each transceiver, reducing cost and potential points of failure while maintaining system reliability through the simplicity of the design.
3Measurement precision
If synchronized timing coordination is implemented for bidirectional communication, then communication accuracy is improved, but false alarms increase due to timing synchronization difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using active bidirectional communication that requires precise timing coordination, the patent inverts the approach by using passive optical reflection. The optical transmitter emits light continuously or periodically, and the optical sensor detects the reflected light from the tether cable. This eliminates timing synchronization requirements and reduces false alarms caused by synchronization failures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable and cost-effective monitoring system for tether cable integrity, reducing the likelihood of false alarms and simplifying the design by eliminating the need for bidirectional communication and redundant power sources.
Implementation Method 1
an optical transmitter disposed within the tether cable and configured to emit an optical signal
Implementation Method 2
the tether cable is configured to reflect the optical signal
Implementation Method 3
an optical sensor disposed within the tether cable and configured to detect the reflected optical signal
Implementation Method 4
an inductive charging coil configured to wirelessly provide power to the article of merchandise
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-theft device having an inductive charging coil for wirelessly powering an article of merchandise. A retention member is configured to be attached to the merchandise. A pedestal configured to removably support the retention member. Complementary contacts on the retention member and the pedestal are configured to provide electrical power from the pedestal to the inductive charging coil, when the retention member is at rest on the pedestal. The retention member has an optical transmitter configured to communicate optical signals to an optical sensor. When the article of merchandise requests power increase, the optical transmitter emits a corresponding optical signal, which causes a control unit to increase an output voltage of a power supply supplying power to the electrical contacts of the pedestal. In this manner, an optical communication channel is used to increase the power wirelessly provided from the inductive charging coil to the merchandise.