Barcode Scanner Distance Sensing for EAS Tag Deactivation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, the scanner's depth of field (DoF) is often longer than the EAS effective distance, leading to situations where the EAS tag is not deactivated, causing alarms to activate even when customers have purchased items, resulting in customer dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a distance sensing system within the scanner to determine if the EAS tag is within the EAS effective range before decoding the barcode and sending a deactivation signal, ensuring the EAS tag is only deactivated when the object is within the defined range, using technologies like infrared wireless, radio frequency, or acousto-magnetic systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the scanner's depth of field is extended to read barcodes at greater distances, then barcode reading capability is improved, but the EAS tag deactivation reliability deteriorates because the EAS tag is out of effective range
Solution Approach 1:
A distance sensing system acts as an intermediary between the scanner and the EAS tag to measure the actual distance. This intermediary measurement allows the system to determine whether the EAS tag is within effective range even when the barcode is readable at greater distances, resolving the contradiction between extended reading capability and reliable deactivation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the scanner reads barcodes at the far end of its depth of field, then scanning versatility is improved, but false alarm occurrence increases due to EAS tag not being deactivated
Solution Approach 1:
The distance sensing system performs a preliminary check to determine whether the EAS tag is within effective range before the scanner attempts to read the barcode. This preliminary action prevents false alarms by ensuring that only products within the EAS effective range are scanned and deactivated, while still allowing the scanner to maintain its extended depth of field capability.
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
Prevents unnecessary alarms by ensuring the EAS tag is deactivated only when the object is within the EAS effective range, enhancing customer satisfaction and system reliability by accurately managing the effective range relative to the scanner's depth of field.
Implementation Method 1
The distance sensing system may be based on infrared (IR) wireless technology
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method for managing the reading of a barcode and deactivation of an EAS tag relative to an EAS effective range and a depth of field (DoF) of the scanner is described. A product may comprise a barcode and a co-located EAS tag. The method uses a distance sensing system to sense how far the product is located from the scanner front window. The method only outputs the decoded data of the barcode when the product is inside an EAS effective distance. When the product is inside the EAs effective distance, the EAS tag on the product is deactivated. When a customer leaves a store with the EAS tag deactivated, a store alarm may not sound. When the product is outside of the EAS effective distance, but inside the DoF, the decoded data of the barcode is discarded.