Compact EAS Deactivator for Mobile POS Using Pulsed Electromagnets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional EAS tag deactivators for mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) systems are bulky, heavy, and require large batteries due to high energy needs, limiting portability and usability, and existing solutions are complex with multiple magnetic fields and large components.
Innovation Solution
A compact, lightweight deactivator device with a housing designed to attach to a mPOS mobile device, utilizing a pair of fixed-position electromagnets with cores and coils, powered by a rechargeable battery, generating a combined magnetic field for efficient EAS tag deactivation with minimal energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cordless EAS tag deactivators are used, then EAS tag deactivation function is provided, but the device becomes large, bulky and heavy due to large high-voltage capacitor and large coil antenna
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the capacitor and coil antenna into a single integrated component structure, where the capacitor is positioned within the housing and the coil antenna is coupled to it, eliminating the need for separate large components. This merging allows the deactivator to maintain its functional reliability while significantly reducing overall device weight and volume.
2Reliability
If conventional cordless EAS tag deactivators are used, then EAS tag deactivation function is provided, but the device becomes large, bulky and heavy due to large high-voltage capacitor and large coil antenna
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the capacitor and coil antenna into a single integrated component structure, where the capacitor is positioned within the housing and the coil antenna is coupled to it, eliminating the need for separate large components. This merging allows the deactivator to maintain its functional reliability while significantly reducing overall device weight and volume.
3Ease of operation
If conventional battery-operated deactivators are used, then portability is improved, but the device requires large heavy batteries due to high energy requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pulsed operation where the coil antenna is activated in short bursts rather than continuously. The controller activates the coil antenna for brief periods (e.g., 10-20 milliseconds) at controlled intervals, which dramatically reduces the total energy consumption. This allows the use of smaller, lighter batteries while maintaining effective EAS tag deactivation capability.
4Reliability
If conventional deactivators with DC motor and permanent magnets are used, then EAS tag deactivation is achieved, but the system complexity and number of parts increases due to two separate magnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the DC motor and permanent magnet components from the system. Instead of using a mechanical spinning mechanism with two separate magnetic fields, the invention uses a stationary coil antenna that generates a time-varying magnetic field through controlled electrical current pulses. This extraction of unnecessary components dramatically simplifies the system architecture, reducing the number of parts and overall complexity while maintaining the EAS tag deactivation function.
5Reliability
If conventional deactivators with DC motor and permanent magnets are used, then EAS tag deactivation is achieved, but the size and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pulsed operation where the coil antenna is activated in short bursts rather than continuously. The controller activates the coil antenna for brief periods (e.g., 10-20 milliseconds) at controlled intervals, which dramatically reduces the total energy consumption. This allows the use of smaller, lighter batteries while maintaining effective EAS tag deactivation 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
The solution provides a portable, user-friendly EAS tag deactivation method that maintains the benefits of mPOS systems by ensuring efficient and effective deactivation of EAS tags with a small form factor and reduced power requirements, allowing for easy attachment to various mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
a coil antenna (30) coupled to the capacitor and adapted for generation of a time-varying magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a pair of fixed-position electromagnets with cores and coils, powered by a rechargeable battery, generating a combined magnetic field for efficient EAS tag deactivation with minimal energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A deactivator device for a mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) systems includes a pair of spaced apart, fixed position electromagnets positioned and configured such that magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets aid one another to form a combined magnetic field; a battery; a capacitor; and an electronics assembly including a microcontroller configured to control storage of energy from the battery in the capacitor and to selectively provide a deactivation or activation pulse from the capacitor to the electromagnets. The components may be positioned in a housing configured for attachment to a mPOS mobile device.