U.S. patent number 3,895,368 [Application Number 05/279,097] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-15 for surveillance system and method utilizing both electrostatic and electromagnetic fields.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sensormatic Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Lloyd L. Gordon, Robert D. Williamson.
United States Patent |
3,895,368 |
Gordon , et al. |
July 15, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Surveillance system and method utilizing both electrostatic and
electromagnetic fields
Abstract
A microwave signal generator projects an electromagnetic wave
into a space under surveillance to establish a first field. A pulse
or frequency modulated low frequency generator is used to apply a
voltage to a discontinuous conductor for establishing a second
field, electrostatic in nature, throughout the space. Presence in
the space of a miniature passive electromagnetic wave
receptor-reradiator in the form of a semiconductive diode connected
to a dipole antenna causes the reradiation of the low frequency
component modulated on the microwave component as a carrier. The
front end of a receiver system is tuned to the microwave frequency
and feeds a suitable detector circuit responsive to the low
frequency signal. A coincidence circuit energizes an alarm circuit
whenever the detected signal coincides with the original modulation
envelope being applied to the low frequency generator.
Inventors: |
Gordon; Lloyd L. (Miami,
FL), Williamson; Robert D. (Pembroke Pines, FL) |
Assignee: |
Sensormatic Electronics
Corporation (Hollywood, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
23067622 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/279,097 |
Filed: |
August 9, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/572.4;
342/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
13/2422 (20130101); G08B 13/2471 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
13/24 (20060101); G08b 013/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/280,258C,408
;343/6.8LC,6.8R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Swann, III; Glen R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Watson Leavenworth Kelton &
Taggart
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The method of maintaining surveillance within a confined space
to detect the presence in said space of an electric signal
receptor-reradiator with signal mixing capability, said method
comprising the steps of simulataneously establishing in said space
first and second energy fields, said first field being
electromagnetic in nature and produced by a continuous microwave
signal for causing said receptor-reradiator to return a signal
therefrom, said second field being electrostatic in nature
established by applying a signal voltage to a discontinuous
conductor relative to a point of reference potential and having a
sufficiently low frequency to enable it to be confined
substantially to said space, and detecting the presence in said
space of a signal consisting of a carrier and modulation components
where said components are due respectively to said first and second
fields.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second field is
produced with a frequency modulated signal.
3. A surveillance system for detecting the presence in a controlled
space of a minature passive electromagnetic wave
receptor-reradiator with signal mixing capability, said system
comprising in combination a source of continuous microwave signals,
means coupled to said source of microwave signals for propagating
through said space an electromagnetic wave corresponding to said
microwave signals, a source of low frequency signals, a
discontinuous conductor coupled to said establishing of low
frequency signals for extablishing through said space an
electrostatic field corresponding to said low frequency signals,
said low frequency signals having a sufficiently low frequency to
enable said electrostatic field to be confined substantially to
said space, signal detecting means, means for coupling said
detecting means with said space for receiving signals therefrom,
said detecting means being constructed and arranged to detect said
low frequency signals only when received as modulation on a carrier
signal whose frequency bears a predetermined relationship to that
of said microwave signals, and means coupled to said detecting
means for providing an alarm responsive to detection of said low
frequency signals.
4. A surveillance system according to claim 3, wherein said
discontinuous conductor comprises a plate-like member.
5. a surveillance system for detecting the presence in a controlled
space of a miniature passive diode-dipole electromagnetic wave
receptor-reradiator with signal mixing capability, said system
comprising in combination a source of microwave signals, means
coupled to said source of microwave signals for propagating through
said space an electromagnetic wave corresponding to said microwave
signals, a source of low frequency signals, a discontinuous
conductor coupled to said source of low frequency signals for
establishing through said space an electrostatic field
corresponding to said low frequency signals, said low frequency
signals having a sufficiently low frequency to enable said
electrostatic field to be confined substantially to said space,
signal detecting means, means for coupling said detecting means
with said space for receiving signals therefrom, said detecting
means being constructed and arranged to detect said low frequency
signals only when received as modulation on a carrier signal having
the same frequency as said microwave signals, and means coupled to
said detecting means for providing an alarm responsive to detection
of said low frequency signals.
6. A surveillance system according to claim 5, wherein means are
coupled to said source of low frequency signals for pulse
modulating the latter, and wherein said means for providing an
alarm are coupled to said pulse modulating means for providing said
alarm only when the detected low frequency signal has a wave
envelope coinciding with an output of said pulse modulating
means.
7. A surveillance system for detecting the presence in a controlled
space of a miniature passive electromagnetic wave
receptor-reradiator with signal mixing capability, said system
comprising in combination a source of microwave signals, means
coupled to said source of microwave signals for propagating through
said space an electromagnetic wave corresponding to said microwave
signals, a source of low frequency signals, means coupled to said
source of low frequency signals for frequency modulating the latter
with a modulating signal, further means coupled to said source of
low frequency signals for establishing through said space an
electrostatic field corresponding to said low frequency signals,
said low frequency signals having a sufficiently low frequency to
enable said electrostatic field to be confined substantially to
said space, signal detecting means, means for coupling said
detecting means with said space for receiving signals therefrom,
said detecting means being constructed and arranged to detect said
low frequency signals only when received as modulation on a carrier
signal whose frequency bears a predetermined relationship to that
of said microwave signals, and means coupled to said detecting
means for providing an alarm responsive to detection of said low
frequency signals.
8. A surveillance system according to claim 7, wherein said means
for providing an alarm are coupled to said frequency moduating
means for providing said alarm only when the detected low frequency
signals are frequency modulated with a wave envelope having the
same shape as said modulating signal.
9. A surveillance system according to claim 8, wherein said
modulating signal has the form of a square wave.
10. A surveillance system according to claim 7, wherein said
modulating signal has the form of a square wave.
11. A surveillance system according to claim 7, wherein said
frequency modulation of said source of low frequency signals is
characterized by a frequancy deviation of the order of 1KHz.
12. A surveillance system for detecting the presence in a
controlled space of a miniature passive electromagnetic wave
receptor-reradiator with signal mixing capability; said system
comprising in combination a source of microwave signals; means
coupled to said source of microwave signals for propagating through
said space an electromagnetic wave corresponding to said microwave
signals; a source of low frequency signals; means coupled to said
source of low frequency signals for establishing through said space
an electrostatic field corresponding to said low frequency signals;
said low frequency signals having a sufficiently low frequency to
enable said electrostatic field to be confined substantially to
said space; said source of low frequency signals comprising a
voltage-controlled multivibrator pulse generator, means coupled to
an output of said pulse generator for converting a square wave
signal to a sinusoidal signal for use in establishing said
electrostatic field, and means coupled to said pulse generator for
frequency modulating the latter with a modulating signal; signal
detecting means; means for coupling said detecting means with said
space for receiving signals therefrom, said detecting means being
constructed and arranged to detect said low frequency signals only
when received as modulation on a carrier signal whose frequency
bears a predetermined relationship to that of said microwave
signals; and means coupled to said detecting means for providing an
alarm responsive to detection of said low frequency signals.
13. A surveillance system according to claim 12, wherein said
modulating signal has the form of a square wave.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
pilferage control. More particularly, it is directed to a method
and apparatus for detecting the presence of a telltale element in
an unauthorized zone.
For the purpose of controlling pilferage, it has been proposed
heretofore to secure specially constructed tags to the merchandise
which tags must be deactivated or removed for authorized removal of
the merchandise from the controlled area. In one known arrangement,
the tags are provided with electrically resonant circuits embedded
therein which serve to detune the tank circuit of an electronic
oscillator when brought in proximity thereto for triggering an
alarm. Use has also been made of tags incorporating a non-linear
device in conjunction with an antenna element for reradiating the
second harmonic of a microwave signal which has been directed into
the controlled space. Detection of said second harmonic signal has
been used to trigger an alarm. However, these known methods have
various limitations on their reliability and sensitivity. They are
often susceptible to false triggering by metallic structures
coincidentally manifesting similar properties to the special tags.
Proximity of the human body to the electromagnetic field generating
equipment or to the tags tends to mask the effect of the equipment
and to interfere with reliable operation.
For a long time it has been known that a non-linear device will
function as a signal mixer producing sum and difference frequencies
when excited by two signals of differing frequencies. It has been
suggested, heretofore, to establish two low frequency
electromagnetic fields of slightly different frequency within a
space to be supervised and to detect the presence of signals
corresponding to the difference between said two frequencies. In
this manner it is asserted to be possible to detect the presence of
a non-linear device within the controlled region. However, such
system has many shortcomings not the least of which is the cost of
producing a circuit of practical small size that can be
incorporated in a tag and which is resonant at the low
frequency.
It has also been suggested that the frequency of one of the two
electromagnetic fields be chosen in the microwave region. While
this avoids some of the problems with the tag encountered when both
fields are of low frequency, a different disadvantage exists. the
microwave energy produces reflections and standing waves in the
vicinity of the space being supervised. This coupled with the
increased propagating characteristics of such high frequency energy
results in considerable overrange and false triggering of the
surveillance system by tags outside of the intended controlled
space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, the present invention has for its
object to provide a method for detecting the presence in a
controlled space of a miniature passive electric signal
receptor-reradiator which is superior to any method heretofore
known.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of detecting within a confined space an electric
signal receptor-reradiator which has signal-mixing capability, the
method comprising the steps of simultaneously establishing in the
controlled space first and second energy fields. The first energy
field is chosen to be electromagnetic in nature and is produced by
a continuous microwave signal for causing the receptor-reradiator
to return a signal therefrom. The second field is chosen to be
electrostatic in nature established by applying signal voltage to a
discontinuous conductor relative to a point of reference potential
and having a sufficiently low frequency to enable it to be confined
substantially to the controlled space. Detection in the space of a
signal consisting of a carrier and modulation components where the
components are due respectively to said first and second fields is
indicative of the presence of the receptor-reradiator therein.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a surveillance system for detecting the presence in a
controlled space of receptor-reradiator receptor-reradiator of the
foregoing type, said system comprising in combination a source of
continuous microwave signals, means coupled to the source of
microwave signals for propagating through said space an
electromagnetic wave corresponding to the microwave signals, a
source of low frequency signals, a discontinuous conductor coupled
to the source of low frequency signals for establishing through the
space an electrostatic field corresponding to the low frequency
signals, signal detecting means, means for coupling the detecting
means with the space for receiving signals therefrom the detecting
means being constructed and arranged to detect the low frequency
signals only when received as modulation on a carrier signal whose
frequency bears a predetermined relationship to that of the
microwave signals, and means coupled to the detecting means for
providing an alarm responsive to the detection of the low frequency
signals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood after reading the following
detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof
with reference to the appended drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one surveillance system constructed in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a series of curves showing the signal waveforms at
various locations identified by the corresponding reference letters
in the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a typical diode-dipole
receptor-reradiator with signal-mixing capability;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIG. 5 is a series of curves showing the waveforms at various
locations identified by the corresponding reference letters in the
system of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The same reference numerals are used throughout the various figures
of the drawings to designate the same or similar parts.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an ultrahigh frequency transmitter 10
operating at 915 MHz functions as a source of microwave signals and
has its output connected over path 11 to one input of a circulator
12. The circulator 12 passes the signal from the source 10 to a
path 13 leading to a splitter-combiner (tee) element 14. The
splitter-combiner element 14 divides the signals received from the
circulator into two components which it feeds along the paths 15
and 16 to the respective microwave antenna elements 17 and 18. The
antenna elements 17 and 18 may be located in respective pedestals
or enclosures represented symbolically by the phantom line boxes 19
and 20.
Any signals that might be received by the antenna elements 17 and
18 from the adjacent space are fed back through the path 15 and 16
to the splitter-combiner 14 whereupon they are combined and fed
through path 13 back to the circulator 12. Such signals are then
passed by the circulator 12 to the path 21 leading to the first
detector 22.
The nature of the circulator 12 is such that while most of the
signal from the source 10 is fed from the path 11 to the path 13,
some leakage does feed through from path 11 to path 21. This
leakage component of the microwave signal from the transmitter 10
is utilized in the first detector 22 for a purpose which will be
described more fully hereinafter.
The output of the first detector is fed over a path 23 through a
bandpass filter 24 to an AM detector 25 via a path 26. The output
from the AM detector 25 is fed over a path 27 to one input of an
AND circuit 28. At the same time, the signal on path 27 is fed
through a NOT or inverting circuit 29 to one input of a second AND
circuit 30.
A free-running multivibrator operating at 100 Hz and designated by
the reference numeral 31 has its output fed over a path 32 through
a buffer amplifier 33 to a path 34 leading to the input to a
pulse-controlled low frequency generator 35. The output of the
generator 35 is fed over a path 36 to a discontinuous conductor 37
for a purpose to be described. In the present embodiment, the
generator 35 operates at a frequency of 22 KHz.
The signal output from the multivibrator 31 on path 32 is also fed
in parallel to the second input of each of the AND circuits 28 and
30. The output from AND circuit 28 is fed over path 38 to the input
of a step counter 39 whose output is directed over path 40 to an
input of pulse stretcher 41. The output from pulse stretcher 41 is
directed over path 42 to an alarm device 43. A reset signal for
step counter 39 is derived over path 44 from the output of AND
circuit 30.
Assuming that the system of FIG. 1 is to be used for controlling
the egress from a retail store or the like, the two antenna
elements 17 and 18 would be mounted on either side of the exit
doorway so as to produce an electromagnetic field in the space
therebetween. Preferably, the elements 17 and 18 have a radiation
pattern generally confined to the space to be controlled. The
conductor 37 may be extended across the areaway so as to establish
an electrostatic field throughout the same space when energized by
the output from pulse-controlled generator 35 relative to a point
of reference potential. A grounded conductor (not shown) may be
located in the floor in order to provide a return path for the
signals, if necessary, and to establish said point of reference
potential.
It has been discovered that if a small non-linear device in the
form of a semi-conductor rectifier chip or the like is connected to
dipole antenna elements of the proper length the device will
function as a signal mixing circuit, taking the signals
corresponding to both the microwave transmitter and the low
frequency pulse generator and modulating the latter signal upon the
former for reradiation. Such a device, i.e., a diode-dipole, is
shown schematically in FIG. 3 with the non-linear device or
rectifier 45 connected to dipole elements 46 and 47 which are all
embedded in a tag 48. Lumped capacitance and inductance elements
are not needed. For efficient operation at 915 MHz, the tip-to-tip
length of the elements 45, 46 and 47 should theoretically be of the
order of 16.4 cm. In practice slight departure from the theoretical
value may be found beneficial. By appropriate folding of the ends
of the dipole elements back upon themselves, it is possible to
incorporate the structure in a smaller overall configuration.
Referring to FIG. 2, the output of free-running multivibrator 31 is
a series of square pulses represented by curve A thereof. These
pulses have a duration of approximately 2 milliseconds. In the
present example, the repetition rate is 100 Hz. The pulses from
multivibrator 31, after passing through the buffer 33, function to
turn on the generator 35 so as to provide frequency or pulse bursts
therefrom. This is represented by curve B in FIG. 2. Thus, assuming
the presence of a tag 48 in the space between the antenna elements
17 and 18, a signal will be reradiated back to the elements 17 and
18 consisting of a carrier component at 915 MHz modulated by square
wave bursts of a 22 KHz modulating signal. That is, the signal
returned to splitter-combiner 14 will have a fundamental component
at 915 MHz plus sum and difference frequencies equal to 915.022 and
914.978 MHz. These signals join with the leakage signal at 915 MHz
fed over path 21 to the first detector 22. The detector 22 may
include a rectifier mixer for eliminating the carrier frequency,
i.e., the 915 MHz component. In cooperation with the bandpass
filter 24 which has a center frequency of 22 KHz and a bandwidth of
2 KHz there is derived a signal on path 26 having a frequency of 22
KHz and corresponding to the 22 KHz component present in the
modulated signal intercepted by antenna elements 17 and 18.
Still assuming that the tag 48 is in the space being supervised,
the signal fed to the AM detector 25 over path 26 will duplicate
the output of generator 35 and have the form shown in curve B of
FIG. 2. The AM detector 25 may be any conventional detector,
capable of producing a D.C. output proportional to the amplitude of
the input signal. Where the input signal has the form shown in
curve B of FIG. 2, the output of the detector 25 will be as shown
in curve C of FIG. 2.
So long as the signals fed over path 27 from the detector 25 to the
AND circuit 28 coincide with the output from the multivibrator 31
represented by curve A of FIG. 2, a pulse will be developed at the
output of the AND circuit 28 fed to the step counter 39 and counted
therby. If the preceding condition prevails for a period of time
sufficient to enable the step counter to reach its preset capacity,
an output pulse will be fed to the pulse stretcher 41 for
energizing the alarm 43. At present, it is preferred that the step
counter provide an output after 16 input pulses. Any other count
may be employed as desired.
Because of the inversion caused by the circuit 29, the AND circuit
30 will not produce an output signal so long as the signals on
paths 32 and 27 are similar and coincident. However, as soon as the
signals provided by the AM detector 25 disappear, a reset pulse
will be furnished by AND circuit 30 to reset the step counter 39.
This will occur in any event when the tag 48 is removed from the
controlled space.
If, however, the antenna elements 17 and 18 pick up a signal due to
some artifact, it is not likely that such artifact will produce a
sequence of 16 properly shaped and timed pulses. If as shown at
point 49 on curve C' of FIG. 2 there is no signal received, a reset
pulse 50 as shown in curve D of FIG. 2 will be applied to the
counter 39. If a broken pulse 51 as shown in curve C' is provided
by the detector 25, then the reset pulse 52 as shown in curve D
will be applied to the counter 39. It should therefore be apparent
that either through the absence of a return pulse or the reception
of a defective reutrn pulse the counter will be reset to commence
another count anew.
On the other hand, once a full count is received so as to activate
the pulse stretcher 41, it is possible for the step counter to be
reset a few times before another valid count is received without
interrupting the alarm. By properly relating the time duration of
the pulse stretcher 41 and the number of counts required by the
counter 39, it is possible to optimize the response of the overall
system for distinguishing between valid signals and artifact.
While the system shown in FIG. 1 is quite effective, increased
sensitivity and selectivity is provided by the system now to be
described with reference to FIG. 4 to which attention should be
directed. As shown therein, the ultrahigh frequency transmitter 55
has its power output fed over path 56 through a 3db isolator pad 57
and a bandpass filter 58 to the splitter 59. The bandpass filter 58
has a center frequency of 915 MHz. The splitter 59 has two outputs
connected over paths 60 and 61 to individual antenna elements 62
and 63, respectively. The antenna elements 62 and 63 should be
mounted on opposite sides of the area to be controlled in
corresponding enclosures or pedestals such as those represented by
the broken line boxes 64 and 65. In this manner, the two antenna
elements 62 and 63 establish an electromagnetic field of microwave
energy in the controlled space therebetween.
A second pair of antenna elements 66 and 67 are mounted across the
controlled space from the corresponding transmitter antenna
elements 62 and 63, respectively. The signals received from the
space by antenna elements 66 and 67 are fed over corresponding
paths to the two inputs of a combiner element 68 whose common
output is fed over path 69 through a bandpass filter 70 to one
input of a balanced mixer 71. The second input of the balanced
mixer 71 is furnished with a signal at 915 MHz derived from a low
power level output of the transmitter 55 over path 72. The bandpass
filter 70 has a center frequency of 915 MHz.
The output from the balanced mixer 71 is fed over path 73 to the FM
detector 74 whose output is fed to the input of a NAND gate 75. The
output from NAND gate 75 is fed over one path to one input of NAND
gate 76 and over another path to the input of NAND gate 77. The
output of NAND gate 77 is fed to one input of NAND gate 78. The
output of NAND gate 76 is fed to the input of a 16-count counter 79
whose output is connected through a pulse stretcher 80 to an alarm
circuit 81. The reset terminal of counter 79 is connected to the
output of NAND gate 78.
A voltage-controlled multivibrator pulse generator 82 operating at
selectable rates between 200 and 250 Hz has its output connected
over a path 83 to an attenuator 84 whose output is fed to the
controlling input of a voltage-controlled multivibrator pulse
generator 85. The generator 85 has a center frequency of 50 KHz. In
response to the pulse control received through attenuator 84 from
generator 82 the frequency of generator 85 is shifted .+-.1 KHz
between 49 KHz and 51 KHz. The output from generator 85 is fed
through a resonant type low pass filter 86 whereby the square wave
is converted to a sinusoidal signal of like frequency which is fed
over path 87 to a power amplifier 88. The output of the power
amplifier is connected over separate paths 89 and 90 to
corresponding step-up transformers 91 and 92. The secondary
windings (not shown) of the transformers 91 and 92 are connected to
apply voltage to the foil elements 93 and 94 associated,
respectively, with each of the housings 64 and 65. The foils
constitute a special form of discontinuous conductor. The signals
fed to the foils 93 and 94 are in parallel and establish an
electrostatic field between the respective foils and ground, i.e.,
the point of reference potential. Effective results have been
obtained across an 8 ft. space with foils or plates measuring no
more than about 4 inches .times. 4 inches and excited by a signal
of about 245 V. RMS. Both the energizing voltage and the foil size
may be varied depending upon the area to be supervised.
A second path 95 conducts the output of the generator 82 through a
buffer amplifier 96 to a delay multivibrator 97. The output of the
dalay multivibrator 97 is fed over path 98 to the input of a
reference pulse multivibrator 99 whose output is fed over path 100
to the second input of each of the NAND gates 76 and 78.
The operation of the circuit of FIG. 4 will now be described with
reference to the waveforms shown in the various curves of FIg. 5
wherein the letters appended to the individual curves correspond to
the letters appearing on FIG. 4. A selection switch (not shown) may
be used to select the desired pulse rate for generator 82. For
example, the selectable rates may be 200, 225 and 250 Hz. At
present, the preferred rate is 200 Hz although rates between 100
and 500 Hz have been used experimentally. The generator 82 provides
a symmetrical square wave output as shown in curve A of FIG. 5.
This signal is reduced by the attenuator 84 to the proper level for
shifting the frequency of pulse generator 85 between 49 KHz and 51
KHz. While the output of generator 85 is square wave in nature, it
is converted by the resonant type low pass filter 86 to a
sinusoidal signal as represented in curve B of FIG. 5. Such signal
is then amplified by the power amplifier 88 and employed to drive
the foils 93 and 94 for creating the electrostatic field in the
controlled space.
As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, when a receptor-radiator such as
shown in FIG. 3 is introduced into the controlled space a modulated
signal is developed which will be received by antenna receiving
elements 66 and 67 and applied to the balanced mixer 71. In known
manner, the balanced mixer 71 will remove the 915 MHz carrier
frequency component and supply the 49 KHz and 51 KHz as detected
thereby over path 73 to the FM detector 74 for conversion to a
square wave pulse having the form shown in curve E in FIG. 5. It
should be understood that detector 74 may be a conventional ratio
detector or the like. Preferably, the input to the detector 74 is
provided with a high gain amplifier-limiter (not shown) while the
output of the detector 74 includes a low pass filter (not shown) to
ensure removal of the 49-51 KHz component.
Curve C of FIG. 5 shows the pulse output provided by delay
multivibrator 97. It will be seen that the leading edge of the
pulse produced by multivibrator 97 coincides with the leading edge
of the positive going pulse output of generator 82 shown in curve
A. The trailing edge of the pulse produced by multivibrator 97 may
be adjustable by appropriate means not shown. The delay produced by
multivibrator 97 is thereby adjusted to be equal to the normal
delay encountered by the signals in passing through the equipment
both into the electrostatic field and back on the modulated carrier
through the balanced mixing and detecting circuitry.
The trailing edge of the pulse from multivibrator 97 is employed to
trigger the reference pulse multivibrator 99 whose output is shown
by curve D. The leading edge of the pulse produced by multivibrator
99 coincides with the trailing edge of the pulse output of
multivibrator 97. The width of the pulse produced by multivibrator
99 may be adjustable by means not shown so that such pulse width
coincides with the pulse width received from an actual tag in the
controlled space.
Bearing in mind that the FM detector 74 is arranged to produce a
D.C. signal of one level in response to a 51 KHz input signal and a
D.C. signal of a second level in response to a 49 KHz signal, it
will be appreciated that the output derived from the NAND gate 75
will have the form shown in curve E when a tag 48 is in the
controlled space. The subsequent operation of the system is quite
similar to that previously described with reference to FIG. 1. When
the signal at the output of the NAND gate 75 has a waveform or
envelope which coincides with the signal at the output of
multivibrator 99 on path 100 represented by curve D a pulse count
will be introduced into the counter 79. After 16 such counts, an
output will be fed to the pulse stretcher 80 to energize the alarm
81. Any suitable counter may be employed for this purpose. For
example, use may be made of a tandem arrangement of four J-K
flip-flops connected in known manner to produce an output at the
completion of a count of sixteen.
Should the pulse output from detector 74 be interrupted due to
removal of the tag from the controlled space or due to some other
interference the counter 79 will be reset in a manner whick should
be evident from the previous discussion and from the drawings.
By way of further explanation, curve E' shows a possible artifact
type signal which might result from extraneous factors. It should
be mentioned that the counter 79 is actuated both as to its input
and reset terminals by negative going pulses. Input pulses of the
type shown in curve E' will cause count pulses of the type shown in
curve F' interspersed with reset pulses as shown in curve G'.
Consequently, the counter will be repeatedly reset and will not
reach its output count.
It should now be appreciated that with either the circuit of FIG. 1
or FIG. 4, an alarm will be given only when the detected low
frequency signal has a wave envelope coinciding with an output of
the pulse modulating means. In the system of FIG. 1, the
multivibrator 31 represents the pulse modulating means, while in
the system of FIG. 4 the pulse modulating means is represented by
generator 82. This concept is extended in the system of FIG. 4
wherein an alarm is given only when the detected low frequency
signal is frequency modulated with a wave envelope having the same
shape as the modulating signal.
In both systems the low frequency signal should be preferably no
greater than 100 KHz. It has been found that such low frequencies
are best employed for establishing the electrostatic field. On the
other hand, the high frequency signal should be in the microwave
region so that the physical size of the tags need not be
excessive.
Having described the presently preferred embodiments of the
invention it should be understood that various changes in
construction and arrangement will be apparent to those skilled in
the art and are fully contemplated herein without departing from
the true spirit of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *