US-12626572-B2 - Flexible embedded security tag

US12626572B2US 12626572 B2US12626572 B2US 12626572B2US-12626572-B2

Abstract

A flexible security tag includes: an elongated inlay portion; a loop antenna mounted on the elongated inlay portion; an electrically-conductive member longitudinally extending across the elongated inlay portion, spaced apart from and inductively coupled to the loop antenna; and a radio frequency identifier (RFID) circuit mounted to the loop antenna. The flexible security tag is encapsulated within an elongated textile protective sleeve.

Inventors

Olivier Bruno SOMMER
Lauri Johannes Huhtasalo
Iraj Ehtezazi Alamdari

Assignees

Sensormatic Electronics, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230621

Claims (19)

1 . A flexible security tag, comprising: an elongated inlay portion; a loop antenna mounted on the elongated inlay portion; an electrically-conductive member longitudinally extending across the elongated inlay portion, spaced apart from and inductively coupled to the loop antenna, wherein the electrically-conductive member has a first longitudinal length in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than a second longitudinal length of the elongated inlay portion in the longitudinal direction; and a radio frequency identifier (RFID) circuit mounted to the loop antenna, wherein the flexible security tag is encapsulated within an elongated textile protective sleeve, wherein the flexible security tag is configured to be positioned into: an interface space between two layers of an article of clothing, the interface space extending along the longitudinal direction; and/or on top of an overlock seam of the article of clothing, the overlock seam extending along the longitudinal direction.
2 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal length of the electrically-conductive member is greater than a third longitudinal length of the loop antenna.
3 . The flexible security tag of claim 2 , wherein the second longitudinal length of the elongated inlay portion and the third longitudinal length of the loop antenna are equal.
4 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive member extends continuously across the flexible security tag.
5 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive member extends along the flexible security tag in the longitudinal direction, wherein the electrically-conductive member comprises a first thread portion having a first end and a second thread portion having a second end, and wherein the first end of the first thread portion is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction from the second end of the second thread portion.
6 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive member comprises at least one of: an electrically-conductive thread, electrically conductive fiber, yarn, printed ink, conductive fabric, wire or metallic stripe.
7 . The flexible security tag of claim 5 , wherein the electrically-conductive member comprises nylon coated with silver.
8 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the elongated textile protective sleeve comprises a single textile sheet having a first longitudinal side fixedly attached to an opposite, second longitudinal side.
9 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the loop antenna, the electrically-conductive member and the RFID circuit are positioned on one side off a center of the flexible security tag.
10 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , wherein the elongated textile protective sleeve comprises a single textile sheet having a first longitudinal side fixedly attached to an opposite, second longitudinal side on a first longitudinal tag side off a center of the flexible security tag, and wherein the loop antenna, the electrically-conductive member, and the RFID circuit are positioned on a second longitudinal tag side opposite the first longitudinal tag side.
11 . The flexible security tag of claim 1 , further comprising a coating layer that at least partially covers the RFID circuit and the loop antenna.
12 . The flexible security tag of claim 11 , wherein the coating layer comprises a plastic material layer.
13 . A flexible security tag, comprising: an elongated inlay portion; a loop antenna mounted on the elongated inlay portion; an electrically-conductive member longitudinally extending across the elongated inlay portion and spaced apart from and inductively coupled to the loop antenna, wherein the electrically-conductive member has a first longitudinal length that in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than a second longitudinal length of the elongated inlay portion in the longitudinal direction; and a radio frequency identifier (RFID) circuit mounted to the loop antenna, wherein the flexible security tag is configured to be positioned into: an interface space between two layers of an article of clothing, the interface space extending along the longitudinal direction; and/or on top of an overlock seam of the article of clothing, the overlock seam extending along the longitudinal direction.
14 . The flexible security tag of claim 13 , wherein the flexible security tag is encapsulated within an elongated textile protective sleeve.
15 . The flexible security tag of claim 13 , wherein the first longitudinal length of the electrically-conductive member is greater than a third longitudinal length of the loop antenna.
16 . The flexible security tag of claim 15 , wherein the second longitudinal length of the elongated inlay portion and the third longitudinal length of the loop antenna are equal.
17 . The flexible security tag of claim 13 , wherein the electrically-conductive member extends continuously across the flexible security tag.
18 . The flexible security tag of claim 13 , wherein the electrically-conductive member extends along the flexible security tag in the longitudinal direction, wherein the electrically-conductive member comprises a first thread portion having a first end and a second thread portion having a second end, and wherein the first end of the first thread portion is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction from the second end of the second thread portion.
19 . A flexible security tag, comprising: an elongated inlay portion having a first longitudinal length in a longitudinal direction; a loop antenna mounted on the elongated inlay portion and having a second longitudinal length in the longitudinal direction; an electrically-conductive member longitudinally extending across the elongated inlay portion and spaced apart from and inductively coupled to the loop antenna and having a third longitudinal length in the longitudinal direction, the third longitudinal length being greater than the first longitudinal length and the second longitudinal length, causing the electrically-conductive member to longitudinally extend beyond the elongated inlay portion and the loop antenna; and a radio frequency identifier (RFID) circuit mounted to the loop antenna, wherein the flexible security tag is configured to be positioned into: an interface space between two layers of an article of clothing, the interface space extending along the longitudinal direction; and/or on top of an overlock seam of the article of clothing, the overlock seam extending along the longitudinal direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/369,919, entitled “FLEXIBLE EMBEDDED SECURITY TAG” and filed on Jul. 29, 2022, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in the entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to security tags, such as an electronic article surveillance tag, which may be attached to or incorporated into an article, such as a textile or other items. BACKGROUND Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) systems are commonly used in retail stores and other settings to prevent the unauthorized removal of goods from a protected area. Typically, a detection system is configured at an exit from the protected area, which comprises one or more transmitters and antennas (“pedestals”) capable of generating an electromagnetic field across the exit, known as the “interrogation zone.” Articles to be protected are tagged with a security tag (such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) and/or an acousto-magnetic (AM) tag), also known as an EAS marker, that, when active, generates a response signal when passed through this interrogation zone. An antenna and receiver in the same or another “pedestal” detect this response signal and generate an alarm. Additionally, permanent hidden/embedded tags in goods could be used for other purposes, such as, but not limited to circular economy applications (new business models like renting clothes, or selling secondhand clothes with known authenticity and pedigree). In many cases the same tag can be used for multiple purposes: security (anti-theft), circular economy, supply chain management, and inventory management. One drawback of tagging goods with EAS markers and other security tags for purposes of theft prevention is that the tag itself is often visible to thieves. Shoplifters in many cases are able to locate the EAS marker and simply remove, disable, or shield an EAS marker element to evade detection by the detection system. Thus, improvements in security tags are needed. SUMMARY The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing security tags that are inserted into apparel items. In an aspect, a security tag includes: an elongated inlay portion; a loop antenna mounted on the elongated inlay portion; an electrically-conductive member longitudinally extending across the elongated inlay portion, spaced apart from and inductively coupled to the loop antenna; and a radio frequency identifier (RFID) circuit mounted to the loop antenna. The security tag is encapsulated within an elongated textile protective sleeve. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which: FIG. 1 is an illustration of an illustrative architecture for a system, according to some present aspects; FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away isometric view of an example architecture for a portion of a tag, according to some present aspects; FIG. 3 is a side view of the example architecture of FIG. 2, according to some present aspects; FIG. 4 is a top view of the example architecture of FIG. 2, according to some present aspects; FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the example architecture of FIG. 2, according to some present aspects; FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the example architecture of FIG. 2, according to some present aspects; FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternative example architecture for a portion of a tag, according to some present aspects; FIG. 8 is a side view of the example architecture of FIG. 7, according to some present aspects; FIG. 9 is a top view of the example architecture of FIG. 7, according to some present aspects; FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the example architecture of FIG. 7, according to some present aspects; FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the example architecture of