Electronic article surveillance systems, apparatus, and methods

Abstract

Embodiments include methods and apparatus for detecting proximity of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag. A proximity detection system (e.g., a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader) detects a presence of an object within a first area. In response to detecting the proximity of the object, an EAS tag reader alters characteristics of an EAS tag detection signal that is produced by the EAS tag reader in order to detect an EAS tag within range of the EAS tag reader.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reader system comprising:
 a processing system configured to detect a presence of an object using an object detection technique other than electronic article surveillance (EAS), and to make a transition from a first operational mode to a second operational mode in response to detecting the presence of the object, wherein the transition includes altering production of an EAS tag detection signal; and   a radio frequency (RF) system operatively coupled with the processing system, and configured to radiate the EAS tag detection signal.   
     
     
         2 . The reader system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing system comprises:
 a first processor configured to execute a first algorithm for detecting the presence of the object and to generate a proximity signal in response to detecting the object; and   a second processor configured to execute a second algorithm for producing the EAS tag detection signal, wherein the second algorithm makes the transition from the first operational mode to the second operational mode in response to the proximity signal.   
     
     
         3 . The reader system of  claim 1 , wherein the processing system comprises a single processor configured to execute a first algorithm for detecting the presence of the object and a second algorithm for producing the EAS tag detection signal. 
     
     
         4 . The reader system of  claim 1 , wherein the object detection technique is an RF Identification (RFID) tag detection technique, and the RF system comprises:
 a first transmitter configured to transmit the EAS tag detection signal; and   a second transmitter configured to exchange RF signals with an RFID tag.   
     
     
         5 . The reader system of  claim 1 , wherein the object detection technique is an RF Identification (RFID) tag detection technique, and the RF system comprises:
 a single transmitter configured to transmit the EAS tag detection signal, and to exchange RF signals with an RFID tag.