Combination radio frequency identification transponder (RFID Tag) and magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag

Abstract

A combination of a radio frequency identification transponder (RFID Tag) and to a magnetic electronic article surveillance (EAS) device is disclosed. The present invention relates generally to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and more specifically to RFID transponders for use in RFID systems and the method for their assembly.

1 . A system for anti-theft protection and article identification, comprising 
 a transponder having an anti-theft portion for signaling the status of the article; and    an article identification portion for providing coded article information.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the article identification portion is associated with an article, and communicates with a database to provide information concerning the identity of the article.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-theft portion communicates information indicating whether or not a given article has been paid for.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an interrogator for interrogating the transponder to obtain status and article identification information  
   
   
       5 . The method of monitoring the movement of items, which comprises 
 associating a transponder with each of the items which transponder is operative to supply status and identity information for the associated item in response to interrogation thereof; and    interrogating the transponder to obtain both status and identity information therefrom for the associated item.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the status information indicates whether or not a given item has been paid for, so that the identity information is available to identify the frequency of attempted theft for a given item.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the interrogating step comprises applying a radio frequency field to the transponder.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transponder has a circuit which is generally resonant at the frequency of the radio frequency field.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising applying an auxiliary field to the transponder.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary field is a magnetic field.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary field is an electromagnetic field.  
   
   
       12 . A transponder comprising: 
 an anti-theft portion: and    an article identification portion.    
   
   
       13 . The transponder of  claim 12 , wherein the article identification portion is associated with an article, and communicates with a database to provide information concerning the identity of the article.  
   
   
       14 . The transponder of  claim 12 , wherein the anti-theft portion supplies status information in response to an interrogating field.  
   
   
       15 . The transponder of  claim 12 , wherein the transponder is subjected to a radio frequency field.  
   
   
       16 . The transponder of  claim 15 , wherein the transponder has a circuit which is generally resonant at the frequency of the radio frequency field.  
   
   
       17 . The transponder of  claim 15 , wherein the transponder is further subjected to an auxiliary field.  
   
   
       18 . The transponder of  claim 15 , wherein the transponder is further subjected to a magnetic field.  
   
   
       19 . The transponder of  claim 15 , wherein the transponder is further subjected to an electromagnetic field.  
   
   
       20 . The transponder of  claim 15 , wherein the transponder is further subjected to an acoustic energy field.