Inventors:
Peter J. Zarembo - Shoreview MN
Walfredo M. Marfori - Cottage Grove MN
Assignee:
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company - St. Paul MN
International Classification:
G08B 1314
Abstract:
A composite marker providing electronic article surveillance (EAS), identification, and authentication. The marker preferably includes an EAS detection element which includes a low-coercive force, high-permeability ferromagnetic material, and an adjacent, remanently-magnetizable ferromagnetic material which, when magnetized, alters a characteristic response produced by the first material when in an interrogation zone of an associated EAS system, an intermediate layer containing UPC or similar optically-readable information and a substantially-transparent, optically-detectable security element overlying said intermediate layer and having means integrally associated therewith for thwarting counterfeiting or other unauthorized duplication.