Systems and methods for making a marker. The methods comprise: disposing a resonator with a flat planar cross-sectional profile in a cavity formed in a first substrate partially defining a marker housing; sealing the cavity using a second substrate; placing a first bias element adjacent to the second substrate so that the resonator will be biased by the first bias element when the marker is in use to oscillate at a frequency of a received transmit burst; and using a physical structure in the cavity or a magnetic field passing through the cavity to reduce frictional forces between the resonator and at least the second substrate.

In aspects of object tracking based on UWB tags, a system includes ultra-wideband (UWB) tags located for association with respective objects in an environment, where each UWB tag is identified with a digital label indicative of the association with one or more of the objects. A tracking service is implemented to receive initial location data for the objects from each of the UWB tags that are associated with the objects, and generate an object identity database in which each of the objects are identified by their respective initial location data. The tracking service can monitor for movement of an object that is identified by the initial location data based on subsequent positioning data associated with the object. The movement of an object is monitored for an unauthorized relocation of the object, for a cluster of multiple objects moving together, and/or for an abnormal proximity of multiple objects in the environment.

Systems and methods for making a marker. The methods comprise: disposing a resonator with a flat planar cross-sectional profile in a cavity formed in a first substrate partially defining a marker housing; sealing the cavity using a second substrate; placing a first bias element adjacent to the second substrate so that the resonator will be biased by the first bias element when the marker is in use to oscillate at a frequency of a received transmit burst; and using a physical structure in the cavity or a magnetic field passing through the cavity to reduce frictional forces between the resonator and at least the second substrate.

An anti-theft AM label is formed with a housing that includes concave and/or convex patterns and wordings on the upper surface thereof. The concave and/or convex patterns and wordings provide a different appearance for anti-theft AM labels that can deter shoplifters from finding and removing the labels from the goods the labels are protecting. The concave and/or convex patterns can be the logo of the store in which the labels are used. The upper surface of the housing can be formed with a cold forming process or a hot forming process. The shape of the housing can be varied between square, rectangular, circular, sector and oval configurations, as desired by the customer. The depth of the patterns and words relative to a flat portion of the upper surface of the housing is in the range of 0.05-1.0 mm or, more preferably, in the range of 0.2-1.0 mm.

The present disclosure discloses an acousto-magnetic (AM) anti-theft marker and use thereof. The AM anti-theft marker includes at least one resonator(s), where when the resonator(s) does not include cobalt, a weight percentage of nickel is 0 wt % to 39 wt %; or when the resonator(s) includes cobalt, a total weight percentage of nickel and cobalt is higher than 0 wt % and no more than 36 wt %. Although this AM anti-theft marker's resonator(s) of the present disclosure does not include or only includes a very small amount of nickel and cobalt, it still has good alarm performance; and the existing detectors can effectively detect the AM anti-theft marker of the present disclosure within a predetermined security alarming distance. It can be seen that this AM anti-theft marker has a commercial value, and can reduce the loss prevention cost of business and the consumption of earth resources.

A hybrid tag. The hybrid tag includes an RFID component, an acousto-magnetic component, and a flexible container. The RFID component includes an RFID antenna and an integrated circuit connected to the RFID antenna. The acousto-magnetic component includes an amorphous metal and a magnetic metal disposed on the amorphous metal. The flexible container covers the RFID component and the acousto-magnetic component.

A ribbon comprises a substrate, and a plurality of seals on the substrate. Different seals detune in response to differing tensile loads. At least one of the seals comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) radio frequency identification (RFID) seal.

A hybrid tag. The hybrid tag includes an RFID component, an acousto-magnetic component, and a flexible container. The RFID component includes an RFID antenna and an integrated circuit connected to the RFID antenna. The acousto-magnetic component includes an amorphous metal and a magnetic metal disposed on the amorphous metal. The flexible container covers the RFID component and the acousto-magnetic component.

An article to be surveilled includes an article body and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag. The EAS tag is attached to, preferably integrated into the article body. The tag includes a power source, a processing device in electrical communication with the a power source, and at least one piezoelectric element in electrical communication with the processing device. The processing device is operative under certain conditions to use power from the power source to generate a signal causing the at least one piezoelectric element to emit ultrasound energy in a pattern based on the signal. In some examples, the tag, transmitting an ultrasound signal emitted by the piezoelectric element is detected by a reader of the EAS system. The EAS system determines whether the detected signal meets an alarm condition; and upon such determining, indicates, an alarm.

An acoustic magnetic tag includes a housing, a resonant sheet, and a biasing magnetic sheet received in the main body. The housing includes a main body having an opening, a first connecting portion connected to one side of the main body, a second connecting portion connected to an other side of the main body opposite to the one side, a partition connected to the first connecting portion, and a cover connected to the second connecting portion. The partition is rotated relative to the main body to be received in the main body by folding the first connecting portion, and the cover is rotated relative to the main body to cover the opening by folding the second connecting portion. The partition is positioned between the resonant sheet and the biasing magnetic sheet.