CONTROL FOR EMBEDDED AND DOOR-MOUNTED ANTENNAS

A system and method for controlling door-mounted or door-embedded antenna s. An antenna, for example, an EAS or an RF antenna, sends interrogation sig nals which are received by markers located on merchandise within a range of detection, i.e., an "interrogation zone". Antennas that are mounted on or em bedded in a door move along with the motion of the door. Thus, the interroga tion zone covered by the antenna's magnetic field is continually changing wi th the movement of the door. The system and method of the present invention control door-mounted antennas by monitoring the motion of the door upon whic h the antenna is mounted, and by adjusting the size and breadth of the inter rogation zone generated by the antenna accordingly. A processor within a con trol unit receives positional signals from a position sensor mounted on the moving door, determines whether the interrogation zone should be increased, decreased, shut off, or maintained, and transmits signals to the antenna or to an alarm device, the signal containing interrogation zone modification in structions.