DISPLAY FOR HAND-HELD ELECTRONICS
First Claim
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1. A method for providing electrical power to an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
- providing a power source;
providing a mechanically tethered mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display;
providing an inductive power transmitter coupled to said power source;
providing an inductive power receiver coupled to said electronic device; and
locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to wirelessly transmit power via said mounting member between said power source and said electronic device when said electronic device is in said resting position on said display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention disclosed here is a display system for managing power and security for a plurality of hand-held electronic devices sold to consumers in a retail location. The display includes features that allow power to be supplied to individual devices and security sensors without continuous hard wiring or multi-conductor retractor cables. The display also allows for individual security alarms to be triggered when a theft occurs. Security alarm conditions are preferably triggered via wireless signals.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for providing electrical power to an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a mechanically tethered mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display; providing an inductive power transmitter coupled to said power source; providing an inductive power receiver coupled to said electronic device; and locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to wirelessly transmit power via said mounting member between said power source and said electronic device when said electronic device is in said resting position on said display.
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2. A method for providing electrical power to an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display; providing an inductive power transmitter coupled to said power source, said inductive power transmitter being carried by said mounting member; providing an inductive power receiver coupled to said electronic device, said inductive power receiver being carried by said electronic device; locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to wirelessly transmit power from said mounting member to said electronic device.
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3. A method for providing electrical power to an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display; providing a base member for holding the mounting member in the resting position; placing an inductive power transmitter in the base member, the inductive power transmitter being coupled to said power source; placing an inductive power receiver in the mounting member, the inductive power receiver being coupled to said electronic device; and locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to wirelessly transmit power from said power source to said electronic device via said inductive power transmitter and receiver, respectively, when said mounting member is in said resting position.
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4. A method for providing electrical power to an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a display surface for lifting said electronic device from a defined display position on said display surface for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said defined display position; placing an inductive power transmitter in the display surface at said defined position, the inductive power transmitter being coupled to said power source; placing an inductive power receiver in the electronic device, the inductive power receiver being coupled to said electronic device; and locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver when said electronic device is in said resting position to wirelessly transmit power from said power source to said electronic device via said inductive power transmitter and receiver, respectively.
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5. A method for providing anti-theft security for an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a mechanically tethered mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display; providing an inductive power transmitter in said mounting member coupled to said power source; providing an inductive power receiver in said electronic device coupled to said electronic device; and locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to inductively and wirelessly transmit power to said electronic device via said mounting member; and detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said electronic device is physically separated from said mounting member.
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6. A method for providing anti-theft security for an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display; providing an inductive power transmitter in said mounting member coupled to said power source; providing an inductive power receiver in said electronic device coupled to said electronic device; and locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to inductively and wirelessly transmit power to said electronic device via said mounting member; and detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said electronic device is physically separated from said mounting member.
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7. A method for monitoring removal of an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a display surface for said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display surface for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display surface; providing an inductive power transmitter in said display surface coupled to said power source; providing an inductive power receiver in said electronic device coupled to said electronic device; and locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to inductively and wirelessly transmit power to said electronic device via said display surface; and detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said electronic device is physically separated from said display surface.
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8. A method for monitoring examination of an electronic device on a retail security display, comprising:
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providing a power source; providing a mounting member for carrying said electronic device, for lifting said electronic device from said display for product examination and returning said electronic device to a resting position on said display; providing a base member for holding the mounting member in the resting position; placing an inductive power transmitter in the base member, the inductive power transmitter being coupled to said power source; placing an inductive power receiver in the mounting member, the inductive power receiver being coupled to said electronic device; locating said inductive power receiver sufficiently close to said inductive power receiver to wirelessly transmit power from said power source to said electronic device via said inductive power transmitter and receiver, respectively, when said mounting member is in said resting position; and detecting a break in inductive wireless transmission between said transmitter and receiver when said mounting member is lifted from said base member.
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9. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, comprising:
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a tether cable assembly that includes a retractable cable, wherein the retractable cable is a mechanical cable; a mounting member adapted to receive the electronic device, wherein the mounting member is connected to the retractable cable, and the mounting member may be lifted and returned to a resting position while connected to the retractable cable, with the retractable cable serving to tether the device to the display; a source module for providing at least one electrical signal; a wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member when the mounting member is in the resting position, for electrically communicating the at least one electrical signal from the source module to the mounting member, and wherein the wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member is broken when the mounting member is lifted from the resting position; and
further,another cable assembly for electrically coupling the electronic device to the mounting member, the other cable assembly being carried by the mounting member as the mounting member is lifted and returned to the resting position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting one of a plurality of electronic devices to a display, comprising:
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a source module for providing at least a single-source power signal; a mounting member adapted to carry an electronic device, wherein the mounting member may be lifted and returned to a resting position on the display, and further, the mounting member is electrically connected to the source module and receives the power signal at least when the mounting member is in the resting position; and an inductive power transmitter carried by the mounting member; and an inductive power receiver carried by the electronic device, and wherein the inductive transmitter and receiver are in sufficiently close proximity when the mounting member carries the electronic device to wirelessly transmit power between the mounting member and electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A cable management apparatus for use in mounting an electronic device to a display, comprising:
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a mounting member adapted to receive the electronic device, wherein the mounting member may be lifted and returned to a resting position; a source module for providing at least one electrical signal; and a wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member when the mounting member is in the resting position, for electrically communicating the at least one electrical signal from the source module to the mounting member, and wherein the wireless connection between the source module and the mounting member is broken when the mounting member is lifted from the resting position.
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Specification