SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DECREASING ENERGY USAGE OF A TRANSPARENT DISPLAY CASE

• US 20180368240A1
• Filed: 08/27/2018
• Published: 12/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dunn, William, De Laet, Rick
• Granted Patent: US 10,555,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the illumination of a display case containing a plurality of products includes a housing and an access panel. A transparent display is located in the access panel and is illuminated by an illumination device. A sensor is positioned to determine whether access panel is in an opened or a closed position. A processor measures the amount of time that has passed since the access panel was last closed or opened and drives the illumination device at a reduced power level accordingly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the illumination of a display case comprising:

a housing defining a compartment configured to hold a plurality of products;

an access panel mounted to the housing and comprising a transparent display for displaying images, wherein the access panel is configured to move between an opened position and a closed position;

an illumination device for illuminating the transparent display;

a sensor positioned to determine if the access panel is in the opened position; and

a processor electrically connected to the illumination device and the sensor, wherein said processor is configured to measure the time elapsed since the access panel was last placed in the open position and drive the illumination device at a reduced power level based upon the amount of time that has elapsed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a network communications device electrically connected to said processor and configured to receive power reduction data for the illumination device and transmit said power reduction data to the processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the processor drives the illumination device at a normal power level unless and until the elapsed time reaches a predetermined threshold, then the processor drives the illumination device at the reduced power level according to the backlight power reduction data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the reduced power level is a non-zero power level.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

the processor drives the illumination device at a second reduced power level according to the power reduction data if the amount of time that has elapsed reaches a second predetermined threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the transparent display is an emissive display and the illumination device is integrated with the transparent display.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the transparent display is a transmissive display and the illumination device comprises edge lighting.

8. An apparatus for controlling the illumination of a display case comprising:

a housing defining a compartment configured to hold a plurality of products;

an access panel mounted to the housing and comprising a transparent display for display images, wherein the access panel is configured to move between an opened position and a closed position;

an illumination device for illuminating the transparent display;

a sensor positioned to determine if the access panel is in the closed position; and

a processor electrically connected to the illumination device and the sensor, wherein said processor is configured to measure the time elapsed since the access panel was last placed in the closed position and drive the illumination device at a reduced power level based upon the amount of time that has elapsed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a network communications device electrically connected to said processor and configured to receive power reduction data for the illumination device and transmit said power reduction data to the processor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

the processor drives the illumination device at a normal power level unless and until the elapsed time reaches a predetermined threshold, then the processor drives the illumination device at the reduced power level according to the backlight power reduction data.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

the reduced power level is a non-zero power level.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the processor drives the illumination device at a second reduced power level according to the power reduction data if the amount of time that has elapsed reaches a second predetermined threshold.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the transparent display is an emissive display and the illumination device is integrated with the transparent display.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the transparent display is a transmissive display and the illumination device comprises edge lighting.

15. A method for controlling the illumination of a display case containing a plurality of products comprising the steps of:

providing a transparent electronic display located in an access panel and illuminated by way of an illumination device, wherein the access panel is moveably mounted to a housing;

the transparent electronic display such that the images and at least some of the plurality of products may be viewed at the same time;

determining if the access panel is open;

determining the time elapsed since the access panel was last opened; and

operating the illumination device at a reduced power level based upon the time elapsed.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the reduced power level is a non-zero power level such that the images continue to be displayed on the transparent display.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

accepting data at a processor by way of a network communications device for operation of the illumination device, wherein the data comprises a first percentage reduction level, a second percentage reduction level, a first period of elapsed time, and a second period of elapsed time.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

driving the illumination device is at a zero percent reduction in power when the access panel is opened;

reducing the power to the illumination device by the first percentage reduction level if the first period of elapsed time is reached; and

reducing the power to the illumination device by the second percentage reduction level if the second period of elapsed time is reached.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the second percentage reduction level is greater than the first percentage reduction level; and

the second period of elapsed time is greater than the first period of elapsed time.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the transparent display is a transmissive display; and

the illumination device comprises edge lighting.