Device for marking edges of shelves

• US 5,019,811 A
• Filed: 11/18/1988
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pricer AB
• Original Assignee: Unigrafic AG
• Inventors: Ahlm, Roger, Olsson, Sture
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magistre, Dervis
• Application Number:
  US07/273,218
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/825.17, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 340/825.35, 340/717, 340/789, 340/798, 340/799, 340/800-802, 340/804, 340/794, 340/795, 40/447, 364/404, 235/375-378, 186/61, 186/55, 186/56
• US Class Current: 340/5.91
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

Abstract

A device for indicating prices, article numbers or similar information on the edges of the shelves in department stores or storing premises. The device comprises a number of displays which shall be mounted to the shelves, and each display is connected to a separate electronic control unit and forms together with said unit an operative unit having its own power source. This operative unit is directly or indirectly connected to external control apparatus.

Claims

1. A system for indicating information, such as article name and pricing on product shelving comprising:

means for transmitting coded signals containing at least both article and pricing information,

at least one receiving self powered shelf mounted wireless display unit, said display unit including;

a visually readable display;

first and second data registers;

stored article information being the specific call code for a specific display unit;

means for receiving transmitted signals and accepting only signals having a call code address corresponding with a specific display unit for address said unit;

ranging means for directing article data to said first register for storage and price data to said second register for storage;

means controlled by said microprocessor for selectively displaying data from said first and second registers on said display.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes means for transmitting a particular article and price information to all display units and wherein said each display unit includes means for comparing said article number to data held in its first register and if both are identical, then storing new pricing information into said second register.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said display unit further includes means for alternately displaying price and product name information.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said transmitting means includes pulse width modulation of an infrared light beam.