Information display and product identification system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-driven, electronic display system, comprising:
- a computer having product information data;
a display strip permanently mounted on an edge of a product shelf, said display strip having;
a plurality of sets of display markings located at fixed positions along said display strip;
means for transmitting said product information data from said computer to said display markings;
a plurality of sets of communications contacts located at fixed positions along said display strip, each set of contacts having connections providing power and data transfer lines; and
a plurality of removable electronic product identifiers, separate and distinct from said display strip, each having;
a surface for insertion at one of said fixed positions on said display strip;
a set of communications contacts for connecting to said power and said data transfer lines from said display strip; and
externally programmable memory locations, said means comprising a product identification number and said means responsive to said data transfer lines;
whereby an individual inserts each product identifier into said display strip causing transfer of information to a particular set of said display markings located where each product identifier is in contact with said display strip.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic pricing display system for displaying product information on display strips (24) attached to shelf edges. A strip controller (30) heats selected thermochromic ink markings (44) printed on display strips (24) to form price display segments. An encoder prints and programs product identifiers (14) at a regional center. Store personnel snap product identifiers (14) on top of display strip (24), thereby causing the system to display new product information for selected products along the display strip (24).
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A computer-driven, electronic display system, comprising:
-
a computer having product information data; a display strip permanently mounted on an edge of a product shelf, said display strip having; a plurality of sets of display markings located at fixed positions along said display strip; means for transmitting said product information data from said computer to said display markings; a plurality of sets of communications contacts located at fixed positions along said display strip, each set of contacts having connections providing power and data transfer lines; and a plurality of removable electronic product identifiers, separate and distinct from said display strip, each having; a surface for insertion at one of said fixed positions on said display strip; a set of communications contacts for connecting to said power and said data transfer lines from said display strip; and externally programmable memory locations, said means comprising a product identification number and said means responsive to said data transfer lines; whereby an individual inserts each product identifier into said display strip causing transfer of information to a particular set of said display markings located where each product identifier is in contact with said display strip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification