Technique for locating electronic labels in an electronic price display system

• US 5,532,465 A
• Filed: 03/08/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. (Systems Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. (Systems Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, John, Leibman, George, Waterhouse, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/207,956
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/441, 395/114, 340/825.35, 345/2, 345/3, 439/589, 439/590, 211/184
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, improved rail arrangements permit improved accuracy in confirming the physical location of an improved display device on one such rail arrangement. A response from the device to a host, or central computer, indicates a particular position of the device on the rail arrangement.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting location of a display device having means for generating different signals, said apparatus comprising:

a rail comprising;

mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail;

interface means for causing the generating means of said device to generate a signal indicative of a region within said rail where said device is mounted, the interface means causing the generating means to generate a different signal than said signal when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail; and

means for transporting a signal generated by the generating means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of switch means each operable for conducting an electrical voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said interface means includes a plurality of mechanical means for activating selected ones of said switch means when said device is mounted on said rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mechanical means includes a plurality of ridges each extending from said rail in a selected one of a first length and a second length, the first length being longer than the second length.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each ridge is associated with a different switch means, and wherein a ridge extending from said rail in said first length activates the switch means associated therewith.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the generating means includes means for detecting any activated switch means.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the generating means generates an individual signal indicative of any activated switch means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said individual signal comprises an ensemble of digital bits, each bit being associated with a different switch means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said ensemble forms a bit pattern wherein a value of a bit is indicative of whether the switch means associated with said bit is activated.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said different signals comprises an ensemble of digital bits forming a different bit pattern, and wherein said rail is partitioned into a plurality of regions, each region being associated with said different bit pattern.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rail includes means for providing electrical power.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rail includes means for providing an electrical ground.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device includes a plurality of terminals, and wherein said interface means includes a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting a combination of said terminals to said interface means, said electrical contacts being unevenly spaced so that said combination of said terminals changes when said device displaces by more than said predetermined distance.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said interface means includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said interface means includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of regions, said device being mounted within a particular region, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface means when said device is mounted within a region other than said particular region.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on said device being separated by a first distance, and individual pairs of neighboring electrical contacts on said interface means being separated by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said mechanical means includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of regions, said price display device being mounted within a particular region, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface means when said device is mounted within a region other than said particular region.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface means.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of capacitance sensors, the signals being depending on sensed capacitances.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of optical sensors, the signals being depending on sensed light levels.

26. A display device for use with a rail having interface means comprising:

mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail; and

means for generating different signals, the interface means of said rail causing the generating means to generate a signal indicative of a region of said rail where said device is mounted and causing the generating means to generate a different signal than said signal when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of switch means each operable for conducting an electrical voltage.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the generating means includes means for detecting any activated switch means.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein the generating means generates an individual signal indicative of any activated switch means.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein said individual signal comprises an ensemble of digital bits, each bit being associated with a different switch means.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein said ensemble forms a bit pattern wherein a value of a bit is indicative of whether the switch means associated with said bit is activated.

32. The device of claim 26 wherein said interface means includes a plurality of unevenly spaced electrical contacts, said device further comprising a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface means, and wherein said signal is also indicative of said combination of terminals electrically connected to said interface means.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein said interface means includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

34. The device of claim 32 wherein said interface means includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

35. The device of claim 32 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced.

36. The device of claim 32 wherein any two neighboring terminals are separated by a predetermined distance and said mechanical means includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said predetermined distance.

37. The device of claim 32 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface means.

38. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of capacitance sensors, the signals being depending on sensed capacitances.

39. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of optical sensors, the signals being depending on sensed light levels.

40. An arrangement comprising:

at least one display device, each display device comprising;

means for generating different signals; and

a rail comprising;

mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail;

interface means for causing the generating means of said device to generate a signal indicative of a region within said rail where said device is mounted;

the interface means causing the generating means to generate a different signal than said signal when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail.

41. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of switch means each operable for conducting an electrical voltage.

42. The arrangement of claim 41 wherein said interface means includes a plurality of mechanical means for activating selected ones of said switch means when said device is mounted on said rail.

43. The arrangement of claim 42 wherein said mechanical means includes a plurality of ridges each extending from said rail in a selected one of a first length and a second length, the first length being longer than the second length.

44. The arrangement of claim 43 wherein each ridge is associated with a different switch means, and wherein a ridge extending from said rail in said first length activates the switch means associated therewith.

45. The arrangement of claim 42 wherein the generating means includes means for detecting any activated switch means.

46. The arrangement of claim 42 wherein the generating means generates an individual signal indicative of any activated switch means.

47. The arrangement of claim 46 wherein said individual signal comprises an ensemble of digital bits, each bit being associated with a different switch means.

48. The arrangement of claim 47 wherein said ensemble forms a bit pattern wherein a value of a bit is indicative of whether the switch means associated with said bit is activated.

49. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein each of said different signals comprises an ensemble of digital bits forming a different bit pattern, and wherein said rail is partitioned into a plurality of regions, each region being associated with said different bit pattern.

50. The arrangement of claim 49 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

51. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein said rail includes means for providing electrical power.

52. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein said rail includes means for providing an electrical ground.

53. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein said device includes a plurality of terminals, and wherein said interface means includes a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting a combination of said terminals to said interface means, said electrical contacts being unevenly spaced so that said combination of said terminals changes when said device displaces by more than said predetermined distance.

54. The arrangement of claim 53 wherein said interface means includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

55. The arrangement of claim 53 wherein said interface means includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

56. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of regions, said device being mounted within a particular region, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface means when said device is mounted within a region other than said particular region.

57. The arrangement of claim 56 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

58. The arrangement of claim 53 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on said device being separated by a first distance, and individual pairs of neighboring electrical contacts on said interface means being separated by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.

59. The arrangement of claim 58 wherein said mechanical means includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.

60. The arrangement of claim 58 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of regions, said price display device being mounted within a particular region, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface means when said device is mounted within a region other than said particular region.

61. The arrangement of claim 60 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

62. The arrangement of claim 53 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface means.

63. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of capacitance sensors, the signals being depending on sensed capacitances.

64. The arrangement of claim 40 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of optical sensors, the signals being depending on sensed light levels.

65. A display device comprising:

means for mounting said device on a rail having an interface;

a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to said interface;

means for receiving a request for identification of location of said device on said rail; and

means responsive to said request for sending a signal indicative of said combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface.

66. The device of claim 65 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

67. The device of claim 65 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

68. A system comprising:

a rail having an interface;

one or more display devices which are mounted on said rail, each device being associated with a different address and including a plurality of terminals;

means for sending a request indicating an address associated with a particular device, a combination of the terminals of said particular device electrically connecting said particular device to said interface of said rail;

means for receiving a message indicative of said combination of said terminals, said message having been sent by said particular device in response to said request; and

means for deriving from said message a position of said particular device on said rail.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.

71. The system of claim 68 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said particular device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said particular device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.

72. The system of claim 68 wherein said plurality of slots are identical in length.

73. The system of claim 68 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on said device being separated by a first distance, said rail includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.

74. The system of claim 68 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface.

75. A method for locating a display device on a rail having interface means, said device having means for generating different signals, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting said device on said rail;

causing by said interface means the generating means of said device to generate a signal indicative of a region within said rail where said device is mounted, and causing by said interface means the generating means to generate a different signal than said signal when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail; and

transporting a signal generated by the generating means.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein said device comprises a plurality of switch means, wherein said signal is indicative of any activated switch means.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein said signal comprises an ensemble of digital bits, each bit being associated with a different switch means.

78. The method of claim 75 wherein said ensemble forms a bit pattern wherein a value of a bit is indicative of whether the switch means associated with said bit is activated.

79. The method of claim 75 wherein each of said different signals comprises an ensemble of digital bits forming a different bit pattern, said method further comprising the step of partitioning said rail into a plurality of regions, each region being associated with said different bit pattern.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein said plurality of regions are identical in length.

81. The method of claim 75 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of capacitance sensors, the signals being depending on sensed capacitances.

82. The method of claim 75 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of optical sensors, the signals being depending on sensed light levels.

83. A method for use with a display device having means for generating different signals, comprising the steps of:

mounting said device on a rail having interface means;

generating different signals by the generating means; and

causing by said interface means the generating means to generate a signal indicative of a region of said rail where said device is mounted and causing by said interface means the generating means to generate a different signal than said signal when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail.

88. The method of claim 83 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of capacitance sensors, the signals being depending on sensed capacitances.

89. The method of claim 83 wherein the generating means includes a plurality of optical sensors, the signals being depending on sensed light levels.

84. The method of claim 84 wherein said device comprises a plurality of switch means, said method further comprising the step of detecting any switch means activated by said interface means.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein said device comprises a plurality of switch means, and wherein said signal indicative of any switch means activated by said interface means.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein said signal comprises an ensemble of digital bits, each bit being associated with a different switch means.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein said ensemble forms a bit pattern wherein a value of a bit is indicative of whether the switch means associated with said bit is activated.

90. A method for locating a display device on a rail having an interface, said display device having a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to said interface, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for identification of location of said device on said rail; and

sending a signal indicative of said combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface in response to said request.

91. A method for use in a display system comprising a rail having an interface, one or more display devices which are mounted on said rail, each device being associated with a different address and including a plurality of terminals, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a request indicating an address associated with a particular device, a combination of the terminals of said particular device electrically connecting said particular device to said interface of said rail;

transmitting by said particular device in response to said request a message indicative of said combination of said terminals;

receiving said message transmitted from said particular device; and

deriving from said message a position of said particular device on said rail.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising the step of partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said particular device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said particular device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.

93. The method of claim 91 wherein said terminals of each display device are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on the display device being separated by a first distance, said method further comprising the step of mechanically engaging said display device with said rail in such a manner that said display device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.

94. A method for use in a display label having a plurality of sensors sensing information indicative of the position of the label on a rail, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the information indicative of the position of the label;

storing the information;

sensing the information indicative of the position of the label;

comparing the sensed information with the stored information; and

communicating a message externally from the label in the event of the sensed information differing from the stored information.

95. A method for use in a display system comprising a computer and a plurality of display labels, each label having a plurality of sensors sensing information indicative of the position of the label on a rail, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the information indicative of the position of one of the labels;

storing the information within the computer;

sensing the information indicative of the position of the labels;

comparing the sensed information with the stored information; and

making a record in the event of a difference between the sensed information and the stored information.