Article-information display system using electronically controlled tags
First Claim
1. A product information display system comprising:
- multiple shelves and a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on the front of said shelves;
at least one electrical conductor extending along a front portion of each shelf in close proximity to a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;
an area controller for supplying a multiplicity of the display tags with power and data from a single source via said conductor extending along each shelf, said area controller including an a-c power source for supplying a-c power for a multiplicity of the display tags, a data signal source for supplying data signals for a multiplicity of the display tags. a modulator for modulating said a-c power with said data signals and supplying said conductor extending along each shelf with a single signal containing both power and data;
a system controller for supplying multiple area controllers with data signals that include information to be displayed on a multiplicity of said display tags,a pick-up coil in each display tag and electromagnetically coupled to said conductor for receiving the signal containing both power and data;
each display tag including a microprocessor, means for powering the microprocessor with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor extending along said shelf, and means for supplying the microprocessor with data derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor extending along said shelf; and
a display circuit within each display tag for generating a display in response to output signals from said microprocessor.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor. A microprocessor in the electronic tag then compares the address contained in subsequent information signals with the address stored in the tag'"'"'s memory. If the addresses match, the microprocessor further processes the information signal for visual display or verification functions.
189 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A product information display system comprising:
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multiple shelves and a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on the front of said shelves; at least one electrical conductor extending along a front portion of each shelf in close proximity to a multiplicity of the electronic display tags; an area controller for supplying a multiplicity of the display tags with power and data from a single source via said conductor extending along each shelf, said area controller including an a-c power source for supplying a-c power for a multiplicity of the display tags, a data signal source for supplying data signals for a multiplicity of the display tags. a modulator for modulating said a-c power with said data signals and supplying said conductor extending along each shelf with a single signal containing both power and data; a system controller for supplying multiple area controllers with data signals that include information to be displayed on a multiplicity of said display tags, a pick-up coil in each display tag and electromagnetically coupled to said conductor for receiving the signal containing both power and data; each display tag including a microprocessor, means for powering the microprocessor with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor extending along said shelf, and means for supplying the microprocessor with data derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor extending along said shelf; and a display circuit within each display tag for generating a display in response to output signals from said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A product information display system for a warehouse having multiple articles stored at multiple locations throughout the warehouse comprising:
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a plurality of electronic display tags at the article storage locations; at least one electrical conductor extending along said storage locations in close proximity to the electronic display tags; an area controller for supplying a multiplicity of the display tags with power and data from a single source via said conductor extending along each storage location, said area controller including an a-c power source for supplying a-c power for a multiplicity of the display tags, a data signal source for supplying data signals for a multiplicity of the display tags, a modulator for modulating said a-c power with said data signals and supplying said conductor extending along each storage location with a single signal containing both power and data; a system controller for supplying multiple area controllers with data signals that include information to be displayed on a multiplicity of said display tags, wherein each electronic display tag comprises an electromagnetic coupler for receiving the modulated a-c power from said conductor and sending signals generated by the electronic display tag; a demodulating circuit interfaced to the electromagnetic coupler for demodulating the signals received by the electromagnetic coupler and producing data signals therefrom; a memory for storage of the data signals; a microprocessor connected to the memory for processing the data signals; an electronic display connected to the memory for displaying data corresponding to the data signals stored in said memory; and means for supplying the electronic display and the microprocessor with power derived by said electromagnetic coupler from said conductor, and with data derived by said electromagnetic coupler from said conductor.
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Specification