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Electronic shelf edge price display system

  • US 5,548,282 A
  • Filed: 05/04/1994
  • Issued: 08/20/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. System for the electronic display of information on at least one shelf, said system comprising:

  • a plurality of display unite for displaying information, each of said plurality of display units comprising at least one shelf display unit;

    means for transmitting power to said plurality of display units;

    said transmitting means for being disposed apart from said plurality of display units;

    each of said plurality of display units comprising;

    means for receiving power from said transmitting means;

    means for displaying information; and

    means for powering said displaying means at least partly from the power received by said receiving means;

    said receiving means comprising means for receiving power from said transmitting means solely upon said display unit being disposed substantially adjacent to at least a portion of said transmitting means;

    said transmitting means comprising a transmitter for at least transmitting power;

    said at least a portion of said transmitting means comprising at least one transmitter element, said at least one transmitter element being electrically conductive and being configured to receive power from said transmitter;

    at least one of said plurality of display units having means for disposing said at least one display unit on a shelf;

    said receiving means of said at least one of said plurality of display units comprising means for receiving power from said transmitting means solely upon said display unit being disposed substantially adjacent to, and substantially on the same shelf as, said at least one of said at least one transmitter element;

    said means for powering said displaying means comprising rechargeable means for powering said displaying means;

    said transmitting means comprising means for at least substantially continuously providing, to said receiving means of said at least one display unit;

    data for the display of information on said displaying means; and

    power for providing energy to said rechargeable means;

    said means for at least substantially continuously providing data and power to said at least one display unit comprising;

    means for transmitting data to said at least one display unit in the form of intermittently transmitted data packets, the intermittent transmissions of data packets for being interrupted by pauses;

    endmeans for transmitting power;

    said means for transmitting power comprising means for transmitting power to said at least one display unit during the pauses between the intermittent transmissions of data packets;

    said receiving means comprising means for receiving power from said transmitting means during the pauses between intermittent transmissions of data packets; and

    said means for transmitting power during the pauses between the intermittent transmissions of data packets comprising means for transmitting power to said at least one display unit to recharge said rechargeable means during the pauses between the intermittent transmissions of data packets.

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