Article-information display system using electronically controlled tags

• US 5,736,967 A
• Filed: 03/03/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northern Illinois University
• Original Assignee: Kayser Ventures, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kayser, Kenneth W., Frederick, W. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/398,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/2, 345/30, 345/43, 345/55, 340/825.35, 340/825.49, 364/400, 364/401, 364/405, 248/68.1, 174/72 A, 174/135, 40/462, 40/455, 40/488, 40/452, 40/447, 40/541, 40/542
• US Class Current: 345/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

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. An electrical power system supplies a-c. power to the display tags. A main power distribution loop is connected to the power supply and is magnetically coupled to multiple branch power distribution loops which extend along selected groups of display tags for supplying power to those display tags.

Claims

1. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted adjacent said product display or storage areas;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into an information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator.

2. The product information display system of claim 1 wherein all of said plurality of electronic display tags supplied with signals from a common controller circuit are connected in series with each other.

3. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on the front edges of said shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into a information/power signal;

at least one electrical conductor connected to said modulator, said conductor being separate from said shelves and extending along the front edge of at least one of said shelves in close proximity to said electronic display tags on that shelf for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags directly from said conductor;

an electromagnetic coupler in each electronic display tag for receiving the information/power signal from said conductor;

a display circuit in each electronic display tag; and

means for supplying the display circuit with power derived by the electromagnetic coupler from said conductor, and with information derived by the electromagnetic coupler from said conductor, said display circuit generating a display in response to the information.

4. A product information display system as set forth in claim 3 wherein all of said multiplicity of electronic display tags supplied with signals from a common controller circuit are connected in series with each other.

5. The product information display system of claim 3 wherein each of said tags comprises:

a pick-up coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to said conductor in close proximity to the tag to enable the coil to receive from said conductor a modulated a-c signal containing both power and information;

a processing circuit, and means for powering the processing circuit with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor, and means for supplying the processing circuit with information derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor; and

a display circuit for generating a display in response to output signals from said processing circuit.

6. The product information display system of claim 5 wherein the pick-up coil is inductively coupled to said conductor.

7. The product information display system of claim 5 wherein said pick-up coil is wound around the periphery of the display tag.

8. The product information display system of claim 5 wherein the information signal includes at least a tag address and product information.

9. The product information display system of claim 5 further including a rectifier for converting the a-c power signal picked up by the pick-up coil to d-c power for the display circuit.

10. The product information display system of claim 5 further including a demodulator for demodulating signals picked up from said conductor, and means for converting the power signal picked up from said conductor to a power input for the display circuit.

11. The product information display system of claim 5 which includes a manually operable control means for initializing the tag by accepting a transmitted tag address and the information signals picked up from said conductor.

12. The product information display system of claim 5 where in response to a power failure the display tag maintains normal operation for a first prescribed time interval following the power failure, and then turns off the display but retains the address and product information in a tag memory, and then erases all the product information while retaining the address in the tag memory.

13. The product information display system of claim 5 which includes

an electromagnetic coupler for receiving the modulated a-c power signal from the said conductor and sending signals generated by the display tag,

a demodulating circuit connected to the electromagnetic coupler for demodulating the signals received by the electromagnetic coupler, and

a memory for storage of the demodulated signals.

14. The product information display system of claim 5 wherein said conductor and said pick-up coil form a transformer in which the primary winding is said conductor and the secondary winding is said pick-up coil.

15. The product information display system of claim 5 which includes a demodulator for demodulating the modulated a-c power signal without amplification, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the demodulated signals to digital signals without amplification.

16. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on the front edges of said shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into a information/power signal;

at least one electrical conductor connected to said modulator and forming a separate inductive loop on the front edge of each of said shelves on which said tags are mounted, said conductor extending along the front edge of at least one of said shelves in close proximity to said electronic display tags on that shelf for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags from said conductor;

an electromagnetic coupler within each tag and adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to said conductor adjacent to the tag to enable the electromagnetic coupler to receive from said conductor a modulated a-c signal containing both power and information and to send signals generated by the display tag;

a demodulating circuit interfaced to the electromagnetic coupler for demodulating the signal received by the electromagnetic coupler into its power signal and information signals components;

a memory for storage of the information signals;

a processing circuit connected to the memory for processing the information signals;

an electronic display connected to the memory for displaying information corresponding to the information signals stored in said memory; and

means for supplying the electronic display and the processing circuit with power derived by said electromagnetic coupler from said conductor, and with information derived by said electromagnetic coupler from said conductor.

17. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on the front edges of said shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into an information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags directly from said branch distribution loops;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator.

18. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on the front edges of said shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into an information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags directly from said branch distribution loops;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator;

each of said tags including

a resonant circuit including a pick-up coil electromagnetically coupled to said conductor for receiving the information/power signal, and a capacitor in parallel with said pick-up coil;

a processing circuit, and means for powering the processing circuit with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor, and means for supplying the processing circuit with information derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor; and

a display circuit for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator.

19. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted adjacent said product display or storage shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into an information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator;

each of said tags including

a passive resonant circuit including a pick-up coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to a conductor in close proximity to the tag to enable the coil to receive from said conductor a modulated a-c signal containing both power and information;

a processing circuit, and means for powering the processing circuit with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor, and means for supplying the processing circuit with information derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor;

a display circuit for generating a display in response to output signals from said processing circuit; and

an electronically controllable switching means in parallel with said resonant circuit for modulating the impedance of said resonant circuit and thereby modulating said alternating signal in said conductor to produce a data signal in said conductor at a frequency which is a sub-harmonic of the primary alternating signal in said conductor.

20. The product information display system of claim 19 wherein said controllable switching means is a field effect transistor.

21. The product information display system of claim 19 which includes means for controlling said controllable switching means to produce bursts of modulating signals at either of two subharmonic frequencies, representing two different states of a binary data bit, so that binary information signals can be generated by the tag.

22. The product information display system of claim 19 which includes a manually operable switches for supplying input signals to said processing circuit.

23. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted adjacent said product display or storage shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags, said information signal includes at least a tag address and product information;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into a information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator, said display maintaining normal operation for a first prescribed period of time interval in response to a power failure, and then display turning off but said tag retaining said address and product information in a tag memory, and then erasing all product information while retaining said address in the tag memory.

24. A product information display tag comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted adjacent said product display or storage shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into an information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator;

each of said tags including

a pick-up coil adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to a conductor adjacent to the tag to enable the coil to receive from said conductor a modulated a-c signal containing both power and information, said information includes at least a tag address and product information;

a processing circuit, and means for powering the processing circuit with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor, and means for supplying the processing circuit with information derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor;

a display circuit for generating a display in response to output signals from said processing circuit; and

a manually operable control means for initializing the tag by accepting said transmitted tag address and product information picked up from said conductor.

25. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage shelves, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted adjacent said product display or storage shelves;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags, said information signals include at least a tag address and product information;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into a information/power signal;

a main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

multiple branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, at least a portion of each of said branch distribution loops including an electrical conductor separate from the shelf and extending along the front edge of the shelf in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator; and

a manually operable control means for initializing the tag by accepting said transmitted tag address and product information picked up from said conductor.

26. A product information display system comprising:

multiple shelves;

a plurality of non-conductive rails mounted on the front edges of shelves, each of said rails having a front side and a rear side;

a plurality of electronic display tags attached on the front side of said rails;

at least one electrical conductor extending along said rear side of said rails in close proximity to a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a controller for supplying a multiplicity of the display tags with power and information from a single source via said conductor extending along each shelf, said controller including an a-c power source for supplying a-c power for a multiplicity of the display tags, a information signal source for supplying data signals for a multiplicity of the display tags, a modulator for modulating said a-c power with said information signals and supplying said conductor extending along each shelf with a single signal containing both power and information;

a pick-up coil electromagnetically coupled to said conductor for receiving the signal containing both power and information;

each display tag including a processing circuit, means for powering the processing circuit with power derived by said pick-up coil from said conductor extending along said shelf, and means for supplying the processing circuit 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 processing circuit.

27. A product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage areas, comprising:

a plurality of electronic display tags mounted adjacent said product display or storage areas;

a controller circuit for providing information signals for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

an electrical power supply connected to said controller circuit for supplying a-c. power for a multiplicity of the electronic display tags;

a modulator connected to said controller circuit receiving the power signal and the information signals for modulating the power signal with the information signals into a information/power signal;

a multiplicity of elongated pre-wired dielectric rails, each having a U-shaped branch power distribution loop mounted on one side thereof, and forming means for mounting a plurality of said display tags on the other side thereof, one end of said loop extending from one end of said rail in a predetermined configuration adapted to form part of a magnetic coupling to a main power distribution loop;

a substantially flat dielectric strip containing a U-shaped segment of the main power distribution loop, said strip forming openings between two legs of said U-shaped segment along the length of the strip for forming magnetic couplings between said segment and multiple branch power distribution loops on said dielectric rails;

a plurality of two-part magnetic cores shaped to fit through said openings in said dielectric strip, and a dielectric housing for securing the two parts of each magnetic core to adjoining segments of said branch loop and said main loop;

said main distribution loop connected to said modulator for carrying the information/power signal;

said branch distribution loops magnetically coupled to said main distribution loop for supplying the information/power signal to said branch distribution loops, each of said branch distribution loops extending along and passing in close proximity to a selected group of said electronic display tags for supplying the information/power signal to those electronic display tags;

a pick-up coil in each electronic display tag inductively coupled to said branch distribution loop for receiving the information/power signal;

a demodulator in each electronic display tag for demodulating the information/power signal into its power signal and information signals components; and

a display circuit in each electronic display tag for generating a display in response to the information signals derived from the demodulator, said display circuit powered by the power signal derived from the demodulator.

28. The product information display system of claim 27 wherein the dielectric rails are mounted on shelves supported by columns having preformed holes for receiving the shelves, and said dielectric strip is mounted parallel to said columns with a predetermined relationship between the holes in said columns and the openings in said dielectric strip.

29. The product information display system of claim 27 wherein said one end of said branch power distribution loop and said U-shaped segment of the main power distribution loop comprises flat conductive strips which can be placed face to face to form a magnetic coupling between the two loops.

30. The product information display system of claim 29 wherein said flat conductive strips are enclosed in dielectric material of sufficient thickness to protect said loops from electrostatic discharges.

31. The product information display system of claim 30 wherein each of said two-part magnetic cores is shaped to encircle the facing flat conductive strips of both loops to magnetically couple the two loops.

32. The product information display system of claim 27 wherein said dielectric strip extends along the ends of a vertical bank of shelves each of which carries one of said dielectric rails.

33. The product information display system of claim 32 wherein said main power distribution loop includes a second dielectric strip containing a pair of parallel conductors and extending along the length of each vertical bank of shelves carrying said dielectric rails, and including means for connecting the conductors in said second dielectric strip to said U-shaped segments of the main power distribution loop.

34. The product information display system of claim 32 which includes a junction box for aligning adjacent ends of said second dielectric strip and said flat dielectric strip.