Programmable shelf tag and method for changing and updating shelf tag information
First Claim
1. An electronic shelf tag comprising:
- a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal having a first and second optical state which are both stable in the absence of an electric field;
at least one character element formed in said liquid crystal display; and
a plurality of independent electrical conductor members coupled to said at least one character element for applying an electric field to said at least one character element to change the optical state of said liquid crystal, said electrical conductor members positioned in a predetermined configuration to be accessible exterior to the electronic shelf tag and located on the same side of said liquid crystal display to couple electrical signals to the liquid crystal display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shelf tag comprising a liquid crystal display having optical states which are stable without power and an interface that allows for each character element to be programmed easily by sweeping a programming device across the character element contacts with all power and signal requirements being supplied to the shelf tag by the programming device. The programming device can be integrated with a portable transaction computer equipped with a bar code reader or can be embodied in a stand-alone apparatus capable of receiving user input, displaying information and interfacing to the shelf tags. A method of using the shelf tags, the programming device and a radio frequency computer local area network are presented which automates many typical business applications such as inventory updating and simultaneously changing prices advertised on the shelf tags.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic shelf tag comprising:
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a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal having a first and second optical state which are both stable in the absence of an electric field; at least one character element formed in said liquid crystal display; and a plurality of independent electrical conductor members coupled to said at least one character element for applying an electric field to said at least one character element to change the optical state of said liquid crystal, said electrical conductor members positioned in a predetermined configuration to be accessible exterior to the electronic shelf tag and located on the same side of said liquid crystal display to couple electrical signals to the liquid crystal display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic shelf tag comprising:
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a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal having a first optical state and a second optical state, wherein the first and second optical states are stable in the absence of an electric field; at least one display element formed in the liquid crystal display; and electrical conductor means for applying an electric field to the at least one display element for altering the optical state of the liquid crystal, the electrical conductor means being accessible from the exterior of the electronic shelf tag. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification