Electronic tag

• US 5,963,133 A
• Filed: 07/18/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nicolas Monjo
• Original Assignee: Nicolas Monjo
• Inventors: Monjo, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/896,691
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/568, 340/825.35, 340/825.49, 340/692, 340/691, 340/331, 340/332, 340/309.15, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/568.1, 235/385, 235/383, 705/28, 705/22, 705/23, 705/20
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003

Abstract

An electronic tag comprising a controller having a microprocessor, RAM, ROM, line drivers and receivers to interface with a main computer terminal. The electronic tag also has a plurality of switches that are connected to the controller so as to allow the input of data. Data may include selling price, description of the item, designer or brand name. Part of the data may be displayed on a display that is connected to the controller. The tag may be equipped with a receiver so that it may receive signals from another location that is connected to a micro-converter that converts the signals into a format recognized by the controller. A transmitter may also be connected to the controller so that information may be transferred from the controller to another location in the system.

Claims

1. An electronic tag comprising:

a controller having a microprocessor, Random Access Memory, Random Operating Memory, line drivers and receivers to interface with a multiplicity of connections;

a plurality of switches for imputing data that are connected to said controller;

a display for displaying information, that is connected to said controller;

a receiver for receiving a plurality of signals from another location;

a micro-converter connected to said receiver that converts said signals into a format recognized by said controller, said micro-converter connected to said controller whereby information is received by said receiver, converted into a controller readable form and sent to said controller for processing;

a transmitter, said transmitter connected to said micro-converter, said micro-converter and said controller convert controller readable signals into a transmittable format, whereby said transmitter transmits information from said controller of said electronic tag to another location;

a miniature self-contained sound-playback module connected to said controller, said miniature self-contained sound-playback module comprising a temporary storing means for recording sound, a dialog-to-digital converter for converting the recorded sound into a digital signal, and a speaker means;

said dialog-to-digital converter comprising a digital memory for storing the digital signal, said digital memory being capable of activation to generate a digital output signal corresponding to the stored digital signal,

a means for transferring the digital output signal from the dialog-to-digital converter to the speaker means;

said speaker means responsive to the digital output signal for reproducing said sound;

activator means controllable by a user of said playback module to activate said digital memory to produce said digital output signal, thereby causing the speaker means to produce the recorded sound.

2. The electronic tag of claim 1, further comprising a timing means for turning on a plurality of lamps.

3. The electronic tag of claim 2, wherein said lamps are light-emitting diodes.

4. The electronic tag of claim 2, wherein said timing means turns on said plurality of lamps at one time or flashes said lamps in an alternating pattern.

5. The electronic tag of claim 1 wherein a means for playing back said sound as recorded by the temporary storage means comprises a playback control button further comprising indicator means for indicating activation of the playback control button.

6. The electronic tag of claim 1 wherein a digital playback in said module comprises an erasable programmable read-only memory.

7. The electronic tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a security device that is actuable by a security actuating device.

8. The electronic tag of claim 1 further comprising an aromatizer that releases a scent.