Modulated laser data transfer
First Claim
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1. A system for displaying information about products identifiable by indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, the system comprising:
- a) an information module mounted in association with a selected product;
b) an optical detector supported by the module, for detecting an information-carrying optical signal;
c) a portable, hand-held unit operative, in a scanning mode, for electro-optically reading by wireless transmission an indicium associated with the selected product to identify the product and operative, in a data transfer mode, for transmitting by wireless transmission the information-carrying optical signal to the optical detector;
d) a storage device supported by the unit, for storing and delivering product information about the identified product after product identification;
e) a modulator operatively connected to the storage device, for placing the product information delivered by the storage device in the information-carrying optical signal; and
f) a display supported by the module, for displaying the product information contained in the information-carrying optical signal transmitted by the unit to the optical detector.
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Abstract
A data transfer system for an LCD price tagging arrangement includes an electro-optical scanner and one or more LCD price tags. Each LCD price tag is associated with a given product in a retail outlet and carries price or other information relating to that product. The LCD price tag includes an electro-optical detector for detecting a beam generated by the scanner. The scanner light beam generating source is modulated such that the beam carries product information. Accordingly the price or other product information on the LCD price tag can be quickly and efficiently updated.
46 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for displaying information about products identifiable by indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, the system comprising:
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a) an information module mounted in association with a selected product; b) an optical detector supported by the module, for detecting an information-carrying optical signal; c) a portable, hand-held unit operative, in a scanning mode, for electro-optically reading by wireless transmission an indicium associated with the selected product to identify the product and operative, in a data transfer mode, for transmitting by wireless transmission the information-carrying optical signal to the optical detector; d) a storage device supported by the unit, for storing and delivering product information about the identified product after product identification; e) a modulator operatively connected to the storage device, for placing the product information delivered by the storage device in the information-carrying optical signal; and f) a display supported by the module, for displaying the product information contained in the information-carrying optical signal transmitted by the unit to the optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of displaying information about products identifiable by indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) mounting an information module in association with a selected product; b) manually holding a portable unit and actuating the reader, in a scanning mode, to electro-optically read an indicium associated with the selected product to identify the product and, in a data transfer mode, to retrieve product information about the identified product, to place the product information in an optical signal, and to transmit the information-carrying optical signal to the module; c) detecting the information-carrying optical signal transmitted to the module; and d) displaying the product information contained in the information-carrying optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification