Power and communication system for electronic display tags
First Claim
1. A power and communication system for a product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage areas each of which includes a plurality of shelves, comprisinga plurality of electronic display tags mounted on said shelves in said product display or storage areas, an electrical power supply for supplying a-c power to said display tags, multiple branch power distribution loops each of which extends horizontally along said display tags on one of said shelves for supplying power to those display tags, a main power distribution loop connected to said power supply and including multiple vertical sections each of which extends vertically along said plurality of shelves in one of said product display or storage areas carrying a main electrical signal, each of said vertical sections being magnetically coupled to at least one of said branch loops for supplying power thereto;
- wherein each of said branch loops and the display tags associated therewith are mounted on a common rail with one end of the branch loop extending from one end of the rail in a p redetermined configuration adapted to form part of a magnetic coupling to said main loop; and
wherein said predetermined configuration of said one end of each branch loop is a first flat dielectric strip encasing the loop, and said main loop includes a section encased in a second flat dielectric strip, said first and second dielectric strips forming mating openings for receiving a magnetic core for magnetically coupling the branch loop to the main loop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power and communication system is provided for a product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage areas. A plurality of electronic display tags are mounted adjacent the product display or storage areas. 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.
163 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A power and communication system for a product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage areas each of which includes a plurality of shelves, comprising
a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on said shelves in said product display or storage areas, an electrical power supply for supplying a-c power to said display tags, multiple branch power distribution loops each of which extends horizontally along said display tags on one of said shelves for supplying power to those display tags, a main power distribution loop connected to said power supply and including multiple vertical sections each of which extends vertically along said plurality of shelves in one of said product display or storage areas carrying a main electrical signal, each of said vertical sections being magnetically coupled to at least one of said branch loops for supplying power thereto; -
wherein each of said branch loops and the display tags associated therewith are mounted on a common rail with one end of the branch loop extending from one end of the rail in a p redetermined configuration adapted to form part of a magnetic coupling to said main loop; and
wherein said predetermined configuration of said one end of each branch loop is a first flat dielectric strip encasing the loop, and said main loop includes a section encased in a second flat dielectric strip, said first and second dielectric strips forming mating openings for receiving a magnetic core for magnetically coupling the branch loop to the main loop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A power and communication system for a product information display system associated with a product display or storage establishment having multiple product display or storage areas each of which includes a plurality of shelves, comprising
a plurality of electronic display tags mounted on said shelves in said product display or storage areas, an electrical power supply for supplying a-c power, multiple branch power distribution loops each of which extends horizontally along one of said shelves for carrying a branch electrical signal containing power to a group of display tags, each branch loop formed by an electrical conductor separate from its respective shelf; - and
a main power distribution loop carrying a main electrical signal and connected to said power supply and including multiple vertical sections each of which extends vertically along said plurality of shelves in one of said product display or storage areas, each of said vertical sections being magnetically coupled to at least one of said branch loops for inducing the branch electrical signal therein.
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Specification