Method of initializing, controlling and updating electronic display tags and related controller therefor

• US 6,271,807 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northern Illinois University
• Original Assignee: Display Edge Technology, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kayser, Kenneth W., Frederick, W. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/309,119
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/2, 345/30, 345/43, 345/55, 340/825.35, 340/825.49, 248/68.1, 404/62, 404/55, 404/88, 404/52, 404/47, 405/41, 405/42
• 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 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling

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.

Claims

1. A method of initializing each of a multiplicity of electronic display tags that are electromagnetically coupled to a conducting loop carrying information signals generated by a controller circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

operating each electronic display tag in a start-up mode or a run mode, said start-up mode being activated the first time power is supplied to the electronic display tag and said run mode being activated after the tag is initialized with an address;

providing the controller circuit with product information data including a plurality of display tag addresses and associated display data, each address and the associated display data representing information for one electronic display tag;

applying a first address and the associated display data contained in the controller circuit to the conductor for transmission to the electronic display tags;

receiving the first address and associated display data at all the display tags which are in the start-up mode, and displaying the display data at all such tags for visual inspection;

manually triggering the electronic display tag which is to display the data associated with the first address, and then activating the run mode of the triggered electronic display tag;

applying the next address and the associated display data contained in the control circuit to the conductor for transmission to the electronic display tags;

receiving the next address and associated display data at all the display tags which are still in the start-up mode, and displaying the display data at all such tags for visual inspection;

manually triggering the electronic display tag which is to display the data associated with the next address and then activating the run mode of the triggered electronic display tag; and

repeating the applying and triggering steps until all desired electronic display tags have been programmed with addresses and display data.

2. A method of operating an electronic display tag that is electromagnetically coupled to a conducting loop carrying information signals generated by a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) determining whether an information pack from the controller is present on the conducting loop;

(2) if an information pack is present,

(a) comparing address information embedded in the information pack with the address of the tag;

(i) if the address information embedded in the information pack is the same as the address of the tag, identifying and executing the action associated with the information pack;

(ii) if the address information embedded in the information pack is not the same as the address of the tag, determining whether the information pack represents a broadcast to all tags;

(ii-1) if the information pack represents a broadcast to all tags, identifying and executing the action associated with the information pack;

(3) if an information pack is not present,

(a) determining whether a manual button sequence has been entered;

(i) if a manual button sequence has been entered, determining if the sequence is valid; and

(i-1) if the sequence is valid, executing the command represented by the manual button sequence.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the manual button sequences comprise binary numbers entered by depressing a manually-actuatable switch associated with each of said tags.