Electronic shelf label systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic shelf label comprising:
- an LCD display;
a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over said LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto;
an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said LCD display and substantially filling a space between said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention discloses an electronic shelf label including an LCD display, a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over the LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto, and an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over the LCD display and substantially filling a space between the LCD display and the protective at least partially transparent cover layer.
96 Citations
65 Claims
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1. An electronic shelf label comprising:
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an LCD display;
a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over said LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto;
an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said LCD display and substantially filling a space between said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic shelf label system comprising:
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a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including an IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one receiver including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
an LCD display;
a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over said LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto; and
an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said LCD display and substantially filling a space between said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.
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11. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 10 and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer has an index of refraction which is selected so as to minimize reflection at interfaces between said at least partially transparent intermediate layer and both of said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.
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12. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 11 and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said LCD display and to said protective at least partially transparent cover layer so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.
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13. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 10 and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said LCD display and to said protective at least partially transparent cover layer so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.
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14. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 10 and wherein each electronic shelf label also comprises at least one fuel cell powering said LCD display.
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15. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 14 and wherein each of said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels also includes a data communicator providing display data to said LCD display from an external data source and wherein said fuel cell powering said LCD display includes a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said data communicator.
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16. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 9 and wherein each electronic shelf label also comprises:
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an LCD display; and
at least one fuel cell powering said LCD display.
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17. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 16 and wherein each of said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels also includes a data communicator providing display data to said LCD display from an external data source and wherein said fuel cell powering said LCD display includes a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said data communicator.
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18. An electronic shelf label comprising:
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a housing;
an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;
at least one electrically powered illuminator;
at least one fuel cell powering said electrically driven display and said at least one electrically powered illuminator;
a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source, and at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electronic shelf label comprising:
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a housing;
an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;
a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source;
at least one fuel cell powering said electrically driven display, said at least one fuel cell including a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said data communicator; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
and wherein said at least one electrically powered illuminator and said electrically driven display have an average lifetime without requiring repowering of at least six months. -
30. An electronic shelf label according to claim 28 and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average mean power output of less than approximately 50 microwatts.
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31. An electronic shelf label according to claim 28 and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average peak power output of less than approximately 3 milliwatt.
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32. An electronic shelf label according to claim 28 and wherein said fuel tank is fluid refuelable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.
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33. An electronic shelf label according to claim 28 and wherein at least a fuel storage element of said at least one fuel cell is replaceable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.
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34. An electronic shelf label comprising:
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a housing;
an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;
at least one electrically powered illuminator;
at least one replaceable energy source powering said electrically driven display and said at least one electrically powered illuminator;
a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source, said at least one replaceable energy source being replaceable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. An electronic shelf label comprising:
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a flexible electrically driven display;
at least one flexible power supply powering said electrically driven display;
a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor.
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39. An electronic shelf label system comprising:
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a multiplicity of flexible electronic shelf labels, each including an IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label; and
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of flexible electronic shelf labels, said at least one receiver including;
an IR sensor;
a non-TR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An electronic shelf label system comprising:
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a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including;
an IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label; and
an electronic display for displaying product information;
at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one receiver including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor; and
a product information entry device which is operative to directly write product information to said electronic display when in propinquity thereto.
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46. An electronic shelf label system comprising:
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a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including;
a first IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label;
a first IR receiver for receiving information relating to the electronic shelf label; and
an electronic display for displaying product information based on said information received by said first IR receiver;
at least one second receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one second receiver including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor; and
at least one second transmitter transmitting IR transmissions containing said information to said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one second transmitter being characterized in that it transmits information including both price and product description. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An electronic shelf label system comprising:
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a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including;
an IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label;
an RF receiver for receiving information relating to the electronic shelf label; and
an electronic display for displaying product information based on said information received by said RF receiver;
at least one IR receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one IR receiver including;
an IR sensor;
a non-IR visible light sensor; and
circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor; and
at least one RF transmitter transmitting RF transmissions containing said information to said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one RF transmitter being characterized in that it transmits information including both price and product description. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification