Display system for store shelves
First Claim
1. An integrated electronic display system, comprising:
- a handheld remote programming device for generating light signals;
a display strip for receiving light signals from said handheld programming device and electronically displaying sales item data provided in updateable form by a computer, said display strip located along a store shelf having a plurality of designated display locations each adjacent a different product on the shelf and each having a display location address code in said computer, comprising;
display grid elements distributed uniformly across the display strip to form illuminated alphanumeric characters;
sensor means lying along the length of said display strip and across a boundary between laterally adjacent display locations for receiving light signals from a remote handheld programming device, said sensor means being selectively activateable by said handheld device at identifiable points along said sensing means indicative of said display location;
transmitter means connected to said sensor means for programming said computer designated display location address codes;
receiver means for processing display signals from said computer to display alphanumeric characters at designated display locations across a face of the display strip as programmed by said handheld device; and
means to process said light signals into display command signals, said display command signals causing existing product display information to be shifted in lateral directions along the display strip to achieve proper alignment of displayed information with its corresponding product on the shelf.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for electronically displaying item data information such as item prices and item descriptions that is available in updateable form from a central buffer, processing, multiplexing and serving unit. The system provides a multi-frequency tone signal containing item data applicable to items on a shelf associated with an electronic display strip and containing the address code of that particular strip. The electronic display strip responds to its particular address code and receives, decodes, displays the data relating to the items on the shelf, and ensures that the displayed data is in the proper order on the strip. The strip includes an electronic display for displaying the data, a non-volatile memory for retaining the data in the absence of applied power, and a multi-frequency tone signaling system to retransmit the received data to the server unit as a means of confirming that the proper information had been received and displayed, and a sensor element that receives display command signals. The sensor element of the display strip receives and processes signals from a handheld remote control unit and these signals are used to shift the displayed information in any direction along the expanse of the display strip. In this manner, displayed information can be moved accurately to the item on the shelf which corresponds to the displayed information.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An integrated electronic display system, comprising:
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a handheld remote programming device for generating light signals;
a display strip for receiving light signals from said handheld programming device and electronically displaying sales item data provided in updateable form by a computer, said display strip located along a store shelf having a plurality of designated display locations each adjacent a different product on the shelf and each having a display location address code in said computer, comprising;
display grid elements distributed uniformly across the display strip to form illuminated alphanumeric characters;
sensor means lying along the length of said display strip and across a boundary between laterally adjacent display locations for receiving light signals from a remote handheld programming device, said sensor means being selectively activateable by said handheld device at identifiable points along said sensing means indicative of said display location;
transmitter means connected to said sensor means for programming said computer designated display location address codes;
receiver means for processing display signals from said computer to display alphanumeric characters at designated display locations across a face of the display strip as programmed by said handheld device; and
means to process said light signals into display command signals, said display command signals causing existing product display information to be shifted in lateral directions along the display strip to achieve proper alignment of displayed information with its corresponding product on the shelf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a non-volatile semiconductor memory coupled to said timing and control logic for storing the item data provided by said computer when said local address code matches said transmitted address code and for retaining such item data even in the absence of external power;
a display driver and display processor coupled to said non-volatile memory for electronically displaying item data provided by said computer; and
a tone frequency generator coupled to said control and timing logic for generating and transmitting display strip multiplexed sensor information to said computer.
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10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a plurality of indicator means on said display strip for confirming reception of said light signals and for indicating the physical location of sensor activation points.
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11. An electronic interface device that receives product data information from a main computer, retains and processes the product data including product address codes and transmits said sales product data to display devices comprising:
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a plurality of sales product display strips located adjacent respective sales products, comprising;
display grid elements distributed uniformly across the display strip to form illuminated alphanumeric characters;
sensor means lying along the length of said display strip and across a boundary between laterally adjacent products for receiving light signals from a remote handheld programming device;
transmitter means connected to said sensor means for programming said computer designated product address codes; and
receiver means for processing display signals from said computer to display alphanumeric characters at designated locations across the face of the display strip as programmed by said handheld device;
means to process said light signals into display command signals, said display command signals causing existing product display information to be shifted in either direction laterally along the display strip to achieve proper alignment of displayed information with its corresponding product on the shelf;
a product information input port for receiving product data from a main computer;
a programming input port for receiving product information data including location, an address code of the display device associated with a specific product, a signal bus address of the product display device, and product signature data;
a main processor coupled both to said product information input port and a programming input port for processing said product signature data and said product information data;
a programmable memory coupled to said main processor for storing product signature data including universal bar codes, signal bus addresses, and product addresses;
a random access memory coupled to said main processor for temporary storage of processed information;
a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit coupled to said main processor for routing, distributing, and transferring product data information to and from the main processor; and
a plurality of signal bus processor units coupled to the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for processing, storage, transmission and reception of product data information to and from product display devices through signal buses, and to and from the main processor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification