Electronic shelf label
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication device comprising:
- a modulated backscatter receiver for receiving a first modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal from a host system;
a transmitter for transmitting a second modulated RF carrier signal to the host system;
a microcontroller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; and
a battery from providing a primary first power sufficient to power the receiver, the transmitter, and the microcontroller in a first environment;
wherein the microcontroller selectively couples the first modulated RF carrier signal to the transmitter for providing an optional second power additive to the first power for amplifying the second modulated RF carrier signal when the communication device is located in a second environment in which the second modulated RF carrier signal is degraded and is too weak to be received by the host system when the transmitter is powered only by the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic shelf label with a modulated backscatter communication system which can actively transmit signals. The electronic shelf label includes a modulated backscatter receiver for receiving a first modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal, and a transmitter powered by the first modulated RF carrier signal for transmitting a second modulated RF carrier signal.
16 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A communication device comprising:
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a modulated backscatter receiver for receiving a first modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal from a host system; a transmitter for transmitting a second modulated RF carrier signal to the host system; a microcontroller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; and a battery from providing a primary first power sufficient to power the receiver, the transmitter, and the microcontroller in a first environment; wherein the microcontroller selectively couples the first modulated RF carrier signal to the transmitter for providing an optional second power additive to the first power for amplifying the second modulated RF carrier signal when the communication device is located in a second environment in which the second modulated RF carrier signal is degraded and is too weak to be received by the host system when the transmitter is powered only by the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communication device comprising:
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an antenna; a modulated backscatter receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving a first modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal from a communicating system including a detector for extracting an information signal from the first modulated RF carrier signal to produce a detected downlink signal and signal processing circuitry for amplifying and demodulating the detected downlink signal to produce a downlink information signal; a transmitter coupled to the antenna for transmitting a second modulated RF carrier signal to the communicating system including a digital modulator for modulating a carrier signal with an uplink information signal to produce the second modulated RF carrier signal and an amplifier coupled to the digital modulator; a switch coupled between the antenna and the amplifier; a microcontroller for identifying data bits in the downlink information signal and for producing the uplink information signal; and a battery for providing a primary first power sufficient to power the receiver, the transmitter, and the microcontroller in a first environment; wherein the microcontroller further operates the switch to selectively couple the antenna to the amplifier during reception of the first modulated RF carrier signal for optionally providing a second power additive to the first power for amplifying the second modulated RF carrier signal when the communication device is located in a second environment in which the second modulated RF carrier signal is degraded and is too weak to be received by the communicating system when the transmitter is powered only by the battery. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A communication method comprising:
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(a) receiving a first modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal from a host system by a modulated backscatter receiver powered by a primary first power source including a battery; (b) transmitting a second modulated RF carrier signal to the host system by a transmitter powered by the first power source, wherein the first power source is sufficient to power the receiver and the transmitter in a first environment; (c) selectively coupling the first modulated RF carrier signal to the transmitter for providing an optional second power source additive to the first power source for amplifying the second modulated RF carrier signal by a microcontroller, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter and powered by the first power source, when the transmitter is operating in a second environment in which the second modulated RF carrier signal is degraded and is too weak to be received by the host system when the transmitter is powered only by the first power source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A communication device comprising:
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an electronic shelf label including a display for displaying price information; a modulated backscatter receiver for receiving a first modulated radio frequency (RF) carrier signal from a host system; a transmitter for transmitting a second modulated RF carrier signal to the host system; a microcontroller coupled to the display, the receiver and the transmitter; and a battery for providing a primary first power to the display, the receiver, the transmitter, and the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller couples the first modulated RF carrier signal to the transmitter for providing an optional second power additive to the first power for amplifying the second modulated RF carrier signal; wherein the electronic shelf label is located in an environment in which the second modulated RF carrier signal is degraded and unreceivable by the host system when the transmitter is powered only by the battery.
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Specification