Electronic floor display with alerting

• US 7,358,861 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collin Peel
• Original Assignee: Intellimats
• Inventors: Loeb, Jack Jr., Blum, Ronald D., Kokonaski, William
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/199,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/407.1, 340/555, 340/666, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/693.5, 340/541, 340/815.45, 340/573.1, 340/691.2, 340/691.4, 340/691.5, 340/331, 340/332
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/10 by pressure on floors, floor coverings, stair treads, counters, or tills
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic floor display system with an alerting feature to encourage persons standing near or on the floor display system to look down and observe its display.

Claims

1. A floor display system comprising:

an electronic display device capable of displaying electronically modifiable verbal information and electronically modifiable pictorial information, and having a protective cover capable of being walked over or stood upon; and

an alerting device to generate an alert in response to the detecting of a person.

2. The floor display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing for the electronic display device;

wherein the alerting device is configured to generate an alert in response to the detecting of a person standing on or proximate the housing.

3. The floor display system of claim 2, wherein the detecting is based on a pressure on the housing for a predetermined period of time.

4. The floor display system of claim 2, wherein the detecting is based on a change in light intensity on or proximate the housing for a predetermined period of time.

5. The floor display system of claim 2, further comprising at least one sensing device to register a physical effect associated with a person standing on or proximate the housing.

6. The floor display system of claim 5, wherein the sensing device senses pressure.

7. The floor display system of claim 5, wherein the sensing device senses light.

8. The floor display system of claim 2, further comprising a controller to determine whether a person is standing on or proximate the housing based on input from the sensing device.

9. The floor display system of claim 2, wherein the alerting device comprises an actuator to generate vibration.

10. The floor display system of claim 9, wherein the actuator includes a piezoelectric actuator.

11. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a vibration.

12. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a light.

13. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a sound.

14. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alert is periodic.

15. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alert is continuous.

16. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alert is variable in intensity.

17. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein a duration of the alert is variable.

18. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alerting device generates a visual stimulus.

19. The floor display system of claim 18, wherein the alerting device includes a light-emitting diode.

20. The floor display system of claim 18, wherein the alerting device generates a strobe signal.

21. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the alerting device generates an aural stimulus.

22. The floor display system of claim 1, wherein the electronic display device includes at least one of a liquid crystal display, electric paper, electronic ink, a light-emitting polymer, an organic light-emitting diode, a micro-encapsulated component, light-emitting diode, electroluminescent display, plasma display panel, field emission display, ferroelectric displays, optical fiber display, and a pixel.

23. A floor display system comprising:

an electronic display device capable of displaying electronically modifiable pictorial information, and having a protective cover capable of being walked over or stood upon; and

an alerting device to generate an alert in response to the detecting of a person.