Electronic label antenna

• US 7,819,313 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SES-imagotag SA
• Original Assignee: Store Electronic Systems Electronic Shelf Label
• Inventors: Legras, Pierre, Catteau, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai; Thien T
• Application Number:
  US10/517,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,689 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/380, 235/375, 235/385, 235/383, 235/378, 455/41, 455/343, 361/737, 345/204, 345/107, 340/572.7, 340/5.61, 257/789
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic label (1) for a display system, in particular for displaying prices in a store, the label comprising a housing (5) presenting at least one wall (2), and transmitter means including an antenna (100) suitable for transmitting a signal from the label to a receive antenna of the display system, the antenna (100) extending generally in a plane adjacent to at least one face of the wall (2) in such a manner as to form a stack with a wall.

Claims

1. An electronic label comprising a housing having at least one wall, an electronic display disposed along the wall, and an antenna layer configured to cooperate with the electronic display to transmit information, the antenna layer extending along the wall in such a manner as to constitute a stack with the wall, the antenna layer comprising at least a first antenna head and at least a second antenna head spaced from the first antenna head such that an area, through which the electronic display is viewable, is at least partially defined in the antenna layer between the first and second antenna heads,

wherein the first antenna head and the second antenna head are connected to each other via an electrical bridge in the antenna layer, the electrical bridge extending between the first and second antenna heads, and wherein the first antenna head, the second antenna head, and the electrical bridge are connected to an electronic circuit within the housing via a flat cable,

wherein the display comprises metal disposed between the first antenna head and the second antenna head such that the first antenna head, the second antenna head, and the display are capable of acting as a capacitor, and

wherein the wall includes the display and the antenna extends on the face of the wall around the display.

2. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer comprises a conductive patterned material disposed on a supporting sheet.

3. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer, wherein the antenna layer is disposed between the wall and the insulating layer.

4. The electronic label of claim 3, wherein the insulating layer comprises a decorative layer.

5. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the antenna layer comprises a wire antenna.

6. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first antenna head is linear, and wherein at least a portion of the second antenna head is linear and parallel to the linear portion of the first antenna head.

7. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the flat cable comprises at least one tab soldered to the electronic circuit.

8. The electronic label of claim 7, wherein the tab defines an opening in which solder is disposed.

9. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the wall defines an opening through which the flat cable is passed.

10. The electronic label of claim 1, further comprising a first impedance-matching tap connected to the first antenna head, and a second impedance-matching tap connected to the second antenna head.

11. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein each antenna head comprises a widened portion.

12. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein the first antenna head comprises two widened portions that are disposed perpendicular to each other such that a first L-shape is defined, and wherein the second antenna head comprises two widened portions that are disposed perpendicular to each other such that a second L-shape is defined.

13. The electronic label of claim 12, wherein the first L-shape is defined as a mirror image of the second L-shape, and wherein the first antenna head is disposed relative to the second antenna head such that the first L-shape and second L-shape are symmetrical.