Power and information distribution system for article display or storage areas and related method

• US 6,266,052 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northern Illinois University
• Original Assignee: Display Edge Technology, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kayser, Kenneth W., Frederick, W. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/309,082
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/2, 345/87, 345/211, 345/212, 340/825.47, 340/825.49, 404/55, 404/48, 404/52, 404/47, 405/41, 405/42, 348/730, 307/31, 307/38, 365/227, 365/229, 323/326, 323/370
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling

Abstract

A product information display system has electronic display tags for displaying pricing and product information for products in stores or warehouses. The electronic display tags are electromagnetically coupled to a conductor. A control circuit is used to generate an information signal which contains a tag address and related data. A modulator circuit modulates an a-c. power signal with the information signal and applies it to the conductor for transmission to the display tags. Each of the display tags is equipped with a coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor for picking up the signals carried by the conductor. A demodulator is used to demodulate the signal picked up by the coil to obtain the original information signal. Each of the display tags is provided with a manually operated switch for initializing the tags with initial addresses transmitted by the conductor. A microprocessor in the electronic tag then compares the address contained in subsequent information signals with the address stored in the tag'"'"'s memory. If the addresses match, the microprocessor further processes the information signal for visual display or verification functions.

Claims

1. A back-up power system for an information display system, the information display system comprising a control circuit for generating information and power signals, a plurality of electronic display tags, and a conductor for carrying information and power signals between the control circuit and the display tags, each display tag having a processor, a memory interfaced with the processor and containing a tag address and display data, and a visual display for displaying the display data contained in the memory, the back-up power system comprising:

an uninterruptible power supply connected to the control circuit for providing the control circuit with continuous power in the event of a power failure;

control means responsive to a power failure for supplying power to said display tags from said uninterruptible power supply for a first prescribed period of time following the power failure;

means responsive to expiration of said first prescribed period of time and continuation of the power failure for turning off the tag displays while continuing to supply power to the tags from said uninterruptible power supply to retain the address and display data stored in the display tags'"'"' memories for a second prescribed period of time; and

means responsive to expiration of said second prescribed period of time and continuation of the power failure for turning off power to the tag memory but retaining the tag address.

2. The backup power system of claim 1 wherein each tag includes multiple capacitors for retaining data bits representing the tag address.

3. A method of providing power to an information display system in the event of a power failure, the information display system comprising a control circuit for generating information and power signals, an uninterruptible power supply connected to the control circuit and providing continuous power to the control circuit, a plurality of electronic display tags, a first conductor for providing an information signal generated by the control circuit to the display tags, a first conductor for providing a power signal generated by the control circuit to the display tags, each display tag having a processor, a memory interfaced with the processor and containing an address and display data, a visual display for displaying the display data contained in the memory, and a plurality of capacitors connected to the processor for storage of the tag address, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to the display tag for normal operation of the tag after a power failure for a first prescribed period of time;

detecting a loss of power upon expiration of the first prescribed period of time and turning off the tag display while retaining the address and display data therein for a second prescribed period of time; and

detecting a continued loss of power upon expiration of the second prescribed period of time and turning off power to the balance of the tag but retaining the tag address in the plurality of capacitors.