ITRM950178U1 - PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC PLATE FROM SHOWCASE TO DISPLAY PRODUCT INFORMATION. - Google Patents

Description

Description of the utility model entitled:

"Programmable electronic display plate for product information display"

DESCRIPTION

Brief outline of the essence of the model.

The invention serves to describe any product displayed in a shop window. Its main feature is the representation of written in motion and with various animation effects on an electronic liquid crystal display.

The content of the messages and the effects are set and modified with an infrared or radio wave programmer.This feature, combined with long-life battery power, allows you to place many tags in the display case without the need to connect them with cables.

State of the art

Currently available on the market information and advertising message displays of such dimensions that they cannot be used in the shop window in more than one example. Furthermore, these displays require a physical connection (cable) both for the power supply and for their programming, thus requiring a fixed installation.

Relation

The system is used to provide information on a product displayed in the window. Its main feature is the representation of moving writings with various animation effects on an electronic liquid crystal display.

The content of the messages and the effects are set and modified with an infrared or radio wave programmer, this feature, combined with long-lasting battery power, allows you to place many tags in the display case without the need to connect them with cables .

The system is intended to be a valid advertising tool aimed at capturing the attention of the passer-by on the products displayed in shop windows, exhibition stands, display counters, etc. The system wants to be placed in an intermediate market segment between simple information cards and voluminous electroluminescent or electromechanical displays not suitable for the small spaces available in shop windows.

To achieve these characteristics, the system provides for the use of small, aesthetically pleasing electronic tags, which can be easily placed in the most varied contexts. The small dimensions (between 8 and 30 cm.) In fact allow the use of numerous specimens in the same showcase, guaranteeing a result of sure effect.

The parts that make up the system are:

1) the infrared remote control

2) the radio transmitter for Personal Computer

3) the electronic tags

The infrared remote control:

This device is used to compose and insert messages on electronic tags and to select the animation effects of the writings. When it is necessary to modify or insert new messages, the remote control is directed by the user towards the plate to be modified and then, by acting on the appropriate keys, the data is entered / modified. It is powered by batteries or by solar energy. There are numerous keys (alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks, commands). It looks like a normal television type remote control for home use. It has a flow rate of about 20 ml

The remote control has been designed to allow the modification of messages even on the plates already placed in the window without having to remove them (very useful function especially for the rapid correction of prices, periods of validity of special offers, etc.)

The radio transmitter for Personal Computer

This device has been designed to be connected to a Personal Computer and combined with the automatic management program for electronic tags (GATE). It is an alternative to the infrared remote control and is normally used in contexts where a simultaneous and dynamic management of hundreds or thousands of tags is required (typically supermarkets).

The messages and animation effects are prepared on the computer for each specific plate identified for this purpose by a unique code.

The messages are then transmitted via radio waves: each plate has a radio receiver that will "capture" only the data directed to it, that is, preceded by the identification code that corresponds to that stored in the specific plate, thus ignoring the messages intended for other nameplates.

This device allows you to update all or specific tags without having to physically remove them or position yourself nearby (as in the case of the infrared remote control). Furthermore, updates can take place automatically based on external parameters (time, date, modification of list prices, expiry or start of special offers, etc.) or manually controlled by an operator.

The electronic tags:

They are obviously the most important part of the system. There are different models depending on the size (from 8 to 30 cm), the number of lines (from 1 to 16), the number of characters per line (from 8 to 40). The box is in ABS or in natural or lacquered wood.

The parts that make up the plate are:

- microcomputer with non-volatile memory

- liquid crystal display

- infrared receiver and / or

- radio wave receiver

- ambient light detector

- group of batteries for power supply.

The microcomputer performs the following functions:

a) Transmits the information contained in the non-volatile memory to the alphanumeric display according to times and methods described by the memory itself

b) Checks the switching on and off of the circuits by checking the ambient brightness through the appropriate detector, to extend the life of the batteries.

c) Periodically checks on the infrared receiver or the radio wave receiver, if there are requests for updating the non-volatile memory.

d) In the case of the infrared receiver, before entering the editing phase of the messages present in the non-volatile memory, the microcomputer requires the operator to validate an access code. Being different for each plate, the access code will allow the operator to access only the desired plate.

e) In the case of the radio wave receiver, after verifying the absence of errors in the message received, and the correspondence to its own identification code, the microcomputer performs at least the non-volatile memory in the required section.

f) interactive alphanumeric editor for writing messages in memory and assigning animation effects. The editor functions are controlled by the operator via the remote control for infrared programming.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1) The electronic nameplate is small in size and allows multiple use in the display case. 2) The electronic nameplate does not require cable connections for its operation. 3) The electronic nameplate does not require cable connections for its programming (messages and animation effects) and can therefore be reprogrammed remotely without being removed from the display case. 4) The electronic nameplate in the absence of ambient light (showcase not illuminated) switches off automatically to extend the life of the batteries. 5) In the infrared programming phase, the electronic plate first requires a unique access code that allows the programmer to select it from the other plates in the window. 6) The electronic nameplate is equipped with an infrared or radio wave receiver. 7) Each electronic tag individually can change the content of its messages at any time via a remote control of a computer. 8) Infrared alphanumeric programmer remote control for electronic tags. 9) Radio wave transmitter and management software for programming electronic tags via computer.