JPH03249003A - Electronic shelf-label device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rationalize stock control and stocktaking operation by constituting an electronic-label by a fixed storage element for performing write and erase operations by means of a solar cell operated computer, and a light-emitting element, and constituting an operation unit by a light-emitting source, an operating unit and a light-receiving unit. CONSTITUTION:The number of parts (m) taken out, etc., is inputted and subtraction is commanded by various types of buttons and ten-key switches of the operating unit 30 of a handheld-unit 2. The input signal is light-emitted as a modulated wave from a light-emitting source 21, and inputted to the solar cell of an electronic label 3. By the signal, CPU of the electronic label 3 forms a rewrite signal to rewrite the content of the electronic label 3, and indicate it on a display unit. At the same time, the rewritten results are sent from the light-emiting element of the electronic label 30 to the light-receiving unit 22 of the handheld-unit 2 and indicated on liquid crystal display units 23, 24. By this constitution, stock control and stocktaking operation can be rationalized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label device.

[Prior art and its problems] For example, in a certain factory, a wide variety of parts necessary for the factory's products are stored on many shelves in a warehouse, and are managed by stocking them in corresponding parts. . The workers are
Each time, a certain number of parts of a certain type were taken out, and the number of parts in stock was counted at that time or separately, but this is extremely difficult when managing a large number of parts. It was efficient, and there were times when the inventory was counted incorrectly.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to streamline inventory management and inventory work by digitizing shelf labels on a large number of shelves that stock parts.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide at least a solar cell, a computer powered by the solar cell, a fixed memory element in which information can be written and erased by the computer, and a fixed memory element in which information can be written and erased by the computer. an electronic shelf label that has a light emitting element driven by the computer as a light modulation signal and is attached to a shelf for a corresponding inventory item, and at least rewrites the memory content of the fixed memory element in the electronic shelf label; It has a light emitting source that generates light containing information as a light modulated wave, an operation section for inputting at least the rewriting information, and a light receiving section for receiving the light modulation signal of the light emitting element in the electronic shelf label. This is achieved by an electronic shelf label device consisting of an operating unit.

[For production]

Electronic shelf labels that can be attached to shelves for corresponding inventory items are
Since it uses solar cells as its power source, the entire device can be made compact and turned into a card, which can be easily attached to the inventory shelf. In addition, a separate operation unit allows a worker to easily rewrite the memory contents of the fixed memory element in the electronic shelf label using the operation section.
For example, if you take out the required number, you can easily change the remaining amount using the operation unit.

Furthermore, since the electronic shelf label has a light emitting element that is driven by a computer as a light modulation signal based on the memory contents of the fixed memory element, the operation unit receives the light from the fixed memory element with its light receiving section. Since the stored contents can be received and displayed on the display section, the worker can immediately know how many items of a certain type remain in stock. In this case, if a numeric keypad switch is included in the operation section, addition and subtraction of inventory items can be easily performed by this operation.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electronic shelf label device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a shelf (1) on which the electronic shelf label (3) of this embodiment is attached to a department corresponding to each inventory item, and a shelf (1) for reading the contents of the electronic shelf label (3) attached to the shelf (1). and a hand belt unit (2) for rewriting the contents.

As is well known, the shelf (1) has a plurality of shelves with designated locations for stocking each component. For example, in FIG. 1, an electronic shelf label (
3) is installed. FIG. 1 shows an operation for reading or rewriting this content using the handbell unit (2).

Figures 2 and 3 show details of this electronic shelf label (3), which is card-shaped as a whole and has a thin plate structure as shown in Figure 3. has a built-in electronic circuit (10) shown in FIG. In the front part of the casing (4), a solar cell (
6) is attached, and a first liquid crystal display section (7) and a second liquid crystal display section (δ) are formed below this. Further, on the side of the first liquid crystal display section (7), there is an LED ILight Emitting Diode as a light emitting element.
de) (9) is attached. Also, holes (5) are formed on both sides of the casing (4) for attaching the casing to a shelf.

Next, to explain the electronic circuit (1O) with reference to FIG. 4, one terminal of the solar cell (6) is connected to a constant voltage device (11
), and this output terminal is connected to a CPU (computer) (121).A bypass filter (14) is also connected between the above-mentioned one terminal of the solar cell (6) and the computer (12). There is a computer (
12) further includes EE-PROM (Electrica
llyErasable Programmable
A read only memory (read only memory) is connected, and this is a fixed memory element in which information can be electrically written or erased at any time, as is well known. The stored contents are also configured to be supplied to a computer (12). Furthermore, a drive signal for driving the first and second liquid crystal display sections (7) (81) is supplied from the computer (12).This causes the above-mentioned stored contents to be displayed. EE mentioned above
-The memory contents of the FROM (13) are read, optically modulated, and supplied to the electrodes of the light emitting element (9). Therefore, although the light emitting element (9) emits light, this light contains a modulated wave that represents the stored contents of the EE-PROM [13] as a light pulse.

Next, the hand belt unit fHan shown in FIG.
To explain (2),
Although it has a shape that can be held with one hand and is heavy, it can be operated with one hand by holding the grip (26). A light emitting source (21) is provided in a part of this casing, and in addition to this, a light receiving part (22) is provided to receive light from the light emitting element (9) in the electronic shelf label (3).
is provided. Furthermore, there is a numeric keypad switch (
25) and an operation section (30) consisting of various operation buttons, and above this there is a liquid crystal display section +231 (24
) is provided. These liquid crystal display parts +231 F2
41 is configured to display the contents of the optical signal received by the light receiving section (22) or the contents set by the operation section (30). If it lights up again! (21) functions to optically modulate the rewriting signals inputted by the numeric keypad switch (25) and various operation buttons and supply them as light. During operation, the light from this is configured to be projected toward the solar cells (6) of the electronic shelf labels (3) corresponding to the parts to be managed in inventory.

The electronic shelf label device according to the embodiment of the present invention has the above structure, and its operation will be explained next.

An operator approaches the department on the shelf (1) in which inventory is to be checked, carrying the handbell unit (2) shown in FIG.

For example, if a robot takes out 10 pieces of part m, input 10 pieces by operating various buttons on the operation unit (30) and the numeric keypad switch (25), and issue a command to subtract this number to modulate this content. Light is emitted from the light source (21) as a wave, and this emits light from the light source (21) of the operator.
1) is directed toward the electronic shelf label (3), it is input to the solar cell (6). For example, if this signal is an optical signal as shown in FIG. 5, the bypass filter (14) in FIG.
Only the optical modulation part is taken out and supplied to the CPU (121). Here, a rewriting signal is formed and the EE-PROM
f13), thereby rewriting its contents. This rewritten memory content is supplied to the CPU (12), and this content, that is, the code or part name of this part m, is displayed on the first display part (7) of the electronic shelf label (3), and this content is displayed on the first display part (7) of the electronic shelf label (3). The inventory quantity is displayed on the second display section (8). On the other hand, the CPU (12) optically modulates the light emitted from the light emitting element (9) connected to the handbell unit (
2) side, this is received by the light receiving part (22) of the handheld unit (2), and similarly to the circuit shown in Figure 4 of the electronic shelf label (3), the optically modulated pulse signal is read and its contents are read. , that is, the part name and inventory quantity are displayed on the liquid crystal display (23).
(Displayed at 241. Therefore, the operator can immediately know the part name and inventory amount of this part. Also, the operator can confirm these.

Since the present embodiment operates as described above, even when managing the inventory of many types of parts, the operator can easily and quickly know the inventory amount of each type of parts, and can also record this information. can. In addition, when parts are taken out by a robot and the operator is at a considerable distance from the electronic shelf label, the operator can use the handbell unit (2) at hand without looking at the display (71 (81)) of the electronic shelf label (3). By looking at the display section (23) (241), it is possible to check the number of parts in stock and the number of parts, which is convenient for managing parts located in high or low places.

In addition, since inventory management is generally done in many dimly lit areas, the display section [23] of the handbell unit (2) at hand
Display part (7) in electronic shelf label (3) by fz4)
Instead of (8), the part name and inventory amount can be confirmed, making inventory management very easy.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is, of course, not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiments, a diode is used as a light emitting element, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an element that generates a laser beam may be used. Also, depending on the management method, the display part (7) (δ) of the electronic shelf label (3) or the display part fz31 f2 of the hand belt unit (2)
41 can also be omitted.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the electronic shelf label device of the present invention,
Even when the number of types of parts to be managed is large and wide, and many shelves are used, inventory management can be quickly and easily performed by an operator.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic shelf label device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of an electronic shelf label in the same device, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an electronic shelf label in the same device. A block diagram of the electronic circuit and FIG. 5 are time charts of light emitted from the hand belt unit in FIG. 1 and including a light modulation signal. In the figure, (2)... Hand belt unit 3
) ・・・・・・・・・・・・ 6) ・・・・・・－・・・ 9) ・・・・・・・・・・・・ 131 ・・・－・・・・・・ 21) ・・・・・・・・・ 22) ・・・・・・−・ Child Shelf Billboard Battery Optical Element PROM Light Source Light Sectional Nail 4 Figure 13... EE-PROM Figure 5 So

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) At least a solar cell, a computer using the solar cell as a power source, a fixed memory element in which information can be written and erased by the computer, and the stored content of the fixed memory element is driven by the computer as a light modulation signal. an electronic shelf label that is attached to a shelf for a corresponding inventory item and that has a light-emitting element that is attached to a shelf for a corresponding inventory item, and that generates light that includes information as an optical modulation wave that rewrites at least the memory content of the fixed storage element in the electronic shelf label. An electronic shelf label device comprising an operation unit having a light emitting source, an operation unit for inputting at least the rewriting information, and a light receiving unit for receiving a light modulation signal of the light emitting element in the electronic shelf label. (2) The electronic shelf label device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes a display section that displays at least the storage contents of the fixed memory element in the electronic shelf label. (3) The electronic shelf label device according to claim (2), wherein the display section is made of liquid crystal. (4) Claim (1) wherein the electronic shelf label includes a display section that displays at least a part of the storage contents of the fixed storage element.
).The electronic shelf label device described in ). (5) The electronic shelf label device according to claim (4), wherein the display section is made of liquid crystal.