WO1992006454A1 - Procede et dispositif d'affichage de prix - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif d'affichage de prix Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992006454A1
WO1992006454A1 PCT/US1991/007358 US9107358W WO9206454A1 WO 1992006454 A1 WO1992006454 A1 WO 1992006454A1 US 9107358 W US9107358 W US 9107358W WO 9206454 A1 WO9206454 A1 WO 9206454A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
display
battery
display module
providing
controller
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/007358
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Larry A. Lincoln
Kent A. Fritz
Joseph S. Chan
Michael V. Nanevicz
Edward D. Olson
James W. Pfeiffer
Erno B. Lutz
Leland M. Farrer
Original Assignee
Diablo Research Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Diablo Research Corporation filed Critical Diablo Research Corporation
Publication of WO1992006454A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992006454A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L25/00—Baseband systems
    • H04L25/02—Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines
    • H04L25/06—Dc level restoring means; Bias distortion correction ; Decision circuits providing symbol by symbol detection
    • H04L25/061—Dc level restoring means; Bias distortion correction ; Decision circuits providing symbol by symbol detection providing hard decisions only; arrangements for tracking or suppressing unwanted low frequency components, e.g. removal of dc offset
    • H04L25/063—Setting decision thresholds using feedback techniques only
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
    • G06F3/147—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units using display panels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
    • G06K17/0022—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G1/00—Cash registers
    • G07G1/12—Cash registers electronically operated
    • G07G1/14—Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit
    • G07G1/145—PLU-management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L25/00—Baseband systems
    • H04L25/02—Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines
    • H04L25/06—Dc level restoring means; Bias distortion correction ; Decision circuits providing symbol by symbol detection
    • H04L25/061—Dc level restoring means; Bias distortion correction ; Decision circuits providing symbol by symbol detection providing hard decisions only; arrangements for tracking or suppressing unwanted low frequency components, e.g. removal of dc offset
    • H04L25/065—Binary decisions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2380/00—Specific applications
    • G09G2380/04—Electronic labels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W24/00—Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
    • H04W24/10—Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a system for display of prices associated with merchandise in a store, and in particular to improvements in an electronic system which allows the prices associated with any item in the store not only to be electronically displayed, but also to be changed from time to time.
  • the system architecture and the system interface with the store computer and regional host computer are improved to provide greater flexibility in store installations, and to make the system compatible with various types of existing store computer systems.
  • each receiver includes the capability to report the signal transmission strength of the other transmitters. Thus if one transmitter fails, it is possible to detect this failure and switch transmissions to another unit.
  • a "group node" providing communications and power to many display modules (such as all the display modules on one gondola) is substituted for several shelf nodes, thus economizing on the relatively costly radio communications circuitry in the shelf nodes.
  • bidirectional data lines are provided between the shelf nodes and the display modules. This improves and simplifies data communication.
  • a five wire to four wire converter to convert the five signal lines (including power) to a four signal line system for connection to the display modules.
  • Another improvement is hard wiring the shelves to provide external power, i.e. mains electrical current, to the system and thus avoid the use of batteries in the shelf nodes where desired. This eliminates the problem of replacing batteries in the shelf nodes and allows many modules to be powered by one shelf node.
  • An associated improvement in display module communications is a "bed check" which provides that periodically (such as every eight hours) each display module is checked by the store computer to ensure that the display modules are each capable of answering.
  • An improvement in the shelf nodes is circuitry to provide an indication of the condition of the shelf node batteries, i.e., being low or dead. This improvement includes a mode in which when the batteries are low, a report is provided; when the batteries are dead, the shelf node and connected display modules continue operating, but without the ability to transmit or receive by radio to maximize useful life of the shelf node battery set.
  • Another improvement associated with the shelf node batteries is a voltage doubler circuit so that when the battery voltage drops below a certain level, the voltage is doubled to ensure that sufficient voltage is provided to the shelf nodes.
  • An additional improvement with regard to the display modules is an adaptive threshold for the optical port in each display module, so that the optical port is not confused by varying levels of ambient light. This feature causes the display module to react only to significant changes in the level of received light in terms of receiving information by light input or by sensing a cutoff of ambient light.
  • Another improvement associated with the display modules is the capability to write an image to be displayed into the module via the optical port, by using for instance a hand-held portable computer driving an optical wand.
  • the modules may be programmed without use of the central store computer.
  • An additional improvement relating to the display modules is a heater in those modules located in a store freezer. This heater ensures that the display modules are kept warm enough to operate properly, and includes a feature so that these modules (which draw more current when heating than does a normal module) when connected to the system in places where adequate power is not avail ⁇ able, will not draw any heating current.
  • FIGS 1, 2 and 3 show various system configurations in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows multiple transmitter-receiver units in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 5 shows a ceiling receiver in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 6 shows bidirectional data transmission in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGS 7 and 8 show five to four wire conversion in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 9 shows the display module in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 10 shows an orphan process in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 11 shows a module joining a system in accord ⁇ ance with the invention.
  • Figure 12 shows a battery condition indicator in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 13 shows a voltage doubler in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 14 shows the optical port adaptive threshold in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGS 15 and 16 show a display module heater in accordance with the invention.
  • the regional host computer 10 contains price change information and much of the data necessary for running the system.
  • This regional host computer is connected via a conventional modem (not shown) over telephone lines 12 (i.e. "telco" lines) to a gateway computer 14 inside the particular store.
  • Gateway computer 14 may be a personal computer or mini-computer.
  • the gateway computer 14 accepts from the regional host computer information to be sent to either the POS (point of sale) ⁇ controller 16 in the store or to the module controller 18.
  • the regional host 10, POS controller 16 and associated POS terminals are conventional.
  • the module controller 18 is connected to the ceiling node 22 which may be in one embodiment of the invention one of six nodes, as described below.
  • the ceiling node 22 includes the ceiling digital circuitry 26 and the radio transmitter 28 and radio receiver 30 which contacts by radio the various group and shelf nodes (not shown) .
  • the ceiling digital circuitry 26 is connected directly by a five wire connection 32 to shelf wiring and to five wire to four wire converters (see below) .
  • the regional host computer 10 is again connected via modem and telephone lines 12 to an IBM 4680 POS controller 34 which is commercially available from the IBM Corporation. Normally two such IBM 4680 POS controllers 34, 36 are present in a store and are conventionally in communication with each other via an IBM token ring LAN 38 (local area network) .
  • the module controller 18 is also connected to the LAN 38. Thus the module controller 18 receives the information necessary to operate the display modules (not shown) from the LAN 38.
  • the regional host computer 10 is in communication via modem and telephone lines 12 with first gateway computer 14 in the store.
  • First gateway computer 14 is connected via a local area network 38 such as the IBM token ring network referred to above, with other computers in the store. As shown, these other computers may include an administration computer 44 for use by store management, a pharmacy computer 46 and the various point of sale terminals 48, as is conventional.
  • a second gateway computer 50 is also connected to the LAN 38. This second gateway computer 50 is responsible for accepting all information from the regional host 10 which has been placed on the LAN 38 by the first gateway computer 14 and which is relevant to operation of the electronic display system. In-store price changes are also made available to gateway computer 50 over LAN 38.
  • the second gateway computer 50 is connected via an RS232 link 54 to the module controller 18. Downstream of the module controller 18 the system is as described above.
  • FIG 4 shows the module controller 18 in any one of the systems of Figures 1-3 connected by wires 60a, ..., 60f to a plurality of ceiling digital circuit boards 26a, ... , 26f each of which is in turn connected to a radio transmitter-radio receiver set 28a, 30a as described in the copending application.
  • the plurality of ceiling nodes 22 ensures good radio communications throughout the store.
  • Each ceiling node 22 as described above includes the ceiling digital board 26a and a radio transmitter 28a and a radio receiver 30a.
  • Each ceiling digital board 26a also has the capability to connect via a multi (five) wire connection (as described below) to display modules (not shown) thus eliminating the need for radio communication with those particular five to four converters and display modules.
  • multiple (six) channels 60a, ..., 60f of communication are provided, with unique information usually being transmitted via each channel 60a and the associated ceiling node 22 to a particular part of the store.
  • only one ceiling node 22 transmits.
  • Any ceiling node 22 transmitter 28a may transmit to any group or shelf node.
  • the module controller 18 determines which ceiling node 22 transmits to which group or shelf node.
  • each ceiling radio receiver 30 reports the strength of the transmitters associated with the other ceiling nodes. If the signal strength of any one transmitter changes, this change is reported and the system thereupon switches the transmissions intended for that particular transmitter to another transmitter unit.
  • the receiver with the best signal strength upon reception from a particular shelf node or group node is preferred to communicate with that particular shelf node or group node.
  • each ceiling radio receiver has the capability to monitor the trans- mission of each one of the other transmitters, so as to indicate major changes in transmit power for any one transmitter.
  • each receiver 30 has an associated antenna 62 with the strength of received signals reported to an analog-to-digital converter 64 and hence to a microcontroller 66 in the ceiling node digital board 26 and then reported to the module controller 18.
  • the module controller 18 determines which alternate transmitter is to be used to replace the suspect transmitter.
  • Figure 6 shows bidirectional data transmission in accordance with the invention.
  • two separate data lines 70, 72 provide respec ⁇ tively data in and data out.
  • the data out and data in lines at the left side of the drawing are connected to the group node, or hard wired to a ceiling node.
  • Each data line 72, 70 is connected to one terminal of, respectively, a transistor 76, 78.
  • the data out line is connected by a resistor to the base of transistor 78 and the data in line is connected to the collector of transistor 76.
  • the emitter of transistor 78 is connected to the bidirectional data line and through a resistor to the base of transistor 76.
  • a bidirectional data line 82 is connected to the shelf rails and thence to the display modules (not shown) .
  • the bidirectional data line 82 is used for communication both to and from the display modules.
  • the bidirectional data line 82 When a display module transmits data to the group or ceiling node, the bidirectional data line 82 is high by switching on transistor 76 and sending a low level to the group or ceiling node. When the bidirectional data line 82 is allowed to be pulled low by resistor 80, transistor 76 is turned off, sending a high level to the group or ceiling node. Conversely, data directed from the shelf node to a display module turns on and off transistor 78 and thus transmits high and low levels on the bidirectional data line 82 to the display modules.
  • FIG. 7(a) shows the five to four wire conversion diagrammatically. As shown in Figure 7(b), this converter such as 90a, ..., 90d is located between' a group node 92 (or hard wiring to the ceiling node) and the display modules (not shown) .
  • the five wires refers to the five lines i.e. power which is V+, ground which is GND, clock which is the clock timing signal, data out and data in.
  • the 4 wires (which are the shelf rail conductors) are power, ground, clock and bidirectional data as described above in connection with Figure 6.
  • Groups of display modules are isolated from the associated group node 92. This solves a problem that occurs if a large number (such as 1,000) display modules are connected to one group node 92. Under these . circumstances the bidirectional data line might suffer from performance degradation.
  • a five to four wire converter 90a, ..., 90d provided at each group of display module buffers the shelf node power supply from the display modules, by transistor switching.
  • a relatively small number such as 100
  • This isolation has a further advantage that if for instance shelf rail power is shorted out due to vandalism, the electrical short will only affect a group of display modules rather than all the display modules connected to the particular group node.
  • Figure 7(c) shows a portion of the five to four wire converter using a transistor switch 96 to current limit the power i.e. to +V on the four wire side of the five to four converter.
  • Figure 7(d) shows how the clock line is current limited (buffered) via similar transistor switching as in Figure 7(c) .
  • Figure 8 shows schematically the five to four wire converter including transistors 76 and 78 and transistors 96 and 100.
  • Five wires are available at the connector J2 on the left side of the drawing and four wires are available on the connectors J3, J4 at the right side thus providing the five wire to four wire conversion.
  • Two four wire connectors J3, J4 are provided for convenience.
  • connector J2 provides the five wire connection and there is no connector Jl and the jumper is used. If the converter is used in a freezer with display modules including heaters (see below) then power for the heater and module is provided via connector Jl and the jumper is removed.
  • a group node is a shelf node which services a large number of display modules.
  • Figure 9 shows schematically a display module. The circuitry inside the broken line rectangle in one embodiment is included in an application specific integrated circuit.)
  • Such a group node is powered by mains current rather than by battery to deliver the large amounts of electric power required for such a large number of display modules.
  • This configuration eliminates large numbers of shelf nodes.
  • one such group node is located at each gondola in the store and services all of the display modules on that gondola. Also provided as an improvement in the system is an "orphan" process.
  • the orphan process is a modification to the program in the microprocessor in each display module and addresses the problem of a particular display module not being in communication with the module controller for a given period (such as 30 hours) . If that occurs, then a visual indication appears on the display, which will be observable by a store employee. The store employee will know that that particular display module has a problem with its communications or operation, and that particular display module may be reprogrammed manually and/or replaced.
  • a flowchart for the orphan process software is shown in Figure 10.
  • the program determines 110 if there is successful communication with the controller. If no, then a timer is decremented 112 until the timer is empty 114. When the timer is empty, then the orphan dot (which is a dot or other mark at a particular location in the display module) is illuminated 116 and the timer is reloaded 118 for an approximate period of time such as 30 hours in this example. Any variations in the time will not impact the orphan process usefulness. Then the display module attempts to carry out the "join system" process 120 (described below) to reprogram the module so as to be in communication with the controller module.
  • the "join system” process 120 described below
  • the timer is reloaded 122 with a particular time (such as 30 hours) and the orphan dot is cleared 124, i.e., no longer illuminated.
  • illumination of the orphan dot is simultaneous 116 with the "join system" process 120 which is a reprogra ming of the display module in which the display module transmits its UPC code and its image type to the ceiling node.
  • the orphan dot is a single segment on the display, (segment 81) which is set if the display module has not communicated with the module controller for the given period such as approximately 30 hours.
  • the orphan dot is in the same common-segment intersection on every display and as discussed above is set and cleared by the microcontroller in each display module.
  • a "join system” process shown in Figure 11. This process reprograms the display module.
  • a UPC Uniform Product Code
  • EAN European Article Numbering
  • the UPC or EAN and the image-type number of the particular display module accepted is transmitted to the module controller through the hard wired or wire and radio frequency link.
  • the orphan process ( Figure 10) in step 120 enters "Join System” at step 132.
  • the display module remembers its UPC or EAN, looks up its image-type number and also sends 132.
  • step 134 bits are received from the module controller which are appropriate for the UPC or EAN and the image number associated with a particular display. The bits are then passed directly to the display module micro ⁇ processor's display driver and the display is then driven 136 accordingly.
  • the system may include standard width display modules and narrower display modules for use for instance in displaying prices associated with packaged spices. The narrower display needs different conversion of price, etc., to image data than does a standard size display.
  • the conversion routine from data such as price, etc., to a bit stream for the different display modules associated with the different size displays and variations of same size displays is located in the module controller rather than at the display module.
  • the module controller must be informed as to what type of image is required to be transmitted to each display module.
  • the image type is three bits of information read from the printed circuit board (see Figure 9) in the display module which indicate the format for the LCD display of that particular display module.
  • a standard module and a narrow module have different display layouts and thus different maps between segments of digits and particular common- segment intersections.
  • FIG. 9 is high, the three bond wires (dashed lines) attached to terminals Ml, M2, M3, and GND or P03 are read through terminals Ml, M2, M3 to form an image-type number.
  • a small module might be 101, a large module might be 010 or any of the 8 possible values.
  • the module announces its image-type number, then the module controller recognizes the number and creates the correct data stream to be used by that display module to drive its LCD.
  • the module controller periodically (such as every eight hours) the module controller goes through the entire list of all of the display modules connected to the system (the "bed check") and ensures that each display module is able to answer.
  • each display module is addressed and responds by indicating its presence on the system, i.e., it has not been removed or damaged.
  • the entire set of information to be displayed can be rewritten from the module controller to each display module, thus refreshing the entire set of display images.
  • circuitry to indicate the condition of batteries in the shelf node. Upon detection of a low battery state
  • this condition is reported to the module controller.
  • Detection of a dead battery state results in a cessation of radio frequency communications involving that shelf node and instead only use of the batteries for supporting the relatively low current drain display modules.
  • a logic signal is provided from the low battery indicator circuitry to the shelf node microprocessor.
  • the logic signal sets a bit in the communications protocol in the microprocessor, which information is transmitted back to the module controller.
  • any subsequent communication from that shelf node to the module controller informs the module controller of the low battery condition.
  • the module controller then produces a low battery message on the display of the module controller (and/or a printed report) which directs a store employee to replace the batteries at the particular shelf node.
  • the low battery indicator relies on the fact that the major drain on the' batteries is radio frequency communications, and so cessation of such radio frequency communications ensures an extended battery set useful life even though the battery is largely exhausted.
  • Figure 12 shows one embodiment of the battery condition indication circuitry.
  • the shelf node batteries 140 are connected to a voltage doubler 142 (described below) and to a voltage regulator 144 which in turn provides the output voltage VCC for powering the shelf node. Included in the shelf node circuitry are three comparators.
  • the first comparator 148 is provided with a 3.2 volt reference.
  • the second comparator 150 is provided with a 3.9 volt reference.
  • the third comparator 152 is provided with a selectable 5.2 or 7.0 volt reference. When the output voltage of the battery 140 drops below 3.9 volts, the low battery indication is given by the second comparator 150 to the control logic 151 in the shelf node. If the voltage output drops below 3.2 volts, the dead battery indication is provided to the control logic by first comparator 148.
  • the third comparator 152 is for use with the voltage doubler 142 as described below.
  • This third comparator 152 provides an indication of whether the voltage output of the battery is below 7 volts during the radio transmit cycle and below 5.2 volts during the radio receive cycle.
  • the select line "SEL" selects between the transmit or receive states.
  • a logic output 160 from the control logic 156 controls the regulator 144 to select between a 3.0 volt output or a 4.8 volt output. The lower voltage output is provided during the standby mode with the 4.8 voltage output provided during the active mode.
  • the active mode which takes place during trans ⁇ mission and receiving periods of the radio frequency circuitry, and during the decision making process as to what to transmit or receive, if the battery is indicated as being dead, then any activity is aborted. If the battery 140 is low, then this condition is stated in any transmission from the shelf node to the module controller so as to report the low battery.
  • the voltage doubler 142 is turned on. Once the regulator 144 input, i.e., the output of doubler 142, is greater than 5.2 volts, the regulator 144 is switched from the 3 volt output to the 4.8 volt output. Then the control logic 156 may safely increase the clock speed and turn on the radio frequency transmit and receive circuits. This ensures that the output voltage VCC is sufficient to operate the microprocessor in the shelf node at the desired speed.
  • the voltage doubler of Figure 12 is shown in detail in Figure 13.
  • the shelf node batteries 144 are connected to transistors 170, 172, 174, and 176.
  • Pins 1, 2, 3 and 4 are connected respectively to the bases of transistors 170, 172, 174, and 176 and are driven by output signals from the shelf node digital integrated circuitry in response to the program resident in the microprocessor.
  • Transistors 174 and 176 are not on at the same time, to prevent excessive power drain from the battery.
  • Transistor 176 is an NPN transistor and transistor 174 is a PNP transistor.
  • Conventional current source 179 provides sufficient current to keep the 3.0 volt circuits operational. When transistors 170 and 176 are on, this is the charge phase. When all transistors are off, this is a gap phase.
  • transistors 172 and 174 When transistors 172 and 174 are on, this is the pump phase. When all transistors are off, this is also a gap phase. The charge phase charges the capacitor 180 which is intermediate between the collectors of transistor 170 and 176. In the pump phase, the voltage at the collector of transistor 174 is increased to the top battery 140 voltage thereby pumping the voltage on the output capacitor 182 which is connected to the collector of transistor 172 to substantially above the battery 140 voltage.
  • the on and off cycles are 40% on, and 10% off (as determined by the control logic 156) .
  • the duty cycle on the voltage doubler 142 thus increases as the battery 140 output declines with age.
  • the doubler 142 is turned on thereby producing a voltage of at least 5.2 volts and allowing the regulator 144 to output 4.8 volts.
  • the regulator 144 itself incurs an overhead of .3 volts.
  • the voltage doubler circuit 142 as shown in Figure 13 advantageously substitutes transistors 170 and 172 in positions where in such circuitry diodes are normally used.
  • the transistors advantageously substantially eliminate the voltage drop characteristic of diodes used in such circuitry and hence conserve power.
  • the 5.2 volts is raised to 7.0 volts to allow for more input capacitor 182 voltage sag before the output sags during the high current draw portion of the transmission.
  • Figure 14 shows schematically the adaptive threshold circuitry for the optical port in the display modules.
  • the optical circuitry is substantially the same as in the copending application, with a modification to allow sensing of an adaptive threshold.
  • the object is to com ⁇ pensate for changes in ambient light levels and to allow sensing of higher or lower ambient light levels so as to make the optical port resistant to malfunctioning due to unusually high or low ambient light levels.
  • the adaptive threshold cyclically compares the input light level to the photo sensor to an ambient level and then adjusting the ambient light level one step at each cycle.
  • the input light level sensed by the photo sensor 180 and amplified by log amplifier 182 is compared to a brightness threshold by comparator 186.
  • the brightness threshold is the ambient light level plus n steps of additional light intensity.
  • the input light level is also compared to a dark threshold which is the ambient light level less m steps of light intensity.
  • the dark light level is generally when a finger is placed over the optical port (as described in the copending application for display module image switching) .
  • the bright threshold level is typically that provided to the optical port when an optical wand is inserted therein for programming purposes.
  • the programming light level provided from the optical wand is eight steps above the ambient light level.
  • the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) 188 provides a reference level to comparator 186, which level is set by software in the microcontroller 190 in response to the detected light level from comparator 186.
  • the circuitry of Figure 14 is shown in more detail in Figure 9 which shows schematically the display module.
  • the photo sensor 180 is phototransistor Ql.
  • Also provided in accordance with the invention is a method for transmitting information (in addition to the UPC code) to the display module via the optical port. The capability is provided to send display information (images) in through the optical port.
  • images may also be sent directly into the display module via the optical port.
  • the display also provides via the interface module its image-type number (described above) so that the programmer (typically a portable computer including an optical wand) , can distinguish between several types of LCD's (typically present in different sizes of displays) because this affects the configuration of the downloaded image data.
  • the writing of images to a display module begins with an assignment of the UPC code, followed by a write of 5 checksums and an image of validity nibble, a write of each of the four images to the display module, and acknowledge of successful checksums, and a retry if required.
  • the four images fit in five pages in memory in the display module microcontroller.
  • a heater is provided in those display modules located in store freezers.
  • An unheated display module may not function properly at the low temperatures present in the freezer and even if it does function, condensation on the LCD will prevent observation thereof. While low temperature LCD's are available, they are expensive and would require use of a special LCD in those display modules intended for use in freezers.
  • the freezer module is an otherwise conventional display module which includes a heat sink (in one embodiment a thin sheet of copper) inside the display module housing and extending over the rear surface of the LCD display.
  • the heat sink in this embodiment is approximately .010 to 0.15 inch thick and approximately the same dimensions as the LCD in the display module.
  • the heat sink 200 is in thermal contact with the LCD 202. Provision of power (i.e. +V and -V) to the heat sink 200 is by a series-connected zener diode 204 and a resistor 206. Zener diode 204 has an on-resistance equal to the resistance of resistor 206.
  • the resistor 206 is thermally attached to the heat sink 200 by one lead and inserted in a small hole provided in the heat sink 200.
  • the zener diode 204 (not shown) is similarly thermally attached to the heat sink 200. Thus heating of the resistor 206 and zener diode 204 heats the heat sink 200.
  • the zener diode 204 prevents excessive power drain by a heater-equipped display module if such a module is accidentally used in a store area other than a freezer.
  • the heater-equipped modules draw substantially more electric power than do conventional modules and cannot usefully be powered by the batteries in an ordinary shelf node.
  • the heater-equipped modules are connected to mains current to provide power thereto.
  • the zener diode 204 ensures that no current flows in the heater circuit until the voltage provided is significantly higher than any voltage likely to be provided by batteries in an ordinary shelf node. Thus no current will be drawn by the heater unless it is connected to a higher voltage mains current source.
  • the heater-equipped display module functions as an ordinary module when used connected to an ordinary shelf node; only the heater element will not operate in this situation.
  • the heater will draw approxi ⁇ mately 1/2 watt. If the voltage supplied is below 6.5 volts, the heater will draw no current due to the voltage drop across the zener diode 204. Since the voltage sup- plied by the batteries is approximately 6 volts at most, a heater-equipped module will draw no heating current when connected to an ordinary battery-powered shelf node.

Abstract

L'invention concerne des améliorations apportées à un système d'affichage de prix utilisé dans un établissement de commerce de détail et qui comprend la transmission de données relatives à des prix, selon un code de produits uniforme (UPC), d'un ordinateur central (18) à un grand nombre de modules d'affichage, par l'intermédiaire de n÷uds (90, 92). Les caractéristiques du système comprennent diverses architectures permettant le raccordement à un système classique (16) d'un magasin constituant un point de vente, de multiples émetteurs (28) et récepteurs (30) radio servant à la transmission de données aux modules d'affichage, l'isolement de groupes de modules d'affichage par rapport à leur source de courant pour créer un système plus robuste, le câblage (32) reliant les modules d'affichage et l'ordinateur du magasin (18) et alimentant les modules d'affichage en courant du secteur, des procédés garantissant le fonctionnement correct des modules d'affichage individuels, des améliorations dans la sortie optique (180) du module d'affichage qui, grâce à ces améliorations, peut se modifier en fonction des variations du niveau de la lumière ambiante, un procédé amélioré pour programmer les modules d'affichage directement par l'intermédiaire d'un crayon optique, et un module d'affichage qui comprend un élément de chauffage (200) pourvu d'un circuit de protection (204, 206).
PCT/US1991/007358 1990-10-05 1991-10-02 Procede et dispositif d'affichage de prix WO1992006454A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US59319290A 1990-10-05 1990-10-05
US593,192 1990-10-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992006454A1 true WO1992006454A1 (fr) 1992-04-16

Family

ID=24373761

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1991/007358 WO1992006454A1 (fr) 1990-10-05 1991-10-02 Procede et dispositif d'affichage de prix

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU8876891A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992006454A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0608252A1 (fr) * 1991-05-03 1994-08-03 Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. Appareil indicateur de changements de prix, y compris imprimante et dispositif d'affichage
WO1995023382A1 (fr) * 1994-02-24 1995-08-31 Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. Systeme de gestion des affichettes de gondole
EP0753175A1 (fr) * 1994-01-04 1997-01-15 Rest Manufacturing, Inc. Systeme electronique permettant d'afficher a distance une information dans un magasin de vente au detail
US5722048A (en) * 1994-12-02 1998-02-24 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for improving the signal to noise ratio in wireless communication systems through message pooling and method of using the same
US6055414A (en) * 1996-07-23 2000-04-25 Ncr Corporation System and method for improving reliability and performance of wireless communication systems using message pooling

Citations (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3375516A (en) * 1967-05-26 1968-03-26 Navy Usa Dual antenna system for transponder beacon devices
US3955353A (en) * 1974-07-10 1976-05-11 Optel Corporation Direct current power converters employing digital techniques used in electronic timekeeping apparatus
US4273999A (en) * 1980-01-18 1981-06-16 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Equi-visibility lighting control system
US4326161A (en) * 1979-10-17 1982-04-20 Protection Services, Inc. Battery regulation circuit
US4404624A (en) * 1980-07-31 1983-09-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Power circuit for electronic timepiece
US4423319A (en) * 1980-01-17 1983-12-27 Micronic Ab Communication link
US4521677A (en) * 1983-12-02 1985-06-04 Sarwin Herbert S Product control system for supermarkets and the like
US4535401A (en) * 1982-06-30 1985-08-13 Texas Instruments Incorporated Apparatus and method for providing power from master controller to subcontrollers and data communication therebetween
US4630042A (en) * 1979-08-29 1986-12-16 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Wired commodity vending system
US4629941A (en) * 1985-01-07 1986-12-16 Ellis Edward H Differential illumination sensitive switching circuit
US4633519A (en) * 1983-03-31 1986-12-30 Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Diversity reception system in a portable radio apparatus
US4634225A (en) * 1984-12-24 1987-01-06 General Electric Co. Transflective liquid crystal display with integral heating unit and temperature sensor
US4756023A (en) * 1985-07-22 1988-07-05 Nec Corporation Diversity reception radio receiver
US4766295A (en) * 1987-03-02 1988-08-23 H.E. Butt Grocery Company Electronic pricing display system
US4766596A (en) * 1985-09-11 1988-08-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and circuit arrangement for the transmission of data signals between control devices connected to one another via a loop system
US4893002A (en) * 1986-12-22 1990-01-09 Ag Communications Systems Corporation Loss of optical input circuit
US4903262A (en) * 1987-08-14 1990-02-20 General Electric Company Hardware interface and protocol for a mobile radio transceiver
US4928096A (en) * 1987-11-16 1990-05-22 Motorola, Inc. Paging terminal apparatus with message storage and retransmission capability and method therefor
US5032825A (en) * 1990-03-02 1991-07-16 Motorola, Inc. Battery capacity indicator
US5049875A (en) * 1989-09-13 1991-09-17 Motorola Inc. Method and apparatus for out of range detection in response to nondetection of predetermined baud rates

Patent Citations (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3375516A (en) * 1967-05-26 1968-03-26 Navy Usa Dual antenna system for transponder beacon devices
US3955353A (en) * 1974-07-10 1976-05-11 Optel Corporation Direct current power converters employing digital techniques used in electronic timekeeping apparatus
US4630042A (en) * 1979-08-29 1986-12-16 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Wired commodity vending system
US4326161A (en) * 1979-10-17 1982-04-20 Protection Services, Inc. Battery regulation circuit
US4423319A (en) * 1980-01-17 1983-12-27 Micronic Ab Communication link
US4273999A (en) * 1980-01-18 1981-06-16 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Equi-visibility lighting control system
US4404624A (en) * 1980-07-31 1983-09-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Power circuit for electronic timepiece
US4535401A (en) * 1982-06-30 1985-08-13 Texas Instruments Incorporated Apparatus and method for providing power from master controller to subcontrollers and data communication therebetween
US4633519A (en) * 1983-03-31 1986-12-30 Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Diversity reception system in a portable radio apparatus
US4521677A (en) * 1983-12-02 1985-06-04 Sarwin Herbert S Product control system for supermarkets and the like
US4634225A (en) * 1984-12-24 1987-01-06 General Electric Co. Transflective liquid crystal display with integral heating unit and temperature sensor
US4629941A (en) * 1985-01-07 1986-12-16 Ellis Edward H Differential illumination sensitive switching circuit
US4756023A (en) * 1985-07-22 1988-07-05 Nec Corporation Diversity reception radio receiver
US4766596A (en) * 1985-09-11 1988-08-23 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and circuit arrangement for the transmission of data signals between control devices connected to one another via a loop system
US4893002A (en) * 1986-12-22 1990-01-09 Ag Communications Systems Corporation Loss of optical input circuit
US4766295A (en) * 1987-03-02 1988-08-23 H.E. Butt Grocery Company Electronic pricing display system
US4903262A (en) * 1987-08-14 1990-02-20 General Electric Company Hardware interface and protocol for a mobile radio transceiver
US4928096A (en) * 1987-11-16 1990-05-22 Motorola, Inc. Paging terminal apparatus with message storage and retransmission capability and method therefor
US5049875A (en) * 1989-09-13 1991-09-17 Motorola Inc. Method and apparatus for out of range detection in response to nondetection of predetermined baud rates
US5032825A (en) * 1990-03-02 1991-07-16 Motorola, Inc. Battery capacity indicator

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5995015A (en) * 1989-05-16 1999-11-30 Electronic Advertising Solutions Innovators, Inc. D/B/A Easi, Inc. Remote electronic information display system for retail facility
EP0608252A1 (fr) * 1991-05-03 1994-08-03 Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. Appareil indicateur de changements de prix, y compris imprimante et dispositif d'affichage
EP0608252A4 (fr) * 1991-05-03 1995-09-06 Electronic Retailing Syst Appareil indicateur de changements de prix, y compris imprimante et dispositif d'affichage.
EP0753175A1 (fr) * 1994-01-04 1997-01-15 Rest Manufacturing, Inc. Systeme electronique permettant d'afficher a distance une information dans un magasin de vente au detail
EP0753175A4 (fr) * 1994-01-04 1998-04-15 Rest Manufacturing Inc Systeme electronique permettant d'afficher a distance une information dans un magasin de vente au detail
WO1995023382A1 (fr) * 1994-02-24 1995-08-31 Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. Systeme de gestion des affichettes de gondole
US5722048A (en) * 1994-12-02 1998-02-24 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for improving the signal to noise ratio in wireless communication systems through message pooling and method of using the same
US6049699A (en) * 1994-12-02 2000-04-11 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for improving the signal to noise ratio in wireless communication systems through message pooling and method of using the same
US6137990A (en) * 1994-12-02 2000-10-24 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for improving the signal to noise ratio in wireless communication systems through message pooling and method of using the same
US6353746B1 (en) 1994-12-02 2002-03-05 Ncr Corporation Apparatus for improving the signal to noise ratio in wireless communication systems through message pooling
US6055414A (en) * 1996-07-23 2000-04-25 Ncr Corporation System and method for improving reliability and performance of wireless communication systems using message pooling
US6070057A (en) * 1996-07-23 2000-05-30 Ncr Corporation System and method for improving reliability and performance of wireless communication systems using message pooling

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU8876891A (en) 1992-04-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4766295A (en) Electronic pricing display system
EP0456462A2 (fr) Dispositif d'affichage électronique, installation de programmation de l'affichage et système d'affichage
US5467474A (en) Display system with section addressability
US6749116B2 (en) Display system for store shelves
JP3560988B2 (ja) 価格表示システム
US4777488A (en) Restaurant service request communications system
AU617761B2 (en) Distributed monitoring system
US20020034067A1 (en) Electronic display for store shelves
JP2763771B2 (ja) 商品棚の端部にマークをする装置
JP3466188B2 (ja) 伝送された情報の受領通知の方法及び装置
EP0910090B1 (fr) Connection d'interface pour machine hôte
US6543688B1 (en) Electronic display for store shelves
WO1992006454A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif d'affichage de prix
US4608561A (en) Time division multiplexing load control system having manual switch for directly controlling loads
US5745775A (en) Remotely adjustable price display module
SE461690B (sv) Anordning vid signeringssystem
US20050024330A1 (en) Method and apparatus for independent control of low intensity indicators used for optical communication in an appliance
WO1990014630A1 (fr) Systeme electronique d'affichage d'informations a distance
US5815074A (en) Signal transmission apparatus
JP3600237B2 (ja) 受信器のポーリング
EP0669028A1 (fr) Module de surveillance
JPH04317167A (ja) 誘導ループ式データ転送装置
EP0669030B1 (fr) Commutateur solaire
CN100472692C (zh) 负载信息显示设备和电路断路器
CN100365428C (zh) 人体检测装置和配有它的电子机器

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AU BR CA JP

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LU NL SE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA