WO1999039305A1 - Systeme d'affichage de prix et/ou d'autres informations - Google Patents

Systeme d'affichage de prix et/ou d'autres informations Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999039305A1
WO1999039305A1 PCT/DK1999/000049 DK9900049W WO9939305A1 WO 1999039305 A1 WO1999039305 A1 WO 1999039305A1 DK 9900049 W DK9900049 W DK 9900049W WO 9939305 A1 WO9939305 A1 WO 9939305A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
information
generating
power source
power
intermediate stations
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK1999/000049
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jesper Barfod
Original Assignee
Esel-Krabbe Systems A/S
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 Esel-Krabbe Systems A/S filed Critical Esel-Krabbe Systems A/S
Priority to AU26101/99A priority Critical patent/AU2610199A/en
Publication of WO1999039305A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999039305A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for displaying price information and/or other information relating to goods or merchandise in super markets, shops, stores or the like, and especially to a system where stand-alone self-contained electronic labels receive this information by wireless communication from one or more intermediate stations being hard wired to a means for generating or providing the price information and/or other information, such as a shop computer.
  • the intermediate stations are desired and in some situations even required, in order to obtain a suitable coverage of the space of the super market or the like.
  • Wireless communication between the shop computer and the intermediate stations entails a number of problems, one of which being the requirement of transmitter and receiver means for this communication. This adds to the complexity of the system.
  • the invention relates to a system for displaying price information and/or other information relating to merchandise or goods in a super market, store, shop or the like, the system comprising:
  • the labels being adapted to receive the information using wireless communication and each label being positioned in the vicinity of a piece of merchandise or goods to which they relate,
  • the electrical conductors define one or more groups of conductors, all conductors extending from within one group to outside the one or more groups are provided with filtering means for removing or reducing noise generated by apparatus connected to the electrical conductors extending outside the one or more groups.
  • Appatus connected to means that noise generated by the other apparatus would reach the filtering means via the electrical conductors.
  • Connected does not only mean a galvanic connection, as this noise may travel through eg a transformer or a capacitor even though these elements do not provide a galvanic connection.
  • a "label” is preferably a self-contained element being able to display information, to receive wireless communication and preferably to alter the information displayed as instructed by the wireless communication.
  • This label may be powered by any suitable means, such as a battery, a solar cell or both.
  • this label may respond to the received information by transmitting wireless communication to one or more intermediate station. Such transmittal of wireless communication from the label to one or more intermediate station may also occur without the label responding to a signal received from the intermediate station, and may even be a signal transmitted based on an evaluation performed by the label it self or based on a predetermined schedule/criteria.
  • the one or more "groups" of conductors is a number of conductors interconnecting only the information generating or providing means and the intermediate stations. Conductors connected to other apparatus will not be part of the "one or more groups”.
  • the information providing or generating means may be a shop computer.
  • the shop computer may comprise eg special purpose cables for transporting information from the shop computer to the power cables feeding the intermediate stations and a means, typically positioned at the ceiling of the super market, for "imposing" the information on or feeding the information to those power cables.
  • the advantage of this first aspect is the fact that no noise generating apparatus are present within the one or more groups and that, consequently, only electrical conductors extending from within a group to outside the groups need be provided with filtering means. This means that the communication taking place within a group is not bothered to any significant degree by noise generated outside the group, as this noise will be filtered on its way to the inside of the group.
  • the system further comprises a power source, where the power source provides power only to the intermediate stations, and where the filtering means are provided between the power source and the intermediate stations.
  • the system may comprise a power source providing power to the intermediate stations and via the electrical conductors extending outside the one or more groups to the noise generating apparatus, and wherein the filtering means are also provided between the power source and the intermediate stations.
  • this power source is a mains power source, such as a mains power outlet.
  • the filtering means are preferred, as noise from noise generating apparatus also fed by the power source (such as via a fuse box, other electrical conductors) may be carried by the mains power cords.
  • the invention relates to a system for displaying price information and/or other information relating to merchandise or goods in a super market, store, shop or the like, the system comprising:
  • the hard wired connection between the information generating or providing means and the intermediate stations taking place via electrical conductors also being used for supplying power to the intermediate stations.
  • the electrical conductors are also connected to noise generating apparatus and are provided with filtering means between, on the one side, the noise generating apparatus and, on the other hand, the information generating or providing means and the one or more of the intermediate stations, the filtering means being adapted to reduce or remove noise generated by the noise generating apparatus.
  • filtering means are provided between the actual conductors constituting the hard wired connection between the information generating or providing means and at least one of the intermediate stations and a noise generating apparatus, in order to allow other apparatus being connected to the electrical connectors without allowing noise to travel from that apparatus to the hard wired connection.
  • the system preferably comprises a power source, such as a mains power source, providing power to the intermediate stations and the other apparatus, wherein the filtering means are also provided between the intermediate stations and the power source.
  • a power source such as a mains power source
  • a noise generating apparatus is an apparatus generating noise carried by electrical conductors connected thereto, such as an apparatus having a power or current consumption varying over time, the variation being managed by a transistor, a thyristor. a relay, a switch mode power supply, or other means for regulating the power or 7
  • a power consumption controlled by a thyristor is one where part of the power consumption is reduced during part of a period of the alternating current. This variation within the period of the alternating current will generate noise on the power cables, and noise which will interfere with information transmitted on the cables during the period of time where this noise is generated. It should be noted that this noise is generated periodically and frequently.
  • a power source may be taken as a noise generating apparatus, as it may receive noise from such apparatus and thereby carry and forward such noise.
  • the information generating or providing means comprise a means for imposing a varying voltage and/or current on the electrical conductors of the hard wiring means, the varying means generates a variation relating to the price information or other information.
  • the varying means may generate a varying voltage and/or current having a mean frequency in the interval of 1kHz to 100MHz, such as in the interval of 10kHz to 10MHz.
  • the variation is a modulation, such as an amplitude modulation, a frequency modulation or a phase modulation.
  • a modulation such as an amplitude modulation, a frequency modulation or a phase modulation.
  • the amplitude modulation is preferred, as this may be implemented at a low price.
  • the price information or other information is preferably generated at a rate in the interval of 1 kbit s to lOOMbit s, such as in the interval of lOkbit/s to lOMbit/s. 8
  • the filtering means are adapted to remove or reduce signals, variations or noise having a frequency in a frequency range used for the information from the information generating or providing means.
  • the variation frequencies used in the variation relating to the information from the information generating or providing means will be in 5 the interval of 1 -300kHz, whereby the filtering means are preferably adapted to remove or reduce signals, variations or noise having at least a frequency within that range.
  • a reduction of a signal, variation or noise should preferably be at least 2 dB, such as at least 3 dB, preferably at least 10 dB, such as at least 30 dB, preferably on the order of 40 dB.
  • the filtering means preferably comprise a first part and a second part, the first part being connected to a noise generating apparatus or a power source, the second part being connected to the first part and to electrical connectors of the hard wiring means, the first part being adapted to filter signals, variations or noise having a frequency in a range of a variation frequency generated by the variation generating means, and the
  • 1 5 second part being adapted to generate a large impedance for signals travelling on the electrical conductors of the hard wiring means and having a frequency being in the range of the variation frequency generated by the variation generating means.
  • the range of the variation frequency generated by the variation generating means means within 70kHz thereof, such as within 50kHz thereof, preferably within 20kHz thereof, such as within 10kHz thereof, or within 70% thereof, such as within 30 50% thereof, preferably within 20% thereof.
  • the electrical conductors comprise a transformation means positioned between the power source and an intermediate station, the transformation means 9
  • first part being adapted to receive a voltage supplied by the power source, a part adapted to transform the received by the first part to a transformed voltage to be fed to the intermediate station, and a second part for outputting the transformed voltage.
  • a transformation means is provided for each intermediate station.
  • This embodiment has the advantage that a mains power cable may be provided, even though the intermediate stations are adapted to be fed by a lower voltage. Providing the transformation means at eg the ceiling of the super market, it is prevented that the mains voltage is not provided to the intermediate stations, which may be more easily accessed by unauthorized personnel. Otherwise, this might constitute a health risk to the unauthorized personnel.
  • the transformation means preferably comprises means, such as capacitors, for transporting the information from the information generating or providing means from the first to the second parts of the transforming means. If the information is carried by a high frequency signal, this might not be transported across a standard transformer having no galvanic interconnection between the windings connected to the two sides thereof. This, however, is taken care of by the capacitors - without in that manner providing a electric connection which would interact with the operation of the transforming means. Providing capacitors having a sufficiently small size will entail that the health risk of a person accidentally getting into contact with live electric circuits of the intermediate station will be reduced, and still a sufficiently high frequency of the variation signal will be transported across the transformation means to the intermediate station. Consequently, it will be possible to determine or select the modulation or variation frequency of the system in accordance with safety parameters or voltage requirements of the intermediate stations.
  • means such as capacitors
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the principle of the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a detailed schematic of the signal condition module 65 disclosed in Fig. 1. and 10
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which a mains transformer is utilised to generate a suitable local voltage supply to a transceiver.
  • the basic operating principle of the invention is illustrated in the system of Fig. 1.
  • the system has two data receiving means in the form of a modem 10 and a satellite receiver 20 connected via serial data links 30 and 31 to an information generating or providing means 40, which in this embodiment is a shop computer.
  • the computer 40 is connected to electrical conductor means 50, which is a bi-directional data link, to a data modulator 60 which is a part of a signal conditioning module 65.
  • a special purpose computer handling the controlling of the price displaying system may be provided between the computer 40 and the module 65.
  • the modulator 60 is connected to filtering means 70 by an electrical cable 80.
  • the filtering means 70 is connected to a power feeding cable 90 extending outside a group of conductors constituted by a cable 100 interconnecting intermediate stations 110-113, the modulator 60, and the filtering means 70.
  • the intermediate stations 110-113 are transceivers adapted to forward information received on the link 50 to labels 120-123, through wireless communication links 130-133.
  • Price information data for products in a super-market wherein the present system is located may be received from a distant controlling entity via the modem 10 or the receiver 20 or may. alternatively or additionally, be generated locally by means of the shop computer 40.
  • the data information is distributed from the computer 40 to the modulator 60 through the bi-directional data link 50.
  • the modulator 60 transmits the data through the cable 100 to the stations 110-113 which subsequently transmit the data via the links 130-133 to the labels 120-123. 1 1
  • the cable 100 also serves as a power cable which connects the transceivers 110-113 to a standard mains AC power source connected to the cable 90.
  • the filtering means 70 is designed to prevent noise transfer from the mains power cable 90, to the cable 100 that simultaneously carries the power supply voltage and the price information data to the transceivers 1 10-113. Also, filtering means 70 is designed to prevent the modulated price information data present on the cable 100 from being transmitted to the mains power cable 90, and thereby causing problems for other power conductor based data communication systems - or intelligence by third parties.
  • the present system is possible to receive data signals sent from labels 120-123 through the wireless links 130-133 to the transceivers 110-113 and via the cable 100 and module 65. These data are modulated by the receiving transceiver in the same manner as the modulation taking place in the module 65, and sent to the signal conditioning module 65, where a demodulation as that taking place in the transceivers 110-113 takes place. Finally, the demodulated data are transmitted to the shop computer 40 for storage or processing, through the bi-directional data link 50.
  • the actual type of communication taking place between the shop computer 40. the stations 110-113 and the labels 120-123 may be similar or identical to that described in US patent No. 5.539,393.
  • the communication between the computer 40 and the module 65 may be a standard RS 485 baseband communication, and an amplitude modulation using a 140kHz carrier wave may be used between the module 65 and the individual stations 110-113.
  • suitable methods for this type of communication may be seen in Rudolf Mausel, "Digitalisches Modulationsverfaren", H ⁇ ttig, 3'rd ed., 1991, ISDN 3-7785-2085-X. 12
  • the amplitude modulation using a 140 kHz carrier wave is one by many possible choices.
  • other suitable frequencies for the carrier wave is preferred between 100 kHz and 150 kHz, and in some cases between 100 kHz and 130 kHz, and even between 125 kHz and 130 kHz may be preferred.
  • the individual phases or power sources may each be connected to an individual module 65, which then feeds a number of stations 110-113.
  • the link 50 may then be provided from the computer 40 to each of the modules 65 or from the computer 40 to one module 65 and therefrom to another etc. etc. This will be determined by the manner of communicating between the computer 40 and the modules 65.
  • the modules 65 may be installed as "black boxes” (seen from the angle of the electrician), which black boxes merely require power (cable 90) and a signalling cable 50 provided from a computer 40 or another module 65, where the modules 65 may further comprise an output with a link of the type of link 50 for connection to the input of another module 65. From the installed box, a standard power cable may be provided in a standard manner to the stations 110-113.
  • all modules 65 may receive the same information transmitted on the cable 50, where each module 65 may then be controlled to only select and transmit information relating to labels 120-123 "serviced" by the stations connected to the module 65 in question.
  • all modules 65 may transmit all information to the stations 110-113 connected thereby.
  • the stations 110-11.3 may then either transmit all the information or only information relating to labels 110 serviced by the station 120 in question.
  • a data signal from the computer 40 is supplied via the link 50 to a data modulator 145 together with a suitable HF oscillator signal from an oscillator 140.
  • the HF oscillator frequency is preferably in the 140kHz range, and the preferred modulation method is AM. These RF modulation parameters enable a data bit rate in the range of 10-20 kbit/second.
  • the power transported by the cable 100 is a mains, ie typically 50-60Hz, AC power line signal having superimposed thereon the modulated RF signal in the 140kHz frequency range.
  • the connection between the cable 100 to the mains power source connected to the cable 90 is through a filtering means constituted by filter components 152-157 which are arranged to form a low pass filter function for signals transmitted from the mains power cable 90 to the cable 100.
  • the components 154-157 constitute a second part of the filter 70, which substantially passes the 50-60Hz mains frequency without attenuation, but attenuates significantly higher frequency signals existing on the mains power cable 90.
  • the present setup attenuated signals having a frequency in the range lOOkHz-lOMHz by 30dB or more. 14
  • the components 152 and 153 constitute a first part of the filter 70 where the modulated signal on the cable 100 sees a large impedance. This has the advantage that the modulated signal on the cable 100 is not attenuated by the first part of the filter 70. Also, this second part prevents the modulated signal from passing from the cable 100 to the cable 90. Otherwise, this modulated data may confuse or interact with other systems using the same type of data communication and being more or less directly connected to the cable 90.
  • Capacitor 156 is an X-type capacitor with the values 2x470nF.
  • Capacitor 157 is lOnF.
  • Inductors 152, 153 are 1.3mH.
  • Inductors 154, 155 are 47mH.
  • Capacitors 150, 151 are 220nF.
  • a demodulator circuit 146 provided for receiving and demodulating data signals from transceivers 110-113. Such demodulated data signals are transferred through the bidirectional data link 50 to the shop computer 40.
  • a mains transformer 160 is provided between the cable 100 and the transceiver 111 in order to generate a suitable "local" AC voltage supply for the intermediate station 111. Also, capacitors 161, 162 are provided for conducting the RF part of the modulated signal carried by the cable 100 to the secondary side of the mains transformer 160 in order for this signal to reach the transceiver 111.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cable Transmission Systems, Equalization Of Radio And Reduction Of Echo (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système pour afficher des prix et/ou d'autres informations concernant des produits ou des marchandises dans des supermarchés, des boutiques, des grands magasins ou similaires. Plus particulièrement, l'invention concerne un système dans lequel des étiquettes électroniques autonomes reçoivent ces informations par un système de communication sans fil en provenance de un ou plusieurs postes intermédiaires directement câblés à un moyen de génération ou de fourniture de prix et/ou d'autres informations, tel qu'un ordinateur de magasin.
PCT/DK1999/000049 1998-01-30 1999-02-01 Systeme d'affichage de prix et/ou d'autres informations WO1999039305A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU26101/99A AU2610199A (en) 1998-01-30 1999-02-01 A system for displaying price information and/or other information

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK13498 1998-01-30
DK0134/98 1998-01-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999039305A1 true WO1999039305A1 (fr) 1999-08-05

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ID=8090134

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK1999/000049 WO1999039305A1 (fr) 1998-01-30 1999-02-01 Systeme d'affichage de prix et/ou d'autres informations

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2610199A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999039305A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991008539A1 (fr) * 1989-12-01 1991-06-13 Braennstroem Roland Systeme electronique d'information sur les prix
WO1995025300A1 (fr) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-21 Marco Faita Dispositif electronique d'affichage a distance d'informations

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991008539A1 (fr) * 1989-12-01 1991-06-13 Braennstroem Roland Systeme electronique d'information sur les prix
WO1995025300A1 (fr) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-21 Marco Faita Dispositif electronique d'affichage a distance d'informations

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2610199A (en) 1999-08-16

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