WO2008031794A1

WO2008031794A1 - Controllable display device, in particular for points of sale, associated control module, accessory and system

Info

Publication number: WO2008031794A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/059466
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Catteau
Original assignee: Store Electronic Systems Electronic Shelf Label
Priority date: 2006-09-11
Filing date: 2007-09-10
Publication date: 2008-03-20
Also published as: FR2905781B1; FR2905781A1

Abstract

A display device, in particular for points of sale, is characterized in that it comprises in combination: a box (110) housing a circuit for receiving control information via a wireless communication channel and a control circuit able to react to the information received (E), the device being able to communicate with a pre-existing electronic wireless system for displaying prices comprising a central station and a plurality of electronic tags for displaying prices, a controllable information display panel (114) situated outside said box and carried by a support (112) linked to said box, and a wire channel (116) for display control information for said display panel, between the electronic device and the display panel.

Description

"COMMANDABLE DISPLAY DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR SALES PLACES, CONTROL MODULE, ACCESSORY AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM"

The present invention relates generally to the signage for the points of sale and more generally the places where a variable display may be desirable.

Already known in the state of the art price display systems for sales outlets such as hypermarkets, comprising a central station with a database of item prices, a multiplicity of electronic tags each comprising a a particular liquid crystal display controlled to display variable prices as well as other information, and a wireless communication system between the central station and the electronic tags.

Various patents on behalf of the Applicant and its competitors describe such systems.

In addition, these electronic price display systems are quite distinct from point-of-sale advertising devices, signage, etc. capable of displaying variable information.

In particular, the "electronic ink" type display techniques developed by the company E Ink Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., United States of America, and illustrated by its various patents make it possible to produce variable displays on thin panels by electrical control. . It should be noted that these variable information display devices generally comprise an autonomous power source (typically in the form of batteries) which is consumed continuously, and thus has a limited life.

More generally, the evolutions of the visual communication techniques in the environment of a store occur independently of each other, and without synergy. The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages.

For this purpose, it proposes, according to a first aspect, a display device especially for sales premises, characterized in that it comprises in combination: a housing housing a command information reception circuit via a wireless communication channel and a control circuit adapted to react to received information, the device being able to communicate with a pre-existing electronic price display wireless system comprising a central station and a plurality of electronic price display tags, a controllable panel of information display located outside said housing and carried by a support connected to the housing, and a wired channel for display control information of said display panel, between the electronic device and the display panel.

Some preferred but non-limiting aspects of this device are the following:

* The housing comprises means for its attachment to a standard layout of store equipment. said standard layout is a rail for receiving and locking electronic price display tags, and said box has a shape such that it is able to be locked said rail. * said housing has the same profile as the housing of an electronic price display label.

* said standard layout is a standard support for visual signage accessories.

* the device comprises a housing for one or more batteries for the power supply of the display panel.

* the housing is located in the panel holder.

the panel support includes an upright projecting from the housing and along which the display panel is attached.

* the device is a motorized display device, and the housing is that of the poster holder.

the control circuit also includes an output for controlling the display motor in response to instructions received by the wire communication channel.

the display panel is capable of selectively displaying predefined still images in response to an electrical control.

* The billboard is a translucent plate with a backdrop and a light source for the backlighting of the plate.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a display control module is proposed, particularly for points of sale, characterized in that it comprises in combination: a command information receiving circuit via a wireless communication channel, a control circuit adapted to react to the information received, the module being able to communicate with a pre-existing electronic price display wireless system comprising a central station and a plurality of electronic price display tags, and an electrical connector adapted to output control information for controlling a device external to said module, in response to instructions received from the central station.

In a particular embodiment, the module is devoid of any display member itself.

A visual signaling accessory is also proposed, particularly for points of sale, characterized in that it comprises a module as defined above, a display panel comprising a control input connected to the connector of said module, and a source of data. power supply for the billboard.

Some preferred but non-limiting aspects of this accessory are the following:

* the accessory includes a support for its maintenance in a specific position on a point of sale equipment and a support for the display panel, integral with each other.

* The accessory is a display with variable display on foot, said module being housed in the foot. * the power source includes one or more batteries housed in the display panel holder. * the accessory is a bar-shaped separator for cash register mats.

* The separator has conductive pads able to be powered to ensure the charging of the batteries.

Finally, according to the invention, a wireless electronic price display system for points of sale is proposed, comprising a central station and a plurality of electronic price display tags, the system comprising an addressing mechanism enabling selectively sending information to the electronic tags via a wireless communication channel, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of visual signaling devices each comprising in combination: a housing housing a command information receiving circuit via said wireless communication channel and a control device adapted to react to received information, an information display panel located outside said housing and carried by a specific support secured to said housing, and a wire channel for information for controlling the display of said display panel, between the electronic device and the display panel , and in that the addressing mechanism comprises at least one specific address for sending commands to said visual signaling devices.

Some preferred but non-limiting aspects of this system are the following:

* said specific address is common for a plurality of signaling devices.

the addressing mechanism has several specific addresses corresponding to different categories of visual signaling devices.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 to 5 are schematic perspective views of visual display or animation devices according to five exemplary embodiments of the invention. The devices according to the invention are intended to be used on a site equipped with a system. wireless price display control device comprising, in a manner known per se, a central station and a multiplicity of electronic labels intended to be fixed on the supermarket gondolas or on any other equipment or accessory for sale presentation. The various patents held by the Applicant describe various possible aspects of such a system and will be referred to for further details. The wireless communication technology between the central station and the tags may be a low frequency radio technology, or a medium or high frequency technology, infrared technology, etc.

It will be recalled that an electronic tag conventionally comprises, as main elements, a wireless signal receiving antenna connected to a reception circuit, a control circuit comprising a processing unit and memories connected to the circuit. receiving, and a display, for example liquid crystal, connected to the control circuit, the assembly being powered by a rechargeable battery or not.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a display device for advertising, promotion, signaling according to a first embodiment of the invention. It comprises a housing 110 housing a set E comprising an antenna and a reception circuit, as well as a control circuit, which are preferably identical to those of an electronic price display label which has been recalled above. essential characteristics. For this reason, it is not necessary to describe or represent these elements in detail.

In this way, some of the technologies already developed in the field of electronic store labels can be exploited without further development. But above all, these circuits are naturally able to communicate with the electronic tag system and in particular its central station so in particular to receive instructions from it.

The device also comprises a support 112 secured to the housing 110, and for example made of a alone holding with him or pivotally mounted relative to him, by a suitable mechanical articulation, so as to adjust its inclination. In the present example this support takes the form of a vertical upright along which is fixed a display panel 114 which can be controlled by electrical signals so that its display varies. This panel 114 can be produced for example according to the technology of electronic inks (see introduction). In particular, it is able to receive control signals to vary its display (for example to vary the intensity of the display, or to enable / disable the display), and to keep the display last active when it is no longer powered. The control circuit provided in the housing 110 has an output which is connected by conductors 116 housed in the housing 110 and in the support 112 to a control input of the display panel 114.

The support 112 can also house a housing for one or more batteries 118, rechargeable or not, for electrically powering the display device 114. Naturally, it is understood that these batteries can be housed in any other appropriate location of the device. These batteries 118 can also power the assembly E housed in the housing 110, especially in the case where it does not include any clean battery such as that which equips the conventional electronic price display labels. It will be noted here that the housing 110 here does not contain any digital or alphanumeric LCD or other type of display. However, we understand that the invention also covers the case where such a display would be provided, either to display a price, or to display control information, etc.

In the present example, the housing is substantially identical in shape to that of an electronic tag whose site is equipped. In this way, it can be housed and locked (anti-theft function) in an R rail that equips the edge of a shelf G tablet of the store, in exactly the same way as an electronic price display tag. Simply, if the housing 110 does not house any clean display, it can be significantly less wide than that of an electronic price display label.

Such a display device thus fits quite easily into a pre-existing system of electronic price display tags in a store. The electronic part E housed in the box 110 has its own address, known from the central station, and the latter can thus selectively send him orders in particular to vary the display at the panel 114. These orders can be manual or programmed to take place automatically, either with a determined frequency, or according to certain events for example of the "happy hour" type in the store.

In particular, an order may be sent to all or part of the display devices so as to control the activation / deactivation of the display at the panel 114. It may for example be a general control of the display. panels 114 are extinguished in the evening at the closing of the point of sale, and activation of the panels in the morning at the opening of the place of sale. In this way, it is possible to save energy consumption and thus increase the life of the batteries 118.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a device similar to that of Figure 1, except that it comprises a housing 210 different from the housing 110 of Figure 1.

This housing 210 is in the form of an envelope 2101 of as limited depth as possible housing the assembly E comprising the antenna, the receiving circuit and the control circuit (as well as, if appropriate, a miniature battery) as previously and arrangements 2102, 2103 for its attachment either directly on the front of a Gondola shelf T, or on a support rail general purpose (not shown) reported on the front of the tablet. In this case, these arrangements comprise two soft lips respectively lower and upper, able to come clipper on the front of the tablet T. In a conventional manner in itself, this clipping is performed so that disassembly is difficult without tools specific, so again to provide an anti-theft function.

The other elements of the device may be identical to those described with reference to Figure 1, and are designated by the same reference numbers increased by 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the device comprises a base 310 forming a housing for an assembly E comprising an antenna, a reception circuit and a control circuit which here again are preferably identical or similar to those of an electronic price display label, an upstanding rod 311 extending upwardly from the base 310 and a horizontal cross member 312 fixed to the top of the rod 311 and forming a support for a panel display 314 variable display, here again realized for example according to the technique of electronic inks. The batteries 318 for the power supply of the display panel 314 can be accommodated, for example, in the crossmember 312, as illustrated, or in the post 311, in the base 310 or in a housing fixed to the back of the panel 314. Conductors 316 connect an output of the control circuit housed in the base to an input of the display panel 314. In the same manner as above, the animation of this device (typically state changes of the display panel 314 ) can be achieved by operating the wireless system of pre-existing price electronic tags, through dedicated instructions addressed such a device under this system.

Figure 4 illustrates the application of the present invention to a motorized door poster ceiling. A large poster is classically attached to a motorized poster door hanging on the ceiling of the store and able to perform, with the aid of a remote control unit, downward / upward movements to replace the posters and then reassemble to a height position where they are clearly visible by the barge. In this device of the invention, the poster is a variable display panel 414 made for example according to the electronic ink technology. He is attached via a support 412 and links 413a, 413b windable / unwindable to a housing 410 housing the motor M up / down, the batteries 418 to supply this motor, as well as an antenna, a receiving circuit and a control circuit ( set E) borrowed from the wireless electronic tag technology used in the store. The set E can be powered by batteries 418 or other batteries. Similarly, the display panel 414 can be powered by the batteries 418.

As previously, the animation of the panel 414 can be provided by wireless status change instructions received as part of the electronic price display system and supplied to the panel 414 by drivers, for example associated with the links 413a, 413b.

Another advantageous use of such a poster-holder is to eliminate the dedicated remote control usually associated with such a poster-holder, and to transmit to the device the descent and climb commands by specific instructions also transmitted as part of the system. wireless electronic tags and received by the assembly E. In this respect, the different devices can be given identical or different addresses, or belonging to different groups, in order to control the animation and the up / down movements of individually, collectively or in groups.

Finally, FIG. 5 illustrates the application of the present invention to a warehouse cash register carpet separator. Classically, such a separator is in the form of a bar of square or triangular section, with decorations or advertisements.

According to the invention, there is provided a bar 510 on one or more faces of which are fixed display panels made for example by the technology of electronic inks. Here we have three panels on the three faces of a bar of triangular section, only one 514a is visible. The bar is hollow and houses the set E here again borrowed technology electronic price tags that equips the store. It also houses batteries 518 and a wired link (here visible 516a) between an output of the control circuit and each of the display panels.

Advantageously, the batteries are rechargeable by applying a charging voltage on two conductive pads 520 disposed on an end face of the bar. They can be recharged by placing the separator upright on a suitable charging stand.

Of course, those skilled in the art will be able to provide the invention with numerous variants and modifications.

In particular, the technology used for the billboards may vary widely from what has been described, as long as it is a display whose appearance or visual effect varies in response to instructions applied to an entry.

Thus, in addition to the electronic ink techniques, the luminescent panel techniques, and the like, it is possible to use any display that may vary, and in particular translucent panels that are decorated and backlit, the variation of the display then being controlled by variation. (switching on / off, modulation, etc.) of the backlight. In addition, a module comprising a receiving antenna, a receiving circuit and a control circuit borrowed from a wireless electronic tag technology pre-installed in a store, and wherein the control circuit is provided with one or more Controllable outputs from the central station of the system, can be mounted in various equipment of the store so as to perform various kinds of electrically controllable actions. Finally, it should be noted that the addresses assigned to the various devices in the wireless system can be chosen quite flexibly (individual addresses, grouped, etc.) as long as they do not impinge on the addressing of the price tags. , generally using the EAN code of the associated product. For example, the addresses for the devices may have a prefix that distinguishes them from the addresses of the price tags.

Claims

1. A display device especially for sales premises, characterized in that it comprises in combination: a housing housing (110; 210; 310; 410; 510) a command information receiving circuit via a communication channel without wire and a control circuit adapted to react to the received information (E), the device being able to communicate with a pre-existing electronic price display wireless system comprising a central station and a plurality of electronic price display tags , a controllable information display panel (114; 214; 314; 414; 514a) located outside said housing and carried by a support (112; 212; 312; 412; 510) connected to the housing; wired channel (116; 216; 316; 413a; 413b; 516a) for display control information of said display panel between the electronic device and the display panel.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises means (110; 2102, 2103) for attachment to a standard arrangement of store equipment (T, R).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said standard arrangement is a rail for receiving and locking (R) electronic price display labels, and in that said housing has a shape such that it is able to be locked said rail.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said housing has the same profile as the housing of an electronic price display tag.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said standard arrangement is a standard support for visual signaling accessories.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a housing for one or more batteries (118; 218; 318; 418; 518) for the supply of the display panel.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing is located in the panel support.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the panel support comprises an upright (112; 212; 311) projecting from the housing and along which the display panel is fixed.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it constitutes a motorized display device, and in that the housing (410) is that of the display holder.

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control circuit also comprises an output for controlling the motor (M) of the display holder, in response to instructions received by the in-wire communication channel.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the display panel is capable of selectively displaying predefined fixed images in response to an electrical control.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the display panel is a translucent plate carrying a decor and a light source for the backlight of the plate.

13. Display control module (110; 210; 310; 410; 510) for producing a device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises in combination the following elements: a control information receiving circuit via a wireless communication channel, a control circuit adapted to react to the received information (E), the module being able to communicate with a pre-existing electronic price display wireless system comprising a station central and a plurality of electronic price display tags, and an electrical connector adapted to issue control information for controlling a device external to said module, in response to instructions received from the central station.

14. Module according to claim 13, characterized in that it consists solely of said elements.

15. Visual signaling accessory especially for sales premises, characterized in that it comprises a module according to one of claims 13 and 14, a display panel (114; 214; 314; 414; 514a) comprising an input control unit connected to the connector of said module, and a power source for the display panel.

16. Accessory according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a support (110; 210; 310) for its maintenance in a specific position on a point of sale equipment and a support (112; 212; 312) for the billboard, integral with each other.

17. Accessory according to claim 16, characterized in that it constitutes a display variable display (314) on foot (310), said module being housed in the foot.

18. Accessory according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the power source comprises one or more batteries (118; 218; 318; 418; 518) housed in the support of the display panel.

19. Accessory according to claim 18, characterized in that it constitutes a separator (510) in the form of a bar for cash register mats.

20. Accessory according to claim 19, characterized in that the separator comprises conductive pads (520) capable of being powered so as to recharge the batteries (518).

21. Accessory according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the display panel is capable of selectively displaying predefined fixed images in response to an electrical control.

22. Accessory according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the display panel is a translucent plate carrying a decor and a light source for the backlighting of the plate.

23. A wireless electronic price display system for sales outlets comprising a central station and a plurality of electronic price display tags, the system including an addressing mechanism for sending information to the electronic tags. selectively by a wireless communication channel, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of visual signaling devices according to one of claims 1 to 12; and in that the addressing mechanism comprises at least one specific address for sending commands to said visual signaling devices.

24. System according to claim 23, characterized in that said specific address is common for a plurality of signaling devices.

25. System according to claim 24, characterized in that the addressing mechanism has several addresses. specific to different categories of visual signaling devices.