Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural display systems – Tiling or modular adjacent displays
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-06
2001-01-30
Nguyen, Chanh (Department: 2775)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural display systems
Tiling or modular adjacent displays
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181299
ABSTRACT:
This applicatin is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/309,934 filed Sep. 21, 1994 now abandoned.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electronic display tag systems for use in product display or storage establishments and, more particularly, to a power and control signal distribution arrangement for such display tag systems.
2. Background of the Invention
Both wired and wireless electronic shelf tag systems have been proposed heretofore, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,198,644; 5,172,314; 5,111,196; 5,019,811; 4,937,586; 4,821,291; 4,603,495; 4,525,713; 4,521,677; and 4,500,880. The wired systems have the advantage of not requiring batteries or photovoltaic power sources in the tags. A disadvantage of the wired systems, however, is the need to install thousands of feet of wire. A typical grocery store may use 20,000 tags, and a wired tag system typically uses an average of three feet of wire per tag. Thus a total of 60,000 feet of wire may be required in a single store.
In addition to the installation problem, wired systems require numerous connections between the wires and the display tags, between the wires on the shelves and wires on the gondolas on which the shelves are usually mounted, and between the wires on adjacent gondolas. These numerous connections complicate the re-location of gondolas, or the re-location of shelves within a gondola. In addition, the contacts used to make the connections must either be made of expensive corrosion-resistant material, such as gold-plated contacts, or else replaced from time to time as corrosion occurs.
Another problem with wired display tag systems is electrostatic discharge, which can occur if a shopper gets too close to an inadequately protected wire or connector contact. Such discharges can damage the expensive electronic equipment included in the tag system, and can cause even greater losses by shutting down the display system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic display tag wiring system which avoids the need for electrical contacts in the numerous connections among the various components of the system. A related object is to provide an improved electronic display tag system which does not require batteries or photovoltaic sources in the tags.
It is another important object of this invention to provide such an improved electronic display tag wiring system which facilitates the installation of the thousands of feet of wire required in such a system. In this connection, a related object of the invention is to provide such an improved system which also facilitates relocation of gondolas or of the shelves within a gondola.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electronic display tag wiring system which significantly reduces the cost of installing and maintaining the system.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide such an improved electronic display tag wiring system which virtually eliminates any risk of losses due to electrostatic discharges.
A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved electronic display tag wiring system which greatly reduces the need for periodic replacement of corroded parts.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objectives are realized by providing a power and communication system for electronic display tags which includes a plurality of such tags mounted adjacent to the multiple product display or storage areas, an electrical power supply for supplying a-c. power to the display tags, a source of control signals for the display tags, multiple branch distribution loops each of which extends along a selected group of the display tags for supplying power and control signals to the display tags, and a main distribution loop connected to the power supply and control signal source and magnetically coupled to the branch loops for supplying power and control signals to the branch loops.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the branch distribution loops, at least portions of the main distribution loop, and magnetic cores for forming the magnetic couplings are all prefabricated as modular units which can be easily and quickly installed and assembled on site in the product display or storage establishment, and which can also be easily disconnected and re-connected whenever it is desired to rearrange any portion of the display or storage system.
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RD34494—Electronic Price Tag, Research Disclosu
Frederick W. Richard
Kayser Kenneth W.
Display Edge Technology Ltd.
Nguyen Chanh
Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
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