Device for marking edges of shelves

Claim 1

Device for indicating prices, article numbers or similar information on the edges of the shelves in department stores and storing premises, comprising a display mounted to the shelf, and a control unit operatively connected to the display, characterized in that each display is connected to a separate electronic control unit and forms together with said unit a self-contained operative unit having its own power source, which can be connected directly or indirectly to external control apparatus.

Claim 3

A method for displaying product information at locations proximate to associated products, comprising the steps of: mounting a plurality of electronic display modules at locations proximate to respective different goods; programming each module with a module address; forming a signal comprising address and data parts, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; aerially broadcasting said signal as electromagnetic energy selected from the spectral band consisting of infrared and light to the modules from a remote transmitter; receiving said signal by a plurality of receiving modules, the receiving modules comprising at least some of the electronic pricing modules; decoding the address part of said signal by each receiving module into a received address; comparing the received address to the module address for each receiving module; matching the received address to the module address in at least one addressed module among the receiving modules; for each addressed module, decoding the data part of the signal into product information; displaying the stored product information on a display of the addressed module responsive to the step of matching; and displaying on each module information that changes less often than said product information.

Claim 4

A method for displaying product information at locations proximate to associated products, comprising the steps of: mounting a plurality of electronic display modules at locations proximate to respective different goods; programming each module with a module address; forming a signal comprising address and data parts, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; aerially broadcasting said signal as electromagnetic energy selected from the spectral band consisting of infrared and light to the modules from a remote transmitter; receiving said signal by a plurality of receiving modules, the receiving modules comprising at least some of the electronic pricing modules; decoding the address part of said signal by each receiving module into a received address; comparing the received address to the module address for each receiving module; matching the received address to the module address in at least one addressed module among the receiving modules; for each addressed module, decoding the data part of the signal into product information; displaying the stored product information on a display of the addressed module responsive to the step of matching; and displaying on each module information that changes less often than said product information.

Claim 6

A method for displaying product information at locations proximate to associated products, comprising the steps of: mounting a plurality of electronic display modules at locations proximate to respective different goods; programming each module with a module address; forming a signal comprising address and data parts, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; aerially broadcasting said signal as electromagnetic energy selected from the spectral band consisting of infrared and light to the modules from a remote transmitter; receiving said signal by a plurality of receiving modules, the receiving comprising at least some of the electronic pricing modules; decoding the address part of said signal by each receiving module into a received address; comparing the received address to the module address for each receiving module; matching the received address to the module address in at least one addressed module among the receiving modules; for each addressed module, decoding the data part of the signal into product information; displaying the stored product information on a display of the addressed module responsive to the step of matching; transmitting a universal address from a programming module moved to near a selected module; transmitting a module address from said programming module to said module after transmitting the universal address, such the nonselected modules do not receive the module address; recognizing said universal address by said modules; and accepting said module address by said module and storing said module address for comparison with later a received address decoded from said signal.

Claim 7

A method for displaying product information at locations proximate to associated products, comprising the steps of: mounting a plurality of electronic display modules at locations proximate to respective different goods; programming each module with a module address; forming a signal comprising address and data parts, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; aerially broadcasting said signal as electromagnetic energy selected from the spectral band consisting of infrared and light to the modules from a remote transmitter; receiving said signal by a plurality of receiving modules, the receiving comprising at least some of the electronic pricing modules; decoding the address part of said signal by each receiving module into a received address; comparing the received address to the module address for each receiving module; matching the received address to the module address in at least one addressed module among the receiving modules; for each addressed module, decoding the data part of the signal into product information; displaying the stored product information on a display of the addressed module responsive to the step of matching; transmitting a universal address from a programming module moved to near a selected module; transmitting a module address from said programming module to said module after transmitting the universal address, such the nonselected modules do not receive the module address; recognizing said universal address by said modules; and accepting said module address by said module and storing said module address for comparison with later a received address decoded from said signal.

Claim 8

A method for electronically displaying product information in different spatial zones using a single display module, comprising the steps of: encoding first product information into a first infrared signal; encoding an address into the first infrared signal; broadcasting the first infrared signal from a remote transmitter into a first zone; encoding second product information into a second infrared signal; broadcasting the second infrared signal into a second zone; receiving the first signal in the first zone by a self-contained electronic display module; decoding the first signal; comparing the decoded address in the first signal to an address of the module; storing and displaying the first product information by the module responsive to matching the module address with the address in the first signal; moving the module from the first zone to the second zone; receiving the second signal in the second zone by the module; decoding the second signal; comparing the decoded address in the second signal to the module address; and storing and displaying the second product information by the module responsive to matching the module address with the address in the second signal.

Claim 9

A method for electronically displaying product information in different spatial zones using a single display module, comprising the steps of: encoding first product information into a first infrared signal; encoding an address into the first infrared signal; broadcasting the first infrared signal from a remote transmitter into a first zone; encoding second product information into a second infrared signal; broadcasting the second infrared signal into a second zone; receiving the first signal in the first zone by a self-contained electronic display module; decoding the first signal; comparing the decoded address in the first signal to an address of the module; storing and displaying the first product information by the module responsive to matching the module address with the address in the first signal; moving the module from the first zone to the second zone; receiving the second signal in the second zone by the module; decoding the second signal; comparing the decoded address in the second signal to the module address; and storing and displaying the second product information by the module responsive to matching the module address with the address in the second signal.

Claim 10

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: at least one electronic display module for displaying product information disposed in an area including at least first and second zones; means for programming said module with a module address; means for forming first and second signals, the first signal comprising an address part and a first data part, the address part representing a module address and the first data part representing first product information for the module address, the second signal comprising said address part and a second data part representing second product information; remote means for aerially transmitting the first and second signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light respectively to the first and second zones; said module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; said module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; said module initially disposed in said first zone and decoding a received address from said address part, decoding said first data part into said first product information, and comparing said received address with its module address, said module storing and displaying the first product information responsive to matching the received address with its module address; and said module operable to be moved into said second zone, said module then decoding said received address from said address part, decoding the second data part into said second product information, comparing the address part to its module address, and storing and displaying said second product information responsive to matching the received address with it module address.

Claim 11

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: at least one electronic display module for displaying product information disposed in an area including at least first and second zones; means for programming said module with a module address; means for forming first and second signals, the first signal comprising an address part and a first data part, the address part representing a module address and the first data part representing first product information for the module address, the second signal comprising said address part and a second data part representing second product information; remote means for aerially transmitting the first and second signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light respectively to the first and second zones; said module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; said module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; said module initially disposed in said first zone and decoding a received address from said address part, decoding said first data part into said first product information, and comparing said received address with its module address, said module storing and displaying the first product information responsive to matching the received address with its module address; and said module operable to be moved into said second zone, said module then decoding said received address from said address part, decoding the second data part into said second product information, comparing the address part to its module address, and storing and displaying said second product information responsive to matching the received address with it module address.

Claim 14

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products; means for programming each module with a module address; means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; remote means for serially transmitting signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules; each module having means for receiving signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; and each module being capable of alternately displaying product information relating to price with other product information.

Claim 15

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products; means for programming each module with a module address; means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; remote means for serially transmitting signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules; each module having means for receiving signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; and each module being capable of alternately displaying product information relating to price with other product information.

Claim 16

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products; means for programming each module with a module address; means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules; each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; computer means for entering and maintaining price information for a plurality of different products; and said computer means including means for associating product information for each product with an address thereof, said associated product information and address input to said means for forming said signal.

Claim 17

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products; means for programming each module with a module address; means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules; each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; computer means for entering and maintaining price information for a plurality of different products; and said computer means including means for associating product information for each product with an address thereof, said associated product information and address input to said means for forming said signal.

Claim 18

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products; means for programming each module with a module address; means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules; each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; said remote means comprising a transmitter and a receiver/transmitter operable to receive said signal from said transmitter and to retransmit said signal to at least some of said modules.

Claim 19

A system for electronically displaying product information comprising: a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products; means for programming each module with a module address; means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address; remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules; each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address; each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; said remote means comprising a transmitter and a receiver/transmitter operable to receive said signal from said transmitter and to retransmit said signal to at least some of said modules.