US5374815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Technique for locating electronic labels in an electronic price display system
Assignee: Electronic Retailing Systems Int l Inc
•
Filing: 1993-03-15
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Granted: 1994-12-20
•
Expires: 2013-03-15
Abstract
Abstract In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, improved rail arrangements are disclosed to permit improved accuracy in confirming the physical location of an improved display device on one such rail arrangement. A response from the device to a host, or central computer, indicates a particular position of the device on the rail arrangement.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Waterhouse
- 👤 John Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A rail for detecting location of a display device having a plurality of terminals, said rail comprising: mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail; an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting a combination of said terminals to said interface, said electrical contacts being unevenly spaced so that said combination of said terminals changes when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail; and means for transporting a signal indicative of said combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface, said signal being generated by said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A rail for detecting location of a display device having a plurality of terminals, said rail comprising: mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail; an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting a combination of said terminals to said interface, said electrical contacts being unevenly spaced so that said combination of said terminals changes when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail; and means for transporting a signal indicative of said combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface, said signal being generated by said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least two of said plurality of electrical contacts are different in size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of slots are identical in length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on said device being separated by a first distance, and individual pairs of neighboring electrical contacts on said interface being separated by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mechanical means includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of slots are identical in length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A display device comprising: mechanical means for mounting said device on a rail, which rail includes an interface having a plurality of unevenly spaced electrical contacts; a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface; and means for generating a signal indicative of said combination of terminals electrically connected to said interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A display device comprising: mechanical means for mounting said device on a rail, which rail includes an interface having a plurality of unevenly spaced electrical contacts; a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface; and means for generating a signal indicative of said combination of terminals electrically connected to said interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 15 wherein any two neighboring terminals are separated by a predetermined distance and said mechanical means includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said predetermined distance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 12 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
An arrangement comprising: a rail including an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts; at least one display device, each display device comprising: mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail; a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface, said electrical contacts being unevenly spaced so that said combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to said interface changes when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail; and means for generating a signal indicative of said combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
An arrangement comprising: a rail including an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts; at least one display device, each display device comprising: mechanical means for mounting said device on said rail; a plurality of terminals, a combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface, said electrical contacts being unevenly spaced so that said combination of said terminals electrically connecting said device to said interface changes when said device displaces by more than a predetermined distance along said rail; and means for generating a signal indicative of said combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical voltage and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said interface includes means for providing an electrical ground and said combination of said terminals are electrically connected to the providing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said rail includes means for transporting said signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein at least two of said plurality of electrical contacts are different in size.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 23 wherein said plurality of slots are identical in length.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on said device being separated by a first distance, and individual pairs of neighboring electrical contacts on said interface being separated by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The arrangement of claim 25 wherein said mechanical means includes means for mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
The arrangement of claim 25 wherein said rail further comprises mechanical means for partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said price display device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 27 wherein said plurality of slots are identical in length.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The arrangement of claim 18 wherein each terminal includes means for mechanically clasping onto said interface.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for use with a display device comprising a plurality of terminals, said method comprising the steps of: mounting said device on a rail which includes an interface having a plurality of unevenly spaced electrical contacts; electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface through a combination of said terminals; and generating a signal by said device indicative of said combination of terminals electrically connected to said interface.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for use with a display device comprising a plurality of terminals, said method comprising the steps of: mounting said device on a rail which includes an interface having a plurality of unevenly spaced electrical contacts; electrically connecting said device to one or more of said electrical contacts of said interface through a combination of said terminals; and generating a signal by said device indicative of said combination of terminals electrically connected to said interface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of partitioning said rail into a plurality of slots, said display device being mounted within a particular slot, said combination of said terminals being different from another combination of said terminals electrically connected to said interface when said device is mounted within a slot other than said particular slot.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said terminals are evenly spaced, any two neighboring terminals on said device being separated by a first distance, said mounting step including the step of mechanically engaging said device with said rail in such a manner that said device can only displace on said rail by distances which are integer multiples of said first distance.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-19 | 1998-06-20 | 1998-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-19 | 2002-06-20 | 2002-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-19 | 2006-06-20 | 2006-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |