Programmable shelf tag and method for changing and updating shelf tag information
US5751257A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 12, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G2380/04
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shelf tag comprising a liquid crystal display having optical states which are stable without power and an interface that allows for each character element to be programmed easily by sweeping a programming device across the character element contacts with all power and signal requirements being supplied to the shelf tag by the programming device. The programming device can be integrated with a portable transaction computer equipped with a bar code reader or can be embodied in a stand-alone apparatus capable of receiving user input, displaying information and interfacing to the shelf tags. A method of using the shelf tags, the programming device and a radio frequency computer local area network are presented which automates many typical business applications such as inventory updating and simultaneously changing prices advertised on the shelf tags.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.