Electronic shelf label systems and methods

Abstract

This invention discloses an electronic shelf label including an LCD display, a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over the LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto, and an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over the LCD display and substantially filling a space between the LCD display and the protective at least partially transparent cover layer.

1 . An electronic shelf label comprising: 
 an LCD display;    a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over said LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto; and    an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said LCD display and substantially filling a space between said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.    
   
   
       2 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 1  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer has an index of refraction which is selected so as to minimize reflection at interfaces between said at least partially transparent intermediate layer and both of said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.  
   
   
       3 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 1  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said LCD display and to said protective at least partially transparent cover layer so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       4 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 2  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said LCD display and to said protective at least partially transparent cover layer so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       5 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 1  and also comprising at least one fuel cell powering said LCD display.  
   
   
       6 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 5  and wherein said at least one fuel cell comprises: 
 at least first and second printed circuit boards, each having electrical contacts formed thereon, said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards being in at least partial registration with each other, said at least first and second printed circuit boards being formed with a plurality of apertures generally surrounded by said electrical contacts;    a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being located in one of said apertures; and    a membrane disposed between said first and second printed circuit boards, said membrane providing electrical insulation between said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards and permitting ionic transfer thereacross between said electrodes, and wherein    said electrodes located in apertures on said first printed circuit board being exposed to a fuel, and said electrodes located in apertures on said second printed circuit board being exposed to air.    
   
   
       7 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 5  and wherein said fuel cell powering said LCD display includes a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said communicator.  
   
   
       8 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 2  and wherein said index of refraction is identical to the index of refraction of at least one of said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.  
   
   
       9 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 2  and wherein said index of refraction varies from one surface of said intermediate layer to an opposite surface thereof.  
   
   
       10 . An electronic shelf label system comprising: 
 a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including an IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label;    at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, said at least one receiver including: 
 an IR sensor;  
 a non-IR visible light sensor; and  
 circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor.  
   
   
   
       11 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 10  and wherein each of said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels comprises: 
 an LCD display;    a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over said LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto; and    an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said LCD display and substantially filling a space between said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.    
   
   
       12 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 11  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer has an index of refraction which is selected so as to minimize reflection at interfaces between said at least partially transparent intermediate layer and both of said LCD display and said protective at least partially transparent cover layer.  
   
   
       13 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 11  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said LCD display and to said protective at least partially transparent cover layer so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 12  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said LCD display and to said protective at least partially transparent cover layer so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       15 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 10  and wherein each electronic shelf label also comprises at least one fuel cell powering said LCD display.  
   
   
       16 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 15  and wherein said at least one fuel cell comprises: 
 at least first and second printed circuit boards, each having electrical contacts printed thereon, said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards being in at least partial registration with each other, said at least first and second printed circuit boards being formed with a plurality of apertures generally surrounded by said electrical contacts;    a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being located in one of said apertures; and    a membrane disposed between said first and second printed circuit boards, said membrane providing electrical insulation between said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards and permitting ionic transfer thereacross between said electrodes, and wherein    said electrodes located in apertures on said first printed circuit board being exposed to a fuel, and said electrodes located in apertures on said second printed circuit board being exposed to air.    
   
   
       17 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 11  and wherein each electronic shelf label also comprises at least one fuel cell powering said LCD display.  
   
   
       18 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 17  and wherein said at least one fuel cell comprises: 
 at least first and second printed circuit boards, each having electrical contacts printed thereon, said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards being in at least partial registration with each other, said at least first and second printed circuit boards being formed with a plurality of apertures generally surrounded by said electrical contacts;    a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being located in one of said apertures; and    a membrane disposed between said first and second printed circuit boards, said membrane providing electrical insulation between said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards and permitting ionic transfer thereacross between said electrodes, and wherein    said electrodes located in apertures on said first printed circuit board being exposed to a fuel, and said electrodes located in apertures on said second printed circuit board being exposed to air.    
   
   
       19 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 15  and wherein said fuel cell powering said LCD display includes a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said communicator.  
   
   
       20 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 17  and wherein said fuel cell powering said LCD display includes a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said communicator.  
   
   
       21 . An electronic shelf label comprising: 
 a housing;    an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;    at least one electrically powered illuminator;    at least one fuel cell powering said electrically driven display and said at least one electrically powered illuminator; and    a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source.    
   
   
       22 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 21  and wherein said at least one electrically powered illuminator and said electrically driven display have an average lifetime without requiring repowering of at least six months.  
   
   
       23 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 21  and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average mean power output of less than approximately 50 microwatts.  
   
   
       24 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 21  and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average peak power output of less than approximately 3 milliwatt.  
   
   
       25 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 21  and wherein said fuel tank is fluid refuelable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.  
   
   
       26 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 21  and wherein at least fuel storage element of said at least one fuel cell is replaceable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.  
   
   
       27 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 21  and also comprising an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said display and substantially filling a space between said display and said housing.  
   
   
       28 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 27  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer has an index of refraction which is selected so as to minimize reflection at interfaces between said at least partially transparent intermediate layer and both of said LCD display and said housing.  
   
   
       29 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 27  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said display and said housing so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       30 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 27  and wherein said index of refraction is identical to the index of refraction of at least one of said display and said housing.  
   
   
       31 . An electronic shelf label comprising: 
 a housing;    an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;    at least one fuel cell powering said electrically driven display, said at least one fuel cell including a fuel tank, filling generally the volume of said housing not occupied by said display and said communicator; and    a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source.    
   
   
       32 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 31  and also comprising at least one electrically powered illuminator, 
 and wherein said at least one electrically powered illuminator and said electrically driven display have an average lifetime without requiring repowering of at least six months.    
   
   
       33 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 31  and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average mean power output of less than approximately 50 microwatts.  
   
   
       34 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 31  and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average peak power output of less than approximately 3 milliwatt.  
   
   
       35 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 31  and wherein said fuel tank is fluid refuelable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.  
   
   
       36 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 31  and wherein at least fuel storage element of said at least one fuel cell is replaceable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.  
   
   
       37 . An electronic shelf label comprising: 
 a housing;    an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;    at least one electrically powered illuminator;    at least one replaceable energy source powering said electrically driven display and said at least one electrically powered illuminator; and    a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source, said at least one replaceable energy source being replaceable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.    
   
   
       38 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 37  and also comprising an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over said display and substantially filling a space between said display and said housing.  
   
   
       39 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 38  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer has an index of refraction which is selected so as to minimize reflection at interfaces between said at least partially transparent intermediate layer and both of said LCD display and said housing.  
   
   
       40 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 38  and wherein said at least partially transparent intermediate layer is located with respect to said display and said housing so as to substantially eliminate air gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       41 . A fuel cell comprising: 
 at least first and second printed circuit boards, each having electrical contacts printed thereon, said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards being in at least partial registration with each other, said at least first and second printed circuit boards being formed with a plurality of apertures generally surrounded by said electrical contacts;    a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being located in one of said apertures; and    a membrane disposed between said first and second printed circuit boards, said membrane providing electrical insulation between said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards and permitting ionic transfer thereacross between said electrodes, and wherein    said electrodes located in apertures on said first printed circuit board being exposed to a fuel, and said electrodes located in apertures on said second printed circuit board being exposed to air.    
   
   
       42 . An electronic shelf label comprising: 
 a flexible electrically driven display;    at least one flexible power supply powering said electrically driven display; and    a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source.    
   
   
       43 . An electronic shelf label system comprising: 
 a multiplicity of flexible electronic shelf labels, each including an IR transmitter for transmitting information relating to the electronic shelf label; and    at least one receiver receiving IR transmissions from said multiplicity of flexible electronic shelf labels.    
   
   
       44 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 43  and wherein said at least one receiver includes: 
 an IR sensor;    a non-IR visible light sensor; and    circuitry for employing an output of the non-IR visible light sensor for reducing interference in a signal band sensed by said IR sensor.    
   
   
       45 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 44  and wherein each of said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels comprises a flexible LCD display.  
   
   
       46 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 45  and wherein each electronic shelf label also comprises at least one fuel cell powering said LCD display.  
   
   
       47 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 46  and wherein said at least one fuel cell comprises: 
 at least first and second printed circuit boards, each having electrical contacts printed thereon, said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards being in at least partial registration with each other, said at least first and second printed circuit boards being formed with a plurality of apertures generally surrounded by said electrical contacts;    a plurality of electrodes, each electrode being located in one of said apertures; and    a membrane disposed between said first and second printed circuit boards, said membrane providing electrical insulation between said electrical contacts on said first and second printed circuit boards and permitting ionic transfer thereacross between said electrodes, and wherein    said electrodes located in apertures on said first printed circuit board being exposed to a fuel, and said electrodes located in apertures on said second printed circuit board being exposed to air.    
   
   
       48 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 46  and wherein said fuel cell powering said LCD display includes a fuel tank.  
   
   
       49 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 46  and wherein said at least one fuel cell has an average peak power output of less than approximately 3 milliwatt.  
   
   
       50 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 46  and wherein said one fuel tank is fluid refuelable without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.  
   
   
       51 . An electronic shelf label system comprising: 
 a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including an electronic display for displaying product information; and    a product information entry device which is operative to directly write product information to said electronic display when in propinquity thereto.    
   
   
       52 . An electronic shelf label system comprising: 
 a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including: 
 an IR receiver for receiving information relating to the electronic shelf label; and  
 an electronic display for displaying product information based on said information received by said IR receiver; and  
   at least one transmitter transmitting IR transmissions containing said information to said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels,    said at least one transmitter being characterized in that it transmits information including both price and product description.    
   
   
       53 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 52  and wherein said electronic display displays both said price and said product description.  
   
   
       54 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 53  and wherein said receiver receives said information including both price and product description.  
   
   
       55 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 53  and wherein said electronic display comprises a unitary LCD display.  
   
   
       56 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 53  and wherein said receiver receives said price information and wherein said product information is supplied to said electronic display other than via said receiver.  
   
   
       57 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 53  and wherein said electronic display comprises at least two separate LCD displays, at least one of which is operative to display price information received via said receiver and at least one of which is operative to display product information received other than via said receiver.  
   
   
       58 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 55  and also comprising a portable product information entry device which is operative to supply product information to said electronic display when in propinquity thereto.  
   
   
       59 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 58  and wherein said portable product information entry device is operative to receive a transmission from said transmitter including said product information and to provide said product information to said electronic display when in propinquity thereto.  
   
   
       60 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 52  and wherein said electronic shelf labels are flexible.  
   
   
       61 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 58  and wherein said portable product information entry device is operative to directly write product information onto said electronic display.  
   
   
       62 . A method of repowering an electronic shelf label including: 
 a housing;    an electrically driven display mounted in said housing;    at least one replaceable energy source powering said electrically driven display; and    a data communicator providing display data to said electrically driven display from an external data source, 
 the method comprising: 
 replacing said at least one replaceable energy source without requiring dismounting of said housing from a mounting location.  
 
   
   
   
       63 . An electronic shelf label system comprising: 
 a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels, each including: 
 an RF receiver for receiving information relating to the electronic shelf label; and  
 an electronic display for displaying product information based on said information received by said RF receiver; and  
   at least one transmitter transmitting RF transmissions containing said information to said multiplicity of electronic shelf labels,    said at least one transmitter being characterized in that it transmits information including both price and product description.    
   
   
       64 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 63  and wherein said electronic display displays both said price and said product description.  
   
   
       65 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 64  and wherein said receiver receives said information including both price and product description.  
   
   
       66 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 64  and wherein said electronic display comprises a unitary LCD display.  
   
   
       67 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 64  and wherein said receiver receives said price information and wherein said product information is supplied to said electronic display other than via said receiver.  
   
   
       68 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 64  and wherein said electronic display comprises at least two separate LCD displays, at least one of which is operative to display price information received via said receiver and at least one of which is operative to display product information received other than via said receiver.  
   
   
       69 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 66  and also comprising a portable product information entry device which is operative to supply product information to said electronic display when in propinquity thereto.  
   
   
       70 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 69  and wherein said portable product information entry device is operative to receive a transmission from said transmitter including said product information and to provide said product information to said electronic display when in propinquity thereto.  
   
   
       71 . An electronic shelf label according to  claim 63  and wherein said electronic shelf labels are flexible.  
   
   
       72 . An electronic shelf label system according to  claim 69  and wherein said portable product information entry device is operative to directly write product information onto said electronic display.