• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    An electronic price tag system, an electronic price tag, and a method of transferring information to an electronic price tag using a price tag system comprising base stations of an electronic price tag system, and an electronic price tag (103) comprising a display (102) and communication means. In a solution of the invention, a query is sent to a specific electronic price tag by means of electronic price tags and / or product locating means for determining the location of the electronic price tag, receiving a response from the electronic price tag by means of electronic price tags and / or product locating tools, and determining the location of the electronic price tag based on the response, and sending the request to the location of the electronic price tag system at the location of the electronic price tag. and / or command for an electronic price tag.
    公开号:FI20176008A1
    申请号:FI20176008
    申请日:2017-11-10
    公开日:2019-05-11
    发明作者:Jarmo Kivinen；Tero Männikkö；Antti Nurmi；Göran Sundholm；Juha Lindström
    申请人:Mariella Labels Oy；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    The invention relates to a method for transferring information to an electronic price tag, an electronic price tag and an electronic price tag system.
    Background of the Invention
    Traditionally, price tag information in stores is changed manually whenever a product's price changes. The new prices will be printed on paper 15 or equivalent and these labels, with their new price tags, will be manually placed in the space provided on the price tags on the shelves in the shop. In this case, the employee must first find the correct location for the price tag to be updated, after which the former price tag shall be removed and destroyed and the new price tag affixed. The disadvantage of these 20 solutions is, among other things, that the solution is extremely laborious and that the risk of errors is high. For example, in the event of an error, a situation may arise where there is conflicting price information between the price tags on the shelf and the price information in the cash register system.
    To avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, electronic systems have been developed which have electronic display units at the front of the shelves or products, and electronic displays thereof, to which product price information can be exchanged centrally from the system control center. This will make it easier and faster to update your price information significantly. The data 30 can be updated to the displays, wired or wireless, depending on the system. The problem with wired systems is that a wired connection must be provided for each display for data transfer and possibly also for power supply. For example, since in a normal grocery store there are quite a number of displays, there must also be a large number of wires 35, which causes problems and limitations, for example, in the placement of price displays.
    Wireless systems do not require complicated wiring, but similarly require a battery or battery powered price display
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 transceivers with antennas to communicate with a system control unit through appropriate communication means.
    In an attempt to minimize the power consumption of the display units and thereby extend the life of their batteries, one way of communicating between base stations and display units is that the transceiver located on the display units does not actually radio broadcast back at a specific time and in a certain way. The display unit may change the reflectivity of its own antenna, allowing the display unit to acknowledge or respond to base station messages with simple response messages.
    Current radio-based wireless electronic price tag systems are in power-saving mode most of the time to minimize energy consumption. They switch from the power save mode to the listening mode / reception mode at predetermined intervals, and only then can the message addressed to the electronic tag be received with an electronic price tag. Thus, the problem with current electronic price tag systems is that messages and commands for an electronic price tag do not immediately reach the electronic price tag, but only after the electronic price tag has awakened from a power saving mode at a predetermined time. If a particular access point does not reach a particular electronic price tag within its operating range, the search for the tag must be continued within the operating range of other access points. The above described search of an electronic price tag by electronic radio frequency tag system takes time and it may not be possible to carry out shipments to the other price tags during the search. This is a problem especially for electronic price tags attached to products as their position in the store can change frequently.
    Brief Description of the Invention
    The object of the solution of the invention is to eliminate the problems of the prior art. The method according to the invention is characterized by what is mentioned in the characterizing part of claim 1. Kek3
    The process of the invention is further characterized by what is stated in claims 2-8. The system according to the invention is characterized by what is mentioned in the characterizing part of the system claim 9. The system according to the invention is also characterized by what is mentioned in the characterizing part of claims 10 to 28 concerning the system.
    In a solution according to an embodiment of the invention, an inquiry is sent to a particular electronic price tag by means of electronic price tags and / or revenue locating means. A response is then received from the electronic price tag by means of means for locating electronic price tags and / or products and determining the location of the electronic price tag based on the response. On the basis of the determined location, a request and / or command is sent to the electronic price tag based on the base station of the electronic price tag system operating in the area of the determined location.
    The idea of a solution of an embodiment of the invention is to locate an electronic price tag, for example, in a situation where the electronic price tag cannot be accessed from its previous base station area or the last 20 positions of the electronic price tag are unknown. Positioning can be done using a system separate from the electronic tag system, and once the location of the tag is known, the system can send information such as price information or instructions to the electronic tag based on the base station of the electronic tag system operating in the area. 25 The identification of the electronic price tag can be performed by means of an identifier in the electronic price tag. The positioning system may be based on a technology other than the communication between the electronic price tag system between the base stations and the electronic price tags. In one embodiment of the invention, the identifier used in positioning the electronic price tag 30 is an RFID identifier.
    An electronic price tag system according to one embodiment of the invention is a bidirectional radio frequency price tag system comprising base stations adapted to communicate with electronic price tags so that the electronic price tags reflect the transmission received from the base station.
    The system may also comprise means for locating tags used for positioning in electronic price tags, e.g.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 How to read RFID tags Such means may be arranged in conjunction with the base stations. Such equipment may also be provided separately from the base stations of the electronic price tag system.
    Devices for locating electronic price tags, such as an RFID reader, may utilize antennas of an electronic RFID system or may be provided with a dedicated antenna or multiple antennas.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag system 10 is adapted to store information about the previous location of the electronic price tags.
    The electronic price tag used in the system of the invention comprises communication means by which the electronic price tag can communicate with the radio frequency electronic price tag system, for example, by reflecting the transmission it has received. The electronic price tag also includes an identifier, such as an RFID tag, or other location tag that can be used to locate an electronic price tag.
    An advantage of the above described arrangement is that the RFID or other positioning aid system enables the electronic price tag to be located faster than in the case of a radio frequency electronic price tag system in which the electronic price tag responds to the support station by reflecting the received message. When it is known which electronic price tag system is within the coverage area of an access point, it is more advantageous to communicate via a radio frequency electronic price tag system than, for example, an RFID system because this consumes less energy in the 30 electronic price tag. The solution according to the invention improves the communication efficiency of the electronic price tag system because the time-consuming tag search activities do not have to be performed with the electronic price tag system. If the electronic tagging was performed via a radio frequency bidirectional tagging system, the positioning of 35 specific electronic tagging could interrupt all other electronic tag tag transmissions while searching for a particular tag.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    It is also an object of one embodiment of the invention to provide an inexpensive, reliable and compact electronic price tag that can communicate reliably with an RFID system.
    In an embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag comprises a display for displaying product related information, at least one communication module, and an RFID antenna connected to the communication module, comprising two portions, a first antenna portion arranged on an electronic price tag circuit board and a second antenna portion is arranged in connection with the housing part of the electronic price tag, separate from the circuit board.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the second antenna portion is disposed inside and / or on the inside of the housing of the electronic price tag and / or at least partially within the housing structure. For example, the second antenna portion may be integrated directly into the injection molding, painted on the inside surface of the shell, and / or mechanically attached to the shell.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the second antenna part comprises two 20 dipole arms.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the first antenna part is arranged on a flexible or hard printed circuit board. The first antenna portion may be provided on one side or both sides of the circuit board. The first antenna part may serve as an antenna matching and / or radiating member.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag further comprises other means of communication. The other communication means may be communication means adapted to communicate via a near field, e.g., NFC. The second communication means may be communication means adapted to communicate via a far field, e.g., a radio frequency electronic price tag system.
    In an embodiment where the electronic price tag also comprises communication means by which the electronic price tag can communicate with the radio frequency electronic price tag system, the electronic price tag system can utilize the communication with the tags6.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 Both RFID and Radio Frequency communication, where the electronic price tag reflects the transmission it has received. In this case, for example, the electronic price tag system may locate a particular electronic price tag via RFID, and when the location of that price tag 5 is known, the system may send information such as price information or instructions to the electronic price tag at the base station operating in that area.
    The electronic price tag structure described above achieves a number of significant advantages when compared to prior art solutions.
    The structure illustrated allows the RFID antenna to be located as far away from the interfering components as the display and the battery, which form the ground plane. Since the size of the electronic price tag is to be kept small, the electronic price tag circuit board must also be 15 small. In this case, the performance of the RFID antenna would be poor if placed on a circuit board as it would be in the immediate vicinity of the interfering components. Through the solution described, the performance of the antenna can be maintained and at the same time a compact design for the electronic price tag is achieved. With the help of the RFID antenna, the electronic price tag and its associated product can be monitored, for example, in the supply chain and in the store, as well as, for example, in a locker room.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to Figures 1-5, in which Figure 1 is a schematic and simplified representation of an electronic price tag system according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 4A Figure 5A Figure 5B illustrates a simplified structure of an electronic price tag according to an embodiment of the invention, shows an oblique structure of an electronic price tag according to another embodiment of the invention and shows a side elevation view of the electronic price tag according to the embodiment shown in Figure 5A.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    Figure 1 is a schematic and simplified view of an arrangement according to the invention which may be used, for example, in a shop or similar sales space. Electronic price tags 103 may be affixed to the products and / or shelves. The electronic price tag display 102 is arranged to display product-related information such as price, product name, and possibly other product-related information. Electronic price tags may communicate with the rest of the system via base stations 104.
    In addition to the electronic price tags, the electronic price tag system according to one embodiment of the invention may include at least communication means 106, such as a central radio unit 105 with a radio transmitter, through which base price 104 may send electronic price tags 103 such as updated price information and other control information. In addition, the system has been able to connect product scanners with cash registers and connected to the cash register system, so that the cash register system and electronic price tags always have the same up-to-date information on product prices. The central unit 105 may be further connected to other control and support systems. The wireless connection between the base stations 104 and the electronic price tags 103 is illustrated by arrows.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    The electronic price tag used in the system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises communication means by which the electronic price tag can communicate with the radio frequency electronic price tag system. In addition, in this embodiment, the electronic price tag also comprises an identifier used for locating the tag, e.g., an RFID tag. The electronic price tag system utilizes tagging, such as RFID, to communicate with the tags, as well as radio frequency communication, where the electronic tag reflects the back of its broadcast. In this case, the electronic price tag system can locate a specific electronic price tag identifier, such as RFID, and when the location of that price tag is known, the system can send information to the electronic price tag via radio frequency bidirectional communication, such as price information or instructions. For example, positioning can be performed by first sending a query by means of means to locate a price tag, e.g., via RFID, to an electronic price tag. When the electronic price tag answers the inquiry, the system quickly discovers which electronic price tag system is within the coverage area of the base station 20. Thereafter, the electronic price tag system may send a new price information and / or command to the electronic price tag at said base station using a radio frequency communication method in which the electronic price tag may respond to the message by reflecting back the message received.
    An advantage of the above arrangement is that the electronic price tag identifier can be used to locate the electronic price tag faster than in the case of a radio frequency electronic price tag system, in which the electronic price tag responds to the base station by reflecting the received message. When it is known which electronic price tag system is within the coverage area of an access point, it is cheaper to communicate via a radio frequency electronic price tag system than, for example, an RFID system, since this consumes less energy in the electronic price tag.
    In one embodiment of the invention, positioning is performed only if the electronic price tag does not match its previous location or the previous location is not known to the system, as may be the case
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 For example, for new products coming to the store and price tags attached to them.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag system may also provide a price tag-specific list of possible base stations within the range of which a particular price tag may be found. In the list, different base stations can be ordered, for example, based on the probability of finding a particular electronic price tag in the operating area of each base station. If a tag is accessed prior to the area of a particular base station, the priority of that base station can be increased in the order of the base stations of a given price tag. If the tag cannot be accessed from a particular base station area, the priority of that base station can be lowered in the order of the base stations of a particular price tag. The result of positioning by R.FID or other means may also be used to arrange the base station list for a particular hin 15 base station according to the base station under which the electronic price tag is likely to be found. In this case, the priority of the base station of the electronic price tag system in whose territory the electronic price tag can be found by means of means for locating the price tags may be raised in the list of base stations. Such an arrangement enables the electronic price20 tag system to adapt to the changing environment and to keep transmissions in the areas of base stations that are wrong for a given price tag. In the list of base stations, the product group associated with that price tag, which may be more likely to occur in one base station than in another base station, may also be used as ranking criteria. The life cycle stage of the product or price tag associated with that price tag may also be used as ranking criteria. In one embodiment of the invention, the transmission uses a base station in the range of which the electronic price tag is most likely to be located, i.e., a base station which is the first in the 30-tag base station list.
    The following is a more detailed example of what an electronic price tag, for example, can be attached to a product. The electronic price tag is fitted with a display-mounted display controller 35 and an antenna receiver as well as a power supply, such as a standard battery. The power supply is arranged to supply electrical energy to the electronic price tag and its graphics card. Price information or other information displayed on the screen via the receiver and the graphics card can be wirelessly updated from the central unit
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 by hand. In this embodiment, the update and control information is transmitted by radio waves, but other means of communication are possible. Each electronic price tag forms a thin, paper-based price tag with a display, whereby changing the colors of the display segments 5, the necessary product prices with other necessary brands are formed. The color of the display segments as well as the background is changed by an electric field formed by an electric current, as described above.
    The display of the electronic price tag used in the system according to the invention can be implemented, for example, as an electronic laminate display which forms a thin paper price tag with display segments in which the display segment information is changed by displaying product related information, e.g. One layer of the display, for example, is an active ink layer. The ink layer has a plurality of fluid-filled microcapsules having, for example, positively surface-loaded, substantially black particles, and negatively surface-charged, substantially white particles whose position in the microcapsules is controlled by an electric field such that the black for the display segments, the white particles are at the top, making these display segments appear light when viewed. The background of the display is made up of the same microcapers, so that, for example, price information can be represented in dark numbers against a light background, or vice versa. For example, the electrophoretic microcapsule display laminate disclosed in Finnish Patent Application No. FI 20050192 may be used as such evidence.
    In the following, the communication of an electronic price tag with a base station by means of a reflector is described in further detail and by way of example. between the unit and a system controlling it wirelessly in an embodiment of the invention.
    Base stations can communicate with display units by transmitting signals that all display units listen to and from which a single display unit identifies its command based on a particular display unit identifier. After receiving the moon
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 permission command, a single display unit may respond to a base station by reflecting the base station's own transmission back to the base station by a phase shift caused by a certain time delay and at a given time. Typically, after transmitting 5 commands for a particular price display, the base station begins to transmit for a certain period of time, for example, a particular type of carrier which the price display recognizing the command reflects back at a certain phase shift. Thus, the base station is able to recognize the reflection response as belonging to a particular price display because it can expect it for a given period of time. after sending 10 unique commands. From its own source, the base station can distinguish a much lower reflective response based on the phase shift produced by the display device.
    In the exemplary arrangement, the electronic price tag includes space-changing means for switching the receiver antenna space between at least two different modes, for example, in the first mode the antenna has a good reflection property and the second mode has a poor reflection property. Correspondingly, the antenna spaces can be adjusted by means of space shift means so that the antenna reflects radio waves in different phases in different states. Thus, in this case 20, the electronic price tag is adapted to vary the antenna state of its receiver to produce a certain encoded reflection having different time delays according to the antenna state. The communication means connected to the base station interpret the various time delays as encoded data signals transmitted by the electronic price tag, on the basis of which, for example, the communication means 25 recognize each electronic price tag.
    The simplest of the above coding is that the electronic price tag reflects the carrier transmitted by the communication means, which may be, for example, 685 MHz, such that the electronic price tag grounding the receiver antenna by means of space means, for example 150 kHz. Thus, the electronic price tag affects the reflected signal by changing the antenna status. In this reflection, the phase shift experienced by the signal would preferably be 180 to 35 degrees, whereby the detection of low power reflection on the communication means is at its best. Electronic price tags are in power saving mode most of the time and sometimes change their status to reception mode. In Reception mode, they can detect messages sent to them, such as new pricing information, and execute commands they receive.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    After sending the command, the central unit of the equipment can send information about changes and / or changes made in the electronic price tag mode to the POS system, for example, via the network. The device may also receive information intended for transmission to a particular electronic price tag via a network, e.g., a POS system. Such information may include, for example, price information displayed on an electronic price tag display or shutdown information.
    The use of the invention is not limited only to price displays using display technology such as those described above, but it is clear that the price displays themselves may be implemented using any known technology. The solution described above focuses specifically on how to efficiently organize the communication between electronic price tags and an electronic price tag system.
    Figures 2 and 3 illustrate in simplified form the base stations of an electronic price tag system according to some embodiments of the invention. The base station according to these embodiments comprises communication means for bidirectional radio frequency communication with electronic price tags affixed, for example, to products on shelves 210. The base station is adapted to communicate with the electronic price tags so that the electronic price tags reflect the transmission received from the base station. The system also comprises means for locating tags used for positioning in electronic price tags, e.g., means for reading RFID tags. In the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3, the base station of the electronic price tag system and the means for locating the price tags use the same antennas. In this way, positioning can also reliably determine which area of the base station the electronic price tag is located. For example, the system may alternate traffic between the devices for locating electronic price tags and the base stations of electronic price tags and / or allocate uptime to different units as needed.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the RFID system and the radio frequency electronic price tag system can operate in substantially the same frequency range, whereby the same base station antenna of the electronic price tag system can be used for both RFID
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 for communication and communication with the radio frequency electronic price tag system. Here, the base station of the electronic price tag system may comprise a switch adapted to connect the same antenna to the RFID communication means and the electronic radio frequency tag system communication means alternately and / or as required.
    In the embodiment of Figure 2, the means for locating the price tag are arranged in connection with the base stations. In the case of this embodiment, the means 10 for locating the price tags is an RFID reader 206 connected to the base station 202 of the electronic price tag system by wired or wireless means, such as a USB interface. The RFID reader 206 and the base station 202 may be housed in a common unit, even if they are separate functional units. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the RFID15 reader 206 and the base station 202 use the same antennas 208.
    The embodiment of Figure 3 otherwise corresponds to the embodiment of Figure 2, but in which the means for locating the electronic price tags are integrated with the base station 204 of the electronic price tag system. The means for locating the electronic labels and the base station utilize the same antennas 212. The means for locating the electronic labels may be an RFID reader.
    Thus, the means for locating the tags may also be provided separately from the base stations of the electronic tagging system and / or may use their own and separate antennas.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag system may further comprise security gates, and the alarm signal may be based on the response of the security ports when the electronic price tag is passed through the security gate.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag system may further comprise RFID readers, which may be provided e.g. at exits, e.g., above. In this embodiment, the alarm signal may be based on the response of the RFID reader when an electronic price tag comprising the RFID tag is introduced into the read range of the RFID reader.
    Figure 4 shows a schematic and simplified view of an electronic price tag 400 according to the invention.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    400 comprises a display (not shown in the figures), such as a laminate display, arranged to display product price and / or product information. Other information related to the product, such as the product name, may also be displayed on the front of the electronic price tag. The body of the electronic price5 tag may be of a hard material and construction, or may be elastic and pliable. The electronic price tag electronics can be placed inside or in conjunction with the body. The electronic price tag display is equipped with display segments or pixels. The electronic price tag 400 may resemble a paper price tag on which the required product prices 10 and other required symbols are formed by changing the colors of the display segments or pixels. The display may be bi-colored or multi-colored. The electronic price tag may have an opening or other securing means for attaching the electronic price tag to the product.
    In one embodiment of the invention, one layer of the display is, for example, an active ink layer. The ink layer contains a plurality of microcapsules filled with liquid, for example containing substantially black particles with a positive surface charge and controlled by an electric field such that in desired display segments black particles are on, said display segment appearing black when viewed above and other display segments. the particles are on top, where these display segments look white from above. The background of the display consists of the same microcapsules where, for example, price information can be displayed in dark 25 numbers against a light background or vice versa if desired. Such a display being used may be, for example, the electrophoretic microcapsule display laminate described in Finnish Patent Application FI 20050192. In one embodiment of the invention, the surface of the electronic price tag is substantially flat. The electronic price tag can also carry the battery 410.
    An electronic price tag according to an embodiment of the invention comprises communication means by which it can communicate with an R.FID system or an RFID reader. In a solution according to one embodiment of the invention 35, the electronic price tag RFID antenna comprises two parts, the first part arranged on the electronic price tag circuit board and the second part connected to the electronic price tag cover part or integrated into the electronic price tag body. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the first antenna part 404 is formed
    The second antenna part consists of two dipole arms 407,408 connected to the first antenna part and arranged in connection with the casing part separately from the circuit board. The first antenna part 404 may act as an adaptation (inductance) and / or radiating part of the antenna 5.
    In one embodiment of the invention, a first antenna portion 404, e.g., a loop, is secured to the circuit board through only one soldering point 408, thereby achieving a smaller size than would be the case when multiple soldering points were used to connect the antenna portion to the circuit board.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag comprises communication means in addition to RFID communication means. The second communication means may be, for example, communication means by which the electronic price tag 15 can communicate with the radio frequency electronic price tag system and its base stations. In this embodiment, these communication means allow the electronic price tags to listen to the transmission transmitted by the electronic price tag system and to identify a command belonging to it based on a particular tag 20 per tag. Upon receipt of its own command, a single electronic price tag may respond to the base station by reflecting the base station's own transmission back to the base station by a phase shift caused by a certain time delay and at a given time. Typically, after sending a command for a given price tag, the base station of the electronic price tag system 25 begins to transmit for a certain period of time, for example, a particular type of carrier which the tag recognizing the command reflects back at a certain phase shift. Thus, in this embodiment, the base station of the electronic price tag system is able to recognize the reflective response as belonging to a particular price tag because it can expect it for a given period of time. after sending a unique command to the price tag. From its own source, the base station can distinguish a much lower reflective response based on the phase shift produced by the display device.
    In the above embodiment, the electronic price tag may have communication means having space changing means for switching the receiver antenna mode between at least two different modes, for example in the first mode the antenna has a good reflection property and the second mode has a poor reflection property. Similarly, the antenna spaces can be
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 adjusts the space switching means so that the antenna reflects the radio waves in different phases in different spaces. Thus, in this case, the electronic price tag may be adapted to vary the antenna state of its receiver to produce a certain encoded reflection having different time delays according to the antenna state 5. The base stations of the electronic price tag system may interpret different time delays as encoded data signals transmitted by the electronic price tags, which, for example, allow the base stations to identify each display unit. The simplest of the above coding may be that the electronic price tag may reflect back a carrier transmitted by the base station, which may be for example 685 MHz, such that the electronic price tag grounding the receiver antenna at 150 kHz, thereby producing a reflected signal. Thus, the electronic price tag may affect the reflected signal by changing the status of the 15in antenna. In this reflection, the phase shift experienced by the signal can be, for example, 180 degrees. The communication method described above is only one example and the communication between the electronic price tag and the base station of the electronic price tag system according to the invention can be arranged in other known ways.
    In an embodiment wherein the electronic price tag also comprises communication means for communicating with the radio frequency electronic price tag system, the electronic price tag system may utilize both RFID and radio frequency communication in its communication with the tags. In this case, for example, the electronic price tag system may locate a particular electronic price tag using RFID, and when the location of that price tag is known, the system may send information, such as price information or instructions, to the electronic price tag at 30 base stations operating in that area. For example, positioning can be performed by first sending an inquiry via RFID to an electronic price tag. When the electronic price tag responds to the inquiry, the system quickly identifies the base area of the electronic price tag system in which the electronic price tag is located. Thereafter, the electronic price tag system may send a new price information and / or command to the electronic price tag at said base station using a radio frequency communication method in which the electronic price tag may respond to the message by reflecting back the message received.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    An advantage of the above arrangement is that RFID can be used to locate the electronic price tag faster than in the case of a radio frequency electronic price tag system in which the electronic price tag 5 responds to the base station by reflecting back the received message.
    Knowing which electronic tagging system is within the coverage area of the base station, it is cheaper to communicate via a radio frequency electronic tagging system than an RFID system because it consumes less energy in an electronic tag. Also, the communication efficiency of the electronic price tag system is improved because the time-consuming tag search activities do not have to be performed with the electronic price tag system. If electronic tagging was performed via a tag, the positioning of a given tag could interrupt all 15 other electronic tag submissions during a particular tag search.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the RFID system and the radio frequency electronic price tag system can operate in substantially the same frequency range, whereby the same electronic price tag antenna can be used for both communication via RFID and communication with the radio frequency electronic price tag system. Herein, the electronic price tag may comprise a switch adapted to connect the same antenna to the RFID communication means 25 and the electronic radio frequency price tag communication means alternately and / or as needed.
    The second communication means may be, in one embodiment of the invention, communication means adapted to communicate over 30 NFCs.
    In one embodiment of the invention, electronic price tags can be communicated via the RFID system alone. For example, new price information and / or commands can be sent via RFID.
    Figures 5A-5B show an embodiment arranged to operate according to the same principle as the embodiment shown in Figure 4. In the embodiment shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the first antenna part 504 of the electronic price tag 500 is arranged on the circuit board 502 and
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017 The second antenna part and its dipole arms 506, 507 are arranged to pass along the inner surface of the side wall of the shell part 514. The shell portion 514 in this embodiment is provided with a guide structure 512 consisting of walls arranged adjacent to the side walls 5 of the shell portion 514 such that space is provided between the guide walls and the side walls of the shell portion for dipole arms 506, 507 of the second antenna portion.
    Like the above embodiments, the price tag shown in the figures corresponds to the embodiments otherwise shown in the previous figures and includes, for example, a display for displaying product-related information.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag further comprises another antenna, separate from the RFID antenna, which is arranged inside or outside the electronic price tag and may function, for example, as an antenna for an electronic price tag system or an NFC antenna.
    The invention also relates to an electronic price tag system comprising a plurality of electronic price tags and at least one base station adapted to send and receive information with any of the 20 electronic price tags.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag comprises anti-theft features.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the body, front face and / or back face and / or fastening means of the electronic price tag are substantially flexible. In one embodiment of the invention, the shell portion, the body portion, the front surface and / or the rear surface and / or the protective member of the price tag are substantially hard and inflexible.
    The invention also relates to an electronic price tag 400, 500 comprising a display for displaying product related information. The electronic price tag further comprises at least one communication module, and an RFID antenna connected to the communication module, comprising two portions 35, the first antenna part 404, 504 being arranged on the electronic price tag circuit board 402, 502, and the second antenna part 406, 407, 506, 507 the first antenna part, is arranged in connection with the electronic price tag cover part 514, separated from the circuit board 402, 502.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    In one embodiment of the invention, the second antenna portion 406, 407, 406, 407 of the electronic price tag is disposed inside and / or on the inner surface of the electronic price tag shell portion 514 and / or at least partially within the shell portion 514 structure.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the second antenna portion of the electronic price tag is integrated directly into the injection molding of the shell portion 514, painted on the inner surface of the shell portion 514 and / or mechanically connected to the shell portion 514.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the second antenna portion of the electronic price tag comprises two dipole arms 406, 407, 506, 507.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the first antenna portion 404, 504 of the electronic price tag is provided on a flexible or hard printed circuit board 402, 502.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the first antenna portion 404, 504 of the electronic price tag is provided on both sides of the circuit board 20 402, 502.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the first antenna part 404, 504 of the electronic price tag is arranged to act as a matching and / or radiating member of the RFID antenna.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag 400, 500 further comprises second means of communication.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the other communication means of the electronic price tag are communication means adapted to communicate via a near field, e.g., NFC.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the second communication means of the electronic price tag are communication means adapted to communicate via a far field, e.g., a radio frequency electronic price tag system.
    In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic price tag comprises anti-theft features.
    It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the invention are not limited solely to the examples set forth above and may therefore vary within the scope of claims 5 below. If necessary, the symbols which may be presented in the specification together with other characteristics may also be used separately.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1]
    1. A method for transmitting information to an electronic price tag by means of a price tag system comprising:
    [2]
    Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the location of the electronic price tag is determined only in the situation,
    20 where the last position of the electronic price tag is not known and / or the electronic price tag does not respond to the command and / or request sent by the base station to the base station operating in its previous location.
    [3]
    Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized
    25 that the electronic price tag system is a bidirectional radio frequency electronic price tag system in which a request and / or command for the electronic price tag is transmitted from the electronic price tag base station and the electronic price tags respond to the base station by reflecting back to the base station transmission.
    [4]
    Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for locating the electronic price tags and / or products is an RFID transmitter and the electronic price tags comprise an RFID tag.
    [5]
    The system is characterized in that the first antenna part (404, 504) of the electronic price tag is arranged on both sides of the circuit board (402, 502).
    A system according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the first antenna part (404, 504) of the electronic price tag is arranged to act as an adapter part and / or a radiator part of the RFID antenna.
    System according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the electronic price tag (400, 500) further comprises second means of communication.
    A system according to claim 20, characterized in that the second means of communication of the electronic price tag are communication devices.
    20 communication means adapted to communicate with a near field, e.g., NFC.
    A system according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the second means of communication for the electronic price tag
    25 are communication means adapted to communicate via a far field, e.g., a radio frequency electronic price tag system.
    A method according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 22, characterized in that the system is adapted to store the location of the electronic price tag (103) in the system.
    A system according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 23, characterized in that the electronic price tag system
    35 is adapted to form a list of base stations in the range of which a particular price tag may be found, in which list the base stations are arranged based on the probability of finding a particular electronic price tag in the range of each base station.
    A system according to claim 24, characterized in that the system is adapted to determine, at least in part, the order of the base station list based on the location of the electronic price tag by means of means for locating electronic price tags.
    A system according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the system is adapted to use a base station which is first in the list of base stations for a given price tag to send a command and / or command to an electronic price tag.
    A price tag system according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 26, characterized in that the system is adapted to provide an alarm signal.
    5, and electronic price tags are adapted to respond to the base station by reflecting back to the base station's transmission.
    At 5 distances, a specific electronic price tag can be found within the range of each base station.
    Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the location of the electronic price tag (103) is stored in the system.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    5 stations and an electronic price tag (103) comprising a display (102) and means of communication, characterized in that the method:
    sending a query to a specific electronic price tag using electronic price tag and / or product locator to determine the location of the electronic price tag, receiving a response from the electronic price tag using electronic price tag and / or product locating means, and determining the location of the electronic price tag and / or command for an electronic price tag.
    [6]
    A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic price tag system forms a list of base stations in the range of which a particular price tag may be found, in which list the base stations are arranged based on which
    [7]
    A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the order of the base station list is determined at least in part by electrical means
    [8]
    Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, when sending a command and / or command to an electronic
    The 15 bots use a base station that is first in the base station list for a particular price tag.
    [9]
    An electronic price tag system, characterized in that it comprises at least one base station (104), means for electronic price tag
    20 for positioning and electronic price tags (103) comprising a display (102) and communication means, wherein the system is adapted to send a query to a particular electronic price tag by means of location of electronic price tags and / or products to determine the electronic price tag;
    25 receiving a response from the electronic price tag by means of means for locating electronic price tags and / or products and determining the location of the electronic price tag based on the response, and sending a request and / or command to the electronic price tag 30.
    [10]
    System according to claim 9, characterized in that the system is adapted to determine the location of the electronic price tag only in a situation where the last position of the electronic price tag is not
    35 is not known and / or the electronic price tag does not respond to the command and / or request sent by the base station to the base station in its previous location.
    20176008 prh 10-11-2017
    10 price tags based on the location of the electronic price tag determined by means of location tags.
    [11]
    System according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the electronic price tag system is a bidirectional radio frequency electronic price tag system adapted to send a request and / or command to the electronic price tag for an electronic price tag.
    [12]
    System according to any one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the means for locating the electronic price tags and / or products is an RFID transmitter and the electronic price tags comprise an RFID tag.
    [13]
    13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic price tag further comprises at least one
    15 communication modules, and an RFID antenna connected to the communication module, comprising two parts, of which:
    - the first antenna part (404, 504) is arranged on the electronic price tag circuit board (402, 502), and
    a second antenna part (406, 407, 506, 507) connected to the first antenna part of the en20 is arranged in connection with the electronic price tag cover part (514), separate from the circuit board (402, 502).
    [14]
    System according to claim 13, characterized in that the second antenna part (406, 407, 506, 507) of the electronic price tag
    25 is disposed on the inside and / or on the inside and / or at least part of the structure of the cover (514) of the electronic price tag.
    System according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the second antenna part of the electronic price tag is integrated
    30 directly on the injection molding of the shell portion (514), painted on the inner surface of the shell portion (514) and / or mechanically bonded to the shell portion (514).
    A system according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the second
    The 35 portion comprises two dipole arms (406, 407, 506, 507).
    A system according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the electronic price tag first
    The antenna portion (404, 504) of the 20176008 prh 10-11-2017 is arranged on a flexible or hard circuit board (402, 502).
    The process of any one of the preceding claims 13-17.
    [15]
    A price tag system according to any one of claims 9 to 27, characterized in that the electronic price tag system further comprises RFID readers and / or security gates and the alarm signal is based on the response of the RFID readers and / or security gates when the electronic price tag is applied through the safety evaporator.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP3707664A1|2020-09-16|
    WO2019092306A1|2019-05-16|
    EP3707664A4|2021-06-30|
    FI129346B|2021-12-15|
    引用文献:
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    CA2175032A1|1995-10-05|1997-04-06|John C. Goodwin, Iii|System for determining location of electronic price labels for merchand-ise in store shelves|
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    TWI402532B|2008-09-09|2013-07-21|Architecture And Building Res Inst Ministry Of The Interior|RFID tag positioning and calculus method|
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    FI20116014A|2011-10-13|2013-04-14|Marisense Oy|Information transfer in electronic price tag systems|
    FI125570B|2014-03-26|2015-11-30|Mariella Labels Oy|An arrangement, system and method for reducing interference to radio frequencies in an electronic price tag system|
    US20170323317A1|2016-05-04|2017-11-09|Mariella Labels Oy|Electronic price label system|
    法律状态:
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    FI20176008A|FI129346B|2017-11-10|2017-11-10|Method for transferring information on an electronic price label, electronic price label and eletronic price label system|FI20176008A| FI129346B|2017-11-10|2017-11-10|Method for transferring information on an electronic price label, electronic price label and eletronic price label system|
    PCT/FI2018/050694| WO2019092306A1|2017-11-10|2018-09-26|Method for transferring data to an electronic price label, an electronic price label and an electronic price label system|
    EP18877115.8A| EP3707664A4|2017-11-10|2018-09-26|Method for transferring data to an electronic price label, an electronic price label and an electronic price label system|
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