Remote Controlled Separable Electronic Price Tag

Abstract

An electronic price tag is composed of separable internal and display modules and is adapted for wireless adjustment. The ID module is mounted to the goods at, for example, a point of manufacture for the goods, and contains a transponder and CPU, a receiver/decoder module, for example a horn, mounted to the placard for receiving signals from a remote location and decoding same to be inputted to the price display field and an electrically controlled latching mechanism to temporarily hold the modules together. The display module consists of a display placard, a plurality of price display fields on the placard. The separated ID module is capable of performing security and inventory functions where display is not needed. The display module is reusable and may contain a rechargeable battery.

1 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . An electronic price tag comprising 
 an ID module identifying a particular stock keeping unit,    a physically separate display module having display elements, said separate display module capable of communication with said ID module, and    a third module, separate from both the ID module and the display module, in communications with the ID module, to determine the identity of the stock keeping unit and capable of communicating information based upon that identity to the display module.    
   
   
       5 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . An electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module, 
 said ID module comprising    means for communicating a signal determining the identification of the stock keeping unit in response to an interrogating signal,    means for receiving and storing information concerning the stock keeping unit,    wherein said display module comprises    display elements,    means for connecting to the ID module,    means to determine display content, and    means to receive and store information to be displayed.    
   
   
       9 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein the information concerning the stock keeping unit may be provided in firmware.  
   
   
       10 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein the information concerning the stock keeping unit may be stored in firmware upon receipt by the ID module.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein information is provided to the ID module after the ID module is attached to the stock keeping unit.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said display module further comprises a power supply.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said display module further comprises a transponder that derives its power from a received electromagnetic signal.  
   
   
       14 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein the ID module identifies a stock keeping unit and contains information about its pricing and pricing adjustments.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said display elements comprise LCDs.  
   
   
       16 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said display elements comprise electronic ink or other persistent electronic markers.  
   
   
       17 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said means for connecting to the ID module comprises a physical connection.  
   
   
       18 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said means for connecting to the ID module comprises an electromagnetic connection.  
   
   
       19 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said means to determine display content comprises an algorithm utilizing information obtained from the ID module.  
   
   
       20 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said means to determine display content comprises an algorithm utilizing information communicated to the display module.  
   
   
       21 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 8 , wherein said means to receive and store information to be displayed uses some information independent of the information received from the ID module.  
   
   
       22 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 21 , said means to receive and store information to be displayed comprises communications components onboard the display module.  
   
   
       23 . The electronic price tag comprising an ID module identifying a stock keeping unit and a physically separate display module of  claim 22 , wherein said communications components onboard the display module comprises a transponder assembly.  
   
   
       24 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . An ID module for a separable electronic price tag system comprising 
 an attachment to mount the ID module to a product at a point of manufacture/distribution;    an electronic adjustment assembly comprising    an antenna for receiving the wireless signal;    a filter connected to the antenna to filter out wireless signals to which the electronic price tag is non-responsive;    a decoder connected to the filter to identify a product code in the signal corresponding to encoded data in the decoder;    a signal processor connected to the decoder for converting data in the wireless signal to digital data;    a processing unit connected to the signal processor.    
   
   
       44 . The ID module of  claim 43  further comprising a standby element interconnecting the filter and the decoder for determining whether to provide an actuating signal to the price tag sufficient-to adjust the price of the product.  
   
   
       45 . A separable electronic price tag system adjustable by a wireless signal, comprising 
 an ID module comprising    an attachment to mount the ID module to a product;    an electronic adjustment assembly comprising    a device for receiving the wireless signal;    a standby element to adjust the price of the product;    a processing unit connected to the signal processor;    a separable display module comprising    an transponder assembly comprising    an antenna for receiving the wireless signal;    a filter connected to the antenna to filter out unintended wireless signals    a decoder connected to the filter to identify a product code in the signal corresponding to encoded data in the decoder;    a standby element interconnecting the filter and the decoder for determining whether to provide an actuating signal to the price tag sufficient-to adjust the price of the product;    a signal processor connected to the decoder for converting data in the wireless signal to digital data;    a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the signal processor;    a support platform having a plurality of surfaces    a tag display,    a connector control, and    a power source,    a plurality of driver elements, for activating corresponding displays in the separable display module;    said ID module and separable display module being temporarily connected by a latch system, said latch system comprising    a receiver in said ID module for a connector in said separable display module,    a plunger in said ID module biased to secure said connector to said receiver.    
   
   
       46 . The separable electronic price tag system of  claim 45 , wherein said power source is mounted to the back surface of the support platform for powering the electronic price tag to display the price information and to energize the electromagnetic plunger in said ID module and, when said ID module is connected to said separable display module by said latch system, to power said CPU and other electronic components of said ID module.  
   
   
       47 . The separable electronic price tag system of  claim 46 , wherein said latch system comprises 
 electrical connectors completing a circuit path only when said latch is engaged, said circuit path comprising    slip ring brush type connectors,    a power control wire, and    a ground negative wire.    
   
   
       48 . The separable electronic price tag system of  claim 47 , wherein said ID module further comprises a transponder to respond to signals without being powered by said power source when said latch is not engaged.  
   
   
       49 . The separable electronic price tag system of  claim 45 , wherein said ID module and said Display module communicate with each other via wireless signals without a need for a physical latching system and through a specific matching communication process/protocol create a coupled pair with a unique identity.