KR102370981B1 - Electronic Shelf Label, Electronic Shelf Label Energy Supply and Systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label energy supply device which comprises: at least one solar panel which is attached to the top of a display stand toward a ceiling, and converts light entering from a lighting device into electrical energy; a storage device which stores the electrical energy provided from the solar panel; and a light output unit which is arranged to output light toward the back side of an electronic shelf label mounted on the display stand, and converts the electrical energy provided from the storage device into light.

Description

Electronic Shelf Label, Electronic Shelf Label Energy Supply and Systems for generating electric power based on light, and electronic shelf label energy supplying device and system for providing electric power based on light

The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label, an electronic shelf label energy supply device and system.

In general, products are displayed on shelves in distribution stores. Information such as selling price, discount information, unit price, country of origin, etc. for the products is displayed on the paper label. The paper label is discarded when product information is changed or a product display position is changed. At this time, it is necessary to create a new paper label to display the changed product information. Therefore, the paper label incurs a constant cost of maintenance. In addition, since the use of the paper label wastes a raw material called paper from an environmental point of view, it has a negative effect on environmental protection.

Recently, as a means to replace the paper label, research and development on an Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) has been made. The electronic shelf label can display frequent information changes or discount information about the product in real time through the display.

These electronic shelf labels require power to operate, and power is supplied through a coin battery. However, in order to supply power through the coin battery, it is necessary to replace the battery at a certain period, and some countries prohibit the use of the coin battery to protect the environment. In addition, due to the volume and weight of the battery itself, there is a disadvantage in that the volume and weight of the electronic shelf label increases.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes an energy supply device that transmits energy to an electronic shelf label through light energy, an electronic shelf label that receives energy through light energy, and an electronic shelf label and an energy supply device The purpose is to provide a system that

The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic shelf label energy supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the top of a display stand toward the ceiling, and at least one solar panel converts light entering from the lighting device into electrical energy. ; a storage device for storing electrical energy provided from the solar panel; and a light output unit arranged to output light toward the back side of the electronic shelf label mounted on the display stand, and converting the electrical energy provided from the storage device into light.

The electronic shelf label energy supply device further includes a rail unit for mounting the electronic shelf label, and the light output unit is disposed on the rail unit.

The rail unit may include: a first rail attached to a first shelf of the display stand and disposed on a first light output unit; and a second rail attached to a second shelf spaced apart from the first shelf with a space between the first shelf and the second rail on which a second light output unit is disposed.

The electronic shelf label is disposed on the front side, the electronic paper for displaying information about the product; a communication unit for receiving data related to the information from an external device; and a solar panel disposed on the back side, converting incoming light into electrical energy, and providing power to the electronic paper and the communication unit.

The system includes a plurality of electronic shelf labels; and an energy supply device for supplying light energy to the plurality of electronic shelf labels based on the incoming external light, wherein the electronic shelf label includes: an electronic paper disposed on a front side and displaying information about a product; a communication unit for receiving data related to the information from an external device; and a solar panel disposed on the back side, converting incoming light into electrical energy, and providing power to the electronic paper and the communication unit, wherein the energy supply device is attached to the top of the display stand toward the ceiling , at least one solar panel that converts the incoming light from the lighting into electrical energy; a storage device for storing electrical energy provided from the solar panel; and a light output unit arranged to output light toward the back side of the electronic shelf label mounted on the display stand, and converting electrical energy provided from the storage device into light energy.

The details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

According to the present invention, there are one or more of the following effects.

First, there is no need to install a separate battery such as a coin battery, which has the effect of implementing a slim electronic shelf label.

Second, since light generated from indoor lighting is used as an energy source, stable and continuous energy supply is possible.

Third, there is an effect of increasing energy efficiency by utilizing light generated from indoor lighting used for light supply.

Effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a control block diagram of an electronic shelf label energy supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram referenced to explain a rail, a light output unit, and an electronic shelf label according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a control block diagram of an electronic shelf label according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or similar components are assigned the same reference numbers regardless of reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" for components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of only the ease of writing the specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles by themselves. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, if it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical idea disclosed herein is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all changes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention , should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms including an ordinal number such as 1st, 2nd, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but it is understood that other components may exist in between. it should be On the other hand, when it is said that a certain element is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that the other element does not exist in the middle.

The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present application, terms such as “comprises” or “have” are intended to designate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification exists, but one or more other features It should be understood that this does not preclude the existence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a system 100 includes an Electronic Shelf Label (ESL, hereinafter, referred to as ESL) 300 and an electronic shelf label energy supply device (hereinafter, referred to as an energy supply device). .

The ESL 300 displays information about the product. The ESL 300 may receive energy in the form of light from an energy supply device. To this end, the ESL 300 may include a solar panel. ESL 300, based on the supplied energy, displays information about the product. The ESL 300 may change the displayed information according to a user input or a preset program.

The ESL 300 is disposed on the front side, and the electronic paper displaying information about the product is disposed on the back side and the communication module for receiving data related to the information from the outside, and converts the incoming light into electrical energy, the electronic paper and a solar panel that generates power to provide to the communication module.

The energy supply device may receive energy in the form of light from external light. To this end, the energy supply device may include a solar panel. For example, the energy supply device may receive light generated from a lighting device installed in an indoor store as energy. The energy supply device may convert light entering from the lighting device into electrical energy. The energy supply device may store the converted electrical energy.

The energy supply device may supply energy in the form of light to the ESL 300 . According to an embodiment, the energy supply device may supply energy to the ESL 300 in the form of infrared light, visible light, or ultraviolet light. To this end, the energy supply device may include a light output unit.

The energy supply device is attached to the top of the display stand to face the ceiling, and at least one solar panel converts light entering from lighting into electrical energy. A storage device for storing electrical energy provided from the solar panel and mounted on the display stand It may include a light output unit arranged to output light toward the back of the electronic shelf label, and converting electrical energy provided from the storage device into light energy.

2 is a control block diagram of an electronic shelf label energy supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram referenced to explain a rail, a light output unit, and an electronic shelf label according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 3 , the energy supply device 200 may include a solar panel 210 , a storage device 220 , and a light output unit 230 . According to an embodiment, the energy supply device 200 may further include a rail unit 240 . According to an embodiment, the energy supply device 200 may further include a communication device 250 .

At least some components of the energy supply device 200 may be mounted on the display stand 10 . According to an embodiment, the energy supply device 200 may be integrally formed with the display stand 10 .

Meanwhile, the display stand 10 includes at least one shelf 11 and 12 , and a plurality of products may be displayed on the shelves 11 and 12 .

The solar panel 210 may be disposed so that the light ELT generated by the lighting device LP may be well introduced. The solar panel 210 may be attached at a point where the amount of light ELT generated by the lighting device LP is maximized, and at an angle that can receive the maximum amount of light. The solar panel 210 may be attached to the uppermost end 10a of the display stand 10 toward the ceiling. Since the solar panel 210 is attached to the uppermost end 10a of the display stand 10 toward the ceiling, it can be mounted without a separate attachment mechanism and can receive light generated by the lighting device LP as much as possible without interference.

The solar panel 210 may convert light introduced from the lighting device LP into electrical energy.

The solar panel 210, as well as sunlight, a panel capable of converting light generated from a lighting device (eg, fluorescent lamp or LED, etc.) into electrical energy is used.

The storage device 220 may store electrical energy provided from the solar panel 210 . For example, the storage device 220 may include a supercapacitor.

The storage device 220 may be electrically connected to the solar panel 210 and the light output unit 230 . The storage device 220 may also be electrically connected to the communication device 250 .

The storage device 220 may provide electrical energy to the light output unit 230 . The storage device 220 may supply electrical energy to the communication device 250 . The communication device 250 may supply electrical energy to the processor.

The light output unit 230 may be provided in plurality. For example, a plurality of light output units 230 may be attached to each shelf of the display stand 10 . The light output unit 230 may be provided as many as the number of ESLs 300 mounted on the display stand 10 .

The light output unit 230 may be arranged to output light toward the back of the ESL 300 mounted on the display stand 10 . A solar panel may be disposed on the back side of the ESL 300 , and the light output unit 230 may be disposed to output light toward the solar panel of the ESL 300 . In this case, a sufficient space for light output may be formed between the solar panel on the back side of the ESL 300 and the light output unit 230 .

The light output unit 230 may convert electrical energy provided from the storage device 220 into light LT and output it to the outside. The light output unit 230 may include a light emitting device. The light emitting device may include any one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a Laser Diode (LD), a Solid Laser, and a Micro LED.

The rail unit 240 may be mounted on the display stand 10 . For example, the rail unit 240 may be mounted in front of each shelf of the display stand 10 . The rail unit 240 may mount the ESL 300 . The light output unit 230 may be disposed on the rail unit 240 .

The rail unit 240 may be used as a medium for supplying electric energy. The rail unit 240 may be formed of a conductive material and may be electrically connected to the storage device 220 . The rail unit 240 may transmit electrical energy provided from the storage device 220 to the light output unit 230 disposed on the rail unit 240 .

The rail unit 240 may include a plurality of rails.

The rail unit 240 may include a first rail 241 and a second rail 242 .

The first rail 241 may be attached to the first shelf 11 of the display stand 10 .

The first rail 241 may include a plate 241a extending long in the left and right direction and a mounting portion 241b formed to protrude from the plate 241a toward the front (eg, toward the ESL).

The ESL 300 may be mounted on the mounting unit 241b.

A first light output unit 231 may be disposed on the first rail 241 . For example, a hole for light output may be formed in the plate 241a of the first rail 241 . The first light output unit 231 may be disposed in the hole to output light LT toward the ESL 300 . As the ESL 300 is mounted on the mounting portion 241b protruding from the plate 241a, a space is created between the first light output unit 241 and the ESL 300, and the light LT is output to the space. can be

The first rail 241 may function as a passage through which power is supplied from the storage device 220 to the first optical output unit 231 . In this case, the storage device 220 may supply electrical energy to the first light output unit 231 through the first rail 241 .

The second rail 242 may be attached to the second shelf 12 of the display stand 10 . The second shelf 12 may be a shelf disposed to be vertically spaced apart from the first shelf 11 with a space between the first shelf 11 and the product to be disposed.

The second rail 242 may include a plate 242a extending long in the left-right direction and a mounting portion 242b formed to protrude from the plate 242a toward the front (eg, toward the ESL).

The ESL 300 may be mounted on the mounting portion 242b.

A second light output unit 232 may be disposed on the second rail 242 . For example, a hole for light output may be formed in the plate 242a of the second rail 242 . The second light output unit 232 may be disposed in the hole to output light LT toward the ESL 300 . As the ESL 300 is mounted on the mounting portion 242b protruding from the plate 242a, a space is created between the second light output unit 232 and the ESL 300, and the light LT is output to the space. can be

The second rail 242 may function as a path through which power is supplied from the storage device 220 to the second optical output unit 232 . In this case, the storage device 220 may supply electrical energy to the second light output unit 242 through the second rail 242 .

The communication device 250 may include at least one RF device or RF element. The communication device 250 may exchange data with the ESL 300 . For example, the communication device 250 may transmit product-related data to the ESL 300 through a communication method such as Bluetooth or Zigbee.

The energy supply device 200 may further include a processor. The processor may control the overall operation of each unit of the energy supply device 200 . For example, the processor may control power supply to each unit of the energy supply device 200 . For example, the processor may control communication between the energy supply device 200 and an external device (eg, the ESL 300 ). For example, the processor may control the light output of the energy supply device 200 .

4 is a control block diagram of an electronic shelf label according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 4 , the ESL 300 may include a display unit 310 , a communication unit 321 , a processor 322 , and a power supply unit 330 .

The ESL 300 may be divided into a front side and a back side. The front side can be described as the side facing the label, and the side facing the consumer. The back side is a side facing the solar panel, and may be described as a side facing the light output unit of the energy supply device 200 .

The display unit 310 may be disposed on the front side of the ESL 300 body. The body forms the exterior of the ESL 300 , and may be understood as a configuration for accommodating the communication unit 321 , the processor 322 , the storage unit 332 , and the PCB therein.

The display unit 310 may display information about the product. The display unit 310 may include at least one of electronic paper, LCD, and OLED. The display unit 310 is preferably implemented with electronic paper.

The communication unit 321 may receive data related to product information from an external device. The external device may be an administrator's terminal (eg, a smart phone) or the energy supply device 200 .

The communication unit 321 may include at least one RF device or RF element. The communication unit 321 may receive product-related data through a communication method such as Bluetooth or ZigBee.

The processor 322 may control the overall operation of each unit of the ESL 300 . For example, the processor 322 may control power supply to each unit of the ESL 300 . For example, the processor 322 may control communication between the ESL 300 and an external device (eg, the manager terminal or the energy supply device 200 ). For example, the ESL 300 may control information display through the display unit 310 .

The processor 322 is electrically connected to the display unit 310 , the communication unit 321 , and the power supply unit 330 .

The processor 322 is, ASICs (application specific integrated circuits), DSPs (digital signal processors), DSPDs (digital signal processing devices), PLDs (programmable logic devices), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), processors (processors), controller It may be implemented using at least one of controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and other electrical units for performing functions.

The ESL 300 may include at least one printed circuit board (PCB). The display unit 310 , the communication unit 321 , the processor 322 , and the power supply unit 330 may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment, the communication unit 321 and the processor 322 may be integrally configured. In this case, the communication unit 321 and the processor 322 may be classified as a sub-concept of the control module 320 . The control module 320 may output information based on the data received through the communication unit 321 through the display unit 310 . The control module 320 may control power from the power supply unit 330 to be supplied to the control module 320 and the display unit 310 .

The power supply unit 330 may supply power to the display unit 310 , the communication unit 321 , and the processor 322 .

The power supply 330 may include a solar panel 331 .

The solar panel 331 may be disposed on the back side of the ESL 300 body.

The solar panel 331 may convert incoming light into electrical energy. The solar panel 331 may convert light output from the light output unit 230 of the energy supply device 200 into electrical energy.

The solar panel 331 may provide power to the display unit 310 , the communication unit 321 , and the processor 322 . The solar panel 331 may provide power to the display unit 310 , the communication unit 321 , and the processor 322 based on the converted electrical energy.

The power supply 330 may further include a storage 332 . The storage unit 332 may store electrical energy provided from the solar panel 331 .

According to an embodiment, the electrical energy generated by the solar panel 331 may be provided to the display unit 310 , the communication unit 321 , and the processor 322 through the storage unit 332 .

The present invention described above can be implemented as computer-readable codes on a medium in which a program is recorded. The computer-readable medium includes all types of recording devices in which data readable by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable media include Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Solid State Disk (SSD), Silicon Disk Drive (SDD), ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc. There is this. In addition, the computer may include a processor or a control unit. Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be construed as restrictive in all respects but as exemplary. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

100: system
200: Electronic shelf label energy supply device
300: electronic shelf label

Claims (5)

at least one solar panel attached to the top of the display stand to face the ceiling and converting light entering from the lighting device into electrical energy;
a storage device for storing electrical energy provided from the solar panel; and
a light output unit arranged to output light toward the back side of the electronic shelf label mounted on the display stand, and converting the electrical energy provided from the storage device into light;
The light output unit,
An electronic shelf label energy supply device that supplies energy in the form of light to the electronic shelf label and is provided as much as the number of electronic shelf labels mounted on the display stand. The method of claim 1,
It further includes; a rail unit for mounting the electronic shelf label.
The light output unit is an electronic shelf label energy supply device disposed on the rail unit. 3. The method of claim 2,
The rail unit,
a first rail attached to the first shelf of the display stand and disposed on the first light output unit;
The first rail is
a plate extending in a first direction and having a hole in which a light output unit is disposed;
The electronic shelf label energy supply device comprising a; a cradle that is formed to protrude from the plate toward one side and provides a light transmission space between the light output unit and the electronic shelf label by mounting the electronic shelf label. 4. The method of claim 3,
The rail unit,
The rail unit,
It is formed of a conductive material and is electrically connected to the storage device to transmit electrical energy provided from the storage device to the optical output unit,
Electronic shelf label energy further comprising: a second rail attached to a second shelf spaced apart from the first shelf with a space between the first shelf and a second rail on which a second light output unit is disposed; supply device. a plurality of electronic shelf labels; and
An energy supply device for supplying light energy to the plurality of electronic shelf labels based on the incoming external light;
The electronic shelf label is
Electronic paper disposed on the front side, displaying information about the product;
a communication unit for receiving data related to the information from an external device; and
A solar panel disposed on the back side, converting incoming light into electrical energy, and providing power to the electronic paper and the communication unit;
The energy supply device,
at least one solar panel attached to the top of the display stand to face the ceiling and converting light entering from the lighting into electrical energy;
a storage device for storing electrical energy provided from the solar panel; and
a light output unit arranged to output light toward the back side of the electronic shelf label mounted on the display stand, and converting the electrical energy provided from the storage device into light energy; and
The light output unit,
A system that supplies energy in the form of light to the electronic shelf labels, and is provided as many as the number of electronic shelf labels mounted on the display stand.

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