Electronic shelf labeling system with energy supply device

Abstract

An electronic shelf label system comprises: at least one electronic shelf label, which is designed to be supplied with energy in a contactless manner; and at least one shelf rail, to which at least one such shelf label is fastened; and an electronic supply device associated with the shelf rail, in particular associated only with this one shelf rail, which is designed to supply energy to the at least one electronic shelf label fastened therein in a contactless manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an electronic shelf label system with energy supply via shelf rails. Background Art

[0002] For example, from the international patent application WO2017 / 153481A1, an electronic shelf label system for displaying information by means of an electronic shelf label display, hereinafter referred to as an ESL system, where ESL stands for "Electronic Shelf Label", is known, which has an energy supply via a shelf rail. In the known ESL system, the shelf rail to which the ESL is attached is equipped with electrical printed conductors, which are connected to a power supply device for supplying power to the ESL. The ESL has spring-loaded contacts on its rear side, with which the printed conductors come into contact, in order to electrically connect the ESL to the power supply device.

[0003] However, the known energy supply devices are relatively expensive, since a plurality of, in particular separate, mechanical components are provided in each ESL and in each rack rail. The mechanical components are subject to natural wear. Furthermore, in the event of improper handling, the mechanical components can be contaminated or even damaged. This can lead to disruptions during operation. The mechanical components are thus subject to considerable additional expenditure in production and maintenance, which is necessary to avoid the problems that arise during operation. Furthermore, in the known systems, there is the limitation that the ESL cannot be positioned or moved along the rack rail in a freely selectable manner.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ESL system in which the above-mentioned problems are overcome. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object is achieved by an electronic shelf label system, comprising: at least one electronic shelf label, which is preferably realized as an electronic shelf label display, wherein the shelf label is designed in such a way that it can be supplied with energy in a contactless manner; and at least one shelf rail, to which at least one such shelf label is fastened; and an electronic supply device associated with the shelf rail, in particular associated only with this one shelf rail, which is designed for contactless supply of energy to the at least one electronic shelf label fastened thereto.

[0006] The object is also achieved by the use of an electronic supply device for contactless energy supply, in particular also for contactless communication supply, to at least one shelf tag (preferably implemented as a shelf tag display) in an in particular single shelf rail, wherein the shelf tag is designed to be contactlessly energy-supplied, in particular also for contactless communication, the at least one shelf tag being fastened to the shelf rail.

[0007] The measures according to the invention provide the advantage that the energy supply to the shelf tags is completely free of any mechanical contacts and the problems associated therewith. The system can thus be manufactured more cost-effectively and can be operated virtually maintenance-free due to the avoidance of maintenance-prone mechanical components.

[0008] Other particularly advantageous embodiments and improvements of the present invention are derived from the dependent claims and the following description. Here, the features of one claim category can be improved according to the features of another claim category, so that the effects and advantages detailed in conjunction with one claim category also exist for the other claim category.

[0009] Such electronic shelf labels can provide various functionalities or fulfill functions. For example, the shelf label can be configured or correspondingly constructed for detecting environmental parameters, such as detecting temperature or humidity, or configured or correspondingly constructed as an input element for receiving user input interaction (e.g. detecting fingerprints or key operations), or also configured or correspondingly constructed as a display medium for presenting information to the user, i.e. as a shelf label display. In any case, the shelf label is constructed so that it can be attached to a physical shelf rail and supplied with energy there in the method and method described in detail later.

[0010] The shelf tag may have a proprietary interface for energy transmission, which can be used only for this purpose. Preferably, however, the shelf tag has a standardized energy transmission interface, which can be configured, for example, according to the RFID standard (RFID stands for "Radio Frequency Identification" and applicable standards are, for example, ISO / IEC 18000, etc.). However, it is particularly preferred that the shelf tag has a first NFC interface for its contactless energy supply. This results in the following advantage: the NFC interface is not only used for local energy transmission at the shelf or at the shelf rail, but can also be used directly there for bidirectional contactless communication. This avoids problems in the radio traffic caused by other radio systems in the enterprise, because the other radio systems are usually located far away from the shelf on which the shelf tag is installed, and thus have little or no influence on the local energy transmission and the communication between the closely located communication pairs directly at the shelf rail. NFC here stands for near field communication, and applicable standards are, for example, ISO / IEC 13157, -16353, -22536, -28361, etc.

[0011] The shelf label can have an energy-saving display unit, such as a liquid crystal display, when configured as a shelf label display. In particular, however, the technology used is based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology. Therefore, such a display unit has a reflective screen, which is also called an electronic paper display in technical terms, abbreviated to EPD, and is realized by means of "electronic paper", "E paper" for short, also known in English as "e-paper" or "e-ink". The term basically represents the principle of an electrophoretic display, in which, for example, positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles are contained in a transparent viscous polymer. By briefly applying a voltage to the electrodes, the black particles are placed in front of the white particles in the viewing direction, or vice versa, wherein the medium consisting of particles and polymer is arranged between the electrodes. This arrangement is then maintained for a relatively long time (for example, several weeks) without any energy supply. If the display is segmented accordingly, it is possible, for example, to display the information with relatively high resolution letters, numbers or images. However, such a reflective screen can also be realized by means of other technologies, which are known, for example, under the terms "electrowetting" or "MEMS". For example, as mentioned above, the screen can be constructed for black and white display, grayscale display, black and white red or black and white yellow display. Future developments that enable full color or multicolor display are also to be included. Such screens are more generally reflective, i.e. passive, non-self-luminous screens, in which the - relatively static - information display is based on: light generated by an external (artificial or natural) light source is incident on the screen and reflected from there towards the observer.

[0012] By means of the first NFC interface, the display unit is supplied with energy on the one hand and with data on the other hand, which data can represent commands for controlling the display unit or also the image content. During the energy supply via the NFC interface, the data can also be transmitted via the NFC interface, which data are processed by the display unit as follows: the image content of its screen is changed. After the image content change is completed, the display unit can also output corresponding status information via the NFC interface, which status information represents a successful change of the image content. After the change of the image content is completed, if necessary also after the output of the status information, the energy supply via the NFC interface can be terminated, and the image content of the screen remains unchanged until the next desired change.

[0013] The use of the mentioned technology firstly allows the realization of shelf labels, in particular as shelf label displays, without a separate energy supply, such as batteries or accumulators, both of which are relatively expensive. Conventional shelf labels must be designed for the purpose of maintaining or renewing the batteries or accumulators in such a way that the energy storage can be replaced. If necessary, only one capacitor is used in the shelf label for short-term, temporary smoothing or stabilization of the internal supply voltage. The shelf label is thus designed in such a way that its electronics, in particular its electronic control, are always active only when it is supplied by means of an external electronic supply, in order to communicate or update the screen content or receive user interactions or detect environmental parameters. The housing can be completely and permanently encapsulated, since the energy storage no longer needs to be replaced, so that the housing can only be opened for recycling (for example using special tools).

[0014] Thus, a reduction to a few absolutely necessary electronic components and thus also an extremely inexpensive shelf label can be achieved. Such an extremely reduced shelf label only needs to have basic functionality, such as standardized NFC communication with a standardized energy supply device during the NFC communication, which is achieved with the aid of a commercially available NFC module. The updating of the screen of the energy-saving display unit and the status report therefor are not directly performed by the shelf label display in the communication with the access point, as is the case in known systems, but rather by an intermediate supply device, which for its part contacts the access point via a suitable (and essentially freely selectable) communication method, which is discussed in more detail below. The same applies in an analogous manner to the other mentioned possible functionalities of the shelf label.

[0015] According to one aspect, the supply device has at least one conductor loop formed on the shelf rail and an electronic supply unit coupled to the at least one conductor loop, in particular electrically conductively connected to its two conductor ends, hereinafter referred to as loop terminals. The supply unit is designed to transmit energy for supplying a shelf tag to the shelf tag in a contactless manner by means of the conductor loop, wherein the shelf tag is mounted on the shelf rail corresponding to the conductor loop. "Contactless" here means that this is done by means of an inductive coupling between two adjacently positioned conductor loops or coils. Therefore, the shelf tag can also have a conductor loop consisting of a single loop or a plurality of turns, i.e. a coil. In addition, "corresponding to" means that the shelf tag is positioned adjacent to a surface extended by the conductor loop and is positioned there substantially within a region delimited by the conductor loop. The conductor loop itself can be, for example, visibly formed in the plane of the shelf rail or covered by a protective material strip. If the shelf tag is installed in the shelf rail, the conductor loop or coil formed in the shelf tag is automatically located in a region that can be used for inductive coupling between two adjacently positioned conductor loops or coils. Preferably, when the shelf tag is installed in the shelf rail, the surfaces extended by the two conductor loops or coils (on the one hand belonging to the shelf rail and on the other hand belonging to the shelf tag) are oriented parallel to each other and are positioned at a distance of less than one millimeter up to several millimeters. In order not to hinder the inductive coupling, the shelf rail itself is made of a suitable material, preferably plastic.

[0016] The circumference of the conductor loop of the shelf rail can extend, for example, along the total length of the shelf rail and the total height of the shelf rail. Preferably, however, the surface spanned by the conductor loop is slightly smaller than the surface of its front side defined by the physical dimensions of the shelf rail. Preferably, at least one conductor loop is positioned within a channel of the shelf rail, into which the shelf label is inserted, and is integrated there into the wall of the channel, which wall extends corresponding to its rear wall (adjacent to its rear wall) when the shelf label is inserted. To realize the conductor loop, a single winding conductor track or a coil-shaped multi-winding conductor track, i.e. a conductor track with a plurality of turns, can be provided. The conductor loop has a loop terminal at each of its two ends, to which the supply device is connected.

[0017] The shelf rail can be equipped with a single conductor loop. However, it has proven to be advantageous that a plurality of conductor loops are formed along the longitudinal extension of the shelf rail, each of which is itself coupled to a supply unit (as mentioned), and the supply unit is configured for selective energy transmission by means of any conductor loop. This enables selective energy supply to a single shelf label or a group of shelf labels. Depending on the embodiment, for example, 2, 3 or up to 15 or even significantly more conductor loops can be implemented along the shelf rail. The conductor loops are positioned side by side along the longitudinal extension of the shelf rail and their respective two loop terminals are guided along the shelf rail toward the supply device and are electrically conductively connected to the supply device there. The longitudinal extension of the area covered by the corresponding conductor loop at the shelf rail can be the same for all conductor loops. Thus, a plurality of closely adjacent areas can be defined along the shelf rail, the respective longitudinal extension of which follows the longitudinal extension of the shelf label used at the shelf rail, wherein the longitudinal extension is usually a few centimeters, for example 8-12 centimeters. This enables individual (selective) inductive coupling with each individual shelf label at (almost) any position along the shelf rail. This is advantageous if the positioning of the shelf tags is to be as flexible as possible and if an inductive coupling as individual as possible should nevertheless be possible with each shelf tag. However, a larger zone can also be provided in which a plurality of shelf tags can then be present, which can then enter into inductive coupling together with the associated conductor loops. This configuration can be used if the exact position of the respective shelf tags is not important. This is the case, for example, when a plurality of identical products are arranged on a shelf over a relatively long section or the entire length of the shelf and the same information about the products is always presented by a plurality of shelf tag displays arranged at a large distance from one another along the longitudinal extension of the shelf rail. However, a mixed configuration consisting of relatively short zones and relatively long zones can also be present along the shelf rail.

[0018] The conductor loops can all be used together, i.e. simultaneously, for energy transmission from the supply device. However, this means a correspondingly complex design for the electronics of the supply device. It has therefore proven to be particularly advantageous if the supply unit is designed for multiplexing the energy transmission via the conductor loops. In this case, only a single conductor loop selected electronically is always used for energy transmission.

[0019] As already discussed in a similar manner in conjunction with the shelf tags, the supply device can be designed differently with regard to its interface suitable for energy transmission. However, the supply unit is preferably designed as a second NFC interface for contactlessly supplying energy to the shelf tags, wherein at least one conductor loop is a component of the NFC interface intended for contactless energy transmission (and also contactless communication).

[0020] In general, it can be determined here that the conductor loop thus realizes an inductance for inductive coupling with a corresponding inductance on the shelf label side. Furthermore, the conductor loop can have a single turn or also a plurality of turns.

[0021] Furthermore, at least one conductor loop can be integrated into the shelf rail or fixed to it. Integration into the shelf rail is advantageous when the shelf rail is made of plastic, for example, and the conductor loop is already integrated there, for example, during injection molding of the shelf rail, i.e., during the manufacture of the shelf rail. However, the conductor loop can also be fixed to the surface of the shelf rail, for example, by gluing. In particular, when a plurality of conductor loops arranged side by side are required and a plurality of feed lines are also considered accordingly, it has proven to be advantageous if the conductor loop (s) are formed on a circuit board. The circuit board can then be integrated into the shelf rail or fixed to it as a separate component. The shelf rail can also be designed so that the circuit board can be replaced, so that it can easily respond to various required configurations in shelf planning with various conductor loop configurations, which can be realized, for example, on a single circuit board or on different circuit boards. However, it is particularly preferred that the shelf rail itself has a conductor loop holder. The conductor loop holder can be designed so that it is positioned, for example, on the front side of the shelf rail, i.e., on the rear side of the shelf label, at a position where the shelf rail is positioned as close as possible in the state fixed to the shelf rail. However, the conductor loop holder can also extend at the rear side of the shelf rail in correspondence with the area of ​​the shelf rail that can be used to attach a shelf label, which can then result in better accessibility of the conductor loop for maintenance purposes or also ensure unparalleled protection against damage. Ultimately, the conductor loop is also hidden there from the view of supermarket customers. Structurally, the conductor loop holder can be realized, for example, by a gap-shaped recess in the plastic material of the shelf rail, for example, into which the conductor loop is inserted. This can also define the shape of the conductor loop and its exact position as accurately as possible without other measures (such as the previously mentioned circuit board and its positioning). The conductor loop positioned at the rear side can also be connected to the electronics of the supply device at virtually any point, without having to take into account the position of the shelf label positioned at the front side of the shelf rail. The recess can also have a snap-in or fastening mechanism that fastens the conductor loop in its predetermined position. The recess can also be designed so that it can accommodate a plurality of turns of the conductor loop, wherein the turns can be arranged side by side and / or above each other in the recess.

[0022] When the conductor loop receptacle is directly integrated into the rack rail (i.e. into its material), the planning or production of the conductor loop is not restricted by the production process of the printed circuit board, and conductor loops with lengths that far exceed the length of the current printed circuit boards of approximately one meter can thus be realized. It is therefore also possible to realize conductor loops that extend along the entire rack rail, which can be several meters long.

[0023] It has proven to be particularly advantageous to use exactly one single electronics supply device per rack rail, which allows a centralized energy supply to be implemented for only this one rack rail.

[0024] In this context, it has also proven to be particularly advantageous if the electronic supply device is integrated into the rack rail or is fastened to the rack rail. In this way, a rack rail with individual electronic energy supply devices can be realized. In this case, the supply device can also be formed directly on a circuit board or connected to the circuit board as a module or mechanically coupled to the rack rail as a module and connected to the conductor loop of the rack rail in an electrically conductive manner. As a result, the rack rail can be put back into operation as a whole including its supply device without any problems at another location.

[0025] The energy supply of the supply device can be realized in different ways. Thus, for example, the supply device can be provided via an Ethernet cable, which connects the supply device to other communication devices, wherein the supply voltage is also provided via the Ethernet cable. However, a separate supply station (e.g. a power supply device) for supplying energy to the electronic supply device can also be provided. Preferably, the supply station supplies a group of electronic supply devices, particularly preferably a supply device for an entire shelf, in particular for a group of shelves. This allows modular construction of a supply infrastructure for a single shelf or for a geographically or thermally classified group of shelves or also only operates to reduce the number of supply stations to the required minimum.

[0026] However, it is particularly preferred that the electronic supply device is designed in such a way that it can be supplied with energy based on radio, and the supply station is designed as a radio energy source for a particularly targeted radio-based energy supply to the electronic supply device. Therefore, the energy transmission is carried out in a contactless and targeted manner toward the supply device by means of the supply station. This realizes a basically cable-free supply infrastructure for the shelf labels fixed on the shelf rails on the one hand and the supply device for supplying the shelf labels on the other hand. In fact, the system builder saves the wiring between the actual energy source and the corresponding shelf. The situation realizes that the shelves are basically freely selected in the enterprise, and the shelf rails are freely and simply positioned at various shelves, and also their exchange between shelves. This type of energy transmission and the underlying technology are known under the term "WiFi power supply". The radio energy source equipped with the technology can be installed, for example, on the ceiling of the enterprise premises and selectively supplies the supply devices associated there with the corresponding shelf rails and positioned within the circumference up to a maximum of 10 meters by means of a high-power, i.e. focused radio signal directed to the supply devices.

[0027] Furthermore, the electronic supply device can also be designed for contactless communication with the shelf tag using the technology that is also used for energy transmission to the shelf tag. Here, the already mentioned NFC technology is preferably used again. This allows the available electronic components to be used as optimally as possible for contactless energy transmission and contactless communication over relatively short distances, as is the case when the shelf tag is fastened to the shelf rail.

[0028] In addition to the NFC interface provided for communicating with the shelf tags, the supply device has another interface that is intended for communicating with the access point. The other interface can be configured for radio communication. A time slot communication method can be used for radio communication with the access point, in particular a proprietary time slot communication method as known from WO 2015 / 124197, pages 2 to 4, the specific disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference (“incorporated by reference”). However, communication protocols based on standards or specifications such as ZigBee, Bluetooth or WiFi can also be used for radio communication. However, the second interface can also be configured for wired communication, so that communication can be carried out via an Ethernet cable. As mentioned, the required supply voltage can also be delivered via the Ethernet cable, which is known in the professional field under the term “Power over Ethernet”, or “PoE” for short.

[0029] From a communication technology perspective, the supply device thus forms a “gateway” for the entirety of the shelf labels installed on the associated shelf rail.

[0030] The access point serves as an interface between the IT infrastructure controlling the shelf tags, a higher level such as a server with a corresponding software application etc. Typically, in a radio-based system, a group of shelf tags is radio-technically (logically) associated with such an access point, so that communication with the group of shelf tags takes place only via the access point. In a corporate location such as a supermarket, a plurality of such access points may be installed, wherein each access point is configured for communication with the shelf tags logically associated with the access point, which are located in a geographical (radio-reachable) area around the access point.

[0031] In addition to the described functionality, the access point can also have a supply station which is designed for the targeted, wireless-based supply of energy to the electronic supply device.

[0032] In summary, the supply device implements a combined energy supply and communication supply device for the shelf tags fixed at the relevant shelf track in the relevant shelf track. Therefore, the supply device is configured or constructed for local contactless energy transmission and local contactless communication with the shelf tags fixed at the shelf track. Such a supply device can also be called a shelf track control device or also a shelf track controller, because it controls all activities of the shelf tags installed at the relevant shelf track, which includes display behavior, communication behavior and corresponding energy supply.

[0033] It has also proven to be particularly advantageous if the electronic control device is designed to receive and forward unambiguous identifiers of the shelf tags participating in the communication for the purpose of determining the position of the relevant shelf tags.

[0034] If a plurality of shelf tags are arranged in one conductor loop of the shelf rail or a plurality of shelf tags are supplied with energy simultaneously via a single conductor loop, then precautions must be taken to ensure that the corresponding identifiers are received. For this purpose, the shelf tags can be programmed, for example, so that they output their identifiers at randomly selected points in time (once or more) within a time window in order to ensure individual reception in the supply device. Likewise, anti-collision methods, such as those known from RFID technology, can be used in the contactless transmission to ensure individual reception in the supply device.

[0035] The unambiguous identifier is preferably forwarded to a data processing device, such as a server at the company site, which carries out the communication with the individual electronic shelf labels.

[0036] The server may also store logical links between products displayed on corresponding shelves and shelf label displays located therein, thereby ensuring that corresponding shelf label displays present information pertaining to the relevant products.

[0037] The server is also informed of the location or extension of the corresponding conductor loop at the shelf rail and is also informed by the supply device together with the identifier about which conductor loop is used to obtain the identifier from the shelf label. By this, a three-dimensional digital map of the location of the shelf labels as a whole in the enterprise premises can also be created. This relates to configuring the shelf labels for displaying information and in a similar manner to the other mentioned possible functionalities of the shelf labels.

[0038] Therefore, the present application also discloses a "smart" shelf track, which can fix at least one electronic shelf label on the shelf track, and the shelf track has:

[0039] - at least one conductor loop formed at the rack rail, and

[0040] A supply device is designed for contactless energy supply to at least one shelf tag, wherein the conductor loop is a component of the supply device and is used for contactless energy supply to the shelf tag, which is mounted on the shelf rail in correspondence with the conductor loop.

[0041] As already discussed, the design of the supply device for the energy supply can preferably be realized by means of an NFC interface, wherein the conductor loop is a component of the NFC interface.

[0042] The electronics of the various devices of the system and their interfaces etc. can be realized in a discrete or integrated manner by means of various passive and active electronic components. In this case, preferably a microprocessor or microcontroller with corresponding peripheral components is used, on which the software for providing the various functionalities is processed. So-called ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) can also be used.

[0043] These and other aspects of the invention emerge from the drawings discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention is explained again in more detail below based on an embodiment with reference to the drawings, but the invention is not limited to the embodiment. In this case, the same components are provided with the same reference numerals in different drawings. In a schematic manner:

[0045] Figure 1 An electronic shelf label system according to the present invention is shown according to a first embodiment;

[0046] Figure 2 A block diagram showing a shelf label display;

[0047] Figure 3 A block diagram showing a "smart" rack track with a supply device;

[0048] Figure 4A second embodiment of a shelf label system is shown;

[0049] Figure 5 A second embodiment of a "smart" rack track is shown;

[0050] Figure 6 A circuit board showing a "smart" shelf track;

[0051] Figure 7 Show according to Figure 6 Circuit boards integrated into shelf rails;

[0052] Figure 8 Shown is a "smart" rack rail with directly integrated conductor loops. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] exist Figure 1 1 shows a shelf label system 1, which comprises a plurality of identically designed electronic shelf labels implemented as shelf label displays 2, which are fixed to three "intelligent" shelf rails 3. Each shelf rail 3 has an electronic supply device 4. Likewise, a data processing device is shown, which is implemented by means of a server 5, which is connected by wire to an access point 6, for example, with two antennas 7. The supply device 4 shown is in radio contact with the access point 6 via a first radio signal F1. By means of this, the image content of the shelf label display 2 can be changed from the server 5, and if necessary, the corresponding status information can also be queried from the shelf label display 2 and transmitted to the server 5. Each shelf rail 3 is mounted at its front edge on a separate shelf bottom 8. The three shelf bottoms 8 shown belong to a shelf 9, which is only shown very schematically. Different products can be placed on the shelf bottom 8, but these products are not shown in the present case.

[0054] In order to supply power to the supply device 4, a separate power supply 10 associated with the shelf 9 is provided as a supply station, which converts the AC voltage of the power grid (e.g. 230V) on the input side into a DC voltage suitable for the supply device 4 as a first supply voltage VCC1 (e.g. 12V) relative to the first reference potential GND1. The first supply voltage VCC1 is delivered to the supply device 4 via its supply terminals N1 and N2 by means of a cable K.

[0055] The supply devices 4 are each schematically shown at the right edge of the rack rail 3, but this is not mandatory. The supply devices can therefore also be located at other locations along the rack rail 3. In the present case, the supply devices 4 are integrated into the rack rail 3, i.e., are built into or installed in the installation shaft (not shown here, but see Figure 7 )middle.

[0056] also, Figure 1The first conductor loop L1 integrated into the uppermost rack rail 3 is shown, which is connected with its two (first) loop terminals C1 to the supply device 4 arranged there. The middle rack rail 3 has, in addition to the first conductor loop L1, a second conductor loop L2 which, like the first conductor loop L1, is connected via its two (second) loop terminals C2 to the supply device 4 arranged there, wherein the connection is not shown in detail for the sake of clarity (however, see Figure 3 The same applies to the lowermost rack rail 3, which, in addition to the two mentioned conductor loops L1 and L2, has a third, fourth and fifth conductor loop L3, L4 and L5, whose two (third, fourth and fifth) loop terminals C3, C4 and C5 are connected to the supply device 4 formed there, wherein for the sake of clarity, this connection is not shown in detail (however, see Figure 3 ).

[0057] The conductor loops L1 to L5 are connected by means of a printed circuit board (not shown here, but see Figure 3 , 6 7) are integrated into the relatively flat structure of the shelf rail 3, the circuit board carrying the conductor tracks L1 to L5 (in the present case only one conductor track per conductor track L1 to L5). The supply device 4 can be soldered to the circuit board or connected via a cable or plug, so that the circuit terminals C1 to C5 are electrically contacted.

[0058] The shelf rail 3 is designed like the shelf label display 2 so that the shelf label display 2 can be inserted into the shelf rail 3 from the front and locked with the shelf rail 3 via a snap-in structure so that the shelf label display can only be removed from the shelf rail 3 again with considerable force. This can be done, for example, by means of an upper guide strip 26 and a lower guide strip 27 of the shelf rail 3 (see Figure 7 ) is realized, wherein at least one of the two guide strips 26 or 27, and optionally both, can be easily bent when inserting or removing the shelf label 2. At the same time, the mentioned mechanism allows: the shelf label display 2 to be moved along the shelf rail 3 with relatively little force expenditure, and can thus be easily placed at any position. The above-mentioned type of snap-in mechanism is known, for example, from WO 2017 / 153481 A1, Figure 2 , where the lower and upper edges of the guide strips 26 and 27 are identified there with reference numerals 12 and 13. Matching the guide strips 26 and 27, the shelf label display 2 can also have corresponding recesses or grooves along its upper and lower edges and slightly offset to the rear when viewed from its front, into which the guide strips can snap. The guide strips 26 and 27 can also completely surround the upper and lower edges of the shelf label display 2 to ensure that they are held on the shelf rail 3.

[0059] According to the following Figure 2 Discuss the block diagram of the shelf label display 2.

[0060] The block diagram shows a first NFC interface 11 with its coupling coil 12. When the coupling coil 12 is moved in close proximity to one of the conductor loops L1-L5, an inductive coupling can be established with the coupling coil 12 to another NFC-enabled device, in the present case the supply device 4, specifically to the conductor loops L1 to L5 formed there, which is the case when the shelf label display 2 is attached to one of the shelf rails 3. During the inductive coupling, a second supply voltage VCC2 (relative to the local second reference potential GND2) is generated with the first NFC interface 11 for operating the entire shelf label display 2, which activates the electronics of the shelf label display 2 so that a contactless bidirectional communication of data D can also be performed via its first NFC interface 11. The electronics also form part of an NFC controller, which provides the entire NFC functionality, but is not shown in detail here, but is integrated into the first NFC interface 11.

[0061] The block diagram also shows a display unit 13 connected to the first NFC interface 11, which is divided into an electronic paper display controller 14 and an electronic paper display screen 15 controllable by means of the same. With the help of the controller 14, the received data is interpreted, and if necessary, the image content of the screen 15 is changed accordingly or status information in the form of data D is also output to the supply device 4 via the first NFC interface 11.

[0062] According to the following Figure 3 Discussion basis Figure 1 The block diagram of the lowest shelf rail 3 and in particular the block diagram of the supply device 4 are also shown.

[0063] As mentioned, the (second) supply voltage VCC2 required for operation is supplied via the supply terminals N1 and N2. Figure 1 ) Instead of directly supplying the mains AC voltage, the supply device 4 can also have its own internal power supply 16, which is indicated by a line break in the present case.

[0064] exist Figure 3 In the visualization of , the previously mentioned printed circuit board is also indicated with reference numeral 17. As mentioned, the printed circuit board 17 carries conductor loops L1 to L5, wherein in the present case, the conductor loops are implemented with a plurality of loops or turns, which are each indicated by the symbol of an electrical coil.

[0065] Corresponding to the position of the corresponding conductor loops L1 to L5, the shelf label display 2 located there is also indicated. Figure 1 In contrast, the electrical connection of the loop terminals C1 to C5 to the supply device 4, in particular to the electronic supply unit implemented as a (second) NFC interface 18, is also specifically shown. The second NFC interface 18 also has its own NFC controller (not shown). In the presence of an inductive coupling with the first NFC interface 11 of the shelf label display 2, the second NFC interface 18 is designed for contactless transmission of electrical energy to the shelf label display 2 and for bidirectional contactless communication of data with the shelf label display 2 activated by the energy transmission. In this case, the conductor loops L1 to L5 are multiplexed by means of the second NFC interface 18 specially designed for this purpose, so that only a single one of the conductor loops L1 to L5 is always used.

[0066] The supply device 4 also has an access point communication interface 19, which is configured to communicate with Figure 1 The access point 6 shown in FIG. 1 carries out radio-based communication. For this purpose, the access point communication interface 19 has electronic devices and an antenna configuration designed for this purpose, which antenna configuration can also include multiple antennas. In order to control the internal processes and the energy supply of the shelf label 2 and the communication with the shelf label display 2 and the communication with the access point 2, the supply device 4 has a control unit 20. The control unit is implemented by means of a microcontroller, which is connected to the second NFC interface 18 and the access point communication interface 19 via a bidirectional data bus.

[0067] exist Figure 4 Another embodiment of the system 1 is shown in FIG. Figure 1 Unlike the system 1 shown in FIG. 1 , the power source 10 is missing here. In the present case, the individual supply devices 4 are supplied with electrical energy by means of a supply transmitter 21 (previously referred to as a radio energy source) as a supply station, which is configured to transmit electrical energy to a receiver (i.e. one of the supply devices 4) by means of a focused or directional (second) radio signal F2 with a specific transmission power, for example a transmission power of 5 W. Such a supply transmitter 21 also has a plurality of antennas 22 (six antennas are shown here), by means of which the direction of energy transmission (ultimately the propagation of the second radio signal F2) can be set relatively accurately, so that the second radio signal F2 transmitting energy arrives precisely at the corresponding supply device 4. Such energy transmission is known under the term "WiFi power supply".

[0068] In order to use this energy transfer, Figure 5The supply device 4 used in the embodiment of has a supply receiver 23 suitable for receiving the second radio signal F2, which is equipped with an antenna configuration 24 (the antenna configuration can have multiple antennas) and an electronic device, which is configured to receive the second radio signal F2 and store the energy transmitted thereby in an internal electrical energy storage device 25 (rechargeable battery, storage battery) and thereby generate a second supply voltage VCC2 relative to the second reference potential GND2.

[0069] During operation, the supply device 4 can query or monitor the charge state of the energy storage device 25, for example, by means of its control unit 20. As soon as the charge state drops below a certain level, the control unit 20 can request (re)charging by means of a first radio signal F1. The request is received by the access point 6 and can be forwarded to the supply transmitter 21 directly or with the participation of the server 5, depending on the embodiment. Since the exact geographical location (three-dimensional coordinates) of each supply device 4 and its unique identifier are known in the system 1 (for example in the server 5), the supply transmitter 21 can send a second radio signal F2 in a precisely directed manner toward the position of the supply device 4 that requests charging in each case. The second radio signal F2 is received there and the energy transmitted by means of it is used to charge the energy storage device 25 inside there.

[0070] The shelf rail 3 described here is therefore designed for contactless communication with the shelf label displays 2 arranged on the shelf rail 3 and the access point 6 radio-associated with the shelf rail 3 and for contactless energy supply in the sense of energy storage for its own operation and also for energy supply to the corresponding shelf label displays 2 while the shelf label displays 2 are in a communication state and / or in an updating state of their screens 15 or more generally their electronic devices are active.

[0071] At this point it should also be mentioned that the supply transmitter 21 can also be formed in the access point 6 .

[0072] exist Figure 617 is shown in the figure, and the circuit board has conductor tracks on both sides. For the sake of clarity, only three of the five conductor loops L1-L5 are shown. On the front side of the circuit board, conductor loops L1, L2 and L5 of large area are visible. On the rear side of the circuit board, the conductor tracks LB2-LB5 of the closely adjacent stretching of the corresponding loop terminals C2 and C5 are visible, and the conductor tracks are stretched along the longitudinal extension of the circuit board 17. The loop terminal C1 stretches on the front side. The loop terminals C1-C5 are all connected to the supply device 4. There are through-hole contacts DK2 and DK5 from the front side to the rear side at the position where the loop terminals C2 and C5 terminate in the conductor loops L2 and L5, so that the conductor loops L2 and L5 are electrically connected with their loop terminals C2 and C5. The same content is applicable to the conductor loops L3 and L4, its loop terminals C3 and C4, its conductor tracks LB3 and LB4 and two equally unvisualized through-hole contacts DK3 and DK4. For example, the supply device 4 indicated at the circuit board 17 can be attached to the rear side of the circuit board 17. The electronic components of the electronics of the supply device can also be soldered directly to the circuit board 17.

[0073] Figure 7 The possibility of mechanically integrating a circuit board 17 into a shelf rail 3 is shown. Here, the circuit board 17 forms part of the wall of a receiving shaft for receiving a plurality of shelf label displays 2. The receiving shaft has a recess corresponding to the thickness of the circuit board 17 at the location where the circuit board 17 is to be attached, into which recess the circuit board 17 is inserted so that its front side runs essentially flat with the rest of the wall of the receiving shaft. At the front side of the shelf rail 3, an upper guide strip 26 is formed at its upper end and a lower guide strip 27 is formed at its lower end. The guide strips 26 and 27 can be easily bent up and down so that the shelf label display 2 can be locked. At the same time, the shelf label display 2 can be easily moved along the shelf rail 3 and can be placed completely freely. It is only advantageous to mount the supply device 4 at the rear side of the circuit board 17 when the shelf label display 2 is to be moved unhindered along the front side of the shelf rail 3 and this is possible in the present case. For this case, the recess of the receiving shaft must be adapted accordingly so that the electronic components of the supply device 4 can also be accommodated therein.

[0074] Figure 8The cross-section of the rack rail 3 with the conductor loop receptacle 28 behind it is shown, wherein the conductor loop receptacle 28 is made directly from the material of the rack rail 3 (i.e., from plastic). The conductor loop receptacle 28 has a gap-shaped recess 29 into which the wire of the conductor loop L1 is inserted immovably. Two walls 30 are placed on both sides of the gap-shaped recess 29, which are dimensioned so that a snap-in mechanism is achieved by means of the walls, which fixes the wire in its predetermined position. For this purpose, a strip or strip-shaped material 31 (strip or material strip) is inserted into the gap-shaped recess 29, which material on the one hand presses the wire of the conductor loop L against the bottom of the recess 29 and on the other hand supports itself at the nose-shaped or hook-shaped end of the corresponding outer wall 30 or locks there.

[0075] exist Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the figures, a fixing mechanism for the shelf rail 3 is omitted, which allows the shelf rail 3 to be fixed to another structure, such as the shelf bottom 8, because the present invention is not related to the details and can be implemented in various ways and methods accessible to a person skilled in the art.

[0076] Finally, it is pointed out again that the drawings described in detail above are only embodiments that can be modified in various ways by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it is also pointed out that the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude that the features involved can also exist multiple times.

Claims

1. An electronic shelf label system (1), comprising: at least one electronic shelf label (2), which is implemented as an electronic shelf label display, wherein the shelf label (2) is designed in such a way that it can be supplied with energy in a contactless manner; and - at least one shelf rail (3) to which at least one such shelf label (2) is fixed; and - an electronic supply device (4) associated with the shelf rail (3), the supply device being designed for contactlessly supplying energy to at least one electronic shelf label (2) attached thereto, wherein the electronic supply device (4) is also designed for contactlessly communicating with the shelf label (2) using a technology also for transmitting energy to the shelf label (2), It is characterized in that The electronic supply device (4) is designed to receive and forward a unique identifier of the shelf label (2) involved in the communication for the purpose of determining the position of the associated shelf label (2).

2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic supply device (4) is an electronic supply device (4) associated with only this one rack rail (3).

3. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shelf tag (2) has a first NFC interface (11) for contactlessly supplying it with energy.

4. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf label (2) has an energy-saving display unit (13).

5. The system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the display unit (13) is based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology.

6. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the supply device (4): - having at least one conductor loop (LI-L5) formed at said rack rail (3), and - an electronic supply unit (18) coupled to the at least one conductor loop (L1-L5), the supply unit being designed to transmit energy for supplying a shelf tag (2) mounted on the shelf rail (3) corresponding to the conductor loop (L1-L5) to the shelf tag (2) in a contactless manner by means of the conductor loop (L1-L5).

7. The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the supply unit (18) is electrically conductively connected to two loop terminals (C1-C5) of the at least one conductor loop (L1-L5).

8. The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein - a plurality of conductor loops (L1-L5) are formed along the longitudinal extension of the rack rail (3), each of the conductor loops being coupled to the supply unit (18), and The supply unit (18) is designed to selectively transmit energy by means of each of the conductor loops (L1-L5).

9. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the supply unit (18) is designed for multiplexing energy transmission via the respective conductor loops (L1-L5).

10. The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the supply device (4) has a second NFC interface as a supply unit (18) for contactlessly supplying energy to the shelf tag (2), wherein the at least one conductor loop (L1-L5) is a component of the second NFC interface that is intended for transmitting energy.

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one conductor loop (L1-L5) is integrated into the shelf rail (3) or is fixed to the shelf rail.

12. The system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one conductor loop (L1-L5) is formed on a circuit board (17) positioned at the shelf rail (3).

13. The system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one conductor loop (L1-L5) is inserted into a conductor loop receptacle (28) which is realized by means of the rack rail (3).

14. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein exactly one single electronic supply device (4) is used per rack rail (3).

15. The system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the electronic supply device (4) is integrated into the shelf rail (3) or is fastened to the shelf rail.

16. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a separate supply station (21) is provided for supplying energy to the electronic supply device (4).

17. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a separate supply station (21) is provided for supplying energy to a group of electronic supply devices (4).

18. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a separate supply station (21) is provided for supplying energy to the supply device (4) of a shelf (9).

19. The system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a separate supply station (21) is provided for supplying energy to the supply device (4) of a group of racks (9).

20. The system (1) according to claim 16, wherein - the electronic supply device (4) is designed in such a way that it can supply energy in a radio-based manner, and The supply station (21) is designed as a supply transmitter for wirelessly supplying energy to the electronic supply device (4).

21. The system (1) according to claim 20, wherein the supply transmitter is designed for a targeted energy supply to the electronic supply device (4).

22. Use of an electronic supply device (4) for contactless energy supply and contactless communication supply to at least one shelf tag (2) in a shelf rail (3), wherein the shelf tag is designed to be contactlessly supplied with energy and also designed for contactless communication, wherein the at least one shelf tag (2) is fastened to the shelf rail (3), wherein the electronic supply device (4) is designed to receive and forward a unique identifier of the shelf tag (2) involved in the communication for the purpose of determining the position of the relevant shelf tag (2).

23. Use according to claim 22, wherein the rack rail (3) is the only rack rail (3).

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