Electronic price tag

Abstract

The present application discloses an electronic price tag including a passive NFC antenna that is added to a position other than an electronic price tag PCB and has no electrical connection with an existing NFC antenna, and the passive NFC antenna is coupled to the existing NFC antenna. When the size of the electronic price tag is limited and the NFC antenna is shielded by a screen, a battery, a structural member, etc., the present application can improve the NFC signal strength and electric field strength distribution near the electronic price tag screen, and improve the performance of the price tag NFC communication distance, effective sensing area, trigger response speed, etc.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic price tags, and more particularly to electronic price tags. [Background technology]

[0002] This section is intended to provide a background or context for the claimed embodiments of the present application. Nothing herein is admitted as prior art for inclusion in this section.

[0003] As various types of electronic price tags are widely used in the fields of supermarkets, warehouse logistics, smart labels, etc., in order to expand the functions and interaction means of electronic price tags, NFC communication functions have been widely integrated into electronic price tags. Conventional electronic price tags only have one NFC antenna, which is usually integrated into an electronic price tag PCB (printed circuit board) and has an electrical connection relationship with the NFC circuit in the electronic price tag PCB, or is electrically connected to the NFC circuit in the PCB as a separate antenna attachment. However, due to the limitations of the external dimensions of the electronic price tag, the NFC antenna of the electronic price tag is often shielded by a screen, a battery, structural members, etc., which leads to poor NFC performance near the screen of the electronic price tag, that is, the NFC communication distance of the electronic price tag is short, the effective sensing area is small, the trigger response speed is slow, and other problems occur, resulting in poor user experience and other phenomena. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic price tag, which includes a passive NFC antenna that is added to a position other than an electronic price tag PCB and has no electrical connection with an existing NFC antenna, the passive NFC antenna being a relay coupling coil and coupled to the existing NFC antenna.

[0005] In one embodiment, the location other than the EPL PCB is a lens of the EPL and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil that surrounds the lens of the EPL.

[0006] In one embodiment, the location other than the EPL PCB is a front case of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the front case of the EPL.

[0007] In one embodiment, the location other than the EPL PCB is a battery box cover of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the battery box cover.

[0008] In one embodiment, the location other than the EPL PCB is a rear case of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil that surrounds the rear case of the EPL.

[0009] In one embodiment, the location other than the EPL PCB is a mid-frame housing of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil that surrounds the mid-frame housing of the EPL.

[0010] In one embodiment, the location other than the EPL PCB is an EPL housing, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil that surrounds the EPL housing.

[0011] In one embodiment, the antenna further comprises an antenna matching element;

[0012] In one embodiment, the passive NFC antenna is affixed to or embedded in a location other than the EPL PCB.

[0013] In the embodiments of the present application, compared to the technical solution of the prior art electronic price tag, which has only one NFC antenna and, due to the limited size of the electronic price tag itself, has a screen, battery, and other metal attachments that block the NFC antenna of the electronic price tag, causing attenuation of the NFC signal in front of and around the price tag screen and resulting in a deterioration of NFC performance, the present application adds a passive NFC antenna that has no electrical connection with the existing NFC antenna at a position other than the electronic price tag PCB, and the passive NFC antenna is coupled to the existing NFC antenna, thereby improving the NFC signal strength and electric field strength distribution near the electronic price tag screen, and improving performance such as the price tag NFC communication distance, effective sensing area, and trigger response speed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following briefly introduces drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings based on these drawings without making inventive efforts.

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic price tag in an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a passive NFC relay coupling antenna on the lens or front case of an electronic price tag in an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a passive NFC relay coupling antenna in an embodiment of the present application located on the housing or intermediate frame housing of an electronic price tag. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a passive NFC relay coupling antenna in the battery box housing or the back housing in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which the exemplary embodiments of the present application and the description thereof are for interpreting the present application, but are not intended to limit the present application.

[0017] Based on the problems existing in the prior art, the present application provides an electronic price tag, which, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, includes a passive NFC antenna that has no electrical connection relationship with an existing NFC antenna, which is added to a position other than an electronic price tag PCB (the position indicated by the arrow is the mounting position of the passive NFC antenna), and the passive NFC antenna is coupled to the existing NFC antenna.

[0018] Specifically, a passive NFC antenna that has no electrical connection to the existing NFC antenna, circuits, etc. is added to a position other than the price tag PCB, and the alternating signal from the antenna can be coupled to the existing NFC antenna via the passive NFC antenna, improving the signal strength and field strength distribution of the NFC signal near the electronic price tag screen, and improving performance such as the price tag NFC communication distance, effective sensing area, and trigger response speed.

[0019] In Fig. 1, a total of three modes of mounting positions of the passive NFC antenna are shown, but the position of the NFC passive relay coupling coil of the electronic price tag includes, but is not limited to, the above three modes. Fig. 1 shows a complete electronic price tag structure, with the lens (the part shown at the rear in Fig. 1) at the front and the intermediate frame housing and the battery box (the part shown at the front in Fig. 1) at the rear, which are assembled structural members.

[0020] Specifically, coupling refers to the process by which energy is transferred from one medium (e.g., a metal wire, an optical fiber) to another. In electronics, coupling refers to the transfer of energy from one circuit part to another.

[0021] In the embodiment of the present application, FIG. 2 is Reference Plan 1 in which a passive NFC antenna is added to a price tag. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a location other than the EPL PCB is the lens of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the lens of the EPL.

[0022] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the location other than the EPL PCB is the front case of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the front case of the EPL.

[0023] Specifically, the front edge of the screen of the EPL generally includes two types: with a lens and without a lens. For the EPL with a lens, the passive NFC antenna may be located around the lens of the EPL. For the EPL without a lens, there is an injection molded structural member similar to a lens frame, usually called a front case, and the passive NFC antenna may be located around the front case.

[0024] In the embodiment of the present application, Figure 3 is Reference Plan 2 in which a passive NFC antenna is added to the price tag. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the location other than the electronic price tag PCB is the intermediate frame housing of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the intermediate frame housing of the electronic price tag.

[0025] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the location other than the EPL PCB is the EPL housing, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the EPL housing.

[0026] Specifically, the housing of the electronic price tag is a structural member in which the passive NFC antenna coil indicated by the three arrows in Figure 1 is located, and includes a battery box, an intermediate frame, a lens, etc., the entirety of which is called the housing of the electronic price tag.

[0027] The middle frame of the price tag refers to the housing structural member in which the passive NFC antenna coil, indicated by the middle arrow in FIG. 1, is located.

[0028] In the embodiment of the present application, FIG. 4 is Reference Plan 3 in which a passive NFC antenna is added to a price tag. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the location other than the electronic price tag PCB is the battery box cover (battery box housing) of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the battery box cover.

[0029] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the location other than the EPL PCB is the rear case of the EPL, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the rear case of the EPL.

[0030] Specifically, electronic price tags currently come in two forms: one with replaceable batteries and one with non-replaceable batteries. 1. When the battery is replaceable, there is usually a battery box structure. 2. When the battery is non-replaceable, the middle frame housing and the battery box are usually integrated, that is, the external structural components of the price tag visible to the human eye are only two structural components, the lens and the housing, and the housing is always called the back housing.

[0031] In an embodiment of the present application, the electronic price tag further includes an antenna matching element (not labeled in FIG. 1 ) that is connected in series or parallel to the passive NFC antenna (i.e., the relay coupling coil) and improves characteristic parameters such as the Q factor (quality factor), center frequency, and passband width of the passive NFC antenna.

[0032] Specifically, the antenna matching element is typically an inductor or capacitor element that is connected in series or parallel to the coil of the NFC antenna.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present application, the passive NFC antenna can be affixed or embedded in a location other than the EPL PCB.

[0034] For the above reasons, in the embodiments of the present application, compared to the technical solution of the prior art electronic price tag, which has only one NFC antenna and, due to the limited size of the electronic price tag itself, has a screen, battery, and other metal attachments that block the NFC antenna of the electronic price tag, causing attenuation of the NFC signal in front of and around the price tag screen and degrading NFC performance, the present application adds a passive NFC antenna that has no electrical connection with the existing NFC antenna at a position other than the electronic price tag PCB, and the passive NFC antenna is coupled to the existing NFC antenna, thereby improving the NFC signal strength and electric field strength distribution near the electronic price tag screen, and improving performance such as the price tag NFC communication distance, effective sensing area, and trigger response speed.

[0035] The specific embodiments described above further explain the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application. However, it should be understood that the above are only specific embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Any amendments, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A passive NFC antenna that is added to a position other than the electronic price tag PCB and has no electrical connection with an existing NFC antenna is included, the passive NFC antenna being a relay coupling coil that is coupled to the existing NFC antenna. An electronic price tag characterized by:

2. The position other than the electronic price tag PCB is a lens of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the lens of the electronic price tag.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

3. The position other than the electronic price tag PCB is a front case of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the front case of the electronic price tag.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

4. The position other than the electronic price tag PCB is a battery box cover of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the battery box cover.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

5. The position other than the electronic price tag PCB is a rear case of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the rear case of the electronic price tag.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

6. The position other than the electronic price tag PCB is an intermediate frame housing of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the intermediate frame housing of the electronic price tag.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

7. The position other than the electronic price tag PCB is a housing of the electronic price tag, and the passive NFC antenna is a relay coupling coil surrounding the housing of the electronic price tag.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

8. Further comprising an antenna matching element connected in series or parallel to the passive NFC antenna for improving the characteristic parameters of the passive NFC antenna.

2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

9. The passive NFC antenna is attached to or embedded in a location other than the electronic price tag PCB; 2. The electronic price tag according to claim 1.

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