Electronic display device, method for manufacturing an electronic display device, and shelf rail system

Abstract

An electronic display device, in particular an electronic shelf display, comprising a flexible screen having a display region and an edge region located outside the display region, the screen being curved in such a way that the edge region comes to lie behind the display region.

Description

[0001] title

[0002] Electronic display device and a manufacturing method for an electronic display device and a shelf rail system.

[0003] Description

[0004] Technical field

[0005] The invention relates to an electronic display device and a manufacturing method for an electronic display device and a shelf rail system.

[0006] background

[0007] Electronic display devices for displaying product and / or price information are common in retail. They are typically mounted on shelf rails and feature a screen at the front.

[0008] The screen is characterized by having a substantially square or rectangular display area for showing product and / or price information, which is enclosed by a surrounding border area. This border area is typically made up of four sub-areas, each of which adjoins a side of the display area. The screen is typically supplied electronically (in terms of power and / or communications technology) in a particularly wide section of the border area. In order to give the electronic display device a symmetrical, i.e. pleasing, appearance, and to provide mechanical protection for the screen, the display area of ​​the screen is enclosed on all sides by a panel or frame, with the width of the panel or frame being adapted to the dimensions of the border area intended for the electrical supply.In the viewer's perception, this type of framing of the screen's display area creates a very bulky appearance, with an unfavorable utilization of the front for information display. The invention therefore aims to provide an electronic display device, a manufacturing method for producing an electronic display device, and a shelf rail system that improves the appearance of the display device and increases the utilization of the front for information display.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] This object is achieved by an electronic display device according to claim 1. The subject of the invention is therefore an electronic display device, in particular an electronic shelf display, comprising a flexible screen with a display area and an edge area located outside the display area, wherein the screen is curved such that the edge area is located behind the display area.

[0011] This object is further achieved by a manufacturing method according to claim 14. The invention therefore relates to a manufacturing method for producing an electronic display device, wherein the electronic display device has a flexible screen with a display area and an edge area located outside the display area, wherein the manufacturing method comprises the step of bending the screen such that the edge area comes to lie behind the display area.

[0012] This object is further achieved by a shelf rail system according to claim 15. The invention therefore relates to a shelf rail system comprising at least one electronic display device according to the invention and a shelf rail for mechanically fastening the electronic display device.

[0013] The electronic display device has an active area of ​​the display area at its front that is actively available for visual information reproduction. This area remains visible to an observer at the front of the electronic display device even after the screen is bent. Different content can be displayed on it, and this content can be changed electronically. The active area is therefore the area where electronically controlled image content is generated based on image data and is visible. The visible part of the display area is primarily, but not necessarily, positioned or installed flat or level at the front of the display device.

[0014] During bending, part of the edge area can be bent away. The entire edge area can also be bent away. In addition to the entire edge area, part of the display area can also be bent away along with the edge area. This creates a passive area of ​​the display area, which can still be electronically controlled for information display, but is de facto no longer visible on the front of the display device and therefore cannot be used for information display.

[0015] Whether a portion of the display area is considered active ultimately depends on whether it is visible to the viewer when the screen is installed in the electronic display device and whether it can display electronically modifiable content. The division into active and passive areas is independent of whether active or passive electronic components are used, which can be used in both areas or are intended for control.

[0016] In the present context, "being located behind the display area" means that the edge area of ​​the screen is positioned behind the display area, i.e., it no longer protrudes essentially flush from the display area at the affected edge of the screen, as is the case with known solutions. Depending on the implementation of the curvature of the screen, part of the edge area, the entire edge area, or even the entire edge area together with a part of the display area adjacent to the edge area may be located behind the display area.

[0017] In a housing of the display device, the edge region is therefore located at least partially behind the display region inside the electronic display device. The screen is therefore arranged at least once within the housing and may even be folded. The curved or folded arrangement is implemented in such a way that, adjacent to the display region extending flatly at the front and remaining visible to the viewer of the display device, the edge region, possibly together with part of the display region, is curved. The radius or radii of curvature are adapted to the material to be bent, i.e., are compatible with the existing material property(ies).The edge area can thus be positioned - partially or completely - below the level of the display area visible to the viewer or extend from there to behind the part of the display area that remains visible to the viewer.

[0018] The inventive measures have the advantage that the edge of the screen no longer protrudes prominently from the display area. Therefore, the bezel or frame surrounding the screen can be designed much more slenderly than is the case with the known solution. This slender design of the frame on the side of the screen, where the edge of the screen is curved backward, can now also be continued on the other three edges of the screen, resulting in a slender frame surrounding the screen all the way around. Alternatively, the frame can be omitted.

[0019] In contrast to the familiar appearance of the electronic display device, the display area of ​​the screen now appears larger compared to the bezel or frame, and the bezel or frame visually recedes into the background in favor of the display area because it can be made much slimmer along the edge of the display area. In other words, the appearance of the bezel becomes less conspicuous. In contrast, the display area of ​​the screen now occupies a larger area of ​​the front of the electronic display device. The ratio of display area to bezel or frame area will therefore be larger for a given display device dimension than is the case with conventional solutions.

[0020] This minimizes the area of ​​the front of the electronic display device that is not usable for the information display, i.e. the area that is inactive in terms of content, whereas the area of ​​the front of the electronic display device that is available for the display area is optimized or maximized.

[0021] The term "bezel or frame" refers to a mechanical structure that structurally delimits the display area on the front of the electronic device and thus visually encloses it, i.e., separates the display area from other structures of the display device. A bezel can be understood as a separate component that encompasses the display area on all sides along the edge area. A frame can be referred to if it is a component of the housing, which can also be the case with the bezel. The frame also completely encloses the display area on the edges and thus visually delimits it. Since the terms "bezel" and "frame" are synonymous with one another, the term "frame" will be used below.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the frame is omitted, for example, along two edges of the display device that run parallel to one another, possibly even completely, i.e. circumferentially around the display area. It is therefore possible for the first time to provide an electronic display device that integrates or has a screen that is frameless on two sides, possibly even on all sides. In this configuration, the display area or a visible side edge of the display area can be framed, for example, by the side walls that run from the front of the display device laterally backwards to the rear of the display device. The curved area of ​​the screen can also be connected to the side walls when viewed from the front of the display device.This means that for the first time, an electronic display device intended for retail will have the look and feel of modern smartphones, where the trend is also towards their display area filling an increasingly larger area of ​​the front.

[0023] Due to the measures according to the invention, for a given diagonal dimension of the front of the display device, there is also the advantage that the area usable for the display area is larger than is the case with a known electronic display device, because the frame can be narrower or an at least partially or even completely frameless design can be used. The available front of the electronic display device can therefore be used more optimally, in particular essentially even across its entire surface, for information reproduction. This contributes significantly to improved optical perception of the information visualized with the aid of the display area, because larger font or larger characters or even larger symbols can be used while maintaining the same information content. The pixel resolution does not even have to be increased to achieve better optical perception.

[0024] On the other hand, the invention allows for the first time, for a given diagonal of the display area, a reduction in the external dimensions of the front, and ultimately also in the diagonal of the front of the electronic display device, because compared to known solutions, the frame is slimmer or is partially or even completely eliminated. This leads to reduced material usage, at least for the housing of the electronic display device, because this housing can now be smaller than is the case with the known electronic display device, in which a screen with the given diagonal of the display area would have to be accommodated. The small, and therefore more compact, design of the housing also allows thinner wall thicknesses to be used for the housing, because the modified design also changes the force distribution generated by external stress when handling the electronic display device.The material-reducing effect has not only a positive economic but also a positive ecological effect, because simply less material is needed.

[0025] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0026] In order to achieve a bendable screen, rigid or brittle materials (such as glass, metal or ceramic) are avoided, at least in the area of ​​the screen where the bending is to take place. For example, the display area can be covered with a layer of glass only where no bending occurs. Since the edge area adjoining the display area must in any case be bent away from the plane of the display area visible at the front of the display device, it has proven advantageous for at least the edge area to be designed to be bendable where it is curved. If part of the display area is to be subjected to bending or curvature, this part must also be designed to be bendable. However, it is particularly advantageous if the screen as a whole, or at least for the most part, is constructed from elastic materials so that no damage occurs during bending.The mechanical structures of the screen, i.e., those structures that provide it with mechanical integrity, are then preferably made of elastic plastic. Since the screen itself is usually relatively thin, relatively small radii of curvature can be achieved when bending, ranging from 0.5 mm to 3 mm. This allows for a relatively slim design of the display device, so that the fact that a curved screen is installed remains unobtrusive.

[0027] Such an electronic display device can generally be designed or used for a variety of tasks. For example, the electronic display device can be designed as a handheld device, such as an electronic book (known as an e-book reader), a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a personal computer, particularly a laptop, or a computer monitor. In all of these forms, the measures are accompanied by the advantages discussed above.

[0028] The electronic display device is preferably designed as an electronic label, in particular as an electronic shelf label or as an electronic shelf display, and is used in retail on shelves, product presentation tables, shopping carts, etc. Such electronic shelf labels are known by their English name "Electronic Shelf Label," or ESL for short. Such ESLs are designed for radio-based or line-based communication in order to receive data with the aid of which information, often product and / or price information, can be visually displayed to a person via the screen.

[0029] If the measures according to the invention are used with an ESL with a given diagonal display area, a further advantage arises that more ESLs can be mounted along a shelf rail on which several such ESLs are mounted than would be the case with conventional ESLs. By reducing the frame width, or if necessary by completely eliminating the frame at the left and right ends of the ESL, less space is required on the shelf rail per ESL. Therefore, more ESLs can be placed next to each other per unit of length along the shelf rail than would be the case if the measures according to the invention were not provided. The entire product presentation area along the shelf rail is therefore optimized because the higher the number of possible ESLs per unit of length, the more products can be presented along the shelf rail.

[0030] Furthermore, in retail, it can also be important that price and / or product information is presented in a way that is optimally perceptible to customers. To accommodate this aspect, the diagonal dimensions of the front panel specified for conventional ESLs can be retained and a screen with a display area can be used that utilizes the existing diagonal dimensions as much as possible, particularly with a frameless design. Compared to the conventional solution, the display area gained in this way can be used to display larger symbols, characters, or letters, or simply to display more information.

[0031] However, optimization can also occur at the intersection of measures for optimizing the entire product presentation area along the shelf rail and measures for optimizing the perceptibility of the information being displayed. Thus, optimization can be scaled between the two extremes.

[0032] With regard to the field of application, a preferred aspect of the invention therefore relates to a shelf rail system comprising at least one electronic display device according to the invention and a shelf rail for mechanically fastening the electronic display device.

[0033] The display area and the edge area are preferably designed as a flat surface.

[0034] The screen of the electronic display device can have multiple bends. Preferably, a portion of the display area, preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 70%, based on the area of ​​the display area, is flat or installed flat or level.

[0035] In general, the screen can be curved at different angles, e.g., 20° to 120°, preferably 45° to 120°, particularly preferably 90° + / -10°. In this case, particularly with a bend of approximately 90° or more, the edge area is removed from the side area next to the display area, and the visible portion of the display area of ​​the screen at the front is optimized. The edge area of ​​the screen moves to the rear, i.e., spatially behind the display area. While this improves the view of the front of the display device, this variant results in a considerable increase in installation depth.

[0036] In order to obtain an electronic display device that is as flat as possible, i.e. relatively thin, it has proven advantageous for the screen to be curved in such a way that the edge area is bent or oriented towards the back of the display area.

[0037] Preferably, the screen is curved approximately 180° + / - 10°, although bends of 120° to 225°, in particular 160° to 200°, can also be advantageous.

[0038] The edge area of ​​the screen is thus preferably bent or folded backward, i.e., toward the back of the display area. The edge area preferably lies flat behind the back of the display area, along the back of the display area, possibly even adjacent to the back of the display area.

[0039] To achieve the desired curved configuration of the screen, multiple bends can be provided, or the screen can be folded multiple times. The curvature can also vary along a bend. Multiple individual bends can also be provided, for example, curved alternately in different directions to enable optimized, particularly space-saving, installation of the screen into the housing of the display device.

[0040] This allows the electronic display device to be optimized not only in terms of the utilization of its front panel, which is intended for displaying information, but also in terms of its depth, making it as flat as possible and thus aesthetically pleasing. This also results in minimal material requirements for the housing.

[0041] Different screen technologies can be used for the display. For example, the display can be an LCD or an OLED screen.

[0042] Preferably, however, the screen is designed as an electronic paper screen. Electronic paper is also known by the abbreviation "e-paper" or by the English terms "e-paper," "e-paper," or "ePaper." It is preferably an electrophoresis screen. The information displayed on it, and especially text, is particularly easily perceptible to the human eye because the text appears as if printed on paper and is therefore particularly easy to read. Once programmed, the information remains visible for the intended period of time, essentially without the consumption of electrical power.

[0043] The use of such a screen, combined with the optimized utilization of the space available for the display area (diagonal of the front of the electronic display device), supports each other in that, while maintaining the same framework conditions, especially the edge dimensions of the electronic display device (diagonal of the front of the display device), more space is provided for displaying information, allowing for larger font sizes, with the resolution increasing disproportionately with the additional space. This is because once a minimum size specified by the pixel resolution is exceeded, the displayed information becomes dramatically more perceptible.

[0044] With e-paper screens, there are now a wide variety of products with flexible screens, so the use of this screen technology has proven particularly advantageous. Screens are already known that can be bent with curvature radii of less than 1 cm, for example, in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm. Thus, the use of e-paper screens allows for the provision of display devices that not only optimally utilize the front with the display area (the active area of ​​the display area), but also require very little installation space in depth, because the screen can be folded in a small installation space.

[0045] The edge region of the screen, particularly of an electronic paper screen, typically has at least one electrode connecting element for connecting at least two electrodes of different layers of the screen. These electrode connecting elements are typically formed from silver paste. Such a design using silver paste is known, for example, from CN114265256A. In addition to or instead of the silver paste, the electrode connecting element can also comprise other components known in English as "electrically conductive adhesives."

[0046] The function of the conductive silver paste is to electrically connect an upper transparent electrode (front electrode) to the electrodes on a lower electrode substrate, generating the electric field necessary for particle motion in the electrophoretic display. The silver paste is often block-like, individually often referred to as a point-like "silver dot," located in pairs in the edge region adjacent to the display area. The electrode connecting element is therefore usually a component that helps determine the dimensions of the edge region.

[0047] It has therefore proven advantageous according to one aspect of the invention that in the electronic display device, the screen has the electrode connecting element, in particular comprising a conductive varnish, in particular comprising silver paste, preferably consisting of silver paste, wherein the electrode connecting element connects at least two electrodes of different layers of the screen and wherein the electrode connecting element is located in the edge region of the screen, which, when the screen is bent, comes to lie behind the display region. Thus, the edge region defined by the electrode connecting element, which represents a part of the screen that is inactive for information reproduction, is removed from the plane of the display region and placed behind the display region of the screen.The function of the electrode connecting element is retained, ensuring optimal representation of the displayed content.

[0048] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous that the edge area, which is located behind the display area, has a connection area for the connection of a component carrier.

[0049] The component carrier is designed to support electronic components intended for the operation of the electronic display device, such as memory chips and / or a voltage regulator, etc. This measure allows the components intended for the operation of the electronic display device to be located in a space-saving manner while simultaneously providing a connection that reduces mechanical stress and thus the risk of damage to the connected component carrier. In known solutions, the component carrier or a connecting element had to be bent in order to be able to place the electronic components behind the screen. The curved screen thus enables an optimized design and placement of the component carrier - especially behind the display area of ​​the screen.

[0050] The connection area of ​​the edge area forms the mechanical and electronic interface for connecting the component carrier to the screen.

[0051] The advantage of placing the connection area on the edge behind the display area is that it reduces the material requirements and the weight of the electronic display device. This is because the connection area is placed inside the electronic display device, usually inside the housing. This eliminates the need for long cabling for the component carrier. Instead, shorter cabling can be used, for example, a very short ribbon cable, known as a flat flexible cable (FFC for short), or the component carrier can even be connected directly, particularly without cables, to the connection area.

[0052] Therefore, the edge region located behind the display region is preferably coupled to the component carrier. The component carrier can be connected to the connection region of the edge region, e.g., within the edge region or at an outer edge of the edge region, or directly at (on) the edge region of the screen. This allows for the realization of a particularly material-saving and compact screen module consisting of the screen and component carrier. This measure thus enables the provision of lighter electronic display devices.Even if this only represents a relatively small saving in material and weight per unit, it has a major impact on the overall resource savings due to the enormous quantities of electronic display devices, particularly those designed as electronic shelf displays, that are required to equip a store or even an entire supermarket chain, which often have to overcome long transport routes.

[0053] The component carrier can be a rigid component carrier, in particular a rigid printed circuit board. However, the component carrier is preferably designed as a flexible component carrier, preferably as a flexible printed circuit board, in particular as an FPC connector. "FPC" stands for "Flexible Printed Circuit." The FPC connector serves to connect the screen to other mechanical and / or electrical or electronic components of the electronic display device. Unlike a flat cable, however, it is not only intended for the passive transmission of power or data or signals, but also carries active or passive electrical components, such as a memory chip for storing display-relevant data and / or a voltage regulator for supplying power to the screen, etc.This allows for a space-saving and, above all, flexibly adaptable housing of the component carrier and its components to the respective installation conditions, thus resulting in an even more compact design of the electronic display device, particularly in terms of its depth. The flexibility of the component carrier also allows for a curved connection zone to other electronic or mechanical components in the electronic display device, such as the screen.

[0054] According to a further aspect of the invention, the component carrier comprises at least one component located, in particular directly, behind the screen. Thus, the screen, the component carrier, and the component form a compact unit for providing visual content over a large area.

[0055] In combination with a flexible component carrier, the bending can be distributed between the screen and the component carrier, so that both components are exposed to only minimal mechanical stress, thus increasing the durability and resilience of the entire electronic display device because none of the curved elements is exposed to extremely high deformation.

[0056] According to a further aspect, the electronic display device comprises a light-emitting unit, in particular embodied as a light-emitting diode, preferably as a component of the component carrier. This makes it possible to implement a visually perceptible marketing measure, thereby further optimizing the customer experience because it directs attention to a specific electronic display device or a selection of specific electronic display devices.

[0057] Preferably, the light-emitting unit is positioned to illuminate the screen, in particular to backlight the screen. Thus, the screen and the displayed content are highlighted by the light emitted by the light-emitting unit. This measure can be used to illuminate a specific part of the display area or the entire display area, i.e., to highlight specific displayed content using the light emitted by the light-emitting unit. This measure thus provides new possibilities for presenting information and results in an electronic display device with optimized information provision.

[0058] The light emission unit can illuminate and / or backlight the display area of ​​the screen, in particular the active area. For surrounding illumination, the light emission unit is located to the side and / or in front of the screen, in particular in a frame or in a housing part framing the screen. For backlighting, the electronic display device can have a light guide to redirect the light for backlighting. For backlighting, the light emission unit is preferably located behind the screen, i.e. in particular inside the electronic display device, preferably on the back of the screen, particularly preferably directly on the back of the screen, and is designed, positioned or oriented to emit light that shines through the display area of ​​the screen. The screen, in particular the display area, is designed to be transmissive or transflective for this purpose.This allows specific areas of the screen to be highlighted. Multiple light emitting units can also be provided, allowing different areas of the screen to be backlit and thus highlighted.

[0059] The light-emitting unit is preferably implemented as a component or assembly supported by the FPC connector. This design allows the electronic display device, in particular the illumination or backlighting of the screen, to be easily integrated into the display device and thus manufactured inexpensively. At the same time, thanks to the flexible screen or the flexible edge area and, if applicable, the flexible cable carrier, the light-emitting unit can be easily positioned at the desired location—for example, directly adjacent to the back of the screen—without significant additional effort.

[0060] The component carrier can be connected to another component carrier, in particular a printed circuit board (PCB), on which further electronic or mechanical components are located that implement various functions of the display device. A radio module can also be implemented there. The radio module is designed to communicate with external devices via radio.

[0061] However, it has proven advantageous that the electronic display device is designed without a radio module. This eliminates the need for a complex and space-consuming radio module and provides an electronic display device that can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively.

[0062] The component carrier of the electronic display device can carry a power supply component for providing a power supply. For example, this power supply component can be designed as a battery or a voltage regulator.

[0063] However, it has proven particularly advantageous for the electronic display device to have the component carrier connected to a contacting device, wherein the contacting device is designed for electrically conductive contact with a shelf rail. The contacting device can thus form a power supply component.

[0064] It has proven particularly advantageous if the shelf rail of the shelf rail system has conductor tracks that can be electrically contacted by the electronic display device. The shelf rail preferably has a conductor carrier that mechanically supports the conductor tracks and leaves them accessible for electrical contact. The conductor carrier preferably extends along the entire shelf rail, and the conductor tracks also run parallel to each other along the longitudinal extension of the shelf rail. Thus, the display device can be positioned optionally along the longitudinal extension. This configuration is intended for use with the radio module-free display device.

[0065] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous that the shelf rail system has a supply device for supplying the electronic display device with power and communication technology, in particular via the conductor tracks of the shelf rail.

[0066] In this embodiment, the electronic display device contacts the conductor tracks of the shelf rails, which are connected to the power supply, with its contacting device. The power supply provides an electrical power supply to the display device and / or a communication supply, particularly bidirectional, for the display device via the conductor tracks.

[0067] The supply device preferably has a communications module for communicating with external units, in particular with an access point. Thus, even an electronic display device without a radio module can communicate indirectly with the access point via the supply device, to which it is connected via the conductor tracks of the shelf rail. The electronic display device can therefore be manufactured with few components and thus with low complexity, while simultaneously displaying current information in a visually appealing manner.

[0068] According to a further aspect, the electronic display device comprises a mechanical coupling device for mechanically coupling the electronic display device, in particular to the aforementioned electronic shelf rail. The coupling device allows for easy installation on the shelf rail as well as problem-free removal from the shelf rail.

[0069] The invention's slimmed-down screen frame on all sides, or the complete elimination of the screen frame, allows a multitude of electronic display devices to be placed on a shelf rail, allowing a row of screens with narrow frames, or virtually frameless electronic display devices, to be installed close together. This allows maximum utilization of the available display area across the entire length of the shelf rail - as already discussed at the beginning. As already discussed at the beginning, the slimmed-down frame around the screen, or the complete elimination of the frame in the case of a frameless display device, also allows more products to be advertised along the shelf rail using the display devices than would be the case with the conventional frame width of a known display device.

[0070] The mechanical coupling device, the contacting device, the shelf rail, and the supply device can be designed in various ways to coordinate with one another. Reference is made to patent applications WO2022188955 A1 and WO2022188956 A1, which disclose preferred embodiments of the mechanical coupling device, the contacting device, and the shelf rail.

[0071] The contacting device preferably has spring contacts or contact elements or contact strips that protrude from a housing of the electronic display device in order to contact the conductor tracks of the shelf rail and to provide an electrically conductive connection for the power supply and the wired communication.

[0072] The shelf rail and the supply device are designed to be coupled mechanically, in particular in a form-fitting manner, preferably by means of a snap connection.

[0073] The shelf rail has the conductor tracks for transmitting electrical power and / or information, which are designed as electrically conductive tracks. The conductor tracks are attached to the conductor carrier, which mechanically supports the conductor tracks. When the shelf rail system is installed, the conductor tracks are contacted by an electronic coupling device of the supply device.

[0074] The conductor tracks preferably form the electronic coupling counterstructure, particularly at their end sections, or have the coupling counterstructure. The supply device preferably has spring elements for contacting the electronic coupling counterstructure, particularly for directly contacting the conductor tracks.

[0075] The shelf rail preferably has a central web which separates the front side, on which at least one electronic display device can be positioned, from the rear side of the shelf rail. An energy storage device can preferably be positioned on the rear side of the shelf rail. The central web can also be interpreted as a reference wall on which the electronic display devices can be positioned. The central web preferably delimits the area in which electronic display devices are carried towards the rear, i.e. towards the shelf. The central web is preferably also designed to mechanically support the electronic display devices. Particularly preferably, the central web is designed to enter into a positive connection with the electronic display device, in particular by hooking it in, preferably by means of the mechanical coupling device of the electronic display device.For this purpose, the coupling counterstructure preferably has openings, in particular openings arranged in a grid or lined up one after the other, which can be grasped by the mechanical coupling device.

[0076] The central web can be the conductor carrier. The central web is preferably formed separately from the conductor carrier and positioned at a distance from it. Particularly preferably, the conductor carrier has the conductor tracks oriented toward the central web. The conductor tracks preferably run on the side of the conductor carrier oriented toward the central web and / or in the conductor carrier, in particular parallel to the central web along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail, and can thus be contacted without hindrance essentially along the entire length of the shelf rail.

[0077] The shelf rail is designed for attachment to a shelf and is particularly intended to be attached to the front of a shelf or to form the front end of the shelf. The shelf rail can also be designed or used to be attached to other structures, such as a sales counter.

[0078] When attached to the shelf rail, the electronic display devices contact the conductor tracks and are thus supplied with power from the power supply and / or can communicate data with the power supply. This data can relate to the content to be displayed. For example, product and / or price information can be transmitted to the electronic display device. The data can also relate to the light emitting unit and, for example, instruct the electronic display device to emit a constant or a temporally or spatially variable light signal.

[0079] The electronic display device can also comprise a detection and / or sensor module, in particular as a component of the preferably flexible component carrier. The detection and / or sensor module can, for example, comprise a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor to detect the state of the environment. The detection and / or sensor module can also comprise a camera to detect the environment and to create a digital image of the environment and / or to directly interpret the environment, for example, by means of image recognition. The data from the detection and / or sensor module can preferably be communicated to the supply device via the conductor tracks.The data of the recording and / or sensor module, i.e. the recording and / or sensor data and internal data of the electronic display device, for example the data of a counter that records the operating hours of the electronic display device, can be summarized as device data that is communicated by the electronic display device to the supply facility.

[0080] In addition to the electronic display device, other devices, such as detection and / or sensor devices, can be attached to the shelf rail.

[0081] The supply device is preferably designed as a shelf rail control unit, or in English referred to as a "rail controller." The supply device preferably has a communication stage for communicating, preferably wirelessly, particularly preferably radio-based, with an external unit, for example the access point. The communication stage can, for example, receive data for the electronic display devices or transmit data from the devices to the external unit. For example, display data, in particular product and / or price information, can be received for display on an electronic display device, and sensor or detection data can be transmitted from the electronic display device.The supply device preferably further comprises a control stage for controlling and addressing, in particular individually or in groups, the electronic devices mounted on the shelf rail, in particular the electronic display devices. The control stage is preferably designed to control the electronic device or the group of electronic devices based on the device data. Components of the electronic display device can thus be outsourced to the supply device, thereby massively reducing the complexity of an electronic display device as well as the costs and material requirements for its manufacture.

[0082] As mentioned, the electronic display device preferably has a housing. During manufacture of the electronic display device, the screen can be bent before being positioned in the housing. This also allows components or the component carrier to be attached and positioned before this unit is inserted into the housing.

[0083] The screen can also be bent during insertion into the housing. This allows the curved shape to be forced onto the screen during insertion. The screen can also be inserted into a housing section and then bent before the housing is sealed with another housing section. Bending the screen during insertion into the housing reduces the required work steps and simultaneously ensures that the bend is adapted to the shape of the housing.

[0084] The bend can occur outside the display area of ​​the screen, so that only the edge area is bent. The edge area can be partially bent behind the display area or completely behind the display area. Also, preferably, a portion of the display area can be bent together with the edge area behind the non-bent portion of the display area. This ensures that the display area can extend to the edge of the display device because the inherently disruptive edge area disappears completely behind the display area, while the bend is realized, for example, entirely with a portion of the display area.A large area of ​​the screen that is passive with regard to information reproduction, i.e. an area that cannot be used for information reproduction, is bent from the front of the display device visible to the viewer behind the display area, so that the largest possible area of ​​the display area that can be actively used with regard to information reproduction remains at the front of the display device in the viewer's viewing area.

[0085] The housing can cover a portion of the curved area of ​​the screen. Preferably, the housing covers at least the edge area of ​​the screen. Furthermore, the housing can cover part or all of the curved area of ​​the display area of ​​the screen. This allows for a flat screen with a relatively narrow frame formed by the housing. This results in an improved appearance of the display device, with the proportion of the frame at the front being minimized.

[0086] However, the housing can also leave the curved portion of the display area at least partially, preferably completely, free. This provides an electronic display device that can be designed virtually frame-free, at least on the left and / or right sides of the display area. Furthermore, the rounded edge provides better viewing from the side. Thus, content displayed across the curved edge can be perceived even from very flat viewing angles.

[0087] If a completely frameless implementation is to be achieved, in addition to bending away the right and left edges of the screen, the top and bottom edges of the screen behind the display area must also be bent.

[0088] In summary, the invention not only offers structural advantages, but also benefits in marketing and the customer experience in the sales area. The invention allows the information provided by the electronic display units to be presented as effectively and efficiently as possible, so that advertising content is perceived and customers can quickly find the products they are looking for. It also supports the trend toward ever larger screens and, by reducing or completely eliminating a frame or bezel, enables the content to be presented in a more comprehensible manner for viewers. It also optimizes space requirements with regard to the positioning of the display devices.Especially in sales areas with high customer traffic, for example in city centers, the sales area is very valuable, so that many products have to be presented close together, which speaks against the use of conventional display devices with space-consuming large frames or panels.

[0089] Finally, it should be generally mentioned that the electronic devices discussed (the electronic display device, the power supply device, the access point, etc.) naturally contain electronics. The electronics can be discrete or implemented using integrated electronics, or even a combination of both. Microcomputers, microcontrollers, and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), possibly in combination with analog or digital electronic peripheral components, can also be used. Many of the device functionalities mentioned are implemented – possibly in conjunction with hardware components – using software that runs on an electronic processor. Devices designed for radio communication usually have an antenna configuration for transmitting and receiving radio signals as part of a transceiver module.Devices designed for wired communication have electrically conductive connecting elements through which the communication signals are transmitted. The electronic devices can also have an internal electrical power supply, which can be implemented, for example, with a replaceable or rechargeable battery. The devices can also be powered wired, either via an external power supply or via "Power over LAN."

[0090] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from the figures discussed below.

[0091] Short character description

[0092] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using exemplary embodiments, to which, however, the invention is not limited. In the various figures, identical components are provided with identical reference numerals. They show schematically:

[0093] Fig. 1 a front of a screen for an electronic

[0094] Display device with a display area and an adjoining edge area;

[0095] Fig. 2 the front of the screen with the edge area curved behind the display area;

[0096] Fig. 3 is a side view of the curved screen;

[0097] Fig. 4 a front of a conventional electronic

[0098] Display device with a non-curved screen in a housing.

[0099] Fig. 5 a front of an electronic device according to the invention

[0100] Display device with a bent screen in a housing; Fig. 6 is a side view of the electronic display device according to Fig. 5;

[0101] Fig. 7 shows a shelf rail system comprising a shelf rail and a conventional electronic display device with a non-bent screen;

[0102] Fig. 8 shows a shelf rail system comprising a shelf rail and the electronic display device with a screen bent according to the invention;

[0103] Fig. 9 the shelf rail system according to Figure 8 having a

[0104] Communication infrastructure;

[0105] Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the shelf rail according to Figure 8 with the display device mounted on it;

[0106] Fig. 11 shows a further embodiment of the electronic display device according to the invention with a bent screen in a housing;

[0107] Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the electronic display device according to Figure 11.

[0108] Description of the embodiments Figure 1 shows a flexible screen 2. The screen 2 has a display area 3 and an edge area 4 located on the right edge side outside the display area 3.

[0109] If this screen 2 were to be installed in a conventional electronic display device (as shown in Figure 4) in a conventional manner, the screen 2 would be enclosed circumferentially with a frame for aesthetic reasons and to mechanically protect the edge area 4. This frame is adapted to the enormous width of the edge area 4 and would therefore give the conventional display device a bulky, clumsy appearance. In addition to the aesthetic disadvantages, the edge area in conventional use also means that, given the limited space available at the front of the display device, a screen must always be selected that only proportionally occupies a small portion of the space available for actively presenting the screen content.

[0110] However, since the screen 2 is flexible, a different installation is possible, which is discussed below in connection with the display device 1 according to the invention.

[0111] The screen 2 is an electrophoretic screen 2 that uses the well-known electronic paper technology. The screen 2 is therefore a so-called e-paper screen. Its edge region 4 has two electrode connecting elements 7, typical for this type, which are designed as silver paste electrode connecting elements 7. The electrode connecting elements 7 each connect two electrodes of different layers of the screen 2 to enable content to be displayed on the screen. Flexible screens are known to those skilled in the art, particularly in the context of electronic paper technology. The screen 2 has a right screen edge 33.

[0112] The edge region 4 further comprises a connection region 9 to which a component carrier 8 is connected. For the sake of clarity, only a section of the component carrier 8 is shown (however, see Figure 3, where it is shown in its entirety). The connection region 9 is located adjacent to the right edge of the screen 33. Functionally focused with regard to information reproduction, the screen 2 is divided into an active region 5, i.e. the display region 3 that can be actively used and electronically controlled for displaying information, and a passive region 6, i.e. the region not suitable or intended for the electronically controllable display of information, which here coincides with the edge region 4. The active region 5 is therefore the two-dimensional region of the screen 2 on which variable screen content can be displayed and viewed by human observers.The active area 5 is the display area of ​​the screen 2. The passive area 6, on the other hand, forms the area that does not actively display screen content. In Figure 1, the display area 3 occupies the entire active area 5 of the screen 2. The passive area 6 occupies the remainder of the screen 2, including the electrode connecting elements 7 and the connection area 9.

[0113] Along the width of the screen 2, a first part of the passive area 6 thus runs over a first width PI, which extends from the beginning (left edge) of the screen 2 to the left edge of the display area 3. A second width Al of the active area 5 extends over the entire width of the display area 3. A second part of the passive area 6 P2 extends from the end (right edge) of the display area 3 to the right end of the screen 2 (right screen edge 33) and has a third width P2.

[0114] In order to optimize the display area provided for information reproduction on the front of the display device 1, the flexible screen 2 is now bent such that the edge region 4 is located behind the display region 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0115] Figure 2 shows the screen 2, with the right-hand part of the edge region 4 in the plan view folded backward, i.e., into the image plane. The first width PI of the passive region 6 has remained unchanged, although it should be noted that the left side of the screen 2 could also be bent backward. That part of the edge region 4 containing the electrode connecting elements 7 and the connection region 9 is in any case bent backward, away from the image plane. Furthermore, a part of the display region 3 is bent backward. In Figure 2, a fourth width Al* of the active region 5 of the screen 2 is thus slightly smaller in absolute terms than the original second width Al of the active region 5.A fifth width P2* of the passive area 6 (on the right in the view) of the screen is limited here to a radius of curvature of the curvature of the screen 2 and is thus significantly smaller than the third width P2 of the passive area 6 in the non-curved state of the screen 2. It should be noted that the curved area of ​​the display area can also be actively used, which was discussed in connection with Figure 11.

[0116] The relative proportion of the active width, i.e., A1* / (P1+A1* + P2*), is thus significantly increased and thus optimized compared to the original active width, i.e., A1 / (P1+A1 + P2). The active area is proportional to the active width because the height remains unchanged in this embodiment. The area of ​​the front of screen 2 that is actively available for displaying screen content is thus increased relative to the total area of ​​the front.

[0117] Figure 3 shows the screen 2 tilted by 90° according to Figure 2, with the view in Figure 2 being directed from bottom to top in the plane of the drawing.

[0118] The component carrier 8 is designed as a "flexible printed circuit board," or FPC for short. The component carrier 8 carries a control stage 12 for controlling the screen 2 and the other components. Furthermore, the component carrier 8 carries a memory stage 13 for storing data that is processed and / or provided by the control stage 12. Furthermore, the component carrier 8 carries light sources designed as light-emitting diodes 10, or LEDs 10 for short, which are intended to backlight the screen 2, i.e., to illuminate it from behind, and thus highlight the entire image content or sub-areas of the displayed information corresponding to their position. Furthermore, the component carrier 8 carries connections 11 for contacting devices 14 for electrically conductive contacting of an electronic shelf rail 24.

[0119] This view also shows the widths PI, AI*, and P2* of the relevant areas in this figure, as well as the now folded widths AI and P2 of the originally flat screen 2. Figure 4 shows a conventional electronic display device 1 with the screen 2 not recovered.

[0120] Figure 5 shows an electronic display device 1 according to the invention with the screen 2 curved as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with a housing 15 in which the screen 2 is accommodated. The housing 15 has a first housing part 16, which forms the frame for the front of the electronic display device 1 and covers or conceals the passive area 4 of the screen 2. The first housing part 16 thus forms a panel for covering the passive area 4. A screen protective layer 22 is provided in the first housing part 16, which protects the screen 2 from dirt and damage.

[0121] The electronic display device 1 thus has the curved screen 2 of Figures 2 and 3, wherein the active area 5 is visible through the screen protective layer 22, while the passive area 6 is covered by the housing part 16 and thus not visible. The fourth width of the active area A1* thus extends along the entire opening of the housing part 16 or the screen protective layer 22. The passive area, or the first width P1 and fifth width P2* of the passive area, largely corresponds in its dimensions to the corresponding dimensions of the first housing part 16.

[0122] The electronic display device 1 shown in Figure 4 has a screen 2 with an active area 3, the dimensions of which correspond to the active area 3 of the electronic display device 1 shown in Figure 5, in order to display the two electronic display devices 1 in a comparable manner. Thus, a displayed text, for example, product and / or price information relating to a product advertised with the electronic display devices 1, can be perceived equally well from a certain distance in both variants.However, the total width of the front of the electronic display device 1 shown in Figure 5 is substantially smaller than that of Figure 4, so that the same screen contents of the same size can be displayed on both electronic display devices because both have active areas 3 of the same size, but substantially less space is required to locate the electronic display device 1 according to Figure 5 compared to the electronic display device 1 according to Figure 4.

[0123] It should be noted that in known embodiments, an additional housing area 32 (shown in dashed lines) is often provided to create a symmetrical appearance, further increasing the width of the conventional electronic display device 1. Compared to such conventional display devices, the space savings achieved by the display device according to the invention are even greater.

[0124] Figure 6 shows the electronic display device 1 according to Figure 5 in a side view with a sectioned housing 15, wherein the view in Figure 5 is directed from bottom to top in the plane of the drawing. The fourth width Al* of the active area 5 thus extends (as shown in Figure 5) along the viewing window formed by the first housing part 16 and the screen protective layer 22.

[0125] The display device 1 has a contacting device 14 designed as spring contacts, which are connected to the terminals 11.

[0126] The display device 1 has a second housing part 17, which essentially forms a rear housing shell and to which the first housing part 16 is connected. The second housing part 17 has a step 18, past which the contacting devices 14 extend toward a gap where they protrude from the electronic display device 1 to contact the shelf rail 24.

[0127] Furthermore, the electronic display device 1 has a coupling device 19. The coupling device 19 has hooks 20 for hooking into openings 28 of the shelf rail 24, which can be operated using a knob 29, which can be seen in Figure 10. The knob 29 is connected to the hooks 20 via a connecting mechanism 21, which is sectioned in this view.

[0128] Figure 7 shows a shelf rail system 23 comprising a shelf rail 24, which has three conventional electronic display devices 1 according to Figure 4, i.e. with a non-curved screen 2.

[0129] Figure 8 shows a shelf rail system 23 having the same shelf rail 24 as shown in Figure 7, but with four electronic display devices 1 according to the invention as shown in Figure 5, i.e. with a screen 2 that is curved such that the edge region 4 lies behind the display region 3. The curved screen 2 thus enables the placement of several electronic display devices 1 in a given space. This effect is further enhanced with longer shelf rails 24, so that in a business premises with many, often several meter long, shelf rails 23, significantly more electronic display devices 1 can be installed than would be the case without a curved screen.A higher number of display devices enables a more dense provision of information per unit length of the shelf rail, so that more products can be placed along the shelf rail than would be the case when using conventional display devices.

[0130] Figure 9 discusses the power and communication supply of a shelf rail system 23 and shows the shelf rail system 23 from Figure 8, comprising the four electronic display devices 1, the electronic shelf rail 24, and a supply device 25. The supply device 25 is connected to the electronic display devices 1 via conductor tracks 30 (which are clearly visible in Figure 10) of the shelf rail 24. The supply device 25 has a radio module (not shown) for radio-based communication with a server 27 via an access point 26. Thus, the electronic display devices 1 can be designed without a radio module, while at the same time communication between the electronic display devices 1 and the server 27 is possible via the radio module of the supply device 25.

[0131] Figure 10 shows the shelf rail 24, which is cut adjacent to the position of the electronic display device 1 and perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail 24. The electronic display device 1 is mechanically coupled to the shelf rail 24 via the hook 20, which is hooked into the opening 28 of the shelf rail 24. The contacting devices 14 of the electronic display devices 1 thus contact the conductor tracks 30 of the shelf rail 24, which are located on a conductor carrier 31. The electronic display devices 1, i.e., the screen 2 and the components 10, 12, 13, are supplied with data and power via the conductor tracks 30 by means of the contacting devices 14 connected to the terminals 11. At the same time, data communication to the supply device 25 and further to the server 27 is thus enabled.

[0132] Figures 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of the electronic display device 1. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the electronic display device 1 has a screen 2 that is also curved on its left side. The right side is bent analogously to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6. The screen 2 is thus curved on both its left and right sides in such a way that the edge region 4 is located below the display area 3, possibly even behind the display area 3. While the edge region 4 of one side, to which the conductor carrier 8 is connected and which has the electrode connecting elements 7, is bent towards the rear of the display area 3, as in the previous embodiment, the edge region 4 of the other, opposite side is only slightly bent, i.e. essentially by 90°, to the rear.

[0133] Furthermore, the curved end sections of the display area 3 are uncovered by the housing, i.e., visible. Only the screen protective layer 22, which is bent to match the curvature of the screen 2, and a transparent adhesive layer cover the display area 3 of the screen 2.

[0134] The edge region 4 of the screen 2 is covered by the housing 15. Specifically, the left and right edge regions 4A and 4B in this exemplary embodiment are located in the second housing part 17 and are covered by it. The upper and lower edge regions are covered by the first housing part 16, which in this embodiment largely consists of two cover strips 34.

[0135] This exemplary embodiment and the measures used here offer the advantage that the front of the display device 1 is utilized even better with a more visible screen area, because the active area 5 extends essentially across the entire width of the electronic display device 1. Furthermore, the screen 2 is thus clearly visible from the side, and even when viewed at a very shallow angle, at least the information displayed at the edges is visible.

[0136] Using this design, for example, "Action" can be written from top to bottom along the edge of the display area 3, so that this can be seen even by an observer several meters away in a store aisle looking at the electronic display device 1 at a shallow angle. If a multi-color screen is installed, the display area visible from the side can also have a color to convey information. This also makes the backlighting of the screen perceptible early on when walking along a sales aisle, so that attention can be selectively drawn to certain electronic display devices 1, even from a distance, long before a potential customer or employee can perceive the full content displayed on the screen 2.

[0137] Finally, it should be noted once again that the figures described in detail above are merely exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features may be present multiple times.

Claims

1. Electronic display device (1), in particular an electronic shelf display, comprising - a flexible screen (2) with a display area (3) and an edge area (4) located outside the display area (3), - wherein the screen (2) is curved such that the edge region (4) lies behind the display region (3).

2. Electronic display device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the screen (2) is curved such that the edge region (4) is curved towards the back of the display region (3).

3. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen (2) is designed as an electronic paper screen (2).

4. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen (2) has an electrode connection element (7), in particular comprising a conductive varnish, in particular comprising silver paste, preferably consisting of silver paste, wherein - the electrode connecting element (7) connects at least two electrodes of different layers of the screen (2) and wherein - the electrode connecting element (7) is located in that edge area (4) of the screen (2) which lies behind the display area (3).

5. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge region (4) which lies behind the display region (3) has a connection region (9) for the connection of a component carrier (8).

6. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge region (4) which is behind the Display area (3) is coupled to a component carrier (8).

7. Electronic display device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the component carrier (8) is designed as a flexible printed circuit board, in particular as an FPC connector.

8. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 7, wherein the component carrier (8) has at least one component (10, 11, 12, 13) which is located, in particular directly, behind the screen (2).

9. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the electronic display device has a light emitting unit (10), in particular designed as a light-emitting diode, preferably as a component of the component carrier (8).

10. Electronic display device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting unit (10) is arranged to illuminate the screen (2), in particular to backlight the screen (2).

11. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic display device is designed without a radio module.

12. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the component carrier, wherein the component carrier is connected to a contacting device (14), wherein the contacting device (14) is designed for electrically conductive contacting of an electronic shelf rail (24).

13. Electronic display device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic display device comprises a mechanical coupling device (19) for mechanically coupling the electronic display device (1), in particular with a shelf rail (24).

14. A manufacturing method for producing an electronic display device (1), wherein the electronic display device (1) has a flexible screen (2) with a display area (3) and an edge area (4) located outside the display area (3), the manufacturing method comprising the step of - that the screen (2) is bent in such a way that the edge area (4) lies behind the display area (3).

15. Shelf rail system (23) comprising - at least one electronic display device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13 and - a shelf rail (24) for mechanically fastening the electronic display device (1).

16. Shelf rail system (23) according to claim 15, wherein the shelf rail has conductor tracks (30) which can be electrically contacted by the electronic display device (1).

17. Shelf rail system (23) according to one of claims 15 to 16, comprising a supply device (25) for supplying the electronic display device (1) with power and / or communication technology, in particular via conductor tracks (30) of the shelf rail (24).

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