Electronic smart shelf display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing merchandise display systems face challenges with bulky projection and circuit components consuming space, limited active display area due to bezel dimensions, and complexity in managing multiple shelves and advanced features like video triggering through facial recognition.
Innovation Solution
A merchandise display assembly featuring horizontally elongated LED TV displays with compact electronic controllers, daisy-chained for simplified power management, and a design that maximizes active display area by confining drivers to a compact region, allowing for efficient use of space and integration of features like facial recognition and capacitive touch screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If projection and circuit components are placed behind the screen, then the display function is achieved, but the components become bulky and consume display space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the display screen at an angle relative to the shelf front, creating a three-dimensional arrangement where the screen extends forward from the shelf plane. This angular positioning allows the screen to project imagery onto the shelf surface and front panel, effectively utilizing spatial dimensions rather than requiring all components to occupy the same planar space, thereby reducing the bulkiness of the overall display assembly.
2Strength
If a bezel is added to retain the screen and enclose circuit elements, then structural integrity is improved, but the active display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric bezel design where the lateral bezel portions extend further than the vertical bezel portions. This asymmetric configuration provides enhanced structural support at the wider lateral edges while minimizing the bezel's encroachment on the active display area, particularly preserving vertical display space. The unequal bezel extensions optimize both structural integrity and display area utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The bezel is designed with varying thickness and extension in different regions - thicker and more extensive at the lateral edges for structural support, and thinner at the vertical edges to maximize display area. This local variation in bezel quality allows the structure to provide necessary support where needed while minimizing interference with the active display region.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate wiring is provided for each shelf level, then each shelf can operate independently, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a daisy-chain wiring architecture where display modules across multiple shelf levels are connected in series through a common communication bus. This merging of wiring paths allows power and data to be distributed throughout the multi-level system through a single continuous connection, eliminating the need for separate independent wiring for each shelf while maintaining the ability of individual modules to be controlled and replaced independently.
4Ease of manufacture
If the display depth is increased to accommodate components, then component placement is improved, but the depth available for merchandise display is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display system into distinct functional modules - the display screen assembly, the control electronics, and the merchandise display area. Each module is positioned in its own spatial zone: the screen and its immediate components form one segment, the control electronics are consolidated in a separate compartment, and the merchandise area maintains its own depth. This segmentation allows each component to be placed optimally without encroaching on the merchandise display space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where control electronics and other components are housed within recessed compartments or behind the display screen plane, effectively nesting them within the overall display structure. This nesting allows components to be accommodated without increasing the external dimensions of the display unit, thereby preserving the depth available for merchandise display while providing adequate space for component placement and heat dissipation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the active display area, reduces bulkiness, and enables coordinated image display across multiple shelves, improving customer engagement and sales-driven image management while maintaining accessibility behind the displays.
Implementation Method 1
an LCD screen comprised of for example 1920 x 95 pixels backlit by white light emitting LEDs, and projecting white LED light to illuminate the merchandise under and below each LED TV display
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A merchandise display assembly (1) comprises a tier of horizontally elongated metallic shelving (3) for merchandise, with a display assembly (1) detachably coupled at each shelf to an LED TV display (13) of the merchandise. Each elongated LED TV display (13) comprises an LCD screen comprised of 1920 x 95 pixels backlit by white light emitting LEDs, and projecting white LED lighting to illuminate the merchandise below each LED TV display, said LED TV displays each driven by an elongated compact HDMI or daisy chained controller board. The face of the display (13) is arranged to have maximal area by confining vertical drivers to a compact upper region, permitting the boarder of the region to be of equal thickness both above and below the display and by providing a back cover that extends only to the rear surface of the display element.