External Battery Unit for Electronic Price Labels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic price label systems are laborious and prone to errors when updating price information, and existing solutions with replaceable batteries often require replacing the entire label when the battery drains, leading to structural restrictions and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

An electronic price label with a separate external battery unit that can be detachably fastened to the frame, allowing for wireless energy transfer and easy replacement, enabling a lightweight and flexible design without the need for a new label when the battery is exhausted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery is disposed inside the frame part of the electronic price label, then the battery is protected and integrated, but the frame part must be formed with large thickness and structural restrictions are imposed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidframe thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery unit is segmented from the frame part, creating a separate replaceable battery unit that attaches to the frame. This segmentation allows the frame to be thin and flexible while the battery unit can be replaced independently when depleted, resolving the contradiction between battery protection and frame thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery is extracted from the frame part and placed in a separate attachable unit. This extraction removes the constraint that forced the frame to be thick, allowing the frame to be formed with minimal thickness while the battery unit provides protection and power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the battery is disposed inside the frame part, then the structure is integrated, but the frame part structure is restricted and cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidframe structure flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the battery unit from the frame part, the frame can be optimized for its specific functions (display mounting, product attachment) without being constrained by battery placement requirements. The battery unit serves as a separate module that attaches when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame part is designed with universal attachment features that can accommodate the battery unit and also serve other functions like mounting the display and attaching to products. This multi-functionality eliminates structural restrictions while maintaining integration during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the entire price label is replaced when the battery empties, then a new battery is ensured, but costs increase and environmental impact worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery functionalityVSAvoidmaterial waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery unit is segmented as a separate replaceable component, allowing only the battery unit to be replaced when depleted rather than the entire price label. This reduces material waste and costs while ensuring continuous battery functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the entire price label when the battery empties, only the battery unit is discarded and replaced, while the frame part, display, and other components are recovered and reused. This significantly reduces material waste and environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Device complexity

If manual price label replacement is used, then no additional hardware is needed, but labor requirements increase and error risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidprice update efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic price label system enables self-service price updates through wireless communication. The central system can remotely update prices on electronic labels without manual intervention, significantly improving productivity while the simple battery replacement mechanism maintains ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution reduces labor and error risks, saves costs by avoiding unnecessary label replacements, and allows for a thinner, more flexible electronic price label design by externalizing the battery, thus enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

allowing for wireless energy transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless energy transfer: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10459682B2Electronic price label and a battery unit for an electronic price label

Publication Date: 2019.10.29 MARIELLA LABELS

AI summary

Battery unit for an electronic price label and an electronic price label, which includes a separate, external, replaceable battery unit having a battery, and a fastening means, which may be detachably fasten the battery unit to the frame part of the electronic price label.