Flexible E-Paper Display for Retail Shelf Edge Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) technology across a large retail store is impractical due to the high cost and power consumption of traditional e-paper displays, especially for low-value items, as thousands of labels are needed to manage the vast number of products.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost, low-power consumption, flexible e-paper display system without a glass backplane, utilizing a separate driving mechanism and wireless communications to update information on shelf edges, allowing for durable and efficient display and updating of prices and other information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional e-paper displays with glass backplanes are used for Electronic Shelf Labels, then display quality and durability are improved, but cost and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the glass backplane and active matrix transistor array from traditional e-paper displays, extracting only the essential electrophoretic frontplane functionality. This extraction eliminates the power-hungry refresh mechanism while maintaining the reflective display quality, thereby reducing power consumption without sacrificing display durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable or replaceable frontplane that can be independently replaced without the expensive glass backplane infrastructure. This approach reduces the cost per display unit and allows for simpler, lower-power driving mechanisms, making ESL deployment economically viable for retailers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If thousands of individual ESLs are deployed to manage vast product numbers, then product information coverage is improved, but overall cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal frontplane module that can be applied across multiple shelf positions and product types. This standardized module provides consistent display functionality throughout the store, reducing the need for custom solutions and simplifying inventory management while maintaining comprehensive product information coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system is segmented into independent, modular frontplane units that can be individually replaced or updated. This segmentation allows retailers to deploy displays incrementally and manage complexity by treating each unit as a standalone component rather than part of a monolithic system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If glass backplanes are used in e-paper displays, then manufacturing stability is improved, but flexibility and durability for various installation surfaces are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid glass backplanes with flexible thin-film substrates that can conform to various installation surfaces including curved shelf edges and irregular geometries. These flexible films maintain sufficient structural stability for manufacturing while enabling versatile deployment across different retail environments and surface types.
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
Enables retailers to display and automatically update information on entire shelf edges with a flexible, durable, and cost-effective e-paper solution, enhancing customer experience and generating additional revenue by utilizing a flexible e-paper display that covers the entire shelf edge, reducing the need for multiple labels and minimizing power usage.
Implementation Method 1
A display with an electrophoretic frontplane forms visible images by rearranging charged pigment particles using an applied electric field
Implementation Method 2
When the particles are located at the front (viewing) side of the display, it appears white, because light is scattered back to the viewer by the high-index titania particles
Implementation Method 3
When the particles are located at the rear side of the display, it appears dark, because the incident light is absorbed by the colored dye
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a mass resolving aperture that may be used in an ion implantation system. Embodiments of the present invention relate to a mass resolving aperture that is segmented, adjustable, and/or presents a curved surface to the oncoming ion species that will strike the aperture. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to the filtering of a flow of charged particles through a closed plasma channel ("CPC") superconductor, or boson energy transmission system.