Flexible Electronic Price Tag With Wireless Updates and Motion Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic price tags for retail goods, particularly clothing, are bulky, expensive, and inefficient in updating prices due to their rigid design and manual relabeling requirements.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, lightweight electronic price tag with printed electronics and a wireless interface, powered by a motion sensor, allowing for easy data updates and attachment via a detachable pin or cord, and incorporating an RFID chip for tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional electronic price tags with rigid housings are used, then the display function is achieved, but the size and weight become large and unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible base bodies (paper, cardboard, or plastic) instead of rigid housings to create thin, lightweight price tags. The printed electronics are deposited directly onto these flexible substrates, eliminating the need for bulky protective casings while maintaining structural integrity and display functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical assembly (housings, screws, stacked components) with printed electronics technology. Electronic components, circuits, and displays are printed directly onto the flexible base body, dramatically reducing thickness and weight while eliminating complex mechanical structures.
2Device complexity
If manual relabeling is used to update prices, then the original price tag structure is maintained, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The price tag system enables automatic price updates through wireless communication. The electronic display can be remotely programmed to show updated prices without manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself by receiving price information electronically and displaying it automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The price tag incorporates multiple functions: display, wireless communication, RFID tracking, and motion sensing, all in a single integrated device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate systems and enables automated price updates through the wireless interface.
3Loss of information
If continuous display power is provided, then information availability is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display operates periodically rather than continuously. The motion sensor detects customer presence and activates the display only when movement is detected, turning it off during periods of inactivity. This periodic operation maintains information availability when needed while dramatically reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion sensor provides feedback about customer presence to the power supply system. When the sensor detects movement within a certain range, it triggers the power supply to activate the display. This feedback mechanism ensures the display is powered only when information is actually needed, optimizing energy usage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic price tag (10, 10') for attaching to a product, for example a garment, comprising a base body (20) with an electronic display field (40), a fastening element (30, 30') and a power supply (60), wherein the base body (20) is flexible and has printed electronics (50), wherein the electronics (50) has an interface (52) for receiving data and is configured to display data on the display field (40).