Wireless Inductive Package Illumination for Safer Retail Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for providing illumination to display objects require electrical connections to separate power sources, which are hazardous, expensive, and inconvenient, especially for consumer products, as they often necessitate separate electronics and batteries, leading to safety concerns and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A self-illuminating display system that uses a power regulator with a primary inductor and a magnetically couplable emitting apparatus featuring a secondary inductor and an illumination source, which can be printed on packaging, eliminating the need for external connections and electronics, and allowing for low-cost manufacturing and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If electrical wires are provided from the EL panel to a hidden power supply, then illumination is provided to the product, but the consumer cannot remove the product from the display without disconnecting the wires, creating safety hazards and liability concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical connection system (wires and hidden power supply) with a wireless electromagnetic induction system. The display stand contains a transmitter coil that generates an alternating magnetic field, which induces current in a receiver coil embedded in the product packaging, thereby powering the EL panel without any physical electrical connections. This substitution eliminates the safety hazards associated with exposed wires and hidden power supplies while maintaining continuous illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If a battery is incorporated within the package to power LEDs, then illumination is provided to the packaging, but separate electronics and power sources are required for each article, increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the display stand universally functional by incorporating a transmitter coil that can simultaneously power multiple different products placed on it. Instead of each product requiring its own battery and electronics, the stand's electromagnetic field can induce current in receiver coils of various products, making the power source reusable and multi-functional. This significantly reduces manufacturing costs as the expensive power transmission infrastructure is shared across all displayed items.
Solution Approach 2:
The product packaging contains a receiver coil that automatically receives electromagnetic energy from the display stand's transmitter coil when placed on it. The system is self-service in that the product itself contains the necessary receiver component to harvest power from the environment, eliminating the need for external batteries or wired power connections. The illumination system activates automatically when the product is positioned on the display stand.
3Illumination intensity
If switching and driving electronics are incorporated within the display object, then power can be provided to the illumination source, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex switching and driving electronics from the display object (product packaging) and relocates them to the display stand infrastructure. The transmitter coil in the stand handles all power conversion and control functions, while the product packaging only requires a simple receiver coil and EL panel. This extraction dramatically simplifies the display object's design, making it easier and cheaper to manufacture while centralizing the electronic complexity in the reusable display stand.
4Power
If thick solenoid-shaped inductors are used to transfer power, then power can be transferred between the base and hand-held device, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional three-dimensional solenoid inductors to planar, two-dimensional coil structures. The transmitter coil in the display stand and the receiver coil in the product packaging are both flat, planar windings that can be easily integrated into the surfaces of the stand and packaging respectively. This dimensional change allows for more compact designs and easier manufacturing while maintaining effective electromagnetic coupling for power transfer.
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 system provides safe, cost-effective, and convenient illumination for display objects without external power sources, ensuring the objects are inert when removed from display, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing safety by using passive electronic elements and a sealed, disposable design.
Implementation Method 1
The controller is adapted to provide a voltage or current to the primary inductor to generate a first primary inductor voltage... The secondary inductor is adapted to receive a magnetic flux from the primary inductor and generate a first secondary inductor voltage
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary system comprises a power regulator and an emitting apparatus. The emitting apparatus is typically attached to or integrated with a display object, such as a merchandise package or container. A support structure, such as a point of purchase display, typically contains or supports one or more power regulators and display objects. The power regulator comprises a controller and a primary inductor, and the controller is adapted to provide a voltage or current to the primary inductor to generate a first primary inductor voltage. The emitting apparatus comprises an illumination source and a secondary inductor coupled to the illumination source. The illumination source is adapted to emit visible light when the power regulator is in an on state and when the secondary inductor is within a predetermined distance of the primary inductor. In exemplary embodiments, the first and second inductors are substantially planar.