Electronic Shelf Label Flash Layout for Low-Cost Dynamic Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic shelf label devices face challenges in presenting dynamic content due to high costs associated with LCD screens and low refresh rates of electronic ink screens, which are not suitable for animations or videos.

Innovation Solution

Implement a storage structure in the electronic shelf label device with a high-speed and low-speed flash memory units, allowing dynamic images to be presented in one region and static content in another, using a microcontroller to manage data storage and presentation, and optimizing image data format to reduce storage requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If LCD screen is used to present dynamic content, then dynamic image presentation capability is improved, but device cost increases greatly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic image presentation capabilityVSAvoiddevice cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is divided into a first region for displaying dynamic images and a second region for displaying static content. This segmentation allows the system to use different display technologies or modes in different regions, enabling dynamic content presentation in the first region while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the second region's static display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic image presentation by sequentially refreshing image sequences in the first region at specific time intervals. This dynamic refresh approach enables animation and video content without requiring a fully dynamic display technology across the entire screen, thereby reducing overall device cost while maintaining dynamic content capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If electronic ink screen is used, then device cost is reduced and power consumption is low, but refresh rate is excessively low and cannot present dynamic content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice costVSAvoidrefresh rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is divided into a first region for displaying dynamic images and a second region for displaying static content. This segmentation allows the first region to operate with higher refresh rates for dynamic content while the second region maintains the low-power static display characteristics, effectively resolving the contradiction between refresh rate and power consumption/cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic refreshing of image sequences in the first region at controlled time intervals to create dynamic content presentation. This periodic refresh strategy enables the system to achieve acceptable dynamic content display without requiring continuously high refresh rates across the entire screen, thereby maintaining cost-effectiveness and power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4726540A1Information presentation method and electronic shelf label device
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 HEMA (CHINA) CO LTD
  • EP4726540A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4726540A1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(D)
  • EP4726540A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose an information presentation method and an electronic shelf label device. The method is applied to an application program deployed in an electronic shelf label device. A microcontroller unit MCU and a storage unit are deployed in the electronic shelf label device. The storage unit includes a first flash memory unit supporting a first reading speed and a second flash memory unit supporting a second reading speed. The first reading speed is greater than the second reading speed. The method includes: receiving target data to be presented by the electronic shelf label device, where the target data includes first data related to presentation of a dynamic image; storing the first data into the first flash memory unit; and presenting the dynamic image in a first region in a screen of the electronic shelf label device by reading the first data stored in the first flash memory unit. According to the embodiments of this application, costs of the electronic shelf label device can be controlled when the dynamic image is presented.