Abstract:
A display electronic tagging and a setting management method thereof are provided. The display electronic tagging comprises a wireless RF module, a display, an encapsulant and a bar code. The wireless RF module is used for receiving a wireless RF signal. The display is electrically connected to the wireless RF module, and used for showing a price of a product. The encapsulant encapsulates the wireless RF module and the display, wherein the display is exposed form the encapsulant. The bar code is located at the encapsulant. A setting module pairs the bar code and the wireless RF module according to a barcode identification signal and a RF identification signal, such that the wireless RF module and the barcode together correspond to the same product.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 101116243, filed May 7, 2012, and claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 102112708, filed Apr. 10, 2013, the subject matters of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to a display electronic tagging and a setting management method thereof, and more particularly to a display electronic tagging using a wireless technology and a setting management method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional display electronic tagging comprises a display device, a controlling chip and a battery. The controlling chip can control the display device to display a product price, and the battery supplies the controlling chip and the display device with a required power. 
     However, when electric power of the battery is exhausted, it is inconvenient to replace the battery of the display electronic tagging. Much time is consumed for replacing a large number of display electronic tagging. In addition, the state of electric power of the battery in each display electronic tagging is different according to the usage condition of the battery; accordingly, for user, managing several the display electronic tagging becomes a burden. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a display electronic tagging and a setting management method thereof, in an embodiment, a built-in battery is not required, and thus the replacement for the battery can be avoided. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display electronic tagging is provided. The display electronic tagging comprises a wireless RF module, a display device, an encapsulating body and a bar code. The wireless RF module is for receiving a RF signal. The display device electrically connects to the wireless RF module for displaying a price for a product. The encapsulating body encapsulates the wireless RF module and the display device, wherein the display device is exposed from the encapsulating body. The bar code is formed on the encapsulating body. After the bar code and the wireless RF module pair according to a bar code recognition signal and a wireless RF module recognition signal, the wireless RF module and the bar code corresponds the same product. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a display electronic tagging is provided. The display electronic tagging comprises an electronic system, an encapsulating body and a bar code. The electronic system comprises wireless RF module, a display device, a display circuit, a power generator and a capacitor. The wireless RF module is for receiving a RF signal. The display device electrically connects to the wireless RF module for displaying a price for a product. The display circuit is electrically connected to the display device. The power generator is electrically connecting the display circuit and the wireless RF module and generating electricity by the RF signal. The capacitor stores the electricity generated by the power generator for providing the display circuit with the stored electricity, such that the flexible display displays a frame, wherein the capacitance of the capacitor ranges between 0.1 and 20 microfarads (mF). The encapsulating body encapsulates the wireless RF module and the display device, wherein the display device is exposed from the encapsulating body. The bar code is formed on the encapsulating body. After the bar code and the wireless RF module pair according to a bar code recognition signal and a wireless RF module recognition signal, the wireless RF module and the bar code corresponds the same product. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a setting management method of a display electronic tagging is provided. The setting management method comprises the flowing steps. providing a display electronic tagging, wherein the display electronic tagging comprises a wireless RF module, a display device, an encapsulating body and a bar code, the wireless RF module is used for receiving a RF signal, the display device is electrically connected to the wireless RF module for displaying a price for a product, the encapsulating body encapsulates the wireless RF module and the display device, the display device is exposed from the encapsulating body, and the bar code is formed on the encapsulating body; and pairing the bar code and the wireless RF module according to a bar code recognition signal and a wireless RF module recognition signal, such that the wireless RF module and the bar code correspond the same product. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a setting management method of a display electronic tagging is provided. The setting management method comprises the flowing steps. providing a display electronic tagging, wherein the display electronic tagging comprises an electrically system, an encapsulating body and a bar code, the electrically system comprises a wireless RF module, a display device, a display circuit, a power generator and a capacitor, the wireless RF module is used for receiving a RF signal, the display device is electrically connected to the wireless RF module for displaying a price for a product, the display circuit is electrically connected to the display device, the power generator electrically connects the display circuit and the wireless RF module, the encapsulating body encapsulates the electronic system and exposes the display device, and the barcode is formed the encapsulating body; pairing the bar code and the wireless RF module according to a bar code recognition signal and a wireless RF module recognition signal, such that the wireless RF module and the bar code correspond the same product; and the power generating electricity by the RF signal within a time interval of the display electronic tagging inducting with an exterior reader and the capacitor storing the electricity generated by the power generator for providing the display circuit with the stored electricity, such that the flexible display displays a frame, wherein the capacitance of the capacitor ranges between 0.1 and 20 mF. 
     The above and other aspects of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment(s). The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an external view of a display electronic tagging according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a function block diagram of the display electronic tagging of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a setting process diagram of the display electronic tagging of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a database diagram of the present embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows a setting process diagram of the display electronic tagging of another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  shows a setting process diagram of the display electronic tagging of another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  shows a setting process diagram for a price of a display electronic tagging according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  shows a function block diagram of a display electronic tagging according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  shows an electrical characteristics diagram of an electromagnetic induction between the display electronic tagging and the exterior reader of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an external view of a display electronic tagging according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The display electronic tagging  100  comprises an encapsulating body  110 , a display device  120 , a bar code  130  and a wireless RF module  140 . 
     The encapsulating body  110  encapsulates the wireless RF module  140  and the display device  120  for protecting the wireless RF module  140  and the display device  120 . 
     The encapsulating body  110  is card body or cover body, for example. When the encapsulating body  110  is card body, the encapsulating body  110  is made from PVC. When the encapsulating body  110  is cover body, the encapsulating body  110  may comprise an upper cover and a lower cover. The display device  120 , the bar code  130  and the wireless RF module  140  are accommodated between the upper cover and the lower cover. 
     In present embodiment, the encapsulating body  110  is flexible, such that the display electronic tagging  100  becomes a flexible display electronic tagging. In another embodiment, the encapsulating body  110  is hard encapsulating body, such that the display electronic tagging  100  becomes an inflexible display electronic tagging. 
     In present embodiment, the shape of the encapsulating body  110  is rectangle. In another embodiment, the shape of the encapsulating body  110  is such as a circular shape, an elliptic shape, or a polygonal shape. The encapsulating body  110  is fully transparent card body or a partially transparent card body, such that a display frame of the display device  120  is exposed from the encapsulating body  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the display electronic tagging  100  further comprises a product tag  115  disposed on the encapsulating body  110 . In present embodiment, the product tag  115  is display product name. The display product name is formed by printing or written by hand, for example. In another embodiment, the product tag  115  can be a product pattern. Due to the product pattern, even if the display electronic tagging  100  is not disposed on a right position of a real product, the real product can be found according to information shown in the product tag  115 . 
     The bar code  130  is formed in an outer surface of the encapsulating body  110 . In present embodiment, the bar code  130  can be 2D barcode. In another embodiment, the bar code  130  can be 3D barcode. 
     In present embodiment, the bar code  130  is printed in the product tag  115 . In another embodiment, the bar code  130  can be printed in another product tag, and then be pasted on the encapsulating body  110 . Alternatively, the bar code  130  can be directly printed in the encapsulating body  110 , in this case, the product tag  115  can be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a function block diagram of the display electronic tagging of  FIG. 1  is shown. 
     The display device  120  is electrically connected to the wireless RF module  140 . The display device  120  can be a flexible display device or an inflexible display device. When display device  120  is flexible display device, the display device  120  can be bent with the bend of the encapsulating body  110 , such that the function of the display device  120  doesn&#39;t be negative affected. 
     The display device  120  such as has bi-stability or multi-stability, such that the flexible display device  110  can permanently or temporarily maintain the display content in the absence of power supply. For example, the display device  120  is realized by such as an electrophoretic display, a cholesterol liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal display, a bi-stable display or a multi-stable display. The display device  120  can further be realized by such as a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible light emitting diode (LED) display or a flexible liquid crystal display. Additionally, the flexible display device  410  can further be realized by segment type, dot matrix type or pattern type. 
     As illustrated  FIG. 2 , the wireless RF module  140  is used for receiving a RF signal WL from RF module reader R 1 . The wireless RF module  140  is realized by the contactless mode, and the dual interface mode. The wireless RF module  140  is conformed to such as the ISO7816 standard, the ISO/IEC14443 A/B standard, the ISO15693 standard, the ISO/IEC18000-3 standard, the EMV standard, the EMV Contactless standard, the MiFare standard or the ISO/IEC 18092 NFCIP-1 standard. 
     As illustrated  FIG. 2 , the display electronic tagging  100  further comprises a power generator  150  which is electrically connected to the display device  120 , a smart card integrated circuit  160  and a display circuit  170 . The power generator  150  receives the RF signal WL through the wireless RF module  140 , and generates electricity (not illustrated) to supply the display electronic tagging  100  (such as the smart card integrated circuit  160 , the component) according to RF signal WL (through principle of electromagnetic induction), such that the display electronic tagging  100  can normally work. As a result, the display electronic tagging  100  can work normally in the absence of the battery and avoid replacing the battery. 
     Although not illustrated, the power generator  150  further comprises a DC/DC converter (not illustrated) which converts a direct current (DC) into a working voltage required by the display circuit  170 . 
     The smart card integrated circuit  160  executes security verification, and only when the security verification is successful, the wireless RF module  140  is allowed to communicate with the display circuit  170  via the smart card integrated circuit  160 . The smart card integrated circuit  160  comprises a security module  161  and a storage unit  162 . The security module  161  executes a security verification to prevent the invasion of the hackers, and only when the security verification is successful, the data of the storage unit  162  is accessed. 
     As illustrated  FIG. 2 , the display circuit  170  connects the display device  120 , and comprises a display driver  171  and a display controller  172 . The display driver  171  is connected to the display device  120 , and used for driving the display device  120 . The display controller  172  is connected to the display driver  171  and the smart card integrated circuit  160 , and used for controlling the display driver  171 . The electricity required by the display controller  172  is provided from the electricity the power generator  150 , and is sufficient for the display device  120  to display frames. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a setting process diagram of the display electronic tagging of  FIG. 1  is shown. 
     Firstly, the display electronic tagging  100  is provided. 
     Then, the set module  200  pairs the barcode  130  and the wireless RF module  140  according to a wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and a bar code recognition signal S 2 , such that the wireless RF module  140  and the barcode  130  correspond the same product. 
     The wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  is generated by the RF reader R 1  according to information provided by the wireless RF module  140 . The wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  contains relative information of the wireless RF module  140 , such as a unique identification (ID) of the wireless RF module  140 . The bar code recognition signal S 2  is generated by the barcode reader R 2  according to information provided by the bar code  130 . The bar code recognition signal S 2  contains relative information of the bar code  130 , such as a unique identification of the bar code  130 . 
     In present embodiment, the set module  200  may be disposed on a back-end sever (not illustrated). In another embodiment, the set module  200  may be disposed on one of the RF reader R 1  and the barcode reader R 2 . In addition, the set module  200  comprises a communication module  210 , a processor  220  and the storage unit  230 . In present embodiment, the communication module  210  is wireless communication module. In another embodiment, the communication module  210  is a wire communication module. The communication module  210  can receive the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and the bar code recognition signal S 2 , and then transmits the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and the bar code recognition signal S 2  to the processor  220 . The processor  220  pairs the bar code  130  and the wireless RF module  140 , such that the wireless RF module  140  and the bar code  130  correspond to the same product. 
     As illustrated  FIG. 3 , for example, after the barcode reader R 2  may first read bar code  130 , and then transmit the bar code recognition signal S 2  to the set module  200 ; then, the RF reader R 1  approaches the display electronic tagging  100 ; then, the wireless RF module  140  transmits the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  to the set module  200 ; then, the set module  200  pairs the bar code  130  and the wireless RF module  140 , such that the bar code  130  and the wireless RF module  140  correspond to the same product. In another embodiment, the step of the barcode reader R 2  reading the bar code  130  can be excused after the step of the RF reader R 1  approaching the display electronic tagging  100  and the step of the wireless RF module  140  transmitting the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  to the set module  200 . 
     As described above, the RF reader R 1  and the barcode reader R 2  can communicate with the display electronic tagging  100  in the absence of communicating with the product itself (such as a barcode in the product). In present embodiment, the RF reader R 1  and the barcode reader R 2  are independent hand-held devices severally. In another embodiment, the barcode reader R 2  and the RF reader R 1  can be integrated into a single hand-held device. 
     As illustrated  FIG. 3 , the RF reader R 1  comprises a wireless RF module R 11  for communicating with the wireless RF module  140  of the display electronic tagging  100  and a communication module R 12 , and the wireless RF module R 11  for communicating with the communication module  210  of the set module  200 . In present embodiment, the communication module R 12  is a wireless communication module. In another embodiment, the communication module R 12  is a wire communication module. 
     As illustrated  FIG. 3 , the barcode reader R 2  comprises a communication module R 21 , and the communication module R 21  of the barcode reader R 2  is used for communicating with the communication module  210  of the set module  200 . 
     One of several pairing methods is described in  FIG. 4  below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a database diagram of the present embodiment is shown. The set module  200  further comprises a database B. The database B comprises a product name field, a bar code field and a wireless RF module field. Though not illustrated, the database B may further a price field or other field relative to information about product. Take product A 1  for example, a corresponding relationship between the product A 1  and the bar code  130  is one to one. The corresponding relationship can be pre-filled in the product name field and the bar code field T 1 , wherein the bar code field T 1  can be filled in the bar code recognition signal S 2  or other appropriate data. After the bar code  130  and the wireless RF module  140  pair, the wireless RF field T 2  corresponding to the product Al can be filled in the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  or other appropriate data. As a result, the bar code  103  and the wireless RF module  140  together correspond to the same product A 1 . 
     In present embodiment, the database B is stored in the storage unit  230  of the set module  200  or the RF reader R 1 . In another embodiment, the database B is stored in the storage unit  230  of the set module  200 , and transmitted to the RF reader R 1  through way of cable or wireless. 
     The wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and the bar code recognition signal S 2  of above embodiments are transmitted to the set module  200  through different readers respectively. However, the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and the bar code recognition signal S 2  are transmitted to the set module  200  through the same reader. The  FIGS. 4 and 5  are taken below for example. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a setting process diagram of the display electronic tagging of another embodiment is shown. 
     Firstly, the RF reader R 1  approaches the display electronic tagging  100 ; then, the wireless RF module  140  transmits the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  to the barcode reader R 2 ; then, the barcode reader R 2  reads the bar code  130  and generates the corresponding bar code recognition signal S 2 ; then, barcode reader R 2  transmits the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and the bar code recognition signal S 2  to the set module  200 ; then, the set module  200  pairs the barcode  130  and the wireless RF module  140 , such that the wireless RF module  140  and the barcode  130  correspond to the same product. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a setting process diagram of the display electronic tagging of another embodiment is shown. 
     Firstly, after the barcode reader R 2  reads the barcode  130 , the barcode reader R 2  transmits the bar code recognition signal S 2  to the wireless RF module  140 ; then, the wireless RF module  140  receives the bar code recognition signal S 2 ; then, the barcode reader R 2  approaches the display electronic tagging  100 ; then, the wireless RF module  140  transmits the wireless RF module recognition signal S 1  and the bar code recognition signal S 2  to the set module  200 ; then, the set module  200  pairs the bar code  130  and the wireless RF module  140 , such that the wireless RF module  140  and the barcode  130  correspond the same product. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a setting process diagram for a price of a display electronic tagging according to another embodiment is shown. 
     Firstly, when the RF reader R 1  approaches the display electronic tagging  100 , the wireless RF reader R 1  generates a price setting signal S 3  to the wireless RF module  140  after the wireless RF reader R 1  obtains the price of the product corresponding to the wireless module  140  according to a connection relationship between the price of the product and the wireless RF module  140  set up according to the database B, wherein the price setting signal S 3  represents or carries a price information of the product, and meantime the power generator  150  generates electrical power according to the RF signal WL transmitted from the RF reader R 1  to supply the display electronic tagging  100 ; then, the wireless RF module  140  receives the price setting signal S 3  of the RF reader R 1 ; then, the display device  120  displays the corresponding price according to the price setting signal S 3 , as a number “ 123 ” shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     During the process of the RF reader R 1  setting the price, a updated database B stored in the RF reader R 1 , under the circumstances, the RF reader R 1  can be disconnected from the set module  200 ; or, during the process of the RF reader R 1  setting the price, the RF reader R 1  connects with the set module  200  (via wire or wireless) for storing information to the database B of the set module  200  or reading information of the database B of the set module  200 , under the circumstances, the updated database B is or not stored in the database B is allowed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a function block diagram of a display electronic tagging according to another embodiment is shown. The display electronic tagging  200  comprises an encapsulating body  110 , a display device  120 , an electrical system  280  and a bar code  130 . The electrical system  280 , such as a flexible thin-type electronic system or an inflexible thin-type electrical system, may comprise the display device  120 , the wireless RF module  140 , the power generator  150 , a capacitor  155 , the smart card integrated circuit  160  and the display circuit  170 . The smart card integrated circuit  160  and the display circuit  170  share all or a part of integrated circuits, or are disposed on single integrated circuit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , an electrical characteristics diagram of an electromagnetic induction between the display electronic tagging and the exterior reader of  FIG. 8  is shown. A curve C 1  represents a load current required by the display electronic tagging  200  to finish display work, a curve C 2  represents an induction current generated by the display electronic tagging  200  and the reader, and a current difference Δ 1 =C 2 −C 1  is defined. Within a time interval t 1 , the current difference Δ 1  is positive, and the induction current can be supplied to the display electronic tagging  200  and a surplus of the induction current can be stored in the capacitor  155  additionally. After the time interval t 1  (within the time interval t 2 ), the current difference Δl is negative because of the required load current going up; however, an insufficient current which has been stored in the capacitor  155  is provided to finish work. A time interval t 3  represents an induction time of an electromagnetic induction between the display electronic tagging  200  and the exterior reader. After the time interval t 3 , the display electronic tagging  200  is away from the exterior reader to cause the induction curve C 2  to be reduced to zero. A curve C 3  represents a charge-discharge curve. As shown in  FIG. 9 , within the time interval t 1 , the current difference Δl is larger than zero, and the electricity generated by the power generator  150  is stored in the capacitor  155 . Within the time interval t 2 , the current difference Δl is less than zero because of the required current for the display electronic tagging  200  being larger than the induction current generated by the power generator  150 ; however, the surplus current stored in the capacitor  155  within the time interval t 1  can be provided to the display electronic tagging  200  to continues working (i.e. display a frame) within the time interval t 2 . In an embodiment, the capacitance of the capacitor  155  ranges between 0.1 and 20 microfarads (mF), and preferably ranges between 0.1 and 10 microfarads, such that even though the time interval t 1  is very short, the sufficient current can be stored in the capacitor  155 . In addition, the capacitor  155  can be additionally formed, and then be integrated into the power generator  150 . 
     During the process of connection between the display electronic tagging  200  and the external card reader, some electricity generated by the power generator  150  is provided to maintain the normal operations of the display circuit  170 . Meanwhile, some other electricity generated by the power generator  150  is stored in the capacitor  155 . When the display electronic tagging  200  is outside the electromagnetic induction range of the external card reader so that the power generator  150  is unable to generate electricity, the electricity stored in the capacitor  155  is provided to maintain the normal operations of the display circuit  170 . 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment(s), it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.