Abstract:
An electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which maintains power to a memory within the electronic price label during removal and replacement of batteries. The battery storage apparatus includes a first electrical contact for simultaneously providing a first electrical path to first polarity sides of a plurality of batteries within the electronic price label, a second electrical contact for simultaneously providing a second electrical path to second polarity sides of the plurality of batteries, and a retainer which maintains at least a single one of the batteries in contact with the first and second electrical contacts during removal of other batteries to maintain power to the memory within the electronic price label.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electronic price labels (EPLs), and more specifically to an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method. 
     EPL systems typically include a plurality of EPLs for merchandise items in a transaction establishment. EPLs typically display the prices of corresponding merchandise items on store shelves and are typically attached to a rail along the leading edge of the shelves. A transaction establishment may contain thousands of EPLs to display the prices of the merchandise items. The EPLs are coupled to a central server from where information about the EPLs is typically maintained in an EPL data file. Price information displayed by the EPLs is obtained from a price look-up (PLU) data file and stored within an EPL price change record. 
     EPLs further include a memory for storing information, such as serial numbers and prices. The memory is typically a volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM). Thus, EPLs further include a power source for maintaining the contents of the memory. The power source is typically a battery. 
     However, removal and replacement of the battery causes loss of memory contents. Reprogramming the EPL with a serial number and other critical data after battery replacement is a labor intensive, error prone, and costly process. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which preserve the contents of the memory during battery replacement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method is provided. 
     The electronic price label battery storage includes a first electrical contact for simultaneously providing a first electrical path to first polarity sides of a plurality of batteries within the electronic price label, a second electrical contact for simultaneously providing a second electrical path to second polarity sides of the plurality of batteries, and a retainer which maintains at least a single one of the batteries in contact with the first and second electrical contacts during removal of other batteries to maintain power to a memory within the electronic price label. 
     The method of replacing batteries in an electronic price label includes retaining at least a single one of first batteries in the electronic price label to maintain power to a memory in the electronic price label, removing a first number of the first batteries other than the single one battery from the electronic price label, and inserting a second number of second batteries into the electronic price label. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which preserves the contents of a volatile memory. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which is low in cost. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic price label battery storage apparatus and replacement method which employ two batteries. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an EPL including the battery storage apparatus; 
     FIG. 2A is a front view of the battery storage apparatus without a door; 
     FIG. 2B is a left side view of the battery storage apparatus without the door; 
     FIG. 3A is a front view of the door; 
     FIG. 3B is a left side view of the door; 
     FIG. 4A is a front view of the battery storage apparatus with the door fully closed; 
     FIG. 4B is a front view of the battery storage apparatus with the door partially opened to replace a first battery; 
     FIG. 4C is a front view of the battery storage apparatus with the door partially opened to replace a second battery; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a battery storage apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, EPL  10  includes housing  28  which contains printed circuit board  26 . Mounted to printed circuit board are controller  12 , memory  14 , communications circuitry  16 , antenna  18 , display  20 , and battery storage apparatus  22 . 
     Controller  12  controls operation of EPL  10 . Controller  12  processes commands from a host system, stores display information in memory  14 , and controls display of the display information in accordance with commands from the host system. Display information may include price information, promotional information, and other information a store may wish to display. Controller  12  also stores identification information during initialization of the EPL. The identification information preferably includes a serial number and any additional information which is necessary address messages to EPL  10 . 
     Memory  14  stores the display information and the identification information and is preferably a volatile random access memory, such as a static random access memory (SRAM). 
     Communications circuitry  16  receives messages from the host system and returns acknowledgments to the host system. 
     Antenna  18  works with communications circuitry  16  if EPL  10  communicates wirelessly. 
     Display  20  displays display information and is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     Battery storage apparatus  22  stores plural batteries  24 . Battery storage apparatus  22  includes door  60  (FIGS. 3A-3B,  4 A- 4 C) which facilitates easy external access to batteries  24 , as well as simultaneous removal of some batteries and retention of other batteries, in order to preserve the contents of memory  14 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2B and  3 A- 3 B, battery storage apparatus  22  is shown in more detail. 
     Battery storage apparatus  22  includes support member  30 , battery storage well  32 , door retaining portion  34 , and door  60  (FIGS.  3 A- 3 B). 
     Support member  30  provides a foundation for battery storage well  32  and door retaining portion  34 . Support member  30  may serve as a back wall of housing  28  or may be attached to an existing back wall through a mounting aperture. 
     Battery storage well  32  is recessed within support member  30  and has a depth sufficient to ensure that batteries  24  do not extend outside of well  32 . In this manner, the outside surfaces of batteries  24  are approximately flush-mounted with the outside surface of support member  30 . This design facilitates use of sliding door  60 . 
     As illustrated, battery storage well  32  includes two battery storage chambers  36  and  38 , although other designs involving additional chambers are also envisioned by the present invention. Battery storage chambers  36  and  38  are generally circular in shape and include electrical contacts  40  and  42 . 
     In this design, electrical contact  40  contacts the inside surface of batteries  24  and is a negative contact. Electrical contact  42  contacts the sides of batteries  24  and is a positive contact. Both electrical contacts  40  and  42  have some flexibility and are normally-biased to ensure good contact is maintained with batteries  24 . 
     Electrical contacts  40  and  42  are also designed to minimize the possibility of a short circuit condition during the battery replacement process. Electrical contact  42  is located on one side of each battery  24  which is opposite to the side being removed first. Further, removal of a battery  24  draws that battery away from electrical contact  42 . 
     Door retaining portion  34  retains sliding door  60 . Door retaining portion  34  includes upper and lower door tracks  44  and  46  and left and right door locks  48  and  50 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2B, upper and lower door tracks  44  and  46  include inclined guide surfaces  52  and  54  which retain door  60 . For this purpose, upper guide surface  52  inclines upwardly from the outer surface of upper door track  44  and lower guide surface  54  inclines downwardly from the outer surface of lower door track  46 . Both upper and lower door tracks  44  and  46  are open-ended to allow door  60  to be inserted from either the left or right side and to slide in both left and right directions. 
     Left and right door locks  48  and  50  include spring members  52  and  54  and latches  56  and  58 . 
     Latches  56  and  58  engage door  60  to prevent door  60  from moving left or right. 
     Spring members  52  and  54  connect to the center of lower door track  46 . Spring members  52  and  54  bias latches  56  and  58  towards a normally-locked position, but can be bent by an application of downward pressure on latches  56  and  58 . 
     Advantageously, the door retaining features of the prevention invention minimize the chance of accidental opening of door  60  during handling of EPL  10  by store personnel, including dropping of EPL  10 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, door  60  is generally planar and rectangular in shape. Door  60  includes inclined top and bottom edges  62  and  64 . Edges  62  and  64  are inclined at angles similar to those of surfaces  52  and  54  of upper and lower door tracks  44  and  46 . For this purpose, upper edge  62  inclines upwardly from outer surface  70  of door  60  and lower edge  64  inclines downwardly from outer surface  70  of door  60 . 
     Door  60  also includes latching surfaces  66  and  68  which are generally J-shaped. Latches  56  and  58  engage latching surfaces  66  and  68  when door  60  is closed to prevent left and right movement of door  60 . 
     Door also presses against batteries  24  to ensure good electrical contact between batteries  24  and electrical contact  40 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4C, operation of battery storage apparatus  22  is shown in more detail. Removal and replacement of batteries  24  is accomplished by accessing and removing batteries  24  in a manner that leaves at least one battery in place during the procedure. 
     In FIG. 4A, door  60  is in a closed position with batteries  24 A and  24 B inside. Door  60  is held in the closed position by latches  56  and  58 . 
     In FIG. 4B, latch  50  is lowered and door  60  is slid to the right to expose battery  24 A. Battery  24 A is removed and replaced. Door  60  is opened only about half way in order to ensure that battery  24 B is still providing power during removal and replacement of battery  24 A. Following replacement of battery  24 A, door  60  is slid to the left, allowing latch  50  to return to its normally-biased position. 
     In FIG. 4C, latch  48  is lowered and door  60  is slid to the left to expose battery  24 B. Battery  24 B is removed and replaced. Door  60  is opened only about half way in order to ensure that battery  24 A is still providing power during removal and replacement of battery  24 B. Following replacement of battery  24 B, door  60  is slid to the right towards a centered position, allowing latch  48  to return to its normally-biased position. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of battery storage apparatus  22  includes support member  80 , tunnel  82 , and lock  84 . 
     Support member  80  attaches to a back surface of EPL  10 . Support member  80  may serve as a back wall of housing  28  or may be attached to an existing back wall through a mounting aperture. 
     Battery electrical contact  86  fastens to support member  80 . 
     Tunnel  82  extends from support member  80 . Tunnel  82  is generally U-shaped and includes enough room for at least two batteries  24 A and  24 B. Battery electrical contact  88  fastens to the ceiling of tunnel  82 . 
     Lock  84  includes first and second doors which slide across tunnel  82  to simultaneously close both ends of tunnel  82 . 
     The battery change operation begins by removing lock  84  from tunnel  82 . Battery  24 C is inserted into tunnel  82  at one end of tunnel  82  so as to push battery  24 B out of tunnel  82  at the other end. Battery  24 A remains in contact with electrical contacts  86  and  88  during sliding. Battery  24 A may be removed in a similar fashion using an additional replacement battery. After batteries  24 A and  24 B have been pushed out of tunnel  82  by replacement batteries, lock  84  is replaced over the ends of tunnel  82 . 
     In the first embodiment, door  60  maintains at least one of batteries  24  in place. In the second embodiment, tunnel  82  maintains at least one of batteries  24  in place. 
     Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims. For example, other designs including more than two batteries  24  are also envisioned by the present invention, such as a line of batteries, a matrix of batteries, or any other geometric arrangement which allows at least one battery to provide power during removal of one or more of the other batteries. Also, not all batteries need be removed and not all batteries removed need be replaced.