Patent ID: 7568116

Claim:
An automated display device, comprising: an electronic video display being either a non-touch screen or a touch screen, the operation of said automated display device being responsive to the activation of said touch screen and/or at least one touch sensitive switch or button and/or a mechanical switch disposed on said automated display device; a non-volatile memory; a microcontroller unit controlling said electronic video display and said non-volatile memory; at least one passive optical sensor, each said passive optical sensor detects partial variations of a visible light produced by the interaction between a person and a visible light source in a vicinity of said automated display device; a fixing apparatus for attaching said automated display device to a shelf, a display edge, or other fixed location so as to position said automated device in a manner convenient for both operation of said at least one passive optical sensor and viewing of said automated display device by said person; and software or firmware, said software or firmware causing said automated display device to display video information on said electronic video display, and to operate in different power modes based at least in part on the determination of the presence of a shadow from said person by said at least one passive optical sensor, said software or firmware operable via said touch screen and/or said at least one touch sensitive switch or button and/or said mechanical switch, said touch screen and/or said at least one touch sensitive switch or button and/or said mechanical switch being separately operable from said at least one passive optical sensor.