Abstract:
A guidance system for guiding a user to selected targets located within a defined area, such as a warehouse, museum, parking garage, etc., includes a portable unit to be carried by each user and having a memory for storing target information identifying a selected target within the defined area, and a transmitter for transmitting signals identifying the selected target within the defined area. The system further includes at least one changeable guidance sign at a predetermined location within the defined area for receiving signals transmitted by a portable unit and for displaying stored guidance information of the location of a target corresponding to a signal transmitted from the portable unit, and/or a plurality of target devices at the target location for receiving target signals transmitted by a portable unit and for indicating that a received target signal identifies the respective target.
Abstract:
A personal shopping system, including personal shopping devices (6) carried with customers during purchase and selectively communicating with the store computer (2) and a point of sale device (8). The system further includes a first storage device (55) assigned to each customer with information regarding the customer's shopping profile; and a second storage device (52) assigned to the customer, with information on special offers of reduced prices on selected items, the special offers generated by the store computer (2) in accordance with the contents of the first storage device (55).
Abstract:
A product monitoring system for monitoring a variety of products grouped according to their identities on shelves, includes a central computer storing the identification of each group of products on the shelves; a plurality of electronic shelf labels, each located adjacent to a shelf for a group of products, communicating with the central computer, storing the identification of the respective group of products, displaying information relating to the respective group of products, and reading out the identification of the respective group of products; a plurality of portable units each to be carried by a user of the system; and a record memory for each portable unit. Each portable unit includes a read-in device capable of establishing a short-range communication link with the read-out device of each electronic shelf label for reading in the product identification and for recording same in the record memory for the respective portable unit.
Abstract:
(57) Abstract A product monitoring system (1) for monitoring a variety of products grouped according to their identities on shelves, includes a central computer (2) storing the identification of each group of products on the shelves; a plurality of electronic shelf labels (7), each located adjacent to a shelf for a group of products, communicating with the central computer (2), storing the identification of the respective group of products, displaying information relating to the respective group of products, and reading out the identification of the respective group of products; a plurality of portable units (6) each to be carried by a user of the system (1); and a record memory (55) for each portable unit (6). Each portable unit (6) includes a read-in device (30) capable of establishing a short-range communication link (10) with the read-out device (21) of each electronic shelf label (7) for reading in the product identification and for recording same in the record memory (55) for the respective portable unit (6).
Abstract:
A guidance system for guiding a user to selected targets located within a defined area (10), such as a warehouse, museum, parking garage, etc., includes a portable unit (14) to be carried by each user and having a memory (31) for storing target information identifying a selected target within the defined area (10), and a transmitter (35) for transmitting signals identifying the selected target within the defined area (10). The system further includes at least one changeable guidance sign (15) at a predetermined location within the defined area (10) for receiving signals transmitted by a portable unit (14) and for displaying stored guidance information of the location of a target corresponding to a signal transmitted from the portable unit (14), and/or a plurality of target devices (16) at the target location for receiving target signals transmitted by a portable unit (14) and for indicating that a receiving target signal identifies the respective target.
Abstract:
A data processor system for promoting sales of products includes price storage devices (101) for storing basic price information (112); criteria storage devices (101) for storing predetermined criteria to be used in determining sales promotion prices; sensors (105) for sensing the predetermined criteria (116); a data processor for receiving data from the above, and for automatically determining sales promotion prices of the products in accordance with the received data; and electronic displays (102) controlled by the data processor for displaying the sales promotion prices. Also described is an interactive changeable display particularly useful in the sales promotion system, but also useful for other applications, such as for providing routing instructions to a plurality of destinations.
Abstract:
An electric power generator including a fuel cell, which includes a fuel cell anode and a fuel cell cathode separated by at least one proton exchange membrane and a hydrogen generator operative to provide molecular hydrogen to the fuel cell anode. The hydrogen generator includes a catalyst and employing a water-based fuel including one of salts, bases and acids, as well as at least one of zinc, magnesium, iron and aluminum. A method for electrical power generation using a fuel cell is also disclosed.
Abstract:
This invention discloses an electronic shelf label including an LCD display, a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over the LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto, and an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over the LCD display and substantially filling a space between the LCD display and the protective at least partially transparent cover layer.
Abstract:
A hydrogen-fueled motor vehicle including at least one hydrogen-fueled locomotion subsystem and at least one refuelable hydrogen generator operative to supply hydrogen fuel to the hydrogen-fueled locomotion subsystem on demand. The refuelable hydrogen generator includes at least one electrochemical reactor operative to generate the hydrogen fuel from water on demand and a refueling subsystem providing at least one of water, electrolyte, hydrogen, a metal containing material and electrical power to the electrochemical reactor. A refueling method is also provided.