A monitoring and controlling system for product holding arrangements, food bars and the like includes functional stations holding products at different locations and a station serving unit with a server and in communication by a local network with the functional product stations that have digital displays. The station serving unit communicates with a portable unit with a display and a scanner for scanning product label codes with product information via a wireless local network, and holds information about all products held in the stations and their current locations. Information is updated through scanned product label code information and/or instructions from the portable unit and through information from the functional product holding stations. The portable unit contains at least part of the information in the station serving unit, and has an interactive user interface enabling handling, controlling, and monitoring at least the products via the portable unit.

Provided is an electric device including: a main body comprising a storage chamber with an opening; a door coupled to the main body and comprising a transparent display panel such that the transparent display panel covers at least a part of the opening when the door is closed; a movement detector being configured to detect a movement of the transparent display panel and output a movement detection signal corresponding to the movement; and a controller configured to identify a position of the transparent display panel based on the movement detection signal, and control the transparent display panel to reverse an image displayed on the transparent display panel based on the identified position of the transparent display panel being changed from a first position to a second position.

Provided herein is a camera system for installation in a cabinet, preferably a food display cabinet, and a cabinet incorporating the camera system. The camera system allows monitoring of stock levels in the cabinet with reference to a planogram showing specific locations for different products. The camera system can be retrofitted to an existing cabinet or incorporated into the cabinet during manufacture. The camera system includes a strip containing one of more cameras, which attaches to the inner surface of a closure assembly for said cabinet.

A showcase includes: a box-shaped case main body sectioned into a storage room and a machine room by a heat insulating bottom plate; article mounting shelves arranged in a plurality of stages in an up-and-down direction in the storage room; a circulating fan configured to circulate air from inside the storage room between the storage room and the machine room; and a cooler arranged in the machine room and configured to cool the air circulated by the circulating fan. The heat insulating bottom plate includes a first air inlet formed in a face facing the storage room, a second air inlet formed at a position that is in a face facing the machine room and does not overlap with the first air inlet in the up-and-down direction, and an inlet flow channel formed so as to cause the first and the second air inlets to communicate with each other.

A refrigerated sales cabinet (20a) includes a cabinet body (22a) providing a refrigerated sales space for supporting refrigerated goods to be presented therein; a door frame (21a) having a top post (34a), a bottom post (36a), and at least two upright posts (32a); wherein at least one of the posts (32a, 34a, 36a) comprises an air duct allowing to conduct air through the post (32a, 34a, 36a), and wherein at least one fan (18) is fluidly connected to the air duct in order to convey ambient air through the air duct.

A system and method for operating a transparent electronic display includes providing a display case having a door housing the transparent electronic display, and a controller programmed with transparency data which is in electronic communication with the electronic display. Said transparency data comprises a number of predetermined transparency levels for the electronic display during a number of corresponding time periods. The current time is determined and the electronic display is operated at the predetermined transparency level associated with a time period corresponding to the current time.

A system for controlling the transparency of a display case having a door is disclosed. A transparent electronic display is positioned within the door, a controller is electrically connected to the electronic display and configured to track the present time, a network connectivity device is in electrical connection with the controller and communication with a communications network, and a remotely located user interface receives user input through the communications network. The user input is used to generate the transparency data, which is used by the controller to drive the electronic display at various transparency levels.

A display system for a refrigerated display case includes a door assembly which permits access to a product storage compartment. The door assembly includes an electronic display layer positioned within an enclosure defined by a front cover layer, a rear cover layer, and a spacer extending about a perimeter of interior surfaces of the front and rear cover layers. The front cover layer permits viewing of images displayed at the electronic display layer through the front cover layer. Electronic equipment for operating the electronic display layer is located outside of the enclosure.

Disclosed is a display module including a transparent display panel and a frame to fix a side of the transparent display panel, wherein the frame has a communication unit to receive data from the outside, a controller to process the received data and to output a drive command corresponding to the processed data and a display drive unit to drive the transparent display panel in response to the drive command from the controller. A display system includes a system body and a display module detachably mounted in the system body.

A device and method for preventing damage to products in a display case is disclosed. The display case includes a normally black transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) which is positioned between a front and rear glass of the door. A controller is electrically connected to the LCD which drives the LCD according to transparency data. The transparency data comprises various transparency levels for the LCD depending on the time of day.