RETAIL SHELF FLOOR DIVIDER

Abstract

A retail shelf floor divider or shelf floor limiter, which comprises mechanical coupling means which are arranged for coupling the retail shelf floor divider or shelf floor limiter to a further structure, in particular a shelf floor in order to divide the shelf floor in shelf floor sections or to limit it, and electronic detection means for the detection of movement in the neighborhood of the retail shelf floor divider or the shelf floor limiter, which are arranged to utilize an electromagnetic wave, preferred a radio wave, more preferred a light wave, or a sound wave for said detection.

Claims

1. A retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter, which comprises mechanical coupling means (2) which are arranged for coupling the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter to a further structure, in particular a shelf floor (3), in order to divide a shelf floor (3) in shelf floor sections or to limit it, and electronic detection means (12) for the detection of movement in the neighborhood of the retail shelf floor divider (1) or the shelf floor limiter, which are arranged to utilize an electromagnetic wave, preferred a radio wave, more preferred a light wave (16), or a sound wave for said detection.

2. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic detection means (12) further comprise a transmitting unit (14) for transmitting a light wave (16) or sound wave, and a receiving unit (18) for receiving a light wave (16) or sound wave, and a movement detecting unit (20), which is arranged to detect a change of a physical parameter related to an electromagnetic wave, preferred a radio wave, more preferred a light wave (16), or sound wave, which was sent out by the transmitting unit (14) and received by the receiving unit (18) after its reflection from an object (17).

3. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 3, wherein the movement detection unit (20) is arranged to: measure a flight-of-time for an electromagnetic wave, preferred a radio wave, more preferred a light wave, (16) or sound wave emitted by said transmitting unit (14) of the electrical detection means (12) and collected by said receiving unit (18) after reflection from said object (17), and detect as a change of said physical parameter a change of the measured flight-of-time.

4. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit (14) is arranged to send out laser light (16) and the receiving unit (18) is arranged to collect said laser light (16).

5. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 1, further comprises at least two electronic detection means (12) which are located at different positions along the length of the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter.

6. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 5, wherein the at least two electronic detection means (12) which are arranged along the length of the retail shelf flor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter show an alternating orientation with regard to their detection direction such that movement is detectable on both sides of the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter.

7. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic detection means (12) are arranged to generate and submit a detection signal upon movement-detection, and wherein the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter further comprises electric connections (8, 9, 29) to supply power to the electronic detection means (12) and/or to transmit said detection signal.

8. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 7, wherein the electrical connections (8, 9, 29) comprise connectors (8, 9) which are integrated into the mechanical coupling means (2).

9. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 1, further comprises at least one electronic temperature sensor (13), preferably located at one of its ends or end areas, which is that end or end area that is the furthest away from an outwardly facing front edge (26) of a shelf floor (3), if the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter is coupled as intended with said shelf floor (3).

10. The retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to claim 9, wherein the electronic temperature sensor (13) is electrically coupled with the electrical connections (8, 9, 29) which are used for the electronic detection means (12).

11. A merchandizing system 23, which comprises a shelf floor (3) to present at least one object (17) on it, and at least one retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 10, wherein the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter is mechanically coupled to a further structure, in particular the shelf floor (3), by its mechanical coupling means (2) in order to divide the shelf floor (3) in shelf floor sections or to limit it.

12. The merchandizing system (23) according to claim 11, which further comprises an electronic shelf label (27), which is attached to the shelf floor (3), preferably at a front edge (26) of the shelf floor (3), and which is arranged to display information, preferably information related to the object (17) presented on the shelf floor (3), by the aid of its display device (28).

13. The merchandizing system (23) according to claim 12, wherein the electronic shelf label (27) comprises an interface, preferably a wire-based interface (21), which is arranged to receive a detection signal from the electronic detection means (12) of the retail shelf floor divider (1) or shelf floor limiter.

14. The merchandizing system (23) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic shelf label (27) is arranged to perform an operation as a consequence of receiving the detection signal.

15. The merchandizing system (23) according to claim 14, wherein the operation is the start of displaying further information by its display device (28) or the change of information displayed by its display device (28).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0066] The invention is explained again hereafter with reference to the attached figures and on the basis of exemplary embodiments, which nevertheless do not limit the scope of the invention. In the different figures the same components are labelled with identical reference numbers. They show in schematic fashion in:

[0067] FIG. 1 a retail shelf divider according to the invention;

[0068] FIG. 2 the retail shelf divider coupled to a shelf rail;

[0069] FIG. 3 a block diagram, of the electronics of the retail shelf divider;

[0070] FIG. 4 a laser light beam that is emitted by the retail shelf divider and received by the retail shelf divider after its reflection on an object;

[0071] FIG. 5 the retail shelf divider installed in a merchandizing system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a retail shelf divider 1, in the following abbreviated divider 1. The divider 1 has a certain longitudinal extension (length) L of approximately 50 cm. Its length, however, may vary dependent on the depth of a shelf floor 3 (see e.g. FIG. 5) on which it is intended to be used. Further to this the divider 1 has a front side 25 with a certain width W, e.g. in the present case of approximately 4 mm, and a certain height H, e.g. in the present case of approximately 4 cm. The body of the divider 1 is made of plastic.

[0073] At its left side end on its bottom it comprises mechanical coupling means 2. They are arranged for coupling the divider 1 to a shelf floor 3 in order to divide the shelf floor 3 in shelf floor sections (see FIG. 5). The coupling can be such that the divider 1 is directly coupled to the shelf floor 3 or via a shelf rail 4, to which it is directly coupled (see e.g. FIG. 2). The mechanical coupling means 2 show the form of a relatively small and flat stripe 5 which extends perpendicular to the length extension L of the divider 1. The mechanical coupling means 2 show a rod-like part 6 at its bottom, which is arranged to fit into a corresponding groove-like depression 7 in the shelf rail 4 (see FIG. 2). The mechanical coupling means 2 further comprise electrical contact pads 8, 9 which are positioned to contact corresponding electrical contact elements 10, 11 of the shelf rail 4. The electrical contact elements 10 and 11 run along the entire length of the groove-like depression 7, so that the divider 1 can be located at an arbitrary position along the shelf floor 3. The electrical contact pads 8, 9 may also comprise a spring-like support which improves the mechanical and/or electrical contact with the electrical contact elements 10, 11. The electrical connection system for the electrical connection of the divider 1 with the shelf rail 4 may be realized either by a two-wire connection-system (as depicted in the FIG. 2) or may be a multi-wire connection-system (not shown in the Figures).

[0074] Focusing now back on FIG. 1, the divider 1 further comprises electronic detection means 12 for the detection of movement in the neighborhood of the divider 1. FIG. 1 shows four of these detection means 12, wherein the first one is located at the narrow front side 25 and the others are located at different positions along the length L of the divider 1. Those who are positioned along the length L of the divider 1 show an alternation orientation with regard to their detection direction. The distance between these neighboring electronic detection means 12 is chosen such that they do not interfere each other during operation.

[0075] The divider 1 further comprises a temperature sensor 13 which is located on the divider 1 at the opposing end/end section with regard to the mechanical coupling means 2.

[0076] The electronical detection means 12 and the temperature sensor 13 are connected by means of a wiring-arrangement 29 to the electrical contact pads 8, 9. The wiring-arrangement 29 may be embedded into/within the body of the divider 1 or it may be attached or glued or printed on the surface of the divider 1.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows the interaction of the mechanical coupling means 2 with the shelf rail 4 that is attached to a shelf floor 3. In this view cutting planes of the shelf rail 4 and the shelf floor 3 are visible.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the electronic detection means 12. The electronic detection means 12 comprise a transmitter unit 14, which comprises the electronics (not shown in detail) and transmitter optics 15 to generate and send out a laser light beam 16 (see FIG. 4), wherein the transmitter optics 15 has a certain transmission beam cone opening angel A of approximately 35° in the present case. Further to this, the electronic detection means 12 comprise a receiving unit 18, which comprises the electronics (not shown in detail) and receiving optics 19 to receive the laser light beam 16 (see FIG. 4), wherein the receiving optics 19 has a certain reception beam cone opening angel B of approximately 25° in the present case.

[0079] The electrical detection means 12 further comprise a movement detection unit 20, which measures flight-of-time for the laser light beam 16 between the emission and the reception after being reflected on an object 17 as visualized in FIG. 4. Movement detection is finally performed by detecting a change in the measured flight-of-time, wherein the change exceeds a predefined or adaptively adjustable threshold value. As a result, a detection signal is generated by the movement detection unit 20.

[0080] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the electronic detection means 12 further comprise an interface 21 to connect to the wiring-arrangement 29. An internal (data/signal) bus 22 connects the units 14, 18 and 20 with the interface 21.

[0081] FIG. 5 now shows the application of the divider 1 in a merchandizing system 23. A shelf 24 comprises a plurality of shelf floors 3 of which only one is shown. The front edge 26 of the shelf floor 3 is covered with two electronic shelf labels 27, each is equipped with a video display 28 and comprises a digital processing unit (not shown) and an content interface (not shown) to communicate with a host computer and/or with other electronic shelf labels 27 in order to receive and to playback motion or still image content by the video display 28. Hidden between the front edge 26 of the shelf floor 3 and the electronic shelf labels 27 is the shelf rail 4, to which the two dividers 1 are attached with their mechanical coupling means 2. In the following they are distinguished from each other by reference signs 1.1 (first divider) and 1.2 (second divider). Because of the scale of FIG. 4 details of the wiring arrangement 29 and the transmitter or receiving optics 15, 19 and the temperature sensor 13 are not shown.

[0082] The two dividers 1.1 and 1.2 comprise a number of electronic detection means 12, which are positioned and oriented to spot movement detection on the left or right side of the respective divider 1.1 or 1.2, so to say only on or slightly above the shelf floor 3. This allows to detect e.g. moving in or out of a user's hand, as well as inserting or removing of objects 17.

[0083] The front side 25 of the first divider 1.1 is hidden behind the left electronic shelf label 27. In this installation scenario the electronic detection means 12 of the front side 25 may be put out of operation or the first divider 1.1 may be different from the second divider 1.2, so to say without the front side 25 electronic detection means 12.

[0084] The second divider 1.2 is located/positioned between the two electronic shelf labels 27 and its front side 25 is visible between the two electronic shelf labels 27. Here the electronic detection means 12 that is installed on the front side 25 is visible. It is used to detect movement in front of the shelf 24, e.g. the movement of persons/customers in front of the shelf 24. This detection can be used, for example, to validate a detected movement on the shelf floor 3 or as a trigger to display particular video sequences or further detailed product information on neighboring electronic shelf labels 27.

[0085] In order to process the detection signal released by the individual dividers 1.1, 1.2, each electronic shelf label 27 also comprises a wire-based detection interface (not shown in the figures) that is connected to the electrical contact elements 10, 11 of the shelf rail 4 and used to receive the detection signal from the various dividers 1.1 or 1.2. In fact, only the detection signals generated by upfront registered electronic detection means 12 are received and processed by the individual electronic shelf labels 27. This upfront registration process can be performed during the installation or placement of the respective divider 1.1 and/or 1.2. The logic link between one of the movement detection means 12 and one or more of the electronic shelf label 27 may be defined by a server (not shown) that stores the planogram of the retail store, the location of the individual electronic shelf labels 27 and the individual dividers 1.1, 1.2 and so on. However, the logic link may also be defined locally by means of handheld devices (not shown) used by the staff of the retail shop. After the logic link between an electronic shelf label 27 and the individual divider 1.1 and/or 1.2 is established the respective electronic shelf label 27 processes only those detection signals which are released by the divider 1.1 or 1.2 to which it is logically linked.

[0086] In operation, the electronic shelf labels 27 show a still image having a background image and virtual shelf label, which is basically an image that shows information which is related to the particular product located on the shelf floor 3 on which the electronic shelf label 27 is installed. Once the electronic detection means 12 located on the front side 25 of the second shelf divider 1.2 detects movement of a customer (not show in FIG. 5) in front of the shelf 24, it releases the detection signal which triggers the playback of a video sequence on both of the electronic shelf labels 27. The theme of this video sequence is related to the products displayed on the shelf floor 3. The customer may be attracted by the video sequence and grasps a particular object 17 from the shelf floor 3 and takes it out of the shelf 3. Once the collection of detection signals generated by the two shelf dividers 1.1 and 1.2 during this action and received at the electronic shelf labels 27 and processed there makes it clear which object 17 was taken out of the shelf 24, the electronic shelf label 27 which displays the virtual shelf label for this particular object 17 changes its displayed content and e.g. now displays information concerning quantity discounts for this particular object 17 or in other words for particular goods.

[0087] Hence, the (intelligent) retail shelf divider 1 according to the invention used in the innovative merchandizing system 23 becomes a very powerful tool for the individual product-related display of information, which is triggered by detected movement.

[0088] In a further embodiment the mechanical coupling means 2 of the shelf rail 4, which are visualized in FIG. 2 and used to couple the shelf divider 1, may also be realized directly in the shelf floor 3. The separate shelf rail 4 can be superfluous in this configuration. This embodiment is of particular interest, if the electronic shelf label 27 itself realizes the shelf rail 4.

[0089] In a further embodiment the mechanical coupling means 2 of the shelf rail 4 according to FIG. 2 can be directly realized on the back side of the electronic shelf label 27. This embodiment is of interest, because it eases the signal transmission from the electronical detection means 12 of the divider 1 to the respective electronic shelf label 27, to which it is attached, because the detection signal can directly be received from the divider 1. Here, it can be of particular advantage if the orientation of the connection mechanism (reference sign 2 together with 7) is changed from horizontal or perpendicular with regard to the shelf floor 3 (as shown in the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) to parallel to the shelf floor 3. In this configuration mechanical coupling means 2 shown in FIG. 2 extend not downward anymore, but face to the left. The groove like recess 7 may be arranged on the back (rear side) of the electronics shelf label 27 and extend along the width of the electronic shelf label 27 such that the divider 1 coupled therewith can be located at an arbitrary position along the width or the electronics shelf label 27.

[0090] Although the mechanical coupling means 2 were so far described to allow an arbitrary positioning of the divider along the length of the shelf floor 3, the shelf rail 4 or the electronic shelf label 27, it is to mention that one can also consider an embodiment which provides a positioning at discrete positions. In this embodiment plugs and connectors can be used to enable the mechanical coupling as well as the transmission of power or of the detection signal.

[0091] Finally, let it be noted once again that the figures described in detail above only involve exemplary embodiments, which the expert can modify in a wide variety of ways without departing from the area of the invention. For the sake of completeness, let it also be stated that use of the indeterminate article “a” or “an” does not mean that the respective features cannot be present multiple times.