Abstract: In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, improved system architecture and stored programs are disclosed to permit improved accuracy in confirming the physical location of display devices called labels. A response from a label to the host, or central computer, has appended to it an additional message by an appender, one of a plurality of appenders located throughout the architecture. The appender's message permits localization of the labels. A power-on status flag in a response from the labels permits the central computer to determine, through global inquiries to all the labels, whether any of the labels has had an interruption of power. A dongle or RF-linked bar-code scanner permits store personnel to send messages to the central computer to request that labels in a particular subarea of the store display alternative information such as the amount of inventory for items in that subarea.

Abstract: An improved electronic price display system has rails into which are installed price display labels. Ridges along the top and bottom of the rails are shaped to receive a label readily. A removal tool may be engaged to release the pawls of the label to extract the label. Ridges at the rear of the rails, together with a resilient insert, permit quick mounting to a shelf with a minimal number of fasteners. A hemicylindrical feature at the back of the rails permits generous area of contact with a mounting screw having a hemispherical head. Opposed groove features permit the concealment of the screw heads and provide a visual design element.Angled ridges on the rear face of the label engage with knurls on the rails providing contact wiping, enhancing electrical integrity of the label-to-rail connection, and also fix the label in place.A feature along an edge of the rail provides a cylindrical concavity.

Abstract: An electronic price displaying label is disclosed for use in conjunction with a rail, the rail having two lips which define an access slot and a cavity, in which the label is prevented from slidably moving in a horizontal direction along the rail. The label has a protuberance connected to the rear of the label and first and second grooves arranged on the rear of the label such that the label can be secured in a display position along the rail. The aforementioned grooves disposed on the rear of the label contain a resilient substance such as a rubber band. The protuberance of the label may be removed from and inserted into the cavity of the rail when the label is in a position perpendicular to the rail, with the protuberance securing the label to the rail when the label is in a position parallel to the rail. Upon attaching the label on the rail, the compression of the resilient substance by the lips of the rail prevents the label from slidably moving in a horizontal direction along the rail.

Abstract: In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, improved system architecture and stored programs are disclosed to permit improved accuracy in confirming the physical location of display devices called labels. A response from a label to the host, or central computer, has appended to it an additional message by an appender, one of a plurality of appenders located throughout the architecture. The appender's message permits localization of the labels. A power-on status flag in a response from the labels permits the central computer to determine, through global inquiries to all the labels, whether any of the labels has had an interruption of power. A dongle or RF-linked bar-code scanner permits store personnel to send messages to the central computer to request that labels in a particular subarea of the store display alternative information such as the amount of inventory for items in that subarea.

Abstract: In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, improved system architecture and stored programs are disclosed to permit improved accuracy in confirming the physical location of display devices called labels. A response from a label to the host, or central computer, has appended to it an additional message by an appender, one of a plurality of appenders located throughout the architecture. The appender's message permits localization of the labels. A power-on status flag in a response from the labels permits the central computer to determine, through global inquiries to all the labels, whether any of the labels has had an interruption of power. A dongle or RF-linked bar-code scanner permits store personnel to send messages to the central computer to request that labels in a particular subarea of the store display alternative information such as the amount of inventory for items in that subarea.

Abstract: A liquid crystal shutter system for selecting fields of a field-sequential image, by transmitting the field-sequential image, with a synchronization signal, to one or more remote liquid crystal cell shutter assemblies. Each shutter assembly transmits selected fields of the field-sequential image in response to a drive signal, and includes a drive circuit for receiving the synchronization signal and generating each drive signal in response to the synchronization signal so that each drive signal has transitions synchronized with image fields. The drive circuit is capable of rapidly processing short duration synchronization signals with very low power consumption. In one embodiment, two liquid crystal cell assemblies are mounted in an eyeglass frame and used as a wireless selection device for a field-sequential stereoscopic image.

Abstract: A portable data sensing and processing device for a SCUBA diver using a tank of compressed air wherein the device provides integrated information to the diver on a liquid crystal display screen to permit the diver to make a longer time variable depth underwater dive than would be permitted by the U.S. Navy dive tables for a no-decompression ascent.