I think they’re just e-reader technology that accepts input by RF or something. Probably has an RFID on it, so a control node just (1) scans the RFID, (2) looks up price of product for that RFID, (3) send signal back to update the display.
Because I’ve looked at these things. I don’t see any modules for wireless communication over lan, Bluetooth, or anything like that.
See that window in the top left? It’s a combination photovoltaic cell and IR receiver, so the tag can be powered indefinitely from the shop lights and they can use ceiling-mounted IR blasters to update them. There’s no return path so the blasters just repeatedly transmit the entire inventory and price list, over and over.
I think they’re just e-reader technology that accepts input by RF or something. Probably has an RFID on it, so a control node just (1) scans the RFID, (2) looks up price of product for that RFID, (3) send signal back to update the display.
Because I’ve looked at these things. I don’t see any modules for wireless communication over lan, Bluetooth, or anything like that.
See that window in the top left? It’s a combination photovoltaic cell and IR receiver, so the tag can be powered indefinitely from the shop lights and they can use ceiling-mounted IR blasters to update them. There’s no return path so the blasters just repeatedly transmit the entire inventory and price list, over and over.