Patent Application
20180012260
The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for a motion-sensitive advertisement that activates when a potential customer approaches or when a personal wireless device is detected within a certain radius of the apparatus.
The broad field of retail advertising has gone through many changes from the time of posting a printed flyer inside a store window to the contemporary development of elaborate displays that are situated in the middle of a store's floor space that are designed to stimulate interest and promote unplanned purchases of the product. Retail advertising is geared to drive customers to consummate the purchase and/or is placed at the point of purchase to assure that the chosen product is kept foremost in the consumer's mind. This medium relies on a mixture of media delivered both outside and inside the retail environment. Examples of media that are delivered inside of retail environment are: paper posters placed in windows of stores; examples of products on sale placed in the windows of stores; elaborate point-of-purchase displays that stand in the middle of stores' floor space; and/or highlighting the promoted product. It is a goal of advertisers to make their products clearly visible to potential customers and to attract the attention of the potential customers. This is difficult to do, especially in a retail environment where potential customers are bombarded by advertisements and images of products all around them.
Thus, it would be advantageous to create an advertising apparatus which draws the attention of a potential customer, is targeted to each customer's product preferences, buying habits, recent purchases, and recent store visits, is cost effective, and is energy conscious. These advantages are met by the present disclosure.
According to one embodiment, the invention comprises an advertising apparatus capable of motion sensitive illumination and capable of 180° viewing from a consumer. The advertising apparatus comprises a top piece; a bottom piece; a back piece adapted for mounting the advertising apparatus to an external structure; and a front display piece adapted for displaying graphics present on the front display surface, wherein the front display piece has a convex shape and wherein the top piece, the bottom piece, the back piece, and the front display surface piece are mechanically coupled together to form the assembled advertising apparatus. The advertising apparatus further comprises an illumination source for illuminating the front display piece; a multifaceted motion sensor for detecting motion of a potential customer, wherein the multifaceted motion sensor is configured to trigger the apparatus when a customer's heat moves across at least two facets of the multifaceted motion sensor; a wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter has a transmission radius, is capable of detecting a person carrying a wireless-enabled device when said person passes within the transmission radius of the wireless transmitter, and delivers advertising and marketing content to said person's wireless-enabled device; and a power source to power the advertising apparatus, wherein the illumination source, the motion sensor, and the wireless transmitter are coupled to the power source.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a back piece with suction cups attached thereto for mounting to an external surface.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a back piece with an attached clamp for mounting to an external structure.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a bottom piece that defines a leading edge, wherein the leading edge is mechanically coupled to the front display piece.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises an illumination source supported by the bottom piece and positioned to edge illuminate the front display piece.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a power switch coupled to the power source to power the advertising apparatus up or down.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises at least one battery as the power source.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises an internal battery compartment which is defined by the back piece and a removable cover and which receives at least one battery, wherein the back piece and removable cover conceal the battery compartment.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a charging and/or AC/DC adaptor plug, for charging and/or powering the advertising apparatus.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises an illumination source further comprising a set of light emitting diodes (LED) placed proximate to an edge of the bottom piece and capable of edge illumination of the front display piece.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a controller for the illumination source coupled to the power supply and the illumination source.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises an illumination source further comprising a set of light emitting diodes (LED) wherein the LEDs are present in at least one LED strip.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises an illumination source further comprising two LED strips of twelve LEDs each.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises an electroluminescence (EL) illumination source.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a front display piece that is an EL light source.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a circuit board comprising a circuit, wherein the illumination source, a controller for the illumination source, the motion sensor, and the power source are coupled to the circuit.
In certain embodiments, the invention further comprises a circuit configured to have a cycled on period and a forced off period, wherein the cycled on period is from about 1 second to about 120 seconds and the forced off period is from about 1 second to about 120 seconds.
In certain embodiments, the invention has a cycled on period of about 7 seconds and a forced off period of about 20 seconds
The foregoing and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of several of the embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “comprises” means “includes.” In case of conflict, the present specification, including explanations of any terms, will control.
The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an advertising apparatus suited for capturing the attention of a person shopping in a retail location or in another environment where it may be advantageous or necessary to deliver information to the person as he or she passes through a certain area. The advertising apparatus of the present invention achieves this goal by using a combination of two mechanisms that may deliver two separate, but useful stimuli to the person: (1) a motion sensor that detects the movement of an approaching person and, as a result, causes the display to illuminate when the person draws near, thus stimulating the person's reticular activating system by drawing the visual attention of the customer to the advertising apparatus at the appropriate time; and (2) delivering an electronic notification to the person's wireless mobile device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or other wireless device. Additionally, the advertising apparatus is optimized to conserve power usage, for example prolonging battery life. Using one or more universal mounting systems the advertising apparatus has the advantage of being mountable to a horizontal or vertical surface, for example using a clamp, magnets, or suction cups and the like. In addition, when mounted, the advertising apparatus has the further advantage of or providing a convex display surface that is viewable from multiple angles, such as from 180°. By way of example a potential customer walking either direction down a supermarket aisle may view the graphics present on the display surface of the advertising apparatus, particularly when the display surface is illuminated. A potential customer may also view the graphics as he or she approaches and passes by the advertising apparatus. Thus, one of the many advantages of the disclosed advertising apparatus is that it offers a 180° viewing angle.
The disclosed advertising apparatus uses electronic means to generate interest in the graphically displayed advertising present on the display surfaces of the advertising apparatus. This is accomplished by illuminating the advertising graphics such that an approaching potential customer sees the illuminated advertising graphic and may be drawn to it. Rather than having a sign that is constantly lit or flashes at intervals at a constant rate, which tends to be either lost in the milieu of other sights and sounds or, in the case of a constantly flashing sign, somewhat annoying, the disclosed apparatus illuminates only when a potential customer comes into close proximity, thus drawing the customer's attention to the apparatus and its accompanying graphics. In essence the light appears out of nowhere when the potential customer is not expecting it and has the effect of grabbing a person's attention, which in psychological terms is called the reticular activating system, e.g. when a person sees something happening in his or her environment and proceeds to investigate. Activation of the reticular activating system often results in increased blood flow and neuron activity, and heightened attention, all of which are useful when attempting to stimulate and attract a consumer's attention through in-store advertising. However, rather than being activated solely by the customer's proximity, the advertising apparatus disclosed herein includes sophisticated circuitry designed both operate in a powered-on state for attracting a consumer's attention and a powered-off state for rest and power conservation, thereby providing the additional benefit of prolonging battery life of the stand-alone apparatus.
The advertising apparatus offers the advantage of delivering an electronic notification to the customer's wireless mobile device. Using a low energy wireless transmitter, often referred to as a “proximity beacon,” to deliver small packets of data, or “push notifications,” to the customer's wireless mobile device. If the customer's wireless mobile device allows the reception of such electronic notifications, the mobile device may vibrate, ring, or display an alert message on its screen. In this way, the advertising apparatus is doubly effective—the display surface delivers a visual stimulus to the consumer that activates the reticular activating system and draws the consumer's attention toward the display surface at or about the same time that the advertising apparatus' proximity beacon delivers an electronic notification to the customer's mobile device. Thus, the advertising apparatus delivers a “push” notification to the consumer's wireless device at the same time that the advertising apparatus “pulls” the consumer's attention towards the illuminated display. Furthermore, it is likely that if the consumer ignores or fails to recognize the push notification delivered to the mobile device, the consumer's attention may be attracted by the illuminated advertising apparatus, and it is possible that the consumer may view the notification at some later time, perhaps before checkout or even at home. In this way, the electronic notification may remind the consumer of the items, services, or brands seen previously on the advertising apparatus, which may lead to future sales or internet purchases.
Another advantage of the advertising apparatus is that its design is optimized such that no tools are required for installation, which means that it is easy for employees to install and service a battery door in the back of the display. Furthermore, the location of the battery door and power switch discourages theft of batteries and tampering.
One of the many advantages of the disclosed advertising apparatus is that it has the ability to be re-used on a continual basis, e.g. it is not viewed as a single use, single product advertising apparatus. Because both the graphics, and the power supply, in the case of batteries, have the ability to be changed out, the disclosed advertising device has an environmental advantage compared to other conventional point of sale static and lighted signs in the market place. This ability to alter the advertising apparatus's display graphics further provides an advantage to the retailer in lowering costs. Additionally, if necessary, the wireless transmitter may be easily exchanged to quickly upgrade the advertising apparatus to include a wireless transmitter that has a new battery or power supply, a greater transmission radius, an updated version of the electronic notification delivered to the consumer's wireless device, compatibility with new and emerging state-of-the art wireless technologies, or for any other reason. The ease with which the display graphics and the wireless transmitter may be upgraded or changed also allows for the advertising apparatus to be rapidly re-deployed to promote different products in a different area of the store.
The top piece 120, back piece 160, bottom piece 140 and front edge 141 may be made of any material; however, plastic, such as thermo-moldable plastic, is preferred. The front display piece 170 is typically made of a substantially clear material, such that when the material is edge lit, light passes through the material. In some embodiments, the front display piece is a light guide, which is a material that when edge lit guides light across the material to illuminate the material in a uniform manner or substantially uniform manner. In some embodiments, this is done using a piece of plastic that has been printed so that it has spots on it that disperse the light to the face of the material. Alternatively, such edge-lens technology often uses small bumps and/or indentations that guide the light to the surface of the material and illuminate the display surfaces. Essentially, this technology pulls the light across the plane evenly. For example, for a square piece of acrylic that is illuminated along one edge, printing and/or etching on the internal surface of the material pulls the light evenly across the entire area of the material effectively back lighting the piece. In some embodiments, the light or illumination source may be electroluminescence (EL). EL is an optical and electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response to the presence of an electric current or to a strong electric field. Examples of the range of EL materials include thin-film zinc sulfide doped with manganese and semiconductors containing Group III and Group V elements, such as indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and gallium nitride (GaN). Typically the EL material is a thin film, which can be mechanically coupled to a backer, such as a plastic backer, for example the front display piece of the disclosed advertising apparatus. Electroluminescent technologies have low power consumption and are thus well suited to use in the disclosed advertising apparatus.
With further reference to
Typically motion sensor 155 is an infrared sensor, such as a passive infrared sensor, although other motion sensors are contemplated for use in the apparatus. In preferred embodiments, the motion sensor is an infrared sensor, such as a multifaceted infrared sensor. Passive infrared sensors allow sensing of motion by detecting changes in levels of infrared radiation. In some examples, the sensor in a motion detector splits in one or more facets, which can be used to detect a change in motion. In certain embodiments, a multifaceted lens detects the presence of an approaching customer, such as by detecting the body heat of such customer, and as the customer's heat moves across two, three or even four facets of the lens, it triggers the apparatus. This has the advantage of limiting the interaction to actual potential customers and it also limits the triggering to when the potential customer is actually within range and capable of seeing the display and its illuminated graphics. For example, if a customer were to walk part way into the sensor's field of view and then reverse course, the sensor would not activate and would conserve battery power, rather than activating for a customer who is now facing the opposite direction.
As mentioned previously, in a preferred embodiment, wireless transmitter 210 may be any variety of commonly known proximity beacons manufactured by third parties such as Qualcomm, Gimbal, and other manufacturers of wireless devices. Proximity beacons are small, self-contained wireless devices that transmit low power radio frequencies to other wireless-enabled devices, such as smart phones, tablets, laptop computers and the like, that come within a relatively close range of the proximity beacon. The proximity beacon broadcasts a packet of code that is received by the wireless-enabled device. The wireless-enabled device may then provide its user with an alert notification, such as a ring tone or vibration, a screen message or image, or other form of notification. In some embodiments, the proximity beacon will transmit code that contains information such as the proximity beacon's name, an icon, and/or other information which may then be interpreted by the wireless device as a coupon deal in certain retail environments, information about products being promoted by the advertising apparatus, or even offering the consumer a customized greeting. Additionally, in some embodiments, the proximity beacon can provide information to an administrator assigned to monitor the performance and operation of the advertising apparatus, such as the number of wireless mobile devices that have passed the advertising apparatus in a defined period of time, the rate at which consumers respond to or ignore the notifications on their wireless devices, and other similar data that may be analyzed to optimize the marketing and advertising value of the advertising apparatus.
Proximity beacons typically include an internal, low voltage battery power source. For this reason, proximity beacons are configured to transmit at a rate and at a distance that optimizes reactiveness on nearby wireless-enabled devices while also maximizing the proximity beacon's battery life.
The incorporation of the benefits of both the motion sensor 155 and a the wireless transmitter 210 in the preferred embodiment allows the illumination of the advertising apparatus and its display graphics at the same or nearly the same time that an alert appears on the nearby customers' wireless device. As a result, the preferred embodiment of the advertising apparatus increases the likelihood that the consumer's attention will be attracted to the product promoted by the advertising apparatus because the consumer receives both a visual stimulus in the form of the illuminated graphics on the advertising apparatus and an electronic notification on his or her wireless device.
In one preferred embodiment, when the advertising apparatus is fully assembled, bottom piece front edge 141 and top piece front edge 121 (
A preferred embodiment of the universal mounting system base plate is best shown in
The universal mounting system addresses several challenges present in an advertising environment. First is mounting. Given the diversity in mounting situations, such as different size shelving, a universal mounting system was developed that provides the ability to customize the apparatus to a variety of situations likely to be encountered. As a solution, the inventor devised a universal mounting system that includes a universal mounting system base plate that slips into a slot on the back of the advertising apparatus and locks in place, using the universal mounting system cam locking mechanism. The universal mounting system is configured to accommodate a variety of mounting hardware. In one embodiment, the universal mounting system includes a clamp that can be finger tightened for placement on a horizontal shelf and attaches to the universal mounting system base plate. In another embodiment, the universal mounting system includes a magnetic attachment that attaches to the universal mounting system base plate. In another embodiment, the universal mounting system includes one or more suction cups that attaches to the universal mounting system base plate. In addition, to combat tampering with the apparatus and battery theft, when the universal mounting system base plate is in place, such as locked in place with the cam locking mechanism, both the on/off switch and the battery compartment are occluded from view and hence deter tampering. This deters persons from either tampering with the apparatus or stealing batteries from the apparatus in a surveillance environment, such as a store. The clamp mounting hardware is typically a C-shaped steel bracket. For suction cup mounting, any appropriate number of suction cups, including between about 1 and about 16 suction cups, may be used depending on the application.
In some embodiments, the sides of the universal mounting base plate are substantially non-parallel, such that the universal mounting base plate fits securely in a channel of the back piece of the advertising apparatus. One advantage of using substantially non-parallel sides of the universal mounting system base plate is that it allows the universal mounting system base plate to slide it up and down and lock in place with a simple cam lock, with all of the weight supported at the top and on the sides, such that there is no one area of the universal mounting system base plate that is bearing an unreasonable amount of weight.
The internal structure of the assembled apparatus is best shown in
With reference to
The circuit also includes a passive infrared sensor. The passive infrared sensor allows the advertising device to be interactive with the potential customer and to remain static when the potential customer is not in close range of the advertising apparatus. This arrangement limits battery drain and at the same time assures the longevity of the product in the intended application. As a potential customer approaches, the passive infrared sensor will trigger so that the advertising apparatus is within the potential customer's peripheral vision at that point. In this way, the passive infrared sensor limits the illumination of the apparatus to only those times when a consumer walks by the apparatus, rather than just flashing indiscriminately (such as an LED flashing on the end of an aisle). In some embodiments, the circuit includes one or more LED strips, which may include as many as 32 LEDs each. In one embodiment, there are two LED strips of 12 LEDs apiece coupled to an LED driver, coupled to a passive infrared circuit, which then controls the on/off function, coupled to a power source, such as a DC or AC power source, for example batteries. In some embodiments, there is also a DC or AC input charging port, for example, for running the advertising device on DC input, rather than batteries, which if available would be a cost savings. In some examples, when the DC or AC input charging port is plugged, the internal power supply from the batteries is superseded. In other embodiments, rechargeable batteries are used (for example, Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Nickel-Metal-Hydride (Ni-MH)) and plugging in a charger or AC adapter recharges the batteries.
One advantage of the advertising apparatus of the present invention is the efficient use of limited battery power. In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to operate as on and forced off circuit, which helps optimize battery life. This means that the advertising device is active for a period of time and then inactive for a period of time before becoming active again in a cyclic fashion. The forced rest is designed for two things: (1) to reduce the amount of battery power required for normal operation; and (2) to reduce the possibility of someone triggering the advertising apparatus for amusement, for example, a child who waves their hands in front of it, which could also dramatically reduce the battery life. In some embodiments, the circuit is configured for a powered-on period of about 1 second to about 120 seconds or longer. In some embodiments, a rest or powered-off period may occur between the powered-on periods and having a duration of anywhere from 1 second to about 2 minutes or longer. In one particular example, the circuit is configured to have about 7 seconds of powered-on and 20 seconds of powered-off time (also called “7/20 rule”), as this was determined to be optimal for battery life and also to improve the attraction mode or the attractor mode, particularly during periods of high traffic when multiple shoppers may pass the motion sensor's field of view in quick succession. In such a situation, an advertising apparatus that does not follow the 7/20 rule might repeatedly illuminate or remain illuminated continuously, which could quickly drain the batteries and potentially annoy shoppers. Thus, one preferred embodiment of the advertising apparatus employs the 7/20 rule to optimize battery life and reduce the likelihood of annoying shoppers with constant and/or repeated illumination cycles.
In some embodiments, the LED controller is configured such that during the powered-on time after triggering, the LED is continuously lit, alternating LED strips are lit (flashing one and then the other), or the LED strips flash simultaneously. In other embodiments, the LEDs are lit sequentially such that it appears that the illuminated surfaces of the advertising apparatus light from one side across the illuminated surface. In some embodiments, the LEDs operate sequentially, or even non-sequentially to create a ripple effect or strobe effect. In some embodiments, an EL controller is configured such that during the powered-on time after triggering, the EL is continuously lit, alternating EL pieces are lit (flashing one and then the other), or the EL pieces flash simultaneously. In some embodiments, the EL strips are lit sequentially such that it appears that the illuminated surfaces of the advertising apparatus light from one side across the illuminated surface. In some embodiments, the EL material would operate sequentially, or even non-sequentially to create a ripple effect or strobe effect.
In some embodiments, the LED controller is configured such that the LEDs are not turned on in a burst, but rather fade on, for example to a fraction of total battery power before turning off, such as with pulse modulation. In some embodiments, the LEDs fade up to about 10% to about 90% of battery power. In other embodiments, the EL controller is configured such that the EL materials are not turned on in a burst, but rather fade on, for example to a fraction of total battery power before turning off, such as with pulse modulation. In some embodiments, the EL material fades up to about 10% to about 90% of battery power.
In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of my invention may be applied, it should be recognized that illustrated embodiments are only examples of the invention and should not be considered a limitation on the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. I therefore claim as my invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of these claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/360,078, filed Jul. 8, 2016.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62360078 | Jul 2016 | US |
