Electronic display for store shelves

An electronic interface device that receives item data information from a main computer, retains and processes the item data including item address codes and transmits said sales item data to display devices comprising:

• a plurality of sales item display strips located adjacent respective sales items, comprising:
• display grid elements distributed uniformly across the display strip to form illuminated alphanumeric characters;
• sensor means lying along the length of said display strip and across a boundary between laterally adjacent items for receiving light signals from a remote hand-held programming device;
• transmitter means connected to said sensor means for programming said computer designated item address codes;
• and
• receiver means for processing display signals from said computer to display alphanumeric characters at designated locations across the face of the display strip as programmed by said hand-held device;
• an item information input port for receiving item data from a main computer;
• a programming input port for receiving item information data including location, item address code of the display device associated with a specific item, signal bus address of the item display device, and item signature data;
• a main processor coupled both to said item information input port and a programming input port for processing said item signature data and said item information data;
• a programmable memory coupled to said main processor for storing item signature data including universal bar codes, signal bus addresses, and item addresses;
• a random access memory coupled to said main processor for temporary storage of processed information;
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit coupled to said main processor for routing, distributing, and transferring item data information to and from the main processor;
• and
• a plurality of signal bus processor units coupled to the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit for processing, storage, transmission and reception of item data information to and from item display devices through signal buses, and to and from the main processor.