Powered shelf system for inductively powering electrical components of consumer product packages

• US 10,312,731 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Lazo, Philip, Rankin, David, Lockwood, Thomas A., Cukiernik, Steven, Tetrault, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Tra, Anh Q
• Application Number:
  US14/695,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20150311727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

Certain aspects involve a powered shelf system that can inductively provide power to electrical components of consumer product packages. The powered shelf system can include a housing, a primary inductor, a controller, and a pusher system. The primary inductor can be coupled to or included in the housing. The controller can apply an electrical current to the primary inductor in accordance with a maximum power requirement for the powered shelf system. The applied electrical current can be sufficient to create a magnetic field from the primary inductor that has a minimum field strength at a specified distance from the primary inductor. The minimum field strength can be sufficient to induce a minimum current in a secondary inductor for powering an emitting device that is electrically coupled to the secondary inductor. The pusher system can position the secondary inductor at the distance from the primary inductor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a housing comprising a merchandising display shelf;

a primary inductor coupled to or included in the housing;

a controller electrically coupled to the primary inductor and configured for applying an electrical current to the primary inductor in accordance with a maximum power requirement for the system, wherein the electrical current is sufficient to create a magnetic field from the primary inductor having a minimum field strength at a distance from the primary inductor, wherein the minimum field strength is sufficient to induce a minimum current in a secondary inductor for powering an emitting device electrically coupled to the secondary conductor;

a pusher system coupled to the housing and configured for positioning the secondary inductor at the distance from the primary inductor; and

a product package displayed on the merchandising display shelf and positioned adjacent the pusher system, the product package comprising product packaging, the product packaging comprising the secondary inductor and the emitting device, wherein the emitting device is electrically coupled to the secondary inductor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the emitting device comprises at least one of a light-emitting diode, a sound-emitting component, and a vibration-emitting component.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary inductor comprises a plurality of primary inductors, the secondary inductor comprises a plurality of secondary inductors, and the emitting device comprises a plurality of emitting devices,

wherein the controller is configured for applying the electrical current to subsets of the plurality of primary inductors such that corresponding subsets of the emitting devices are activated in accordance with a pattern.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first product package having the secondary inductor and a first contact; and

a second product package having a second contact adapted for forming an electrical connection with the first contact to allow current flow from the first product package to the second product package,

wherein the first product package is positioned between the primary inductor and the second product package, wherein the controller is configured for detecting the presence of the first product package and the second product package based on current flow through the secondary inductor and the second product package.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic flux concentrator coupled to the housing and configured for focusing the magnetic flux from the primary inductor to the secondary inductor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pusher system is further configured for positioning the secondary inductor adjacent to a surface of the magnetic flux concentrator that is configured to emit magnetic energy.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ferrite material configured for focusing the magnetic flux from the primary inductor to the secondary inductor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the ferrite material is positioned on a surface of the housing adjacent to a product package that includes the secondary inductor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the ferrite material is positioned on a surface of a pusher from the pusher system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary inductor is included in a pusher of the pusher system, wherein the pusher is positioned such that the primary inductor contacts a product package in which the secondary inductor is included.

11. A method for manufacturing a powered shelf system for inductively coupling power from a primary inductor to a secondary inductor, the method comprising:

identifying a minimum field strength of a magnetic field for inducing a current in the secondary inductor sufficient to power an emitting device electrically coupled to the secondary inductor;

identifying a minimum distance between the primary inductor and secondary inductor when the primary inductor is coupled to a housing comprising a merchandizinq display shelf and the secondary inductor is included in product packaging of a product package displayed on the merchandising display shelf;

selecting the primary inductor based on the primary inductor having at least one attribute suitable for generating the magnetic field at the minimum distance;

installing the primary inductor in the housing and the secondary inductor in the product package; and

coupling a pusher system to the housing that is configured for positioning the product package on the merchandising display shelf with the secondary inductor at the minimum distance from the primary inductor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the primary inductor is selected based on the primary inductor having an aperture sufficient to provide a magnetic flux corresponding to the minimum field strength.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling a magnetic flux concentrator to the housing that is configured for focusing the magnetic flux from the primary inductor to the secondary inductor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying a ferrite material to a surface adjacent to an area for the product package, wherein the ferrite material is adapted for focusing the magnetic flux from the primary inductor to the secondary inductor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the surface is a surface of the housing.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the surface is a surface of a pusher from the pusher system.