Systems and methods for determining shelf occupancy

• US 10,489,743 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Aepli, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Ade, Garcia
• Application Number:
  US15/823,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20180189722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 705 28
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/64 Percentage-indicating weighing apparatus, i.e. for expressing the weight as a percentage of a predetermined or initial weight
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/12 wherein the weighing element is in the form of a solid body stressed by pressure or tension during weighing
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/26 Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system for determining an amount of shelf space comprises: a plurality of weight sensors at a region of a shelf that directly measure a force related to a weight of physical items positioned on the shelf and generates a weight result, the shelf positioned at an angle from a horizontal axis; the shelf positioning the physical items at the angle; a shelf angle determination device that determines the angle of the shelf; wherein the weight sensors generates the weight result adjusted for the determined shelf angle; and an occupancy determination processor that determines an amount of surface area of the shelf occupied by the physical items from the adjusted weight result.

Claims

1. A system for determining an amount of shelf space, comprising:

a plurality of weight sensors at a region of a shelf that directly measure a force related to a weight of physical items positioned on the shelf and generates a weight result, the shelf positioned at an angle from a horizontal axis;

the shelf positioning the physical items at the angle, the weight sensors further detecting a tilt of the shelf;

a shelf angle determination device that determines the angle of the shelf corresponding to the tilt of the shelf and outputs a shelf angle result; and

an occupancy determination processor that determines an amount of surface area of the shelf occupied by the physical items from the weight result and the shelf angle result.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupancy determination processor polls all of the weight sensors to determine a percentage of occupancy of the shelf.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor polls the weight sensors for slot weight.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the weight sensors detect a change in capacitance caused by the weight of the physical items, and wherein the weight sensors include a special-purpose processor that translates the detected changed in capacitance to a value indicative of the force applied to the shelf.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the force is covered to a total weight value, which is compared to a maximum weight capable of being applied to the shelf.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the shelf is configured to provide multiple storage spaces for the items, and wherein a location of the items is tracked by a stock keeping unit (SKU) or other identification code associated with each item.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a database for storing a SKU slot assignment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the shelf angle determination device comprises an inclinometer for measuring a downward angle of the shelf and wherein the downward angle is used for determining the percentage of occupancy of the shelf.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm generator that provides warnings and alarms for user directed inventory levels by slot.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the weight sensors include a pair of capacitive plates, wherein the compression force detected by the weight sensors is measured by an accelerometer to determine the weight.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is constructed and arranged for positioning at a warehouse, and wherein the shelf is an industrial shelf.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one light sensor at the shelf;

and a processor that receives a signal from the at least one light sensor and that contributes to determining the area of the shelf that is occupied with the items in response to the light sensor signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one light sensor is a photodetector product sensor.

14. A method for determining an amount of shelf space, comprising:

measuring, by a weight sensor, a force related to a weight of physical items positioned on a shelf and

generating a weight result, the shelf positioned at an angle from a horizontal axis;

detecting, by the weight sensor, a tilt of the shelf

determining the angle of the shelf corresponding to the tilt of the shelf;

and

determining an amount of surface area of the shelf occupied by the physical items from the weight result and the shelf angle result.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the weight result comprises detecting a compression force applied to a pair of capacitive plates.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting a change in capacitance caused by the weight of the physical items, and translating the detected change in capacitance to a value indicative of the force applied to the shelf.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising polling all of the weight sensors at the shelf to determine a percentage of occupancy of the shelf.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising polling the weight sensors for slot weight.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the percentage of occupancy of the shelf is determined by both item weight and shelf angle.

20. A system for determining an amount of shelf space, comprising:

a shelf comprising;

a plurality of weight sensors at a region of the shelf that directly measure a force related to a weight of physical items positioned on the shelf and generates a weight result, the shelf positioned at an angle from a horizontal axis;

the shelf positioning the physical items at the angle; and

a shelf angle determination device that determines the angle of the shelf and outputs a shelf angle result, the system further comprising;

an occupancy determination processor that determines an amount of surface area of the shelf occupied by the physical items from the weight result and the shelf angle result.