Inventory monitoring system and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An item monitoring system, comprising:
- a bladder configured to be positioned on a supporting surface of a shelf and further configured to receive one or more items thereon, the bladder including;
a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid;
an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder, the energy generation mechanism including (i) a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil and including an interior passage in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, and (ii) a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube; and
a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism;
wherein displacement of at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the interior passage of the tube due to the one or more items placed on the body of the bladder moves the magnetic item within the tube; and
wherein movement of the magnetic item within the tube generates an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.
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Abstract
An item monitoring system including a bladder including a body with a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid is described. The system includes an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder and including a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil in fluid communication with the bladder, and a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube. The system includes a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism. Displacement of the fluid from the bladder into the tube moves the magnetic item within the tube, thereby generating an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a bladder configured to be positioned on a supporting surface of a shelf and further configured to receive one or more items thereon, the bladder including; a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid; an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder, the energy generation mechanism including (i) a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil and including an interior passage in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, and (ii) a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube; and a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism; wherein displacement of at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the interior passage of the tube due to the one or more items placed on the body of the bladder moves the magnetic item within the tube; and wherein movement of the magnetic item within the tube generates an electrical current to emit a light from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a bladder configured to be positioned on a supporting surface of a shelf and further configured to receive one or more items thereon, the bladder including; a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid; an energy generation mechanism connected to the body, the energy generation mechanism including (i) a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil and including an interior passage in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, and (ii) a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube; and a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism; and
an image capture device;wherein displacement of at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the interior passage of the tube due to the one or more items placed on the body of the bladder moves the magnetic item within the tube; wherein movement of the magnetic item within the tube generates an electrical current to emit a light from the light source; and wherein the image capture device is configured to detect the light emitted from the light source to determine a fullness of the shelf with the one or more items. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of monitoring items on a shelf including a supporting surface, the method comprising:
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positioning a bladder on the supporting surface of the shelf, the bladder including a body that includes a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid; detecting with an image capture device light from a light source electrically connected to an energy generation mechanism connected to the body of the bladder, the energy generation mechanism including (i) a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil and including an interior passage in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the body of the bladder, and (ii) a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube; and identifying a change in items on the shelf based on the detected light; wherein positioning one or more items on the bladder displaces at least a portion of the fluid from the hollow interior of the body into the interior passage of the tube causing movement of the magnetic item; and wherein movement of the magnetic item within the tube generates an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.
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Specification