Item monitoring system and methods of using an item monitoring system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An item monitoring system, comprising:
- a sensor, wherein the sensor senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the sensor, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
a communications network; and
a computer, wherein the computer receives information from the sensor through the communications network.
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Abstract
An item monitoring system and method of using an item monitoring system. The present invention relates more particularly to an item monitoring system including a sensor, that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the sensor and that senses both items containing metal and items containing no metal, a communications network, and a computer that receives information from the sensor through the communications network. The present invention also relates more particularly to a method of monitoring items to determine the number of items within a first amount of space associated with the sensor.
108 Citations
76 Claims
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1. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a sensor, wherein the sensor senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the sensor, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
a communications network; and
a computer, wherein the computer receives information from the sensor through the communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a shelf;
a planar capacitive sensor attached to the shelf, wherein the capacitive sensor responds to changes in the electric field configuration in a first amount of space above the planar capacitive sensor by producing a frequency change in the capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor includes electrodes attached to a non-metal substrate, wherein the electrodes comprise patterned conductors, and wherein the planar capacitive sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
a communications network, wherein a portion of the communication network is wireless; and
a computer, wherein the computer receives information from the planar capacitive sensor through the communications network;
wherein the planar capacitive sensor measures the frequency a first instance and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the planar capacitive sensor measures the frequency a second instance and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the computer compares the frequency from the first instance and the second instance to determine changes in the quantity of items within the first amount of space, and wherein the computer signals to a user whether the quantity of items in the first area of space is greater than or equal to a first quantity or less than the first quantity.
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32. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a shelf;
a planar capacitive sensor attached to the shelf, wherein the capacitive sensor responds to changes in the electric field configuration in a first amount of space above the planar capacitive sensor by producing a phase change in the capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor includes electrodes attached to a non-metal substrate, wherein the electrodes comprise patterned layer conductors, and wherein the planar capacitive sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
a communications network, wherein a portion of the communication network is wireless; and
a computer, wherein the computer receives information from the planar capacitive sensor through the communications network;
wherein the planar capacitive sensor measures the phase a first instance and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the planar capacitive sensor measures the phase second instance and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the computer compares the phase from the first instance and the second instance to determine changes in the quantity of items within the first amount of space, and wherein the computer signals to a user whether the quantity of items in the first area of space is greater than or equal to a first quantity or less than the first quantity.
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33. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a shelf;
a sensor attached to the shelf, wherein the sensor comprises a waveguide, and wherein the sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
a communications network, wherein a portion of the communication network is wireless; and
a computer, wherein the computer receives information from the sensor through the communications network;
wherein the sensor sends a first electromagnetic wave signal through the waveguide a first instance, monitors the reflection of the first electromagnetic wave signal, and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the sensor sends a second electromagnetic wave signal through the waveguide a second instance, monitors the reflection of the second electromagnetic wave signal, and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the computer compares the information from the first instance and the second instance to determine changes in the quantity of items within the first amount of space and wherein the computer signals to a user whether the quantity of items in the first area of space is greater than or equal to a first quantity or less than the first quantity.
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34. An item monitoring system, comprising:
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a shelf;
a photovoltaic sensor attached to the shelf, wherein the photovoltaic sensor responds to changes in the amount of light in a first amount of space above the photovoltaic sensor, and wherein the photovoltaic sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
a communications network, wherein a portion of the communication network is wireless; and
a computer, wherein the computer receives information from the photovoltaic sensor through the communications network;
wherein the photovoltaic sensor responds to the amount of light in the first amount of space a first instance and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the photovoltaic sensor responds to the amount of light in first amount of space a second instance and sends related information to the computer through the communications network, wherein the computer compares the information from the first instance and the second instance to determine changes in the quantity of items within the first amount of space, and wherein the computer signals to a user whether the quantity of items in the first area of space is greater than or equal to a first quantity or less than the first quantity.
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35. A method of monitoring items, comprising the steps of:
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providing a sensor, wherein the sensor senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the sensor, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal;
placing a plurality of items in the first amount of space;
sensing the plurality of items in the first amount of space a first instance with the sensor; and
determining the quantity of items within the first amount of space. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A capacitive sensor for monitoring items, comprising:
a planar capacitive sensor that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the planar capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor responds to changes in the electric field configuration in the first amount of space associated with the planar capacitive sensor by producing a frequency change to determine the quantity of items in the first amount of space, and wherein the planar capacitive sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 67)
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63. A capacitive sensor for monitoring items, comprising:
a planar capacitive sensor that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the planar capacitive sensor, wherein the capacitive sensor responds to changes in the electric field configuration in the first amount of space by producing a phase change to determine the quantity of items in the first amount of space, wherein the planar capacitive sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66)
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68. A waveguide sensor for monitoring items, comprising:
a waveguide sensor including a waveguide that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the waveguide sensor, wherein the waveguide sensor sends a signal through the waveguide and monitors the signal'"'"'s reflection to determine the quantity of items in the first amount of space, wherein the sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71)
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72. A photosensitive sensor for monitoring items, comprising:
a photosensitive sensor that senses a plurality of items in a first amount of space associated with the photosensitive sensor, wherein the photosensitive sensor responds to changes in the amount of light in a first amount of space, and wherein the photosensitive sensor is capable of sensing both items containing metal and items containing no metal. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76)
Specification