Motion sensor arrangement for point-of-purchase device

• US 20080215443A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Product Spring, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clever Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Dooley, Christopher, Nielsen, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A motion sensor arrangement is presented for dispenser capable point-of-purchase devices. The invention includes one or more motion sensors and a power management circuit facilitating activation of visual and motion display elements and/or a dispensing mechanism. Motion sensors are attached to a shelf-mountable display unit and capable of determining the presence of a person within the vicinity of the device. Power management circuit communicates with the motion sensors and display elements, examples including light emitting diodes and motorized drive devices. The power management circuit activates one or more display elements to communicate queues to a person within visual range of the point-of-purchase device. The dispensing mechanism ejects a coupon or product information sheet when a person is sensed within the vicinity of the point-of-purchase device. The power management circuit causes display elements and dispensing mechanism to operate in different power modes based at least in part on the determination of the presence of a person by one or more motion sensors.

Claims

1. A motion sensor arrangement for a point-of-purchase device comprising:

(a) at least one motion sensor attached to a shelf-mountable display unit, said shelf-mountable display unit activates at least one display element including a light emitting device, a dispenser mechanism and/or a motion drive device attached to said shelf-mountable display unit after sensing the presence of a person within the vicinity of said point-of-purchase device; and

(b) a power management circuit connected to said at least one motion sensor and at least one display element, said power management circuit activating said at least one display element to communicate a visual queue to said person, said power management circuit causing said at least one display element to operate in different power modes based at least in part on the determination of the presence of said person by said at least one motion sensor.

2. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one motion sensor comprises two or more optical light receiver sensors.

3. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 2, wherein said two or more optical light receiver sensors are angled so as detect motion anywhere within a selected range.

4. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 3, wherein said two or more optical light receiver sensors are angled so as to detect motion when said point-of-purchase device is located on the shelf of a supermarket.

5. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 2, wherein said two or more optical light receiver sensors are movable and adjustable to work optimally in a given location.

6. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one motion sensor comprises a motion only sensor that detects ambient light variations.

7. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 6, wherein said at least one motion sensor includes a lens that narrows and sharpens the light within the range of said sensors.

8. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 7, wherein said at least one motion sensor includes target-area definition blinders.

9. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 7, further comprising a photo-resistor, photodiode, phototransistor, or cadmium sulfide cell in combination with said lens.

10. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said power management circuit executes software to improve the accurate detection of said person detected by said at least one motion sensor.

11. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 10, wherein said power management circuit processes signals from said at least one sensor depending upon the intervals of detection by said at least one sensor.

12. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 11, wherein said person is within the range of said motion sensor arrangement when the detection interval is sufficiently large.

13. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 12, wherein said person is not within the range of said motion sensor arrangement when the interval between subsequent detections is small or repeated detections are sensed in a short period of time.

14. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 11, wherein said power management circuit takes said at least one display element out of a low power mode depending on the intervals of detection by said at least one sensor.

15. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 11, wherein said interval criteria can be dynamically adjusted.

16. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 15, wherein said motion sensor arrangement is programmed through software to learn the optimum detection interval.

17. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said light emitting device has at least one light emitting diode.

18. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said dispenser mechanism is manually or automatically operable.

19. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said power management circuit communicates with a dispensing mechanism that ejects said optional coupon or said optional product information sheet when said person is sensed by said at least one motion sensor within the vicinity of said point-of-purchase device.

20. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 19, wherein said power management circuit causes said dispensing mechanism to operate in different power modes based at least in part on the determination of the presence of said person by said at least one motion sensor.

21. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said motion drive device moves a movable display element in a fixed or random fashion.

22. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 21, wherein said movable display element has at least one light.

23. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 21, wherein said movable display element includes at least one panel.

24. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 23, wherein said panels are attached end-to-end or intersecting arrangement.

25. The motion sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein said power management circuit controls the OFF, ON, and/or functional states of a transmitter-receiver system within said dispenser mechanism, said transmitter-receiver system detects the partial ejection of a coupon or a product information sheet from an opening along said dispenser mechanism.