Systems and Methods for Determining Stock Quantities Using a Capacitive Inventory Sensor
First Claim
1. A capacitive inventory sensor, comprising:
- a track configured for retaining items;
a first conducting plate positioned along a bottom portion of the track;
a second conducting plate positioned in parallel with the first conducting plate along the bottom portion of the track, wherein the second conducting plate is positioned a distance from the first conducting plate, and wherein the second plate is configured to have the items placed on top of the second plate; and
a capacitance sensor configured for connection to the first and second conducting plates, wherein the capacitance sensor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conducting plates, wherein the capacitance varies based on a number of items positioned on top of the second plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for a capacitive inventory sensor. A system includes a track configured for retaining items. A first conducting plate is positioned along a portion of the track, and a second conducting plate is positioned in parallel with the first conducting plate along a portion of the track. The second conducting plate is positioned a distance from the first conducting plate, and the second plate is configured to have the items placed on top of the second plate. The system further includes a capacitance sensor configured for connection to the first and second conducting plates, where the capacitance sensor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conducting plates, and where the capacitance varies based on a number of items positioned on the sensor track.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A capacitive inventory sensor, comprising:
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a track configured for retaining items; a first conducting plate positioned along a bottom portion of the track; a second conducting plate positioned in parallel with the first conducting plate along the bottom portion of the track, wherein the second conducting plate is positioned a distance from the first conducting plate, and wherein the second plate is configured to have the items placed on top of the second plate; and a capacitance sensor configured for connection to the first and second conducting plates, wherein the capacitance sensor is configured to measure a capacitance between the first and second conducting plates, wherein the capacitance varies based on a number of items positioned on top of the second plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A capacitive inventory sensor, comprising:
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a track configured for retaining items, wherein the track includes a front portion, and wherein the track includes a pusher that is configured to move along the track and to push the items toward the front portion of the track as items are removed from the track; a stationary first conducting plate positioned along a length of the track; a stationary second conducting plate positioned along a length of the track; a moveable third conducting plate connected to the pusher, wherein the a face of the third conducting plate is positioned opposite a face of the first conducting plate and a face of the second conducting plate such that the moveable third conducting plate overlaps a portion of the first conducting plate and a portion of the second conducting plate; a capacitance sensor configured to measure a combined capacitance formed among the first conducting plate, the second conducting plate, and the third conducting plate, wherein the measured capacitance varies based on a position of the pusher along the track. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for identifying a presence of an item along a transmission line, comprising:
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a transmission line responsive to one or more items positioned along the transmission line; an impulse generator configured to transmit an impulse at a known frequency from a first end of the transmission line; a terminator configured to receive the impulse at a second end of the transmission line; an impulse detector positioned at the first end of the transmission line, wherein the presence or absence of an item along the transmission line is determined based upon a signal detected by the impulse detector. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification