OUT OF STOCK SENSOR

• US 20140201041A1
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tagnetics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tagnetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Meyer, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/413 using electromechanical or electronic computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/414 using electronic computing means only
• 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 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 7/06 by electrostatic action
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A weight sensing system for retail shelves includes multiple shelves having an electrical communication and power distribution system, and weight sensors located on the top surfaces of the shelves and coupled to the electrical communication and power distribution system for detecting the placement of retail products on the shelves. A controller monitors real-time at-the-shelf inventory and issues alerts when a retail product becomes out-of-stock, is anticipated to become out-of-stock, or is misplaced on a shelf. Collection of real-time inventory data enables comprehensive inventory control at the shelf and in storage areas.

Claims

1. A system for inventory control, comprising

a weight sensor, comprising:

a first laminate sheet, having an exterior and interior surface and having a plurality of first contacts affixed to the interior surface of first laminate sheet;

a second laminate sheet, having an exterior and interior surface and having a plurality of second contacts affixed to the interior surface of second laminate sheet, each one of the plurality of second contacts aligned with one of the plurality of first contacts to form a plurality of opposing contact pairs;

a spacer layer disposed between first laminate sheet and second laminate sheet having a plurality of apertures, each one of the plurality of apertures aligned with one of the plurality of opposing contact pairs;

a plurality of raised annular biasing regions, each one of the plurality of raised annular biasing regions aligned with one of the plurality of opposing contact pairs wherein the first and second contact of an opposing contact pair are moved into engagement with each other when a predetermined weight is applied to the exterior surface of the first laminate sheet and wherein the plurality of opposing contact pairs are disposed in groups; and

a processor in communication with the plurality of opposing contact pairs, programmed to determine the presence of an object placed on the weight sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary winding, operatively connected to at least one group of opposing contact pairs;

a pair of conductors, operatively connected to a power supply and a processor; and

a primary winding, operatively connected to the pair of conductors, wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding are electromagnetically coupled to form a transformer that operatively connects the weight sensor with the power supply and the processor.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a memory storage device operatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory storage device includes the individual weight of an object; and

the processor is programmed to determine the amount of objects on the weight sensor as a function of a signal received from the opposing contact pairs and individual weight information for the object retrieved from the memory storage device.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

the processor is programmed to generate a signal indicating the amount of objects on the weight sensor.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

the processor is programmed to generate a signal indicating a misplaced stock condition if the determined amount of objects is not a whole number.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor generates an alert signal when each of the first and second contact of the plurality of opposing contact pairs are moved out of engagement with each other.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an electronic shelf label operatively connected to the processor, wherein the electronic shelf label provides a visual or aural indication of the alert signal generated by the processor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the weight sensor measures the weight of an object with an accuracy of about 0.1 oz.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of raised annular biasing regions are affixed to a third laminate sheet which is disposed between a shelf and the second laminate sheet.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein each group of opposing contact pairs forms a sensing region, and each region is associated with a specific object.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein the amount of objects on the weight sensor is sent to a remote location.

12. A system for inventory control, comprising

a weight sensor, comprising:

a first laminate sheet, having an exterior and interior surface and having a plurality of first contacts affixed to the interior surface of first laminate sheet;

a second laminate sheet, having an exterior and interior surface and having a plurality of second contacts affixed to the interior surface of second laminate sheet, each one of the plurality of second contacts aligned with one of the plurality of first contacts to form a plurality of opposing contact pairs;

a plurality of raised annular biasing regions, each one of the plurality of raised annular biasing regions aligned with one of the plurality of opposing contact pairs wherein the first and second contact of an opposing contact pair are moved into engagement with each other when a predetermined weight is applied to the exterior surface of the first laminate sheet and wherein the plurality of opposing contact pairs are disposed in groups;

a processor in communication with the plurality of opposing contact pairs, programmed to determine the presence of an object placed on the weight sensor;

a secondary winding, operatively connected to at least one group of opposing contact pairs;

a primary winding, wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding are electromagnetically coupled to form a transformer that operatively connects the weight sensor with the power supply and the processor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor generates an alert signal when each of the first and second contact of the plurality of opposing contact pairs are moved out of engagement with each other.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an electronic shelf label operatively connected to the processor via an additional primary and secondary winding which are electromagnetically coupled to form a transformer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic shelf label provides a visual or aural indication of the alert signal generated by the processor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of opposing contact pairs are disposed in groups, and wherein at least two sensing regions are formed by connecting a first group of opposing contacts to a first electrical lead and a second group of opposing contacts to a second electrical lead.

17. A method of inventory control, comprising:

providing a first laminate sheet, having an exterior and interior surface and having a plurality of first contacts affixed to the interior surface of first laminate sheet;

providing a second laminate sheet, having an exterior and interior surface and having a plurality of second contacts affixed to the interior surface of second laminate sheet, each one of the plurality of second contacts aligned with one of the plurality of first contacts to form a plurality of opposing contact pairs; and

providing a plurality of raised annular biasing regions, each one of the plurality of raised annular biasing regions aligned with one of the plurality of opposing contact pairs wherein the first and second contact of an opposing contact pair are moved into engagement with each other when a predetermined weight is applied to the exterior surface of the first laminate sheet and wherein the plurality of opposing contact pairs are disposed in groups;

in a processor in communication with the plurality of opposing contact pairs, determining the presence of an object placed on the first laminate sheet;

accessing a memory storage device, the memory storage device operatively connected to the processor and containing information specific to an object disposed on the first laminate sheet, including the individual weight of the object; and

in a processor determining an amount of objects on the first laminate sheet as a function of a signal received from the opposing contact pairs and individual weight information for the object retrieved from the memory storage device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating an alert signal when the amount of objects is below a predetermined threshold.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the alert signal is indicated visually or aurally at an electronic shelf label associated with the object.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the alert signal is sent to a remote location.