PROXIMITY DETECTION IN NETWORKED FREEZER STOCKING MANAGEMENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- an ice merchandiser compartment;
a compressor in a compressor enclosure to cool the ice merchandiser compartment;
an optical proximity sensor positioned on a ceiling of the ice merchandizer compartment to detect an amount of ice within the ice merchandiser compartment within a field of proximity detection of the optical proximity sensor; and
a communications component coupled to the optical proximity sensor to receive signals from the optical proximity sensor representative of the amount of ice in the ice merchandiser compartment, wherein the communications component is configured to convert the received signals to a digital format and publish the signals via a network connection.
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Abstract
A system for an ice merchandiser having a compressor in a compressor enclosure to cool the ice merchandiser includes a proximity sensor positioned to detect an amount of ice within the ice merchandiser, and a communications component coupled to the proximity sensor to receive signals from the proximity sensor representative of the amount of ice in the ice merchandiser, wherein the communications component is configured to convert the received signals to a digital format and publish the signals via a network connection.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an ice merchandiser compartment; a compressor in a compressor enclosure to cool the ice merchandiser compartment; an optical proximity sensor positioned on a ceiling of the ice merchandizer compartment to detect an amount of ice within the ice merchandiser compartment within a field of proximity detection of the optical proximity sensor; and a communications component coupled to the optical proximity sensor to receive signals from the optical proximity sensor representative of the amount of ice in the ice merchandiser compartment, wherein the communications component is configured to convert the received signals to a digital format and publish the signals via a network connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21)
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11. A system comprising:
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an ice merchandiser compartment; a first optical proximity sensor disposed on a ceiling of the ice merchandizer compartment and adapted to generate a plurality of analog proximity measurement signals representative of an amount of a first portion of ice in the ice merchandiser compartment within a field of proximity detection of the first optical proximity sensor; a second optical proximity sensor disposed on the ceiling of the ice merchandizer compartment and adapted generate a plurality of analog proximity measurement signals representative of an amount of a second portion of ice in the ice merchandiser compartment within a field of proximity detection of the second optical proximity sensor; and a communication module adapted to; receive the plurality of analog proximity measurement signals from the optical proximity sensor; convert the analog proximity measurement signals to digital signals; and publish the digital signals via a network connection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 22)
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- 14. (canceled)
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16. A method comprising:
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receiving proximity measurement signals from an optical proximity sensor positioned on a ceiling of an ice merchandizer compartment to detect an amount of ice within the ice merchandiser compartment within a field of proximity detection of the optical proximity sensor; controlling the optical proximity sensor to obtain proximity measurements from the inside of the ice merchandiser compartment sufficient to determine if ice should be restocked; controlling a heater proximate the optical proximity sensor to remove condensation from the optical proximity sensor; and publishing the proximity measurements via a wireless network connection to facilitate remote monitoring of the ice merchandiser compartment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. (canceled)
Specification