Intelligent shelving system

• US 8,135,482 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caldwell, David W., Schreiber, Thomas M., Wadia, Bahar N., Mueller, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/781,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 312/408, 211/90.01, 211/119.003, 211/134, 248/250, 62521-522, 700/60, 700/90
• US Class Current: 700/60
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions shelf units with stackable uprights A47B87/00; details of cabinets, racks or shelf units in general A47B96/00; brackets adjustable in themselves A47B96/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/025 Shelves with moving elements, e.g. movable extensions or link elements cabinets, racks or shelf units enabling enlargement in height, length or depth A47B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/06 with movable or removable shelves or receptacles A47F3/0486 takes precedence; display racks with movable parts A47F5/0081
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00

Abstract

An intelligent shelving system integrates touch sensors, displays, lighting, and other components into shelves. Touch sensors can be used as limit switches to control shelf motion, to monitor items borne on shelves, to detect spills, and to control lighting and other devices and functions. Displays can provide information relating to objects stored in the shelving system and the operation and status of the shelving system.

Claims

1. A shelving system comprising:

a shelf having a load surface and frame;

a display permanently embedded into said shelf; and

a transmitter and receiver system coupled to said display, said transmitter and receiver system communicating information to be displayed on said display.

2. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein said information is information related to an item that may be borne on said shelf.

3. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter of said transmitter and receiver system comprises an RFID tag associated with an item that may be borne on said shelf.

4. The shelving system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor coupled to said display and adapted to activate said display in response to touch of or approach to said sensor by a user.

5. A shelving system comprising:

a shelf;

a spill sensor adapted to detect the presence of liquid on said shelf; and

a control circuit coupled to said spill sensor.

6. The shelving system of claim 5 further comprising a user feedback device coupled to said control circuit, said user feedback device providing user feedback indicative of the presence of liquid on said shelf.

7. The shelving system of claim 5 wherein said shelf comprises a load surface and a frame, wherein said frame defines a lip adjacent said load surface, and wherein said spill sensor is located proximate said lip.

8. The shelving system of claim 5 further comprising a radio transmitter coupled to said control circuit, said radio transmitter adapted to transmit information indicative of a spill on said shelf.

9. A shelving system comprising:

a shelf comprising a load surface and a frame disposed about the periphery of said load surface; and

a conductive trace printed onto said load surface, wherein said frame overlies said conductive trace.

10. A shelving system comprising:

a shelf, said shelf comprising a load surface and a frame extending about the periphery of said load surface;

a touch sensor associated with the frame; and

a light source permanently integrated into said frame.

11. The shelving system of claim 10, said light source being encapsulated by said shelf.

12. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein said touch sensor is adapted to control said light source.

13. The shelving system of claim 10 further comprising:

an electrical connector integrated with said frame; and

a conductive trace disposed on the edge of said load surface,

wherein said conductive trace electrically couples said light source with said electrical connector, and

wherein said frame encapsulates said conductive trace.

14. The shelving system of claim 10 wherein said light source is integrated into said frame proximate a front portion of said load surface.