Point of sale inductive systems and methods
First Claim
1. A product sensor for use with an inductive reader adapted to generate a time-varying electromagnetic field, the product sensor comprising:
- a storage device for a product;
a product sensor circuit separate from the inductive reader and supported by the storage device and including a secondary coil electrically coupled to a variable impendence element; and
a heater element adapted to heat the product in response to the time-varying electromagnetic field,wherein the impedance of the variable impedance element varies in proportion to a characteristic of the product, andwherein the product sensor circuit has a reflected impedance in response to the time-varying electromagnetic field that varies as a function of the impedance of the variable impedance element, such that the characteristic of the product can be determined remotely by the inductive reader based on the reflected impedance of the product sensor circuit.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for the identification, powering and control of products and product packaging. The systems can include a point of sale display having a contactless power supply. The contactless power supply can provide a source of wireless power for products and product packaging. The products and product packaging can include light emitting diodes, e-ink displays and printed speaker circuits that activate as the operating frequency of the contactless power supply varies. Other embodiments include product level sensors, inductive reader networks, printed temperature sensors, product alignment systems, passive identification circuits and methods for controlling operation of the same.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A product sensor for use with an inductive reader adapted to generate a time-varying electromagnetic field, the product sensor comprising:
-
a storage device for a product; a product sensor circuit separate from the inductive reader and supported by the storage device and including a secondary coil electrically coupled to a variable impendence element; and a heater element adapted to heat the product in response to the time-varying electromagnetic field, wherein the impedance of the variable impedance element varies in proportion to a characteristic of the product, and wherein the product sensor circuit has a reflected impedance in response to the time-varying electromagnetic field that varies as a function of the impedance of the variable impedance element, such that the characteristic of the product can be determined remotely by the inductive reader based on the reflected impedance of the product sensor circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A product sensor system comprising:
-
an inductive reader including a primary tank circuit, the inductive reader being adapted to generate a time-varying electromagnetic field and adapted to determine a characteristic of a product based on an reflected impedance of a product sensor circuit, wherein the product sensor circuit includes an inductive element electrically coupled to an impedance element defining a variable impedance, wherein the variable impedance of the impedance element varies in proportion to the characteristic of the product, such that the characteristic of the product can be determined by the product sensor system based on the reflected impedance of the product sensor circuit, and wherein the product sensor circuit is included on a support device for the product and is separate from the inductive reader, the support device including a heater element adapted to heat the product in response to the time-varying electromagnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A method for forming a product sensor for use with an inductive reader, comprising:
-
providing a product sensor circuit including an inductive element electrically coupled to an impedance element defining a variable impedance; providing a support device for a product defining a variable characteristic; providing a heater element adapted to heat the product in response to a time-varying electromagnetic field; and joining the product sensor circuit and the heater element to the support device, wherein the impedance of the impedance element varies in proportion to the characteristic of the product in response to the time-varying electromagnetic field, wherein the product sensor circuit has a reflected impedance that varies as a function of the impedance of the impedance element, such that the characteristic can be determined remotely by the inductive reader based on the reflected impedance. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A product monitoring system for a point of sale display, comprising:
an inductive reader supported by the point of sale display and including a primary tank circuit, the inductive reader being adapted to detect a change in the cumulative reflected impedance of a plurality of product containers supported by the point of sale display corresponding to a change in a characteristic of power in the primary tank circuit in response to at least one of (1) the addition of a product container including an inductive circuit having an impedance element to the point of sale display and (2) the removal of one of the plurality of product containers including an inductive circuit having an impedance element from the point of sale display, wherein the impedance element is separate from the inductive reader. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
Specification