Modular RFID shelving

• US 9,418,267 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: My Real Time Data LLC
• Original Assignee: Ground Star Llc
• Inventors: Josey, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/822,466
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/005 using RFID elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2010/025 using stock management systems
• 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: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00

Abstract

A modular shelf for an integrated display structure that addresses the mutually important, yet unrelated issues of inventory control, shelf labeling and point of purchase advertising. The modular shelf has a non-metallic low density core, a molded frame secured along the outer perimeter of the core, a thermoplastic or resinous sheet secured to each of the top face and the bottom face of the core, and a plurality of antennae embedded within at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet. An RF or other electronic transceiver is electrically connected to the antennae secured within a cavity of the rear molded member, and a power and communications connects the RF transceiver with a front video display panel and with power and communications components in a support base of a shelf gondola.

Claims

1. A modular composite smart shelf, configured to read, via Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), real-time inventory of RFID tagged retail goods displayed thereon, comprising:

a) a non-metallic low density core having opposed top and bottom faces, and an outer perimeter including a rear edge, a front edge, and opposed side edges, each defined by a corresponding rear face, front face, and opposed side faces;

b) a molded frame secured to the outer perimeter of the core including the rear face, the front face, and opposed side faces, the molded frame further including;

i) an elongated rear molded frame member affixed to the rear face of the core, having a top surface and a cavity with a rear-facing opening along a length of the elongated rear molded frame member;

ii) an elongated front molded frame member affixed to the front face of the core, having a top surface, and the front molded frame member having a separate video display panel mounted on the front edge of the shelf; and

iii) opposed side molded frame members connecting the rear molded frame member to the front molded member, each side molded frame member having a top surface, a rear end, a front end, and an underside;

c) a thermoplastic or resinous sheet including a top thermoplastic or resinous sheet secured to the top face of the core and a bottom thermoplastic or resinous sheet secured to the bottom face of the core, the thermoplastic or resinous sheet further including a plurality of antennae embedded within at least one of the top sheet and the bottom sheet;

d) an RFID transceiver in electrical communication with the plurality of antennae, secured within the cavity of the rear molded frame member; and

e) a power and communications connector secured within the cavity of the rear molded frame member, and connected in electronic communication with the RFID transceiver, and with the front video display panel, wherein the modular shelf is operable to be electronically plugged, via the power and communications connector, into a power and signal receptor of a shelving structure comprising a plurality of shelves and immediately function to read RFID tagged goods on the smart shelf.

2. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the thermoplastic or resinous top sheet covers at least a portion of the top surface of the molded frame.

3. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the antennae is a fractal (or comparable) antennae.

4. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic or resinous sheet comprises a composite material comprising a thermoplastic resin and a reinforcing filler material.

5. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, further including a closure covering a portion of the rear-facing opening of the rear molded frame member.

6. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 5, wherein the closure is transparent.

7. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the power and communications connector includes a plurality of power and communication blades rearwardly extending through the rear-facing opening of the rear molded frame member, configured to engage a plurality of power and communication slots in an upright support member of the shelving structure to which the smart shelf may be attached.

8. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, further including a pair of support brackets, each support bracket configured to attach to one of the opposed side molded frame members, each support bracket including a horizontal ledge for supporting the underside of the side molded frame member, an upper edge, and a means for removably attaching the smart shelf to an upright support member of the shelving structure;

and wherein the opposed side molded frame members further include an overhanging edge defining an undercut for supporting the shoulder in the side molded frame member.

9. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 8, wherein the pair of support brackets are RF absorbing.

10. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the opposed side molded frame members has a channel extending from the rear end to the front end, wherein the channel provides a means for the electronic communication connection between the power and communications connector and the front video display panel.

11. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the one or more antennae has a connection lead disposed in or extending from a peripheral edge of the sheet.

12. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the non -metallic core comprises a honeycomb-core made of a thermoplastic.

13. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, further including the front video display panel mounted to the front molded frame member.

14. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the molded frame comprises an extruded thermoplastic.

15. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the molded frame comprises a composite material comprising a thermoplastic resin and a reinforcing filler material.

16. The modular composite smart shelf according to claim 1, wherein the rear molded frame member contains one or more electronic components for communication with or between the RFID transceiver, the front video display panel, and with a power or communication electronic device in the shelving structure.