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US 11,537,986 B2Granted
Inventory system and methods of using the same
OwnerRobert Alan Conrad, Andrew Thomas Yeeinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an inventory system that can include a tagged inventory item, wherein the tagged inventory item includes a radio field tag attached to an inventory item; and an inventory device, wherein the inventory device includes a weighing surface, an array of force sensing resistors, and at least one radio field antenna, wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface, and methods of using the same. One benefit of the system and method disclosed herein can be monitoring inventory having changing amounts of content in real time.
Claims14
A system comprising:
- a tagged inventory item, wherein the tagged inventory item includes a radio field tag attached to an inventory item;
- and
- an inventory device, wherein the inventory device includes a weighing surface, an array of force sensing resistors, and at least one radio field antenna,
- wherein the array of force sensing resistors is positioned between the weighing surface and a bottom of the inventory device;
- and
- wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface,
- wherein the radio field tag includes an item adhesive layer, a concentrating layer, and an integrated circuit layer, and
- wherein the concentrating layer is in contact with and located between the item adhesive layer and the integrated circuit layer, wherein the concentrating layer includes a solid foam, and
- wherein the inventory item includes a vessel containing an amount of content,
- wherein the content includes a solid, a liquid, a slurry, a particulate, or a combination thereof;
- and
- the concentrating layer enhances an amount of radio signal from the radio field tag to the at least one radio field antenna relative to a radio field tag without the concentrating layer.
9 more elements
A system comprising:
- a tagged inventory item, wherein the tagged inventory item includes a radio field tag attached to an inventory item;
- and
- an inventory device, wherein the inventory device includes a weighing surface, an array of force sensing resistors, and at least one radio field antenna,
- wherein the inventory device includes a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the inventory device includes the weighing surface, wherein the weighing surface includes a flexible material;
- wherein the array of force sensing resistors is positioned between the weighing surface and the bottom of the inventory device;
- and
- wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface,
- wherein the radio field tag includes an item adhesive layer, a concentrating layer, and an integrated circuit layer, and
- wherein the concentrating layer is in contact with and located between the item adhesive layer and the integrated circuit layer, wherein the concentrating layer includes a solid foam, and
- wherein the inventory item includes a vessel containing an amount of content,
- wherein the content includes a solid, a liquid, a slurry, a particulate, or a combination thereof;
- and
- the concentrating layer enhances an amount of radio signal from the radio field tag to the at least one radio field antenna relative to a radio field tag without the concentrating layer.
10 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a system that includes;
- a tagged inventory item, wherein the tagged inventory item includes a radio field tag attached to an inventory item;
- and
- an inventory device, wherein the inventory device includes a weighing surface, an array of force sensing resistors, and at least one radio field antenna;
- wherein the array of force sensing resistors is positioned between the weighing surface and a bottom of the inventory device;
- wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface;
- detecting a weight change of from about 25.0 g to about 45.0 kg when the tagged inventory item is placed into contact with the weighing surface of the inventory device;
- measuring a weight of the tagged inventory item;
- and
- identifying the tagged inventory item by turning on the at least one radio field antenna,
- wherein the radio field tag includes an item adhesive layer, a concentrating layer, and an integrated circuit layer, and
- wherein the concentrating layer is in contact with and located between the item adhesive layer and the integrated circuit layer, wherein the concentrating layer includes a solid foam, and
- wherein the inventory item includes a vessel containing an amount of content,
- wherein the content includes a solid, a liquid, a slurry, a particulate, or a combination thereof;
- and
- the concentrating enhances an amount of radio signal from the radio field tag to the at least one radio field antenna relative to a radio field tag without the concentrating layer.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.