# US 12,118,507 B2 · Inventory system and methods of using the same

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- Number: US 12,118,507 B2
- Document ID: US12118507B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/490,495
- Filed: 2021-09-30
- Published: 2022-04-07
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-02
- Assignees: Ethicon, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon, Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew Chila; Kevin McHale; Alexander Weber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118507B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- G01G 19/4144: {for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems}
- G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08)
- G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
- G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
- A47F 2010/025: {using stock management systems}
- G06Q 10/08724: {by shelf level inventory management, e.g. planograms}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS

## Abstract

Systems, computer-readable instructions, and methods for storing products are disclosed. For example, the system may include modular shelving units that include a shelf which is placeable on a rack, the shelf including a platform, the shelf having a weight sensor below the platform, the platform is configured to support N number of holders, each of the N holders configured to store products, each shelf further having N−1 optical sensors below the N−1 holders when the N−1 holders are supported by the platform and N−1 windows above the N−1 optical sensors, the N−1 optical sensors being in proximity of the N−1 holders, respectively, wherein each holder includes an opening, wherein when a holder is on the shelf, the opening is capable of being aligned with an optical sensor, the shelf further having a processing circuit coupled to the N−1 optical sensors and the weight sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular shelving unit comprising:
a shelf which is placeable on a rack, the shelf comprising a platform disposed on a weight sensor, wherein the platform is configured to support X holders, wherein X is a first number and each of the X holders is configured to store products, wherein each shelf further comprises:
Y optical sensors disposed below Y holders when the Y holders are disposed on the platform, wherein Y is a second number that is one less than X, the Y optical sensors being in proximity of the Y holders, respectively, wherein each holder includes an opening which is aligned with one of the Y optical sensors when the holder is disposed on the shelf, and
a processing circuit coupled to the Y optical sensors and the weight sensor, the processing circuit configured to:
(i) receive either a first output from the weight sensor and a second output from one or more of the Y optical sensors or the first output from the weight sensor without the second output;
(ii) convert the respective outputs into a digital signal that comprises:
(a) an identifier of the weight sensor and an identifier of the one or more optical sensors when both the first output and the second output are received by the processing circuit; or
(b) when the second output is not received, an identifier of the weight sensor and an indication of a weight or weight change associated with the first output from the weight sensor; and
(iii) transmit the digital signal to a terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The modular shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the shelf comprises:
a plurality of platforms, each of which includes a corresponding weight sensor, X holders, Y optical sensors below Y holders when the Y holders are disposed on the platform,
wherein each holder includes an opening, wherein when a holder is on the shelf, the opening is capable of being aligned with an optical sensor, the shelf further having a plurality of processing circuits, each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of platforms.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The modular shelving unit of claim 2, further comprising a shelving assembly comprising at least two of the shelves, the shelving assembly further comprising a wall connecting the shelves, wherein the plurality of processing circuits in the shelves are connected to each other via wires mounted to or in the wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

The modular shelving unit of any of claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising the terminal connected to the processing circuit or processing circuits.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The modular shelving unit of claim 4, wherein information contained in the digital signal is usable to determine a number of products within each respective holder, number of products removed from respective holders or number of products added to respective holders.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The modular shelving unit of claim 4, wherein the at least two shelf assemblies are connected to each other and with the terminal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

The modular shelving unit of any of claims 1-6, wherein X is 3 and Y is 2.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

The modular shelving unit of any of claims 1-7, wherein the modular shelving unit is configured to be connected to another modular shelving unit and to the terminal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4, 5)

The modular shelving unit of claim 4 or 5, wherein the terminal comprises a touch panel, and wherein the touch panel is configured to display at least one of a scheduled procedure identifier or an operating room identifier.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The modular shelving unit of claim 9, wherein after a receipt of at least the scheduled procedure identifier or the operating room identifier, the terminal is configured to transmit an inventory change report to a server with the received at least one of the scheduled procedure identifier or the operating room identifier and information contained in the digital signal received from the processing circuit or processing circuits.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The modular shelving unit of claim 10, wherein the terminal is configured to transmit the inventory change report only after a receipt of a preset selection on the touch panel or after a preset time from the receipt of the digital signal from the processing circuit or processing circuits.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The modular shelving unit of claim 9, wherein the terminal is configured to receive a request for an inventory report from the server, wherein in response to the request, the terminal is configured to poll the processing circuit or processing circuits for detection results.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The modular shelving unit of claim 12, wherein the terminal is configured to generate the inventory report based on the information received from the processing circuit or processing circuits.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The modular shelving unit of claim 9, wherein the terminal is configured to periodically poll the processing circuit or processing circuits for detection results.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The modular shelving unit of claim 9, wherein the terminal is configured to transmit the inventory change report to the server with an error indicator when the digital signal indicates a decrease in weight without receiving the scheduled procedure identifier or the operating room identifier.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The modular shelving unit of claim 9, wherein the terminal is configured to receive the scheduled procedure identifier or the operating room identifier from the server.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The modular shelving unit of claim 9, wherein in response to the receipt of the digital signal containing the identifier only of the weight sensor, the terminal device associates the indication of weight or weight change with a bin location other than a bin location associated with an optical sensor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The modular shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the indication of weight or weight change is selected from a group consisting of a weight or weight change, a measured voltage or change in a measured voltage or a determined resistance or a determined change in resistance.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The modular shelving unit of claim 18, wherein the terminal determines the weight change based on two consecutive digital signals received from a respective processing circuit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The modular shelving unit of claim 19, wherein the identifier of the weight sensor and/or identifiers of the one or more optical sensors is used to determine a bin location of the weight change.