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US 12,530,656 B2Granted
Inventory support for items monitored by an inventory management system
AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation
InventorsDavid Bellows, Russell Calvarese, Sean Connolly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inventory system is disclosed. The inventory system may include a support frame and a suspension support that is configured to extend from the support frame. The inventory system may include a sensor configuration arranged on the suspension support. The sensor configuration may include a plurality of sensor elements that are configured to sense whether one or more objects are being suspended from the suspension support. The inventory system may include an electrical connector interface that facilitates communication of an inventory status associated with the suspension support.
Claims18
A structure, comprising:
- a frame having a receiver, the receiver including a receiver terminal;
- a straight support receivable within the receiver and configured to extend perpendicularly from the frame;
- a sensor configuration arranged on the straight support, the sensor configuration having a plurality of sensor elements positioned on an upper surface of the straight support, the plurality of sensor elements configured to sense whether one or more objects are suspended from a position of a respective sensor element on the upper surface of the straight support;
- and
- an electrical connector interface arranged on the straight support and communicatively coupled with a controller via the receiver terminal, the electrical connector interface being configured to facilitate communication of an inventory status associated with the straight support, wherein
- a sensor element of the plurality of sensor elements positioned on the upper surface of the straight support includes a force sensitive resistor sensor configured to sense an object of the one or more objects based on sensing a force applied by the object suspended from a position in direct contact with the sensor element on the upper surface of the straight support.
3 more elements
A straight support, comprising:
- a sensor configuration arranged on an upper surface of the straight support, the sensor configuration having a plurality of sensor elements positioned on the upper surface of the straight support, the plurality of sensor elements configured to sense whether one or more objects are suspended from a position in direct contact with a respective sensor element on the upper surface of the straight support;
- and
- an electrical connector interface arranged on the straight support and communicatively coupled with a controller via circuitry within a frame, the electrical connector interface being configured to facilitate communication of sensor data associated with the plurality of sensor elements to indicate an inventory status associated with the straight support, wherein
- the straight support is configured to extend perpendicularly from the frame, and
- the frame is configured to receive the straight support via a receiver including the circuitry.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a straight support receivable within a receiver of a frame, the receiver having a receiver terminal and the straight support being configured to extend perpendicularly from the frame;
- a sensor configuration arranged on the straight support, the sensor configuration having a plurality of sensor elements positioned on an upper surface of the straight support, the plurality of sensor elements configured to sense whether an object is suspended from a position in direct contact with a respective sensor element on the upper surface of the straight support;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive, from a sensor element of the plurality of sensor elements, a sensor measurement that is associated with one or more objects suspended from the straight support;
- determine, based on a measured value of the sensor measurement, a quantity of the one or more objects suspended from the straight support at the position of the sensor element on the upper surface of the straight support;
- and
- provide, to an inventory management system, the quantity within an inventory status associated with the one or more objects,
- wherein the quantity is provided to the inventory management system by an electrical connector interface arranged on the straight support that communicatively couples the plurality of sensor elements with the controller via the receiver terminal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.