Merchandise inventory data collection for shelf systems using light sensors

A method for real-time measurement of merchandise on a shelf, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a shelf which comprises a top surface, a back edge and a front edge, said top surface having disposed thereon at least one individual longitudinal track having a length and a width on which said merchandise is disposed, wherein when merchandise is removed from the individual track the remaining merchandise disposed toward the back edge moves longitudinally away from the back edge and toward the front edge;
• (b) disposing a plurality of photoresistors beneath or along said individual longitudinal track, wherein ambient light is collected whether or not said merchandise is disposed on said individual longitudinal track, wherein the total number of photoresistors disposed beneath or along said individual longitudinal track is independent of the actual number of pieces of said merchandise disposed on said at least one individual longitudinal track, and wherein the photoresistors are connected by wires to a plug and thereafter connected to a comparator;
• (c) receiving, by each of said plurality of photoresistors, a first amount of ambient light when an initial amount of said merchandise is on the individual longitudinal track;
• (d) receiving, by at least one of said plurality of photoresistors, a second amount of ambient light when at least a portion of said initial amount of merchandise is removed from said individual longitudinal track and remaining merchandise moves longitudinally along the length of said individual longitudinal track with respect to the photoresistors;
• (e) producing analog signals from the first amount of ambient light and the second amount of ambient light collected by all of the photoresistors, wherein the analog signal is transmitted through the wires to the plug;
• and
• (f) converting the analog signals to digital signals by the comparator, wherein the digital signals are collected and processed in a reader and linked to a server to indicate the percentage of said merchandise on said individual longitudinal track.

A merchandise data collection device comprising:

• at least one individual longitudinal track having a length and a width on which said merchandise is disposed, said individual longitudinal track configured to allow merchandise on a top surface thereof to move longitudinally along the individual longitudinal track when merchandise is removed from the individual longitudinal track;
• and
• a plurality of photoresistors disposed beneath or along said individual longitudinal track, wherein ambient light is collected whether or not said merchandise is disposed on said individual longitudinal track, wherein the total number of photoresistors disposed beneath or along said individual longitudinal track is independent of the actual number of pieces of said merchandise disposed on said longitudinal track, wherein the photoresistors are connected by wires to a plug and thereafter connected to a comparator,
• wherein, when an initial amount of said merchandise is on the individual longitudinal track, a first amount of ambient light is received by each of said plurality of photoresistors,
• wherein, when at least a portion of said initial amount of merchandise is removed from the individual longitudinal track, the remaining said merchandise on said longitudinal track moves longitudinally along the length of the individual longitudinal track with respect to the photoresistors and a second amount of ambient light is received by at least one of the photoresistors,
• wherein the first amount of ambient light and the second amount of ambient light collected by all of the photoresistors each produces an analog signal that is transmitted through the wires to the plug, and
• wherein the analog signals are converted to digital signals by the comparator and the digital signals are collected and processed in a reader and linked to a server to indicate the percentage of said merchandise on said individual longitudinal track.