Method of determining a store's physical inventory
US5654508A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 5, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q20/203
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
New physical principles are used to determine the number of inventory goods on a store's display shelves. One principle involves transmitting waves (mechanical, sound or ultrasound) thru an unknown number of goods resting on an insulated plate. Another principle to determine the unknown mass is the inertial response caused by mechanical vibration. By measuring the reflected waves or response time, a computer or processor can determine the steady state condition. For the absorption method, the device receives waves and determines when the phase angle difference (between the transmitter's wave profile and the receivers' average wave profile) is zero. This zero phase angle means a standing wave exists in the insulated plate and its goods. By subtracting the intensities of the waves (transmitter minus receivers' average) the total absorption energy can be determined. Since the aborption energy of one item of goods added to itself equals the aborption energy of two items (or the aborption energy is additive), a calculation can determine the total number of unknown goods on the insulated plate. For the inertial method, the device recieves response times due to vibrations and determines t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.