Shelf rail with sensor device

Abstract

A sensor device, which is designed for attachment to a shelf rail, characterized in that the sensor device is designed for lateral attachment to the shelf rail.

Description

[0001] title

[0002] Shelf rail with sensor device

[0003] Description

[0004] Technical field

[0005] The invention relates to a sensor device and a shelf rail system with such a sensor device.

[0006] background

[0007] WO2022188955A1 discloses a shelf rail system comprising a shelf rail. Electronic devices, such as a sensor device and / or an electronic display device, can be attached to the shelf rail along its front in a similar manner. The sensor device and the display device therefore have essentially identical fastening means so that they can be inserted upwards into the shelf rail from below and releasably anchored there. This offers a high degree of flexibility with regard to the options for equipping the shelf rail. At the same time, equipping the shelf rail with one or more sensor devices reduces the number of display devices that can be placed on the shelf rail.

[0008] The invention therefore has the object of eliminating this problem by providing an improved sensor device and an improved shelf rail system.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] This object is achieved by a sensor device according to claim 1. The subject matter of the invention is therefore a sensor device which is designed for attachment to a shelf rail, characterized in that the sensor device is designed for lateral attachment to the shelf rail.

[0011] This object is further achieved by a shelf rail system according to claim 12. The invention therefore relates to a shelf rail system which has a shelf rail to which the sensor device according to the invention is attached laterally.

[0012] The measures according to the invention have the advantage that the sensor device leaves the space provided on the shelf rail along the front of the shelf rail free for other electronic devices, such as electronic display devices or a camera, etc., which essentially must be attached at specific positions along the front of the shelf rail in order to provide the desired function or effect there. This sensor device can be inconspicuously attached to a side area of ​​the shelf rail that would otherwise usually be covered by a side panel. The sensor device attached to the side of the shelf rail thus replaces the side panel provided on the known shelf rail, which has no electronic function, and provides its sensor function at this position.

[0013] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0014] The other electronic device is preferably designed as an electronic display device. The electronic display device preferably has a screen, in particular an energy-saving reflective screen, particularly preferably an electrophoretic screen, for displaying product and / or price information. The electronic display device is preferably designed as an electronic shelf label, known by the English term "Electronic Shelf Label," or ESL for short.

[0015] The sensor device essentially serves to detect a condition or event in the vicinity of the shelf rail to which the sensor device is attached. Since the shelf rail is usually attached to the front of a shelf compartment, the condition or event relates to the surroundings of the shelf or shelf compartment. The sensor device generates sensor data based on the detected condition or event and makes it available or outputs it for further data processing. Sensor devices can be classified as follows depending on the condition or event to be detected.

[0016] According to a first aspect, the sensor device can be configured to detect a physical parameter. The physical parameter can occur in the shelf or the area surrounding the shelf, or also on a shelf compartment or the area surrounding the shelf compartment to which the shelf rail with the sensor device is provided, i.e., attached.

[0017] In the context of the first aspect, the sensor device can be configured to detect the physical parameter as temperature, as the CC content of the air, as the presence or content of volatile (gaseous) pollutants in the air, as the humidity of the air, or as the presence of liquid on the relevant shelf compartment. Conventional sensors are used for this purpose in the sensor device.

[0018] Furthermore, in the context of the first aspect, the sensor device can be designed to detect the approach, presence, or removal of an object or person relative to the shelf or shelf compartment. For this purpose, the sensor device can comprise an ultrasound-based, a radar-based, or a laser-based sensor. The physical parameter here describes, for example, the occurrence or change of a sensor signal reflected by the object, which was emitted by an emitter of the sensor, via signal strength or phase shift, etc.

[0019] In the context of the first aspect, a sensor for receiving and / or transmitting an RFID and / or NFC-compliant electromagnetic signal can also be used in the sensor device. Such an RFID and / or NFC signal-based sensor is often referred to in technical jargon as an "interrogator" or "reader" because it provides the electromagnetic field for signal and / or data transmission from another (external) RFID or NFC-enabled device (such as a so-called RFID or NFC transponder or RFID or NFC tag) to the RFID or NFC reader. The physical parameter here describes the existence of the signal received by the other RFID or NFC-enabled device, possibly its signal parameters (such as signal strength or RSSI, where RSSI stands for "Received Signal Strength Indicator"), and / or its data content (such as a unique device identifier or other payload data relevant in the present context).For example, the sudden occurrence of a received signal and / or an increase in the detected signal strength over time can be interpreted as a decrease in the distance (approaching the sensor device) between the other RFID or NFC-enabled device and the sensor device. A decrease in signal strength over time can be interpreted as an increase in the distance (moving away from the sensor device) between the other RFID or NFC-enabled device and the sensor device. Both cases can also be interpreted as the presence of the other RFID or NFC-enabled device. The absence of the other RFID or NFC-enabled device can be assumed if its signal was previously receivable and is now no longer receivable. With regard to the technical meaning of the terms RFID and NFC, reference should be made to the standards ISO 14443-A and ISO 14443-B respectively, which are not an exhaustive list.- B, 18092, 21481 ECMA 340, 352, 356, 362 and ETSI TS 102 190 respectively.

[0020] Instead of the RFID or NFC-based design of the sensor, another technology, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (abbreviated as BLE; technical documentation available from Bluetooth SIG, website: https: / / www.bluetooth.com / ) can also be used to detect the approach of an object (which is designed as a BLE-enabled device or on which a BLE-enabled device is carried) to the sensor device, the presence or absence of the object, or the removal of the object from the sensor device.

[0021] The object in question can be a person or an electronically inactive object (such as a shopping cart, etc.) moving with the person. In this case, the object is detected as such by sensors. However, the object in question can also be an electronically active device, such as an RFID and / or NFC-enabled device in the form of, for example, an RFID and / or NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet computer, etc. Similarly, the electronically active device can be configured for Bluetooth communication.

[0022] Furthermore, according to a second aspect, the sensor device can be designed to detect the stocking status of a shelf. The stocking status of the shelf is detected primarily by detecting an electronically processable stocking (data) signal originating from another object located on the shelf. Based on the detected stocking (data) signal, the sensor device generates stocking data that directly or indirectly indicate the stocking status or from which the stocking status can be derived, and makes this data available for further processing or outputs it. This stocking (data) signal can be determined by various measures, which are discussed below.

[0023] To detect the stock status of the shelf or the relevant shelf compartment to which the shelf rail with the sensor device is attached, the top of the shelf compartment, i.e., where products are stored, can be covered with a sensor or contact foil, for example. The products are then placed on the contact foil. The structural design of the contact foil delivers the stock (data) signal corresponding to its occupancy with products in an electronically detectable form. For this purpose, the contact foil can have capacitive or resistive structures or simply switching elements that change their respective electronically detectable state depending on whether a product is stored on them or not.The contact foil is preferably connected electronically to the sensor device via a cable, so that the sensor device can pick up the assembly (data) signal and determine the assembly status by evaluating the assembly (data) signal electrically picked up from the contact foil.

[0024] To detect the stock status of the shelf or the relevant shelf compartment to which the shelf rail with the sensor device is attached, the top of the shelf compartment, i.e., where products are stored, can be equipped with so-called "pushers." A pusher is a device that allows products to be transported (automatically) along the depth of the shelf compartment from the rear, i.e., where the rear shelf wall is usually located or another shelf boundary is positioned in the depth of the shelf compartment, to the front, i.e., where the shelf rail is mounted on the front edge of the shelf compartment. The pusher has an autonomous electronic distance detection system for detecting its distance from the rear shelf wall or the shelf boundary. For this purpose, the pusher has electronics designed for ultrasound-based, radar-based, or light signal-based distance determination.Depending on the design, the pusher's electrical supply can be wired, wireless, or battery-powered. This allows for indirect or direct determination of the number of products still on the shelf, for example if the product dimensions, at least in the direction of the shelf compartment depth, are included in this calculation. It can also be used to determine that there are simply no more products in the shelf compartment because the detected distance either corresponds to the pusher's maximum travel distance or essentially indicates the depth of the shelf compartment. The pusher generates the loading (data) signal, which describes the respective situation, and transmits it to the sensor device either wired or wirelessly. Depending on the pusher design used, the sensor device has either a wired or wireless interface for receiving the loading (data) signal.The placement (data) signal can be present as a raw distance (data) signal, which represents the distance of the pusher from the relevant structure of the shelf, or as a pre-processed (data) signal, which already takes into account the depth of the relevant product.

[0025] To detect the stocking status of the shelf or the relevant shelf compartment to which the shelf rail with the sensor device is attached, the "interrogator" or "reader" previously mentioned in connection with the first aspect of the sensor device design, i.e. the RFID and / or NFC signal-based sensor, can also be used. In this design, the products can be equipped with so-called RFID or NFC tags, which are, for example, integrated into the product, attached to the product, such as glued or provided on a paper or plastic label, or attached to the product packaging. The interrogator or reader integrated into the sensor device generates the stocking (data) signal, which describes the respective detected situation, and makes it available in the sensor device for further processing or transmission.With the aid of the loading (data) signal, the sensor device can detect the products placed on the shelf compartment or the handling of the products (in the sense of removal from the shelf compartment or in the sense of placing on the shelf compartment) and from this determine the loading status for the shelf compartment or shelf in question, i.e. determine the products present there and / or their number.

[0026] Furthermore, the sensor device comprises a housing in which the respective aforementioned sensor for detecting the assembly status is accommodated. In addition to the sensor, the housing can also accommodate sensor device electronics, which, for example, provide higher-level functions implemented in hardware and / or software. The sensor device electronics can also comprise the sensor electronics or be coupled to the sensor electronics. The higher-level function can relate to preprocessing of the sensor (data) signal or a communication function of the sensor device for communication with external devices, etc.

[0027] Even though the topics of recording the physical parameter and recording the assembly status were discussed above as separate forms of the sensor device, it should be noted at this point that the sensor device can also be designed for the combined recording of the physical parameter and the assembly status.

[0028] The following section discusses further aspects of the sensor device which are closely related to the housing of the sensor device and explains in more detail how the sensor device is attached to the shelf rail.

[0029] In general, it should be noted that the housing of the sensor device can be shaped such that, when viewed from the front of the shelf rail, it follows the outer contour of the shelf rail, thereby creating a virtually seamless, optical connection to the side of the shelf rail. Furthermore, the housing can be shaped such that it completely prevents lateral access to the cross-sectional structure of the shelf rail, thus providing a protective effect. Analogous to the side cover known from the conventional shelf rail, the sensor device now assumes this protective role.

[0030] For the purpose of mechanical coupling with the shelf rail, the sensor device has a mechanical connecting device which is designed to establish a holding and / or locking connection with the shelf rail.

[0031] The shelf rail has a slide-in shaft which is open at least laterally and located at the rear and runs along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail, into which slide-in shaft the sensor device is inserted. To establish this coupling, the mechanical connecting device of the sensor device has a slide-in element which is designed to be inserted laterally into the slide-in shaft of the shelf rail. The shape of the slide-in element is preferably adapted to the inner contour of the slide-in shaft in order to be received there flush. In cross-section, the slide-in element - adapted to the slide-in shaft - can have, for example, a rounded or curved shape (circular, elliptical, or delimited by another form of curve). An angular cross-section can also be present, such as a polygonal, square or, particularly preferably, a rectangular one.The rectangular cross-section offers the advantage that the depth of the insert element can be relatively small in relation to its length or height, resulting in a slim shape that fits well into the slim cross-section of the shelf rail. This ensures that the back of the shelf rail can still be attached flush against a supporting structure (e.g., a display counter or shelf compartment, etc.) without the insert element protruding from the shelf rail toward the back of the supporting structure or requiring a gap from the supporting structure to be accommodated in the shelf rail at all.

[0032] At this point it should be mentioned that the shelf rail can have a central web that separates its rear from its front. The insertion shaft provided on the rear can be closed around the circumference, for example to prevent access to the sensor device inserted there. However, to facilitate handling of the sensor device during installation or removal, it has proven advantageous for the insertion shaft to be open at the rear. To still ensure a good and reliable hold of the insertion element, the insertion shaft can have rail-shaped guide elements at its upper and lower ends that slightly encompass the insertion element inserted into it, wherein the rail-shaped guide elements preferably run along the entire longitudinal extent of the shelf rail.

[0033] The housing of the sensor device is designed in the area of ​​the insertion element in such a way that it can be inserted laterally into the insertion shaft and is held there at its outer edges by the rail-shaped guide elements to prevent it from tipping backwards out of the shelf rail. The part of the housing that encloses the insertion element is therefore adapted to the shape of the insertion shaft of the shelf rail, preferably formed flush with it. Establishing a locking connection between the sensor device and the shelf rail can be achieved in a variety of ways. For this purpose, for example, a screw can be provided which, for example, comes from below and penetrates the shelf rail and reaches into the housing of the sensor device. The screw forms a removable connection. Likewise, a rivet can be inserted in a similar way, which then forms an essentially non-removable connection.However, it has proven particularly advantageous for the mechanical connecting device to have a snap-lock element on the insertion element, which is designed to snap into a snap-lock opening in the shelf rail. This snap-lock element can, for example, engage in a structure forming the lower end of the shelf rail or the structure forming the upper end of the shelf rail. However, it has proven particularly advantageous for the shelf rail to have the snap-lock opening in its central web. The snap-lock element can snap into the shelf rail there from the rear. Particularly preferably, the central web of the shelf rail is completely penetrated at the location of the snap-lock opening.This makes the snap-lock element accessible from the front of the shelf rail and can be pushed backwards out of the snap-lock opening with a simple finger of one hand, releasing the locking connection with the shelf rail. To remove the sensor device from the shelf rail, the sensor device only needs to be pulled sideways out of the shelf rail. It should also be mentioned at this point that the positions of the snap-lock element and the snap-lock opening are selected such that when the sensor device is fully inserted into the shelf rail, the snap-lock opening and the snap-lock element are congruently positioned and interlock.Snapping into place can therefore only occur when the sensor device is perfectly positioned at its desired position in the shelf rail, i.e. when the part of the sensor device housing that is adjacent to the insertion element is at the lateral end of the shelf rail.

[0034] It has proven particularly advantageous if the snap closure element is implemented by a preferably elastically adjustable, particularly preferably bolt-like, housing region of the insert element. This housing region can, for example, be shaped as a type of tab or strip and separated from the remaining housing structure of the insert element by a gap in the housing. The elastic mobility of the strip is determined here by the type of material (preferably plastic) and material thickness of the strip or the wall of the housing. The locking element is provided on the region or end region of the tab intended for actuation to release the connection or for snapping in to establish the connection. The locking element can be hook-shaped or pin-shaped, but preferably, as mentioned, bolt-shaped.Particularly preferably, a circular bolt is provided which has a height approximately the same height as the wall thickness of the central web so that, when locked to the central web, it does not protrude beyond the front surface of the central web, i.e., is as flush as possible with this surface. This ensures that a device can be positioned on the shelf rail even at the position of the snap-lock opening without the snap-lock element causing interference there. This space on the shelf rail is therefore still available for positioning a device. At the same time, the snap-lock element is covered by the device and protected from unauthorized handling. The shape of the snap-lock opening is matched to the peripheral shape of the snap-lock element, in particular of the bolt, and is therefore preferably circular. The diameter of the circle is adapted to allow easy handling with the fingertip and is therefore preferably in the range of 5 mm to 1 cm.

[0035] For the purpose of supplying electrical power to the sensor device, it can be designed for connection to a power supply unit integrated into the shelf rail. However, since the sensor integrated into the sensor device often has to be operated continuously to ensure continuous detection, this continuous operation entails a considerable power requirement. Consequently, it has proven particularly advantageous for the sensor device to have its own independent power supply unit or to be connected to an independent power supply unit. For example, the sensor device can have an integrated power supply unit, such as a replaceable or rechargeable battery.However, it has proven particularly advantageous if the plug-in element has a power supply connection provided for connecting an electrical power supply device. In this context, it has also proven particularly advantageous for the power supply connection to be designed as an extension of the plug-in element. This extension preferably extends essentially parallel to the rear of the central web of the shelf rail along the receiving shaft. The power supply connection has electrical contacts, preferably also a mechanical - in particular releasable - locking element, in order to be able to attach a socket of a wired power supply device or to attach a battery module. The electrical contacts enable the flow of current between the power supply device and the sensor device.The locking element ensures that the socket or battery module is reliably held in its intended position until the lock is released by manual intervention and the socket or battery module can be removed.

[0036] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the housing shape of both the socket and the battery module is advantageously adapted to the shape of the receiving slot. Thus, both the socket and the battery module – similar to the insertion element of the sensor device – can be completely accommodated in the receiving slot. This ensures that the shelf rail can be attached to a shelf or shelf compartment in the usual way, without the need for additional structural measures, because nothing protrudes beyond the rear periphery of the shelf rail.

[0037] Functionally, the power supply connector takes on the role of a plug for connecting to the socket or to the battery module.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the shelf rail has a bus system with electrical conductors. In order to connect to the bus system, the sensor device has a connecting device, wherein the connecting device is designed for the electrically conductive connection of the electronics of the sensor device with the electrical conductors of the bus system of the shelf rail. In other words, the sensor device has a type of socket into which the electrical conductors are inserted like a plug as soon as the sensor device is attached to the side of the shelf rail. Contacting elements are located in the socket. When the sensor device is attached to the shelf rail, each contacting element contacts exactly one of the conductors of the bus system. The contacting elements are in turn connected to the electronics of the sensor device. Depending on the individual application orBy configuring the sensor device, this measure allows the sensor device to be supplied with electrical power and / or data via the bus system.

[0039] According to a special embodiment, the shelf rail has a plate-shaped conductor carrier located at the front and running along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail, which supports the electrical conductors of the bus system of the shelf rail along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail. In order to couple to this special form of conductor carrier, the connecting device of the sensor device has a receiving shaft designed to receive the plate-shaped conductor carrier located at the front and running along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail, which supports the electrical conductors of the bus system of the shelf rail along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail. The receiving shaft is preferably aligned parallel to the insertion element.In the sensor device integrated into the shelf rails, the insertion element is located at the rear relative to the central bar and is therefore not visible, whereas the receiving shaft is located at the front relative to the central bar, thus leaving at least one front shaft wall visible. Apart from these differences, the insertion element and the receiving shaft run essentially parallel to each other. In terms of depth (of the shelf rail), the receiving shaft is positioned at a distance from the insertion element to allow sufficient space between them to accommodate the central bar of the shelf rail.Since the cable carrier preferably extends to the lateral edge of the shelf rail, the receiving shaft can be designed to be considerably shorter (viewed in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the shelf rail) than the insertion element, which insertion element with its length also contributes to the mechanically stable (wobble-free) placement in the insertion shaft of the shelf rail.

[0040] To enable reliable and, above all, trouble-free electrical contact, the receiving shaft has contacts located on the inside, which establishes electrical contact with the electrical conductors of the bus system. Viewed from the perspective of the shelf rail, the electrical conductors carried by the cable carrier are contacted with the contacts of the sensor device on the inside of the receiving shaft of the sensor device. The conductors are preferably positioned on the side of the cable carrier oriented towards the rear of the shelf rail in order to locate the conductors invisibly in a shaft between the central web and the cable carrier. The electrically conductive contacts of the receiving shaft are therefore located on the rear shaft wall oriented towards the interior of the shaft.

[0041] Particularly preferably, the shelf rail comprises an electronic supply device configured to supply power and / or communications to devices mounted on the shelf rail, in particular also to the sensor device mounted on the side, particularly preferably via a bus system of the shelf rail. In particular, the communications connection of the sensor device to the electronic supply device ensures that the sensor data provided by the sensor device can be transmitted easily and via an existing communications infrastructure in a store that is used with the aid of the electronic supply device. It is often provided that the electronic supply device is not permanently active, but rather actively provides data traffic via the bus system only at time intervals for the purpose of saving energy.In this embodiment, it can be provided that the sensor device stores the sensor data temporarily and the electronic supply device only retrieves the sensor data when it is itself active.

[0042] The shelf rail has a first, e.g. left, end and a second, e.g. right, end. Optimum use of space on the shelf rail is achieved by the shelf rail carrying the sensor device at its first lateral end and the electronic supply device at its second lateral end. The space remaining in between on the shelf rail can optionally be occupied by electronic devices, for which exact positioning along the shelf rail is particularly important. Finally, it should be mentioned in general terms that the electronic devices discussed (e.g. ESLs, smartphones, tablet computers, video shelf rails, etc.) naturally have electronics. The electronics can be discrete or integrated electronics, or a combination of both. Microcomputers, microcontrollers, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), if necessary.in combination with analog or digital electronic peripheral components. Many of the aforementioned device functionalities are implemented—possibly in conjunction with hardware components—using software running on an electronic processor. Devices designed for radio communication typically have an antenna configuration for transmitting and receiving radio signals as part of a transceiver module. The electronic devices can also have an internal electrical power supply, which can be implemented, for example, with a replaceable or rechargeable battery. The devices can also be powered wired, either by an external power supply or via "Power over LAN."

[0043] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from the figures discussed below.

[0044] Short character description

[0045] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using exemplary embodiments, to which, however, the invention is not limited. In the various figures, identical components are provided with identical reference numerals. They show schematically: Fig. 1 shows a system according to the invention with a shelf rail system with a sensor device and a supply device;

[0046] Fig. 2 an electronic coupling of the supply device with electrical conductors of a bus system of the shelf rail system;

[0047] Fig. 3 a back view of the shelf rail system;

[0048] Fig. 4 shows three variants of an electrical power supply of the sensor device viewed from a first perspective;

[0049] Fig. 5 shows the three variants according to Fig. 5 viewed from a second perspective; Fig. 6 shows three application examples of the shelf rail system on a

[0050] Shelf.

[0051] Description of the embodiments

[0052] Figure 1 shows a system 1 for operating electronic devices, which in the illustrated case are formed by electronic shelf labels 2 and are known under the English term "Electronic Shelf Label" and are referred to below as ESL 2 for short. The ESLs 2 are designed to be wired for the supply of electrical power and for the wired communication supply.

[0053] Each ESL 2 has a screen 3 for displaying product and / or price information. In this case, it is an electrophoretic screen, allowing for extremely energy-efficient operation.

[0054] The product and / or price information is provided in the system 1 by a server 4, which runs software that can be used to manage the assignment of an ESL 2 to a product. Communication with the ESLs 2 takes place with the aid of an access point 5, which in this case is connected to the server 4 via a cable and wirelessly communicates the display data AD representing the product and / or price information to the ESL 2. It should also be mentioned that instead of the (local) server 4, an (external) cloud-based software solution can also be provided for the aforementioned purposes.

[0055] The system 1 further comprises a shelf rail system 6, which has a shelf rail 7 designed to support or hold the ESLs 2 at its front. Details of the mechanical and electrical coupling of the ESLs 2 to the shelf rail 7 are disclosed in WO 2022 / 188956 A1 in connection with Figures 3 to 5 and 9 to 10 and the associated description, and are incorporated herein by reference.

[0056] The shelf rail system 6 further comprises a supply device 8, which is designed to provide wired communication and wired power to the ESLs 2 on the shelf rail 7. It provides, via wires, at least one reference potential GND, a supply voltage VCC relative to the reference potential GND, and signal and / or data communication on the shelf rail 8. The supply device 8 is designed for wireless communication with the access point 5 in order to receive the display data AD and, via wires, communicate on the shelf rail 7 with the ESL 2 addressed by the server 4, so that the relevant product and / or press information is displayed there. The supply device 6 is attached to the right-hand side of the shelf rail 7. There, it terminates the shelf rail 7 at the side.

[0057] The shelf rail system 6 further comprises a sensor device 9, which can perform different acquisition processes depending on its design – see the explanations in the general description – and generates sensor data SD as a result of the respective acquisition process, makes it available to the supply device 8, and transmits it to the supply device 8 via a wired connection as soon as it requests it. The supply device 8 communicates with the sensor device 9 via a wired connection in a manner analogous to that with the ESLs 2. From the supply device 8, the sensor data SD – either as preprocessed raw data or as raw data – is transmitted wirelessly via the access point 5 to the server 4 for further processing. The sensor device 9 is attached to the left side of the shelf rail 7. There, it terminates the shelf rail 7 at the side.

[0058] It should be mentioned that instead of or in addition to the ESLs 2, other electronic devices, such as a camera (not shown), etc., can be attached to the shelf rail 7.

[0059] Figure 2 shows a connection of the supply device 8 to the shelf rail 7, wherein the right-hand end of the shelf rail 7 is visible and wherein the supply device 8 is shown without its supply device housing 17 visible in Figure 1 and its supply device battery module 26 connected to it (see Figure 3), so that only an electronics unit 10 of the supply device 8 is visible from the right-hand side. In this view, a cable carrier 11 is visible as a component of the shelf rail 7. This cable carrier extends along the entire longitudinal extent of the shelf rail 7 and is made of an insulating material (e.g., insulating plastic).The cable carrier 10 carries three electrical conductors 12, 13 and 14, which in this case are uninsulated copper conductors and are arranged at a distance from one another, parallel to one another, along the entire longitudinal extent of the shelf rail 7 and are attached to the side of the cable carrier 10 oriented towards the rear of the shelf rail 7. The supply device 8, together with the three cables 12 to 14, forms a bus system 15 of the shelf rail 7 for the wired power and / or communication supply of the devices 2 and 9 attached to the shelf rail 7. The first conductor 12 is assigned to the reference potential GND, the second conductor 13 is used for signal and / or data transmission, and the third conductor 14 is used to provide the supply voltage VCC relative to the reference potential GND.

[0060] The electronics 10 is mounted on a printed circuit board 10A and connected to the three conductors 12 to 14 by means of three elastically deformable metal brackets 16, which are also mechanically attached to the printed circuit board 10A and electrically connected to the electronics 10. The metal brackets 16 are located in a housing slot 17A (see Figure 1) of the supply device housing 17, into which the cable carrier 10 is inserted at the right edge of the shelf rail 7.

[0061] Details of the mechanical and electronic coupling of the supply device 8 to the shelf rail 7 are disclosed in WO 2022 / 188956 A1 in connection with Figures 6 to 8 and the associated description, and are incorporated herein by reference. Details of the electronic implementation of the supply device 8 and its use of the bus system 15 for communication purposes with the ESLs 2 connected to the bus system 15 and their power supply are disclosed in WO 2022 / 188956 A1 in connection with Figures 11, 12A, and 12B, and the associated description, and are incorporated herein by reference. It should be emphasized at this point that the signal and / or data interaction of the supply device 8 takes place in an analogous manner with the sensor device 9, which is consequently also designed according to this technical teaching.

[0062] Figure 2 also shows the cross-sectional structure of the shelf rail 7. The shelf rail 7 has a central web 18 that separates the front from the back of the shelf rail 7. At the head end, i.e. towards the top, the shelf rail 7 has a roof wall 19 that slopes downwards and forwards, in which the cable carrier 11 is fastened. The sensor device 9 can be seen on the left side of the shelf rail 7. The space defined by the central web 18 (more precisely the front side of the central web 18), the roof wall 19, the sensor device 9 and the supply device 8 serves to accommodate the ESLs 2. This space is left open at the bottom so that the ESLs 2 can be inserted from below and removed downwards. This space is also left open at the front so that the ESLs 2 can be seen.

[0063] The shelf rail 7 has a slide-in slot 20 on the rear side of the central web 18, into which the sensor device 9 is inserted from the left side of the shelf rail 7 (see Figure 1). The slide-in slot 20 is thus delimited at the front by the central web 18, at the top by the roof wall 19, and at the bottom by a base wall 21. At the rear side of the shelf rail 7, the roof wall 19 and the base wall 21 end in rail-shaped guide elements 22, which run parallel to the entire longitudinal extent of the shelf rail 7, oriented toward one another, at a distance from the central web 18. When the sensor device 9 is inserted laterally, the sensor device 9 is guided by the guide elements 22. In the inserted state, the guide elements 22 serve to securely hold the sensor device 9 in the shelf rail 7.

[0064] The view according to Figure 2 shows a plug-in element 23 of the sensor device 9, which is inserted into the plug-in slot 20 and is shaped to fit the shape of the plug-in slot 20 in order to find a secure and stable hold there. Specifically, the housing of the plug-in element 23 contacts the guide elements 22 inside the plug-in slot 20 on their side oriented toward the inside of the plug-in slot 20. Coupled to the plug-in element 23, mechanically and electrically connected, is a sensor device battery module 24, which is intended to supply power to the sensor device 9. This sensor device battery module 24 is also designed analogously to the shape of the plug-in element 23 just described in order to fit optimally into the plug-in slot 20.

[0065] Furthermore, the view in Figure 2 shows a receiving shaft 25A formed with the aid of housing parts of a sensor device housing 25, in which the conductor carrier 10 is received at the left end region of the shelf rail 7 (see also Figure 1) in order to contact the three electrical conductors 12 to 14 there and thus connect the sensor device 9 to the bus system 15. In the present case, three contacting elements 31, 32, 33 (see Figure 4) are provided in the receiving shaft 25A, each of which is designed and positioned for the electrically conductive contact of exactly one of the conductors 12, 13 or 14.

[0066] Figure 3 shows the rear side of the shelf rail 7, clearly showing the insertion element 23 inserted into the insertion slot 20. Also visible here is the supply device battery module 26 attached to the supply device 8, which is provided for the electrical power supply and is electrically connected to the electronics 10 of the supply device 8. Also clearly visible are the openings 27 provided in the grid along the central web 18, which serve to securely fasten the ESLs 2 to the shelf rail 7.

[0067] Figure 4 shows the left end, or rather the left end region, of shelf rail 7 from a frontal perspective slightly diagonally below to the right. The three contact elements 31, 32, and 33 are clearly visible in this perspective. Four sensor devices 9 are shown to the left of shelf rail 7, illustrating three connection concepts (AK1, AK2, and AK3) for connecting sensor device 9 to shelf rail 7. For reasons of clarity, all reference symbols have been omitted in Figure 4.

[0068] According to the first connection concept AKI, the power and communication connection of the sensor device 9 is carried out entirely via the bus system 15 of the shelf rail 7. The sensor device 9 is therefore inserted into the shelf rail 7 from the left and the three conductors 12, 13 and 14 are used as intended for the power supply by the supply device 8 and for communication with the supply device 8.

[0069] According to the second connection concept AK2, the communication connection of the sensor device 9 is established via the bus system 15 of the shelf rail 7, whereas the power supply of the sensor device 9 is established via a cable 28, i.e. a separate cable connection, to an electrical power supply device (not shown). This power supply device can be, for example, a USB power supply, a separate (rechargeable) battery, or a power supply unit. At the end facing away from the power supply device, the cable 28 terminates in a socket 29, which is plugged into a plug 30 connected to the insertion element 23, as can be seen when looking at the two illustrations of the second connection concept AK2 together. The sensor device 9 connected to the power supply device in this way is inserted into the shelf rail 7 together with the socket 29 from the left.

[0070] According to the third connection concept AK3, the communication connection of the sensor device 9 is established via the bus system 15 of the shelf rail 7, whereas the power supply of the sensor device 9 is provided by the sensor device battery module 24. For this purpose, the connector 30 connected to the insertion element 23 is also used, to which the sensor device battery module 24 is directly connected. The sensor device 9, connected in this way to the sensor device battery module 24, is inserted laterally from the left into the shelf rail 7 together with the sensor device battery module 24. It should also be mentioned here that the sensor device battery module 24 has a bracket 30 at its end, which facilitates handling.

[0071] In connection with Figure 4, it should also be mentioned that, apart from the sensor device 9 inserted laterally into the shelf rail 7, the shelf rail 7 can also be equipped with further sensors 34 which, analogously to the ESLs 2, are attached to the front of the shelf rail 7, if desired.

[0072] Furthermore, in connection with Figure 4, attention should be drawn to a snap-lock element 35 of the sensor device 9, which is formed on the insertion element 23. This snap-lock element 35 serves to snap into a snap-lock opening 36 of the central web 18 on the shelf rail 7 in order to fix the sensor device 9 to the shelf rail 7 in a non-movable but releasable manner.

[0073] In connection with Figure 4, it should also be mentioned that the socket 29 has a locking element 37 on its underside, which serves to lock with a corresponding counter element (not visible) of the plug 30.

[0074] The three connection concepts AKI to AK3 shown in Figure 4 are visualized again in Figure 5, but from a different perspective, so that the left edge area of ​​the shelf rail 7 is more clearly visible. Here, too, all reference symbols have been omitted for reasons of clarity. Also clearly visible here is the cable support 11, which carries the three cables 12, 13, and 14 to the left edge or left end of the shelf rail 7.

[0075] Various applications of the shelf rail system 6 are disclosed below with the aid of Figure 6. Figure 6 shows a section of a shelf 38.

[0076] The shelf 38 has an upper shelf compartment 39 on which seven so-called "pushers" 40 are installed. The pushers 40 are designed to measure their distance from a shelf back wall 41 and transmit this information wirelessly. Their respective distance from the shelf back wall 41 depends on the contents of the shelf compartment 39, with the pushers 40 conveying the respective products against a front, transparent end stop 42. In the case shown, no products are placed in the shelf compartment 41; consequently, all pushers are positioned at a maximum distance from the shelf back wall 41. If products are present, the distance from the shelf back wall 41 for the affected pusher 40 decreases. When a product is removed, the affected pusher 40 moves forward by one product depth toward the shelf rail 7.The sensor device 9 of the upper shelf compartment 39 has a radio-based communication module that is wirelessly coupled to the pushers 40, so that with the help of the sensor device 9, a loading status of the upper shelf compartment 39 can be determined for each pusher 40. The respective loading status can then be transmitted via cable to the supply device 8 and from there communicated wirelessly via the access point 5 to the server 4.

[0077] The shelf 38 further comprises a central shelf compartment 43 on which a contact- or pressure-sensitive sensor foil 44 (sometimes also referred to as contact foil) is installed. The sensor foil 44 is positioned at the outer edge of the shelf compartment 43 and extends along the entire length of the shelf compartment 43. When products are removed from the shelf 43, these products (here creams and pastes) are usually removed from the front. If the sensor foil 44 is no longer loaded with the product at a particular point (product position), this can be detected by the sensor device 9 connected to the sensor foil 44 and transmitted via a wired connection in the shelf rail 7 to the supply device 8, from where it can be communicated wirelessly via the access point 5 to the server 4.As shown in Figure 6, the sensor foil 44 is connected to the sensor device 9 of the shelf rail system 6 mounted on the middle shelf compartment 43 by means of a ribbon cable 45, which is routed on the side of the left console 46 under the shelf compartment 43. For this purpose, the connector 30 can be used, whose pin assignment is adapted accordingly, i.e., it has the required number and configuration of plug contacts.

[0078] In the present case, the sensor film 44 is designed such that it allows a two-dimensional spatial resolution, i.e., a matrix-oriented detection of objects on its surface, so that the presence or absence of products is possible not only in the depth of the shelf compartment 43, but also along the longitudinal extent of the shelf compartment 43. Alternatively, the sensor film 44 can also be designed to allow only a one-dimensional spatial resolution in the direction of the depth of the shelf compartment 43 or in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the shelf compartment 43.

[0079] The shelf 38 further comprises a lower shelf compartment 46 on which a sensor device 9 equipped with an RFID reader is installed. This RFID reader allows the detection of RFID tags (not shown) attached to products (here, shoes) or their labels, so that the product inventory (stock status) in the lower shelf compartment 46 can be determined via the detected RFID tags. The respective stock status is transmitted via cable to the supply device 8 in the form of the detected data from the RFID tags or reduced to data describing the number of detected RFID tags. From there, it is communicated wirelessly via the access point 5 to the server 4.

[0080] In summary, the measures discussed allow the respective stocking status to be recorded specifically for each shelf section, such as shelf compartment 39, 43 or 46, and the missing products to be detected in real time and communicated across systems, so that a restocking of products can be planned in advance, but at the latest when the zero stock occurs in the relevant shelf compartment or the relevant product position in the relevant shelf compartment.

[0081] Finally, it should be mentioned that the second and third connection concepts AK2 and AK3 discussed in connection with the sensor device 9 can also be applied to the supply device 8.

[0082] In order to ensure the most straightforward energy supply possible for the shelf rail systems 6 installed on the shelf 38, a solar panel, for example, can be provided that is magnetically attached to the top level of the shelf 38, for example, and uses the light available in the store to power the electronic devices on the shelf 38. Likewise, a powerful battery module can be provided that has a plurality of connections (e.g., USB connections) to which the cables 28 can be connected in order to selectively supply electrical power to either the sensor device 9 or the supply device 8, or both. A USB power supply that can be plugged directly into a mains socket can also be used.All of these measures contribute to ensuring that the mains power sockets, which are usually scarce in a business premises, can be used optimally, and in some cases, their use can even be avoided entirely.

[0083] Finally, it should be noted once again that the figures described in detail above are merely exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features may be present multiple times.

Claims

Claims 1. Sensor device (9), - which is designed for attachment to a shelf rail (7), characterized in that the sensor device (9) is designed for lateral attachment to the shelf rail (7).

2. Sensor device (9) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device (9) is designed to detect a physical parameter.

3. Sensor device (9) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor device (9) is designed to detect a loading state of a shelf (38).

4. Sensor device (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device (9) has a mechanical connecting device which is designed to establish a holding and / or locking connection with the shelf rail (7).

5. Sensor device (9) according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical connecting device comprises an insert element (23).

6. Sensor device (9) according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical connecting device comprises a snap-lock element (35) on the insertion element (23) which is designed to snap into a snap-lock opening (36) of the shelf rail (7).

7. Sensor device (9) according to claim 6, wherein the snap closure element (35) is realized by a preferably elastically adjustable, particularly preferably bolt-like, housing region of the insertion element (23).

8. Sensor device (9) according to claim 5, wherein the insertion element (23) has a power supply connection which is provided for connecting an electrical power supply device (24).

9. Sensor device (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device (9) has an electrical connection device which is designed for the electrically conductive connection of the sensor device (9) to electrical conductors (12, 13, 14) of a bus system (15) of the shelf rail (7).

10. Sensor device (9) according to claim 9, wherein the electrical connection device has a receiving shaft (25A) which is designed to receive a plate-shaped conductor carrier (11) which is located on the front and runs along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail (7) and which carries the electrical conductors (12, 13, 14) of the bus system (15) of the shelf rail (7) running along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail (7).

11. Sensor device (9) according to claim 10, wherein the receiving shaft (25A) has contacts (31, 32, 33) located on the inside for electrically contacting electrical conductors (12, 13, 14) of the bus system (15) of the shelf rail (7).

12. Shelf rail system (6) comprising a shelf rail (7) to which the sensor device (9) according to one of claims 1 to 11 is laterally attached.

13. Shelf rail system (6) according to claim 12, wherein the shelf rail (7) has an insertion shaft (20) which is at least laterally open and located at the rear and runs along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail (7), into which insertion shaft (20) the sensor device (9) is inserted.

14. Shelf rail system (6) according to one of the preceding claims 13 to 14, wherein the shelf rail (7) comprises a bus system (15) with a Cable carrier (11), wherein the cable carrier (11) is plate-shaped and located on the front and runs along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail (7) and carries electrical conductors (12, 13, 14) of the bus system (15) running along the longitudinal extent of the shelf rail (7), wherein the cable carrier (11) is received at its lateral end region in a receiving shaft (25A) of the sensor device (9).

15. Shelf rail system (6) according to claim 14, wherein the electrical conductors (12, 13, 14) carried by the conductor carrier (11) are contacted on the inside in the receiving shaft (25A) of the sensor device (9) with contacts (31, 32, 33) of the sensor device (9).

16. Shelf rail system (6) according to one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the shelf rail (7) has an electronic supply device (8) which is designed to supply power and / or communication technology to devices (2) attached to the shelf rail (7), in particular also to the laterally attached sensor device (9), particularly preferably via a bus system (15) of the shelf rail (7).

17. Shelf rail system (6) according to claim 16, wherein the shelf rail (7) carries the sensor device (9) at its first lateral end and carries the electronic supply device (8) at its second lateral end.

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