Optical Price Tag Verification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In retail environments, manual verification of price tags is cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to potential customer dissatisfaction and lost sales due to price discrepancies, and retailers face challenges in scheduling regular verification procedures due to resource constraints.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing optical sensors and computing devices to verify price tag accuracy by emitting and detecting optical energy, with optically readable features on price tags modifying the energy, allowing for automated and efficient price verification across multiple tags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection of individual price tags is performed, then price accuracy can be verified, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated optical sensing system. The optical sensor emits light and detects reflected light from price tags to automatically read and verify pricing information, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection and significantly reducing verification time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables price tags to be automatically read and verified without human intervention. The optical sensor continuously scans price tags on shelves, and the computing device automatically compares detected prices with database prices, allowing the system to self-verify pricing accuracy without requiring employee time.
2Productivity
If additional personnel are employed to assist with price verification, then verification coverage can be improved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated optical sensing system replaces human labor with technology. The optical sensors and computing devices perform verification tasks that would otherwise require multiple employees, significantly reducing operational costs while improving verification coverage across the entire retail environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs verification autonomously without requiring additional personnel. The optical sensors continuously scan and the computing device automatically processes and compares pricing data, enabling the system to maintain high verification coverage without increasing staff or operational costs.
3Reliability
If employees are assigned to perform regular price verification, then price accuracy can be maintained, but employees are diverted from other critical retail tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The automated optical verification system handles price accuracy monitoring, freeing employees from this task. The system maintains reliable price verification while employees focus on customer service, product restocking, and other value-added activities, improving overall operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously maintains price accuracy through continuous optical scanning and automatic database comparison. Employees are completely relieved of verification duties, allowing them to dedicate full attention to other critical retail operations without compromising price reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables rapid and accurate verification of price tags, reducing human error and operational costs by automating the process, ensuring correct prices are displayed, enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing sales losses.
Implementation Method 1
a price tag holder including an optical sensor having an emitter and a detector. The emitter is positioned to emit optical energy onto the optical member and the detector is positioned to receive optical energy leaving the optical member
Implementation Method 2
an optical member that includes an optical characteristic that modifies an amount of optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of optical energy received by the optical member
Data Source
AI summary
A system for verifying a price associated with an item in a retail environment includes a price tag having an optical member that includes an optical characteristic that modifies an amount of optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of optical energy received by the optical member, and a price tag holder including an optical sensor having an emitter and a detector. The emitter is positioned to emit optical energy onto the optical member and the detector is positioned to receive optical energy leaving the optical member. A computing device in operable communication with the optical sensor is operative to determine whether the price tag is accurate based upon a comparison between the amount of optical energy received by the detector and the amount of optical energy emitted by the emitter.