RFID and Force Sensor Inventory Shelf for Real-Time Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inventory systems are inefficient in tracking items with varying contents over time, particularly in industries like hospitality and healthcare, where items are sold in portions or have changing quantities, leading to labor-intensive and costly inventory management.
Innovation Solution
An inventory system comprising a tagged inventory item with a radio field tag and an inventory device featuring a weighing surface and an array of force sensing resistors, which communicates with a radio field antenna to weigh and identify items, allowing real-time tracking of content and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual inventory tracking methods are used, then labor costs and time consumption increase significantly, but the system remains simple and requires no complex technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inventory tracking with an automated electronic system using force sensing resistors to detect weight changes and RFID antennas to identify items, eliminating the need for manual counting and recording of inventory items
Solution Approach 2:
The inventory system performs self-monitoring by automatically detecting when items are placed on or removed from shelves through weight sensors and identifying them via RFID tags, allowing the system to track inventory without human intervention
2Measurement precision
If traditional barcode scanning is used, then identification of whole items is improved, but tracking of varying content amounts in opened containers remains impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines weight sensing and RFID identification into a single inventory system that can handle both closed containers (tracking the container itself) and opened containers (tracking content depletion through weight changes), making the system universally applicable to various inventory types
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in weight as a parameter to track content depletion in opened containers, allowing continuous measurement of remaining inventory levels rather than only detecting presence or absence of entire items
3Loss of information
If RFID tags are used for identification, then item recognition is improved, but real-time weight monitoring and location tracking require additional complex hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges RFID identification tags with weight monitoring capabilities into an integrated shelf system, where the shelf itself contains force sensing resistors and RFID antennas, eliminating the need for separate identification and weighing devices
4Reliability
If manual inventory counting is performed frequently, then inventory accuracy is maintained, but labor costs and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated inventory monitoring that operates 24/7 without interruption, constantly tracking weight changes and item movements to maintain real-time inventory accuracy without requiring periodic manual counting that disrupts operations
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
Enables accurate and efficient real-time monitoring of inventory items, reducing labor costs and improving inventory management by tracking the weight and location of items with varying contents, such as opened bottles or containers, across multiple locations.
Implementation Method 1
an array of force sensing resistors and at least one radio field antenna, wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface
Implementation Method 2
at least one radio field antenna, wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an inventory system that can include a tagged inventory item, wherein the tagged inventory item includes a radio field tag attached to an inventory item; and an inventory device, wherein the inventory device includes a weighing surface, an array of force sensing resistors, and at least one radio field antenna, wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface, and methods of using the same. One benefit of the system and method disclosed herein can be monitoring inventory having changing amounts of content in real time.