Smart shelf sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Convenience stores face challenges in accurately tracking and monitoring product counts across multiple products and tasks, leading to inefficiencies in inventory management and employee performance evaluation.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing sensors, processors, and a cloud-based analytics platform to track product counts in distribution units, providing real-time data and alerts for inventory management, employee task monitoring, and customer feedback, leveraging technologies like capacitance and time-of-flight sensors for accurate product positioning and counting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual product counting and monitoring is used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct count accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical counting with automated sensor-based detection. Optical sensors, capacitive sensors, or weight sensors automatically detect product presence and count items, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection and physical counting, thereby significantly improving measurement precision while the system handles the complexity of automated detection and data processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-monitoring of product inventory through integrated sensors that automatically detect product levels, count items, and trigger replenishment alerts without human intervention. The shelf unit itself performs the monitoring function, reducing reliance on external manual counting processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual inventory monitoring is implemented, then device complexity remains low, but loss of time and productivity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory management efficiencyVSAvoidtime for product counting

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system operates continuously to monitor product inventory in real-time as products are dispensed or removed. Rather than periodic manual checks, the system maintains constant surveillance of product levels, ensuring immediate detection of low-stock conditions and enabling continuous inventory management without interruption to store operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Automated sensors replace time-consuming manual counting processes with instantaneous electronic detection. The system captures product count data in real-time through optical, capacitive, or weight-based sensing, eliminating the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of manual inventory verification while dramatically improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If real-time product tracking is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time product count accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption of sensors

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous operation, the sensor system can be configured to perform periodic measurements at intervals or trigger readings based on specific events such as product removal or shelf access. This periodic sampling maintains adequate measurement precision for inventory management while significantly reducing average energy consumption compared to uninterrupted continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses passive or low-power sensing mechanisms such as optical reflection detection or capacitive sensing that require minimal energy input. These sensor types can detect product presence and count items with high precision while consuming far less power than active imaging or continuous scanning systems would require

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enhances inventory accuracy, automates replenishment, and improves employee performance evaluation by providing real-time data and alerts, reducing manual counting and increasing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

leveraging technologies like capacitance and time-of-flight sensors for accurate product positioning and counting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

leveraging technologies like capacitance and time-of-flight sensors for accurate product positioning and counting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS11295252B2Smart shelf sensor

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 SPOT YOU MORE INC

AI summary

A system for tracking a count of a product in a distribution unit is provided. The distribution unit may have a front portion where the product is presented for dispensing. The system may include a track, a product positioner, a sensor, and a processor. The track may be configured for holding the product in the distribution unit. The product positioner may interact with the track for pushing the product to the front of the distribution unit. The sensor may determine a position of the product positioner. The processor may calculate a product count in response to the position.