BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Shelving systems are commonly used for the efficient display or storage of consumer
goods and other items. In their most basic form, shelving systems use fixed (non-adjustable)
shelves. Such systems necessarily are designed with sufficient spacing between shelves
to accommodate the largest or tallest object expected to be stored therein. A considerable
storage volume can be wasted if such a system is used to store items smaller than
those considered in establishing the design. Such wasted storage volume could be reduced
by reducing the spacing between shelves, but only at the expense of no longer providing
capacity to store larger items.
[0002] Manually adjustable shelving systems can decrease these inefficiencies by allowing
the user to set shelf spacing as necessary for a particular application and to adjust
the shelf spacing as needs change. However, manually adjustable systems typically
require that items borne on a shelf be removed from the shelf before adjustments can
be made. Power operated shelving systems can overcome this problem by allowing the
user to adjust shelf spacing on demand, without first clearing a shelf of its contents.
However, power operated shelving systems using conventional mechanical switch control
interfaces also have limitations. For instance, mechanical switches typically include
internal moving parts which are at least somewhat exposed to the environment. As such,
contaminants, such as dirt or moisture, can enter the switch mechanism and increase
the risk of malfunction or the severity of mechanical wear. Also, the discontinuities
and crevices associated with mechanical switches can make such switches and the areas
around them difficult to clean.
[0003] Further, mechanical switches typically have large profiles, often making it difficult
to integrate them into a shelving system where space is limited. For example, mechanical
switches typically require a dedicated switch panel which might not easily be integrated
into a shelving unit and might even need to be mounted remotely from the shelving
unit. Moreover, because mechanical switches generally can control only a single function,
a system wherein many functions need to be controlled requires the use of a like number
of such switches. Thus, the use of mechanical switches is disadvantageous in shelving
systems wherein space conservation is an important consideration.
[0004] Conventional shelving systems include numerous other disadvantages. For example,
the depth of the shelves in conventional refrigerators and the disparate sizes of
products stored thereon can make it cumbersome to take inventory of items in a refrigerator.
This task is further complicated by the fact that conventional refrigerators typically
use opaque doors, making it impossible to see the contents of the refrigerator without
opening the door. As such, taking inventory requires opening the door, a practice
that is not only inconvenient, but energy inefficient as well.
[0005] Another shortcoming involves illumination of shelving used in, for example, refrigerators.
Conventional refrigerators typically include a convenience light somewhere in the
interior cavity. Light can propagate from the light fixture, through the wire or glass
shelves inside the compartment, to other shelves above or below. Light, however cannot
propagate through opaque items placed on such shelves. As such, attempts to illuminate
a refrigerator compartment using a single convenience light often achieve very limited
success. One proposal to overcome this problem involves the installation of a convenience
light under each such shelf for illuminating the space below. Although this solution
helps put light where it is needed, a conventional light fixture mounted underneath
a refrigerator shelf in a conventional manner is highly susceptible to failure due
to infiltration by spilled liquids.
[0006] WO 03/043464 describes an intelligent shelving system that uses touch switch sensors to operate
power-operated adjustable shelves, to control shelf motion, to monitor encroachment
of shelved items on shelves, to detect spills, and to control other related devices
and functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a shelving system as defined
in claim 1.
[0008] The embodiments described herein address the foregoing limitations and provide an
intelligent shelving system that permits efficient use of space by integrating touch
sensor technology into power-operated shelving system design. A shelving system according
to the present invention can include power-operated shelf adjustment and can incorporate
spill detection, adaptive and intelligent operator/equipment interfacing, encapsulated
lighting and other features as further described below.
[0009] Although many types of switching devices can be used as control, preferred embodiments
use touch input devices that respond to a user's touch or proximity for control input.
Such touch input devices can include, for example, capacitive switches, infra-red
touch sensors, and field effect sensors. Touch input devices can minimize many of
the problems associated with mechanical switches and generally are more reliable,
ergonomic and aesthetic. Also, a single touch input device can be more easily configured
to selectively control several different functions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG. 1 illustrates a refrigerator with touch sensor-controlled adjustable shelves
and an adaptive and intelligent interface;
FIG. 2 A is a perspective view of an adjustable shelf with touch sensor inputs for
general applications;
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an adjustable shelf with an adaptive and intelligent
input and output interface including touch sensors and a spill sensor incorporated
into the shelf;
FIG. 3 A is a perspective view of a shelf with an adaptive and intelligent input and
output interface including touch sensors and a display;
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a portion of the shelf illustrated
in FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a portion of the shelf illustrated
in FIG. 3A;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a portion of the shelf illustrated
in FIG. 2B and its spill sensor component;
FIG. 5 illustrates an office furniture system with touch sensor-controlled adjustable
shelves and an adaptive and intelligent interface;
FIG. 6 illustrates a wine storage and refrigeration system with touch sensor-controlled
adjustable shelves and an adaptive and intelligent interface;
FIG. 7 illustrates a display shelving system with generally inaccessible touch sensor-controlled
adjustable shelves and an adaptive and intelligent exterior control interface;
FIG. 8 illustrates a consumer goods display and storage shelving system with touch
sensors;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a shelf having encapsulated lighting
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a shelf having encapsulated lighting according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] While the drawings generally depict capacitive and electric field (or field effect)
touch switches (or touch sensors) for the purpose of illustration, the principles
of the present invention can be seen by those skilled in the art as appropriate for
any manner of touch switch device, including, but not limited to, capacitive touch
switches, infrared touch switches, electric field touch switches, acoustic touch switches
and electromagnetic touch switches. Specific examples include the touch switches described
in
U.S. Patents No. 5,594,222, No.
5,856,646, No.
6,310,611 and No.
6,320,282, each naming David W. Caldwell as inventor. The disclosures of
U.S. Patent Applications Serial No. 10/272,219, entitled Molded/Integrated Touch Switch/Control Panel Assembly and Method for Making
Same (now
U.S. Patent No. 6,897,390), No.
10/272,377, entitled Touch Switch with Integrated Control Circuit, No.
10/272,047, entitled Touch Sensor with Integrated Decoration, and No.
10/271,438, entitled Integrated Touch Sensor and Light Apparatus, all filed on October 15,2002
and all naming David W. Caldwell as an inventor.
[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention use touch sensors as control input
devices. Touch sensors are solid state devices that respond to a user's touch or proximity.
Touch sensors commonly include electrodes and electronic components mounted on a substrate.
This substrate might have a user-accessible operative touch surface. Preferably, this
touch surface is on the side of the substrate opposite the side that bears the touch
sensor's electrodes and electronic components. In alternate embodiments, the operative
touch surface can be on another substrate that is attached to or otherwise associated
with the substrate bearing the touch sensor components. In either embodiment, a signal
is supplied to the electrode(s), thus generating an electric field about the operative
touch surface. When the electric field is disturbed by a user's touch or proximity,
the touch sensor circuitry generates a control signal that can be used to control
the operation of a light, motor or other end device.
[0013] Touch sensors overcome many disadvantages inherent to mechanical switches. For example,
because a touch sensor's operative touch surface can be a non-perforated substrate,
the touch sensor is much less susceptible to damage due to liquids and other foreign
matter. Because a touch sensor has no moving parts, it is much less prone to wearing
out. Because a touch sensor and its substrate can be (but need not be) substantially
planar, problems related to the large profile of mechanical switches can be avoided,
thus removing the design limitations that relatively large profile mechanical switches
impart on the design of shelving systems and the like.
[0014] Many of the problems associated with mechanical switches, including the effects of
contamination and space considerations, are particularly troublesome in shelving environments
where relatively high levels of moisture or contaminants exist and where space is
preferably conserved. This situation exists, for instance, in refrigerators, where
moisture can condense on surfaces, where spills are likely, where food particles can
be deposited on surfaces, where realizing maximum shelving space is a design goal
and where the size of the overall shelving system is limited.
[0015] Use of power-operated shelves for a refrigerator is advantageous because the shelves
of a refrigerator can bear numerous, disparately-sized and often unwieldy items. Shelf
adjustment is therefore sometimes necessary, but difficult to achieve manually without
removal of all or most of the items borne on the shelf. Use of touch switch controlled,
power-operated shelves is particularly advantageous because touch switch assemblies
have a low profile and, as discussed above, can prevent malfunctions owing to moisture
and contaminants associated with mechanical switches that might otherwise be used
in this application. The potential for malfunction of a mechanical switch due to contamination
is heightened in this application because refrigerator shelves often bear liquids
and foodstuffs that are prone to being spilled onto shelves and that can then drip
through or around such shelves. Mechanical switches are particularly susceptible to
short circuit failure under these conditions. Such malfunctions can be prevented by
using touch sensors having a non-perforated touch surface substrate that can prevent
liquids from reaching the touch sensor's electronic components.
[0016] FIGS. 1-4 depict an embodiment of the present invention involving a refrigerator
having power-operated shelves controlled by touch sensors. FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator
100 including three power-operated shelves 10, 11 and 12 mounted on movable brackets
40, which are, in turn, connected to a suitable drive mechanism (not shown). Any suitable
type of power or drive mechanism, e.g., electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic, can be
used. The drive mechanism can carry brackets 40 and, in turn, shelves 10, 11 and 12
vertically up or down as desired, and can support shelves 10, 11 and 12 in a stationary
position.
[0017] According to the present invention, shelves can be movably mounted in any number
of configurations as required by the particular application. Expected shelf load and
dimensions and cost considerations, as well as the configuration of refrigerator 100
itself, dictate which mounting configuration or drive mechanism would be most advantageous.
Shelving systems according to the present invention can include conventional fixed
or manually adjustable shelves in addition to one or more power operated shelves,
as depicted in FIG. 1.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiments, shelves 10, 11, 12 each include two "hard keys" 30.
In other embodiments, more or fewer hard keys can be used. Preferably, each hard key
30 includes an operative touch surface which can be touched by a user to actuate an
underlying touch sensor. The touch sensor underlying a hard key 30, when triggered
by user input, generates a control signal that controls a specific device in a predetermined
manner. For example, a hard key 30 might be used to turn on a light on and off. Alternatively,
a first hard key 30 might be used to cause a shelf to be raised, while another might
be used to cause raise a shelf to be lowered.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, shelf 11 also includes "soft key" 31, each of which
also includes an operative touch surface having an underlying touch sensor. Unlike
a hard key 30, a soft key 31 does not necessarily control a specific device in a predetermined
manner. Instead, a soft key 31 can be used to execute various control functions, for
example, a function identified by a message prompt on an input/output display 233.
Display 233 can display any variety of message prompts corresponding to functions
that might be applicable to a particular system. A user desiring to execute the function
corresponding to the message displayed on display 233 can do so by simply touching
the appropriate soft key 31.
[0020] For instance, soft key 31 could serve as a confirmation key which could be used to
execute a function corresponding to the message prompt when validation of a previously
selected input might be required. For example, if a user tries to adjust a shelf outside
predetermined limits, such as above a maximum height or to less than a minimum distance
relative to another shelf, a safety mechanism might interrupt the execution of the
input. In these situations input/output display 233 might prompt "Continue to raise
this shelf or simply "Continue." The user would touch soft key 31 to continue to raise
the shelf. Thus, soft keys are reconfigurable and can control functions that are dependent
on the state of the system and the corresponding prompt of input/output display 233.
[0021] In FIG. 2A, shelf 13 includes frame 22 and load surface 20. Load surface 20 can be
made of glass, plastic or any other material suitable for the particular application.
Shelf 13 also includes control panel 21 having hard keys 30, 33 and 34. Typically,
frame 22 and load surface 20 would be fabricated as separate pieces and then joined
mechanically or using adhesives. Alternatively, frame 22 could also be molded or formed
onto load surface 20, with or without adhesives. In addition, control panel 21 could
be an integral part of frame 22 or load surface 20, or it could be a separate subassembly.
In either case, touch sensors underlying hard keys 30, 33 and 34 could be integrated
into control panel 21 according to the disclosure of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/341,550, which teaches iritegration of touch sensors and touch switch assemblies into other
components, for example, a refrigerator shelf, refrigerator door or other refrigerator
component. Touch sensors could also be applied to control panel 21 in a conventional
manner.
[0022] User input to the hard keys of FIG. 2A can trigger the vertical movement of shelf
13 or cause some other response. For example, user input to hard key 33 can trigger
the upward movement of shelf 13, while user input to hard key 34 can trigger the downward
movement of shelf 13. User input to hard key 30 can trigger any other response advantageous
for the particular application. For instance, as mentioned above, user input to hard
key 30 could trigger a light, for example, a light pipe, that could illuminate load
surface 20 of shelf 13 to facilitate location of items on shelf 13. In an embodiment,
load surface 20 itself could be a light pipe or other lighting device. User input
to hard key 30 could also trigger a lock/unlock response that either allows or prohibits
movement of shelf 13 until a user has touched hard key 30. This can prevent unintended
shelf movement caused by, for example, the user or items stored,on shelf 13, triggering
the touch sensors underlying hard keys 33 and 34. In FIG. 3A, lock key 35 serves the
locking function, allowing hard key 30 to serve some other function, such as switching
a light on or off.
[0023] FIGS. 2B and 3A-3C depict shelf 11 of FIG. 1 in greater detail. In FIG. 2B, shelf
11 is shown including wiring harness 234, which can provide power to the display board
133 of input/output display 233, borne on substrate 132, and can carry signals to
and from the touch sensors underlying hard and soft keys 30 and 31. Wiring harness
234 could also communicate a response output from the touch sensors of display board
133 in applications where the touch sensors do not include integrated control circuits
proximate their electrodes. Wiring harness 234 can be molded directly into frame 22.
Wiring harness 234 could also be formed by applying conductors (not shown) along the
edge of load surface 20. The conductors could be applied using various methods such
as screen printing of silver or copper-based frits or epoxies, electroplating or by
any other suitable method. Once the conductors have been applied to the edge of load
surface 20, shelf 11 can be configured so that frame 22 protects the conductors from
the environment of the refrigerator. In the case where the shelf is battery powered,
wiring harness 234 can be completely eliminated and the touch switch-controlled device
can receive touch sensor inputs via a radio frequency transmitter-receiver system.
The radio transmitters associated with the touch sensors of the shelf could also relay
important system information, such as information regarding the relative positions
of the shelves in the system.
[0024] Other kinds of information, status, or output devices could also be mounted on control
panel 21 of shelves according to the present invention, and could be used in connection
with the operation of the touch switch assemblies. For instance, lights mounted either
beside or beneath operative touch surfaces could indicate either the presence of an
operative touch surface or could signal to the user that an input has registered in
the circuit to which the touch sensor is connected. Lights can be either LEDs, OLEDs,
LEPs, light pipes, electroluminescent back-lighting, standard incandescent bulbs or
any other suitable lighting, and can be configured, for example, according to the
disclosure of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/341,551. Input/output display 233 can also be configured to present device information to
a user, either simply as information, such as temperature or humidity levels, or as
part of a message prompt soliciting a response.
[0025] An embodiment of input/output display 233 and its subcomponents is shown in detail
in FIGS. 3A-B. Display board 133 is mounted on display board substrate 132 which,
in turn, is affixed to control panel 21 using adhesive layer 134. Display board 133
displays messages and other information to the user. Display board 133 can be of any
suitable construction depending on the requirements of the application. For instance,
display board 133 could be a vacuum fluorescent display, liquid crystal display, electroluminescent
display, electrophoretic display, polymer display, light emitting diode, or any other
type display.
[0026] The touch switch electrical components are disposed on touch sensor substrate 36,
which also defines operative touch surfaces 38. Substrate 36 is sufficiently transparent
to allow a user to view messages on display board 133. In this embodiment, the touch
switch electrical components include electrode 31, integrated control circuit 32 and
circuit trace 39. electrode 31 preferably is transparent to allow the message prompts
of display board 133 to reach the user. Other touch sensor configurations and types
are also suitable for use in connection with the present invention. For instance,
control circuit 32 could be located remote from transparent electrode 31. Other types
of touch sensors appropriate for use in connection with the present invention include,
but are not limited to, electric field, capacitive, infra-red, differential touch
sensors, or touch sensors and touch switch assemblies according to the disclosure
of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/334,040.
[0027] Touch sensor substrate 36 can be decorated with decoration 136. Decoration 136 can
be applied using, for example, the disclosure of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/341,551 and can be transparent and made of glass, plastic or other suitable material. In
FIG. 3A, control panel 21 of shelf 12 includes hard keys 30, 33 and 34 and lock key
35 as well. Display 233 could be a separate assembly including a housing or other
structure or could be integrated with control panel 21 of shelf 12 as shown in FIGS.
3A-3B. The components of display boards 133 and of touch sensors or touch switch assemblies
can be either rigid or flexible, depending on the requirements of the application.
[0028] Any of the touch switches corresponding to operative touch surfaces 38 can be configured
as either a hard or a soft key. For instance, the touch sensors and operative touch
surfaces labeled "1" - "3" could be configured as soft keys which could be used to
effect control of whatever function the soft key represents at any given time. This
function typically would be represented on the portion of display board 133 underlying
a particular soft key. For example, portions of display board 133 underlying the touch
surfaces 38 labeled as "1" - "3" in FIG. 3A as "Y," "N," and "?," respectively, while
another portion of display board 133 prompts the user whether certain action should
taken. For example, display board 133 might prompt "RAISE SHELF?". In response, the
user could select the touch surface 38 labeled "Y" to make the system carry out the
prompted action (in this example, raising the shelf), select the touch surface 38
labeled "N" to cancel the prompted action, or select the touch surface labeled "?"
to cause an information message to be displayed on display board 133.
[0029] Input/output display 233 can also include hard key touch sensors that can be configured
to induce the vertical movement of shelf 12, or any other desired response, according
to the particular design or application requirements. As shown in FIG. 3A, not all
areas of display 233 need include operative touch surfaces. However, in other embodiments,
it might be preferred that all areas of display 233 include operative touch surfaces.
The touch sensor of lock key 35 is shown as including electrode 130, integrated control
circuit 32, and circuit trace 39 disposed on touch sensor substrate 232, which is
integrated into control panel 21. Since lock key 35 is shown embedded in the material
of control panel 21, electrode 130 need not be a transparent electrode 31. Hard key
30 can have a similar touch sensor configuration and can conform to the surface of
control panel 21, for example, according to the disclosure of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/341,550 or in some other fashion. Touch sensor substrate 332 bearing electrode 130 preferably
is flexible to allow for easy conformity with the curvature of hard key 30, which
is defined by the curvature of the corresponding portion of control panel 21. The
particular configuration of display 233 and control panel 21 of shelf 12 is a matter
of design choice. The embodiment of the present invention described with reference
to FIGS. 3A-3C is merely illustrative.
[0030] In other embodiments, touch sensors and display panels could be located in places
other than a shelving system's shelves. However, locating sensors and panels on the
shelves themselves can advantageously prevent the confusion that might accompany a
remote control panel and might obviate the otherwise needless labeling of particular
touch surfaces as pertaining to particular shelves, while at the same time affording
the user the flexibility of being able to control the movement or status of each shelf
independently of others within the system.
[0031] FIG. 4, showing another view of the shelves of FIGS. 2A-3B, illustrates spill sensor
37. Spill sensor 37 can be an electric field sensor similar in construction to touch
sensors such as those shown underlying the hard keys described herein. A touch sensor
intended for use as spill sensor 37 could be designed to be especially sensitive,
and need not be immune to stimulation owing to contaminants and the like. Spill sensor
37 preferably would be located where it would not likely be inadvertently touch stimulated
by a user or item borne on the shelf, for instance, along the interior edge of the
lip of shelf 12. Spill sensor 37, through display 233, can advantageously alert a
user to the presence of a liquid spill on surface 20 of shelf 12. Spill sensor 37
can induce a specified response by shelf 12 or can prompt a message on display 233
or can activate another device within the system, such as a light or a radio transmitter,
that can alert the user to the existence of a spill on a particular shelf.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, spill sensor 37 is connected to display 233 through connector
137. Connector 137 could be ordinary electric wire or cable or else could be a flex
connector, according to the disclosure of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/341,550, that is a connected but non-integrated section of the flexible substrate bearing
the touch sensors of the keys of display 233.
[0033] Other uses of touch sensors are also advantageous in shelving systems. For instance,
touch or proximity sensors can be useful in configuring a shelving system that minimizes
the risk of two power operated shelves coming too close together or of items on a
lower shelf hitting the bottom side of a higher shelf within the system as the lower
shelf is raised. To prevent this, a shelf could be equipped with touch sensors disposed
on its underside. Such touch sensors could detect the encroachment of another shelf
or of items borne by another shelf and signal to the shelf in motion to stop and/or
reverse direction. These touch sensors could be of similar construction to those shown
underlying hard keys. Such touch sensors cold advantageously be designed for longer
range stimulation than typical touch sensors or else could be stimulated by probes
(not shown) attached to power operated shelves so as to stimulate the touch sensors
before the shelf itself encroaches too close.
[0034] Other embodiments of the present invention include the power-operated touch switch
controlled shelving system of an office workspace as shown in FIG. 5. In Fig. 5, shelf
50, bearing keyboard 59, includes hard keys 55 and 56 which can control movement of
shelf 50 up and down, respectively. Shelf 51 also includes hard keys 53 and 54, which
can control its movement up and down, respectively. Shelf 51 also includes hard key
57, which can turn on light 58, or perform other functions. Although hard keys are
shown in this embodiment, soft keys could also be used, depending on the requirements
of the application, or, more particularly in this embodiment, the complexity of the
workspace.
[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention involving an environmental
enclosure for the storage of wine bottles or other items. Adjustment of shelves 60
allows the system to maximize the use of space within the system, which not only can
reduce the dimensions of the system itself, but can also more efficiently control
the environment of a maximum amount of items. In FIG. 6, shelves 60 can each bear
hard keys 61 and 62, which can control movement of shelves 60 up and down, respectively.
In FIG. 6, the movement of one shelf 60 can advantageously also induce a response
in shelves 60 that are above or below it, depending on which direction it is moved,
to obviate repetitive user inputs and thereby most efficiently reconfigure the system
to maximize storage space.
[0036] The problems associated with mechanical switches are particularly troublesome in
power-operated adjustable shelving systems where switches are subject to repeated
and often careless or aggressive use, as, for instance, where a store's display indiscriminately
tempts numerous consumers, and perhaps their curious children, to activate the switches
that control the movement of shelves and the items they bear. In such situations,
mechanical wear owing to repeated use of the switch is a problem, unless touch switch
assemblies, which can minimize mechanical wear, are used. Thus, the use of touch switch
assemblies in these, and other, shelving systems can alleviate the problems of the
prior art.
[0037] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the present invention involving a convenience item
display case which, similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6,
can also involve a controlled environment. The convenience item display case of FIG.
8 is subject to the repeated use mentioned above, and is therefore especially appropriate
for incorporation of the principles of the present invention. In FIG. 8, keys 81 and
82 can control the movement of shelves 80 up and down, respectively, to allow for
a prospective purchaser to reach the items desired.
[0038] Sometimes the items a shelving system must display are such as to require that direct
access to the shelf is not feasible. This is the case, for instance, where the display
items must be environmentally controlled, or where the items are especially valuable
or fragile. The embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 7 addresses this
situation. FIG. 7 depicts a jewelry display case with power operated touch switch
controlled shelves 70. In this embodiments, display 71 includes touch sensors 72 underlying
glass panel 75. Touch sensors 72 are effectively connected to shelves 70 and can respond
to user input through the interface of display 71. This embodiment of the present
invention can involve the display 233 of FIGS. 1-3 and can therefore also involve
touch sensors 72 corresponding to either hard or soft keys.
[0039] Display 233 depicted in FIGS. 3A-3B could also play a role in consumer item displays
of the sort depicted in FIGS. 7-8. In consumer item display systems, as well as warehousing
and other storage or display shelving systems, there often exists a natural relationship
between the shelf and the items borne by the shelf. That is, shelving systems are
sometimes advantageously designed so that a particular shelf bears a particular type
of item, such as canned soup, ice cream, clothing or lumber. Such shelves often include
hard copy descriptions of the items they bear, including UPC bar codes, product identification
names and numbers and pricing information, to assist the user in finding a desired
item or comparing items from different shelves within the system. This, and other,
information could be presented to the user according to the present invention through
an interface similar to the interface of display 233, which could be configured to
allow the user to scroll through information about the shelf or items thereon and
make selections or comparisons of the information presented. To conserve space and
minimize the size of display 233 in these applications, display 233 could advantageously
involve touch sensors, such as capacitive, field effect, infra-red, or other suitable
touch sensors, as described above, but could, in addition, also involve standard input
switches including mechanical or membrane switches.
[0040] Various other features can be incorporated with shelving systems according to the
present invention. For instance, the display can be used to provide information relating
to one or more characteristics of items stored on the shelf, such as a description
of the items, their size and price, the quantity of items stored on the shelf, and
so on. In one embodiment, this information can be derived from data transmitted from
devices such as RF ID tags (not shown) associated with the stored items to a receiver
associated with the shelving system, as would be known to one skilled in the art.
To conserve energy, the display could be activated by proximity sensors (not shown)
responsive to a consumer's approach or according to some other input. For example,
these sensors could cause the display to be activated or cause to be displayed thereon
certain information when a potential consumer approaches the shelving system or otherwise
provides an input to one or more touch sensors associated with the shelving system.
This feature, i.e., the selective activation of displays can also prove advantageous
in other embodiments of the present invention. For instance, individual shelves or
their displays could be proximity activated, or could include an activation key to
turn on the display when touched. In all embodiments, information to be displayed
can come from a location remote from the system or can be provided by sensors or other
devices proximate or integral to the system.
[0041] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention involving a shelf
300 having a built-in light source 302. In a preferred embodiment, shelf 300 includes
a glass load surface 304 encapsulated in a polymer frame 306. Light source 302 is
integrated with shelf 300 using, for example, a suitable encapsulation technique that
would be known to one skilled in the art or one of the techniques disclosed in United
States Patent No.
6,897,390, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Light source 302 can
include one or more individual light sources, for example, LEDs, OLEDs, PLEDs, incandescent
sources, etc. Frame 306 preferably includes an electrical, connector 308 that receives
power from a power bus (not shown) operably associated with shelf 300. Preferably,
power is delivered from connector 304 to light source 302 via a wiring harness molded
into frame 306 (such as wiring harness 234 illustrated in FIG. 2B) or via conductors
printed directly onto glass portion 302 of shelf 300 and overmolded by frame 306.
Preferably, light source 302 and the foregoing means for delivering power from electrical
connector 308 to light source 302 encapsulate these components such that shelf 300
could be completely submerged in liquid without damage to light source 302. In this
manner, light source 302 and the means for delivering power to it are highly impervious
to contamination by liquids and to harsh environments in general, for example, the
environment inside a refrigerator.