Controlling and maintaining temperatures of physical objects can maintain the physical object's quality and sustainability.
Illustrative embodiments are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings and should not be considered as a limitation of the present disclosure:
Described in detail herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods for storing a physical object in a temperature-controlled storage unit of a shopping cart. The shopping cart can include a frame, a basket supported by the frame, two front casters supporting the frame, and two rear casters supporting the frame. Each of the front two caster and the rear two caster can include a housing configured to be coupled to the frame and a wheel rotatable coupled to the housing. One or more physical objects can be stored and held within an interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit. The temperature setting of the interior volume of the storage unit can be controlled via a temperature controlling device operatively coupled to the storage unit. Sensors disposed within the interior volume of the storage unit can detect a first temperature of the interior volume and a second temperature of the one or more physical objects within the interior volume or a difference between the temperature of interior volume of the temperature controlled storage unit and the temperature of the one or more physical objects disposed within the interior volume. The sensors can encode the first and second temperature into electrical signals and transmit the electrical signals to a computing system. The computing system can decode the first and second temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine whether the first temperature is within a specified threshold of the second temperature. The computing system can control the temperature-controlling device to adjust the first temperature to a different (third) temperature.
In exemplary embodiments, a temperature-controlled shopping cart system includes a shopping cart, a storage unit mechanically and electrically coupled to the shopping cart, a temperature controlling device, sensors disposed within an interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit, and a computing system. The interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit is configured to store and hold one or more physical objects within the interior volume. The temperature controlling device is operatively coupled to the storage unit, and is configured to control the temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit. The sensors are configured to detect a current temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit, a current temperature of the one or more physical objects disposed within the interior volume, encode the current temperatures into electrical signals, and transmit the electrical signals.
The computing system can include a database and can be communicatively coupled to the temperature controlling device and sensors. The computing system can be configured to receive the electrical signals associated with the detected current temperatures, decode the current temperatures from the electrical signals, and determine whether the current temperature of the interior volume is within a specified threshold of the current temperature of the one or more physical objects disposed in the interior volume. In response to determining a difference between the current temperature of the interior volume and the current temperature of the one or more physical objects is greater than a specified threshold, the computing system can control the temperature-controlling device to adjust the current temperature of the interior volume to another temperature to reduce the difference between the temperature within the interior volume and the temperature of the one or more physical objects disposed in the interior volume. In some embodiments, the computing system can be configured to query the database using the temperature of the one or more physical objects when the one or more physical objects are first disposed in the interior volume to retrieve a set of attributes associated with the one or more physical objects and to dynamically determine the specified threshold based on the set of attributes associated with the one or more physical objects.
The system further includes an electric circuit operatively coupled to the computing system. The electric circuit can be distributed throughout the shopping cart. The electric circuit includes a battery, a reader, an electromagnetic generator, a controller, The battery can be configured to power the electric circuit. The reader can be mounted on the frame, handle, or the basket of the shopping cart, and can be configured to read machine-readable elements associated with physical objects being placed on the shopping cart and/or in the interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit. The electromagnetic generator is operatively coupled to the wheel of at least one of the two front casters or at least one of the two rear casters. The electromagnetic generator can be configured to output an electrical current in response to rotation of the wheel. The controller can be operatively coupled to the battery, the reader, and the electromagnetic generator. The controller can be configured to control the reader to read the machine-readable elements and transition from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to receiving the electrical current from the electromagnetic generator. The temperature-controlled storage unit can be selectively mounted to the frame or basket of the shopping cart to couple and decouple the temperature-controlled storage unit with the electrical circuit of the shopping cart. When the temperature-controlled storage unit is coupled to the frame or basket, the electrical circuit is operatively coupled to the sensors and the temperature controlling device of the temperature-controlled storage unit, and the electrical circuit can power to the sensors and the temperature controlling device. The computing system can receive machine-readable elements associated with the one or more physical objects read by the reader, and can query the database to retrieve a set of attributes associated with the one or more physical objects. The computing system can determine specified threshold based on the set of attributes associated with the one or more physical objects.
The temperature controlled storage unit 104 can include two handles or clips 114a-b as well as a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, a top wall, and a base. The two handles 114a-b can be disposed on the back wall. The front wall, back wall, the two side walls, the top wall, and the base can define an interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit 104. The interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit 104 can be configured to store, house and support physical objects. The temperature-controlled storage unit 104 can be secured to the basket 104 and/or other portions of the shopping cart 100 (e.g., the handle 102 and/or frame 106) using the handles 114a-b. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled storage unit 104 can be made of insulating material.
The battery 107 can be configured to power the electric circuit 142. The sensors 140 can be configured to detect the interior temperature within the interior volume of the storage unit 104. The sensors 120 can output electrical signals in response detecting a change in the interior temperature that is greater than a threshold amount of change. The controller 109 can be configured to receive the output of the sensors 120 and the reader 107, and to control the temperature controlling device based on the output of the sensors 120 and/or the reader 107. The reader 107 can be an optical scanner configured to scan machine-readable elements such as barcodes or QR codes or RFID reader configured to read RFID tags. The display 119 can be configured to display information associated with the barcodes and/or QR codes.
As an example, the reader 107 can be configured to scan machine-readable elements affixed to and associated with a physical object, which can be disposed in the interior volume of the temperature-controlled storage unit. In response to detecting an increase or decrease of the interior temperature in the interior volume of the storage unit 104, e.g., resulting from the physical object being placed in the storage unit 104, the controller 109 can receive electrical signals output by the sensors that correspond to the change in the interior temperature. The controller 109 can determine an aggregate or average change of the interior temperature in response to the physical objects being placed in the storage unit 104. The controller 109 can also receive electrical signals corresponding to a change of the interior temperature each time a physical object is placed in the storage unit. A wireless transmitter 111 can be coupled with the controller 109 and can be controlled by the controller 109 to transmit data to a computing system. The wireless receiver 113 of the electric circuit can be configured to receive data and to output the received data to the controller 109.
The electromagnetic generators 126 can be configured to power the electric circuit 142 and/or recharge the battery. For example, as the wheels of the shopping cart are manually driven by a user, an electric current can be induced in the electromagnetic generator 126, and the electric current can be used to power the electric circuit or recharge the battery. The electric circuit 142 can provide power to sensors 120 and the temperature controlling device 124 in response to the storage unit 104 being secured to the shopping cart.
The controller can receive the electric current from the electromagnetic generator 126 and can control a mode of operation of the electric circuit of the cart in response to the electrical current. In one example, the controller can power on the sensors 120, temperature controlling device 124, the reader 115 and the display 119, in response to the rotation of the wheels and receiving an electrical current and can power down the display and the reader when the cart is stationary (e.g., when no electric current is being generated by the electromagnetic generator 126). A threshold electric current can be specified such that the controller can power on the display and the reader in response to receiving an electrical current that exceeds the threshold. In some embodiments, controller can be configured to wait to power on the display and reader for time period after the threshold is (continuously or otherwise) exceeded and/or can wait to power down the display and reader for a time period after the threshold is no longer exceeded.
In another example, the controller 109 can power down display 119 and reader 115 when the wheels are rotating and cart is in motion. The controller can store power being produced by the electromagnetic generator 126 upon rotation of the wheels (e.g., by charging the battery or a capacitor). The controller can use the stored power to power on the display and the reader when the wheels are not rotating and the cart is stationary.
In an example embodiment, one or more portions of the communications network 215 can be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a WiFi network, a WiMax network, any other type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks.
The server 210 and the databases 205 can be connected to the communications network 215 via a wired connection. Alternatively, the server 210 and the databases 205 can be connected to the network 215 via a wireless connection. The server 210 includes one or more computers or processors configured to communicate with the computing system 200 and the databases 205, via the network 215. The server 210 hosts one or more applications configured to interact with one or more components computing system 200 and/or facilitates access to the content of the databases 205. The databases 205 can store information/data, as described herein. For example, the databases 205 can include a physical objects database 230. The physical objects database 230 can include information associated with physical objects disposed in facilities (e.g., such as unique identifiers associated with the physical objects, names of the physical object, types of the physical objects, stored weights of the physical objects, and stored images of the physical objects, ideal storage temperatures). The databases 205 and server 210 can be located at one or more geographically distributed locations from each other or from the computing system 200. Alternatively, the databases 205 can be included within server 210.
In exemplary embodiments, a user can deposit a physical object in the storage unit 104 disposed on the shopping cart 100. The physical object can have an initial temperature when place in the storage unit 104. The sensors 120 can detect the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 and the initial temperature of the physical object. The sensors 120 can detect a difference between the interior temperature of the interior volume and the initial temperature of the physical object. The sensors 120 can encode the temperatures or the difference between the temperatures into electrical signals. The electric circuit of the shopping cart can transmit the electrical signals to the computing system 200. The computing system 200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving the electrical signals. The control engine 220 can decode the temperatures or difference between the temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 is greater than or less than the initial temperature of the physical object by more than a specified threshold temperature difference. The control engine 220 can determine a new temperature at which the interior volume should be set to store the physical object in the storage unit based on the initial temperature of the physical object or based on a difference between the interior temperature of the interior volume and the initial temperature of the physical object. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 towards the new temperature.
In some embodiments, a user can scan a machine-readable element disposed on the physical object using the reader 115, prior to depositing the physical object in the storage unit 104. The reader 115 can decode an encoded identifier associated with the physical object from the machine-readable element and can transmit, via the wireless transmitter of the electrical circuit, the identifier to the computing system 200 to be used by the computing system 200 in conjunction with the electrical signals received from the wireless transmitter of the electric circuit corresponding to the temperatures detected by the sensors. The computing system 200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving the identifier associated with the physical object and the electrical signals. The control engine 220 can decode the temperatures or the difference between the temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 is greater than or less than the initial temperature of the physical object by more than a specified threshold amount. The control engine 220 can query the physical objects database 230 using the identifier, to retrieve information associated with the physical object deposited in the storage unit 104. The information can include, name, type of object, size, weight, dimensions and suggested storage temperatures. The control engine 220 can determine a new temperature at which to store the physical object based on the retrieved set of information. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 towards the new temperature.
In some embodiments, the control engine 220 can determine the physical object has been stored at the detected temperature for more than a specified threshold amount of time. The control engine 220 can transmit an alert to a mobile device 265. The storage unit can also include a light source and/or speakers. The control engine 220 can control the operation of a light source to generate light effects or the operation of speakers to generate audible sounds, in response to determining the physical object has been stored at the detected temperature for more than a specified threshold amount of time. The control engine 220 can determine storing the physical object at the detected temperature for more than a specified threshold amount of time can damage the physical object or cause the physical object to decompose. The control engine 220 can calculate a new temperature to reduce the damage or decomposition to the physical object caused by the detected temperature. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 toward the new temperature.
In some embodiments a user can scan a first and second machine-readable element disposed on a first and second physical object using the reader 115, prior to depositing the physical object in the storage unit 104. The reader 115 can decode an encoded first and second identifier associated with the first and second physical objects from the first and second machine-readable elements and can transmit, via the wireless transmitter of the electrical circuit, the first and second identifiers to the computing system 200 to be used by the computing system 200 in conjunction with the electrical signals received from the wireless transmitter of the electric circuit corresponding to the temperatures detected by the sensors. The computing system 200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving the first and second identifiers associated with the first and second physical objects and the electrical signals. The control engine 220 can decode the temperatures or the difference between the temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 is greater than or less than the initial temperature of the first and second physical objects by more than a specified threshold amount. The control engine 220 can query the physical objects database 230 using the first and second identifiers, to retrieve information associated with the first and second physical objects deposited in the storage unit 104. The information can include, name, type of object, size, weight, dimensions and suggested storage temperatures. The control engine 220 can determine a new temperature at which to store the first and second physical objects based on the retrieved set of information. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 towards the new temperature.
In some embodiments, the control engine 220 can transmit the adjusted temperature to a mobile device 265 of the user. The adjusted temperature can be displayed on the mobile device 265. The control engine 220 can receive instructions from the user of the mobile device to adjust the temperature based on received user input on the mobile device.
As a non-limiting example, the temperature controlled storage system 250 can be implemented in a retail store. In exemplary embodiments, a customer a user can deposit a product intended for purchase in the storage unit 104 disposed on the shopping cart 100. The product can have an initial temperature when place in the storage unit 104. The sensors 120 can detect the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 and the initial temperature of the product. The sensors 120 can detect a difference between the interior temperature of the interior volume and the initial temperature of the physical object. The sensors 120 can encode the temperatures or the difference between the temperatures into electrical signals. The electric circuit of the shopping cart can transmit the electrical signals to the computing system 200. The computing system 200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving the electrical signals. The control engine 220 can decode the temperatures or difference between the temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 is greater than or less than the initial temperature of the product by more than a specified threshold temperature difference. The control engine 220 can determine a new temperature at which the interior volume should be set to store the product in the storage unit based on the initial temperature of the product or based on a difference between the interior temperature of the interior volume and the initial temperature of the product. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 towards the new temperature.
In some embodiments, a customer can scan a machine-readable element disposed on the product using the reader 115, prior to depositing the product in the storage unit 104. The reader 115 can decode an encoded identifier associated with the product from the machine-readable element and can transmit, via the wireless transmitter of the electrical circuit, the identifier to the computing system 200 to be used by the computing system 200 in conjunction with the electrical signals received from the wireless transmitter of the electric circuit corresponding to the temperatures detected by the sensors. The computing system 200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving the identifier associated with the product and the electrical signals. The control engine 220 can decode the temperatures or the difference between the temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 is greater than or less than the initial temperature of the product by more than a specified threshold amount. The control engine 220 can query the physical objects database 230 using the identifier, to retrieve information associated with the product deposited in the storage unit 104. The information can include, name, type of object, size, weight, dimensions and suggested storage temperatures. The control engine 220 can determine a new temperature at which to store the product based on the retrieved set of information. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 towards the new temperature.
In some embodiments, a customer can scan machine-readable elements for a first product and second product from the retail store and deposit the first and second product in the storage unit 104. For example, the first and second products can be ice cream and yogurt. The reader 115 can decode an encoded first and second identifier associated with the ice cream and yogurt from the first and second machine-readable elements and can transmit, via the wireless transmitter of the electrical circuit, the first and second identifiers to the computing system 200 to be used by the computing system 200 in conjunction with the electrical signals received from the wireless transmitter of the electric circuit corresponding to the temperatures detected by the sensors. The computing system 200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving the first and second identifiers associated with the ice cream and yogurt and the electrical signals. The control engine 220 can decode the temperatures or the difference between the temperatures from the electrical signals, and can determine the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 is greater than or less than the initial temperature of the ice cream and yogurt by more than a specified threshold amount. The control engine 220 can query the physical objects database 230 using the first and second identifiers, to retrieve information associated with the ice cream and yogurt deposited in the storage unit 104. The information can include, name, type of object, size, weight, dimensions and suggested storage temperatures. The control engine 220 can determine a new temperature at which to store the ice cream and yogurt based on the retrieved set of information. The control engine 220 can control the temperature controlling device 124 to adjust the interior temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit 104 towards the new temperature.
Virtualization may be employed in the computing device 300 so that infrastructure and resources in the computing device 300 may be shared dynamically. A virtual machine 312 may be provided to handle a process running on multiple processors so that the process appears to be using only one computing resource rather than multiple computing resources. Multiple virtual machines may also be used with one processor.
Memory 306 may include a computer system memory or random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, and the like. Memory 406 may include other types of memory as well, or combinations thereof. The computing device 300 can receive data from input/output devices such as, a reader 332.
A user may interact with the computing device 300 through a visual display device 314, such as a computer monitor, which may display one or more graphical user interfaces 316, multi touch interface 320 and a pointing device 318.
The computing device 300 may also include one or more storage devices 326, such as a hard-drive, CD-ROM, or other computer readable media, for storing data and computer-readable instructions and/or software that implement exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g., applications). For example, exemplary storage device 326 can include one or more databases 328 for storing information regarding the physical objects. The databases 328 may be updated manually or automatically at any suitable time to add, delete, and/or update one or more data items in the databases. The databases 328 can include information associated with physical objects disposed in the facility.
The computing device 300 can include a network interface 308 configured to interface via one or more network devices 324 with one or more networks, for example, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) or the Internet through a variety of connections including, but not limited to, standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (for example, 802.11, T1, T3, 56kb, X.25), broadband connections (for example, ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), wireless connections, controller area network (CAN), or some combination of any or all of the above. In exemplary embodiments, the computing system can include one or more antennas 322 to facilitate wireless communication (e.g., via the network interface) between the computing device 300 and a network and/or between the computing device 300 and other computing devices. The network interface 308 may include a built-in network adapter, network interface card, PCMCIA network card, card bus network adapter, wireless network adapter, USB network adapter, modem or any other device suitable for interfacing the computing device 300 to any type of network capable of communication and performing the operations described herein.
The computing device 300 may run any operating system 310, such as any of the versions of the Microsoft® Windows® operating systems, the different releases of the Unix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MacOS® for Macintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-time operating system, any open source operating system, any proprietary operating system, or any other operating system capable of running on the computing device 300 and performing the operations described herein. In exemplary embodiments, the operating system 310 may be run in native mode or emulated mode. In an exemplary embodiment, the operating system 310 may be run on one or more cloud machine instances.
In describing exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. For purposes of description, each specific term is intended to at least include all technical and functional equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Additionally, in some instances where a particular exemplary embodiment includes a multiple system elements, device components or method steps, those elements, components or steps may be replaced with a single element, component or step Likewise, a single element, component or step may be replaced with multiple elements, components or steps that serve the same purpose. Moreover, while exemplary embodiments have been shown and described with references to particular embodiments thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various substitutions and alterations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further still, other aspects, functions and advantages are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
Exemplary flowcharts are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are non-limiting examples of methods. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that exemplary methods may include more or fewer steps than those illustrated in the exemplary flowcharts, and that the steps in the exemplary flowcharts may be performed in a different order than the order shown in the illustrative flowcharts.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/458,104, entitled “TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED SHOPPING CART SYSTEM,” filed on Feb. 13, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62458104 | Feb 2017 | US |