Abstract: An ice merchandiser with a remote monitoring system is provided with one or more LiDAR modules positioned near a top surface an icebox such that the fields-of-view of the LiDAR modules are at least partially directed towards a bottom surface of the icebox. The LiDAR modules provide distance data to the inventory stored within the icebox to a controller located outside of the icebox via a cable that includes both power and data lines. The controller processes the distance data to provide an estimate of the current inventory of the ice merchandiser and communicates at least one of inventory data and other sensor data concerning the operation of the ice merchandiser to a remote server via a network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 26, 2020
Date of Patent:
December 26, 2023
Assignee:
ICE Q, LLC
Inventors:
Juan E. Marti, Nicolas Garcia, Patrick J. Inglesby