Abstract: Modular storage systems include load sensors disposed beneath or in association with platforms. The load sensors are pulse-sampled for signals corresponding to loads at time intervals, rather than continuously, in order to conserve electrical power. An item associated with a transaction is identified based on a change in the loads, as determined from the pulse-sampled signals. The platforms are aligned at horizontal or non-horizontal angles, and photovoltaic power sources with banks of photovoltaic cells are mounted to front edges of the platforms. When a user reaches over one of the photovoltaic cells to access an item on a platform, a level of power or voltage generated by the photovoltaic cell is diminished. The item closest to the photovoltaic cell having the diminished power or voltage, or a customer that accessed the item, may be identified accordingly.

Abstract: An Iso-Parallel UPS system may combine the system redundancy, isolation and fault-limiting properties of isolated-redundant systems, with the ability to spread system load evenly across all modules like paralleled systems. This system may have the following features: (1) the critical load can be divided into two or more portions, and each portion may be individually fault tolerant, i.e., any electrical fault on a critical load will affect only the load in that portion—other portions of the critical load can remain connected and operating; (2) the critical load can be shared among all modules within the configuration, and all modules may be equally loaded, or nearly equally loaded—there is no designated redundant unit; and (3) any module can be taken out for maintenance without impacting the critical load.