Patent ID: 7650298

Claim:
An automated inventory system comprising: a bin configured to contain a plurality of stocked items; a platform that supports said bin, said platform having an upper portion and a lower portion, where said bin is supported on said upper portion; a biasing member that provides a resistive force tending to separate said upper portion and said lower portion of said platform, wherein a separation distance between said upper portion and said lower portion of said platform varies in response to a weight of said plurality of stocked items; a wireless circuit associated with said platform comprising: a printed circuit board; a switch that is open when a weight of said plurality of stocked items is sufficient to overcome said resistive force of said biasing member and maintain said separation distance below a threshold separation distance, wherein said switch completes said wireless circuit when said weight of said plurality of stocked items is not sufficient to overcome said resistive force of said biasing member and maintain said separation distance below said threshold separation distance; wherein said printed circuit board transmits a wireless signal when said wireless circuit is completed; and a portable, handheld wireless reader device comprising at least one microcontroller unit; wherein, the wireless reader device is reads said wireless signal transmitted by said printed circuit board upon completion of said wireless circuit.