Inventory control probe and control module with docking station

Abstract

An inventory control system includes an inventory control probe, inventory control module, a docking station, a collar clip, and an inventory control collar used on a storage container. The inventory control collar includes a first conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar electrically connected to a memory and a second conductive ring exposed on the top of the collar and electrically connected to the memory. The inventory control probe includes a probe tip and a first pair of contact pins disposed on the probe tip at a predetermined distance apart such that the contacts concurrently contact the conductive rings of the inventory control collar. A probe body housing is connected at a first end to the probe tip, and a pair of data transfer terminal contacts are disposed on a bottom portion of the probe body housing. A handle is connected at a second end to the probe body housing. The inventory control module includes a control module housing, a pair of data transfer terminal contacts disposed on a bottom portion of the control module housing for engaging the pair of data transfer terminal contacts disposed on the docking station housing, a microprocessor, and a memory. Both the probe and control module can connect to the docking station.