公开(公告)号：US11346703B1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-31

申请号：US16588886

申请日：2019-09-30

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Dan Beltzer ,  Matthew Ray Desjardien ,  Stavan H. Dholakia ,  Kenneth Edward Doe ,  Sergio Alfredo Phan Lung Li ,  Michael P. Mosman ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Nathan Pius O'Neill ,  Andrew James Pierce ,  Robert M. Riggs

IPC: G01G3/14 ,  G01G19/414 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G01G21/22 ,  G01G19/00

Abstract: A platform is supported at four corners by four half-bridge load cells. Adjacent load cells are oppositely polarized. During operation, analog output from a pair of oppositely polarized half-bridge load cells is provided to an instrument amplifier. Analog output from the instrument amplifier is provided to an analog to digital converter to provide digital data. The digital data is then used to determine weight data indicative of a weight as measured by the pair of half-bridge load cells at that time. A set of switching elements, such as a quad bilateral switch controlled by a microcontroller, rapidly switch between pairs of oppositely polarized load cells. The weight data may be used to determine an overall weight change on the platform, such as a pick or a place of an item. Weight data from the four pairs of load cells may be used to determine a change in center of gravity.

公开(公告)号：US11326934B1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-10

申请号：US16864763

申请日：2020-05-01

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Paul Eugene Munger ,  Robert M. Riggs ,  Matthew Ray Desjardien ,  Andrew James Pierce ,  Jacob Drewniak ,  Kenneth Edward Doe

IPC: G01G3/13 ,  G01G21/23 ,  H01M10/46 ,  H02S10/40 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: An apparatus includes a platform or other accessory that is supported by one or more piezoelectric transducers. As items are placed on or removed from the accessory, the piezoelectric transducer generates an electric charge that is representative of a change in weight. An amplifier receives the charge and provides output voltage that can be sampled to determine a weight value. In one implementation the platform may be supported by a transducer assembly comprising a frame and a pair of piezoelectric transducers on opposite sides of the frame. Signals from the pair may be used to compensate for environmental effects on the assembly, such as changes in temperature. The piezoelectric transducers and associated circuitry are extremely energy efficient, consuming little electrical power during operation.