RFID tags
    1.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10311355B1

    公开(公告)日:2019-06-04

    申请号:US15086855

    申请日:2016-03-31

    Abstract: This disclosure describes RFID tags that include capacitive shields to capacitively couple with antennas of the RFID tags when exposed to threshold levels of electromagnetic energy, such as when placed in a microwave. In some instances, these capacitive shields comprise a material that is both thermally conductive and electrically conductive. When exposed to electromagnetic energy of a high frequency, the capacitive shield may capacitively couple to the antenna of the RFID and, thus, may receive energy from the antenna. Given the properties of the capacitive shield, the capacitive shield may convert this energy into thermal energy and dissipate this heat into an ambient environment of the RFID tag. By doing so, the capacitive shield lessens the risk that dangerous arcing will occur from the electromagnetic energy.

    System to detect user interaction with inventory

    公开(公告)号:US11132637B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-28

    申请号:US15271181

    申请日:2016-09-20

    Abstract: Interaction data provides information about particular items that have been picked or placed from a particular fixture. A radio signal that conveys designation data indicative of a particular user is coupled to a body of the user. A smart floor tile may emit the radio signal that is electromagnetically coupled to the user and propagates along the user's body. As the hand of the user approaches the fixture, the radio signal is received using antennas at the fixture. When the user touches an item, the propagation pathway may improve, resulting in an increase in received signal strength. By using information about the radio signal and the known location of the antennas, information such as a position of a hand of the user or which item has been picked or placed may be determined.

    System for locating users
    3.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10477355B1

    公开(公告)日:2019-11-12

    申请号:US15841216

    申请日:2017-12-13

    Abstract: A surface within a facility, such as a floor, is equipped with electromagnetic sensors that generate data indicative of the presence of objects, such as the feet of users, at or close to the floor. The data may also be indicative of cross-coupling resulting from a transfer of an electromagnetic signal by the object, such as from one foot to another of a user. The data is processed to determine presence of individual object representations, such as representing a foot. Information about object representations such as their movement, cross-coupling, physical distance between, or features of the object representation may be determined. This data may be used to maintain the identity of particular object representations, track object representations over time, determine that particular object representations are associated with a single user and so forth. Adjacent object representations may avoid merging by using a top-down cross sectioning technique.

    Electromagnetic object tracking system

    公开(公告)号:US10371786B1

    公开(公告)日:2019-08-06

    申请号:US15614324

    申请日:2017-06-05

    Abstract: One or more surfaces within a facility are equipped with devices having several segments, each segment with an antenna. Segments may be grouped together into a cluster. Each segment within a cluster is associated with a particular timeslot. A transmitter at the device transmits on a specific frequency. During the particular timeslot for that segment, a signal at the specific frequency is transmitted and radiated from the antenna for that segment. An object electromagnetically couples to one or more antennas of the device, acting as a signal path for the signal. A receiver in a second segment detects the signal, and information about the timeslot for the signal and relative signal strength is generated. By using this information, a location and path of the object may be determined. Receivers in shelves may also be used to facilitate disambiguation of one user from another when interacting with items on those shelves.

    Multi-frequency user tracking system

    公开(公告)号:US10321275B1

    公开(公告)日:2019-06-11

    申请号:US15273091

    申请日:2016-09-22

    Abstract: A facility is equipped with floor tiles. Each tile is equipped with transmitters that transmit on specific frequencies. A particular set of frequencies identifies a particular floor tile and a particular segment on the floor tile. A user electromagnetically couples to one or more antennas of the tile, acting as a signal path for the signals on the particular set of frequencies. A receiver detects these signals, and the information about the frequencies detected and relative signal strength may be used to determine a location of the user within the facility. Receivers in the floor tiles allow a first tile to transmit its set of frequencies and a second tile to receive the set of frequencies and determine where the user has stepped from. By concatenating these steps a path of the user may be determined. Receivers in shelves facilitate disambiguation of one user from another when interacting with items.

    System for determining user interactions with items on a fixture

    公开(公告)号:US11096011B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-08-17

    申请号:US16677249

    申请日:2019-11-07

    Abstract: A floor device generates output data indicative of the presence of objects, such as feet of users, on the floor device. The output data from the floor device is processed to determine an object representation at a given time. The object representation may then be associated with a user identifier based on characteristics or features of the object representation. If a location of a user associated with the user identifier is determined to be near a fixture that stores one or more items, changes in quantity of items at the fixture may be associated with the user. For example, sensors on the fixture may generate fixture data indicative of a pick or place of items on the fixture. Based on the location of the user being near the fixture and the fixture data, interaction data may be generated indicating the user interacting with the items at the fixture.

    Electromagnetic tracking of moveable device with orientation determination

    公开(公告)号:US10969461B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-06

    申请号:US15614223

    申请日:2017-06-05

    Abstract: A facility is equipped with a floor containing one or more of a transmitter to generate electromagnetic signals (EMS) or a receiver to receive EMS. A device such as a tote may include one or more of a transmitters to generate EMS that may then be received by the receiver in the floor or a receiver to receive EMS transmitted by the floor. As the tote moves across the floor, tracking data may be generated using the information obtained from the exchange of EMS. Orientation of the tote with respect to the floor may be determined using an asymmetric arrangement of antennas on the tote, by encoding data within the EMS, or a combination thereof. For example, the tote may include three antennas arranged in a triangular layout, or a front antenna and a back antenna each used to transmit an EMS that is indicative of relative placement of the tote.

    User authentication with portable device and smart floor

    公开(公告)号:US10692312B1

    公开(公告)日:2020-06-23

    申请号:US15348831

    申请日:2016-11-10

    Abstract: A user obtains authentication credentials using a portable device, such as a smart phone. While standing on a smart floor in a facility, the portable device transmits the authentication credentials to the smart floor. The body of the user electromagnetically couples to electrodes in a touch sensor of the portable device and one or more antennas of the smart floor, acting as a signal path for signals between the mobile device and the smart floor. For example, one or more of the voltage applied to the electrodes, timing of when voltage is applied, and so forth, may be used to produce a particular electromagnetic signal that conveys the authentication credentials. The authenticated user may now be tracked in the facility using the smart floor.

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