公开(公告)号：US11940320B1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-26

申请号：US17358617

申请日：2021-06-25

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Sarang Sandeep Bhadsavle ,  Alexander Eugene Choi ,  Graham Cyril Jordan ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Robert M. Riggs ,  Benjamin Hong Yee ,  Matthew Zimmer

IPC: G01G19/414 ,  G01G23/18 ,  G06Q10/087

CPC classification number: G01G19/4144 ,  G01G23/18 ,  G06Q10/087

Abstract: A load sensor compares generated values of load signals to predicted values of the load signals. Where an error between a generated value and a predicted value is less than a threshold, a value of zero is transmitted by the load sensor to an external systems, in an encoded stream of bits, and the error are used to calculate a predicated value of a next load signal, such that insubstantial changes in loading resulting in small errors are not transmitted to the external system. Where an error between the generated value and the predicted value exceeds the threshold, however, a value representative of the error is transmitted to the external system, in an encoded stream of bits. The external system processes the stream of bits to calculate the error, to determine that an item has been placed on a storage system or removed therefrom, or to identify the item.

公开(公告)号：US11468400B1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-11

申请号：US15938992

申请日：2018-03-28

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Dilip Kumar ,  Liefeng Bo ,  Nikhil Chacko ,  Robert Crandall ,  Nishitkumar Ashokkumar Desai ,  Jayakrishnan Kumar Eledath ,  Gopi Prashanth Gopal ,  Gerard Guy Medioni ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Kushagra Srivastava

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  G01G19/387 ,  G06N7/00 ,  G01G19/40

Abstract: One or more load cells measure the weight of items at a fixture. Weight changes occur as items are picked from or placed to the fixture and may be used to determine when the item was picked or placed, quantity and so forth. Individual weights for a type of item may vary. A set of data comprising weight changes associated with interactions involving a single one of a particular type of item is gathered. These may be weight changes due to picks, places, or both. A model, such as a probability distribution, may be created that relates a particular weight of that type of item to a probability. The model may then be used to process other weight changes and attempt to determine what type of item was involved in an interaction.

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.

公开(公告)号：US11263583B1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-01

申请号：US15939061

申请日：2018-03-28

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Dilip Kumar ,  Liefeng Bo ,  Nikhil Chacko ,  Robert Crandall ,  Nishitkumar Ashokkumar Desai ,  Jayakrishnan Kumar Eledath ,  Gopi Prashanth Gopal ,  Gerard Guy Medioni ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Kushagra Srivastava

IPC: G01G19/42 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06N7/00 ,  G01G23/37

Abstract: Load cells measure the weight of items on a shelf. Weight changes occur as items are picked from or placed to the fixture. Information about these weight changes is used to determine an estimated location on the shelf of a weight change. Hypotheses are generated using information about where particular types of items are stowed, the weights of those particular types of items, information about the weight changes, and the estimated locations of the weight changes. A model is used to produce confidence values in the hypotheses based on a change in weight measured at a first side and a change in weight measured at a second side of the shelf. A hypothesis with a confidence value that exceeds the threshold may be selected and used to determine interaction data indicative of a quantity picked or placed, type of item, and location on the shelf.

公开(公告)号：US12131288B1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-29

申请号：US17457590

申请日：2021-12-03

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Paul Eugene Munger ,  Jayakrishnan Kumar Eledath ,  Daniel Bibireata ,  Gopi Prashanth Gopal ,  Liefeng Bo

IPC: G06Q10/087 ,  G06Q20/20

CPC classification number: G06Q10/087 ,  G06Q20/208

Abstract: Tidiness data associated with an inventory location, such as a shelf, indicates whether an item returned to the inventory location is designated for storage at the inventory location. When an item is returned to the inventory location and a user is determined to be near the inventory location, the weight change detected at the inventory location is compared to a corresponding weight of each item in the custody of the user, such as items within cart state data associated with the user. Differences in weight between the weight change and the corresponding weight of each item in the custody of the user are calculated. Such differences may then be compared to one or more metrics, such as threshold values, to determine how well the top candidate item in the custody of the user matches the type of item designated for storage at the inventory location.

公开(公告)号：US11927472B1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US16453677

申请日：2019-06-26

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Matthew Ray DesJardien ,  Chelsea Olson ,  Robert M. Riggs ,  Dan Beltzer ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Aaron M. McDaniel ,  Andrew James Pierce ,  Michael Mosman ,  Nathan Pius O'Neill

IPC: G01G19/414 ,  G06Q30/0283 ,  H02S40/38

CPC classification number: G01G19/414 ,  G06Q30/0283 ,  H02S40/38

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.

公开(公告)号：US11796378B1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-24

申请号：US17304776

申请日：2021-06-25

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Robert M. Riggs ,  Andrew James Pierce ,  Cody Ryder Volk ,  Alexander Eugene Choi ,  Rafiuddin Arif Ahud ,  Graham Cyril Jordan ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Jacob Drewniak

IPC: G01G3/13 ,  G01G19/414 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06Q10/087

CPC classification number: G01G3/13 ,  G01G19/4144 ,  G06Q10/087

Abstract: An apparatus includes a platform or other accessory that is supported by one or more transducer assemblies using piezoelectric transducers. In one implementation, a saddle structure provides mechanical support to a platform while transferring force from a load onto a portion to which a pair of piezoelectric transducers are affixed. As a load on the saddle changes, the resulting change in strain on the portion produces signals from the piezoelectric transducers. In another implementation a beam provides mechanical support to a platform or other accessory. A pair of piezoelectric transducers are affixed near a strain concentrator, such as a hole in the beam, produce signals indicative of a change in load on the beam.

公开(公告)号：US11410119B1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-09

申请号：US15195964

申请日：2016-06-28

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Nikhil Chacko ,  Robert Crandall ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Liefeng Bo ,  Gerard Guy Medioni

IPC: G06Q10/08 ,  H04N5/225

Abstract: A user undertakes an event, such as adding, removing, or otherwise interacting with an item stowed at a fixture. Using successive samples of weight data that occur during an event, a plurality of vectors are generated that are indicative of a weight change and a location associated with the fixture. The vectors are processed to determine where within the fixture the event took place. Hypotheses are generated that describe predicted interactions involving predicted locations that correspond to those indicated by the vectors. The hypotheses are ranked and then one is selected as a solution. The predicted values associated with the selected hypothesis are then used to generate interaction data that indicates one or more types of item and quantities of the items that were added, removed, or otherwise handled by the user.

公开(公告)号：US11232395B1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

申请号：US15199030

申请日：2016-06-30

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Robert Crandall ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Nikhil Chacko ,  Liefeng Bo ,  Gerard Guy Medioni

IPC: G06Q30/00 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G06F7/02

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for removing noise from a signal to generate a modified signal, with the modified signal preserving any transitions of interest (e.g., sharp-edge discontinuities) present within the initial signal. In one example, the signal comprises a time-series signal with the time series representing a sequence of weight measurements from a scale device. In some examples, the scale device includes a platform that supports one or more physical items that may be selectively removed or added to. Here, the signal may include a sequence of step functions corresponding to changes in weight on the scale device (based on the removal or addition of items on the platform), plus corrupting noise from vibration. The techniques described herein may remove the corrupting noise, while preserving the sharp edges representing sudden changes in weight.

公开(公告)号：US11085809B1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16208370

申请日：2018-12-03

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Nicholas Franklin ,  Paul Eugene Munger

IPC: G01G21/22 ,  G01G21/23 ,  G06Q10/08 ,  G01G3/14

Abstract: A device comprises a crossmember. The crossmember is supported by one or more weight sensors, such that a total weight of the crossmember and any supported load may be measured. One or more strain gauges are affixed to the crossmember. An accessory may comprise a portion to support an inventory item, such as a hook, shelf, bin, basket, and so forth. The accessory also includes an engagement feature to mechanically engage a portion of the crossmember. Several accessories may be engaged to the crossmember. As the load on the accessory changes, such as due to a pick or place of items, a total weight change may be determined by summing the output from the weight sensors. Data from the strain gauges may be used to allocate the total weight change to a particular accessory, allowing for the determination of the weight change for that particular accessory.