公开(公告)号：US10969267B1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-06

申请号：US16290320

申请日：2019-03-01

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Nicholas Franklin ,  Jeremy Samuel De Bonet ,  Nicholas McMahon ,  Nicholas Mendenhall ,  Paul Eugene Munger ,  Jacob Siegel ,  Zihui Zhang

IPC: G01G19/414 ,  G01G19/18 ,  G01G21/23 ,  G01G21/28 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: A parallel planar weight sensing device includes an accessory mounting bracket with an upper portion and a lower portion. Part of the accessory mounting bracket extends around a crossmember that also has an upper portion and a lower portion. Affixed to the upper portion of the crossmember is a first load cell while a second load cell is affixed to the lower portion of the crossmember. The upper portion of the accessory mounting bracket is affixed to the first load cell while the lower portion is affixed to the second load cell. An accessory, such as a shelf or hook, may be attached to the accessory mounting bracket and used to stow items. 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 load cells.

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.

公开(公告)号：US11893866B1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-06

申请号：US17527654

申请日：2021-11-16

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas Franklin ,  Andre David Brown

IPC: G07G1/00 ,  G06Q20/20 ,  G06Q20/18 ,  G07G1/12 ,  G01G19/40

CPC classification number: G07G1/0054 ,  G01G19/40 ,  G06Q20/18 ,  G06Q20/208 ,  G07G1/0072 ,  G07G1/0081 ,  G07G1/12

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, wheel apparatuses that includes weight sensors. For instance, a wheel apparatus may include at least a hub, a rim located around the hub, a tire located around the rim, weight sensor(s) located within the rim, and a caster that connects the wheel apparatus to a mobile apparatus. In some examples, the wheel apparatus may include additional components, such as one or more batteries, a generator, and/or a wireless communication interface. As such, the mobile apparatus may use the wheel sensors included in the wheel apparatuses to determine weights, such as weights of items added to the mobile apparatus. In some examples, the wheel apparatuses are configured such that the weight sensors remain perpendicular with respect to a ground plane so that the mobile apparatus may use the weight sensors to determine the weights even when the mobile apparatus is moving.

公开(公告)号：US11766140B1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-26

申请号：US16822770

申请日：2020-03-18

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Gregory Kim Justice ,  Nicholas Franklin ,  Rafiuddin Arif Ahud ,  Ziwei Xia ,  Nir Charny

IPC: A47F13/00 ,  A47F5/08 ,  G01G3/14 ,  G01G19/414 ,  G01G19/52 ,  G01G21/23 ,  G01G3/13

CPC classification number: A47F13/00 ,  A47F5/0823 ,  G01G3/13 ,  G01G3/14 ,  G01G21/23 ,  G01G19/4144

Abstract: A multi-interface apparatus includes a crossbar to which a plurality of accessories using different mechanical interfaces may be attached and detached. Accessories such as wire hooks, shelves, bins, and so forth may be used. The different mechanical interfaces may include slatwall, pegboard, and saddle mount. Multiple accessories with different types of mechanical interfaces may be supported simultaneously by the crossbar. The crossbar may be instrumented. For example, load cells may be used to determine the weight on the crossbar.

公开(公告)号：US11125607B1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-21

申请号：US16427072

申请日：2019-05-30

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Gregory Kim Justice ,  Dan Beltzer ,  Zihui Zhang ,  Nicholas Franklin

IPC: G01G19/414 ,  G01G21/22 ,  G01G21/23 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: A fixture includes a crossbar to which a plurality of brackets are attached. Accessories such as wire hooks, shelves, bins, and so forth may be supported by one or more brackets. Each of the brackets may comprise an accessory support piece and at least one load cell arm which in turn is attached to the crossbar. A load cell sensor affixed to the load cell arm generates a signal that is indicative of weight changes to the bracket as items are added or removed from the accessory. The accessory support piece may include features such as tabs that prevent accessories from moving laterally. The accessory support piece may accommodate accessories of different sizes that in turn may support items of different sizes.

公开(公告)号：US11002589B1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-11

申请号：US16217982

申请日：2018-12-12

Applicant: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Zihui Zhang ,  Nicholas Mendenhall ,  Sydney Tye Minnis ,  Nicholas Franklin ,  Venkata Srikiran Bodapati ,  Nathan Pius O'Neill ,  Jacob Siegel ,  Nicholas McMahon ,  James Olney ,  Jeremy De Bonet

IPC: G01G19/14 ,  G01G19/52 ,  G06Q10/08

Abstract: A fixture includes a plurality of brackets. Accessories such as wire hooks, shelves, bins, and so forth may be supported by one or more brackets. A load cell supports each bracket and generates a signal that is indicative of changes to the bracket as items are added or removed from the accessory. The brackets include features such as tabs that prevent accessories from moving laterally. The fixtures are easily reconfigured to accommodate accessories of different sizes that in turn may support items of different sizes.