Generation of footprint data for items
US11034516B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jun 15, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B11/24
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An item stowed at an inventory location may rest or be supported by a surface, such as a shelf, that includes an optical sensor array. The optical sensor array comprises a plurality of optical sensors that detect light intensity values. When a light source illuminates the item resting on the surface, a footprint or shadow is cast by the item onto the surface. Such a shadow is detected by the light intensity values at the optical sensors in the optical sensor array. Once the shadow is detected, information about the area, shape, and perimeter of the shadow can be determined and saved as footprint data for a single item. Such a process can be performed at intake of the item to the facility and later accessed to determine a quantity of the item on a shelf of a facility.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.