Modular storage systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11927472-B1
Application number	US-201916453677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2019
Priority date	Jun 26, 2019
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A materials handling facility comprising:
a computer system;
a light source;
a table; and
a storage system resting on an upper surface of the table, wherein the storage system comprises:
a platform having a plurality of items thereon;
a plurality of load sensors disposed between an underside of the platform and the upper surface of the table, wherein each of the plurality of load sensors comprises:
a battery;
a load cell configured to generate load signals corresponding to a load supplied to the load cell; and
a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the load signals to the computer system; and

a photovoltaic power source provided at a front edge of the platform, wherein the photovoltaic power source comprises a housing and at least a first photovoltaic cell disposed in an upper surface of the housing, wherein the photovoltaic power source is configured to absorb light energy from at least the light source and to generate electrical energy from the light energy, and wherein the photovoltaic power source is electrically coupled to the batteries of each of the plurality of load sensors,

wherein the computer system is programmed with one or more sets of instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to at least:
receive, from each of the plurality of load sensors, load signals corresponding to the loads supplied to the load cells;
determine, based at least in part on at least two of the load signals, a change in load on the platform;
identify at least one item from the plurality of items associated with the change in load on the platform; and
store an indication of at least one transaction associated with the at least one item.

2. The materials handling facility of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a sheet of steel, and
wherein the housing is a plastic extrusion having injection-molded end caps at either end and a polycarbonate shield at the upper surface of the housing.

3. The materials handling facility of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic power source is in communication with the computer system, and
wherein the one or more sets of instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to at least:
receive, from the photovoltaic power source, information regarding a first level of electrical energy generated by at least the first photovoltaic cell from light emitted by at least the light source; and
select at least one of a first pulse duration or a first pulse interval based at least in part on the first level of electrical energy,
wherein each of the load signals has the first pulse duration and is transmitted at the first pulse interval.

4. The materials handling facility of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic power source is in communication with the computer system, and
wherein the one or more sets of instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to at least:
receive, from the photovoltaic power source, information regarding a first level of electrical energy generated by at least the first photovoltaic cell from light emitted by at least the light source at a first time;
receive, from the photovoltaic power source, information regarding a second level of electrical energy generated by at least the first photovoltaic cell from light emitted by at least the light source at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time;
determine that the second level of electrical energy is less than the first level of electrical energy; and
in response to determining that the second level of electrical energy is less than the first level of electrical energy,
determine that the transaction occurred at the second time.

5. A method comprising:
configuring a first load sensor to transmit load signals for a first duration and in accordance with a first interval;
receiving, from the first load sensor, a first load signal, wherein the first load signal indicates a force applied to the first load sensor by a first platform at a first time and wherein the first load signal is transmitted by the first load sensor for the first duration;
receiving, from the first load sensor, a second load signal, wherein the second load signal indicates a force applied to the first load sensor by the first platform at a second time, wherein the second load signal is transmitted by the first load sensor for the first duration, and wherein a time between the first time and the second time is the first interval;
detecting a variation in loading on the first platform based at least in part on the first load signal and the second load signal;
in response to detecting the variation in the loading on the first platform,
configuring the first load sensor to transmit load signals for a second duration and in accordance with a second interval, wherein at least one of the second duration is longer than the first duration, or the second interval is shorter than the first interval;

receiving, from the first load sensor, a third load signal, wherein the third load signal indicates a force applied to the first load sensor by the first platform at a third time, wherein the first load signal is transmitted by the first load sensor for the second duration;
receiving, from the first load sensor, a fourth load signal, wherein the fourth load signal indicates a force applied to the first load sensor by the first platform at a fourth time, wherein the fourth load signal is transmitted by the first load sensor for the second duration, and wherein a time between the third time and the fourth time is the second interval;
identifying a first item based at least in part on the third load signal and the fourth load signal; and
storing information regarding a transaction involving the first item in at least one data store.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein identifying the first item based at least in part on the third load signal and the fourth load signal comprises:
calculating at least one of a mass or a weight based at least in part on the third load signal and the fourth load signal, wherein the mass or the weight is calculated based at least in part on a difference between the force applied to the first load sensor by the first platform at the third time and the force applied to the first load sensor by the first platform at the fourth time;
identifying the at least one of the mass or the weight in a record comprising associations of items with masses or weights, wherein the record is stored in at least one data store, and wherein the first item is one of the items; and
identifying one of the items having the at least one of the mass or the weight based at least in part on the record, wherein the one of the items having the at least one of the mass or the weight is the first item.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining a cost associated with the transaction based at least in part on the variation in the loading, wherein the cost associated with the transaction is one of:
a unit cost; or
a product of a cost per mass or weight and one of the mass or the weight; and

charging the cost associated with the transaction to a customer.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first load sensor comprises a first housing having a first load cell, a first power source and a first transceiver disposed therein.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first housing comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and a raised edge defining a corner,
wherein at least a portion of the first platform rests on the upper surface of the first housing, and
wherein a corner of the first platform is in contact with the raised edge.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first housing comprises an extension extending laterally outward from a

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Desjardien Matthew Ray
• Olson Chelsea
• Riggs Robert M
• Beltzer Dan
• Munger Paul Eugene
• Mcdaniel Aaron M
• Pierce Andrew James
• Mosman Michael
• O'Neill Nathan Pius

Classifications

• G01G19/414 Primary

  using electronic computing means only · CPC title

• G06Q30/0283 Primary

  Price estimation or determination · CPC title

• H02S40/38

  Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules · CPC title

• G01G19/42

  for counting by weighing (G01G19/387 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01G23/007

  Integrated arrangements for generating electrical power, e.g. solar cells · CPC title