Tool attribute management in automated tool control systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12589481-B2
Application number	US-202418736325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2024
Priority date	Jun 6, 2023
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

An inventory control system comprises a tool storage device including a drawer, a tray, or a shelf having a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of objects which define a silhouette in the tool storage device. The inventory control system comprises a sensing device configured to sense color, a display device configured to display information about the inventory control system, and a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions causing the processor to determine a plurality of colors of the plurality of objects stored in the tool storage device, which also causes the processor to generate an image in the form of an arrangement of colored blocks, wherein the display of color blocks represent associated color data of the plurality of objects and a size of each color block is proportional to the percentage of RGB color data in the silhouette.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An inventory control system comprising:
a tool storage device including a drawer, a tray, or a shelf having a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of objects, wherein the plurality of objects defines a silhouette in the tool storage device; a sensing device configured to sense color; a display device configured to display information about the inventory control system; and a processor configured to:
determine a color signature of the silhouette of each object of the plurality of objects stored in the tool storage device; and
generate at least one image in comprising an arrangement of colored blocks, wherein the color blocks represent color data associated with the plurality of objects and a size of each color block is proportional to a percentage of color data in the color signature of each silhouette; and
display the arrangement of colored blocks.

2 . The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the drawer, the tray or the shelf comprises foam.

3 . The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is a camera, configured to capture RGB color data.

4 . The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate color signatures in comparison to previous color signatures and make adjustments to the sensing device.

5 . The inventory control system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive updated color data; and recalibrate the color signatures using updated color data and make adjustments to the sensing device.

6 . The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the size of the color block is proportional to a signature of color data.

7 . The inventory control system of claim 4 , wherein the color signatures consist of hue, saturation, and intensity.

8 . The inventory control system of claim 1 , wherein the color data associated with a silhouette is stored for comparison to a current status of the plurality of objects in the storage device.

9 . A method determining a location status of an item in a tool storage device, comprising:
receiving color data from a sensing device; identifying a silhouette of each object of a plurality of objects stored in the tool storage device; determining a color signature of each silhouette of the plurality of objects stored in the tool storage device; generating at least one image in comprising an arrangement of colored blocks, wherein the color blocks represent color data associated with the plurality of objects and a size of each color block is proportional to a percentage of color data in the color signature of each silhouette; and displaying the arrangement of colored blocks on a display device.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensing device is a camera configured to capture RGB color data.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising calibrating color signatures in comparison to a previous color signature and adjusting the capture of color attributes to the sensing device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving updated color data; recalibrating the color signatures using updated color data; and adjusting the color attributes of the color data.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the size of the color block is proportional to identified silhouette color data.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein color signatures consist of hue, saturation, and intensity.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the color data associated with a silhouette is stored for comparison to a current status of the plurality of objects in the storage device.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for determining a location status of an item in a tool storage device, comprising:
receiving color data from a sensing device; determining a color signature of each silhouette of a plurality of objects stored in a tool storage device; generating at least one image in comprising an arrangement of colored blocks, wherein the color blocks represent color data associated with the plurality of objects and a size of each color block is proportional to a percentage of color data in the color signature of each silhouette; and displaying the arrangement of colored blocks on a display device.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving updated color data; recalibrating color signatures using updated color data; and adjusting the color attributes of the color data.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the size of the color block is proportional to identified silhouette color data.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein color signatures consist of hue, saturation, and intensity.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the color data associated with a silhouette is stored for comparison to a current status of the plurality of objects in the storage device.

Assignees

• Snap On Incorporated

Inventors

• Fly David C
• Lipsey Matthew J
• Phillips Preston C
• Born Traig E
• Rogers Frederick J
• Chwan Joseph
• Pavlick Gavin
• Houston Cody

Classifications

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06T7/0008

  checking presence/absence · CPC title

• G06T2207/10024

  Color image · CPC title

• G06T7/90

  Determination of colour characteristics · CPC title

• B25H3/028 Primary

  by sliding extraction from within a common frame · CPC title