Cable-based measuring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9541422-B2
Application number	US-201214370741-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2012
Priority date	Jan 9, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products related to a cable-based measuring system. The cable-based measuring system includes a cable, comprising an inner cable member configured to move linearly within an outer cable housing. The measuring system also includes a measuring device configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing using one or more encoders. A computer system receives the measurement information from the measuring device. The measurement information indicates length as a function of time, and represents three orthogonal dimensional measurements of a three-dimensional object. Based on the measurement information, the computer system identifies a length of each dimensional measurement, including a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object. The computer system then initiates creation of a box template sized to accommodate the three-dimensional object and/or updates a database.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A cable-based measuring system, comprising:
a cable, the cable comprising an inner cable member positioned within an outer cable housing, the inner cable member being configured to move linearly within the outer cable housing;
a measuring device, the measuring device being configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing; and
a computer system, the computer system being configured to perform the following:
(i) receive the measurement information from the measuring device and initiate creation of a box template based on the measurement information; and
(ii) receive the measurement information from the measuring device for a physical item and update an existing entry in an item database for the physical item, wherein updating the existing entry in the item database comprises updating dimensional information previously stored in the item database for the physical item, such that box templates for the physical item subsequently created upon initiation by the computer system are created based upon the updated dimensional information.

2. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a first end and an opposing second end, the first end being configured to enable a user to pull a corresponding first end of the inner cable member away from a corresponding first end of the outer cable housing, the second end being configured to interface with the measuring device and to enable the measuring device to determine a distance by which the first end of the inner cable member has been pulled away from the first end of outer cable housing.

3. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the measuring device is configured to apply a force configured to pull the inner cable member into the measuring device.

4. The cable-based measuring system of claim 3 , wherein the measuring device is configured to wind at least a portion of the inner cable member onto a spool.

5. The cable-based measuring system of claim 4 , wherein the measuring device includes a spring mechanism, the spring mechanism being configured to apply the force to pull the inner cable member into the measuring device and to wind the at least a portion of the inner cable member onto the spool.

6. The cable-based measuring system of claim 4 , wherein the measuring device includes a motor mechanism, the motor mechanism being configured apply the force to pull the inner cable member into the measuring device and to wind the at least a portion of the inner cable member onto the spool.

7. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the measuring device comprises one or more encoders, the one or more encoders being configured to detect movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing.

8. The cable-based measuring system of claim 7 , wherein the measuring device generates the measurement information based on the detected movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing.

9. The cable-based measuring system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more encoders detect both a distance and a direction of movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing.

10. The cable-based measuring system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more encoders comprise one or more optical encoders.

11. The cable-based measuring system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more encoders comprise one or more mechanical encoders.

12. The cable-based measuring system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more mechanical encoders detect rotation of a spool.

13. The cable-based measuring system of claim 12 , wherein the measurement information comprises a rotational direction and an amount of rotational movement of the spool.

14. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement information comprises a number of pulses generated by one or more encoders during movement of the inner cable member and a direction of the movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing.

15. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement information comprises cable length information indicating a distance separating a first end of the inner cable member from a corresponding first end of the outer cable housing.

16. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to convert the measurement information into dimensional information.

17. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to convert raw encoder data from one or more encoders into length information.

18. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the length information corresponds to one or more of a metric or an imperial scale.

19. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a Bowden cable.

20. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a flexible cable.

21. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises a rigid cable.

22. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a counterweight, the counterweight configured to apply a force which causes the inner cable member to retract into the outer cable housing.

23. The cable-based measuring system of claim 1 , wherein the box template is configured to be erected into a custom-sized box for a measured item.

24. A measuring system, comprising:
a measuring device, comprising:
one or more encoders, the one or more encoders configured to detect movement of an inner cable member relative to an outer cable member and to generate measurement information relating to movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable member; and
a communications mechanism, the communications mechanism configured to communicate the measurement information to a computer system; and

a computer system configured to communicate with the measuring device, the computer system being configured to perform the following:
initiate creation of a box template based on the measurement information; and
update an existing entry in a database for a physical item measured with the measuring device, wherein updating the existing entry comprises updating dimensional information previously stored in the database for the physical item, such that box templates for the physical item subsequently created upon initiation by the computer system are created based upon the updated dimensional information.

25. A non-transitory computer system including one or more processors and system memory, a method for identifying three-dimensional object measurements, the method comprising:
the computer system receiving measurement data, the measurement data indicating length as a function of time, the measurement data indicating at least three orthogonal dimensional measurements, each dimensional measurement corresponding to a dimension of a three-dimensional object;
the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement, including identifying at least a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object based on the measurement data;
the computer system initiating creation of a physical box template from raw material, the physical box template being configured to be erected into a box sized to accommodate the three-dimensional object; and
the computer system updating a database, updating the database in

Assignees

• Packsize Llc

Inventors

• Pettersson Niklas

Classifications

• G01B2210/58

  Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit · CPC title

• G01B21/02

  for measuring length, width, or thickness (G01B21/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B5/02

  for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B5/004, G01B5/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01B3/11

  Chains for measuring length · CPC title

• G01B5/0021

  for measuring the volumetric dimension of an object · CPC title