Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Other

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Christopher Robert Towers

Yasser Baseer Asmi

Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam

Gopi Prashanth Gopal

Xiaofeng Ren

Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan

Liefeng Bo

Avishkar Misra

Ramanathan Palaniappan

Michel Leonard Goldstein

William Peter Stiles

Navid Shiee

David Douglas Bohn

Dilip Kumar

Sridhar Boyapati

Gianna Lise Puerini

Jason Michael Famularo

Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.

Determining inventory changes at an inventory location

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.

Generation of footprint data for items

This disclosure describes, in part, embodiments of a material dispenser configured to dispense material while tracking an amount of dispensed material and messaging to a user, in near-real-time, the amount of dispensed materials, a running cost of the dispensed materials, and/or the like. The material dispenser may include one or more weight sensors to track an amount of dispensed material and a display to indicate to a user a running amount of material that has been dispensed and a running cost to the user.

Material dispensers

Image based inventory item counting

Detecting item actions and inventory changes at an inventory location

Disclosed optical mounts are resistant to the various stresses that may be experienced by optical display devices. An optical mount is provided with mechanical compliance and resiliency. Such mechanical compliance and resiliency associated with the disclosed optical mounts are intended to absorb thermal and/or mechanical stresses, while protecting and preserving the operational functionality of optical waveguides coupled to the disclosed optical mounts.

Optical waveguide mount

An item stowed at an inventory location may rest on a surface such as a shelf or may be supported above the surface. The item may exhibit a footprint that is representative of a physical perimeter of the item. For example, the footprint may be an edge of a shadow cast by the item. Information about a size and shape of a footprint associated with a particular item may be stored. An optical sensor array may acquire sensor image data indicative of the footprint of one or more of the items stored at an inventory location. A quantity of items at the inventory location may be determined by comparing the sensor image data with the stored data.

Optical item management system

Counting inventory items using image analysis

Counting stacked inventory using image analysis

Counting inventory items using image analysis and depth information

Container

A storage container intended for placement into standard water bottle holders often found on bicycles. The container has a door, which can be rotated open on a hinge. This can be done without removing the container from the water bottle holder. The container has a retention feature for keeping the door closed. The container provides the user with a storage space for such articles including, but not limited to sunglasses, personal identification, emergency information, money, credit cards, patch kits, tools, writing tools, computers, cell phones, food and first aid kits. The container's shape properly orients the container in the water bottle holder and prevents the container from rotating axially in the water bottle holder or from falling out under vibration. The container may be locked closed and may also be locked to the bottle holder. The container's shape is such that it can stand vertically or horizontally, opened or closed on a flat surface, such as the ground or a tabletop.

Storage container intended for placement into standard water bottle holders often found on bicycles

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Christopher Robert Towers