Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Jacob Alex Siegel

Jeremy Samuel De Bonet

Nicholas McMahon

Matthew Clark Webster

Brett Allen Skaloud

James Merton Tidman

Thomas Duester

Jeffrey Kevin Feiereisen

Robert P Irwin

Robert David Serra

Charles H Wood

Dawn Marie Pfund

Michael Nathan Danenberg

David Wai-Man Wong

Jonathan Evan Cohn

Nicholas Franklin

Jacob Paul Warren

Wade Burch

Nicholas Mendenhall

Zihui Zhang

Brendan Kyle McLeod

Sydney Tye Minnis

Nathan Pius O'Neill

Paul Eugene Munger

Venkata Srikiran Bodapati

James Olney

Sridharan Thirumalai Vasu

This disclosure describes, in part, a mobile apparatus for identifying items. For instance, the mobile apparatus may include a frame, a basket that attaches to the frame, a tray that attaches to the frame, and a user-facing module that attaches to the frame. Weight sensors may be located beneath the basket and the tray in order to determine the weights of items added to the mobile apparatus. The user-facing module may include imaging devices, such as cameras, that the mobile apparatus uses to perform one or more functions. For example, the mobile apparatus may use the imaging devices to identify items placed within the basket, determine locations of the mobile apparatus within a facility, and/or the like. By including these components, the mobile apparatus is able to generate data that represents the items added to the mobile apparatus, the weights of the items, and the costs of the items.

Item identifying mobile apparatus

This disclosure describes, in part, a mobile apparatus for identifying items. For instance, the mobile apparatus may include a main frame, a chassis attached to the main frame, and a basket that attaches to the chassis in order to prevent the basket from contacting the main frame. One or more sensors, such as weight sensor(s), may be located between the basket and the main frame. The mobile apparatus may further include a shelf that extends substantially horizontally from the main frame, where a gate separates the basket from the shelf. A user may then place first item(s) within a receptacle of the basket and second item(s) within a receptacle of the shelf. The mobile apparatus may further include a handlebar module attached to the main frame, where the handlebar module includes an opening for inserting a removable battery of the mobile apparatus.

This disclosure is directed to an item-identifying, mobile cart that may be utilized by a user in a materials handling facility to automatically identify a user operating the cart and items that the user places into a basket of the cart. In addition, the cart may update a virtual shopping cart of the identified user to include items taken by the user. The mobile cart may include multiple imaging devices and oriented such that their respective optical axes are directed towards an interior of a perimeter of the top of the basket, and above the top of the basket. The mobile cart may also include an imaging device oriented away from the basket such that a user operating the mobile cart may scan a user identifier using this imaging device to enable recognition of the user.

Item-identifying carts

Wheeled cart

Items may be stored on a fixture of a facility using one or more accessories, such as trays or bins. Weighing modules that include one or more load cells may be mounted to a crossbar of the fixture. The accessories of the fixture may then be mounted to the crossbar via the weighing modules. The load cells within each weighing module can collect weight data associated with items stowed in the accessories that are coupled to the weighing module. When a weight change is detected at the fixture, a particular load cell is identified as the source of the weight change. Once a load cell is identified, the accessory coupled to the load cell is identified, as well as the types of items stowed therein. Interaction data can then be determined to indicate a type of item that was added to or removed from the accessory of the fixture.

Detection of load cells associated with weight changes at a fixture

Wheeled cart handle

Interposer assemblies may be inserted between a traditional shelf and traditional supports for the shelf. Each of the interposer assemblies may be configured to generate signals corresponding to changes in loading on the traditional shelf, and information regarding the changes may be determined to identify items placed onto or removed from the traditional shelf, and locations at which the items were placed or from which the items were removed. The interposer assemblies may include one or more load cells, such as strain-gage load cells, and analog signals generated by the load cells may be processed to determine a mass of an item placed on the shelf or removed therefrom. The item, and a location corresponding to the item, may be determined based on the mass and according to standard equilibrium procedures.

Interposers for converting traditional shelves into smart shelves

A fixture includes a plurality of brackets. Accessories such as wire hooks, shelves, bins, and so forth may be supported by one or more brackets. A load cell supports each bracket and generates a signal that is indicative of changes to the bracket as items are added or removed from the accessory. The brackets include features such as tabs that prevent accessories from moving laterally. The fixtures are easily reconfigured to accommodate accessories of different sizes that in turn may support items of different sizes.

Multi-lane weight measuring device

A parallel planar weight sensing device includes an accessory mounting bracket with an upper portion and a lower portion. Part of the accessory mounting bracket extends around a crossmember that also has an upper portion and a lower portion. Affixed to the upper portion of the crossmember is a first load cell while a second load cell is affixed to the lower portion of the crossmember. The upper portion of the accessory mounting bracket is affixed to the first load cell while the lower portion is affixed to the second load cell. An accessory, such as a shelf or hook, may be attached to the accessory mounting bracket and used to stow items. As the load on the accessory changes, such as due to a pick or place of items, a total weight change may be determined by summing the output from the load cells.

Parallel planar weight sensing device

Shelves or other fixtures may be used to support items at a facility. Weighing modules including load cells may be used at the fixtures to acquire weight data indicative of changes to the fixture as items are added or removed from the fixture. Weighing modules may be modular and repositionable with respect to a crossbar or other supporting member that provides electrical power and data connectivity. This allows for the fixtures to be easily reconfigured to accommodate items of different sizes.

Components of weighing module and mechanism for coupling to fixture

Shelves or other fixtures may be used to support items at a facility. Weighing modules including load cells may be used at the fixtures to acquire weight data indicative of changes to the fixture as items are added or removed from the fixture. Weighing modules may be modular and repositionable with respect to a modular crossbar that provides electrical power and data connectivity. This allows for the fixtures to be easily reconfigured to accommodate items of different sizes.

Crossbar mechanism for coupling to fixture

Shelves or other fixtures may be used to support items at a facility. Weighing modules including load cells may be used at the fixtures to acquire weight data indicative of changes to the fixture as items are added or removed from the fixture. Accessories such as trays, bins, hangers, and so forth may be attached to the load cells, allowing the fixtures to be easily reconfigured to accommodate items of different sizes.

Fixture with brackets, crossbar mechanism, and weighing module

Smart shelves

Growing community of inventors

Marlborough, MA, United States of America

Jacob Alex Siegel