ULTRASONIC DIMENSIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A five-touch ultrasonic method of dimensioning an object of interest, comprising:
- providing an ultrasonic dimensioning system, said system further comprising;
an object support surface,at least three ultrasonic receivers adapted to be in a suitable position relative to said object of interest when said object of interest resides on said object support surface,at least one ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic pulses to said at least three ultrasonic receivers while touching said cuboid object, anda computing device in communication with said at least three receivers and said at least one transmitter, said computing device programmed with at least a five-touch multilateration algorithm;
determining a major axis of said object of interest;
separately touching said ultrasonic transmitter, in no particular order, to a first set of two points on opposite sides of said object of interest and lying a sufficient distance apart, to a second set of two points on opposite sides of said object of interest and lying a sufficient distance apart, and to a fifth point being a sufficient distance from said object support surface;
causing said ultrasonic transmitter to emit an ultrasonic pulse while touching each of said five points;
receiving said ultrasonic pulses at said ultrasonic receivers; and
using said five-touch multilateration algorithm to determine dimensions of said object of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic dimensioning system and method by which objects can be quickly and accurately measured (dimensioned). The system includes at least a stable object support surface, a number of ultrasonic receivers, and an ultrasonic transmitter. The ultrasonic transmitter is preferably part of a pointer device that is properly positioned relative to an object to be measured, the proper position(s) depending on the shape of the object. Subsequent transmission of ultrasonic pulses (waves) from the pointer device are received by the ultrasonic receivers. The time intervals between transmission and reception of the ultrasonic pulses (waves) are used to determine the distance of the pointer from the receivers, which distances are subsequently used to calculate the dimensions/volume of the object.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A five-touch ultrasonic method of dimensioning an object of interest, comprising:
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providing an ultrasonic dimensioning system, said system further comprising; an object support surface, at least three ultrasonic receivers adapted to be in a suitable position relative to said object of interest when said object of interest resides on said object support surface, at least one ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic pulses to said at least three ultrasonic receivers while touching said cuboid object, and a computing device in communication with said at least three receivers and said at least one transmitter, said computing device programmed with at least a five-touch multilateration algorithm; determining a major axis of said object of interest; separately touching said ultrasonic transmitter, in no particular order, to a first set of two points on opposite sides of said object of interest and lying a sufficient distance apart, to a second set of two points on opposite sides of said object of interest and lying a sufficient distance apart, and to a fifth point being a sufficient distance from said object support surface; causing said ultrasonic transmitter to emit an ultrasonic pulse while touching each of said five points; receiving said ultrasonic pulses at said ultrasonic receivers; and using said five-touch multilateration algorithm to determine dimensions of said object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A five-touch ultrasonic method of dimensioning a cuboid of a size sufficient to enclose an object of interest, comprising:
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providing an ultrasonic dimensioning system, said system further comprising; a substantially planar object support surface, at least three ultrasonic receivers positioned to be above said object of interest when said object of interest resides on said object support surface, at least one ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic pulses to said at least three ultrasonic receivers while touching said cuboid object, and a microprocessor in communication with said at least three receivers and said at least one transmitter, said microprocessor programmed with at least a five-touch multilateration algorithm; defining a major axis of said object of interest; separately touching said ultrasonic transmitter, in no particular order, to two points on opposite sides of said object of interest and lying as far apart as possible on lines substantially parallel to said major axis, and to two points on opposite sides of said object of interest and lying as far apart as possible on lines substantially perpendicular to said major axis; subsequent thereto, touching said ultrasonic transmitter to a fifth point, said fifth point being a point on said object of interest that lies the farthest away from said object support surface; causing said ultrasonic transmitter to emit an ultrasonic pulse while touching each of said five points; receiving said ultrasonic pulses at said ultrasonic receivers; and using said five-touch multilateration algorithm to calculate the dimensions of a cuboid of sufficient size to enclose said object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification