OBJECT DIMENSIONING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20140373376A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantronix Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Quantronix Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Kennington, Robert L., Taylor, Brandon M., Carlsruh, Eve A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,528,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/553
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0021 for measuring the volumetric dimension of an object
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B7/004, G01B7/12 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and systems for obtaining one or more dimensions of an object employing, at least in part, touch sensors.

Claims

1. An object dimensioning apparatus, comprising:

at least one sensor element configured to generate a signal corresponding to at least one linear distance of at least one location on the at least one sensor element with respect to a reference location responsive to touch of the at least one sensor element at the location; and

a back surface above the reference location of at least one associated sensor element, extending perpendicular to a plane of the at least one associated sensor element.

2. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element comprises two linear sensor elements located in substantially coplanar relationship and oriented at a mutually included angle of 90°

, and further comprising a back surface located above the reference location of each sensor element and extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of that sensor element.

3. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein an end of one of the two linear sensor elements proximate the reference location thereof overlaps an end of the other of the two linear sensor elements proximate the reference location thereof.

4. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the back surfaces meet and form a corner.

5. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a third linear sensor element oriented perpendicular to the two linear sensor elements and substantially coplanar with one of the two back surfaces.

6. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 2, further comprising one of an ultrasound distance sensor and a laser range sensor over the two linear sensor elements aimed toward and substantially perpendicular to a plane of the two linear sensor elements proximate the reference locations of each of the two linear sensor elements.

7. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element comprises two linear sensor elements located in substantially coplanar, mutually parallel and laterally offset relationship and the back surface is above a distal end of one of the two linear sensor elements and oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof.

8. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 7, wherein mutually proximate ends of the two sensor elements overlap longitudinally.

9. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element comprises a rectangular sensor element, and the back surface comprises two portions oriented at a 90°

included angle at a corner of the rectangular sensor element.

10. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 9, further comprising one of an ultrasound distance sensor and a laser range sensor over the rectangular sensor element aimed toward and substantially perpendicular to a plane of the rectangular sensor element proximate the corner.

11. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a linear sensor element oriented perpendicular to the rectangular sensor element and substantially coplanar with one of the two back surface portions.

12. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor having memory associated therewith and operably coupled to the at least one sensor element, and an input device and an output device operably coupled to the microprocessor.

14. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a scale positioned for weighing an object resting on the at least one sensor element.

13. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one output device comprises at least one of a display and a network interface.

15. An object dimensioning apparatus, comprising:

a capacitive touchscreen sensor element with slider capability and configured to generate an outline of an object resting upon the sensor element responsive to a continuous touch about a periphery of the object.

17. The object dimensioning apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a linear sensor element oriented perpendicular to the capacitive touchscreen sensor element.

16. The object dimensioning system of claim 17, further comprising one of an ultrasound distance sensor and a laser range sensor over the capacitive touchscreen sensor element aimed toward and substantially perpendicular to a plane of the capacitive touchscreen sensor element.

18. A method of determining at least one dimension of an object, comprising:

placing an object on at least one sensor element configured to be responsive to touch;

touching the at least one sensor element on at least one location thereon to generate a signal; and

determining, responsive to the signal and using a processor, at least one linear distance of a location of the touch with respect to a reference location.

19. A method of determining at least one dimension of an object, comprising:

placing an object on a capacitive touchscreen sensor element with slider capability and configured to generate a signal representative of an outline of an object resting upon the sensor element responsive to a substantially continuous touch about a periphery of the object;

touching the sensor element substantially continuous about a periphery of the object; and

determining, responsive to the signal and using a processor, at least one dimension of the object.