Systems, Devices, and Methods for Object Quality Monitoring

• US 20180106742A1
• Filed: 10/12/2017
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Bruce W., Winkle, David, Jones, Matthew Allen, Vasgaard, Aaron James, Jones, Nicholaus Adam, Taylor, Robert James, Mattingly, Todd Davenport
• Granted Patent: US 10,955,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/00 Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D13/00, G01D15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/025 Fruits or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/14 Quality control systems

Abstract

A technique for monitoring the quality of objects is disclosed. A container includes a multiple sensors and is configured to receive an object. The sensors monitor various metrics associated with the quality of the object, and a display is affixed to the container for displaying a visual indication of the quality of the object. The visual indication is based on data collected from the sensors. A quality monitoring module is executed by a processor to control the sensors to switch operation between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation based on a detected change in one of the metrics monitored by the sensors.

Claims

1. A quality monitoring system comprising:

a container configured to receive an object;

a plurality of sensors configured to monitor a plurality of metrics associated with a quality of the object within the container;

a display affixed to the container and configured to display a visual indication of the quality of the object within the container, the visual indication based at least in part on data collected from the plurality of sensors; and

a quality monitoring module executed by a processor in a processing device, the quality monitoring module in communication with the plurality of sensors and the display and configured to control the plurality of sensors to switch operation between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation based on a detected change in one of the plurality of metrics associated with a quality of an object being monitored by the plurality of sensors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of metrics associated with a quality of the object within the container include at least two of temperature, pressure, off-gassing, weight and moisture.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the quality monitoring module instructs the plurality of sensors to transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on a geographical location of the container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the quality monitoring module instructs the plurality of sensors to transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on off-gas characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the quality monitoring module instructs the plurality of sensors to transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on moisture characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the quality monitoring module is further configured to generate a notification in response to a metric associated with the quality of the object falling below a quality threshold value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to indicate a mode of operation of the sensors.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an RFID tag associated with the container that is configured to transmit data representative of the quality of the object or a mode of operation of the sensors.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to read a machine-readable code associated with the object.

10. A quality monitoring method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of metrics associated with a quality of an object within a container using a plurality of sensors;

displaying, via a display affixed to the container, a visual indication of the quality of the object within the container, the visual indication based at least in part on data collected from the plurality of sensors;

controlling the plurality of sensors to operate in a first mode of operation;

controlling the plurality of sensors to operate in a second mode of operation; and

instructing the plurality of sensors to switch between the first mode of operation and second mode of operation based on a detected change in one of the plurality of metrics associated with a quality of an object within the container.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of metrics associated with a quality of the object within the container include at least two of temperature, pressure, off-gassing, weight and moisture.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transitioning from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on a geographical location of the container.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transitioning from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on off-gas characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transitioning from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on moisture characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating a notification in response to a metric associated with the quality of the object falling below a quality threshold value.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to indicate a mode of operation of the sensors.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting, via an RFID tag associated with the container, data representative of the quality of the object or a mode of operation of the sensors.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

reading a machine-readable code associated with the object using a sensor associated with the container.

19. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions executable by a processing device, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processing device to implement a method for monitoring the quality of an object, the method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of metrics associated with a quality of an object within a container using a plurality of sensors;

displaying, via a display affixed to the container, a visual indication of the quality of the object within the container, the visual indication based at least in part on data collected from the plurality of sensors;

controlling the plurality of sensors to operate in a first mode of operation;

controlling the plurality of sensors to operate in a second mode of operation; and

instructing the plurality of sensors to switch between the first mode of operation and second mode of operation based on a detected change in one of the plurality of metrics associated with a quality of an object within the container.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of metrics associated with a quality of the object within the container include at least two of temperature, pressure, off-gassing, weight and moisture.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processing device to transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on a geographical location of the container.

22. The medium of claim 19, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processing device to transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on off-gas characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors.

23. The medium of claim 19, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processing device to transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based on moisture characteristics detected by the plurality of sensors.

24. The medium of claim 19, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processing device to generate a notification in response to a metric associated with the quality of the object falling below a quality threshold value.

25. The medium of claim 19, wherein the display is further configured to indicate a mode of operation of the sensors.

26. The medium of claim 19, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processing device to transmit, via an RFID tag associated with the container, data representative of the quality of the object or a mode of operation of the sensors.