MODULAR SHELVING SYSTEMS FOR PACKAGE TRACKING

• US 20190098263A1
• Filed: 11/30/2018
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Position Imaging, Inc.
• Inventors: Seiger, Alex, Kirmani, Shahzad Farooq, Hill, Edward L.
• Granted Patent: US 11,057,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0091 Modular arrangements of similar assemblies of elements for elements or assemblies mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/047, sectional furniture A47B87/00, stackable furniture A47B87/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A shelving system has at least one shelf, a camera fixed at a distance from the at least one shelf such that a field of view of the camera faces the at least one shelf and closely encompasses the at least one shelf, and a controller in communication with the camera. The controller has a processor adapted to receive images captured by the camera within the camera'"'"'s field of view and to determine from the images whether a particular object has been placed on, moved, or removed from the at least one shelf.

Claims

1. A kit for a modular shelving system comprising:

a camera configured for placement at a distance from at least one shelf such that the camera has a field of view that faces and closely encompasses the at least one shelf;

a light source; and

a controller adapted to communicate with the light source and with the camera to receive images captured by the camera, the controller having a processor configured to process the images captured by the camera and to activate the light source, in response to the processed images, to draw attention to a location on the at least one shelf within the field of view of the camera.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the processor of the controller is further configured to determine from the images captured by the camera whether an object has been placed on, moved, or removed from the at least one shelf.

3. The kit of claim 1, further comprising an apparatus for mounting the camera at the distance from the at least one shelf such that the field of view of the camera faces and closely encompasses the at least one shelf.

4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the apparatus for mounting the camera comprises an arm adapted to couple to the at least one shelf.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured for wireless communication with the controller for transmitting the captured images thereto.

6. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a gimbal adapted for physically coupling to the light source, wherein the controller is configured to determine a direction of shining the light source by adjusting the gimbal.

7. The kit of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured for wireless communication with the controller to receive commands therefrom.

8. The kit of claim 1, further comprising the at least one shelf.

9. The kit of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light projector adapted to face the at least one shelf and shine light on a shelving area of interest on the at least one shelf as determined by the controller.

10. A shelving system comprising:

at least one shelf;

a camera fixed at a distance from the at least one shelf such that the camera has a field of view that faces and closely encompasses the at least one shelf;

a light source; and

a controller in communication with the camera to receive images captured by the camera and with the light source, the controller having a processor configured to process the images captured by the camera and, in response to the processed images, to activate the light source to draw attention to a location on the at least one shelf within the field of view of the camera.

11. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the processor of the controller is further configured to determine from the images captured by the camera whether an object has been placed on, moved, or removed from the at least one shelf.

12. The shelving system of claim 10, further comprising an apparatus for mounting the camera at the distance from the at least one shelf such that the field of view of the camera faces and closely encompasses the at least one shelf.

13. The shelving system of claim 12, wherein the apparatus for mounting the camera comprises an arm coupled to the at least one shelf.

14. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the camera is in wireless communication with the controller for transmitting images thereto.

15. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the light source is in wireless communication with the controller to receive commands therefrom.

16. The shelving system of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a light projector that faces the at least one shelf and shines light on a shelving area of interest on the at least one shelf, as determined by the controller.

17. A package tracking system comprising:

a plurality of modular shelving systems disposed in a package tracking area, each modular shelving system including;

at least one shelf;

a camera fixed at a distance from the at least one shelf such that the camera has a field of view that faces and closely encompasses the at least one shelf;

a light source; and

a controller in communication with the light source and with the camera to receive images captured by the camera, the controller having a processor configured to process the images captured by the camera and, in response to the processed images, to activate the light source to draw attention to a location on the at least one shelf within the field of view of the camera; and

a master controller in communication with each controller of the plurality of modular shelving systems.

18. The package tracking system of claim 17, wherein the processor of each controller of a given one of the modular shelving systems is further configured to determine from the images captured by the camera of that given modular shelving system whether an object has been placed on, moved, or removed from the at least one shelf of that given modular shelving system.

19. The package tracking system of claim 17, wherein each modular shelving system further comprises an apparatus for mounting the camera of that modular shelving system at the distance from the at least one shelf of that modular shelving system such that the field of view of the camera of that modular shelving system faces and closely encompasses the at least one shelf of that modular shelving system.

20. The package tracking system of claim 17, wherein the light source of each modular shelving system comprises a light projector that faces the at least one shelf and shines light on a shelving area of interest as determined by the controller of that modular shelving system.