Configurable Paper Roll Dispenser Sensor Device

• US 20200022540A1
• Filed: 07/20/2018
• Published: 01/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dish Network LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Mogadati, Sunil, Anders, Ezekiel, Zartman, Andrew, Vuppuluri, Raghu, Yost, Melinda
• Granted Patent: US 10,638,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/38 the web being rolled up with or without tearing edge A47K10/36 and A47K10/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/389 Accessories or combination with other devices, e.g. music boxes, clocks, heating devices or shelfs
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/026 by measuring distance between sensor and object G01B11/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/08 for measuring diameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/08 for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects

Abstract

Various arrangements are presented of a paper roll sensing device that can be installed within a paper roll dispenser. The paper roll sensing device may include a housing, a wireless transceiver, and a time-of-flight sensor. The time of flight sensor may measure a distance from the time-of-flight sensor to a target region. The paper roll sensing device may include one or more processors, located within the housing that communicates with the wireless transceiver and the time-of-flight sensor. The paper roll sending device may include a fastener that permits the housing to be attached to a location within a paper roll dispenser such that the time-of-flight sensor is pointed at a paper roll, wherein the target region is a portion of the paper roll.

Claims

1. A paper roll sensing device, comprising:

a housing;

a wireless transceiver located within the housing;

a time-of-flight sensor, located within the housing, that measures a distance from the time-of-flight sensor to a target region;

one or more processors, located within the housing that communicates with the wireless transceiver and the time-of-flight sensor; and

a fastener that permits the housing to be attached to a location within a paper roll dispenser such that the time-of-flight sensor is pointed at a paper roll, wherein the target region is a portion of the paper roll based on the location.

2. The paper roll sensing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform a calibration procedure that comprises the one or more processors being configured to:

determine a first distance to a first paper roll based on a first distance measurement made using the time-of-flight sensor;

determine a second distance to a second paper roll based on a second distance measurement made using the time-of-flight sensor, wherein the second paper roll has more paper attached than the first paper roll; and

establish a calibration metric based on the first distance and/or the second distance.

3. The paper roll sensing device of claim 2, wherein a first amount of rolled paper on the first paper roll represents an amount of paper at which the one or more processors is to cause the wireless transceiver to transmit a notification of a paper roll replacement being needed to a cloud-based server system.

4. The paper roll sensing device of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

retrieve a device identifier of the paper roll sensing device;

receive a distance measurement from the time-of-flight sensor;

determine that the paper roll requires replacement based on the distance measurement and the calibration procedure; and

cause the wireless transceiver to transmit an indication that the paper roll requires replacement and the device identifier.

5. The paper roll sensing device of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

retrieve a device identifier of the paper roll sensing device;

receive a distance measurement from the time-of-flight sensor;

determine an amount of dispensable paper remaining on the paper roll based on the distance measurement and the calibration procedure; and

cause the wireless transceiver to transmit the amount and the device identifier.

6. The paper roll sensing device of claim 1, wherein the fastener is positioned within the paper roll dispenser such that when less than a threshold amount of paper is present on the paper roll, the target region is a portion of an inner surface of a door of the paper roll dispenser.

7. The paper roll sensing device of claim 6, wherein the paper roll sensing device further comprises one or more processors configured to perform a calibration process comprising:

measuring a closed-door distance to the portion of the inner surface of the door of the paper roll dispenser.

8. The paper roll sensing device of claim 7, wherein the paper roll sensing device further comprises one or more processors configured to:

receive a distance measurement from the time-of-flight sensor;

determine the distance measurement is greater than the closed-door distance; and

cause the wireless transceiver to transmit an indication that the door is open and a device identifier to a remote server system.

9. The paper roll sensing device of claim 1 wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate via a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network.

10. The paper roll sensing device of claim 1 wherein the fastener is an adhesive.

11. A method for using a paper roll sensing device, the method comprising:

fastening the paper roll sensing device within a paper roll dispenser such that a time-of-flight sensor is pointed at a paper roll;

measuring, using the time-of-flight sensor of the paper roll sensing device, a distance from the time-of-flight sensor to a target region; and

transmitting, using a wireless transceiver of the paper roll sensing device, an indication of an amount of paper remaining on the paper roll dispenser.

12. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 11, the method further comprising:

performing, by the paper roll sensing device, a calibration process that comprises;

determining a first distance to a first paper roll based on a first distance measurement made using the time-of-flight sensor;

determining a second distance to a second paper roll based on a second distance measurement made using the time-of-flight sensor, wherein the second paper roll has more paper attached than the first paper roll; and

establishing a calibration metric based on the first distance and/or the second distance.

13. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 12, wherein transmitting the indication of the amount of paper remaining on the paper roll dispenser is performed in response to the first distance of the calibration process or greater being measured.

14. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 12, further comprising:

retrieving, by the paper roll sensing device, a device identifier of the paper roll sensing device;

receiving, by the paper roll sensing device, a distance measurement from the time-of-flight sensor;

determining, by the paper roll sensing device, that the paper roll requires replacement based on the distance measurement and the calibration process; and

causing, by the paper roll sensing device, the wireless transceiver to transmit an indication that the paper roll requires replacement and the device identifier.

15. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 12, further comprising:

retrieving, by the paper roll sensing device, a device identifier of the paper roll sensing device;

receiving, by the paper roll sensing device, a distance measurement from the time-of-flight sensor;

determining, by the paper roll sensing device, an amount of dispensable paper remaining on the paper roll based on the distance measurement and the calibration process; and

causing, the wireless transceiver of the paper roll sensing device, to transmit an indication of the amount and the device identifier.

16. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 11, wherein the paper roll sensing device is fastened within the paper roll dispenser such that when less than a threshold amount of paper is present on the paper roll, the target region is a portion of an inner surface of a door of the paper roll dispenser.

17. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 16, the method further comprising:

measuring, by the paper roll sensing device, a closed-door distance to the portion of the inner surface of the door of the paper roll dispenser.

18. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 17, further comprising:

measuring, by the paper roll sensing device, a distance measurement using the time-of-flight sensor;

determining, by the paper roll sensing device, the distance measurement is greater than the closed-door distance; and

causing, by the wireless transceiver of the paper roll sensing device, to transmit an indication that the door is open and a device identifier to a remote server system.

19. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 11, wherein transmitting the indication of the amount of paper remaining on the paper roll dispenser is performed via a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network.

20. The method for using the paper roll sensing device of claim 11 wherein fastening is performed using an adhesive.