Ultrasonic bracelet and receiver for detecting position in 2D plane
First Claim
1. An inventory management system, comprising:
- an inventory holder including inventory bins configured to store inventory items;
an ultrasonic unit configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user'"'"'s hand, the ultrasonic unit comprising an ultrasonic pulse transmitter and a control unit operatively coupled with the ultrasonic pulse transmitter, the ultrasonic unit being configured to emit periodic ultrasonic sound pulses via the ultrasonic pulse transmitter;
four ultrasonic transducers arranged relative to the inventory holder, each of the four ultrasonic transducers being configured to generate a respective electrical signal in response to reception of the periodic ultrasonic pulses emitted by the ultrasonic pulse transmitter;
a management module operatively coupled with the four ultrasonic transducers and configured to process the respective signals generated by the four ultrasonic transducers to track location of the ultrasonic unit and identify one of the inventory bins based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit to the identified inventory bin, the management module being further configured to compare the identified inventory bin with a designated inventory bin of the inventory bins to monitor performance of an inventory task assigned to the user, the inventory task assigned to the user being one of retrieving an inventory item from the designated inventory bin or placing an inventory item into the designated inventory bin; and
at least one of;
an infra-red light emitting diode disposed relative to the four ultrasonic transducers, and wherein the ultrasonic unit comprises a photo cell operatively coupled with the control unit, the control unit being configured to begin output of a periodic electrical signal to the ultrasonic pulse transmitter for conversion into the periodic ultrasonic pulses in response to a signal from the photo cell generated in response to reception by the photo cell of infra-red light emitted by the infra-red light emitting diode; and
a near-field radiofrequency (RF) transmitter disposed relative to the four ultrasonic transducers, and wherein the ultrasonic unit comprises an RF receiver operatively coupled with the control unit, the control unit being configured to begin output of a periodic electrical signal to the ultrasonic pulse transmitter for conversion into the periodic ultrasonic pulses in response to reception by the RF receiver of an RF transmission by the near-field RF transmitter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasonic tracking of a worker'"'"'s hands may be used to monitor performance of assigned tasks. An inventory system includes inventory bins configured to store inventory items, an ultrasonic unit, ultrasonic transducers, and a management module. The ultrasonic unit is configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user'"'"'s hand and to periodically emit ultrasonic sound pulses. The ultrasonic transducers are arranged relative to the inventory bins and configured to receive the emitted pulses. The management module is operatively coupled with the ultrasonic transducers and configured to process signals generated by the ultrasonic transducers to identify an inventory bin based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit relative to the identified inventory bin. The management module monitors performance of an assigned task based on the identified inventory bin.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An inventory management system, comprising:
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an inventory holder including inventory bins configured to store inventory items; an ultrasonic unit configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user'"'"'s hand, the ultrasonic unit comprising an ultrasonic pulse transmitter and a control unit operatively coupled with the ultrasonic pulse transmitter, the ultrasonic unit being configured to emit periodic ultrasonic sound pulses via the ultrasonic pulse transmitter; four ultrasonic transducers arranged relative to the inventory holder, each of the four ultrasonic transducers being configured to generate a respective electrical signal in response to reception of the periodic ultrasonic pulses emitted by the ultrasonic pulse transmitter; a management module operatively coupled with the four ultrasonic transducers and configured to process the respective signals generated by the four ultrasonic transducers to track location of the ultrasonic unit and identify one of the inventory bins based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit to the identified inventory bin, the management module being further configured to compare the identified inventory bin with a designated inventory bin of the inventory bins to monitor performance of an inventory task assigned to the user, the inventory task assigned to the user being one of retrieving an inventory item from the designated inventory bin or placing an inventory item into the designated inventory bin; and at least one of; an infra-red light emitting diode disposed relative to the four ultrasonic transducers, and wherein the ultrasonic unit comprises a photo cell operatively coupled with the control unit, the control unit being configured to begin output of a periodic electrical signal to the ultrasonic pulse transmitter for conversion into the periodic ultrasonic pulses in response to a signal from the photo cell generated in response to reception by the photo cell of infra-red light emitted by the infra-red light emitting diode; and a near-field radiofrequency (RF) transmitter disposed relative to the four ultrasonic transducers, and wherein the ultrasonic unit comprises an RF receiver operatively coupled with the control unit, the control unit being configured to begin output of a periodic electrical signal to the ultrasonic pulse transmitter for conversion into the periodic ultrasonic pulses in response to reception by the RF receiver of an RF transmission by the near-field RF transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system, comprising:
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an ultrasonic unit configured to be worn by a user in proximity to the user'"'"'s hand and configured to emit periodic ultrasonic sound pulses; ultrasonic transducers arranged relative to locations configured to store items; and a management module operatively coupled with the ultrasonic transducers and configured to process signals generated by the ultrasonic transducers to identify one of the locations based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit relative to the identified location, the management module being further configured to monitor performance of a task based on the identified location, wherein the ultrasonic unit is configured to transmit data to the management module by embedding the data in the periodic ultrasonic pulses, the embedded data being indicative of at least one of an identification of the user, whether the user'"'"'s hand is the user'"'"'s left hand or right hand, a charge state of the ultrasonic unit, a timestamp associated with an ultrasonic pulse, an operational status of the ultrasonic unit or a duration of use of the ultrasonic unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer implemented method, comprising:
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receiving, via ultrasonic transducers, periodic ultrasonic sound pulses emitted by an ultrasonic unit worn by a user in proximity to the user'"'"'s hand; generating signals indicative of arrival times of the periodic ultrasonic sound pulses at respective ultrasonic transducers; processing the signals, by a management module, to track a location of the ultrasonic unit relative to a plurality of locations configured to store items; identifying, by the management module, a location of the plurality of locations based on proximity of the ultrasonic unit relative to the identified location; monitoring, by the management module, performance of a task based on the identified location; and receiving data, by the management module, from the ultrasonic unit, the data being indicative of at least one of an identification of the user, whether the user'"'"'s hand is the user'"'"'s left hand or right hand, a charge state of the ultrasonic unit, a timestamp associated with the ultrasonic pulse, an operational status of the ultrasonic unit or a duration of use of the ultrasonic unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification