Reading station structures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- instructing an autonomous mobile drive unit to move an inventory holder to a first position relative a radio frequency reading structure, the inventory holder detachably coupled to the autonomous mobile drive unit and including a plurality of inventory items stowed in the inventory holder;
initiating two or more antennas attached to the radio frequency reading structure, a first antenna of the two or more antennas aligned in a first direction and a second antenna of the two or more antennas aligned in a second direction, the first direction different from the second direction;
reading, via the two or more antennas, a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with a first inventory item when the autonomous mobile drive unit and the inventory holder are located at the first position, the first inventory item stowed in the inventory holder; and
responsive to reading the first RFID tag, instructing the autonomous mobile drive unit to rotate the inventory holder to a second position relative to the two or more antennas; and
reading, via the two or more antennas, a second RFID tag associated with a second inventory item when the autonomous mobile drive unit and the inventory holder are located at the second position, the second inventory item stowed in the inventory holder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some examples, a reader system is provided for managing inventory items in an inventory system. The reader system may be configured to read tags associated with items stowed in an inventory holder. The inventory holder may be detachably coupled to a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder to a first position near an antenna of the reader system and the tags may begin to be read. While reading or at other times in the reading process, the mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder relative to the antenna. The identified tags may be compared to a manifest list of items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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instructing an autonomous mobile drive unit to move an inventory holder to a first position relative a radio frequency reading structure, the inventory holder detachably coupled to the autonomous mobile drive unit and including a plurality of inventory items stowed in the inventory holder; initiating two or more antennas attached to the radio frequency reading structure, a first antenna of the two or more antennas aligned in a first direction and a second antenna of the two or more antennas aligned in a second direction, the first direction different from the second direction; reading, via the two or more antennas, a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with a first inventory item when the autonomous mobile drive unit and the inventory holder are located at the first position, the first inventory item stowed in the inventory holder; and responsive to reading the first RFID tag, instructing the autonomous mobile drive unit to rotate the inventory holder to a second position relative to the two or more antennas; and reading, via the two or more antennas, a second RFID tag associated with a second inventory item when the autonomous mobile drive unit and the inventory holder are located at the second position, the second inventory item stowed in the inventory holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system, comprising:
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a radio frequency reading structure configured to receive an inventory holder detachably coupled to an autonomous mobile drive unit; two or more antennas attached to the radio frequency reading structure, a first antenna of the two or more antennas aligned in a first direction and a second antenna of the two or more antennas aligned in a second direction, the first direction different from the second direction, the autonomous mobile drive unit configured to move the inventory holder relative to the two or more antennas; and a reader system in communication with the two or more antennas and configured to read, via the two or more antennas, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with inventory items stowed in the inventory holder at least while the autonomous mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder relative to the two or more antennas. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system, comprising:
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a frame comprising a plurality of flexible members hanging from the frame and held above a surface by the frame, individual flexible members of the plurality of flexible members comprising antennas configured to communicate with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, wherein the frame and the plurality of flexible members are configured to receive an inventory holder at a first position on the surface at least partially situated within a first portion of the plurality of flexible members; and a reader system in communication with at least a portion of the antennas and configured to read an RFID tag to identify an inventory item stowed in the inventory holder at least when the inventory holder is at the first position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification