Patents by Inventor Christopher Robert Towers
Christopher Robert Towers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11663829Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 11034516Abstract: An item stowed at an inventory location may rest or be supported by a surface, such as a shelf, that includes an optical sensor array. The optical sensor array comprises a plurality of optical sensors that detect light intensity values. When a light source illuminates the item resting on the surface, a footprint or shadow is cast by the item onto the surface. Such a shadow is detected by the light intensity values at the optical sensors in the optical sensor array. Once the shadow is detected, information about the area, shape, and perimeter of the shadow can be determined and saved as footprint data for a single item. Such a process can be performed at intake of the item to the facility and later accessed to determine a quantity of the item on a shelf of a facility.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Navid Shiee, Michel Leonard Goldstein, Ramanathan Palaniappan, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Christopher Robert Towers, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 10974953Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, embodiments of a material dispenser configured to dispense material while tracking an amount of dispensed material and messaging to a user, in near-real-time, the amount of dispensed materials, a running cost of the dispensed materials, and/or the like. The material dispenser may include one or more weight sensors to track an amount of dispensed material and a display to indicate to a user a running amount of material that has been dispensed and a running cost to the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Robert Towers, Sridhar Boyapati, Dilip Kumar, Gianna Lise Puerini, Jason Michael Famularo
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Patent number: 10789483Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 10671856Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Avishkar Misra, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 10551557Abstract: Disclosed optical mounts are resistant to the various stresses that may be experienced by optical display devices. An optical mount is provided with mechanical compliance and resiliency. Such mechanical compliance and resiliency associated with the disclosed optical mounts are intended to absorb thermal and/or mechanical stresses, while protecting and preserving the operational functionality of optical waveguides coupled to the disclosed optical mounts.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Christopher Robert Towers, David Douglas Bohn
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Patent number: 10384869Abstract: An item stowed at an inventory location may rest on a surface such as a shelf or may be supported above the surface. The item may exhibit a footprint that is representative of a physical perimeter of the item. For example, the footprint may be an edge of a shadow cast by the item. Information about a size and shape of a footprint associated with a particular item may be stored. An optical sensor array may acquire sensor image data indicative of the footprint of one or more of the items stored at an inventory location. A quantity of items at the inventory location may be determined by comparing the sensor image data with the stored data.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Navid Shiee, Michel Leonard Goldstein, Ramanathan Palaniappan, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Christopher Robert Towers, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Publication number: 20190196095Abstract: Disclosed optical mounts are resistant to the various stresses that may be experienced by optical display devices. An optical mount is provided with mechanical compliance and resiliency. Such mechanical compliance and resiliency associated with the disclosed optical mounts are intended to absorb thermal and/or mechanical stresses, while protecting and preserving the operational functionality of optical waveguides coupled to the disclosed optical mounts.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Christopher Robert TOWERS, David Douglas BOHN
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Patent number: 10169677Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Liefeng Bo, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Avishkar Misra, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 10169660Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 10068139Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Avishkar Misra, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: 9996818Abstract: Described is a system for counting stacked items using image analysis. In one implementation, an image of an inventory location with stacked items is obtained and processed to determine the number of items stacked at the inventory location. In some instances, the item closest to the camera that obtains the image may be the only item viewable in the image. Using image analysis, such as depth mapping or Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) algorithms, the distance of the item from the camera and the shelf of the inventory location can be determined. Using this information, and known dimension information for the item, a count of the number of items stacked at an inventory location may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xiaofeng Ren, Ohil Krishnamurthy Manyam, Avishkar Misra, Liefeng Bo, Sudarshan Narasimha Raghavan, Christopher Robert Towers, Gopi Prashanth Gopal, Yasser Baseer Asmi
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Patent number: D528967Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Inventors: Christopher Robert Towers, William Peter Stiles