Patents by Inventor Diane Grieselhuber Mills

Diane Grieselhuber Mills 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).

  • Patent number: 10395152
    Abstract: A transfer rack on one floor of an inventory system can receive multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on a different floor of the inventory system. A vertical lift can move the transfer rack carrying the multiple containers from the one floor to the different floor. On the different floor, the multiple containers may be swapped for different multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on the one floor. The vertical lift may return the transfer rack carrying the different multiple containers to the one floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
  • Patent number: 10029851
    Abstract: Item information such as an identity or arrangement of a selected inventory item of an inventory system can be determined. A classification of the selected inventory item can be obtained based at least in part on the item information. The selected inventory item can be routed based at least in part on the classification of the selected inventory item. For example, the selected inventory item may be routed for manual handling if the classification of the selected inventory item indicates that the selected inventory item is designated for an operation to be performed relative to the selected inventory item by a human operator. Alternatively, the selected inventory item may be routed for automated handling if the classification of the selected inventory item indicates that the selected inventory item is designated for an operation to be performed relative to the selected inventory item by a robotic manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
  • Patent number: 9987748
    Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
  • Publication number: 20180082162
    Abstract: A transfer rack on one floor of an inventory system can receive multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on a different floor of the inventory system. A vertical lift can move the transfer rack carrying the multiple containers from the one floor to the different floor. On the different floor, the multiple containers may be swapped for different multiple containers each carrying an inventory item designated for an operation on the one floor. The vertical lift may return the transfer rack carrying the different multiple containers to the one floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph W. Durham, Scott Dresser, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Steven Augustine Wilson
  • Publication number: 20170297200
    Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
  • Patent number: 9718188
    Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski
  • Patent number: 9688472
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for implementing a mobile inventory transfer station within a workspace of an inventory management system. In embodiments, inventory transfer instructions for moving inventory stored within container holders in a workspace may be received. A portion of container holders within the workspace may be identified based on characteristics associated with the items of the inventory transfer instructions and first information identifying the items stored in the portion of container holders. A mobile container unit and a mobile manipulator unit may be selected based on distances between the units and the identified portion of container holders within the workspace. Instructions may be transmitted to the mobile container unit and mobile manipulator unit for navigating to the identified portion of container holders in the workspace and transferring inventory between a particular container holder and a container associated with the mobile container unit by the mobile manipulator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski
  • Publication number: 20170166399
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for implementing a mobile inventory transfer station within a workspace of an inventory management system. In embodiments, inventory transfer instructions for moving inventory stored within container holders in a workspace may be received. A portion of container holders within the workspace may be identified based on characteristics associated with the items of the inventory transfer instructions and first information identifying the items stored in the portion of container holders. A mobile container unit and a mobile manipulator unit may be selected based on distances between the units and the identified portion of container holders within the workspace. Instructions may be transmitted to the mobile container unit and mobile manipulator unit for navigating to the identified portion of container holders in the workspace and transferring inventory between a particular container holder and a container associated with the mobile container unit by the mobile manipulator unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, John Gregory Longtine, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, Parris S. Wellman, Matthew David Verminski
  • Publication number: 20170080566
    Abstract: Robotic manipulators may be used to manipulate objects. Manipulation data about manipulations performed on objects may be generated and accessed. This data may be analyzed to generate a profile indicating how an object may be manipulated. A portion of the profile may be transmitted to a particular robotic manipulator. For example, the portion may be based on a manipulation capability of the robotic manipulator. In turn, the robotic manipulator may use the portion of the profile to manipulate the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Stubbs, Diane Grieselhuber Mills, John Gregory Longtine, Matthew David Verminski