Patents by Inventor Brian E. Edwards

Brian E. Edwards 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: 11948375
    Abstract: The contents of totes and the amount a tote container is filled are monitored. A central database stores product dimensions and tote dimensions as well as a percentage of which a tote is to be filled. Image scanners that obtain three-dimensional images are used to determine if the actual dimensions of the tote, the product, and the fill amount are consistent with the expected or optimal values of these characteristics. When there is a discrepancy between measured and expected values, then one or more actions can be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: James Benjamin Edwards, Paul E. Durkee, Brian C. Roth
  • Patent number: 5431490
    Abstract: A vertical curtain is provided with vertical slits therein spaced thereacross, opening downwardly through the lower margin of the curtain and terminating upwardly a spaced distance below the upper margin of the curtain. The upper margin of the curtain is mounted on the margin of a refrigerated cabinet wall having an access opening formed therein extending across the upper portion of the opening such that the curtain will fall by gravity downwardly across the opening as a thermal and convection current barrier when the door for the access opening is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Inventor: Brian E. Edwards
  • Patent number: 4690551
    Abstract: Pulse-tone laser radar utilizing an acousto-optic angular multiplexer and frequency shifter. The laser radar includes both a pulsed laser and a CW laser. A portion of the CW laser beam is utilized as a reference or local oscillator. An acousto-optic angular multiplexer passes the output of the pulsed laser when the acousto-optic multiplexer is in its off state and passes and frequency shifts the output of the CW laser when the acousto-optic multiplexer is in its on state. The acousto-optic angular multiplexer is operated to pass a pulse followed by a CW tail to generate the pulse-tone waveform. The return signal from a target is beat together with the local oscillator signal derived from the CW laser. The resulting beat signal includes both range and velocity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Brian E. Edwards, David G. Biron