Patents by Inventor David Bellows
David Bellows 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: 12639667Abstract: Systems and methods for triggering object recognition and planogram generation via shelf sensors are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise a shelf, at least one sensor affixed to the shelf, at least one camera affixed to the shelf, and at least one server communicatively coupled to the at least one camera and the at least one sensor. The apparatus may be configured such that the at least one sensor is configured to detect that at least one threshold has been met, and the at least one sensor is further configured to trigger an image to be taken by the least one camera; wherein the at least one camera is configured to capture at least one image based on the met threshold, and the at least one server is configured to identify at least one product identifier based on the at least one captured image.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 26, 2026Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: David Bellows, Thomas E. Wulff
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Publication number: 20260050756Abstract: Porting configurations for high density multiplexing of RFID readers are disclosed herein. An example RFID reader includes a housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the housing, an internal multiplexer disposed within the housing, and electrically connected to the PCB; and a plurality of connectors disposed in a porting area of the housing, each of the plurality of connectors comprising a plurality of antenna ports, wherein each antenna port is communicatively coupled to the PCB via the internal multiplexer and is connectable with a respective RFID antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2024Publication date: February 19, 2026Inventors: David Bellows, Mark W. Duron
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Patent number: 12530656Abstract: An inventory system is disclosed. The inventory system may include a support frame and a suspension support that is configured to extend from the support frame. The inventory system may include a sensor configuration arranged on the suspension support. The sensor configuration may include a plurality of sensor elements that are configured to sense whether one or more objects are being suspended from the suspension support. The inventory system may include an electrical connector interface that facilitates communication of an inventory status associated with the suspension support.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: January 20, 2026Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: David Bellows, Russell Calvarese, Sean Connolly
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Publication number: 20250322183Abstract: An example configurable radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader assembly includes a base unit and an integrable multiplexer. The base unit includes a first housing, a printed circuit board (PCB), an internal multiplexer, a first plurality of antenna ports accessible from outside the first housing, and a first radio-frequency (RF) connector accessible from outside the first housing. The integrable multiplexer is attached to the first housing and includes a second housing that is attachable to and removable from the first housing from outside the first housing, a second plurality of antenna ports accessible from outside of the second housing, and a second RF connector accessible from outside the integrable multiplexer housing and connected to the first RF connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2024Publication date: October 16, 2025Inventor: David Bellows
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Publication number: 20250211955Abstract: An edge device using broadcasting is disclosed herein. The edge device may include one or more memories and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories. In some implementations, the edge device may receive individual sets of data from a plurality of sensors and compile the individual sets of data into a single dataset to be processed by a backend device. The edge device may generate a plurality of advertisements to include a corresponding plurality of portions of the dataset and a corresponding plurality of sequence identifiers. The edge device may broadcast each advertisement, without receiving an acknowledgement of each preceding advertisement. The edge device may receive, from the backend device, an indication of one or more sequence identifiers that were not received. Accordingly, the edge device may retransmit, based on the indication of the sequence identifier(s), a portion of the plurality of advertisements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: June 26, 2025Inventors: Russell Calvarese, Sean Connolly, David Bellows
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Publication number: 20250173666Abstract: Systems and methods for object tracking are disclosed herein. The method receives, by a first device and during a first period, first information of at least one first element associated with a user within a first area and second information of at least one second element associated with an object positioned within the first area. The method determines, based on the second information, whether the object is associated with the first area, and identifies the at least one second element as anomalous when the object is not associated with the first area. The method determines whether the first device receives the first information during a second time period and whether the first device receives the second information during the second time period when the first device does not receive the first information during the second time period. The method transmits a notification when the first device receives the second information during the second time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: May 29, 2025Inventor: David Bellows
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Patent number: 12232075Abstract: Systems and methods for automated and dynamic location tracking are provided. The system receives first location sensor data from a first location sensor indicative of first location information of at least one item associated with a radio frequency identification tag and detects a location change of the at least one item based on the received first location sensor data. The system determines whether the location change of the at least one item is greater than a predetermined threshold and generates and transmits a navigation path to a second location sensor indicative of an area associated with the first location information when the location change of the at least one item is greater than a predetermined threshold. The system receives second location sensor data from the second location sensor along the navigation path indicative of second location information of the at least one item within the area associated with the first location information.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2022Date of Patent: February 18, 2025Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: David Bellows, Matthew Louis Kowalski
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Patent number: 12203803Abstract: In some implementations, a system may activate sensors of a smart shelf based on detected events. The system may include a first sensor array configured to monitor a surface of the smart shelf. The first sensor array may be associated with a first type of sensor. The system may include a second sensor array configured to monitor the surface of the smart shelf. The second sensor array may be associated with a second type of sensor. The system may include a controller. The controller may receive, from a first sensor of the first sensor array, a first sensor value. The controller may detect an occurrence of an event based on the first sensor value, wherein the event is associated with an item of the smart shelf. The controller may activate one or more second sensors of the second sensor array based on the occurrence of the event.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorproationInventors: Sean Connolly, David Bellows, Russell Calvarese
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Patent number: 12061654Abstract: Fulfillment guidance devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. An example device includes a memory; a communications interface; and a processor to: obtain, from a location tracking system deployed in a facility containing items of a plurality of item types, current locations for each of the items; select a subset of the items having a common type, and satisfying a proximity criterion; generate and store, in the memory, an item cluster definition having a type indicator corresponding to the common type, a count of items in the subset, and a single cluster location derived from the current locations of the items in the subset; obtain an item request including one of the item types; determine that the one of the item types matches the type indicator of the cluster definition; responsive to the determination, send at least a portion of the cluster definition to a mobile device within the facility.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: Matthew Louis Kowalski, David Bellows, Nicole Daphne Tricoukes
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Publication number: 20240177576Abstract: Imaging systems and methods monitor items associated with a person appearing in predetermined areas in a venue. A person is associated with an item when in a first area, using captured image data and attributes identified therein. The person is subsequently detected at a point-of-sale (POS) or other second area, through captured second image data and attributes identified therein. Responsive to detecting the person at the POS station, the method monitors a checkout transaction for scanning the previously-associated item, wherein failure of that item to be scanned prior to a payment step of a checkout transaction determines an instance of a potential shrink event.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: May 30, 2024Inventors: Darran Michael Handshaw, David Bellows, Edward Barkan, Yuri Astvatsaturov
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Publication number: 20240040539Abstract: Systems and methods for automated and dynamic location tracking are provided. The system receives first location sensor data from a first location sensor indicative of first location information of at least one item associated with a radio frequency identification tag and detects a location change of the at least one item based on the received first location sensor data. The system determines whether the location change of the at least one item is greater than a predetermined threshold and generates and transmits a navigation path to a second location sensor indicative of an area associated with the first location information when the location change of the at least one item is greater than a predetermined threshold. The system receives second location sensor data from the second location sensor along the navigation path indicative of second location information of the at least one item within the area associated with the first location information.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2022Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: David Bellows, Matthew Louis Kowalski
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Patent number: 11864078Abstract: An edge device using broadcasting is disclosed herein. The edge device may include one or more memories and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories. In some implementations, the edge device may receive individual sets of data from a plurality of sensors and compile the individual sets of data into a single dataset to be processed by a backend device. The edge device may generate a plurality of advertisements to include a corresponding plurality of portions of the dataset and a corresponding plurality of sequence identifiers. The edge device may broadcast each advertisement, without receiving an acknowledgement of each preceding advertisement. The edge device may receive, from the backend device, an indication of one or more sequence identifiers that were not received. Accordingly, the edge device may retransmit, based on the indication of the sequence identifier(s), a portion of the plurality of advertisements.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: Russell Calvarese, Sean Connolly, David Bellows
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Patent number: 11814247Abstract: A modular inventory management system is disclosed herein that includes a bin module. The bin module may include a module base, a sensor configuration, and a divider. The module base may have a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, and a top surface that connects the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge. The sensor configuration may be arranged on the module base between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge. The sensor configuration may include a plurality of sensor elements that are arranged in a single row on a center axis of the module base and configured to sense whether one or more objects are positioned on the top surface of the module base. The divider may be situated at the first lateral edge and may be configured to slide laterally with respect to the module base to adjust a width of the bin module.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventor: David Bellows
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Patent number: 11803671Abstract: A computing device includes: a memory storing sensor placement rules; a processor connected with the memory, the processor configured to: obtain a floor plan representing a facility, the floor plan including contextual data representing spatial and structural features of the facility; define, based on the contextual data of the floor plan, one or more sensor placement regions within the facility; for each sensor placement region: generate a sensor layout within the sensor placement region based on the sensor placement rules; generate, based on a correspondence between the sensor placement region and the floor plan, a list of sensor devices and corresponding coordinates for each sensor device; and output the list of sensor devices and the corresponding coordinates.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: David Bellows, Aslam Mohammed
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Publication number: 20230304846Abstract: In some implementations, a system may activate sensors of a smart shelf based on detected events. The system may include a first sensor array configured to monitor a surface of the smart shelf. The first sensor array may be associated with a first type of sensor. The system may include a second sensor array configured to monitor the surface of the smart shelf. The second sensor array may be associated with a second type of sensor. The system may include a controller. The controller may receive, from a first sensor of the first sensor array, a first sensor value. The controller may detect an occurrence of an event based on the first sensor value, wherein the event is associated with an item of the smart shelf. The controller may activate one or more second sensors of the second sensor array based on the occurrence of the event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Sean Connolly, David Bellows, Russell Calvarese
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Publication number: 20230300583Abstract: An edge device using broadcasting is disclosed herein. The edge device may include one or more memories and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories. In some implementations, the edge device may receive individual sets of data from a plurality of sensors and compile the individual sets of data into a single dataset to be processed by a backend device. The edge device may generate a plurality of advertisements to include a corresponding plurality of portions of the dataset and a corresponding plurality of sequence identifiers. The edge device may broadcast each advertisement, without receiving an acknowledgement of each preceding advertisement. The edge device may receive, from the backend device, an indication of one or more sequence identifiers that were not received. Accordingly, the edge device may retransmit, based on the indication of the sequence identifier(s), a portion of the plurality of advertisements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Russell Calvarese, Sean Connolly, David Bellows
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Publication number: 20230177455Abstract: An inventory system is disclosed. The inventory system may include a support frame and a suspension support that is configured to extend from the support frame. The inventory system may include a sensor configuration arranged on the suspension support. The sensor configuration may include a plurality of sensor elements that are configured to sense whether one or more objects are being suspended from the suspension support. The inventory system may include an electrical connector interface that facilitates communication of an inventory status associated with the suspension support.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: David Bellows, Russell Calvarese, Sean Connolly
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Patent number: 11521003Abstract: Layout generation for location-tracking sensors is disclosed herein. An example method in a computing device includes: receiving a map defining a set of features of a facility; obtaining layout data corresponding to the facility, the layout data defining, for each of a plurality of location tracking sensors, a location in a facility coordinate system; in response to deployment of the location tracking sensors in the facility according to the layout data, obtaining a performance metric for each of the location tracking sensors; and updating a primary layout generator according to the map, the layout data, and the performance metrics.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: David Bellows, Aslam Mohammed
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Patent number: 11496867Abstract: A method of validating a set of location sensors deployed in a facility includes: receiving sensor data from at least a subset of the location sensors; generating a current location of a mobile reference target within the facility based on (i) the sensor data and (ii) expected positions corresponding to the location sensors; based at least on the current location: (i) selecting at least one of the location sensors, and (ii) setting an inspection indicator for the selected location sensor; presenting sensor status data including the inspection indicator via an output device associated with the mobile reference target; and repeating the generating, the selecting, the setting, and the presenting until inspection indicators have been set for each of the location sensors.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventor: David Bellows
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Patent number: D1071753Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2022Date of Patent: April 22, 2025Assignee: Zebra Technologies CorporationInventors: David Bellows, Sean D. Marvel, Thomas E. Wulff