Patents by Inventor Eric A. Letson
Eric A. Letson 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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Publication number: 20230401938Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Eric A. Letson, Tom G. Douglass, Jason D. Bellar
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Patent number: 11776366Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2023Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Eric A. Letson, Tom G. Douglass, Jason D. Bellar
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Patent number: 11717948Abstract: Examples provide an electronic shelf label (ESL) removal tool for removing an electronic shelf label from a shelf. The tool includes a central body member which is substantially cylindrical. A gripping member is included at a first end of the central body enabling a user to grip the tool. An expansion member at a second end of the central body slides between a shelf rail to expand or increase a distance between the rails. The tool enables the user to remove the ESL from between the rails more easily. A wedge-shaped tab at the second end of the central body fits between one edge of the shelf rail and the edge of the ESL to pry the ESL out from between the rails.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventor: Eric Letson
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Publication number: 20230196888Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Eric A. Letson, Tom G. Douglass, Jason D. Bellar
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Patent number: 11429926Abstract: The appearance of a properly-configured display that includes a plurality of discrete components is specified and then at least one image is formed that includes the appearance of the properly-configured display. The image (or images) and corresponding information regarding the discrete loose components is provided to a retail shopping facility and used in conjunction with a mobile camera-equipped device to visually overlay the image over a view of a display to thereby facilitate comparing the display with the appearance of a properly-configured display.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Greg A. Bryan, Eric A. Letson, John P. Thompson
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Publication number: 20220153182Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to receiving retail products. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for receiving retail products including a storage container. The storage container includes one or more chambers; one or more sensors including at least a radio frequency sensor; a locking assembly; and a storage container control circuit configured to provide an unlock signal based on a first trigger signal associated with at least one of the one or more sensors and a second trigger signal associated with an electronic control device to enable access to the one or more chambers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Eric A. Letson, Bruce W. Wilkinson
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Patent number: 11235694Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to receiving retail products. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for receiving retail products including: a temperature controlled storage container and comprising: one or more chambers having corresponding chamber temperatures that are each individually maintained and adjustable based on a particular temperature assigned by a server to each of the one or more chambers; one or more temperature sensors; a locking system; and a storage container control circuit configured to: receive the particular temperature; and maintain each one of the corresponding chamber temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Eric A. Letson, Bruce W. Wilkinson
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Publication number: 20210268633Abstract: Examples provide an electronic shelf label (ESL) removal tool for removing an electronic shelf label from a shelf The tool includes a central body member which is substantially cylindrical. A gripping member is included at a first end of the central body enabling a user to grip the tool. An expansion member at a second end of the central body slides between a shelf rail to expand or increase a distance between the rails. The tool enables the user to remove the ESL from between the rails more easily. A wedge-shaped tab at the second end of the central body fits between one edge of the shelf rail and the edge of the ESL to pry the ESL out from between the rails.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventor: Eric Letson
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Patent number: 11068861Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for creating a purchase voucher. In one embodiment, a method of creating a purchase voucher is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a network accessible user interface for configuring the purchase voucher, receiving a selection of a voucher type through the user interface, receiving a selection of one or more products through the user interface, generating voucher usage parameters based on at least the selection of the voucher type and the selection of the one or more products, associating the voucher usage parameters with a voucher identifier, the voucher identifier being configured to be used by a customer to redeem the purchase voucher with a retailer, and storing the voucher usage parameters and the associated voucher identifier at a networked database.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Eric A. Letson, Emily D. McKenzie
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Publication number: 20210097821Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Eric A. Letson, Tom G. Douglass, Jason D. Bellar
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Patent number: 10896584Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2020Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Eric A. Letson, Tom G. Douglass, Jason D. Bellar
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Publication number: 20200349815Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to projecting action indicators on items in a retail facility. In some embodiments, a system comprises an image capture device configured to capture an image of a shelving unit, a control circuit configured to identify items located in the shelving unit, determine an action item for an item located in the shelving unit, identify boundaries of the item, and generate an action image including an action indicator based on the action item for the item, wherein the action indicator is located within the boundaries of the item, and a display device configured to present the action image on the shelving unit, wherein the action indicator is presented on the item.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Eric A. Letson, Tom G. Douglass, Jason D. Bellar
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Patent number: 10807714Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein that enable delivery of retail products. Some embodiments provide delivery systems comprising: a package support frame comprising first and second package supports, and a pivot coupler pivotably securing the first package support with the second package support; and a first release plate positioned across a separation between the first and second package supports, and comprising: a set of at least one angled locking grooves; a set of at least one groove pins slidably positioned within a respective one of the locking grooves; and a release tab configured to contact a surface and cause an unlocking of the first release plate such that the release plate moves with the locking grooves sliding along respective groove pins such that the base of the package support pivots away from the base of the second package support enlarging a package release aperture.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Michael D. Atchley, John P. Thompson, Eric A. Letson, Robert C. Taylor, Nathan G. Jones
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Patent number: 10625899Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein that enable delivery of retail products. Some embodiments provide retail product delivery transport packages, comprising: a base; a first set of tapered walls comprising at least two side walls that are separated by a length of the base and extend from the base at an angle such that a distance between the first tapered wall and the second tapered wall at the opening is greater than a distance between the first tapered wall and the second tapered wall at the base, and wherein the first and second tapered walls are configured to frictionally engage first and second tapered package support walls, respectively, of a delivery package carrier system; and a second set of at least one wall comprising at least a first vertical wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Michael D. Atchley, Robert C. Taylor, John P. Thompson, Eric A. Letson
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Publication number: 20200010008Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to receiving retail products. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for receiving retail products including: a temperature controlled storage container and comprising: one or more chambers having corresponding chamber temperatures that are each individually maintained and adjustable based on a particular temperature assigned by a server to each of the one or more chambers; one or more temperature sensors; a locking system; and a storage container control circuit configured to: receive the particular temperature; and maintain each one of the corresponding chamber temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Eric A. Letson, Bruce W. Wilkinson
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Publication number: 20200008003Abstract: Provided is a presence-based volume control system. The system may include a surround sound receiver and a volume control unit coupled in-line between a speaker and the surround sound receiver. The volume control unit may include a microprocessor, a position sensor coupled to the microprocessor, an audio input coupled to the surround sound receiver, an audio output coupled to the speaker, and an audio amplifier coupled to and controlled by the microprocessor and coupled to the audio input and the audio output. In operation, the position sensor determines a position of a user of a virtual reality device, an augmented reality device or a mixed reality device and the microprocessor automatically adjusts a volume of the speaker coupled to the surround sound receiver in response to the proximity of the user to the speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: John Paul Thompson, Eric A. Letson
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Patent number: 10457393Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for receiving aerial vehicle delivery. An apparatus for receiving aerial vehicle delivery comprises a receiving pad configured to receive a package released by an aerial vehicle; one or more accessory couplers attached to the receiving pad and configured to allow a receiving pad accessory to couple to and uncouple from the receiving pad; and a wall portion surrounding at least a portion of the receiving pad, the wall portion being removably coupled to the receiving pad via an accessory coupler.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: John P. Thompson, David C. Winkle, Eric A. Letson
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Patent number: 10449889Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to receiving retail products.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLCInventors: Eric A. Letson, Bruce W. Wilkinson, Todd D. Mattingly
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Publication number: 20190313831Abstract: A cooking apparatus is presented. The cooking apparatus includes multiple independently controlled food preparation zones. The cooking apparatus further includes a network interface and a scanning device integrated into the cooking apparatus and configured to read a machine-readable identifier of a meal kit. The cooking apparatus additionally includes a processor in communication with each of the food preparation zones and that independently controls a temperature and time of food preparation in each of the food preparation zones in accordance with a set of cooking instructions retrieved via the network interface using the machine-readable identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Brian Charlesworth, David G. Tovey, Eric Letson, Kurt William Robert Bessel
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Publication number: 20190315551Abstract: A meal kit and a method of using the meal kit are presented. The meal kit includes a liner for a network-connected cooking apparatus, the liner having multiple segmented areas, each segmented area containing a food product. The liner also includes a machine-readable code disposed on the liner that is utilized to access information relating to cooking temperature and cooking time for each segment. The liner is configured to be placed into a cooking apparatus and align with different individually controllable cooking zones in the cooking apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Greg A. Bryan, Kurt William Robert Bessel, Brian Charlesworth, David G. Tovey, Eric Letson