Patents by Inventor James Raymond Allard

James Raymond Allard 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: 10649850
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. In some embodiments, each inventory holder includes a heterogenous mix of data storage device types, the layout of which may be calculated according to the specific mix allocated to a given inventory holder. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Raymond Allard, Paul David Franklin, Samuel Rubin Barrett, Jeremiah Brazeau, Jeffrey Allen Dzado, James Caleb Kirschner, David Levy, Brent James Lutz, Andrew Brendan Tinka, Colin Laird Lazier
  • Patent number: 10379959
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Franklin, James Raymond Allard, Samuel Rubin Barrett, Jeremiah Brazeau, Jeffrey Allen Dzado, James Caleb Kirschner, David Levy, Brent James Lutz, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Colin Laird Lazier
  • Publication number: 20180307235
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice
  • Patent number: 9961141
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. In some embodiments, each inventory holder includes a plurality of trays that are independently accessible to the device retrieval unit. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James Raymond Allard, Paul David Franklin, Samuel Rubin Barrett, Jeremiah Brazeau, Jeffrey Allen Dzado, James Caleb Kirschner, David Levy, Brent James Lutz, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Colin Laird Lazier
  • Patent number: 9923966
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for storing and retrieving data storage devices of a data storage system are disclosed. In some embodiments, inventory holders are used to store data storage devices used by a data storage system. When data is to be transacted with the data storage devices, mobile drive units locate appropriate inventory holders and transport them to a device reading station, where an appropriate device retrieval unit transacts the data. The inventory holders are configured such that any of the mobile drive units may interchangeably interact with any of the inventory holders and/or the data device reading stations. After the data has been transacted, the data storage devices are returned to the appropriate inventory holders, and the inventory holders are placed by the mobile drive units in locations where they may be accessed in response to further data transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul David Franklin, James Raymond Allard, Samuel Rubin Barrett, Jeremiah Brazeau, Jeffrey Allen Dzado, James Caleb Kirschner, David Levy, Brent James Lutz, Andrew Brenden Tinka, Colin Laird Lazier
  • Patent number: 9280157
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice
  • Publication number: 20150066283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a human transport device and associated system to transport a user within an active workspace. The human transport device may include a platform to support a user, an enclosure coupled to the platform to surround the user, a drive subsystem to power the human transport device, and a control unit to control the movement of the human transport device in coordination with active mobile drive units moving within the workspace. A system implementing one or more human transport devices may include a management module to direct the movement of the one or more human transport devices and designate one or more areas within the workspace as protected areas. Unauthorized objects may be prohibited from entering the protected areas while the human transport device may be allowed within the protected areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Wurman, Michael T. Barbehenn, Matthew David Verminski, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Andrew Edward Hoffman, James Raymond Allard, Eryk Brian Nice