Patents by Inventor Richard Mark Clayton

Richard Mark Clayton 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).

  • Publication number: 20240114314
    Abstract: Techniques for adjusting the sizes of geo-fences based on an individual's likely location are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining one or more geo-fenced zones corresponding to one or more respective areas; receiving location information indicative of the one or more areas expected to be visited by the individual, of the one or more respective areas; and adjusting the one or more geo-fenced zones based on the one or more respective areas expected to be visited by the individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Andrew Ehlers, Seth David Silk
  • Publication number: 20240114318
    Abstract: Techniques for adjusting the strengths of signals received from a transmitter based on the transmitter's likely location are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving, by one or more processors, location information corresponding to one or more respective areas expected to be visited by an individual; receiving, by the one or more processors, measurements indicative of signal strengths of one or more signals transmitted by a transmitter associated with the individual and received by one or more receivers configured to receive one or more signals transmitted by the transmitter, the one or more receivers being positioned at respective receiver locations corresponding to one or more respective areas; and adjusting, by the one or more processors, the received measurements indicative of the signal strengths of the one or more signals transmitted by the transmitter based on the one or more respective areas expected to be visited by the individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, John M. Seimer, Andrew Ehlers, Seth David Silk
  • Publication number: 20240075739
    Abstract: A label modification unit may receive a label modification input that indicates a label modification associated with content being written to a label or erased from the label. The label modification unit may identify an area of the label that is associated with the label modification according to the label modification input. The label modification unit may determine, based on a size of the area, a spot size of a light beam that is configured to be emitted by a laser printhead to modify the content within the area. The label modification unit may determine, based on the spot size and the content, an optical path configuration for the laser printhead. The label modification unit may operate the laser printhead according to the optical path configuration to write the content to the area or erase the content from the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Robert E. Beach, Chinmay Nanda, Richard Mark Clayton, Paul Seiter, Patrick Martin Brown, John J. Bozeki, Lucjan K. Perlowski
  • Patent number: 11850853
    Abstract: A label modification unit may receive a label modification input that indicates a label modification associated with content being written to a label or erased from the label. The label modification unit may identify an area of the label that is associated with the label modification according to the label modification input. The label modification unit may determine, based on a size of the area, a spot size of a light beam that is configured to be emitted by a laser printhead to modify the content within the area. The label modification unit may determine, based on the spot size and the content, an optical path configuration for the laser printhead. The label modification unit may operate the laser printhead according to the optical path configuration to write the content to the area or erase the content from the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Beach, Chinmay Nanda, Richard Mark Clayton, Paul Seiter, Patrick Martin Brown, John J. Bozeki, Lucjan K. Perlowski
  • Patent number: 11841216
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dimensioning a moving freight in motion along a path. An example system includes a plurality of laser line generators configured to emit coplanar laser beams forming a laser curtain oriented perpendicular to the floor and angled towards the direction of the path of the moving freight. A camera is configured to capture a series of two-dimensional images of the freight as it passes through the laser curtain. Additionally a positioning sensor is configured to detect the position and orientation of the moving freight as it passes through the laser curtain. A computing device in communication with the camera and the positioning sensor correlates each successive two-dimensional image with each corresponding position and orientation of the freight to obtain a composite three-dimensional shape of the freight. Furthermore, the computing device processes the composite three-dimensional shape of the freight to dimension the freight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown
  • Publication number: 20230234386
    Abstract: A laser printhead assembly for a laser printhead is disclosed herein. The laser printhead assembly may include a laser containment door; and a laser containment housing that is configured to form a sealed enclosure with a label support of a label. The sealed enclosure may be configured to include the label and the laser printhead. The laser containment door, in a laser-enabled position, may be configured to permit the laser printhead, via a light beam, to modify the label and the laser containment door, in a laserdisabled position, may be configured to prevent a light beam from escaping the laser containment housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Chinmay Nanda
  • Patent number: 11648789
    Abstract: A laser printhead assembly for a laser printhead is disclosed herein. The laser printhead assembly may include a laser containment door; and a laser containment housing that is configured to form a sealed enclosure with a label support of a rewriteable label. The sealed enclosure may be configured to include the rewriteable label and the laser printhead. The laser containment door, in a laser-enabled position, may be configured to permit the laser printhead, via a light beam, to modify the rewriteable label and the laser containment door, in a laser-disabled position, may be configured to prevent a light beam from escaping the laser containment housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Chinmay Nanda
  • Patent number: 11276192
    Abstract: A dimensioning system includes: an emitter assembly to project a planar light beam into a scan volume; first and second image sensors to capture images of overlapping first and second portions of the scan volume; and a controller configured to: in response to an object travelling through the scan volume, for a successive pair of intervals defined by an operational frequency: at a first interval of the pair, (i) control the emitter assembly to project the planar beam and (ii) control the first image sensor to capture a first image of a top and a first side of the object; at a second interval of the pair, (i) control the emitter assembly to project the planar beam and (ii) control the second image sensor to capture a second image of the top and a second side of the object; and generate a three-dimensional image from the first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Chinmay Nanda
  • Publication number: 20210331275
    Abstract: A laser printhead assembly for a laser printhead is disclosed herein. The laser printhead assembly may include a laser containment door; and a laser containment housing that is configured to form a sealed enclosure with a label support of a rewriteable label. The sealed enclosure may be configured to include the rewriteable label and the laser printhead. The laser containment door, in a laser-enabled position, may be configured to permit the laser printhead, via a light beam, to modify the rewriteable label and the laser containment door, in a laser-disabled position, may be configured to prevent a light beam from escaping the laser containment housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Chinmay Nanda
  • Publication number: 20210331470
    Abstract: A label modification unit may receive a label modification input that indicates a label modification associated with content being written to a label or erased from the label. The label modification unit may identify an area of the label that is associated with the label modification according to the label modification input. The label modification unit may determine, based on a size of the area, a spot size of a light beam that is configured to be emitted by a laser printhead to modify the content within the area. The label modification unit may determine, based on the spot size and the content, an optical path configuration for the laser printhead. The label modification unit may operate the laser printhead according to the optical path configuration to write the content to the area or erase the content from the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Robert E. Beach, Chinmay Nanda, Richard Mark Clayton, Paul Seiter, Patrick Martin Brown, John J. Bozeki, Lucjan K. Perlowski
  • Publication number: 20210233268
    Abstract: A dimensioning system includes: an emitter assembly to project a planar light beam into a scan volume; first and second image sensors to capture images of overlapping first and second portions of the scan volume; and a controller configured to: in response to an object travelling through the scan volume, for a successive pair of intervals defined by an operational frequency: at a first interval of the pair, (i) control the emitter assembly to project the planar beam and (ii) control the first image sensor to capture a first image of a top and a first side of the object; at a second interval of the pair, (i) control the emitter assembly to project the planar beam and (ii) control the second image sensor to capture a second image of the top and a second side of the object; and generate a three-dimensional image from the first and second images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Chinmay Nanda
  • Patent number: 11064086
    Abstract: A label modification system is disclosed herein. The label modification system may determine a physical configuration of a rewriteable label. The label modification system may select a laser containment structure that is associated with the physical configuration. The laser containment structure may be one of a plurality of laser containment structures that are accessible to a placement device. The label modification system may cause the placement device to position the laser containment structure in association with the rewriteable label to form a sealed enclosure that includes a laser printhead. The label modification system may perform, based on a seal status associated with the laser containment structure and the rewriteable label, an action associated with the rewriteable label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Martin Brown, Richard Mark Clayton
  • Patent number: 10655945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dimensioning an object carried by an automated pallet mover is disclosed. An example includes an image sensor configured to capture image data representative of a dimensioning area. A dimensioning coordinator is remotely located from an automated transportation system capable of moving the automated pallet mover. The dimensioning coordinator detects a dimensioning trigger condition associated with the pallet mover and sends first instructions to the automated transportation system to move the vehicle to the dimensioning area, and second instructions to coordinate movement of the vehicle and image capture operation to perform dimensioning on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chinmay Nanda, Richard Mark Clayton
  • Publication number: 20190331474
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dimensioning a moving freight in motion along a path. An example system includes a plurality of laser line generators configured to emit coplanar laser beams forming a laser curtain oriented perpendicular to the floor and angled towards the direction of the path of the moving freight. A camera is configured to capture a series of two-dimensional images of the freight as it passes through the laser curtain. Additionally a positioning sensor is configured to detect the position and orientation of the moving freight as it passes through the laser curtain. A computing device in communication with the camera and the positioning sensor correlates each successive two-dimensional image with each corresponding position and orientation of the freight to obtain a composite three-dimensional shape of the freight. Furthermore, the computing device processes the composite three-dimensional shape of the freight to dimension the freight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown
  • Patent number: 10451405
    Abstract: A ranging system captures successive point clouds from moving freight, and a tracking system tracks successive positions and orientations of the moving freight. A computing device correlates each successive point cloud with each successive position and orientation and time of the moving freight, combines the correlated point clouds to obtain a composite point cloud of the moving freight, and processes the composite point cloud to dimension the moving freight. Once the freight is dimensioned, it may, for example, be efficiently loaded into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Charles Burton Swope
  • Publication number: 20190025852
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dimensioning an object carried by an automated pallet mover is disclosed. An example includes an image sensor configured to capture image data representative of a dimensioning area. A dimensioning coordinator is remotely located from an automated transportation system capable of moving the automated pallet mover. The dimensioning coordinator detects a dimensioning trigger condition associated with the pallet mover and sends first instructions to the automated transportation system to move the vehicle to the dimensioning area, and second instructions to coordinate movement of the vehicle and image capture operation to perform dimensioning on the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Chinmay Nanda, Richard Mark Clayton
  • Publication number: 20180359405
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing image frame capture timing for a plurality of fixed-frame rate image sensors having the same frame rate is disclosed. An example includes a processing system connected to image sensors in a venue for capturing image frames and determining a capture offset for each image sensor, against a common, independent time base. The processing system determines when the capture offset of any of the image sensors is above a threshold offset value and, in response, a restart signal is sent to the image sensor to restart the image sensor for capturing images within the venue at another capture offset. The process will continue for that image sensor until the image sensor has a capture offset within below an acceptable threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Patrick Martin Brown, Chinmay Nanda
  • Patent number: 10145955
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for processing point-cloud data with a line scanner. One embodiment takes the form of a method that includes: receiving a 3D point cloud that is representative of an object; using one or more line scanners to identify one or more respective outer bounds of the object; and dimensioning the object based on points in the point cloud, wherein each of the points in the point cloud that are used for dimensioning the object is at or inside every identified outer bound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles B. Swope, Richard Mark Clayton
  • Publication number: 20180143003
    Abstract: A ranging system captures successive point clouds from moving freight, and a tracking system tracks successive positions and orientations of the moving freight. A computing device correlates each successive point cloud with each successive position and orientation and time of the moving freight, combines the correlated point clouds to obtain a composite point cloud of the moving freight, and processes the composite point cloud to dimension the moving freight. Once the freight is dimensioned, it may, for example, be efficiently loaded into a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Mark Clayton, Charles Burton Swope
  • Publication number: 20170227645
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for processing point-cloud data with a line scanner. One embodiment takes the form of a method that includes: receiving a 3D point cloud that is representative of an object; using one or more line scanners to identify one or more respective outer bounds of the object; and dimensioning the object based on points in the point cloud, wherein each of the points in the point cloud that are used for dimensioning the object is at or inside every identified outer bound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: CHARLES B. SWOPE, RICHARD MARK CLAYTON