US-12623707-B2 - Weight measurement adjustment and inhibition based on sensor measurements

Abstract

Disclosed herein relates to a system, comprising: at least one load receiver mounted on a shopping cart or basket and configured to receive an item placed into the shopping cart or basket for a weighing operation; a plurality of sensors configured to detect a plurality of parameters relating to the weighing operation of the item including at least one of: a relative angle between a force sensing axis of the at least one load receiver and a direction of gravity, a motion of the shopping cart or basket, and an ambient temperature surrounding the shopping cart or basket and the at least one load receiver; and a processor configured to determine an actual weight of the item based on at least a portion of the plurality of parameters.

Inventors

• Lin Gao
• Michael Joseph Sanzari
• YILIN HUANG
• Shiyuan Yang
• Ahmed Beshry

Assignees

• MAPLEBEAR INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231018

Claims (16)

1. 1 . A system comprising: one or more load receivers mounted to a shopping cart or shopping basket and configured to perform a weighing operation of items placed into the shopping cart or shopping basket; one or more sensors configured to detect values of a parameter relating to the weighing operation of an item, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a motion sensor; and a processor configured to: detect a value of the parameter relating to the weighing operation of the item using the one or more sensors, wherein the value comprises a vibration value representing a measure of vibration of the shopping cart, wherein detecting the value comprises: capturing a series of samples from the motion sensor; and computing a difference between consecutive samples of the series of samples to generate the detected value; compare a value of the parameter detected by the sensor to a threshold value; and responsive to the value being less than the threshold value, determine an actual weight of an item placed in the shopping cart or shopping basket based on the value of the parameter detected by the sensor.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a self-checkout system.
3. 3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises an orientation sensor.
4. 4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the orientation sensor comprises a force-sensing axis that is perpendicular to the direction of gravity when the shopping cart is not tilted.
5. 5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a force measurement from the orientation sensor along the force-sensing axis; identify that the force measurement from the orientation sensor is equal to zero; and responsive to the force measurement being zero, determine that a tilt angle of the shopping cart is zero degrees.
6. 6 . The shopping cart of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a force measurement from the orientation sensor along the force-sensing axis; identify that the force measurement from the orientation sensor is equal to 1G; and responsive to the force measurement being 1G, determine that a tilt angle of the shopping cart is ninety degrees.
7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer or a gyroscope.
8. 8 . A system comprising: one or more load receivers mounted to a shopping cart or shopping basket and configured to perform a weighing operation of items placed into the shopping cart or shopping basket; one or more sensors configured to detect a parameter relating to the weighing operation of an item, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a motion sensor; and a processor configured to inhibit a weighing operation of an item placed in the shopping cart or shopping basket based on a parameter detected by the one or more sensors exceeding a threshold, wherein inhibiting the weighing operation based on the parameter detected by the one or more sensors comprises: detecting a value of the parameter relating to the weighing operation of the item using the one or more sensors, wherein the value comprises a vibration value representing a measure of vibration of the shopping cart, wherein detecting the value comprises: capturing a series of samples from the motion sensor; and computing a difference between consecutive samples of the series of samples to generate the detected value.
9. 9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to: transmit a signal to the one or more load receivers to inhibit the one or more load receivers from capturing a weight measurement.
10. 10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to: display a reading on a digital weight indicator of the shopping cart that indicates that a weight measurement was not taken.
11. 11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a self-checkout system.
12. 12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an orientation sensor.
13. 13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the orientation sensor comprises a force-sensing axis that is perpendicular to the direction of gravity when the shopping cart is not tilted.
14. 14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a force measurement from the orientation sensor along the force-sensing axis; identify that the force measurement from the orientation sensor is equal to zero; and responsive to the force measurement being zero, determine that a tilt angle of the shopping cart is zero degrees.
15. 15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a force measurement from the orientation sensor along the force-sensing axis; identify that the force measurement from the orientation sensor is equal to 1G; and responsive to the force measurement being 1G, determine that a tilt angle of the shopping cart is ninety degrees.
16. 16 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an accelerometer or a gyroscope.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/821,876, filed Aug. 24, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/995,157 filed on Aug. 17, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/544,345 filed on Aug. 19, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to an accurate weighing system and method operable with a movable device, and more specifically, to correcting a weight measurement of merchandise placed in a movable shopping cart or basket based on, e.g., circumstances associated with the movable shopping cart or basket. BACKGROUND Customers typically use a shopping cart or a shopping basket during their store visits at convenience stores, grocery markets and retail outlets. There is a need to accurately determine a weight of merchandise placed into a movable shopping cart/basket based on, e.g., circumstances associated with the movable shopping cart/basket. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Disclosed herein is a system, comprising: at least one load receiver mounted on a shopping cart or basket and configured to perform a weighing operation of an item placed into the shopping cart or basket. The system also comprises a plurality of sensors configured to detect a plurality of parameters relating to the weighing operation of the item including at least one of: a relative angle between a force sensing axis of the at least one load receiver and a direction of gravity, a motion of the shopping cart or basket, and an ambient temperature surrounding the shopping cart or basket and the at least one load receiver. The system also comprises a processor configured to determine an actual weight of the item based on at least a portion of the plurality of parameters. The present disclosure further discloses a method, comprising, mounting at least one load receiver on a shopping cart or basket for receiving an item placed into the shopping cart or basket for a weighing operation. The method also comprises providing a plurality of sensors on the shopping cart or basket and the at least one load receiver for detecting a plurality of parameters relating to the weighing operation of the item including at least one of: a relative angle between a force sensing axis of the at least one load receiver and a direction of gravity, a motion of the shopping cart or basket, and an ambient temperature surrounding the shopping cart or basket and the at least one load receiver. The method additionally comprises determining, by a processor, an actual weight of the item based at least on the plurality of parameters. Moreover, the present disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer code executable by a processor of a weighing system operable with a shopping cart or basket. The shopping cart or basket includes at least one load receiver for receiving an item placed into the shopping cart or basket for a weighing operation. The non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises code for causing the processor of the weighing system to: control a plurality of sensors provided on the shopping cart or basket and the at least one load receiver to detect a plurality of parameters relating to the weighing operation of the item including at least one of: a relative angle between a force sensing axis of the at least one load receiver and a direction of gravity, a motion of the shopping cart or basket, and an ambient temperature surrounding the shopping cart or basket and the at least one load receiver; and determine an actual weight of the item based at least on the plurality of parameters. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES For a more complete understanding of the example aspects, references are made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a weighing system operable with a movable shopping cart or basket, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented by the weighing system of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings are only exemplary in nature. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Among other features, disclosed herein is an accurate weighing system and method operable with a moving device such as a shopping cart/basket used in a retail environment. Various aspects of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to promote a thorough understanding of one or more aspects of the disclosure. It may be evident in some or all instances, however, that