Aaron McDaniel

Storage units including platforms that are outfitted with RFID antennas and auxiliary sensors detect changes in loading on the platforms based on changes in loading determined by the auxiliary sensors or changes in signals received by the RFID antennas. The platforms include surfaces for receiving items tagged with RFID transmitters thereon, such as items of common types and variable weights. An interaction involving the placement of an item on the platform, or the removal of the item from the… Show more

Storage units including platforms that are outfitted with RFID antennas and auxiliary sensors detect changes in loading on the platforms based on changes in loading determined by the auxiliary sensors or changes in signals received by the RFID antennas. The platforms include surfaces for receiving items tagged with RFID transmitters thereon, such as items of common types and variable weights. An interaction involving the placement of an item on the platform, or the removal of the item from the platform, is detected by the auxiliary sensors. The energization of an RFID field is triggered in response to the detected interaction, and an item is identified where an RFID signal transmitted by the item is present at one time and absent at another time. Show less

Modular storage systems include load sensors disposed beneath or in association with platforms. The load sensors are pulse-sampled for signals corresponding to loads at time intervals, rather than continuously, in order to conserve electrical power. An item associated with a transaction is identified based on a change in the loads, as determined from the pulse-sampled signals. The platforms are aligned at horizontal or non-horizontal angles, and photovoltaic power sources with banks of… Show more

Modular storage systems include load sensors disposed beneath or in association with platforms. The load sensors are pulse-sampled for signals corresponding to loads at time intervals, rather than continuously, in order to conserve electrical power. An item associated with a transaction is identified based on a change in the loads, as determined from the pulse-sampled signals. The platforms are aligned at horizontal or non-horizontal angles, and photovoltaic power sources with banks of photovoltaic cells are mounted to front edges of the platforms. When a user reaches over one of the photovoltaic cells to access an item on a platform, a level of power or voltage generated by the photovoltaic cell is diminished. The item closest to the photovoltaic cell having the diminished power or voltage, or a customer that accessed the item, may be identified accordingly. Show less

This disclosure describes, in part, systems for enabling physical retail stores and other facilities to implement automated-checkout techniques for the purchase of items that are priced per unit weight. For example, the described systems may enable a facility to implement technology where users are able to remove items from inventory locations, where the inventory locations include weight sensors detecting the weights of the items that were removed. The system then determines the prices based… Show more

This disclosure describes, in part, systems for enabling physical retail stores and other facilities to implement automated-checkout techniques for the purchase of items that are priced per unit weight. For example, the described systems may enable a facility to implement technology where users are able to remove items from inventory locations, where the inventory locations include weight sensors detecting the weights of the items that were removed. The system then determines the prices based on the weights and charges the users for the prices of the items without performing manual checkout of the items. The price of an item is determined based on the weight of the item and the price per unit weight of the item. The systems described herein thus enable customized retail facilities, as opposed to a retail facility that allows automated-checkout only for prepackaged-type or otherwise non-customizable merchandise. Show less

This disclosure describes, in part, systems for enabling physical retail stores and other facilities to implement automated-checkout techniques for the purchase of items that are priced per unit weight. For example, the described systems may enable a facility to implement technology where users are able to remove items from inventory locations, place the items on weight sensors, and then be charged for the prices of the items without performing manual checkout of the items. The price of an item… Show more

This disclosure describes, in part, systems for enabling physical retail stores and other facilities to implement automated-checkout techniques for the purchase of items that are priced per unit weight. For example, the described systems may enable a facility to implement technology where users are able to remove items from inventory locations, place the items on weight sensors, and then be charged for the prices of the items without performing manual checkout of the items. The price of an item is determined based at least in part on the identifier of the item and the price per unit weight of the item. The systems described herein thus enable customized retail facilities, as opposed to a retail facility that allows automated-checkout only for prepackaged-type or otherwise non-customizable merchandise. Show less

Storage units including platforms that are outfitted with RFID antennas and auxiliary sensors detect changes in loading on the platforms based on changes in loading determined by the auxiliary sensors or changes in signals received by the RFID antennas. The platforms include surfaces for receiving items tagged with RFID transmitters thereon, such as items of common types and variable weights. An interaction involving the placement of an item on the platform, or the removal of the item from the… Show more

Storage units including platforms that are outfitted with RFID antennas and auxiliary sensors detect changes in loading on the platforms based on changes in loading determined by the auxiliary sensors or changes in signals received by the RFID antennas. The platforms include surfaces for receiving items tagged with RFID transmitters thereon, such as items of common types and variable weights. An interaction involving the placement of an item on the platform, or the removal of the item from the platform, is detected by the auxiliary sensors. The energization of an RFID field is triggered in response to the detected interaction, and an item is identified where an RFID signal transmitted by the item is present at one time and absent at another time. Show less

This disclosure describes, in part, systems for enabling facilities to implement techniques to determine when users are in possession of items when located within and/or exiting the facilities. For instance, a system may use one or more sensors to determine locations of a user that navigated through a facility. Additionally, the system may use one or more sensors to determine locations of an item while the item was located within the facility. The system may then determine a probability that… Show more

This disclosure describes, in part, systems for enabling facilities to implement techniques to determine when users are in possession of items when located within and/or exiting the facilities. For instance, a system may use one or more sensors to determine locations of a user that navigated through a facility. Additionally, the system may use one or more sensors to determine locations of an item while the item was located within the facility. The system may then determine a probability that the user was in possession of the item when in the facility and/or when exiting the facility based at least in part on the locations of the user and the locations of the item. If the system determines that the user was in possession of the item when exiting the facility, the system may charge a payment instrument of the user for a price of the item. Show less

Cable housing assemblies include frames and cable carriers slidably mounted to channels provided at edges of the frames. The cable carriers may house or support male or female connectors to the cables, which may be power or communications cables (e.g., Ethernet cables) that extend from the connectors within the cable carriers into the channels, and through voids within the frames to power sources or communications systems. The cable carriers are releasably inserted into channels at edges of the… Show more

Cable housing assemblies include frames and cable carriers slidably mounted to channels provided at edges of the frames. The cable carriers may house or support male or female connectors to the cables, which may be power or communications cables (e.g., Ethernet cables) that extend from the connectors within the cable carriers into the channels, and through voids within the frames to power sources or communications systems. The cable carriers are releasably inserted into channels at edges of the frames, and permitted to slide in either direction (e.g., up or down) to various positions within such channels, in order to make power or communications services available at such positions. When installed in association with a shelving unit, e.g., between a backerboard and shelves, the cable carriers may be used to provide power or communications services available to such shelves provided at any height within the shelving unit. Show less

In some embodiments, a cooking pot assembly includes a lid with a venting assembly. The venting assembly may include three different selectable modes, including a first mode for whistling venting, a second mode for non-whistling venting, and a third mode for non-venting. In some embodiments, the venting assembly is recessed into the lid. Also, the venting assembly may include a base portion that is secured within a recess portion of the lid to resist rotation, while a rotor of the venting… Show more

In some embodiments, a cooking pot assembly includes a lid with a venting assembly. The venting assembly may include three different selectable modes, including a first mode for whistling venting, a second mode for non-whistling venting, and a third mode for non-venting. In some embodiments, the venting assembly is recessed into the lid. Also, the venting assembly may include a base portion that is secured within a recess portion of the lid to resist rotation, while a rotor of the venting assembly is mated with the base portion, but able to rotate relative to the base portion for use in selecting a venting mode. Show less