Container with detection device for determining a status of the container and monitoring system for dynamic status monitoring with at least one such container

{
  "publication_number": "US9897720B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Container with detection device for determining a status of the container and monitoring system for dynamic status monitoring with at least one such container",
  "abstract": "A container for the transport and/or the storage of objects is described. A container of this type features a detection device for determining information on the occupancy status and/or the filling status of the container. The detection device is capable of detecting different light intensities in the region of the inner container wall and of generating corresponding sensor signals. Furthermore, an interface is provided for producing a connection with a signal processing unit, in which image information on the filling status and/or occupancy status of the container can be generated based on the sensor signals.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A container for the transport and/or the storage of piece goods and/or bulk materials objects, the container comprising: a bottom and a side wall encircling the bottom so that the bottom and the side wall define an inner wall of the container for receiving the objects, wherein the interior of the cross-section of the side wall are integrated; a detection device with an optical system and an integrated optical sensor, wherein the detection device is designed for generating sensor signals in accordance with intensities of electromagnetic radiation, particularly light intensities, in the interior of the container; and an interface that is functionally connected to the detection device and serves for transmitting the sensor signals to a signal processing unit with a function for generating image information based on the sensor signals in order to determine information on an occupancy status and/or filling status of the container; wherein the container is a moveable container, and wherein the bottom and the side wall forming the inner container wall are adapted to the detection device in such a way that tristimulus values and/or brightness values detected by the detection device for the inner container wall and tristimulus values and/or brightness values detected by the detection device for objects differ by a predefined detection threshold value.",
    "2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is equipped with at least one camera with an optical system that features a single pin diaphragm or at least one lens in front of or behind a diaphragm or at least one lens, wherein the optical sensor is arranged in the image plane of the optical system.",
    "3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises the signal processing unit that is connected to the detection device and designed for converting the sensor signals generated by the optical sensor into image information as well as a second interface for transmitting the image information to an analyzing unit that is designed for determining the occupancy status and/or filling status of the container.",
    "4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the analyzing unit is arranged on the container adjacent to the detection device and/or the signal processing unit, and is functionally connected to the second interface in a wire-bound fashion.",
    "5. The container according to claim 3, wherein the analyzing unit is arranged separately of the container and is functionally connected to the second interface at least sectionally in a wireless fashion or by means of a radio link.",
    "6. The container according to claim 3, wherein the analyzing unit is configured to determine: image points in the form of projection points of contour points of objects situated in the container during the analysis of the image information; at least one contour line that lies on the determined contour points; and information on the occupancy status and/or filling status of the container from the at least one contour line.",
    "7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the optical system further comprises at least one filter that is configured such that the detection device can only detect electromagnetic radiation from a frequency range defined such that locations or areas of the bottom and/or of the inner container wall with predetermined tristimulus values and/or brightness values are detected for the analyzing unit, and wherein the analyzing unit comprises a function that is configured to determine information on the occupancy status and/or filling status of the container based on the detected locations or areas.",
    "8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises: a power supply module that is connected to the detection device via an electric supply line; and an activation device that is functionally connected to the power supply module and/or to the analyzing unit and is configured to activate the power supply module and the analyzing unit for a detection and analysis period."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention pertains to a container for the transport and/or the storage of objects, particularly piece goods and/or bulk materials, with a detection device for determining information on a container status, particularly the occupancy status and/or the filling status of the container.\n\nContainers for the storage and transport of objects are used, for example, for storing or for transporting hardware such as screws, nuts or electronic components, i.e., generally piece goods, as well as bulk materials. Containers of this type can be used as transport containers, but also as storage containers in storage systems such as high-bay storage systems. A combined utilization would also be conceivable in that containers stored in a high-bay storage system are removed from this storage system and transported to a work site in order to serve as a decentralized storage location for a certain period of time.\n\nWith known containers, a significant effort is required for ensuring that a sufficient supply of the piece goods or the bulk material is on the hand in a storage system. This requires complex logistic systems that monitor the goods input, as well as the withdrawal from individual containers, particularly for monitoring the containers without interruption. In addition, the logistic system must know the original or initial filling status of each container. Inventories need to be regularly taken by manually counting all stored articles in order to ensure that errors, which inevitably occur over time, do not lead to supply problems.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01V 8/10",
    "B65D 2203/10",
    "G01B 11/245",
    "G01F 23/292"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01V 8/10",
    "G01B 11/245",
    "G01F 23/292",
    "H04N 7/18"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Wuerth Elektronik ICS GmbH and Co KG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Albrecht Faber",
    "Franz-Josef Hoffman",
    "Klaus Wittig"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-08-03",
  "publication_date": "2018-02-20",
  "grant_date": "2018-02-20",
  "priority_date": "2010-08-12",
  "application_number": "US-201113816508-A",
  "family_id": "44509175",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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}