IP Library › Granted Patent US 12713142
Granted Patent B2
US 12713142 · App. 18/902,538 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Imaging device for identifying an item

Inventors: Xinan Wang (McKinney, TX); Jon Andrew Crain (Mechanicsburg, PA); Daniel Everheart (Corinth, TX)
Assignee: 7-Eleven, Inc.
H04N23/90
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12713142
App. No.
18/902,538
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes a base having a platform configured for placement of one or more items on a surface of the platform, a frame coupled to the base, and a plurality of camera units coupled to the frame. Each camera unit is configured to capture images of at least a portion of the platform and the plurality of camera units includes a plurality of side-view camera units arranged above the platform along a horizontal plane, wherein each camera unit of the side-view camera units comprises two vertically stacked cameras and is configured to capture perspective images of at least a portion of the platform. An overhead-view camera unit is positioned over the platform, wherein the overhead-view camera unit comprises two cameras and is configured to capture top view images of the platform.

Claims (48)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a base having a platform configured for placement of one or more items on a surface of the platform;

a frame coupled to the base; and

a plurality of camera units coupled to the frame, wherein:

each camera unit is configured to capture images of at least a portion of the platform; and

the plurality of camera units comprises:

a plurality of side-view camera units arranged above a plane of the platform along a horizontal plane, wherein each camera unit of the side-view camera units comprises two vertically stacked cameras, wherein each camera of the two vertically stacked cameras of a particular camera unit is configured to capture perspective images of at least a portion of the platform and wherein the perspective images from the two vertically stacked cameras are used to determine a distance between the particular camera unit and the surface of the platform or an item placed on the platform; and

an overhead-view camera unit positioned over the platform, wherein the overhead-view camera unit comprises two cameras and is configured to capture top view images of the platform.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side-view camera units comprises five side-view camera units arranged above the platform along the horizontal plane.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the five side-view camera units comprise:

two left-side camera units positioned on a first side of the apparatus;

two right-side camera units positioned on a second side of the apparatus; and

a rear camera unit positioned on a rear of the apparatus.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each particular camera unit of the plurality of camera units is oriented such that a center point of an image of the platform captured by the particular camera unit overlaps with a position on the platform pre-selected for the particular camera unit.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each particular camera unit of the plurality of camera units is oriented such that a field of view of the cameras within the particular camera unit comprises a pre-selected area of interest, wherein the pre-selected area of interest comprises at least a portion of the platform.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each camera unit is attached to the frame.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of one or more of the camera units is attached to an arm of the frame, wherein:

the arm comprises a metal member angled inward towards the platform;

the camera unit is attached to the metal member; and

the metal member is angled such that the camera unit attached to the metal member has a pre-selected orientation.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a controller housed within the base, wherein the controller is configured to process images captured by the cameras associated with the camera units;

wherein each camera unit is connected to the controller via at least one wire that runs from the camera unit to the controller through a channel integrated into the frame.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a removable hood configured to be placed on top of the frame, wherein the removable hood, when placed on top of the frame, reduces ambient light on the platform.

10 . An apparatus comprising:

a base having a platform configured for placement of one or more items on a surface of the platform;

a frame coupled to the base; and

a plurality of camera units coupled to the frame, wherein:

each camera unit is configured to capture images of at least a portion of the platform; and

the plurality of camera units comprises:

five side-view camera units arranged above a plane of the platform along a horizontal plane, wherein each camera unit of the side-view camera units comprises two vertically stacked cameras, wherein each camera of the two vertically stacked cameras of a particular camera unit is configured to capture perspective images of at least a portion of the platform and wherein the perspective images from the two vertically stacked cameras are used to determine a distance between the particular camera unit and the surface of the platform or an item placed on the platform, wherein the five side-view camera units comprise:

two left-side camera units positioned on a first side of the apparatus;

two right-side camera units positioned on a second side of the apparatus; and

a rear camera unit positioned on a rear of the apparatus; and

an overhead-view camera unit positioned over the platform, wherein the overhead-view camera unit comprises two cameras and is configured to capture top view images of the platform.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each particular camera unit of the plurality of camera units is oriented such that a center point of an image of the platform captured by the particular camera unit overlaps with a position on the platform pre-selected for the particular camera unit.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each particular camera unit of the plurality of camera units is oriented such that a field of view of the cameras within the particular camera unit comprises a pre-selected area of interest, wherein the pre-selected area of interest comprises at least a portion of the platform.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each camera unit is attached to the frame.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of one or more of the camera units is attached to an arm of the frame, wherein:

the arm comprises a metal member angled inward towards the platform;

the camera unit is attached to the metal member; and

the metal member is angled such that the camera unit attached to the metal member has a pre-selected orientation.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a controller housed within the base, wherein the controller is configured to process images captured by the cameras associated with the camera units;

wherein each camera unit is connected to the controller via at least one wire that runs from the camera unit to the controller through a channel integrated into the frame.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a removable hood configured to be placed on top of the frame, wherein the removable hood, when placed on top of the frame, reduces ambient light on the platform.