Patent ID: 11927472
Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A materials handling facility comprising:
a computer system;
a light source;
a table; and
a storage system resting on an upper surface of the table, wherein the storage system comprises:
a platform having a plurality of items thereon;
a plurality of load sensors disposed between an underside of the platform and the upper surface of the table, wherein each of the plurality of load sensors comprises:
a battery;
a load cell configured to generate load signals corresponding to a load supplied to the load cell; and
a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the load signals to the computer system; and

a photovoltaic power source provided at a front edge of the platform, wherein the photovoltaic power source comprises a housing and at least a first photovoltaic cell disposed in an upper surface of the housing, wherein the photovoltaic power source is configured to absorb light energy from at least the light source and to generate electrical energy from the light energy, and wherein the photovoltaic power source is electrically coupled to the batteries of each of the plurality of load sensors,

wherein the computer system is programmed with one or more sets of instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to at least:
receive, from each of the plurality of load sensors, load signals corresponding to the loads supplied to the load cells;
determine, based at least in part on at least two of the load signals, a change in load on the platform;
identify at least one item from the plurality of items associated with the change in load on the platform; and
store an indication of at least one transaction associated with the at least one item.