# US 2019/0170568 A1 · Dimensional measuring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170568 A1 - Document ID: US20190170568A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/266,904 - Filed: 2019-02-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-15 - Assignees: United States Postal Service - Applicants: United States Postal Service - Inventors: Wanda L. Key - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170568A1 ## CPC - G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) - G01B 5/00: Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques - G01B 11/02: for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B11/08 takes precedence) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract A multi-dimensional measuring system is disclosed. The measuring system includes a dimensional measuring device that fits over an exterior portion of an item and provides reference measurements in three orthogonal directions. The measuring system also includes a camera to take an image of the item with the dimensional measuring placed thereon and a hardware processor that receives and processes the image to determine the dimensions of the item based upon the reference measurements of the dimensional measuring device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A measuring device, comprising: a first side having an inner surface; a second side having an inner surface, the second side connected to the first side so that the inner surface of the second side is orthogonal to the inner surface of the first side; a third side having an inner surface, the third side connected to the first and second sides so that the inner surface of the third side is orthogonal to the inner surfaces of the first and second sides; and an interior corner formed at the intersection of the inner surfaces of the first, second, and third sides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The measuring device of claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the first and second sides forms an arm extending in an x-direction, a portion of each of the first and third sides forms an arm extending in a y-direction, and a portion of the second and third sides forms an arm extending in a z-direction, and wherein the x-, y-, and z-directions are each orthogonally oriented with respect to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The measuring device of claim 2, further comprising markings disposed on outer surfaces of the first, second, and third sides, the markings configured to delineate length measurements along a length of each arm, and wherein the markings are configured to provide length measurements measured from the interior corner in each of the x-, y-, and z-directions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The measuring device of claim 2, wherein the measuring device is configured to fit over the corner of a rectangular box, and wherein an exterior corner of the box mates with the interior corner of the measuring device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The measuring device of claim 2, wherein a length of each arm extending from the interior corner of the measuring device to an end of each arm is the same. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The measuring device of claim 2, wherein each arm further comprises a high contrast marking at each end of each arm. ### Claim 7 A measuring system comprising: a dimensional measuring device configured to fit over an exterior portion of an item and provide reference measurements in three directions; a camera configured to capture an image of the item with the dimensional measuring device on the item; and a hardware processor connected to the camera and configured to: receive the image from the camera; and determine the dimensions of the item based on the image and the reference measurements of the dimensional measuring device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The measuring system of claim 7, further comprising a scale that measures a weight of the item, wherein the scale is connected to the processor, and wherein the software receives the measured weight of the item. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The measuring system of claim 8, further comprising a user terminal connected to the processor, the user terminal further comprising: a display; at least one of a keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen; and wherein the user terminal is configured to display the determined size and measured weight of the item to the user and to allow the user to enter or adjust one or more shipping parameters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The measuring system of claim 9, wherein the shipping parameters include at least one of destination, source, priority classification, mode of transportation classification, price, weight, and size. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The measuring system of claim 7, wherein the camera comprises at least a first camera and a second camera held in a fixed relationship to each other by a first camera support and a second camera support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The measuring system of claim 11, wherein the first camera is positioned to take an image of a top surface of the item and the second camera is positioned to take an image of a side surface of the item. ### Claim 13 A method of measuring an item, comprising: placing a dimensional measuring device on an exterior corner of the item, the dimensional measuring device configured to provide reference measurements in three orthogonal directions; capturing an image of the item with the dimensional measuring device placed thereon; processing the image to determine a size of the item by comparing the apparent size of the dimensional measuring device in the image with the apparent size of the item in the image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein comparing the apparent size of the dimensional measuring device in the image with the apparent size of the item in the image comprises: determining the apparent length of the dimensional measuring device along each of the three orthogonal directions; determining the apparent length of the item along each of the three orthogonal directions; and for each of the three orthogonal directions, multiplying the ratio of the apparent length of the item in pixels to the apparent length of the dimensional measuring device by the known reference measurement of the dimensional measuring device to determine a dimension of the item. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein determining the apparent length of the dimensional measuring device along each of the three orthogonal directions comprises: identifying a center point of the dimensional measuring device in the image; identifying an end point in the image of the dimensional measuring device along each of the three orthogonal directions; and determining the length between the center point and each of the end points of the dimensional measuring device along each of the three orthogonal directions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein determining the apparent length of the item along each of the three orthogonal directions comprises: identifying a center point of the dimensional measuring device in the image; identifying an end point of an edge of the item in the image along each of the three orthogonal directions; and determining the length between the center point and each of the end points of the item along each of the three orthogonal directions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising placing the item on a scale to measure a weight of the item. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising determining a dimensional weight rating for the item using the determined size and the measured weight of the item. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising using the dimensional weight rating to determine further shipping parameters, wherein the shipping parameters include at least one of destination, source, priority classification, mode of transportation classification, price, weight, and size. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the apparent length of the dimensional measuring device along each of the three orthogonal directions and the apparent length of the item along each of the three orthogonal directions are determined in pixels.