Patent ID: 6741177
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: A47F,G08B

Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting a cart used to bring items to a checkout location, and for detecting an item on a bottom tray of the cart, the apparatus comprising:(a) a cart detector for detecting the cart and discriminating between the cart and other objects, the cart detector comprising: (i) a plurality of optical sensors operatively arranged within the checkout location to detect predetermined parts of the cart and to produce output signals dependent on the detected predetermined parts; and (ii) electronic logic for decoding the output signals and generating an activator signal; (b) an item detector, which when activated by the activator signal, detects the item on the bottom tray and transmits an alarm signal, the item detector comprising: (i) an optical line generator and an imager that generate a digital image corresponding to the item detected; and (ii) a pattern-recognition means to process and analyze the digital image and generate the alarm signal when the item is detected.