Point-of sale (POS) devices and checkout devices are provided. An exemplary checkout apparatus includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged in fixed relationship with each other at the mouth of a bag. At least one of the sensing elements senses a code arranged on a product as the product is being placed into the bag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to point-of-sale (POS) devices for sensing product codes.

BACKGROUND

One of the negative aspects of a customer's experience at typical retail stores, such as grocery stores, is the long time spent in a checkout lane. If lines are too long, customers may simply forgo the transaction and leave the store without making a purchase, which can be costly for the retailer and can be an inconvenience for the customer.

Many retailers have installed self-checkout lanes with scanning equipment to allow more checkout lanes to be available to the customers. The additional lanes are intended to speed up the checkout process. However, because of their inexperience with the operations of the self-checkout point-of-sale (POS) equipment, customers may spend more time during the checkout process. It may require more time for customers to learn the processes and for employees to teach customers how to use the equipment. Because of the uncertainty they feel when using the equipment, some customers may become frustrated and dissatisfied with the checkout experience.

Therefore, a need exists for speeding up the checkout process at a retail establishment. In addition, a need exists to be able to more effectively scan products without the need for rescanning. Furthermore, a need exists for providing adequate feedback to the cashier, or to the customer in a self-checkout lane, regarding whether or not the products have been scanned properly.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one exemplary implementation, the present invention embraces a point-of-sale (POS) device, wherein the POS device includes a housing and a plurality of sensing elements. The housing is configured to at least partially surround a scanning space outside the mouth of a bag. The plurality of sensing elements are mounted on the housing such that each of the sensing elements has a field of view that includes at least a portion of the scanning space outside the mouth of the bag. The sensing elements are configured to sense an identification code arranged on a product when the identification code is in the scanning space outside the mouth of the bag as the product is being placed into the bag.

In an exemplary embodiment, a checkout apparatus is provided. The checkout apparatus includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged in fixed relationship with each other at the mouth of a bag. At least one of the sensing elements senses a code arranged on a product as the product is being placed into the bag.

In another exemplary embodiment, a product-sensing device is described in the present disclosure. The product-sensing device according to this embodiment includes a plurality of sensors and a housing. The sensors are arranged in fixed relationship with each other such that a field of view of each sensor includes at least a portion of a scanning space near the mouth of a merchandise bag. The sensor housing is configured to at least partially surround the scanning space near the mouth of the merchandise bag, and the plurality of sensors are mounted on the sensor housing. At least one sensor includes a field of view to enable the at least one sensor to sense a code associated with a product when the code is in the scanning space area near the mouth of the merchandise bag.

The figures are provided to represent exemplary embodiments and to describe the various teachings and features of the present invention. The figures are not meant to limit the present disclosure, which may include other embodiments as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and may represent any devices understood to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to point-of-sale (POS) devices used for customer checkout at a retail establishment. The present POS system seeks to solve some of the problems of conventional POS devices. For example, a typical checkout process involves handling products twice, once for scanning and another for bagging. At some stores, the scanning duties are handled by one employee while the bagging duties are handled by another person (e.g., either another employee or the customer). The present POS device eliminates the need to handle products twice by positioning scanning equipment at the mouth of the merchandise bag into which the products are placed. In this way, a product is scanned by the scanning equipment as the product is being placed into the bag.

Conventional POS devices normally include a single scanner for scanning products. As such, the products must be positioned in a certain orientation with respect to the scanner to enable the scanner to properly scan the product codes. An exemplary POS system includes multiple scanning devices for scanning the product from different angles. The utilization of multiple scanners positioned around a scanning space, as taught in the present disclosure, provides one or more benefits, such as reducing the number of rescanning attempts that are typically needed with conventional equipment having a single scanner. As a result, the products may be scanned more effectively and more quickly by the present POS device without the need to re-scan as often.

Additionally, the present POS device may also include indicators for providing feedback regarding the success of a scanning step. For example, in addition to an audible beep that is normally provided by conventional systems, the present POS device may also include visual indicators, such as lights and/or displays, for indicating whether or not a product was scanned properly.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of an embodiment of a point-of-sale (POS) apparatus10according to the teachings of the present invention. In general, the POS apparatus10includes a sensor assembly12and a support assembly14. The sensor assembly12includes a housing16having a construction that at least partially wraps around a central space, as defined in more detail below. The sensor assembly12also includes a plurality of sensing elements or sensors18, which are mounted in or on the housing16. The sensors18may include laser scanners, barcode readers, one-dimensional code (e.g., barcode) imagers, two-dimensional code (e.g., quick response (QR)) imagers, or other suitable sensors.

FIG. 2shows an exemplary sensing space, or scanning space20, generally representing the range of scanning patterns of the sensors18of the POS apparatus10. The scanning space20represents the cumulative fields of view (FOVs) and depths of field (DOFs) of the plurality of sensors18. The scanning space20is generally located near or immediately outside the mouth22of a bag, such as a paper merchandise bag24(shown in phantom). The mouth22of the bag24is defined by an upper edge26of the bag24.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the housing16is configured to at least partially surround the scanning space20when the bag24is opened and placed with its bottom28resting on the platform30of the support assembly14and its edge26in or near the scanning space20. In this position, the bag24is ready to receive products that are inserted down into the bag24. The scanning space20may be defined as a space just outside the mouth of the bag24where a product is scanned as it is being placed into the bag24. This enables the user to scan and bag a product in one step or in one motion, according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In order for the POS apparatus10to operate correctly, a user will place the bag24in an appropriate position such that the mouth22of the bag24is in or immediately below at least a portion of the scanning space20. With the bag24properly placed, products with scannable codes can be scanned as the user is placing the product into the bag24.

FIG. 3illustrates the scanning space20generally representing the cumulative ranges (e.g., FOVs and the DOFs) of the sensors18. In this embodiment, the scanning space20of the POS apparatus10is located at the mouth32of a plastic merchandise bag34, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When plastic bags34as shown inFIG. 3are used, the height of the sensor assembly12may be adjusted such that a bottom section of the bag34will rest on the platform30when one or more products are placed in the bag34. As shown inFIG. 1, the support assembly14typically includes one or more vertical supports, such as legs36. The legs36may be adjustable and configured to position the height of the sensor assembly12for various kinds of bags, totes, boxes, or other containers.

Although the paper bag24(FIG. 2) may be able to maintain its shape without collapsing, some bags such as plastic bags34(FIG. 3) may be held open using arms42. The arms42may be coupled to the sensor assembly12or one or more legs32. The arms42extend substantially horizontally and are configured to support the bags34in an open position. In this configuration, the mouth32of the bag40is generally positioned just below at least a portion of the scanning space20. According to other embodiments, the arms42may instead be configured as hooks, ridges, or other kinds of components for holding the plastic bag34such that its mouth32is opened to allow products to be placed therein.

Again referring toFIG. 1, the sensors18are mounted on the housing16such that each of the sensors18has a field of view (FOV) including at least a portion of the scanning space20outside the mouth of the bag24. The sensors18are configured to sense an identification code arranged on a product when the identification code is in the scanning space20outside the mouth22,32of the bag24,34as the product is being placed into the bag24,34. The identification code can be printed on the product itself or on a package, bag, box, or other container for holding the product. In other implementations, the identification code may be printed on a sticker, tag, or other medium and applied to the product or its container using a suitable application means.

The sensors18are arranged in fixed relationship with each other such that the field of view (FOV) of each sensor18includes at least a portion of the scanning space20near the mouth of the bag24. With the housing16configured to at least partially surround the scanning space20, at least one of the sensors18may be configured to have a FOV that enables the at least one sensor18to sense the identification code associated with the product.

Thus, when the code is brought into the scanning space20near the mouth22of the bag24, at least one of the sensors18scans the code. The multiple sensors18are configured with different fields of view and can be arranged such that essentially all parts of the scanning space20are within at least one field of view to allow reliable capture of the identification codes. When combined, the fields of view of the plurality of sensors18substantially encompass all or most of the scanning space20outside the mouth22,32of the bag24,34.

The sensor assembly12may also include one or more mirrors46, which may be fixed to redirect the fields of view (FOVs) of the sensors18(e.g., imager FOVs or laser scanner FOVs) or movable to sweep the FOVs. For example, regarding embodiments in which the sensors18are laser scanners, the mirrors may be moveable to deflect and guide-scanning laser beams in different directions in order to cover a more substantial field of view. The moveable mirrors can be moved by any suitable mechanism to guide the sensor FOV. In alternative embodiments, optical lenses may be used in place of the mirrors46to guide laser beams in a predefined fashion.

The sensors18and mirrors46may be arranged such that the sensor FOVs are directed horizontally, angled slightly upward, and/or angled slightly downward. Upward directed FOVs allow the sensors18to sense codes on the bottom of a product as it is being placed in the bag24,34.

To aid in the reading of codes, the sensor assembly12may include one or more lights50, which may be arranged as depicted inFIG. 1. The light(s)50are mounted on the housing16and are configured to illuminate at least portions of the scanning space20. The lights50are configured to enhance the ability of the sensors18to sense the code associated with the product, such as by increasing the contrast between the black lines or blocks and the white spaces of the identification codes. As a result of the added illumination, the sensors18(e.g., imagers) may better read the product codes.

Additionally, the sensor assembly12may include one or more indicators52. The indicators52may be visual indicators and/or audio indicators. Visual indicators may include different colors for representing different states. For example, a “ready” state may be represented with a white light pattern to indicate that the sensors18are ready to sense a code. When a product is being placed in the bag24,34and simultaneously scanned by the sensors18, the visual indicators52may display a “scanned” state to indicate that the product's code was properly scanned. This state may be represented, for example, with a green light pattern. If it is determined that a product is being placed in the bag24,34but no code is scanned, the visual indicators52may display an “error” state to indicate that the code was not scanned. This state may be represented, for example, with a red light pattern. In one embodiment of the sensor assembly, lights50and visual indicators52are one in the same.

As mentioned above, the sensor assembly12is arranged such that the housing16at least partially surrounds the scanning space20. The support assembly14is configured to position the sensor assembly12such that it properly surrounds the scanning space20, as taught by the present disclosure. The support assembly14may include a stand56, the platform30, and the one or more legs36. In other embodiments, framing elements, panels, or other suitable structures may be used instead of one or more of the legs36.

According to some implementations, the length of the legs36may be adjustable to allow the sensor assembly12to be positioned at different heights. Thus, different sizes of bags can be used. For example, the paper bag24shown inFIGS. 1 and 2has one particular height from the bottom28of the bag24to the edge26of the bag24. By adjusting the height of the sensor assembly12above the platform30, other sizes of paper bags and other kinds of bags, such as the plastic bag34shown inFIG. 3, may also be used.

The support assembly14of the POS apparatus10is configured to be coupled to and to support the sensor assembly12. The support assembly14is coupled to the housing16and is configured to position the mouth22,32of the bag24,34at the scanning space20near or surrounded by the housing16.

The identification code of the product is at least one of a barcode or other one-dimensional code, a QR code or other two-dimensional code, or other suitable recognizable coded image. Correspondingly, the plurality of sensors18may include at least one of barcode readers, laser scanners, one-dimensional scanners, linear imagers, QR code readers, two-dimensional scanners, large array two-dimensional imagers, or other suitable readers or imagers. In some alternative embodiments, the product codes may be implemented as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or other suitable passive or active wireless communication tags. According to these alternative embodiments, the sensors18may be RFID readers, low energy Bluetooth readers, or other suitable wireless communication receivers.

According to some embodiments, the sensor assembly12may include a product-flow detector60configured to detect when a product is being placed into the bag and when a product is being removed from the bag. The product-flow detector60may be mounted on the housing16and directed in the general direction of the scanning space20. The product-flow detector60senses the presence of a product. The product-flow detector60may also sense the direction that the product is moving. Particularly, the direction of movement may be sensed as either downward (i.e., into the bag24,34) or upward (i.e., out of the bag24,34).

According to some embodiments, the support assembly14may include a scale64that is configured to measure the weight of the product or products that have been placed in the bag24,34. The scale64can also be used to measure the weight of produce, such as fruits and vegetables. The scale64may be used to verify that a scanned product being placed in the bag24,34has the proper weight according to weight information stored in the POS apparatus10itself or stored in an external memory, table, register, or database accessible by the POS apparatus10.

The sensors18, mirrors46, and other elements of the sensor assembly12are configured such that each sensor18has a depth of field (DOF) sufficient to sense the code of a product at a distance at least as great as a line-of-sight distance from the sensing element of the respective sensor18to approximately a central point of the scanning space20outside the mouth of the bag.

When each of the sensors18has such a depth of field sufficient to sense the code associated with the product at this distance, the multiple sensors18, when arranged at different angles, can adequately cover the scanning space20. One or more sensors18may be able to scan the product code at most locations within the scanning space20. Thus, the POS apparatus10may be capable of more effectively and more quickly scanning codes than a one-sensor checkout device.

FIG. 4Ashows a top view of the POS apparatus10, andFIG. 4Bshows a front view of the POS apparatus10. The lines68are shown to represent generally the FOV and DOF of the multiple sensors18. With the various angles, in one dimension and/or in two dimensions, and the extent or depth of coverage, at least one the sensors18can adequately scan the product codes essentially within the scanning space20. InFIGS. 4A and 4B, the focal points of the lines68are shown as being outside the actual housing16. The lines68are illustrated this way to show the embodiment where the sensors18are scanning devices (e.g., imagers, laser scanners, etc.) that utilize the mirrors46. With the sensor FOVs being reflected off the mirrors46, the virtual locations of the sensors (e.g. the imaging camera lens, the sources of the laser beams, etc.) are perceived to be at the focal points.