Abstract:
A checkout device with a barcode reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system. The checkout device includes a barcode reader having substantially horizontal and vertical apertures for reading barcode labels on products, and a security label sensing and deactivation system for deactivating security labels on the products including a coil below the horizontal aperture. The security label sensing and deactivation system has a first range of operation which is increased by the EAS system by increasing field strength of the coil, or by adding a second coil adjacent the vertical aperture. An audible or visible signaling device notifies an operator that the barcode labels have been read and that the security labels have been deactivated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention is related to the following commonly assigned co-pending U.S. applications filed therewith:
         application Ser. No. 10/061,381, entitled “CHECKOUT DEVICE INCLUDING INTEGRATED BARCODE READER, SCALE AND EAS SYSTEM”, having as inventors, Donald A. Collins, et al., filed Feb. 1, 2002; and   application Ser. No. 10/185,302, entitled “CHECKOUT DEVICE INCLUDING INTEGRATED BARCODE READER AND EAS SYSTEM”, having as inventors, Donald A. Collins, et al., filed Jun. 28, 2002.       

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to product checkout devices and more specifically to a checkout device with enhanced security label detection. 
   An example of a checkout device that includes a barcode reader and an integrated electronic article surveillance (EAS) system and is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,951. This checkout device includes a single-aperture barcode reader. 
   One example of a checkout device is the NCR 7875 dual aperture barcode reader. 
   It would be desirable to combine an EAS system with a dual-aperture barcode reader in a way that enhances security label detection and deactivation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a checkout device with enhanced security label detection is provided. 
   The checkout device includes a barcode reader having substantially horizontal and vertical apertures for reading barcode labels on products, and a security label sensing and deactivation system for deactivating security labels on the products including a coil below the horizontal aperture. The security label sensing and deactivation system has a first range of operation which is increased by the EAS system by increasing field strength of the coil, or by adding a second coil adjacent the vertical aperture. An audible or visible signaling device notifies an operator that the barcode labels have been read and that the security labels have been deactivated. 
   It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a checkout device with enhanced security label detection. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a checkout device with enhanced security label detection that includes a dual-aperture barcode reader. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a checkout system; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a checkout device; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the checkout device of  FIG. 2  with scale weigh plate removed; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of detecting and deactivating a security label in accordance with the first embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of detecting and deactivating a security label in accordance with a second embodiment; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the checkout device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , checkout system  10  includes point-of-sale (POS) terminal  12  and checkout device  14 . 
   POS terminal  12  executes transaction processing software  16 , which records items  38  for purchase and records payment for items  38 . 
   POS terminal  12  additionally includes port  18  to which checkout device  14  is connected. Port  18  may be a serial port, such as an RS232 serial port. 
   Checkout device  14  primarily includes barcode reader  20  and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system  24 . Checkout device  14  may additionally include scale  22 . 
   Barcode reader  20  reads barcode labels  42  on purchased items  38 . Barcode reader  20  includes controller  36  which sends an enable signal to EAS system  24  through interlock  26  following reading of barcode label  42 . Barcode reader  20  preferably includes primary port  28  for connection barcode reader  20  to port  18  of POS terminal  12 . In addition, barcode reader  20  preferably includes auxiliary ports  30  to which other peripherals, such as scale  22  are connected. Primary and auxiliary ports  28  and  30  may be serial ports, such as RS232 serial ports. 
   Barcode reader  20  also include notification device  37  and  39 . Notification device  37  includes a tone generator or light for notifying an operator that a barcode label  42  has been read or not read. 
   Notification device  39  includes a clicking noise generator for notifying an operator that EAS system  24  has detected security label  40 . Notification device  39  may alternatively be part of EAS system  24  and controlled by EAS system  24 . 
   Barcode reader  20  is a multi-aperture barcode reader, and may include an NCR model 7875 dual-aperture barcode reader. Barcode reader  20  may include integrated or separately housed horizontal and vertical barcode readers. 
   Scale  22  weighs purchased produce items. 
   EAS system  24  deactivates security labels  40  on purchased items  38  that have them. EAS system  24  senses the presence of security label  40  and deactivates security label  40 . EAS system  24  may be connected to one of auxiliary ports  30  or to interlock  26 . If present, interlock  26  activates EAS system  24  in response to an enable signal from controller  36  of barcode reader  20 . Thus, interlock  26  signals EAS system  24  to detect security label  40  only if barcode reader  20  has read barcode label  42 . EAS system  24  may include a Sensormatic EAS system. 
   POS terminal  12  and checkout device  14  may be coupled in various ways. In the illustrated example, cable  44  couples port  18  of POS terminal  12  to primary port  28  of barcode reader  20 . Cable  46  couples one of auxiliary ports  30  of barcode reader  20  to port  32  of scale  22  and port  34  of interlock  26 . 
   Under this example, cables  44  and  46  supply data. Cable  46  may additionally supply power to scale  22  from barcode reader  20 . 
   Multiple power connections supply power. POS terminal  12  and barcode reader  20  have their own power connections. Interlock  26  and EAS system  24  share another power connection. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 2–3 , a first embodiment of checkout device  14  is shown in detail. 
   Checkout device  14  includes housing portions  70  and  72 . Housing portions  70  and  72  contain optical components for barcode reader  20 . Housing portion  70  includes vertical aperture  68  through which scanning light beams pass. 
   Checkout device  14  is preferably about 11.5 inches in width by 20 inches in length so as to fit within a “standard” U.S. checkstand hole for combination barcode reader and scale assemblies. 
   Housing portion  72  includes a load cell assembly and weigh plate  50  of scale  22 . Weigh plate  50  includes horizontal aperture  48  through which scanning light beams pass. Housing portion  72  is mounted within checkout counter  52  so that weigh plate  50  is substantially flush with top surface  54  of checkout counter  52 . 
   Checkout device  14  generates a plurality of laser scanning beams from the horizontal and vertical apertures  48  and  68 . Laser scanning beams define a scan volume, in which a barcode is likely to be read by checkout device  14 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the first embodiment of checkout device  14  has EAS system  24  mounted on top surface  62  of housing portion  72 . Posts  56  support weigh plate  50  above EAS system  24  so as to provide an additional space to locate EAS system  24 . Checkout device  14  is about two inches deeper than the NCR model 7875 checkout device in order to accommodate installation of EAS system  24 . 
   EAS system  24  may slightly overlap aperture  58  from one side of aperture  58  without substantially interfering with the operation of barcode reader  22 . Aperture  58  is in line with aperture  48  of weigh plate  50 . 
   An example EAS system  24  includes electromagnetic coil  60 . Coil  60  may include separate sense and deactivation coils. Corresponding security labels on products preferably include magnetic material. Coil  60  is packaged into a generally rectangular three-dimensional shape of insulating plastic. 
   Coil  60  is preferably oriented so that its length dimension is oriented perpendicular to the direction of product movement. In this way, security labels are exposed to the electromagnetic detection and deactivation fields from coil  60  after they are moved across aperture  48  of weigh plate  50 . 
   The illustrated example shows EAS system  24  in a left side of housing portion  72  and left of horizontal aperture  58 . The example is suitable for a right-to-left scanning motion. EAS system  24  may instead be located on a right side of housing portion  72  for left-to-right scanning. 
   Item  38  is moved across weigh plate  50 . Barcode reader  20  reads barcode label  42  and sends an enable signal to interlock  26 . Interlock  26  signals EAS system  24  to detect security label  40 . 
   Under ideal conditions, coil  60  senses the magnetic material in security label  40  and demagnetizes the magnetic material in security label  40 . However, item  38  may be passed through the scan volume of barcode reader  20  at a location which is sufficient for checkout device  14  to recognize a barcode label on item  38 , but which is insufficient for EAS system  24  to detect and deactivate security label  40 . One location at which detection and deactivation capability is reduced is high in the scan volume near the vertical aperture. This gap in coverage is caused by the differences in size and shape of the security label detection field and the scan volume. 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , a method of detecting and deactivating security labels  40  in accordance with a first embodiment improves detection capability for multi-aperture barcode readers, such as barcode reader  20 . The method begins with START  80 . 
   In step  82 , controller  36  waits for item  38 . 
   In step  84 , controller  36  causes barcode reader  20  to read barcode label  42  on item  38  as item  38  is moved through the scan volume. 
   In step  86 , controller  36  initiates timing for a predetermined time period. During this time period, an operator moves item  38  throughout the scan volume trying to get positive feedback in the form of a beep or flash of light from checkout device  14 . 
   In step  88 , controller  36  determines whether security label  40  has been detected. If not, operation proceeds to step  90 . Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  92 . 
   In step  90 , controller  36  determines whether the time period has expired. If not, operation returns to step  88 . Otherwise, operation returns to step  86 . 
   In step  92 , controller  36  activates indicator  39  to produce a clicking noise signaling detection of security label  40 . 
   In step  94 , controller  36  determines whether the time period has expired. If not, operation proceeds to step  96 . The customer thinks that barcode label  42  has not been decoded and continues to move item  38  throughout the scan volume. Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  98 . 
   In step  96 , controller  36  determines whether security label  40  has been detected. If not, operation proceeds to step  94  to continue waiting for time to expire. Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  92  to activate indicator  39 . Controller  36  activates indicator  39  each time security label  40  is detected. 
   After the time period expires, operation proceeds to step  98 . 
   In step  98 , controller  36  activates indicator  37  to produce a beep and colored light signaling decoding of barcode label  42  to the operator. 
   Operation returns to step  82  to wait for the next item  38 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , a method of detecting and deactivating security labels  40  in accordance with a second embodiment begins with START  100 . 
   In step  102 , controller  36  waits for item  38 . 
   In step  104 , controller  36  causes barcode reader  20  to read barcode label  42  on item  38  as item  38  is moved through the scan volume. 
   In step  106 , controller  36  instructs EAS system  24  to temporarily increase the size of the detection field to larger than the scan volume in order to increase the likelihood that EAS system  24  would detect and deactivate security label  40 , particularly when item  38  passes high above coil  60 . 
   In step  108 , controller  36  determines whether EAS system  24  detects a security label  40  on item  38 . If so, operation proceeds to step  110 . Otherwise, operation proceeds to step  118 . 
   In step  110 , controller  36  sets a flag. 
   In step  112 , controller  36  instructs EAS system  24  to deactivate security label  40 . 
   In step  114 , controller  36  removes the flag. 
   In step  116 , controller  36  instructs EAS system  24  to decrease the detection field to normal size. 
   In step  118 , controller  36  activates notification device  37 . 
   In step  120 , operation returns to step  102  to wait for another item  38 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , a third embodiment of checkout device  14  provides an alternate solution for detecting and deactivating security labels  40  which are high enough above coil  60  to reduce the likelihood of being detected. 
   In addition to coil  60 , the second embodiment adds a second coil  130 . Coil  130  is oriented vertically on a left side of housing portion  70 . 
   Although the invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.