Patent Publication Number: US-7717235-B2

Title: Convertible point-of-sale checkout terminal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the retail industry, flat bed laser readers, also known as horizontal slot scanners, have been used to electro-optically read one-dimensional bar code symbols, particularly of the Universal Product Code (UPC) type, at full-service, point-of-transaction checkout terminals operated by checkout clerks in supermarkets, warehouse clubs, department stores, and other kinds of retailers for many years. As exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,779; No. 5,124,539 and No. 5,200,599, a single, horizontal window is set flush with, and built into, a horizontal countertop of the terminal. Products to be purchased bear identifying symbols and are typically slid across the horizontal window through which a multitude of scan lines is projected in a generally upwards direction. When at least one of the scan lines sweeps over a symbol associated with a product, the symbol is processed and read. The multitude of scan lines is typically generated by a scan pattern generator which includes a laser for emitting a laser beam at a mirrored component mounted on a shaft for rotation by a motor about an axis. A plurality of stationary mirrors is arranged about the axis. As the mirrored component turns, the laser beam is successively reflected onto the stationary mirrors for reflection therefrom through the horizontal window as a scan pattern of the scan lines. 
   It is also known to provide a checkout terminal not only with a generally horizontal window, but also with an upright or generally vertical window that faces the clerk at the terminal. The generally vertical window is oriented generally perpendicularly to the horizontal window, or is slightly rearwardly or forwardly inclined. The laser scan pattern generator within this dual window or bioptical terminal also projects the multitude of scan lines in a generally outward direction through the vertical window toward the clerk. The generator for the vertical window can be the same as or different from the generator for the horizontal window. The clerk slides the products past either window, e.g., from right to left, or from left to right, in a “swipe” mode. Alternatively, the clerk merely presents the symbol on the product to a central region of either window in a “presentation” mode. The choice depends on clerk preference or on the layout of the terminal. 
   Sometimes, the vertical window is not built into the terminal as a permanent installation. Instead, a vertical slot scanner is configured as a portable reader that is placed on the countertop of an existing horizontal slot scanner in a hands-free mode of operation. In the frequent event that large, heavy, or bulky products, that cannot easily be brought to the reader, have symbols that are required to be read, then the clerk may also manually grasp the portable reader and lift it off, and remove it from, the countertop for reading the symbols in a handheld mode of operation. 
   As advantageous as these laser-based, point-of-transaction terminals are in processing transactions involving products associated with one-dimensional symbols, each having a row of bars and spaces spaced apart along one direction, these terminals cannot process stacked symbols, such as Code 49 that introduced the concept of vertically stacking a plurality of rows of bar and space patterns in a single symbol, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,239, or two-dimensional symbols, such as PDF417 that increased the amount of data that could be represented or stored on a given amount of surface area, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,786. Both one- and two-dimensional symbols, as well as stacked symbols, can be read by employing imaging readers each having a solid-state imager which has a one- or two-dimensional array of cells or photosensors that correspond to image elements or pixels in a field of view of the imager. Such an imager may include a one- or two-dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, as well as associated circuits for producing electronic signals corresponding to the one- or two-dimensional array of pixel information over the field of view. 
   It is therefore known to use a solid-state imager for capturing a monochrome image of a symbol as, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,349. It is also known to use a solid-state imager with multiple buried channels for capturing a full color image of a target as, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,895. It is common to provide a two-dimensional CCD with a 640×480 resolution commonly found in VGA monitors, although other resolution sizes are possible. 
   It is also known to install the solid-state imager, analogous to that conventionally used in a consumer digital camera, in a bioptical, point-of-transaction terminal, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,947 in which the dual use of both the solid-state imager and the laser scan pattern generator in the same terminal is disclosed. It is possible to replace all of the laser scan pattern generators with solid-state imagers in order to improve reliability and to enable the reading of two-dimensional and stacked symbols, as well as other targets. 
   All of the above-described terminals are typically operated by checkout clerks. In an effort to reduce, if not eliminate, the need for checkout clerks and their associated labor cost, a number of self-service, point-of-sale, checkout terminals have been proposed. A self-service checkout terminal is operated by the customer without the aid of the checkout clerk. During operation of the self-service checkout terminal, the customer moves individual products for purchase across a window of the terminal to read their respective symbols, and then places the read products into a carry-out bag, if desired. The customer then pays for his or her purchases either at the self-service checkout terminal if so equipped with a credit/debit card reader, or at a central payment area that is staffed by a store employee. Thus, the self-service checkout terminal permits the customer to select, itemize, and, in some cases, pay for his or her purchases, without the assistance of the retailer&#39;s personnel. 
   However, the known self-service checkout terminals are relatively expensive to install and are sometimes difficult for some customers to operate, thereby potentially causing such terminals to go unused or underutilized, and their expense to be economically unjustified. Some retailers expect their clerks to stand nearby self-service terminals to be rapidly called in for assistance when necessary. Some self-service terminals require that certain equipment be moved into position depending on whether the customer or the clerk is handling the transaction. Dedicated self-service terminals occupy valuable real estate in a retailer&#39;s operation, which might otherwise be used for full-service terminals. Full-service terminals are not readily convertible into self-service terminals. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in a convertible checkout terminal for, and a method of, converting the checkout terminal between a self-service mode and a full-service mode of operation. A convertible checkout terminal is a system or workstation that can be operated in a self-service mode in which a customer operates the terminal without the assistance of store personnel, but can also be transformed or converted in order to be operated in an assisted or full-service mode in which the terminal is operated by a checkout clerk or the like. Such convertible terminals have the advantage in that the operation of the terminal may be altered to fit the immediate needs of the retailer&#39;s operation. 
   In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the terminal includes a housing having a window and a data capture device for capturing through the window data associated with products to be checked out at the terminal. A customer interface is supported by the housing, and is operative for enabling a customer to interact with the terminal in the self-service mode of operation. A clerk interface is also supported by the housing, and is operative for enabling a clerk to interact with the terminal in the full-service mode of operation. A mode selector is operative for selecting either the self-service mode in which the customer interface is operational, or the full-service mode in which the clerk interface is operational. The terminal of this invention is relatively inexpensive to install, and the interfaces are simple to operate, thereby maximizing their utilization. The terminal is readily and rapidly convertible between full-service and self-service. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the housing is supported by a support surface, such as a countertop formed with a recess, and the housing has a base portion received in the recess. The window is located in a generally horizontal plane, and the housing has another window located in a generally upright plane that intersects the generally horizontal plane, thereby comprising a bioptical workstation. The housing has a pair of opposite end regions and a central region between the end regions. The central region lies in the generally horizontal plane, and the end regions have tilted portions that lie in inclined planes that intersect the horizontal plane. Preferably, the window is located in the central region, and the housing has a pair of side windows located in the end regions and mutually facing each other. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the data are indicia, typically one- or two-dimensional bar code symbols, on the products, and the data capture device includes an electro-optical reader for electro-optically reading the indicia. The reader is advantageously an imaging reader that operates by image capture, and includes a plurality of solid-state imagers for capturing light from the indicia through the windows along different fields of view. Each imager preferably comprises a two-dimensional, charge coupled device (CCD) array or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) array of submegapixel size, e.g., 752 pixels wide×480 pixels high, in order to reduce the costs of the imagers, as compared to supermegapixel arrays. Each imager includes an illuminator for illuminating the indicia with illumination light from illumination light sources, e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs). A controller is operative for controlling each illuminator to illuminate the indicia, for controlling each imager to capture the illumination light returning from the indicia over an exposure time period to produce electrical signals indicative of the indicia being read, and for processing the electrical signals to read the indicia. Each illuminator is only operative during the exposure time period. Each imager is controlled to capture the light from the indicia during different exposure time periods to avoid mutual interference among the illuminators. 
   In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the customer interface has a first interactive screen, e.g., a display and/or touch screen, located at one of the end regions, and the clerk interface has a second interactive screen, e.g., another display and/or touch screen, located at the other of the end regions. A receipt printer is located at either end region, and a keypad is also located at either end region. The second interactive screen is mounted at the other end region for movement, e.g., pivoting movement, between a raised position in which the second interactive screen faces and interacts with the customer, and a lowered position in which the second interactive screen faces and interacts with the clerk. The mode selector is an actuatable switch, e.g., a pressure, magnetic, or optical switch, actuated by the second interactive screen when moved between the raised and lowered positions. A controller is operatively connected to the switch, for controlling operation of the self-service mode in the raised position, and for controlling operation of the full-service mode in the lowered position. Thus, by simply moving the second interactive screen, the terminal is rapidly and easily converted. 
   In accordance with another feature of this invention, the method of converting the terminal is performed by configuring a housing with a window and a data capture device for capturing through the window data associated with products to be checked out at the terminal, enabling a customer to interact with the terminal in a self-service mode of operation with a customer interface supported by the housing, enabling a clerk to interact with the terminal in a full-service mode of operation with a clerk interface supported by the housing, and selecting either the self-service mode in which the customer interface is operational, or the full-service mode in which the clerk interface is operational. 
   The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual window, bioptical, point-of-transaction workstation or terminal operative for reading indicia in accordance with the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a part-sectional, part-diagrammatic, schematic view of a terminal analogous to that shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with the prior art; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective, exploded view of a stationary embodiment of a convertible, point-of-transaction, checkout terminal operative for reading indicia on products in accordance with this invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the terminal of  FIG. 3  in the full-service mode of operation; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the terminal of  FIG. 3  in the self-service mode of operation; 
       FIG. 6  is a part-sectional, part-diagrammatic, view of the terminal of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the terminal of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a broken-away, side view of a detail of the terminal of  FIG. 3  in the full-service mode of operation; 
       FIG. 9  is a broken-away, side view of the detail of the terminal of  FIG. 3  in the self-service mode of operation; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another mobile embodiment of a terminal. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  depicts a dual window, bioptical, point-of-transaction workstation  10  used in the prior art by retailers to process transactions involving the purchase of products bearing an identifying target, such as the UPC symbol described above. Workstation  10  has a generally horizontal window  12  set flush with, or recessed into, a countertop  14 , and a vertical or generally vertical (referred to as “vertical” or “upright” hereinafter) window  16  set flush with, or recessed into, a raised housing portion  18  above the countertop  14 . 
   As schematically shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of imaging readers, each including a solid-state imager  30  and an illuminator  32 , are also mounted at the workstation in accordance with the prior art, for capturing light passing through either or both windows  12 ,  16  from a target that can be a one- or two-dimensional symbol, such as a two-dimensional symbol on a driver&#39;s license, or any document. Each imager  30  is a solid-state area array, preferably a CCD or CMOS array, of submegapixel size. Each imager  30  preferably has a global shutter. Each illuminator  32  is preferably one or more light sources, e.g., surface-mounted, light emitting diodes (LEDs), located at each imager  30  to uniformly illuminate the target. 
   In use, an operator  24 , such as a clerk working at a supermarket checkout counter, processes a product  26  bearing a UPC symbol  28  thereon, past the windows  12 ,  16  by swiping the product across a respective window, or by presenting the product by holding it momentarily steady at the respective window. The symbol  28  may located on any of the top, bottom, right, left, front and rear, sides of the product, and at least one, if not more, of the imagers  30  will capture the illumination light reflected, scattered, or otherwise returning from the symbol through one or both windows. 
     FIG. 2  also schematically depicts that a weighing scale  46 , a cash register  48 , and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) deactivator  50  may be mounted at the workstation. The generally horizontal window  12  advantageously serves not only as a weighing platter for supporting a product to be weighed, but also allows the return light to pass therethrough. The register  48  can sit atop the raised housing portion  18 , or be integrated therewith. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader  52  may also advantageously be mounted at the workstation. The reader  52  can be mounted at any location and not only below the countertop  14 , as shown. 
   As also schematically shown in  FIG. 2 , the imagers  30  and their associated illuminators  32  are operatively connected to a programmed microprocessor or controller  44  operative for controlling the operation of these and other components. Preferably, the microprocessor is the same as the one used for decoding the return light scattered from the target and for processing the captured target images. 
   In operation, the microprocessor  44  sends successive command signals to the illuminators  32  to pulse the LEDs for a short time period of 300 microseconds or less, and successively energizes the imagers  30  to collect light from a target only during said time period, also known as the exposure time period. By acquiring a target image during this brief time period, the image of the target is not excessively blurred even in the presence of relative motion between the imagers and the target. 
   The energization of the imagers  30  can be manual and initiated by the operator. For example, the operator can depress a button, or a foot pedal, at the workstation. The energization can also be automatic such that the imagers operate in a continuous image acquisition mode, which is the desired mode for video surveillance of the operator, as well as for decoding two-dimensional symbols. In the preferred embodiment, all the imagers will be continuously sequentially energized for scanning symbols until such time as there has been a period of inactivity that exceeds a pre-programmed time interval. For example, if no symbols have been scanned for ten minutes, then after this time period has elapsed, the reader enters a power-savings mode in which one or more of the imagers will be omitted from sequential energization. Alternatively, illumination levels may be reduced or turned off. At least one imager will remain active for periodically capturing images. If the active imager detects anything changing within its field of view, this will indicate to the operator that a product bearing a symbol is moving into the field of view, and illumination and image capture will resume to provide high performance scanning. 
   In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a convertible checkout terminal  100 , as depicted in  FIGS. 3-7 , includes a housing  102  having a main window  104  and a data capture device, e.g., the above-described plurality of imaging readers, for capturing through the main window  104  data associated with products to be checked out at the terminal  100 . A customer interface  106  is supported by the housing  102 , and is operative for enabling a customer to interact with the terminal  100  in a self-service mode of operation, as depicted in  FIG. 5 . A clerk interface  108  is also supported by the housing  102 , and is operative for enabling a clerk to interact with the terminal  100  in the full-service mode of operation, as depicted in  FIG. 4 . A mode selector  110 , as depicted in  FIGS. 8-9 , is operative for selecting either the self-service mode in which the customer interface  106  is operational, or the full-service mode in which the clerk interface  108  is operational. The terminal  100  of this invention is relatively inexpensive to install, and the interfaces  106 ,  108  are simple to operate, thereby maximizing their utilization. The terminal  100  is readily and rapidly convertible between full-service and self-service. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the housing  102  is supported by a support surface  112 , such as a countertop formed with a recess  114  (see  FIG. 3 ), and the housing  102  has a base portion  116  received in the recess  114 . Such countertops are routinely available in retail stores. The main window  104  is located in a generally horizontal plane, and the housing  102  has another window, preferably a pair of side windows  118 ,  120 , each located in a generally upright plane that intersects the generally horizontal plane. The housing  102  has a pair of opposite end regions  122 ,  124  and a central region  126  between the end regions  122 ,  124 . The central region  126  lies in the generally horizontal plane, and the end regions  122 ,  124  have tilted portions that lie in inclined planes that intersect the horizontal plane. Preferably, the main window  104  is located in the central region  126 , and is substantially flush with the upper surface of the countertop  116 . The side windows  118 ,  120  are located in the end regions  122 ,  124  above the countertop  116  and mutually face each other across a reading zone  128 , shown by stippling in  FIG. 6 , through which the products bearing the indicia to be read are passed. One or more of the aforementioned imaging readers  30  can be positioned behind each window  104 ,  118 ,  120 . Alternately, rather than using imaging readers, laser scan generators, as described above, could be employed to replace one, some, or all of the imaging readers. 
   The customer interface  106  has a first interactive screen, e.g., a display and/or touch screen, located at the end region  122 . The customer has ready manual access to the touch screen  106  to process a transaction, and can readily see visual information on the display to process the transaction, without assistance from a clerk. The clerk interface  108  has a second interactive screen, e.g. a display and/or touch screen, located at the other end region  124 . The clerk has ready manual access to the touch screen  108  to process a transaction, and can readily see visual information on the display to process the transaction on behalf of the customer. 
   A receipt printer  128  may be located at either end region  122 ,  124  to print a receipt for the customer. As illustrated, the printer  128  is located at the end region  122 . It is currently preferred if the printer  128  is located at the end region  124  so that the clerk can readily replace a supply roll of receipts. It is further preferred if a slot through which the receipts are dispensed is positioned to face a central area of the terminal  100 , thereby preventing the receipts from falling off the countertop and landing on the floor. A keypad  130  is preferably located at the other end region  124  to enable manual entry of information by the clerk. As best shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , the second interactive screen  108  is mounted at the other end region  124  for movement, e.g., pivoting movement, between a raised position ( FIG. 9 ) in which the second interactive screen  108  faces and interacts with the customer, and a lowered position ( FIG. 8 ) in which the second interactive screen  108  faces and interacts with the clerk. Thus, in the self-service mode, both screens  106 ,  108  face and interact with the customer, whereas, in the full-service mode, only screen  106  faces and interacts with the customer. Screen  108  could, for example, provide message prompts to guide the customer through the transaction, while screen  106  could be used for manual entry of information. 
   The mode selector  110  is preferably an actuatable switch, e.g., a pressure, magnetic, or optical switch, actuated by the second interactive screen  108  when moved between the raised and lowered positions. The controller  44  is operatively connected to the switch  110 , for controlling operation of the self-service mode in the raised position, and for controlling operation of the full-service mode in the lowered position. For example, the controller  44  insures that any alphanumeric information is presented in the correct orientation in each position of the screen  108 . Thus, by simply moving the second interactive screen  108 , the terminal  100  is rapidly and easily converted. 
   The terminal  100  depicted in  FIG. 10  is identical to that described above, except that the support surface is not an elongated countertop, but instead, is a pedestal  132  that can be readily moved from place to place to constitute a mobile terminal. 
   It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a convertible checkout terminal and method of converting between self-service and full-service modes of operation, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 
   What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.