Optical vend sensing system for product delivery detection

• US 20070213871A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Merchandising Systems Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Whitten, David, Duncan, Brian, Griner, Paul, Booth, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

An optical vend sensing system for use in vending machines employs a row of light emitters on one side of a region through which a vend product passes during delivery and a row of light detectors on the opposite side. Each detector is substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the emitters, and is capable of receiving light from any of more than one of the emitters when that emitter is activated. The emitters are individually activated in sequential, round-robin fashion and multiple detectors are monitored for each emitter when activated. Interruption of detectible beams between an activated emitter and one of the multiple emitters monitored for the activated emitter. Power applied to an activated emitter is calibrated in steps to a minimum level sufficient to ensure detection by all monitored detectors of light emitted by an activated emitter, plus a safety margin.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. An optical sensing system, comprising:

a row of light emitters on a first side of a region through which a product falls during delivery, each light emitter emitting light across the region;

a row of light detectors on a second side of the region, each light detector substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the light emitters, each light detector capable of detecting light emitted from any of two or more of the light emitters when the respective light emitter is activated;

a controller individually activating each one of the light emitters for a first period of time and, for each light emitter when activated, monitoring at least two light detectors for detection of light from the activated light emitter; and

a reporting circuit coupled to the light detectors and, responsive to detection of light at fewer than all of the at least two monitored light detectors, generating a signal indicating delivery of a product.

35. The optical sensing system of claim 34, wherein each light emitter, when activated, emits light including a plurality of detectible beams each extending between the activated light emitter and one of the monitored light detectors, and wherein product passage through the region is detected by interruption of one or more of the detectible beams.

36. The optical sensing system of claim 34, wherein the light emitters are sequentially activated in round-robin fashion.

37. The optical sensing system of claim 34, further comprising:

monitoring at least three light detectors for detection of light from the activated light emitter when the activated emitter is not an end emitter within the row of light emitters.

38. The optical sensing system of claim 34, wherein the light detectors include optical frequency filters.

39. The optical sensing system of claim 34, further comprising:

optical detection apertures located in front of each light detector, each optical detection aperture allowing light from a larger range of horizontal angles to reach a respective light detector than light from a range of vertical angles that reaches the respective light detector.

40. A vending machine including the optical sensing system of claim 34, wherein the row of light emitters and the row of light detectors are positioned between a lowest set of product storage locations within the vending machine and a delivery bin.

41. An optical sensing system, comprising:

a row of light emitters on a first side of a region through which a product falls during delivery, each light emitter emitting light across the region;

a row of light detectors on a second side of the region, each light detector substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the light emitters, each light detector capable of detecting light emitted from any of two or more of the light emitters when the respective light emitter is activated;

a controller individually activating each one of the light emitters for a first period of time and, for each light emitter when activated, utilizing an output from at least two light detectors in determining whether light from the activated light emitter was interrupted; and

a reporting circuit coupled to the light detectors and, responsive to detection of light at fewer than all of the at least two light detectors, generating a signal indicating delivery of a product.

42. A vending machine including the optical sensing system of claim 41, wherein the row of light emitters and the row of light detectors are positioned between a lowest set of product storage locations within the vending machine and a delivery bin.

43. An optical sensing system, comprising:

a row of light emitters on a first side of a region through which a product falls during delivery, each light emitter emitting light across the region;

a row of light detectors on a second side of the region, each light detector substantially aligned with a corresponding one of the light emitters, each light detector capable of detecting light emitted from one of two or more of the light emitters when the respective light emitter is activated, wherein two or more light detectors are monitored for light from each light emitter when the respective light emitter is activated;

a calibration controller setting an intensity of light emitted from the light emitters to a level equal to a minimum level sufficient to ensure detection of light from the activated light emitter by all of the monitored light emitters to detect the emitted light plus a safety margin.

44. The optical sensing system according to claim 43 wherein the calibration controller, upon failure of any monitored light emitter to detect light from an activated light emitter, attempts to increase a power applied to the activated light emitter.

45. The optical sensing system according to claim 44 wherein the calibration controller, upon failure of any monitored light emitter to detect light from an activated light emitter, determines whether a maximum power was applied to the activated light emitter.

46. The optical sensing system according to claim 44 wherein the calibration controller increases power applied to the activated light emitter by steps.

47. The optical sensing system of claim 43, wherein the light detectors include optical frequency filters.

48. The optical sensing system of claim 43, further comprising:

optical detection apertures located in front of each light detector, each optical detection aperture allowing light from a larger range of horizontal angles to reach a respective light detector than light from a range of vertical angles that reaches the respective light detector.

49. A vending machine including the optical sensing system of claim 43, wherein the row of light emitters and the row of light detectors are positioned between a lowest set of product storage locations within the vending machine and a delivery bin.