SMART RFID CHECKOUT KIOSK
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-checkout kiosk system, comprising:
- a main housing having a first acrylic panel;
a first RF antenna positioned adjacent to the first acrylic panel to transmit a TX signal toward an RFID tag;
a second RF antenna positioned adjacent to the first acrylic panel to receive a RX signal from the RFID tag;
a first RFID reader, positioned in the main housing, to determine a distance to the RFID tag using the RX signal;
a remote housing having a second acrylic panel;
a third RF antenna positioned adjacent to the second acrylic panel to transmit a TX signal toward the RFID tag;
a fourth RF antenna positioned adjacent to the second acrylic panel to receive a RX signal from the RFID tag; and
a second RFID reader, positioned in the remote housing, to receive the RX signal from the RFID tag and to determine whether the RFID tag has traveled beyond a certain distance in a certain direction away from the second RFID reader and if so, to transmit a security signal to sound an alarm and to receive a description of an item with the RFID tag.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a self-checkout kiosk that utilizes RFID tags and a distance and direction RFID reader to detect sales merchandise. The kiosk includes POS software, which automatically detects items selected by a patron that have previously been received into inventory and tagged, which facilitates the completion of the sale by detecting the distance and direction of the RFID tag. The kiosk incorporates a communication system and means for the patron to communicate with a store employee located distant from the kiosk. The POS software utilizes multiple payment methods and has the capability to display advertisements based on product being detected.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-checkout kiosk system, comprising:
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a main housing having a first acrylic panel; a first RF antenna positioned adjacent to the first acrylic panel to transmit a TX signal toward an RFID tag; a second RF antenna positioned adjacent to the first acrylic panel to receive a RX signal from the RFID tag; a first RFID reader, positioned in the main housing, to determine a distance to the RFID tag using the RX signal; a remote housing having a second acrylic panel; a third RF antenna positioned adjacent to the second acrylic panel to transmit a TX signal toward the RFID tag; a fourth RF antenna positioned adjacent to the second acrylic panel to receive a RX signal from the RFID tag; and a second RFID reader, positioned in the remote housing, to receive the RX signal from the RFID tag and to determine whether the RFID tag has traveled beyond a certain distance in a certain direction away from the second RFID reader and if so, to transmit a security signal to sound an alarm and to receive a description of an item with the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A self-checkout apparatus for detecting an RFID tag on an item, comprising:
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a housing having an acrylic panel; a memory module positioned in the housing for storing POS software; a processor for executing the POS software; an antenna positioned in the housing for transmitting a TX signal through the acrylic panel of the housing to an RFID tag and for receiving a RX signal from the RFID tag; an RFID reader, positioned in the housing and controlled by the POS software, for determining an item number for the RFID tag using the RX signal; a security module positioned in a different location than the housing, the security module having an acrylic panel; an antenna positioned in the security module for transmitting a TX signal through the acrylic panel of the security module to the RFID tag and for receiving a RX signal from the RFID tag; and a distance and direction RFID reader positioned in the security module to receive the RX signal from the RFID tag and determine a distance and a direction of movement of the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for detecting whether an item has been paid for or stolen using an RFID tag, comprising:
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transmitting a first signal to an RFID tag; receiving a second signal from the RFID tag; determining a distance and a direction of movement of the RFID tag using the second signal; determining whether the distance is greater than a predetermined value; determining whether the direction of movement is in a predetermined direction; and transmitting an alarm signal when the distance is greater than the predetermined value and the direction of movement is in the predetermined direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification