Fast food drive-thru video communication system

• US 5,168,354 A
• Filed: 03/27/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burger King Corporation (Restaurant Brands International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Burger King Corporation (Restaurant Brands International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martinez, Juan R., Suau, Miguel
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US07/675,567
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/108, 358/252, 358/254, 358/255, 359/601, 359/602, 359/614
• US Class Current: 348/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/144 camera and display on the same optical axis, e.g. optically multiplexing the camera and display for eye to eye contact

Abstract

A communication system as set forth which is particularly suitable for a fast food drive-thru restaurant by which the patron may maintain eye-to-eye visual contact with the attendant located within the restaurant while selecting his various food items. The system includes an attendant station in the restaurant having a video monitor positioned to project the image of the patron to the attendant. The attendant station also includes a video camera mounted at eye level elevation which picks up the eye level image of the attendant and transmits this image to a second video monitor located at a remote order station. A mirror is mounted within the attendant station which allows the attendant to view the attendant video monitor while simultaneously looking directly into the video camera. The remote order station, in addition to having the second video monitor which presents the eye level image of the attendant to the patron, includes a second video camera which observes the patron and transmits the patron'"'"'s image to the attendant in the restaurant. The system may also include a glare baffle positioned in the remote order station adjacent to the video monitor which reduces the glare observed by the patron on the screen of the video monitor.

Claims

1. A two-way audio and video communication system for use in a drive-thru restaurant system by which a drive-thru patron remote from the restaurant building may communicate with an attendant located within the building, the communication system comprising:

an attendant station positioned within the building;

an order station positioned remote from the building;

a first video circuit connected between the attendant station and the order station and adapted for picking up an eye level elevation image of the attendant at the attendant station and presenting said image to the patron at the order station;

a second video circuit connected between the attendant station and the order station and adapted for picking up the image of the patron and presenting said image to the attendant while allowing the attendant to present the eye level elevation image to said first video circuit; and

a two-way audio communication link connected between the attendant station and the order station whereby the attendant and patron may talk with one another.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first video circuit includes:

first video camera mounted within the attendant station at eye level elevation, said camera positioned for picking up the eye level elevation image of the attendant and transmitting a video signal thereof; and

first video monitor mounted within the order station and positioned such that the presentation thereon may be observed by the patron from their vehicle, said first video monitor adapted for receiving the video signal from the first video camera at the attendant station.

3. The communication system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second video circuit includes:

second video monitor mounted within the attendant station and positioned to project the presentation thereon in a generally vertical direction;

second video camera mounted within the order station and positioned for picking up the image of the patron in their vehicle and transmitting a video signal thereof to the second video monitor at the attendant station; and

mirror mounted within the attendant station and positioned for reflecting the presentation on the second video monitor out of the attendant station at eye level elevation toward the attendant.

4. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said mirror is mounted between the first video camera and the attendant and includes a transparent window through which the camera may pick up the eye level elevation image of the attendant.

5. The communication system as claimed in claim 2 further including a light absorbing glare baffle positioned adjacent the lower portion of the first video monitor and adapted for reducing the glare observed by the patron from the first video monitor.

6. The communication system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the glare baffle includes an upper light absorbing surface positioned at an upward angle relative to a substantially horizontal line substantially perpendicular to the screen surface of the first video monitor.

7. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, further including a master control unit at said attendant station, said unit operably connected to the first and second video circuits and the communication link to control the operation and use of the communication system.

8. A two-way audio and video communication system for use in a drive-thru establishment by which a drive-thru patron may communicate with an attendant located within the establishment, the communication system comprising:

an attendant station positioned within the establishment, said station having;

a first video monitor positioned to project the presentation thereon in a generally vertical direction;

a first video camera mounted at substantially eye level elevation, said camera positioned for picking up an eye level image of the attendant and transmitting a video signal thereof;

a mirror mounted between the camera and the attendant, and positioned for reflecting at eye level elevation the presentation on the first video monitor toward the attendant, said mirror including a transparent window through which the camera may pick up the eye level elevation image of the attendant;

an order station positioned remote from the establishment, said station having;

a second video monitor positioned such that the presentation thereon may be observed by the patron from their vehicle, said second video monitor adapted for receiving the video signal from the first video camera at the attendant station;

a second video camera positioned for picking up the image of the patron in their vehicle and transmitting a video signal thereof to the first video monitor of the attendant station; and

a two-way audio communication link operably connected between the attendant station and the order station whereby the attendant and patron may talk with one another.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 8 further including a light absorbing glare baffle positioned adjacent the lower portion of the second video monitor and adapted for reducing the glare observed by the patron as being from second video monitor.

10. The communication system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the glare baffle includes an upper light absorbing surface positioned at an upward angle relative to a substantially horizontal line substantially perpendicular to the screen surface of the second video monitor.

11. A two-way audio and video communication system for use in a drive-thru restaurant by which a drive-thru patron may communicate with an attendant located within the restaurant, the communication system comprising:

an attendant station positioned within the restaurant, said station having;

first video monitor mounted within the station and positioned to project the presentation thereon in a generally vertical direction;

first video camera mounted within the station at eye level elevation, said camera positioned for picking up the eye level elevation image of the attendant and transmitting a video signal thereof;

a mirror mounted within the station between said first camera and the attendant, and positioned for reflecting the presentation on the first video monitor out of the station at eye level elevation toward the attendant, said mirror having a port through which the camera may pick up the image of the attendant;

an order station positioned remote from the restaurant, said station having;

second video monitor mounted within the order station and positioned such that the presentation thereon may be observed by the patron from their vehicle, said second video monitor adapted for receiving the video signal from the first video camera of the attendant station;

glare baffle positioned adjacent the lower portion of the second video monitor and adapted for reducing the glare observed by the patron from the video monitor;

second video camera mounted within the order station and positioned for picking up the image of the patron in their vehicle and transmitting a video signal thereof to the first video monitor of the attendant station; and

a two-way audio communication link connected between the attendant station and the order station whereby the attendant and patron may talk with one another.

12. The communication system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the glare baffle includes an upper light absorbing surface positioned at an upward angle relative to a substantially horizontal line substantially perpendicular to the screen surface of the second video monitor.

13. An order station for use by a patron of a drive-thru establishment, said station being remotely located from the establishment and comprising:

a cabinet housing having a video chamber and an open-ended, anti-glare section adjacent thereto;

a video monitor mounted within the video chamber and positioned such that the presentation thereon may be observed by the patron from a vehicle, said video monitor adapted for receiving a video signal from the establishment; and

a light absorbing glare baffle positioned within the anti-glare section and adjacent the lower portion of the video monitor, said baffle adapted for reducing the glare observed by the patron from the video monitor.

14. An anti-glare cabinet for housing a video monitor to be observed by a patron-user, said cabinet comprising:

a video chamber for mounting said monitor, said chamber having a video window aligned with the screen of the monitor;

an anti-glare section attached to said video chamber, said anti-glare section having four sections connected to each other along adjacent edges to form an open-ended hood about the periphery of said video window whereby the video screen may be observed by the patron-user through the open portion of the anti-glare section; and

a glare baffle positioned within the anti-glare section and adjacent the lower portion of the video window and having a light absorbing upper surface adapted for reducing the glare observed by the patron-user from the video monitor, said upper surface is positioned at an upward angle relative to a substantially horizontal line substantially perpendicular to the screen of the monitor.

15. An anti-glare cabinet for housing a video monitor, said cabinet comprising:

a cabinet enclosure having four panel sections connected to each other along adjacent edges to form an open-ended hood about the periphery of the screen of the video monitor; and

a glare baffle positioned within the cabinet enclosure adjacent the lower portion of the video screen and having a light absorbing upper surface adapted for reducing the glare observed from the video screen, said upper surface is positioned at an upward angle relative to a substantially horizontal line substantially perpendicular to the screen of the monitor.