Olfatory sensor identification system and method
First Claim
1. A device for identifying a produce item by its aroma to facilitate its purchase, comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber at a checkout counter including a surface having an aperture;
an array of sensors disposed within said chamber for determining at least part of a composition of the aroma, wherein said array of sensors produces a sensor pattern for the aroma; and
negative pressure means, coupled to said chamber, for lowering pressure within said chamber and causing air to be drawn into said chamber through the aperture in the surface and past the produce item when the produce item is placed adjacent the aperture, wherein the air drawn into said chamber carries the aroma of the produce item and exposes the aroma to said array of sensors for analysis; and
a pattern recognition system, coupled to said array of sensors, including a controller for identifying the aroma by comparing the sensor pattern to a reference sensor pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial olfactory system and associated method for rapidly identifying an object by its aroma. The artificial olfactory system includes a testing chamber in which is disposed an array of gas sensors. The object to be identified is placed in close proximity to the testing chamber. The air pressure within the testing chamber is then lowered below ambient, thereby causing ambient air to flow past the object being identified and into the testing chamber. As air flows past the object being identified, the aroma of the object becomes mixed with the air and is carried into the testing chamber. Once within the testing chamber, the aroma/air mixture is exposed to the array of gas sensors. The gas sensors detect the levels of various gases comprising the aroma/air mixture and produce a sensor pattern capable of being identified using pattern recognition techniques.
146 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A device for identifying a produce item by its aroma to facilitate its purchase, comprising:
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a housing defining a chamber at a checkout counter including a surface having an aperture; an array of sensors disposed within said chamber for determining at least part of a composition of the aroma, wherein said array of sensors produces a sensor pattern for the aroma; and negative pressure means, coupled to said chamber, for lowering pressure within said chamber and causing air to be drawn into said chamber through the aperture in the surface and past the produce item when the produce item is placed adjacent the aperture, wherein the air drawn into said chamber carries the aroma of the produce item and exposes the aroma to said array of sensors for analysis; and a pattern recognition system, coupled to said array of sensors, including a controller for identifying the aroma by comparing the sensor pattern to a reference sensor pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of identifying a produce item by its aroma to facilitate its purchase, comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing defining a chamber at a checkout counter including a surface having an aperture, wherein the chamber contains a sensor array; positioning the produce item adjacent the aperture in the housing; lowering air pressure within said chamber during a time period so that the aroma of the produce item is drawn into said chamber; producing a sensor pattern for the aroma using said sensor array; and matching said sensor pattern to a known sensor pattern. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification