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Apparatus and method for spectroscopic product recognition and identification

  • US 5,867,265 A
  • Filed: 04/17/1997
  • Issued: 02/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A produce recognition system comprising:

  • a checkout counter;

    a bar code reader at the checkout counter, including a scale for producing a weight signal representing a weight of a produce item to be purchased during a transaction at the checkout counter;

    a light source within the checkout counter for illuminating the produce item with light for identifying the produce item;

    a spectrometer within the checkout counter which receives a reflected portion of the light from the produce item, including a dispersion element which disperses the reflected portion of the light into a plurality of finely spaced wavelengths of light, and a photodetector array which converts the plurality of finely spaced wavelengths of light to corresponding proportional electrical signals to produce a first spectra;

    storage means for storing a set of reference spectra;

    a computer coupled to the storage means, the bar code reader, and the spectrometer, which compares the first spectra from the photodetector array to the set of reference spectra to identify a second spectra within the set of reference spectra which most closely resembles the first spectra, and which determines a price of the produce item associated with the second spectra based upon the weight of the produce item.

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