Vision-enabled vending machine

• US 6,315,197 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Beardsley, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/377,556
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/454, 235/462-1-4, 235/462.13, 235/469, 235/470, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/494, 705/43, 705/14, 705/1, 283/67, 382/103, 382/165, 382/181, 382/190
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

An interactive vending machine includes a camera, an output device, and a vision system connected to the camera and the output device. The vision system includes a processor for detecting a logo batch, and interacting with a consumer via the output device in response to detecting the logo batch.

Claims

1. An interactive vending machine, comprising:

a camera;

an output device; and

a vision system connected to the camera and the output device, the vision system comprising;

means for detecting a logo batch associated with a consumer; and

means for interacting with the consumer via the output device in response to detecting the logo batch.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein the logo batch has a predetermined background color enclosing an internal area having a logo color.

3. The vending machine of claim 1 further comprising:

means for identifying a background set of pixels having a background color;

means for identifying an enclosed set of pixels;

means for identifying an internal set of pixels;

means for marking a convolution set of pixels;

means for determining gradients of the convolution set of pixels;

means for fitting an ellipse to the convolution set; and

means for testing for a logo within the convolution set fitted with the ellipse.

4. A method for interacting with a consumer using a vending machine, comprising the steps of:

acquiring an image with a camera, the camera disposed to view a scene in front of the vending machine;

detecting a logo batch in the image; and

directing the vending machine to interact in response to detecting the logo batch.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the detecting further comprises the steps of:

identifying an enclosed set of pixels in the image;

identifying an internal set of pixels;

marking a convolution set of pixels;

determining gradients of the convolution set of pixels;

fitting an ellipse to the convolution set; and

testing for a logo within the convolution set fitted with the ellipse.