Ambient light sensing apparatus and method for a produce data collector

• US 6,601,767 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Gu, Yeming, Seevers, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/640,031
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.11, 235/462.14, 235/462.25, 356/326, 356/328
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/56 relating to colour
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

An ambient light sensing apparatus and method for a produce data collector which minimize false triggering of produce data collection. The apparatus includes an image capture device which has a first receiving angle for incident light through an aperture in the produce data collector which is larger than a second receiving angle of a collector within the produce data collector which collects produce data.

Claims

1. A produce data collector comprising:

a spectrometer for obtaining spectral data from a produce item adjacent an aperture in the spectrometer, including a photodetector which has a first receiving angle for incident light through the aperture;

an ambient light sensing apparatus including an image capture device having a second receiving angle which is larger than the first receiving angle; and

control circuitry for operating the spectrometer when ambient light levels sensed by the ambient light sensing apparatus fall below a predetermined minimum level.

2. The produce data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the image capture device comprises a pinhole camera.

3. The produce data collector as recited in claim 1, wherein the image capture device comprises first and second pinhole cameras arranged to receive ambient light from two orthogonal directions.

4. A produce recognition system comprising:

a produce data collector including

a light source for illuminating a produce item;

a spectrometer for obtaining spectral data from a produce item adjacent an aperture in the spectrometer, including a photodetector which has a first receiving angle for incident light through the aperture;

an ambient light sensing apparatus including an image capture device having a second receiving angle which is larger than the first receiving angle; and

control circuitry for operating the light source and spectrometer when ambient light levels sensed by the ambient light sensing apparatus fall below a predetermined minimum level; and

a computer which compares the spectral data with reference spectral data to determine a number of candidate identifications for the produce item.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the image capture device comprises a pinhole camera.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the image capture device comprises first and second pinhole cameras arranged to receive ambient light from two orthogonal directions.

7. A method of activating a produce data collector comprising the steps of:

determining an average dark level with an aperture in the produce data collector covered;

receiving light signals from an image capture device in the produce data collector;

determining an average light level;

comparing the average dark level to the average light level; and

if the average light level is within a predetermined distance of the average dark level, activating the produce data collector.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the activating step comprises the substeps of:

activating a light source for illuminating a produce item; and

capturing reflected light; and

processing the reflected light for produce item information.

9. A method of identifying a produce item comprising the steps of:

determining an average dark level with an aperture in the produce data collector covered;

receiving light signals from an image capture device in the produce data collector;

determining an average light level;

comparing the average dark level to the average light level; and

if the average light level is within a predetermined distance of the average dark level, activating the produce data collector, and comparing produce information obtained from the produce data collector with reference produce information to obtain a list of candidate identifications.

10. An ambient light sensing apparatus for a produce data collector comprising:

an image capture device which has a first receiving angle for incident light through an aperture in the produce data collector which is larger than a second receiving angle of a collector within the produce data collector which collects produce data.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the image capture device comprises a pinhole camera.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the image capture device comprises first and second pinhole cameras arranged to receive ambient light from two orthogonal directions.