Transaction terminal comprising imaging module

• US 7,451,917 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: McCall, Melvin D., Fitch, Timothy R., Sperduti, David, Gomez, Garrison, O'Donnell, James F., Smith, George S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Application Number:
  US10/339,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/473, 713/186, 362/561, 362/551, 362/555
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means

Abstract

A transaction terminal including a display, a housing, an imaging module assembly wherein the imaging module assembly comprises a control and decode circuit, an imaging module, and a light pipe disposed optically forward of the imaging module. The light pipe may be in a tubular configuration and may include a first end disposed inside the housing and a second end extending to an exterior of the housing. The transaction terminal may include a motion detector generating a motion detection signal that serves as a trigger signal. When a motion detection signal changes state from OFF to ON, light sources of the LEDs are actuated so that a user is notified of a decoding function of the terminal.

Claims

1. A transaction terminal comprising:

a housing;

a display; and

an imaging module assembly including a control and decode circuit, an imaging module and a light pipe extending forward of said imaging module, said imaging module including at least one light source,

wherein said light pipe includes a first end and a second end, the second end extending to a position at an exterior of said housing.

2. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said light pipe is in a tubular configuration defining an interior and exterior of said light pipe.

3. The transaction terminal of claim 2, wherein said light pipe is disposed in a position relative to said imaging module such that light from said at least one light source is directed to an interior of said light pipe.

4. The transaction terminal of claim 1, further including a motion detector changing state of motion detection signal, wherein said imaging module is responsive to said motion detection signal so that said at least one light source is actuated when said motion detection signal changes from an OFF state to an ON state.

5. The transaction terminal of claim 1, further including a motion detector wherein said motion detector includes an image sensing unit, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor, and wherein said transaction terminal is configured so that said image sensor serves as said image sensing unit of said motion detector.

6. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a red LED.

7. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a front, a rear and a top, wherein said display is disposed in said top, and wherein said light pipe extends forwardly from said front.

8. The transaction terminal of claim 1, being adapted to be mounted in a first horizontal mounting position and second vertical mounting position so that in said first horizontal mounting position said light pipe extends generally in a horizontal plane and in said second vertical mounting position said light pipe extends in a generally vertical plane.

9. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging module includes an image sensor, and wherein said transaction terminal is configured to operate in a low power mode in which said control and decode circuit captures frames of image data without actuation of any light source of said imaging module.

10. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said transaction terminal includes a control circuit in communication with said display, and wherein said decode and control circuit is incorporated in said control circuit.

11. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said first end of said light pipe is disposed in an interior of said housing.

12. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said first end of said light pipe is disposed forwardly of said imaging module.

13. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said transaction terminal is used as a price verifier.

14. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said transaction terminal is fixedly mounted in such position that said imaging axis of said imaging module extends generally vertically downwardly.

15. The transaction terminal of claim 1, wherein said transaction terminal is disposed in horizontal operating position, wherein said light pipe extends in a generally horizontal plane.

16. A terminal adapted for reading information from an indicia bearing object comprising:

an image sensor housed within a housing, the image sensor having an imaging axis, the image sensor configured for use in capturing an image of a bar code symbol, the bar code symbol located on product presented by a person at a retail store, the image sensor electrically coupled to an image sensor control and decoder circuit housed within the housing, the image sensor control and decoder circuit configured to capture the image of the bar code symbol comprising encoded information from the image sensor and to decode the indicia comprising information to obtain decoded information;

a display screen disposed in a surface of the housing and viewable by the person, the display screen to display at least a first message, the display screen electrically coupled to the control and decoder circuit; and

a light emitting component housed within the housing, the light emitting component comprising a light source configured to generate light and a light pipe, the light pipe being of tubular shape and having a central cylindrical opening, the light pipe disposed in the housing with the central cylindrical opening situated about the imaging axis of the image sensor such that the terminal can capture an image by viewing the one or more indicia through the central cylindrical opening of the light pipe, the light pipe optically coupled to the light source to receive the light and to guide the light to cause the surface of the light pipe to luminesce, the light pipe having a shape suitable to create an illumination for comfortable viewing by the person, wherein the person is shielded from a direct view of the light source and the light emitting component guides the attention of the person to the location of the terminal image sensor to read the information from the bar code bearing product presented by the person.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

18. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the display is a touch screen display configured to receive the person'"'"'s signature when the person signs their name on the touch screen using a stylus.

19. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the display is a touch screen, the touch screen adapted to allow the person to enter a personal identification (PIN) number to facilitate a financial transaction.

20. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the light pipe extends from a position from within the housing to a position outside of the housing.

21. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the light pipe is injection molded using a translucent polycarbonate material.

22. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the light is projected in a downward direction from said light pipe.

23. A terminal for use in a retail store including an in-store computer network having a store server, the network storing a price lookup table, said terminal comprising:

an image sensor housed within a housing, the image sensor having an imaging axis, the image sensor for use in capturing an image of one or more indicia, the one or more indicia comprising information and located on an indicia bearing product for sale presented by a person, the image sensor electrically coupled to an image sensor control and decoder circuit housed within the housing, the terminal housing adapted for vertical mounting with the imaging axis oriented in a substantially vertical direction and the image sensor viewing in a downward direction, the image sensor control and decoder circuit to receive and capture the image of the one or more indicia comprising information from the image sensor and to decode the indicia comprising information to obtain decoded out information;

a display screen disposed in a surface of the housing and viewable by the person, the display screen to display at least the price of product for sale, the display screen electrically coupled to the control and decoder circuit;

a light emitting component housed within the housing, the light emitting component comprising a light source to generate light and a light pipe, the light pipe optically coupled to the light source to receive the light and to guide the light to cause the surface of the light pipe to luminesce, the light pipe having a shape suitable to create an illumination for comfortable viewing by the person, wherein the person is shielded from a direct view of the light source and the light emitting component guides the attention of the person to the location of the image sensor to read the information from the indicia bearing product for sale presented by the person; and

an RF communication module for providing wireless communication of data between said terminal and a component of said in-store computer network.

24. The terminal of claim 23 wherein the indicia is a bar code symbol.

25. The terminal of claim 23, wherein the indicia is a bar code symbol.

26. The terminal of claim 23, wherein said terminal includes an RF communication module for providing wireless communication of data between said terminal and a component of said in-store computer network.

27. A terminal for use in a retail store including an in-store computer network having a store server, the network storing a price lookup table, said terminal comprising:

an image sensor housed within a housing, the image sensor having an imaging axis, the image sensor for use in capturing an image of one or more indicia, the one or more indicia comprising information and located on an indicia bearing product for sale presented by a person, the image sensor electrically coupled to an image sensor control and decoder circuit housed within the housing, the terminal housing adapted for vertical mounting with the imaging axis oriented in a substantially vertical direction and the image sensor viewing in a downward direction, the image sensor control and decoder circuit to receive and capture the image of the one or more indicia comprising information from the image sensor and to decode the indicia comprising information to obtain decoded out information;

a display screen disposed in a surface of the housing and viewable by the person, the display screen to display at least the price of product for sale, the display screen electrically coupled to the control and decoder circuit;

a light emitting component housed within the housing, the light emitting component comprising a light source to generate light and a light pipe, the light pipe optically coupled to the light source to receive the light and to guide the light to cause the surface of the light pipe to luminesce, the light pipe having a shape suitable to create an illumination for comfortable viewing by the person, wherein the person is shielded from a direct view of the light source and the light emitting component guides the attention of the person to the location of the image sensor to read the information from the indicia bearing product for sale presented by the person; and

a module for providing wireless communication of data between said terminal and a component of said in-store computer network.