Interactive and 3-D multi-senor touch selection interface for an automated retail store, vending machine, digital sign, or retail display

• US 8,463,430 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swyft Inc.
• Original Assignee: Darrell S. Mockus, Russell Greenberg, Utique, Inc. (Swyft Inc.)
• Inventors: Segal, Mara Clair, Mockus, Darrell Scott, Greenberg, Russell Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/589,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 700/232, 700/234, 700/242, 700/244, 221/4, 221/5, 221/8
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 the arrangements being full-front touchscreens

Abstract

Vending machines, automated retail stores, and retail displays with a computer controlled, activation system that senses either the gesture of a customer proximate product display tubes or a touch-screen selection on a computer screen. Item-based lighting produces variable visual effects in conjunction with actual or potential vends to provide an enhanced vending experience. Offered products are stored within display tubes that are arranged in orderly geometric arrays. RGB lighting through a plurality of LED banks associated with each display tube are controlled by the activation system Combinations of differently colored LED'"'"'s are computer controlled on a per product basis to artistically illuminate available products and assist customers. Pre-programmed lighting sequences can switch LEDs off and on, vary their intensity, and alter resultant colors.

Claims

1. A vending system for vending machines, retail displays, and automated retail stores, the system comprising:

a lighting display module comprising;

a rigid display case that provides a housing;

an array of primary product display tubes disposed within the housing containing products offered for vending, the display tubes visibly associated with the display case and arranged in a geometric pattern of rows and columns;

lighting means for selectively illuminating display tubes;

selection sensor means associated with each product display tube for detecting customer selections;

proximity sensor means for detecting the proximity of a customer or potential customer;

a plurality of touchable product viewing areas, one viewing area associated with each product display tube so that a user can initiate a vend by touching a viewing area proximate a displayed product associated with a selected display tube to be selected thereby actuating said selection sensor means;

a computer for activating and controlling the display module to respond to said selection sensor means and/or said proximity sensor means to initiate varying lighting effects in response, the computer comprising a touch screen;

software for controlling said computer and said touch screen such that the touch screen can enable selection of a product in addition to said selection sensor means and the module can detect the presence of a customer or potential customer; and

,

means for actuating said lighting means in response to said software.

2. The vending system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said lighting means for selectively illuminating display tubes comprises at least one group of red, green and blue LEDs within each display tube, each group responding to a network address; and

,

said means for actuating said lighting means in response to said software comprises a network interface controller driven by said computer for activating combinations of LEDs to illuminate specific product display tubes in response to said software.

3. The vending system as defined in claim 1 wherein an LED equipped circuit board is associated with each product display tube, the circuit boards daisy chained together forming an addressable network, and each board comprising an addressable network address.

4. The vending system as defined in claim 3 wherein said network interface comprises a DMX controller for driving said network interface with digital signals for activating combinations of lights on said lighting circuit boards through said daisy chain.

5. The vending system as defined in claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of secondary display tubes of a smaller diameter than the primary display tubes, the secondary display tubes disposed in a regular geometric pattern between adjacent primary display tubes; and

,

means for illuminating said secondary display tubes in response to said network interface controller.

6. The vending system as defined in claim 3 wherein said software executes steps for:

establishing a data set file storage system defining customizable lighting events, the lighting events defining selected colors, lighting intensity, and lighting fade timing;

establishing data storage for mapping LEDs associated with each display tube;

determining a selected item ID and corresponding light mapping datacode from said data storage step in response to a user input;

looking up lighting characteristics in a database query for a lighting event identified in said determining step;

converting identified lighting events to a DMX protocol; and

activating a DMX controller to execute lighting events.

7. A vending display for vending machines, retail displays, and/or automated retail stores that comprise a supply of selectable items to be vended, the display comprising:

a lighting display module in the form of a door coupled to a vending machine, retail display, or automated retail store, the display module comprising means for effectuating vending transactions, the display module comprising;

a rigid display case that provides a housing;

an array of primary product display tubes disposed within the housing containing products offered for vending, the display tubes visibly associated with the display case and arranged in a geometric pattern of orderly rows and columns;

an array of LEDs for illuminating each primary display tube with colored light, the LEDs daisy chained together and comprising an address;

a plurality of touchable product viewing areas, one viewing area associated with each primary product display tube;

sensor means associated with each product viewing area for detecting customer selections;

a computer for activating and controlling the display module to respond to said sensors and initiate varying lighting effects;

software for controlling said computer, the software recognizing the selection of products to be vended and associating predefined lighting events with products to be vended; and

,

a DMX controller driven by said computer for addressing and activating combinations of LEDs to illuminate specific product display tubes by implementing said predefined lighting events within said primary lighting tubes associated with selected products.

8. The vending display as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

a plurality of secondary display tubes of a smaller diameter than the primary display tubes, the secondary display tubes disposed in a regular geometric pattern between adjacent primary display tubes; and

,

a plurality of secondary LEDs of red, green and blue colors, the secondary LEDs comprising an addressable network address.

9. The vending display as defined in claim 8 wherein said software executes a user lighting routine comprising:

a step for recognizing user input from either a touch screen, a touched product display area, or a motion or proximity sensor; and

,

steps for activating said LEDs.

10. The vending display as defined in claim 9 wherein said steps for activating said LEDs comprises steps for:

establishing a data set file storage system defining customizable lighting events, the lighting events defining selected colors, lighting intensity, and lighting fade timing;

establishing data storage for mapping lighting circuit boards associated with each display tube;

determining a selected item ID and corresponding light mapping datacode from said data storage step in response to a user input;

looking up lighting characteristics in a database query for a lighting event identified in said determining step;

converting identified lighting events to a DMX protocol; and

,

steps for activating the network interface controller to execute the lighting event and activates particular lighting circuit boards.

11. In a vending machine comprising an upright cabinet, a supply of selectable items to be vended, a control column for customer operation of said vending machine, and means for physically discharging selected products for a vend, the improvement comprising:

a lighting display module in the form of a door coupled to said vending machine, retail display, or automated retail store, the display module comprising means for effectuating vending transactions, the display module comprising;

a rigid display case that provides a housing;

an array of primary product display tubes disposed within the housing containing products offered for vending, the display tubes visibly associated with the display case and arranged in a geometric pattern of orderly rows and columns;

LEDs illuminating each primary display tube with colored light, comprising a plurality of red, green and blue LEDs, the LEDs daisy chained together forming an addressable network with addressable network addresses;

a plurality of touchable product viewing areas, one viewing area associated with each primary product display tube;

selection sensor means associated with each product display tube for detecting customer selections;

proximity sensor means for detecting the proximity of a customer or potential customer;

a computer for activating and controlling the display module to respond to said selection sensor means and said proximity sensor means to initiate lighting effects;

software for controlling said computer, the software recognizing the selection of products to be vended and predefined lighting events with products to be vended; and

,

a DMX controller driven by said computer for addressing and activating combinations of LEDs to illuminate specific product display tubes by implementing predefined lighting events within said primary display tubes associated with selected products.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 11 further comprising:

means proximate said primary display tubes for diffusing light;

white showcase lights for illuminating products contained within said primary display tubes; and

,

a touch screen for enabling customer selection of products.

13. The improvement as defined in claim 12 wherein:

the control column comprises;

a customizable, lighted logo area;

a touch screen for enabling customer selection of products;

a payment system; and

,

said computer comprises;

means for controlling a product dispenser; and

,

means for recognizing customer inputs.

14. The improvement as defined in claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of secondary display tubes of a smaller diameter than the primary display tubes, the secondary display tubes disposed in a regular geometric pattern between adjacent primary display tubes; and

,

a plurality of LEDs for illuminating said secondary display tubes in response to said DMX controller the LEDs daisy chained together and establishing an addressable network address.

15. The improvement as defined in claim 14 wherein said software executes a user lighting routine comprising:

a step for recognizing user input from either a touch screen, a touched product display area, or a motion or proximity sensor; and

,

steps for activating said LEDs.

16. The improvement as defined in claim 15 wherein said steps for activating said LEDs comprises steps for:

establishing a data set file storage system defining customizable lighting events, the lighting events defining selected colors, lighting intensity, and lighting fade timing;

establishing data storage for mapping lighting circuit boards associated with each display tube;

determining a selected item ID and corresponding light mapping datacode from said data storage step in response to a user input;

looking up lighting characteristics in a database query for a lighting event identified in said determining step;

converting identified lighting events to a DMX protocol;

actuating a DMX controller to establish lighting events by activating particular LEDs.

17. The improvement as defined in claim 16 further comprising steps for activating white showcase lights for illuminating products contained within said primary display tubes.

18. The improvement as defined in claim 17 wherein:

the control column comprises;

a customizable, lighted logo area;

a touch screen;

a payment system; and

,

said computer comprises;

means for controlling a product dispenser; and

,

means for recognizing customer inputs.