Checkout device with multi-touch input device

• US 9,092,050 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, Donald A. Jr., Amada, Janry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US13/484,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20130320084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/462.14, 235/462.45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0072 with means for detecting the weight of the article of which the code is read, for the verification of the registration weighing combined with recording means, e.g. in weighing scale, G01G19/415
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/01 Details for indicating displaying information in general G09F, G09G

Abstract

A checkout device including a multi-touch surface display which can also weigh items. An example checkout device includes a surface element for displaying transaction screens and for receiving touch inputs during a transaction, and a load cell below the surface element for producing a weight signal corresponding to a weight of an item of the transaction on the surface element.

Claims

1. A checkout device comprising:

a surface element for displaying transaction screens and for receiving touch inputs during a transaction, each screen movable to a different location on the surface element, and wherein the transaction screens include;

a primary transaction screen configured for an operator to process the transaction, a product screen having product information relevant to the transaction, a weight screen having weight information for any product being weighed during the transaction, and a receipt screen having receipt information for the transaction and the receipt screen configured to receive a signature input from a customer of the transaction;

a load cell below the surface element for producing a weight signal corresponding to a weight of an item of the transaction on the surface element; and

sensing input selections and movements of fingers on the surface element and sensing objects placed on the surface element.

2. The checkout device of claim 1, wherein the surface element records a plurality of substantially simultaneous touch inputs.

3. The checkout device of claim 1, further comprising an imager for capturing an image of the item and for providing the image to a computer.

4. The checkout device of claim 1, further comprising a barcode reader for scanning barcoded items adjacent a top surface of the surface element and for providing barcode information to a computer.

5. The checkout device of claim 4, wherein the barcode reader comprises a plurality of imaging optical barcode readers around the surface element.

6. The checkout device of claim 1, further comprising a projector for projecting the transaction screens from a computer on a bottom surface of the surface element.

7. The checkout device of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensor for recording the touch inputs and providing touch input signals to a computer.

8. The checkout device of claim 7, wherein the touch inputs comprise a signature of the customer involved in the transaction.

9. A checkout device comprising:

a multi-touch input display for substantially simultaneously displaying a plurality of transaction screens from a computer and for receiving touch inputs, including a customer signature during a transaction, each screen movable to a different location on the multi-touch input display, and wherein the transaction screens include;

a primary transaction screen configured for an operator to process the transaction, a product screen having product information relevant to the transaction, a weight screen having weight information for any product being weighed during the transaction, a receipt screen having receipt information for the transaction and the receipt screen configured to receive the customer signature from the customer;

a plurality of load cells below the multi-touch input display for producing weight information corresponding to a weight of a first item of the transaction on a top surface of the multi-touch input display and for sending the weight information to the computer; and

a plurality of imagers around the multi-touch input display for capturing images of second items adjacent the top surface of the multi-touch input display and for providing the images to the computer, wherein some of the images contain barcodes, wherein the multi-touch input display both senses input selections and movements of fingers on the multi-touch input display and senses objects placed on the multi-touch input display.

10. The checkout device of claim 9, wherein one of the imager is removable, and when removed operates as a handheld barcode reader.

11. The checkout device of claim 9, wherein the imagers also capture images of the first item and send the images to the computer.

12. A method of operating a checkout device with a multi-touch input display to perform a transaction comprising:

displaying a transaction screen from a computer by the multi-touch input display;

permitting the transaction screen to be moved to a different location within the multi-touch input display relative to other transaction screens displayed on the multi-touch input display, the transaction screen configured for an operator to process the transaction, and the other transaction screens include;

a product screen having product information relevant to the transaction, a weight screen having weight information for any product being weighed during the transaction, and a receipt screen having receipt information for the transaction and the receipt screen configured to receive a signature input from a customer of the transaction;

receiving operator touches by the multi-touch input display within the transaction screen;

producing weight information corresponding to a weight of a first item of the transaction on a top surface of the multi-touch input display by a load cell below the multi-touch input display and sending the weight information to the computer;

capturing images of second items adjacent the top surface of the multi-touch input display by imagers around the multi-touch input display and providing the images of the second items to the computer, wherein some of the images of the second items contain barcodes; and

sensing input selections and movements of fingers on the multi-touch input display and sensing objects placed on the multi-touch input display.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising capturing a customer signature to complete payment by the multi-touch input surface and sending signature information to the computer.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising capturing an image of a third item by one of the imagers while the one imager is operating in a handheld mode of operation and providing the image of the third item to the computer.