Wireless data reader at checkstand

• US 9,515,512 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Adc, Inc. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: O'Donnell, Patrick M., Williams, Jon P. C., Breckenridge, Cameron G.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/327,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20120319645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

A checkstand system including a counter surface within which a plurality of induction charge transmission coils are embedded in or disposed below the counter at selected charge positions about the countertop whereby a cordless peripheral, such as a data reader, is positionable and movable between multiple positions about the counter surface, the peripheral including an induction charge receiving coil operative to receive a charge current from one of the induction charge transmission coils when the peripheral is placed in proximity of a selected one of the charge positions on the checkstand. In one configuration, the system includes a temperature sensing component disposed proximal to an induction charge transmission coil and a controller operative for receiving a temperature signal from the temperature sensing component and adjusting the charge current delivered to the induction charge transmission coil in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A system for retail checkout, comprising:

a checkstand including a counter with a counter surface;

a plurality of at least first and second induction charge transmission coils embedded in or disposed below the counter at selected charge positions about the checkstand, wherein the selected charge positions are distributed with various patterns about the counter surface;

a cordless peripheral device positionable and movable between multiple positions about the counter surface, the cordless peripheral device including an induction charge receiving coil operable to receive a charge current from one of the induction charge transmission coils when the cordless peripheral device is placed in proximity of a selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand; and

a controller including drive circuitry operable for detecting presence of the peripheral device by sequentially checking each of the plurality of induction charge transmission coils by

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the first induction charge transmission coil by comparing a first measured signal on the first induction charge transmission coil to a previously obtained first reference signal,

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the second induction charge transmission coil by comparing a second measured signal on the second induction charge transmission coil to a previously obtained second reference signal,

powering on a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is detected, and

powering off a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is not detected.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cordless peripheral device comprises a data reader selected from the group consisting of:

a handsfree scanner;

a cradle and removable handheld scanner combination; and

a handheld scanner.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensing component for generating a signal associated with the temperature of the drive circuitry,

wherein the controller includes drive circuitry operable for controlling charge current delivered to the first and second induction charge transmission coils,

wherein the controller is further operable for receiving the signal and adjusting the charge current delivered to the induction charge transmission coil in response to the signal,

wherein the cordless peripheral device includes a charging indicator to produce illumination in response to the cordless peripheral device being placed in proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an efficiency monitoring component electrically connected to at least one of the first and second induction charge transmission coils and establishing a signal associated with a derived efficiency of the induction charge transmission coil, wherein the controller is operable for receiving the signal and adjusting the charge current delivered to the induction charge transmission coil to maintain resonance between the induction charge transmission coil and the induction charge receiving coil in response to the derived efficiency.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a charging indicator to produce illumination in response to the cordless peripheral device being placed in proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand, wherein the illumination has a controllable intensity level that is controlled to assist a user in positioning the cordless peripheral device in the proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the counter surface includes a lowered shelf section.

20. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cordless peripheral device includes a charging indicator to produce illumination in response to the cordless peripheral device being placed in proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand, and the cordless peripheral device is configured to control the illumination intensity to assist a user in positioning the cordless peripheral device in the proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand.

7. A method of facilitating retail checkout, comprising:

arranging a plurality of at least first and second induction charge transmission coils embedded in or disposed below a counter at selected charge positions about a checkstand, wherein the selected charge positions are distributed with various patterns about a surface of the counter;

obtaining a first reference signal for the first induction charge transmission coil in response to a first stimulus signal and storing said first reference signal;

obtaining a second reference signal for the second induction charge transmission coil in response to a second stimulus signal and storing said second reference signal;

moving a cordless peripheral device between multiple positions about the counter, the cordless peripheral device including an induction charge receiving coil operable to receive a charge current from one of the induction charge transmission coils when the cordless peripheral device is placed on the surface of the counter in proximity of one of the selected charge positions;

detecting for presence of the peripheral device by sequentially checking each of the first and second induction charge transmission coils by

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the first induction charge transmission coil by comparing a first measured signal on the first induction charge transmission coil to the first reference signal,

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the second induction charge transmission coil by comparing a second measured signal on the second induction charge transmission coil to the second reference signal;

powering on a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is detected; and

powering off a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is not detected.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

producing illumination in response to the cordless peripheral device being placed in proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand by controlling an intensity level of the illumination so as to assist a user in positioning the cordless peripheral device in the proximity of the selected one of the selected charge positions on the checkstand.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of sensing presence of a peripheral device receiving coil drawing power comprises monitoring a change in drive current at the specific induction charge transmission coil.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of sensing presence of a peripheral device receiving coil drawing power comprises monitoring a change in inductance at the specific induction charge transmission coil.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising charging only the cordless peripheral device in response to the sensing presence of the cordless peripheral device receiving coil drawing power from a specific induction charge transmission coil.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein the cordless peripheral device comprises a data reader selected from the group consisting of:

a handsfree scanner;

a cradle and removable handheld scanner combination; and

a handheld scanner.

13. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

controlling, via drive circuitry, charge current delivered to the induction charge transmission coils;

sensing temperature at the drive circuitry and generating a signal associated with the temperature; and

adjusting the charge current delivered to the induction charge transmission coil in response to the signal associated with the temperature,

wherein the cordless peripheral device includes a charging indicator to produce the illumination.

21. A method according to claim 7 further comprising using the same first and second induction charge transmission coils for both detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil and charging the induction charge receiving coil.

14. A charging system, comprising:

a work surface;

a plurality of at least first and second induction charge transmission coils embedded in or disposed below the work surface at selected charge positions, wherein the selected charge positions are distributed with various patterns about the work surface;

a cordless peripheral device positionable and movable between multiple positions about the surface, the cordless peripheral device including an induction charge receiving coil operable to receive a charge current from one or more of the induction charge transmission coils when the cordless peripheral device is placed in proximity of a selected one of the selected charge positions on the work surface; and

a controller operable for sensing presence of a peripheral device receiving coil drawing power from a specific induction charge transmission coil and for selectively driving only that specific induction charge transmission coil and removing drive current from other induction charge transmission coils not in use by detecting for presence of the peripheral device by sequentially checking each of the plurality of induction charge transmission coils by

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the first induction charge transmission coil by comparing a first measured signal on the first induction charge transmission coil to previously obtained first reference signal,

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the second induction charge transmission coil by comparing a second measured signal on the second induction charge transmission coil to a previously obtained second reference signal,

powering on a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is detected, and

powering off a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is not detected.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the cordless peripheral device comprises a data reader selected from the group consisting of:

a handsfree scanner;

a cradle and removable handheld scanner combination; and

a handheld scanner.

22. A system according to claim 14 wherein the controller uses the same first and second induction charge transmission coils for both detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil and charging the induction charge receiving coil.

16. A system for charging electrical storage of an electronic device, comprising:

at least a first induction charge transmission coil disposed at a selected first charge position and a second induction charge transmission coil disposed at a selected second charge position;

a charging indicator to produce illumination in response to the electronic device being positioned over a selected one of the first and second induction charge transmission coils;

a controller including drive circuitry operable for controlling charge current delivered to the first and second induction charge transmission coils by

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the first induction charge transmission coil by comparing a first measured signal on the first induction charge transmission coil to previously obtained first reference signal,

detecting for presence of the induction charge receiving coil of the peripheral device at the second induction charge transmission coil by comparing a second measured signal on the second induction charge transmission coil to a previously obtained second reference signal,

powering on a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is detected, and

powering off a respective induction charge transmission coil if presence of the induction charge receiving coil is not detected; and

a temperature sensing component for generating a temperature signal associated with the temperature of the drive circuitry,

wherein the controller is operable for receiving the temperature signal and adjusting the charge current delivered to the respective induction charge transmission coil in response to the temperature signal,

wherein the electronic device is configured to control an intensity level of the illumination to assist a user in positioning the electronic device over the respective induction charge transmission coil.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable for sensing presence of an electronic device receiving coil drawing power from the induction charge transmission coil and for selectively driving the induction charge transmission coil.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the charge indicators comprise light-emitting diodes.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one induction charge transmission coil disposed at a selected charge position comprises multiple induction charge transmission coils distributed with various patterns about a work surface.