Point-of-sale (POS) code sensing apparatus
First Claim
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1. A point-of-sale (POS) device, comprising:
- a platform;
a sensor assembly comprising a housing configured to at least partially wrap around a central space provided for a bag, the height of the housing being adjustable with respect to the platform; and
a plurality of sensing elements mounted about the housing, each of the sensing elements being configured to sense an identification code on a product within a field of view and a depth of field corresponding to such sensing element;
wherein the plurality of sensing elements are configured and arranged about the housing at various angles relative to the central space so as to provide a three-dimensional scanning space outside the mouth of the bag at least partially surrounded by the housing, the three-dimensional scanning space representing the cumulative fields of view and depths of field of the plurality of sensing elements; and
wherein each portion of the three-dimensional scanning space corresponds to the field of view of at least one of the plurality of sensing elements, such that as a product having an identification code thereon passes through the three-dimensional scanning space, at least one of the plurality of sensing elements will have a field of view capable of sensing the identification code when the identification code is in the three-dimensional scanning space as the product is being placed into the bag.
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Abstract
Point-of sale (POS) devices and checkout devices are provided. An exemplary checkout apparatus includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged in fixed relationship with each other at the mouth of a bag. At least one of the sensing elements senses a code arranged on a product as the product is being placed into the bag.
446 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A point-of-sale (POS) device, comprising:
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a platform; a sensor assembly comprising a housing configured to at least partially wrap around a central space provided for a bag, the height of the housing being adjustable with respect to the platform; and a plurality of sensing elements mounted about the housing, each of the sensing elements being configured to sense an identification code on a product within a field of view and a depth of field corresponding to such sensing element; wherein the plurality of sensing elements are configured and arranged about the housing at various angles relative to the central space so as to provide a three-dimensional scanning space outside the mouth of the bag at least partially surrounded by the housing, the three-dimensional scanning space representing the cumulative fields of view and depths of field of the plurality of sensing elements; and wherein each portion of the three-dimensional scanning space corresponds to the field of view of at least one of the plurality of sensing elements, such that as a product having an identification code thereon passes through the three-dimensional scanning space, at least one of the plurality of sensing elements will have a field of view capable of sensing the identification code when the identification code is in the three-dimensional scanning space as the product is being placed into the bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A checkout apparatus comprising:
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a sensor assembly comprising a housing and a plurality of sensing elements configured and arranged about the housing so as to provide a three-dimensional scanning space at a location intended to be near the mouth of a bag, the three-dimensional scanning space representing the cumulative fields of view and depths of field of the plurality of sensing elements, the height of the housing being adjustable with respect to the location intended to be near the mouth of a bag; wherein each portion of the three-dimensional scanning space corresponds to the field of view of at least one of the sensing elements, such that when an identification code on a product passes through the three-dimensional scanning space, at least one of the sensing elements will have a field of view enabling such sensing element to sense the identification code. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A product-sensing device, comprising:
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a sensor assembly having a plurality of sensors configured and arranged to provide a three-dimensional scanning space at least partially surrounded by the sensor assembly, the three-dimensional scanning space representing the cumulative fields of view and depths of field of the plurality of sensors; wherein the sensor assembly comprises a housing having an adjustable height configurable to position the scanning space at a location intended to be near the mouth of a merchandise bag; and wherein each portion of the three-dimensional scanning space corresponds to the field of view of at least one of the sensors, such that when a product having an identification code passes through the three-dimensional scanning space, at least one sensor includes a field of view capable of scanning the identification code. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification