Smart refrigerated counter system

• US 9,949,576 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrie Scaffalature Arredamenti - Isa S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Industrie Scaffalature Arredamenti-ISA SRL
• Inventors: Giulietti, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US15/082,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20170278247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 705 17
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/00 Show cases or show cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0482 Details common to both closed and open types
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/271 wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps

Abstract

A refrigerated counter system includes a refrigerated counter, 3D filming means arranged in such manner to take 3D images of the products contained in the refrigerated counter and of an area in front of the refrigerated counter, a PC connected to the 3D filming means to process statistic data according to the 3D images taken by the 3D filming means, and a CPU connected to the PC to control the operating parts of the refrigerated counter according to the statistic data processed by the PC.

Claims

1. Refrigerated counter system comprising:

a refrigerated counter comprising a compartment wherein a plurality of products to be refrigerated is contained, and a computer unit (CPU) intended to control the operating parts of said refrigerated counter,

three dimensional (3D) filming means arranged in such manner to take images of the products contained in the compartment of the refrigerated counter and generate three dimensional (3D) images, and

a PC analyzing means connected to said 3D filming means and to said CPU;

said PC being configured to;

process the 3D images taken by the 3D camera in such manner to generate a three dimensional (3D) depth map with metric measurements of objects of said 3D images;

analyze said 3D depth map to obtain information on the status of the refrigerated counter, including status of operating parts of the refrigerated counter and of the products contained in the compartment of the refrigerated counter;

process said information on the status of the refrigerated counter in such manner to generate control signals to be sent to said CPU;

said CPU being configured to receive said control signals from the PC;

wherein

said 3D filming means are arranged in such manner to frame and take images of an area in front of the refrigerated counter in order to capture images of the users standing in front of the refrigerated counter and generate 3D images on the user interaction with the refrigerated counter that are sent to said PC, which processes the images and sends control signals to the CPU;

wherein said PC performs at least one of measurements of the distance of the user from the refrigerated counter, permanence time of the user in front of the refrigerated counter, or position of picking areas of the food products in the refrigerated counter based on the 3D depth map and 3D image of the user; and

said CPU is configured to receive said control signals from the PC and control the operating parts of the refrigerated counter according to the control signals received from said PC.

2. The system of claim 1, also comprising at least one display connected to the PC and arranged in such manner to be seen by the users of the refrigerated counter;

said PC being configured in such manner to generate video clips, messages and images according to the information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter and send said video clips, messages and images to the display.

3. The system of claim 1, also comprising at least one alarm connected to the PC;

said PC being configured in such manner to detect from said information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter when a product contained in the refrigerated counter is about to be sold out and accordingly generate alarm signals to be sent to said alarm.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigerated counter comprises a refrigeration circuit comprising a compressor and at least one fan connected to said CPU;

said PC being configured in such manner to detect from said information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter when there is a low or high customer flow at the refrigerated counter and send control signals to said CPU in such manner to operate the compressor and said at least one fan according to the customer flow.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigerated counter comprises shades or shutters to close the front opening of the refrigerated counter and actuators to actuate said shades, said actuators being connected to said CPU;

said PC being configured in such manner to detect from said information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter the absence of customer flow at the refrigerated counter and send control signals to said CPU in such manner to operate said actuators and open and close said shades according to the customer flow.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigerated counter comprises lights connected to said CPU;

said PC being configured in such manner to detect from said information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter when there is a low or high customer flow at the refrigerated counter and send control signals to said CPU in such manner to adjust the operation of said lights according to the customer flow.

7. Operating method of a refrigerated counter comprising the following steps:

taking three dimensional (3D) images of products contained in the refrigerated counter by means of 3D filming means;

converting said 3D images into a 3D depth map with metric measurements of the objects contained in said 3D images;

analyzing said 3D depth map to obtain information on the status of the refrigerated counter, including status of operating parts the refrigerated counter and of the products contained in the compartment of the refrigerated counter, wherein;

the taking step provides for capturing 3D images of users standing in front of the refrigerated counter and user interaction with the refrigerated counter;

said 3D depth map contains metric measurements of the persons users contained in said 3D images;

said analysis of said 3D depth map provides for obtaining information on the use of the refrigerated counter;

wherein said the metric measurement is performed at least one of measurements of the distance of the user from the refrigerated counter, permanence time of the user in front of the refrigerated counter, or position of picking areas of the food products in the refrigerated counter based on the 3D depth map and 3D image of the user; and

said method comprising a step wherein the operating parts of said refrigerated counter are controlled according to the processing of said information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter.

8. The method of claim 7, also comprising the following steps:

generating video clips, messages and images based on said information on the use and/or status of the refrigerated counter processed by the PC; and

displaying said video clips, messages and images by means of a display arranged in such manner to be seen by the users of the refrigerated counter.

9. The method of claim 7, also comprising the step of generating an alarm when the analysis of said 3D depth map detects that a product contained in the refrigerated counter is about to be sold out.

10. The method of claim 7, also comprising the step of actuating a compressor and at least one fan of a refrigeration circuit according to the customer flow detected when analyzing said 3D depth map.