Fixed position reader of coded information and camera based checkout system using the same

Abstract

A reader contains a housing with a window having a peripheral rim. The housing has a device for reading coded information which generates a field projecting through the window towards the outside of the housing, and has a device for visually indicating the result to a user. The visual indication device generates an indication appearing substantially at least on the window, on a portion of the peripheral rim of the window, or on a portion of the housing adjoining laterally the peripheral rim of the window. The housing portion is at least on the left side, right side, or below the window. Additionally, a camera based checkout security system includes at least a checkout security camera and a fixed position reader of coded information. The checkout security camera generates a camera field of view directed towards the window of the fixed position reader of coded information.

Claims

1. A fixed position reader of coded information comprising: a housing provided with at least one of a horizontal reading window or a vertical reading window having a peripheral rim; an optical code reading device disposed inside the housing and configured for reading coded information which generates a reading field projecting through the reading window toward the outside of the housing; and a visual indication device disposed in the housing and configured for visually indicating a reading result to a user by projecting a light beam across an interior of the housing and configured for generating a visual indication causing an entire surface of the horizontal reading window or an entire surface of the vertical reading window to glow, wherein the fixed position reader fixedly rests in a predetermined position and is an on-counter reader that rest on a top of a surface or an in-counter reader that is integrated in a checkout counter and oriented so that its reading field projects from a checkout counter surface toward a user or operator.

2. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 1, wherein the visual indication device further comprises at least one light source which generates the light beam guided through a light guide around at least a portion of the peripheral rim of the reading window.

3. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 1, wherein the visual indication device further comprises a plurality of light sources disposed behind a diffusive screen peripherally surrounding at least a portion of the reading window at its peripheral rim.

4. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 1, wherein the visual indication device comprises at least one multicolor light source.

5. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 1, wherein the visual indication has a first color different from a second color of a light emitted by the optical code reading device for reading coded information.

6. The fixed position reader according to claim 1, wherein the fixed position reader is an in-counter bi-optic reader such that the reading window includes both the horizontal reading window and the vertical reading window.

7. A fixed position reader of coded information comprising: a bi-optic scanner housing provided with a horizontal reading window and a vertical reading window, each window having a peripheral rim; an optical code reading device inside the housing configured for reading coded information which generates a reading field projecting through the reading windows toward the outside of the housing; and a visual indication device disposed in the housing and configured for visually indicating a reading result to a user, wherein the visual indication device projects a light beam across an interior of the housing and configured for generating a visual indication appearing on a portion of a peripheral rim of the horizontal reading window and on a portion of the peripheral rim of the vertical reading window, wherein the fixed position reader fixedly rests in a predetermined position and is an on-counter reader that rest on a top of a surface or an in-counter that is integrated in a checkout counter and oriented so that its reading field projects from a checkout counter surface toward a user or operator.

8. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 7, wherein the visual indication device comprises the at least one light source which generates at least one light beam directed toward a couple of diffusive strips located along the portion of the peripheral rim of the horizontal reading window, a first diffusive strip being on a left hand side of the peripheral rim of the horizontal reading window and a second diffusive strip being on a right hand side of the peripheral rim of the horizontal reading window.

9. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 7, wherein the visual indication has a first color different from a second color of a light emitted by the optical code reading device for reading coded information.

10. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 7, wherein the visual indication appears on the entire peripheral rim of the respective reading window.

11. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 7, wherein the visual indication device comprises the at least one light source which generates the light beam guided through a light guide around at least a portion of the peripheral rim of the respective reading window.

12. The fixed position reader of coded information according to claim 7, wherein the visual indication device comprises a plurality of light sources disposed behind a diffusive screen peripherally surrounding at least a portion of the respective reading window at its peripheral rim.

13. An optical code reader, comprising: a housing provided with at least one reading window; an optical code reading device disposed inside the housing and configured for reading coded information which generates a reading field projecting through the at least one reading window toward the outside of the housing; and a visual indication device disposed in the housing and configured for visually indicating a reading result to a user by projecting a light beam across an interior of the housing and configured for generating a visual indication causing a central portion of the at least one reading window to glow.

14. The optical code reader of claim 13, further comprising a diffusive material applied to a surface of the at least one reading window at which light from the visual indication device is directed.

15. The optical code reader of claim 13, further comprising a diffusive material integrated into an interior portion of the at least one reading window at which light from the visual indication device is directed.

16. The optical code reader of claim 13, wherein the visual indication further causes an entire at least one reading window to glow.

17. The optical code reader of claim 13, further comprising at least a security checkout camera external to the housing and configured for generating a camera field of view directed toward the at least one reading window.

18. An optical code reader comprising: a housing provided with at least one reading window; an optical code reading device disposed inside the housing and configured for reading coded information which generates a reading field projecting through the at least one reading window toward the outside of the housing; and a visual indication device disposed in the housing and configured for visually indicating a reading result to a user by projecting a light beam across an interior of the housing and configured for generating a visual indication causing a central portion of the at least one reading window to glow, wherein the at least one reading window includes a horizontal reading window and a vertical reading window, and wherein the visual indication causes both a portion within a peripheral rim of at least one of the horizontal reading window and a portion within the vertical reading window to glow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) With reference to the attached drawings, further features and advantages of the present invention will be shown by means of the following detailed description of some of its preferred embodiments. According to the above description, the several features of each embodiment can be unrestrictedly and independently combined with each other in order to achieve the advantages specifically deriving from a certain combination of the same.

(2) In the said drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a fixed position on-counter reader of coded information according to the prior art and of the field of view of a user when bringing an object into the reading field of the said reader;

(4) FIG. 2a is a schematic cut view of the internal components of a fixed position on-counter reader of coded information according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 2b is a front view of the fixed position on-counter reader of coded information of FIG. 2a when visually indicating the reading result;

(6) FIG. 3a is a front view of the fixed position on-counter reader of coded information according to a second embodiment of the present invention when visually indicating the reading result;

(7) FIG. 3b is a side view of the fixed position on-counter reader of coded information of FIG. 3a;

(8) FIGS. 3c and 3d are schematic perspective views of a first and a second embodiment of light guides used in connection with the fixed position on-counter reader of coded information of FIGS. 3a and 3b;

(9) FIG. 4a is a schematic view from above of a fixed position horizontal in-counter reader of coded information according to a third embodiment of the present invention when visually indicating the reading result;

(10) FIG. 4b is a schematic view from above of a fixed position horizontal in-counter reader of coded information according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention when visually indicating the reading result;

(11) FIG. 4c is a schematic view from above of a fixed position horizontal in-counter reader of coded information according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention when visually indicating the reading result;

(12) FIGS. 5a to 5d are perspective views of a fixed position vertical in-counter reader of coded information according to further embodiments of the present invention when visually indicating the reading result;

(13) FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a fixed position bi-optic in-counter reader of coded information according to a another embodiment of the present invention when visually indicating the reading result; and

(14) FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a camera based checkout system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) In the following description, the discussion of the figures will be made by means of reference signs which will be the same for constructional elements having the same function.

(16) With reference to FIGS. 2-7, a fixed position reader of coded information according to the invention is shown which is indicated as a whole with the reference number 10.

(17) The fixed position reader of coded information 10 comprises a housing 11 provided with a reading window 15. As shown in FIG. 2a, a device for reading coded information 12 is provided inside the housing 11.

(18) The device for reading coded information 12 generates a reading field (not shown) projecting through the reading window 15 towards the outside of the housing 11. The device for reading coded information 12 can be based on either laser or LED illumination technology. For clarity sake, in the following description only a device for reading coded information based on laser technology as shown in detail in FIG. 2a will be described. However, the principles of the invention are applicable mutatis mutandis to fixed position readers using device for reading coded information based on LED illumination technology.

(19) The device for reading coded information 12 comprises at least one source of light beams (not shown), a scanning device for scanning the laser light beams on the coded information to be read.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the scanning device comprises a rotating polygon mirror 14 on which the laser beams are incident for generating a multi-line laser scan pattern 13 inside the housing 11, thereby generating the reading field of view. In the specific example of FIG. 2a, between each light source and the polygon mirror 14 there are one or more deflecting mirrors 16 of the laser light emitted by the light source arranged around the rotating polygon mirror 14 for generating the laser line pattern 13.

(21) Furthermore, the device for reading coded information 12 usually comprises a photo-receiver device (not shown) adapted to collect the light diffused by the illuminated coded information and to generate an electrical signal proportional to the intensity of the collected light and a device (not shown) for processing the aforementioned electrical signal adapted to provide the sequence of the decoded data of the coded information read.

(22) In addition, the fixed position reader of coded information 10 comprises a visual indication device including at least one light source 17 made to generate a light beam for visually indicating to a user the reading result.

(23) As shown in FIG. 2a, the light source 17 is preferably placed inside the housing 11 and oriented so as to generate a visual indication 18 of the reading result appearing substantially on the reading window 15. Therefore, the light source 17 preferably generates a collimated or moderately diverging beam of light, whose emission path is directed towards the reading window 15.

(24) The collimated beam is preferably generated according to any of the ways described in EP 1 128 315 of the same Applicant.

(25) Preferably, the emission path is directed towards a central portion of the reading window 15 which is typically not used for light collection purposes.

(26) More preferably, the central portion of the reading window 15 is made diffusive, e.g. by integrating a diffusive material in it or applying a diffusive layer on it in any known manner, so that the light beam emitted by the light source 17 generates on the reading window 15 a glowing visual indication 18 of the reading result clearly visible to the user.

(27) The glowing visual indication 18 according to FIG. 2b has a circular shape. However, in alternative embodiments, the glowing visual indication 18 appearing on the reading window 15 has any suitable shape which can be generated, e. g. the shapes described in EP 1 128 315 of the same Applicant.

(28) FIGS. 2a and 2b show an on-counter fixed position reader 10 with a housing 11 having a flat shaped bottom in order to allow the fixed position reader 10 to rest on a counter surface.

(29) FIGS. 3a and 3b show a second embodiment of an on-counter fixed position reader of coded information 10 according to the present invention.

(30) The housing 11 of the fixed position reader 10 of FIGS. 3a and 3b comprises a support 19 which allows the fixed position reader 10 to rest on a counter surface.

(31) Preferably, the support 19 can be orientated so as to direct the reading window 15 where the user deems it most convenient.

(32) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on at least a portion of a rim 15a of the reading window 15. This second embodiment is particularly suitable for readers which do not use the peripheral part of the reading window for collecting the light backscattered by the coded information.

(33) In the embodiment illustrated, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on the whole rim 15a of the reading window 15 in order to be clearly visible to the user.

(34) The visual indication 18 is achieved by means of a visual indication device comprising one or more light sources (not shown) which generate a light beam guided through a light guide assembly 30 extending around the whole rim 15a of the reading window 15.

(35) Alternatively, the light guide extends around just a portion of the rim 15a.

(36) FIG. 3c shows a first embodiment of a light guide assembly 30 which can be used in connection with the on-counter fixed position reader 10 of FIGS. 3a and 3b. The light guide assembly 30 is placed behind an annular screen 35 positioned at the peripheral rim 15a of the reading window 15. The light guide assembly 30 of FIG. 3c comprises four light guides 31 each formed by a solid body having the shape of a truncated frustum or an optically equivalent shape, wherein the basis 31a of the body is the emitting surface of the light guide 31 and the light is emitted substantially in the direction of the white arrow depicted in the drawing.

(37) It is clear that the number of light guides 31 composing the light guide assembly 30 can be different from four and is preferably, six or eight.

(38) A first light source (not shown) is associated with each light guide 31 so as to have its emitting axis substantially coincident with the axis of the frustum body and directed towards a first inlet surface 32 of the light guide 31 placed on top of its frustum body.

(39) Preferably, the first inlet surface 32 is concave or prismatic so as to increase the emission angle of the light source.

(40) A second light source (not shown) is associated with each light guide 31 so as to have its emitting axis substantially comprised within the plane of the reading window 15 and directed towards a second inlet surface 33 of the light guide 31 placed laterally with respect to its frustum body.

(41) Preferably, also the second inlet surface 33 is concave or prismatic so as to increase the emission angle of the light source.

(42) Associated with each guide light 31 there are preferably the first, the second or both light sources.

(43) In case both light sources are associated with each light guide 31, the first light source preferably has a color different from the color of the second light source.

(44) In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3c, each light guide 31 is formed by a hollow body having the shape of a truncated frustum or an optically equivalent shape.

(45) The light guide 31 has an inlet opening 32 placed on top of its frustum body.

(46) A part from the basis 31a of the hollow body, its internal surfaces are preferably coated with a diffusing and/or reflective layer (not shown) which generates a multiple reflection and diffusion effect, or alternatively directly made (e.g. molded) using a white diffusing material.

(47) Preferably, the basis 31a of the hollow body is open and a rubber diffusing element 34 is placed in front of the same in order to spread the emitted light. Alternatively, the basis of the hollow body is transparent and has a roughness sufficient to confer to it diffusive properties.

(48) In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the rim 15a can be illuminated by a visual indication device comprising a plurality of light sources (not shown) disposed behind a diffusive, translucent annular screen 35 surrounding the reading window 15 so as to produce a substantially uniformly illuminated rim 15a (or a substantially uniformly illuminated portion of rim 15a).

(49) By way of a further alternative, the visual indication device comprises at least a light source which generates a beam of light directed at one or more distinct diffusing areas placed peripherally with respect to the reading window 15 but always at its rim 15a.

(50) In general, any means suitable to produce a substantially uniformly illuminated ring or portion of ring of light or diffusing illuminated areas around the reading window 15 at the rim 15a thereof is suitable.

(51) The visual indication device preferably comprises multicolor light sources such as LEOs in order to achieve further visual indications, in addition to the visual indication of the reading result.

(52) By way of an example, in idle state the window rim 15a has a first color (e.g. blue) which indicates that the reader is working. When a reading result has to be indicated, the window rim 15a changes to a second color (e.g. green for a successful reading).

(53) FIGS. 4a to 4c show three different embodiments of horizontal in-counter fixed position readers of coded information 10 according to the present invention. According to the embodiment of FIG. 4a, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on the whole of the reading window 15 which glows after reading has been effected. This embodiment is particularly suitable for imager scanners. This is achieved by means of a visual indication device comprising a light source (not shown) placed internally to the housing 11 and emitting from below a light beam towards the reading window 15 along any optical internal path not interfering with the reading/scanning path.

(54) The emitted light beam is of a color (e.g. green) indicating successful reading and different from that used for reading so that, upon successful reading, the reading window 15 appears substantially uniformly and differently colored.

(55) According to the embodiment of FIG. 4b, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on the whole rim 15a of the reading window 15.

(56) This is achieved analogously as described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b e.g. by means of a visual indication device comprising a single light source guided through a light guide around the rim 15a of the reading window 15 or a plurality of light sources disposed behind a diffusive, translucent annular screen surrounding the reading window 15.

(57) According to the embodiment of FIG. 4c, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on two portions 11a,11a of the housing 11 which adjoin laterally the rim 15a of the reading window 15 and are on the left and right hand sides of reading window 15, respectively.

(58) In the embodiment of FIG. 4c, the visual indication 18 comprises a couple of

(59) luminous strips, a first luminous strip 18a appearing on the left hand side of the reading window 15 and a second luminous strip 18b appearing on the right hand side of the reading window 15.

(60) In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on a portion 11a of the housing 11 which adjoins laterally the window rim 15a and is placed below the reading window 15.

(61) FIGS. 5a to 5d show four different embodiments of vertical in-counter fixed position readers of coded information 10 according to the present invention. According to the embodiment of FIG. 5a, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears substantially on the reading window 15 and preferably on a central portion of the reading window 15. The central portion of the reading window 15 is preferably made diffusive, as likewise discussed with reference to the on-counter fixed position reader of FIGS. 2a and 2b.

(62) The visual indication 18 of the embodiment of FIG. 5b is shown on the whole of the reading window 15 by making it glow after reading has been effected. This is achieved in a similar way as described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 4a. Preferably, the reading window 15 glows of a color different from that used for reading.

(63) According to the embodiment of FIG. 5c, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on the whole rim 15a of the reading window 15. This is achieved analogously as described with reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 4b.

(64) According to the embodiment of FIG. 5d, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on two portions 11a, 11a of the housing 11 which adjoin laterally the rim 15a of the reading window 15 and are on the left and right hand sides of reading window 15, respectively. This is achieved as also described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 4c.

(65) In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on a portion 11a of the housing 11 which adjoins laterally the window rim 15a and is placed below the reading window 15.

(66) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a bi-optic in-counter fixed position reader of coded information 10 according to the present invention.

(67) According to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on the whole of the vertical reading window 15 and is achieved in an analogous way as described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 4a. Alternatively, it is possible that the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears on both the vertical 15 and the horizontal 15 reading windows or on the horizontal 15 reading window only, by letting the whole surface of the windows 15,15 glow or by glowing just a portion of the windows 15,15.

(68) Analogously, in alternative embodiments, the visual indication 18 of the reading result is generated by illuminating at least one of the window rims 15a,15a or at least a portion 11a of the housing 11 adjoining laterally the window rims 15a,15a and being placed on the left and/or right hand side of at least one of the reading windows 15, 15 and/or below the same 15, 15.

(69) In general, every embodiment of vertical and/or horizontal in-counter fixed position reader above described can be unrestrictedly and independently combined with each other in order to obtain a bi-optic in-counter fixed position reader of coded information 10 according to the present invention.

(70) FIG. 7 shows a camera based checkout security system 20, comprising a security checkout camera 21, e.g. a color camera, and a fixed position reader 10 of coded information according to the present invention.

(71) The security checkout camera 21 is installed so that the camera field of view generated by the same is directed towards the reading window 15 of the fixed position reader 10 in order to frame the reading window and the area directly adjoining the same.

(72) Since the framed area is usually not hidden by the checker keyboard or monitor, it is mainly assured that a visual indication appearing substantially on the reading window 15 and/or on at least a portion of the peripheral rim 15a of the reading window 15 and/or on at least a portion 11a,11a, 11a of the housing 11 adjoining laterally the peripheral rim 15a of the reading window 15 is reliably captured by the security checkout camera 21.

(73) The functioning of the fixed position reader of coded information 10 according to the invention is the following.

(74) Upon successful and/or unsuccessful reading, a visual indication 18 of the reading result is generated by the visual indication device 17.

(75) Dependent on the specific embodiment, the visual indication 18 appears on a portion of or the entire reading window 15 and/or on at least a portion of its rim 15a and/or on a portion 11a of the housing 11 adjoining the window rim 15a and placed on the right or left hand side of or below the reading window 15.

(76) This assures that the visual indication 18 of the reading result appears within the visual cone of the user. In fact, at the moment the reading is performed, the user's line of sight is directed towards the object lying within the reading field of the fixed position reader 10 so that the reading window 15 is perceived by the user in its entirety as a background object.

(77) In this situation, the window rim 15a and the housing portions 11a adjoining the window rim 15a lie in the peripheral zone of the visual cone, but still well within it.

(78) The so positioned visual indication 18 gives an immediately perceived feedback without the necessity of any eye movement in that the peripheral view is used. Furthermore, it is also assured that the visual indication 18 is not hidden by the check counter or the object to be scanned or by the user's arms.

(79) Preferably, the visual indication 18 is of a different color from that of the light used to read, be it laser or a LED flash. In this way, attention is captured by the actual presence of a source of light, of a different color and within the user's visual cone. The window rim 15a and the housing portions 11a adjoining the window rim 15a lie in a zone where attention is not focused during the reading operation.

(80) Thus, a visual indication 18 of the reading result appearing on at least a portion of the window rim 15a or on a portion 11a of the housing 11 adjoining the window rim 15a and placed on the right or left hand side of or below the reading window 15 distracts the user from staring for too long at the reading light (laser or flash) so as to interrupt continuous exposure to the reading light.

(81) This effect is even higher in case of visual indication 18 of a different color from that of the light used to read.

(82) Additionally, the visual indication can also be made slowly flashing or pulsating or temporally cycling through different colors during the reading operation, so as to keep the eye distracted from fixing the intense laser or LED flashlight used for reading.

(83) This avoids the user focusing its maximum acuity visual cone area in the zone where the most intense reading light is shed.

(84) From the above description the features of the fixed position reader of coded information according to the present invention so as its related advantages are clear.

(85) Further alternatives of the above described embodiments are still possible without departing from the teachings of the invention.

(86) It is finally clear that the so designed fixed position reader of coded information can be submitted to many changes and variations all within the invention; furthermore all the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the used materials and the dimensions can be varied according to the technical requirements without departing from the invention.