Optics: measuring and testing – By shade or color
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2001-11-06
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
By shade or color
C356S402000, C356S408000, C356S414000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to product checkout devices and more specifically to a produce data collector and produce recognition system.
Bar code readers are well known for their usefulness in retail checkout and inventory control. Bar code readers are capable of identifying and recording most items during a typical transaction since most items are labeled with bar codes.
Items which are typically not identified and recorded by a bar code reader are produce items, since produce items are typically not labeled with bar codes. Bar code readers may include a scale for weighing produce items to assist in determining the price of such items. But identification of produce items is still a task for the checkout operator, who must identify a produce item and then manually enter an item identification code. Operator identification methods are slow and inefficient because they typically involve a visual comparison of a produce item with pictures of produce items, or a lookup of text in table. Operator identification methods are also prone to error, on the order of fifteen percent.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a produce data collector and produce recognition system. It would also be desirable to provide a spectrometer-equipped produce data collector which operates with minimal spectral distortion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a produce data collector and produce recognition system are is provided.
The produce data collector includes a light pipe having entrance and exit ends through which a portion of light reflected from a produce item travels, and a spectrometer adjacent the exit end of the light pipe which splits the portion of light into a plurality of wavelengths and which produces signals associated with the wavelengths for identifying the produce item.
The light pipe may be a hollow light pipe or a light rod.
An example spectrometer includes a linear variable filter, and a photodetector array adjacent the linear variable filter.
The produce data collector may additionally include a lens adjacent an entrance end of the light pipe which focuses the portion of light at the entrance end of the light pipe.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a produce data collector and produce recognition system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a produce data collector which includes a spectrometer and which operates with minimal spectral distortion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a produce data collector which includes a linear variable filter and which operates with minimal spectral distortion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a produce data collector with a reduced field-of- view effect.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a produce data collector which uses light pipe to minimize spectral distortion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a produce data collector which uses light pipe to reduce the field-of-view effect and improve the light collection efficiency from a produce item to a linear variable filter without increasing the incident angle of light onto the linear variable filter.
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Gu Yeming
Tang Hong
Font Frank G.
Martin Paul W.
NCR Corporation
Ratliff Reginald A.
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