FR3057748A1 - IDENTIFICATION STATION OR ASSISTANCE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF AT LEAST ONE PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a station (1) for identifying or assisting the identification of at least one product, such as the contents of a meal tray (2), of a user, said station comprising a surface laying (11) said at least product, a lighting system (3) for illuminating the laying surface (11), a plurality of image acquisition devices (4) facing the laying surface (11) , an identification device (5) for identifying the user. Said station also comprises a control device (7) configured to acquire the identifier (6) of the user, acquiring an image of said at least one product with each of said image acquisition devices (4), before or after the step of acquiring the identifier (6) of the user, and associating the acquired images with the acquired identifier.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,057,748 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 16 60 187

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : A 47 F 9/04 (2017.01), G 06 K9 / 62

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 20.10.16. (© Priority: ©) Applicant (s): JES LABS - FR. @ Inventor (s): JACQUET ERIC. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 04.27.18 Bulletin 18/17. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: ®) Holder (s): JES LABS. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): IPSILON Simplified joint-stock company.

AA POST OF IDENTIFICATION OR ASSISTANCE IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF AT LEAST ONE PRODUCT.

FR 3 057 748 - A1 tü /) The invention relates to a station (1) for identifying or helping to identify at least one product, such as the content of a meal tray (2), d '' a user, said station comprising a laying surface (11) of said at least product, a lighting system (3) for lighting the laying surface (11), several devices (4) for image acquisition oriented towards the installation surface (11), an identification device (5) making it possible to identify the user. Said station also includes a control device (7) configured to acquire the user identifier (6), acquire an image of said at least one product with each of said image acquisition devices (4), before or after the step of acquiring the identifier (6) of the user, and associating the acquired images with the acquired identifier.

i

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the identification or assistance in the identification of at least one product, such as the content of a meal tray, of a user.

The present invention finds an advantageous application in the field of collective catering, but of course the present invention can also apply to other fields for which it is desired to identify or help identify a product of a user.

PRIOR ART

In the field of collective catering, users usually take a meal tray on which they place various products to be consumed, then they go to the cash register.

When the user has arrived at the checkout, the checkout operator identifies and records on a computer system, the products corresponding to the contents of the tray. The registered products correspond to an amount that the user must pay.

Generally the user presents a badge associated with an account which is debited with the amount of the amount to be paid. We see that on average high, the number of passages of trays per minute per case is low, of the order of six.

We understand that it is desirable to be able to reduce the waiting time of users in such restaurants.

The present invention aims to provide a device for overcoming all or part of the problems described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the subject of the invention is an identification or aid station for the identification of at least one product, such as the content of a meal tray, of a user, said station comprising:

- a laying surface of said at least one product;

- a lighting system to illuminate the laying surface;

- several image acquisition devices oriented towards the installation surface; îo - an identification device making it possible to identify the user;

- a control device configured to:

- acquire the user identifier;

- acquire an image of said at least one product with each of said image acquisition devices, before or after the step of acquiring the user identifier;

- associate the acquired images with the acquired identifier.

By product is meant a concrete object that the user can handle. Said product 20 may or may not be edible.

In the case of a collective catering where said at least one product corresponds to the contents of a tray, the station according to the invention makes it possible to speed up and smooth the passage through the box formed by said station.

In particular, the use of several image acquisition devices makes it possible to benefit from the image of said at least product from different angles and thus to reliably identify said at least product.

In addition, the association of the user identifier with these images makes it possible to efficiently and reliably manage the purchase of the product (s) by the user and also control access to the station.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control device is also configured to, after the identifier has been associated with the acquired images, control an exit authorization or indication device to allow or indicate to the user to take back his product (s).

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the station includes a bottom face which extends substantially orthogonally to the laying surface of the tray. The bottom face is configured to provide better light distribution from the lighting system, compared to the installation surface.

In particular, the scattering of light by the bottom face makes it possible to improve the homogeneity of the distribution of the lighting at the level of said at least produced by limiting the importance of the shaded areas and by limiting the presence of light reflections.

The laying surface is chosen so as to scatter the light received as little as possible in order to limit the return of light, coming from the lighting system, to the image acquisition devices opposite which said laying surface is located. and ensure sufficient contrast with said products to be identified.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the station comprising a bottom face which extends substantially orthogonally to the laying surface, said image acquisition devices comprise a first image acquisition device, the optical axis is oriented vertically, and two other image acquisition devices arranged on either side of a plane passing through the optical axis of the first image acquisition device and perpendicular to the bottom face of the identification system.

Such an arrangement of image acquisition devices, which for example include cameras, makes it possible to obtain images from different angles to reliably identify the product or products present. In particular, such an arrangement makes it possible to identify effectively with at least one of the image acquisition devices, a product which would be masked by another product in the field of another image acquisition device.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lighting system comprises lighting devices and a light diffusion device, such as a translucent plate, for example made of plexiglass.

The diffusion of light by the diffusion device makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous distribution of the light and to limit the presence of shadow and / or brilliant reflection which could appear on the images and hinder their exploitation.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the light scattering device has a face, oriented towards the laying surface, which is curved.

The curvature of the face of the diffusion device which is oriented towards the laying surface, promotes the good distribution of the light flux at the level of said at least one product to be identified.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the laying surface is formed in one piece and has, on the side of the bottom face, a raised edge limiting the risk of infiltration into the station.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the station comprising a chamber in which the lighting system is housed, said chamber extends above and at a distance from the laying surface, said chamber having a larger front part width than that of the laying surface.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said station comprises a communication system with the user, preferably interactive, comprising a display device making it possible in particular to display an image of said at least one product.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control device is also configured to, from the acquired images associated with the user identifier, identify at least part of said at least one product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting and should be read with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a station inside which a user introduces a tray and its contents in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the station according to an embodiment of the invention, part of the covering of the station being removed to show the lighting system and the image acquisition devices;

- Figure 3 is a front view of the station according to an embodiment of the invention, part of the covering of the station being removed to show the orientation of the image acquisition devices, the system lighting not being shown;

- Figure 4 is a top view of the station of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 is an exploded view of the station according to an embodiment of the invention, the lighting system not being shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The concept of the invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the concept of the invention are shown. Similar numbers refer to similar elements in all of the drawings. However, this concept of the invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments set out here. Instead, these embodiments are offered so that this description is complete, and communicates the scope of the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is therefore defined by the appended claims. The following embodiments are examined, for the sake of simplification, in relation to the terminology and structure of an aid to the identification or identification of the content of a meal tray. However, the embodiments which will be examined subsequently are not limited to such an application for the identification or with the aid for the identification of the contents of a meal tray, but can be applied to the identification or the helps identify any product with or without a container.

A reference throughout the description to "an embodiment" means that a particular functionality, structure, or feature described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" at various locations throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Additionally, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The figures show a station 1 for identifying or helping to identify the content of a meal tray 2. The station includes a surface 11 for laying the tray.

The laying surface comprises a laying surface intended to receive the tray. To this end, the base may include locating means, for example visual and / or material for positioning the tray. It is also possible to provide that a display screen 19 displays the image of the plate and indicates the positioning of the plate to be reached to the user, for example by displaying an outline inside which the image of the plate must be located. .

The station includes a lighting system 3, shown in FIG. 2, making it possible to illuminate the laying surface 11 of the tray. As illustrated in the figures, the lighting system 3 is arranged above the laying surface 11 of the tray.

As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 3, several devices 4 for image acquisition are oriented towards the laying surface 11 of the plate in different optical directions in order to be able to acquire images of the plate from different angles.

An identification device 5, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, makes it possible to identify the carrier of the tray. This identification device 5 is for example a badge reader. According to one embodiment, the user is provided with a badge in which an identifier 6 is included so that the badge reader can read and therefore acquire the user's identifier when the latter is located in front of the station . For example, the badge reader is a contactless reader.

The station also includes a control device 7 configured to perform various operations. In particular, the piloting device is configured to control the identification device 5 so as to acquire the identifier 6 of the carrier of the tray.

As detailed below, before or after the step of acquiring the identifier 6 of the carrier of the tray according to the embodiment implemented, the control device is configured to control the image acquisition devices to acquire a image of the meal tray with each of said image acquisition devices 4. Preferably, it is expected that the control device 7 performs a step of determining the position state, correct or incorrect, of the plate on the laying surface before the step of acquiring images.

The control device 7 then associates, in a local or remote database, the acquired images with the acquired identifier.

For example, the control device 7 comprises:

a processing and calculation unit 70, such as a computer, a tablet, or a unit of another type comprising a processor,

- a block of internal peripherals to interface the peripherals of the îo station with the processing unit. Said peripherals can include, for example, image acquisition devices, such as cameras, sensors, the lighting system, indicators, a printer, etc.

- an external peripheral unit to interface the station with a data communication network and external peripherals, such as an access portal,

- a power supply.

The control device 7 is also configured to, after the identifier has been associated with the acquired images, control a device 9 for authorization of exit or indication to allow or indicate to the user to take back his tray (to go eat).

In other words, when the identification of the user is carried out and the images are acquired, the station emits a validation signal which can be interpreted by a controller that this controller is a natural person (when the validation signal is an indicator light - ticket to be presented) or a mechanical access control system, such as a gantry.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the authorization device 9 comprises indicator lights which emit light of a given color, for example green, when the processing and calculation unit 70 controls the emission by the indicator light (s) of said color light corresponding to an exit or validation of passage authorization.

The use of indicator light as an authorization device (or validation) allows a process supervision by a supervisor. It can also be provided that said indicators make it possible to identify the status of the station (open or closed service).

The permission to leave the plateau is validated by the steering system when the image acquired from the plateau and the identifier of the carrier of the plateau have been associated. Advantageously, an additional validation condition may be that the identifier corresponds to a user authorized to consume in the restaurant associated with the station. An additional validation condition can also be that the user account corresponding to the identifier has a credit and / or authorizes a sufficient debit. Thus, a predetermined threshold for credit on the account or maximum authorized debit can be introduced as a validation parameter.

According to one embodiment, the control device 7 is also configured to, from the acquired images associated with the identifier of the user, identify at least part of the content of the tray 2. The identification of at least one part of the content of the tray can be produced in particular by shape recognition. We can also provide that the identification is carried out remotely by a natural person from the images acquired and associated with the user's identifier.

Advantageously, a so-called enrollment phase is initially carried out. The enrollment phase corresponds to a phase implemented before the station is used by a user provided with a tray and according to which the various products likely to be present on the tray, for example the various dishes of the day, are recorded by acquiring their image with the set and associating them with an identifier and preferably a corresponding cash amount or by associating them with predefined data. The identification of the content ίο (usually comprising several products) of a tray is then carried out subsequently by comparing the images acquired from the content of the tray with the reference images of the products previously recorded during said enrollment phase.

The station 1 comprises a bottom face 12 which extends substantially orthogonally to the laying surface 11 of the plate. The bottom face 12 is chosen so as to present a better diffusion of the light coming from the lighting system with respect to the laying surface 11. Preferably, the bottom face 12 is matt, for example matt white. According to one embodiment, the installation surface 11 is darker than the bottom face 12. According to a preferred embodiment, the installation surface 11 is gray in color to allow a reliable distinction between the installation surface and the content of the tray and of the tray itself.

Said image acquisition devices 4 comprise a first device 41 called first image acquisition device, the optical axis A41 of which is oriented vertically, and two other image acquisition devices 42, 43 arranged on the side and on the other side of a plane passing through the optical axis A41 of the first image acquisition device 41 and perpendicular to the bottom face of the identification system.

The second and third image acquisition devices 42, 43 are preferably oriented so that their optical axes A42, A43 form an angle between 40 ° and 50 °, preferably 45 °, with the vertical.

The lighting system 3 comprises lighting devices 31, 32, 33 and a light diffusion device 34, such as a translucent plate, for example made of plexiglass. Advantageously, the lighting devices are arranged in a triangle or in an arc.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the light diffusion device 34 has a face, oriented towards the laying surface 11 of the plate, which is curved.

Advantageously, the laying surface 11 of the plate is formed in one piece and has, on the side of the bottom face 12, a raised edge 11B limiting the risk of infiltration into the station. The side of the bottom face 12 is the side of the base opposite to where the carrier of the tray is located when it is presented in front of the system.

îo Station 1 includes a room 300 in which are housed the lighting devices 31, 32, 33 and the image acquisition devices 41, 42, 43.

Said chamber 300 extends above and at a distance from the laying surface 11 of the plate. The chamber 300 and the laying surface define between them a space for inserting the tray, open laterally and on the front face, as opposed to the bottom face.

Said chamber 300 has a front part of greater width than that of the laying surface. The width of said chamber 300 corresponds to a dimension taken in a direction parallel to the axis which connects the open lateral faces of the station as opposed to the height and the depth of said station.

For this purpose, the front part of the chamber 300 comprises a top wall

3 30 and peripheral walls 320, 340, in particular with lateral parts, called ears 302, 303 making it possible to maximize the different angles of view and the lighting surface while minimizing the volume required for integration and the visual impact. The diffusion face 34 forms the underside of said chamber 300.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the station 1 comprises a chassis 100. The chassis 100 is square and preferably in one piece to ensure the rigidity of all the elements and allow any type of implementation: placed on or integrated into a piece of furniture, placed on a stand or mast, or fixed to the wall.

A space is defined between the chassis 100 and the bottom face 12 and / or the base

11 to allow the integration of all the technical elements within the structures to avoid any apparent cables or connectors which could generate safety and / or hygiene problems.

A secure terminal block 8 (to limit inadvertent access to the connectors) allows îo to connect the station to external devices and to the network without opening the station while protecting access against improper manipulation.

Advantageously, the bottom face 12 and / or the laying surface 11 are removable with respect to the chassis 100. The fact of providing that the base and / or the bottom face is at least partially removable and therefore exchangeable makes it easier to cleaning the system. The fact that the face 12 and / or the base 11 is removable at least in part also allows easy access to the active components of the station, which simplifies maintenance.

The station is in the form of a structure, the lateral faces and the front face of which are open so that the tray can be inserted and removed in a fluid manner.

Said station 1 comprises a communication system with the user, preferably interactive. The communication system comprises the display screen 19 and an interactive communication interface with the user. The interactive communication interface includes for example a touch screen layer, and / or a microphone and / or a speaker. Advantageously, said display device is a touch screen, allowing for example the user to view the positioning state of his plate 2 with respect to a zone 11A for placing the plate, and possibly to validate and / or correct information in the event of automatic recognition of the products on the shelf. The communication system also includes the user identification device 5, presented above, which makes it possible to collect identifiers from badges or other medium, for example of electronic type, such as a smartphone, or information biometric.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the lower front part of the station which receives the display screen 19 has a plane adapted by its inclination and its curved shapes for good accessibility for the user. Such a design avoids reflections, and makes the station accessible to people with disabilities.

Said station comprises a natural convection cooling system which is arranged for cooling at least part of the control device. The natural convection cooling system eliminates the need for a fan to reduce energy consumption, noise and the risk of breakdowns. Advantageously, the cooling system is integrated between the chassis and the bottom face 12, and advantageously comprises a grid 17 for air access at the bottom and at the top.

Different modes of operation of the substation are possible, some of which are presented below.

According to a first embodiment, the user identification step triggers the acquisition of images. Such an embodiment makes it possible to optimize the time spent on the station and the ergonomics of the station. The number of actions to be performed by the user is reduced and the user benefits from the comfort associated with identifying himself after having deposited his tray. In addition, data processing is carried out smoothly since it is not interrupted.

An example of implementation is presented below. The user arrives at the station with his tray. He places his tray on the installation surface, the image of which is filmed by one or more of the image acquisition devices is displayed on the screen to allow the user to view the positioning of the tray. When the plate is correctly positioned, we can expect the screen to display a positioning validation message.

The display screen and / or other equipment on the set prompts the user to identify himself. Once the user has been identified, the control device triggers the acquisition of the image of the platform and associates the image with the identifier. An exit authorization or passage validation signal is then sent by the station. This signal can for example be a visual signal, the issuing of a ticket and / or the sending of a command to open a gantry.

According to another embodiment, the acquisition of the image of the tray is triggered prior to the identification of the user, either by the user who has been invited to do so by the display on the screen, or by the system which self-triggers the acquisition. The display screen then prompts the user to identify themselves.

According to another alternative embodiment, the identification is carried out independently of the state of positioning of the plate. Thus, the user identifies himself after having deposited the tray on the laying surface or with the tray in his hands. User identification triggers the monitoring of the positioning status of the platform. Once validated the correct positioning of the tray on the installation surface, the acquisition of the image of the tray is triggered either by an action of the user who has been invited by the display on the screen, or by the system that self-triggers acquisition.

Claims (10)

1. Station (1) for identifying or helping to identify at least one product, such as the content of a meal tray (2), for a user, said station comprising: 5 - a laying surface (11) of said at least one product; - a lighting system (3) for lighting the laying surface (11); - several devices (4) for image acquisition oriented towards the laying surface (11); - an identification device (5) for identifying the user; îo - a control device (7) configured to: - acquire the user identifier (6); - acquire an image of said at least one product with each of said image acquisition devices (4), before or after the step of acquiring the user identifier (6); 15 - associate the acquired images with the acquired identifier. 2. Station (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (7) is also configured to, after the identifier has been associated with the acquired images, order an exit authorization device (9) or 20 indication to allow or indicate to the user to take back his product (s). 3. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the station (1) comprising a bottom face (12) which extends substantially 25 orthogonally to the laying surface (11) of the tray, the bottom face (12) is configured so as to offer better diffusion of the light coming from the lighting system, in comparison with the laying surface. 4. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The station (1) comprising a bottom face (12) which extends substantially orthogonally to the laying surface (11), said image acquisition devices (4) comprise a first acquisition device (41) image whose optical axis is oriented vertically, and two other image acquisition devices (42, 43) arranged on either side of a plane passing through the optical axis of the first device (41) image acquisition and perpendicular to the bottom face (12) of the identification system. 5. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting system (3) comprises lighting devices (31, 32, 33) and a light diffusion device (34) , such as a translucent plate, for example plexiglass. 6. Station (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the light diffusion device (34) has a face, oriented towards the laying surface (11), which is curved. 15 7. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laying surface (11) is formed in one piece and has, on the side of the bottom face (12), a raised edge ( 11 B) limiting the risk of infiltration into the station. 20 8. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the station (1) comprising a chamber (300) in which is housed the lighting system, said chamber extends above and spacing of the laying surface (11), said chamber having a front part of greater width than that of the laying surface (11). 9. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the station (1) comprises a communication system with the user, preferably interactive, comprising a display device (19) allowing in particular to display an image of said at least product. 10. Station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (7) is also configured to, from the acquired images associated with the user identifier, identify at least part said at least one product (2). 1/3 300