TWI547906B - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Vending machine

The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine including a gaze detecting unit.

A vending machine is a common unmanned vending device that does not require a salesperson to peddle on the spot. Consumers put money into the vending machine and select a merchandise item to complete the purchase. Current vending machines are not as good as salespeople can observe consumer preferences and market them. Therefore, the inventor of the present invention, if able to develop a new vending machine, can detect the consumer's gaze and display information related to the goods that the consumer is watching, which will help stimulate consumers to purchase.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine.

Thus, the vending machine of the present invention is adapted to sell a plurality of items to a consumer, the vending machine comprising a display unit, a gaze detecting unit and a control unit. The gaze detection unit is configured to detect the gaze of the consumer to generate a detection output. The control unit is electrically connected to the eye detection unit and the display unit, and can control the display list according to the detection output. The meta displays information about the items.

In some implementations, when the gaze detecting unit detects that the gaze of the consumer continues to gaze at one of the items for a predetermined time, the control unit controls the display unit to display the relevant one according to the detected output. Product information.

In some implementations, when the gaze detecting unit detects that the number of times the gaze of the consumer looks at one of the items reaches a preset number of times, the control unit controls the display unit to display the relevant information according to the detection output. Information about a product.

In some implementations, the information of the one of the products includes an item description, a remaining saleable quantity, and a discount plan.

In some implementations, the merchandise description includes specifications, sales quantities, and product reviews for the one of the merchandise.

In some implementations, the control unit controls the display unit to sequentially display the product introduction, the remaining saleable quantity, and the preferential plan according to the detection output.

In some implementations, when the control unit controls the display unit to display the preferential scheme according to the detection output, the control unit further generates a start signal for controlling a time count of a countdown unit according to a preset countdown. The countdown is started, and the display unit is controlled to simultaneously display the amount of time of the countdown until the countdown reaches zero, and the control unit stops displaying the discount scheme and the amount of time of the countdown.

In some implementations, when the gaze detecting unit detects that the gaze of the consumer is watching at least two of the items, the number of times exceeds the preset. The number of times, the control unit controls the display unit to simultaneously display information related to the at least two commodities according to the detection output.

In some implementations, the information displayed by the display unit related to the at least two of the items is presented in a comparison form.

In some implementations, the information of the at least two products includes a product introduction, a remaining saleable quantity, and a preferential plan corresponding to the products.

In some implementations, the merchandise introduction includes specifications, sales quantities, and product reviews of the at least two of the items.

In some implementations, the control unit controls the display unit to sequentially display the product introduction, the remaining saleable quantity, and the preferential plan according to the detection output.

In some implementations, when the control unit controls the display unit to display the preferential scheme according to the detection output, the control unit further generates a start signal for controlling a time count of a countdown unit according to a preset countdown. The countdown is started, and the display unit is controlled to simultaneously display the amount of time of the countdown until the countdown reaches zero, and the control unit stops displaying the discount scheme and the amount of time of the countdown.

In some implementations, the vending machine includes an input unit for inputting a commodity item to be purchased, or when the display unit displays the preferential scheme, for inputting the preferential scheme, so that the control unit executes the transaction program according to the input. To complete the transaction.

In some implementations, the offer includes purchasing a preferential total selling price for the at least two of the items simultaneously.

The effect of the present invention is to detect the gaze of the consumer by the gaze detecting unit to generate the detection output, and the control unit controls the display unit to display information related to the commodity according to the detection output, thereby The vending machine is provided with a suitable marketing function to stimulate the purchase of the consumer.

100‧‧‧Vending Machine

6‧‧‧Control unit

1‧‧‧ display unit

7, 7a, 7b‧‧‧ products

2‧‧‧ eye detection unit

8‧‧‧ Countdown unit

21‧‧‧ camera

200‧‧‧ Consumers

3‧‧‧Input unit

300‧‧‧Communication network

4‧‧‧Communication unit

400‧‧‧Server

5‧‧‧ storage unit

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the embodiments of the present invention, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardware connection relationship of the embodiment of the vending machine of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the embodiment of the present invention; A schematic diagram of a display unit; and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a display unit of the embodiment, illustrating that the display unit presents information of two products in a comparison table format; and FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are flowcharts of the embodiment, illustrating The control method of this embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an embodiment of the vending machine 100 of the present invention is adapted to sell a plurality of items 7 to a consumer 200. The vending machine 100 includes a display unit 1, a light detecting unit 2, and an input unit. 3. A communication unit 4, a storage unit 5, a control unit 6, and a countdown unit 8.

The display unit 1 is a liquid crystal display unit 1 in this embodiment, but is not limited thereto. The eye detection unit 2 is configured to detect the consumer 200 The gaze is generated to generate a detection output. The gaze detecting unit 2 of the embodiment is an eye tracker and has a camera 21. The eye-detecting unit 2 uses the camera 21 to record the position of the eyeball of the consumer 200 to measure the movement of the eyeball and the degree of pupil enlargement, and thereby determine the position that the consumer 200 is looking at. The input unit 3 is used for the consumer 200 to input the merchandise item to be purchased or the preferential scheme of the transaction to be executed. The communication unit 4 is electrically connected to a communication network 300. The control unit 6 is electrically connected to the display unit 1, the eye detection unit 2, the input unit 3, the communication unit 4, the storage unit 5, and the countdown unit 8. The control unit 6 can control the display unit 1 to display information related to the commodities 7 based on the detection output. A more specific description of the operation of control unit 6 is as follows.

When the gaze detecting unit 2 detects that the gaze of the consumer 200 is gazing at the number of times of one of the items 7 reaches a predetermined number of times, or when the gaze detecting unit 2 detects that the gaze of the consumer 200 continues to gaze at one of the items 7 Upon reaching a preset time, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display information related to the one of the commodities 7 based on the detection output. In this embodiment, the information of one of the commodities 7 includes a product introduction, a remaining saleable quantity, and a preferential plan. The control unit 6 of the embodiment controls the display unit 1 to display the product introduction first, then displays the remaining saleable quantity, and finally displays the preferential plan.

The product description includes the specifications, sales volume, and product reviews of one of the products 7. In this embodiment, the specifications and sales amount of the product 7 are stored in the storage unit 5, and the product reviews are stored in a server 400 electrically connected to the communication network 300, and the control unit 6 controls the communication unit 4 via the communication network 300. Receiving product reviews from the server 400 for display unit 1 display Show. The product review of this embodiment is webpage information (such as a shopping website webpage or a blog webpage).

The remaining saleable quantity is the quantity of stock of the one of the merchandise 7 within the vending machine 100. The preferential scheme is a preferential content that can be used by the consumer 200 to perform a transaction program when the display unit 1 displays the preferential scheme, that is, the transaction program can be executed according to the preferential content of the selected preferential scheme, in this embodiment. When the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display the preferential scheme according to the detection output, the control unit 6 further generates a start signal for controlling the countdown unit 8 to start the countdown according to the amount of time of a preset countdown, and The control display unit 1 simultaneously displays the amount of time of the countdown until the countdown reaches zero, and the control unit 6 stops displaying the discount plan and the amount of time of the countdown, thereby prompting the consumer 200 to decide whether or not to count as soon as possible before the countdown reaches zero. Buy, and thus achieve the effect of the promotion.

It is worth mentioning that, by the operation of the aforementioned control unit 6, when the consumer 200 looks at one of the products 7 because of an interest in one of the products 7, the display unit 1 can display the related items 7 of the goods. Information so that the vending machine 100 can be marketed for the preferences of the consumer 200.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, in addition, another mode of operation of the control unit 6 is as follows. When the gaze detecting unit 2 detects that the gaze of the consumer 200 is gazing at the number of times of the two items 7 exceeds the preset number of times, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to simultaneously display the items related to the two items 7 according to the detection output. News. For example, if the eyes of the consumer 200 look like Figure 2 When both the displayed item 7a and the item 7b exceed the preset number of times, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display the information related to the item 7a and the item 7b as shown in FIG. 3, and the displayed information is a comparison table. Type presentation. In addition, in this embodiment, the preferential scheme displayed by the display unit 1 related to the two of the commodities 7 includes simultaneously purchasing the discounted total selling price of the two of the commodities 7 , thereby causing the consumer 200 to simultaneously purchase the two of the two products. Item 7.

It is worth mentioning that, by the operation of the foregoing control unit 6, when the consumer 200 repeatedly looks at the two items 7 because of interest in two of the items 7, the display unit 1 can display the type in the comparison table. The information of the two items 7 is such that the consumer 200 can easily compare the information of the two items 7.

In order to more clearly explain the specific embodiment of the present embodiment, a control method of the control unit 6 of the vending machine 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. First, the storage unit 5 stores in advance a plurality of product identification materials (IDs) corresponding to the goods 7 corresponding to the products, and the product identification materials respectively correspond to the product introduction, the remaining saleable quantity, and the preferential plan of the products. And a blank record sheet.

First, as shown in step S01, the control unit 6 receives the detection output generated by the eye detection unit 2 to detect the gaze position of the consumer 200. Then, as shown in step S02, the control unit 6 determines whether the gaze position of the detecting consumer 200 is offset according to the current detection output and the previously received detection output. If yes, step S03 is performed, and if not, Then step S06 is performed.

Step S03 is a control unit 6 determining the current consumer 200 If the product identification data corresponding to the position of the gaze is present in the record table, if yes, step S05 is performed, otherwise step S04 is performed. In step S04, the product identification data corresponding to the gaze position of the current consumer 200 is stored in the record table, and then step S05 is performed.

In step S05, the control unit 6 starts timing to measure the duration in which the gaze of the consumer 200 looks at the current position. Next, as shown in step S06, the timing result of the control unit 6 is stored in the record table and corresponds to the item identification data.

Next, as shown in step S07, the control unit 6 determines whether the timing result stored in the record table in step S06 is greater than or equal to the preset time, and if so, proceeds to step S08, and if not, proceeds to step S01. Step S08: The control unit 6 determines whether the number of timing results in the record table that is greater than or equal to the preset time is greater than or equal to 2, and if so, proceeds to step S15, and if not, proceeds to step S09.

Step S09 is a control unit 6 that controls the display unit 1 to display an item description of the item 7 corresponding to the eye-gazing position of the current consumer 200. Next, as shown in step S10, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display the remaining saleable quantity of the item 7 corresponding to the gaze position of the current consumer 200.

Next, as shown in step S11, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, proceeds to step S12, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, proceeds to step S13.

Step S13, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display when The preferential plan of the item 7 corresponding to the position of the gaze of the former consumer 200 and the amount of time counted down. Next, as shown in step S14, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, proceeds to step S12, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, executes step S01.

Further, when the determination in step S08 is YES, the flow proceeds to step S15. In step S15, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display a plurality of product introductions by comparing the types of the forms, and the product introductions are product introductions corresponding to the product identification data corresponding to the timing results of the preset time in the record table.

Then, as shown in step S16, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display a plurality of remaining saleable quantities, wherein the remaining remaining saleable quantity is the remainder corresponding to the commodity identification data corresponding to the timing result of the preset time in the record table. Available quantities. Next, as shown in step S17, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, proceeds to step S12, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, proceeds to step S18.

Step S18: The control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display a plurality of preferential schemes, and displays the amount of time for the countdown, wherein the preferential scheme is a preferential scheme corresponding to the commodity identification data corresponding to the timing result of the preset time in the record table. In addition, the preferential scheme further includes the preferential selling price of the product 7 corresponding to the aforementioned product identification data.

Next, as shown in step S19, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, In step S12, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, proceeds to step S01.

On the other hand, when it is judged YES in step S02, step S20 is executed in addition to step S03. In step S20, the control unit 6 updates the accounting data corresponding to the product identification data corresponding to the previous gaze position in the record table, and more specifically, the number of times the representative data is represented is increased by one.

Next, as shown in step S21, the control unit 6 determines whether the updated schedule data is greater than or equal to the preset number of times, and if so, proceeds to step S22, and if not, proceeds to step S01. In step S22, the control unit 6 determines whether the number of the primary data in the record table equal to or greater than the preset number of times is greater than or equal to 2, and if so, proceeds to step S29, and if not, proceeds to step S23.

Step S23 is a control unit 6 that controls the display unit 1 to display the product introduction of the item 7 corresponding to the gaze position of the previous consumer 200. Next, as shown in step S24, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display the remaining saleable quantity of the item 7 corresponding to the gaze position of the previous consumer 200.

Next, as shown in step S25, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, proceeds to step S26, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display the discount plan of the item 7 corresponding to the gaze position of the previous consumer 200 and the amount of time counted down. Next, as shown in step S28, the control unit 6 It is judged whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, step S26 is executed, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, executes step S01.

Further, when the determination in step S22 is YES, the flow proceeds to step S29. In step S29, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display a plurality of product introductions by comparing the types of the forms, and the product introductions are product introductions corresponding to the product identification data corresponding to the preset data in the record table.

Then, as shown in step S30, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display a plurality of remaining saleable quantities, wherein the remaining saleable quantity is corresponding to the commodity identification data corresponding to the predetermined data in the record table. The remaining available quantity. Next, as shown in step S31, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, proceeds to step S26, the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, proceeds to step S32.

In step S32, the control unit 6 controls the display unit 1 to display a plurality of preferential schemes, and displays the amount of time for the countdown. The preferential scheme is a discount corresponding to the commodity identification data corresponding to the preset data in the record table. In addition, the preferential scheme further includes the selling price of the commodity 7 corresponding to the aforementioned commodity identification data.

Next, as shown in step S33, the control unit 6 determines whether an instruction to enter the transaction program is received via the input unit 3, and if so, proceeds to step S26, and the control unit 6 executes the transaction program to complete the transaction, and if not, executes step S01.

In summary, the vending machine 100 of the present invention detects the gaze of the consumer 200 by the gaze detecting unit 2 to generate the detection output, and controls the display unit 1 according to the detection output by the control unit 6. The information relating to the merchandise 7 is displayed so that the vending machine 100 can have an appropriate marketing function, and the merchandising can be promoted according to the preferences of the consumer 200, thereby stimulating the consumer 200 to purchase, so that the object of the present invention can be achieved.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, that is, the simple equivalent changes and modifications made by the patent application scope and the patent specification of the present invention are still It is within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

100‧‧‧Vending Machine

1‧‧‧ display unit

2‧‧‧ eye detection unit

21‧‧‧ camera

3‧‧‧Input unit

4‧‧‧Communication unit

5‧‧‧ storage unit

6‧‧‧Control unit

8‧‧‧ Countdown unit

300‧‧‧Communication network

400‧‧‧Server

Claims (9)

A vending machine for selling a plurality of products to a consumer, the vending machine comprising: a display unit; a gaze detecting unit for detecting the gaze of the consumer to generate a detection output; and The control unit is electrically connected to the gaze detecting unit and the display unit, and can control the display unit to display information related to the products according to the detection output; wherein, when the gaze detecting unit detects the consumer The gaze continues to watch one of the items arrive for a preset time, or the control unit controls the output according to the detection output when the gaze detecting unit detects that the number of times the consumer's gaze is looking at one of the items has reached a predetermined number of times. The display unit displays information related to the one of the items. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the information of the one item includes at least one of a product introduction, a remaining saleable quantity, and a preferential plan, and the product introduction includes a specification of the one of the products, At least one of sales volume and product reviews. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to sequentially display the product introduction, the remaining saleable quantity, and the preferential plan according to the detection output. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein when the control unit controls the display unit to display the preferential scheme according to the detection output, the control unit further generates a start signal for controlling a countdown unit The countdown is started according to the amount of time of a preset countdown, and the display unit is controlled to simultaneously display the counted time amount until the countdown reaches zero, then the control unit stops displaying the discount scheme and the amount of time of the countdown. A vending machine for selling a plurality of products to a consumer, the vending machine comprising: a display unit; a gaze detecting unit for detecting the gaze of the consumer to generate a detection output; and The control unit is electrically connected to the gaze detecting unit and the display unit, and can control the display unit to display information related to the products according to the detection output; wherein, when the gaze detecting unit detects the consumer The gaze looks at the number of times at least two items exceeds the preset number of times, and the control unit controls the display unit to simultaneously display information related to the at least two items according to the detection output. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein the information displayed by the display unit relating to the at least two of the items is presented in a comparison form. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein the information of the at least two items includes at least one of a product introduction, a remaining saleable quantity, and a preferential plan respectively, and the product introduction includes At least one of a specification, a sales amount, and a product review of at least two of the commodities. The vending machine of claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to sequentially display the product introduction, the remaining saleable quantity, and the preferential plan according to the detection output. The vending machine of claim 7, wherein when the control unit controls the display unit to display the preferential scheme according to the detection output, the control unit further generates a start signal for controlling a countdown unit according to a preset The amount of time for the countdown starts to count down, and the display unit is controlled to simultaneously display the amount of time of the countdown until the countdown reaches zero, and the control unit stops displaying the discount scheme and the amount of time of the countdown.