WO2020127242A1

WO2020127242A1 - Device for use in a commercial outlet

Info

Publication number: WO2020127242A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/085619
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Anthony THOMPSON; Scott Alan PORTER
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2018-12-21
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2020-06-25
Also published as: EP3899692A1; EA202191719A1

Abstract

A device (2) is disclosed for use in a commercial outlet. The device includes a trigger unit configured to detect a user touch. The trigger unit can include a touch pad (6a, 6b, 6c) and a microcontroller (14). A transmitter (12) is configured to transmit a signal to a receiver (20; 24; 32a, 32b, 32c) upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display can be provided to the user. A power supply (10) is configured to supply electrical power to the trigger unit and the transmitter. The trigger unit has an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from the power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount. The trigger unit transitions between the active mode and the inactive mode at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the first frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.

Description

DEVICE FOR USE IN A COMMERCIAL OUTLET

The present invention relates to a device for use in a commercial outlet, and specifically a device that can be triggered to provide a visual display or other media content for a user upon detection of a user touch.

A number of systems are known that can provide remote control of a visual display or other media player. It would be desirable to provide a system that can enable remote control of a visual display or other media player in a commercial outlet. Such a system would ideally provide a good balance between cost, responsiveness and longevity. It has been found that existing solutions fail to provide a good balance between these competing requirements. For example, some solutions can provide a high level of responsiveness, but have power demands that deplete battery resources after a short period of time, which means that they become unusable unless batteries are replaced, which is not always practical or possible within the context of a commercial outlet. An object of the present invention is to address some of these issues.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in a commercial outlet, comprising: a trigger unit configured to detect a user touch; a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to a receiver upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display or other media content can be provided to the user; and a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the trigger unit and the transmitter; wherein the trigger unit has an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from the power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount, and wherein the trigger unit transitions between the active mode and the inactive mode at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the first frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.

In this way, the device can reliably detect a user touch event. However, power supply resources are conserved because the trigger unit spends a lot of time in its inactive mode. This allows the device to be used for long periods of time in a commercial outlet using a simple and low cost power source, such as off-the-shelf batteries. Equally, it allows the device to be responsive to user touch events so that the transmitter can send a signal that enables the provision of the visual display or media content in a reliable way when a touch event has occurred. It has been found that this approach offers a good balance between responsiveness and device longevity.

The first frequency is selected so that it is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch, which may be longer than the predicted duration of the user touch itself. In sensors such as capacitive touch sensors the effect of the user’s touch may endure for significantly longer than the touch itself; this effect can be used advantageously to minimise the first frequency and prolong battery life.

Preferably a plurality of separate trigger units are connected to the transmitter. In one arrangement, the device may present the user with a number of options, configured as buttons or touch pads with which a user can interact with media content.

The trigger unit may include a touch pad and other components which may be assembled to a PCB such as a microcontroller or a processor. The trigger unit may include a capacitor and the touch pad may be a capacitive sensor. However, it will be appreciated that a number of different designs may be adopted for the touch pad. The microcontroller within the trigger unit may have an active mode and an inactive mode.

The transmitter is preferably configured to transmit a signal that is indicative of the trigger unit that detected the user touch. In this way, the visual display or media content provided to the user can be related to the trigger unit that has been activated. This can allow a user to enjoy a visual display or media content that is related to their chosen item, for example on a television display or through an alternative lighting display, such as a shelf lighting display that may be achieved using LEDs.

If multiple trigger units are activated simultaneously then preferably only one signal is transmitted by the transmitter, which is indicative of a single trigger unit. The trigger unit that is selected is preferably the trigger unit that has detected the strongest indication of a user touch. The first frequency may be at least 1 Hz, preferably around 2Hz. It has been found that this provides a good balance between responsiveness and battery longevity. Preferably the trigger unit comprises a capacitive sensor configured so that the effect of a user touch has a duration that is longer than the user touch itself. Preferably a change in charge is provided within the capacitive sensor when there is a touch event. The change in charge preferably endures for a period of time that is at least around 500ms. In this way, a user touch event can be reliably detected using a first frequency of around 2Hz.

Upon detection of a touch event, the trigger unit is preferably configured to transition between the active mode and the inactive mode at a second frequency which is higher than the first frequency and is selected so that the inverse of the second frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the user touch. In this way, the trigger unit can have a low frequency phase and a high frequency phase. The high frequency phase can be initiated when a touch event is detected during the low frequency phase. Advantageously, a high frequency can allow detection of more rapid touch events as may occur when the user is interacting with displayed content.

The second frequency may be at least 8Hz and is preferably around 16Hz. It has been found that 16 Hz provides a good balance between responsiveness and battery longevity. It has been determined through experimentation and testing that the user touch events in the context of the present device tend to have a duration that is longer than 1/16^th of a second. Thus, by providing active modes for the trigger unit with a frequency of 16 Hz it is possible to indicate reliably when a touch event has occurred. Equally, providing a higher frequency than 16 Hz is currently not preferred because it increases the power draw on the power supply, thereby reducing the longevity of the device before a change in batteries is required. The second frequency may be provided in a range between 4Hz and 40Hz, preferably between 8Hz and 30Hz and more preferably between 12Hz and 20Hz.

Preferably the active mode has a duration which is shorter than the duration of the inactive mode. The active mode may have a duration which is less than 10 microseconds, preferably around 1 microsecond. Thus, the cumulative duration of active modes within a one second period may be only around 2 microseconds in the low frequency mode, where the first frequency is 2Hz, or 16 microseconds in the high frequency mode, where the second frequency is 16 Hz. This means that the trigger unit is inactive for the majority of the time, thereby offering power saving advantages. However, a high level of responsiveness can nevertheless be achieved.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for use in a commercial outlet, comprising: the device as previously defined; a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter; and a visual display or media player configured to provide a visual display or other media content to the user on receipt of a signal from the receiver.

The receiver may be provided as a plug-in unit which can be connected to the visual display or other media unit. In this way, the plug-in unit can provide an auxiliary input signal to the visual display, in order to provide visual and/or audio content that is stored in the plug-in unit.

The receiver may be provided in a relay unit that is configured to receive the signal from the transmitter and is configured to generate a second signal for transmission to a second receiver. In some arrangements the relay unit can therefore ensure operation of the system while taking account of signal compatibility issues between the transmitter and the media player by performing a protocol conversion.

The media player may be configured to display static and/or moving images to a user. The media player may be a visual display such as a CRT, LED, OLED or plasma display, in just a few examples. This can enable display of video content to the user. In other examples the system may include a media player that can provide other media content items such as music or sound effects.

The visual display may comprise one or more lighting units arranged in the commercial outlet. For example, the lighting units may be arranged in a shelving unit and selected lighting units may be activated when a signal is received from a particular trigger unit. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a device in a commercial outlet, comprising the steps of: detecting a user touch using a trigger unit; transmitting a signal to a receiver upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display or other media content can be provided to the user; providing a power supply to the trigger unit and the transmitter; and transitioning the trigger unit between an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from the power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount, wherein the transitioning is performed at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable memory medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of: detecting a user touch using a trigger unit; transmitting a signal to a receiver upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display or other media content can be provided to the user; and transitioning the trigger unit between an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from a power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount, wherein the transitioning is performed at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a device in an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a device in another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a device 2, which is a point-of-sale device in a commercial outlet. The device 2 may be embodied as a cardboard panel which can be attached to a surface in the commercial outlet, or may be propped up by a support structure. A front surface 4 of the device 2 comprises a number of touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c which are connected to a printed circuit board (PCB) 8 on the rear surface. In this design there are three touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c, but different numbers may be provided in other embodiments. The size of the PCB 8 is around 200mm x 200mm.

The device 2 includes a radio frequency transmitter 12 which operates at 2.4GHz and a microcontroller 14, and these components are respectively connected to the PCB 8. The device also includes replaceable batteries 10 which provide a power supply to the PCB 8 and therefore to the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c, the microcontroller 14, the transmitter 12 and any other components operatively connected thereto.

The touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c include capacitive sensors that can detect a user’s touch. A single capacitor on the PCB 8 is charged by the microcontroller 14 and is connected to each of the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c in turn. The capacitor is configured to discharge when a conductive surface comes into contact with one of the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c and the time taken for the capacitor to discharge is related to its proximity to the conductive surface, which may be a user’s finger. The microcontroller 14 can monitor any capacitor discharge event in order to identify a "touch" event. Therefore, the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c, the capacitor and the microcontroller 14 can, in combination, provide a trigger unit which is responsive to a user touch event. Following a discharge event the capacitor is re-charged by the batteries 10. The re-charge process takes some time, depending on the electrical properties of the capacitor and any connected components, and this means that a reduction in the charge of the capacitor can still be measured for a period of time after a touch event.

In this embodiment a single electrical connection is provided between the microcontroller 14 and the capacitor and this connection is used both to charge the capacitor and sense touches. This design reduces the number of components and therefore reduces cost. However, multiple electrical connections may be provided in different embodiments, as required. In other embodiments, it would be equally possible to provide a dedicated capacitor for each touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c, but this approach is less preferred in the current design in order to reduce manufacturing cost and complexity. In this example embodiment the microcontroller 14 is a Microchip ATTiny44 which contains 4kb of program space and 256 bytes of RAM. This microcontroller 14 has firmware written in C and assembler.

In operation, the microcontroller 14 is primarily sleeping (i.e. in an inactive mode) in order to save battery power. In its inactive mode the microcontroller 14 does not sample signals or provide control signals to any other components. The microcontroller transitions between its inactive mode and an active mode, in which it wakes to sample the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c and the level of discharge of the capacitor. Initially the microcontroller 14 is in a low frequency phase, and the frequency of transition between the active mode and the inactive mode is around 2Hz.

The active mode of the microcontroller 14 typically has a duration which is around 1 microsecond. This means that the cumulative duration of active modes is around 2 microseconds in a one second period. This allows the microcontroller 14 to spend the majority of time in its inactive mode where it provides a minimal power draw on the batteries 10.

When a user touch event occurs the capacitor partially discharges. The time taken to re-charge the capacitor after a discharge event is typically longer than 0.5s. This means that a touch event can be detected soon after it has occurred by monitoring the level of charge of the capacitor. A touch event can be detected even after the user’s finger has lifted away from the relevant touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c because the effect on the capacitor can endure for longer.

Upon detection of a touch event the microcontroller 14 changes its behaviour and enters a high frequency phase. In the high frequency phase there is a frequency of around 16Hz for the transition between the active mode and the inactive mode. This higher frequency is selected because it has been determined through experimentation and testing that the user touch events in the context of the present device tend to have a duration that is longer than around 1/16^th of a second. Thus, by providing active modes for the trigger unit with a frequency of around 16Hz it is possible to indicate reliably when a touch event has occurred, without relying on the longer lasting effect on capacitance charge level. This also means that it is possible for the microcontroller 14 to detect a sequence fast interval user touches, between different touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c, as may occur when the user is responding to interactive content. It has been found that this kind of responsiveness is only possible in the high frequency phase where the device has a higher power draw than during the low frequency phase. This approach can also allow detection of user touches that have a duration that is less than 1/16th of a second, since a user touch can affect the level of charge of the capacitor for a longer period than the touch itself.

Providing a higher frequency than 16Hz during the high frequency phase is currently not preferred because it increases the power draw, thereby reducing the longevity of the device before a change in batteries is required. The selected frequency in the high frequency phase may be provided in a range between 4Hz and 40Hz, preferably between 8Hz and 30Hz and more preferably between 12Hz and 20Hz.

The active mode of the microcontroller 14 typically has a duration of around 1 microsecond in the high frequency phase. Thus, if the transition frequency between the active mode and the inactive mode is around 16Hz then the cumulative duration of active modes is around 16 microseconds in a one second period. This allows the microcontroller 14 to spend the majority of time in its inactive mode, even during its high frequency phase, where it provides a minimal power draw on the batteries 10.

The microcontroller 14 samples the capacitor or capacitors many times during the 1 microsecond active mode. This allows the microcontroller to determine an average value for capacitance. The 1 microsecond duration is chosen because it provides a good balance between minimising power consumption and providing an acceptable level of accuracy in the determination of a value for the charge level of the capacitance sensor.

Where the microcontroller 14 detects a touch event, it prepares a packet of data to be sent, and forwards this to the transmitter 12. The transmitter 12 operates at a radio frequency of 2.4GHz, although it is preferably not a Bluetooth® device. The packet of data is indicative of the touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c that was the source of the touch event, and the transmitter 14 sends the data packet to a plug-in unit 20 which has a radio frequency receiver. The data packet typically includes information regarding device type, device variant and touch pad ID. The transmitter 12 is powered by the microcontroller 14 only when a data packet is ready to be sent, and, after sending, power to the transmitter 12 is suspended by the microcontroller 14; this approach helps to reduce power draw by the transmitter 12.

It is possible that two or more touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c will experience a user touch at substantially the same time. In these circumstances the touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c that is responsible for the strongest touch signal is selected, and the microcontroller 14 prepares a data packet for the transmitter 12 that is indicative of the relevant touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c. In this way, the device 2 is not designed to support multiple simultaneous touch events at different touch pads 6a, 6c, 6c.

Optionally a status LED (not shown) may be connected to the PCB 8. The status LED can be configured to operate when sending data. However, this is configurable and the status LED can be disabled to save power, if required.

The microcontroller 14 remains in its high frequency phase while touch events are being detected. If no more touch events are detected after a few seconds then the microcontroller returns to its low frequency phase, sampling the level of charge of the capacitor every 500ms in order to reduce power consumption.

The plug-in unit 20 is a microcomputer that has connections that can connect to USB and HDMI ports in a visual display screen 22. The plug-in unit 20 comprises a receiver that can receive signals transmitted by the transmitter 12. The plug-in unit 20 can also connect to the internet using Wi-Fi or some other method, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. The plug-in unit 20 receives electrical power from the USB port and can supply a video input to the screen 22 via the HDMI port. In practice, the plug-in unit 20 is a handheld stick having dimensions of around 80mm x 40mm x 10mm.

The plug-in unit 20 comprises memory in which media files are stored. The media files can include static and/or dynamic video files, sound effects and music files. The media files can be changed or updated remotely by connecting the plug-in unit 20 to Content Management System on the internet via Wi-Fi. In use, a user touches one of the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c, which may correspond to a product that they wish to purchase. The user’s touch event causes the microcontroller 12 to enter a high frequency phase. The relevant touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c that experienced the touch event is identified and transmission of the relevant data packet by the transmitter 12 is initiated. The data packet is then received by the receiver in the plug-in unit 20. The plug-in unit 20 can then select the relevant media file from its memory, corresponding to the relevant touch pad 6a, 6b, 6c, and the media file can be played on the visual display screen. The media file is played to its conclusion unless another touch pad is selected, in which case a new media file will fade-in and play on the visual display screen 22. The touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c can also be used to allow the user to interact with the media content in a dynamic way. In this way, the user can enjoy a visual experience linked to their chosen product. Advantageously the point-of-sale device 2 can be responsive to a user touch while extending battery life for as long as possible. It has been found that effective operation of the device 2 can continue for eight weeks or longer using simple off-the-shelf batteries. It is currently envisaged that the device 2 will have two 3.6V AA 2200 - 2600 mAh batteries. The plug-in unit 20 is powered by the USB port of the visual display screen 22, which means that it can be operated without any batteries.

In an alternative arrangement, as indicated in Figure 1 , a relay unit 24 may be provided between the transmitter 12 and the visual display screen 22. Such an arrangement may be preferred where the visual display screen 22 can be connected to the internet using Wi-Fi, for example. In these circumstances the relay unit 24 may receive the signals emitted by the transmitter at 2.4GHz. The relay unit 24 includes memory in which media items can be stored which may relate to the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c on the point-of-sale device 2. The relay unit 24 can select the relevant media items and send them to the visual display screen 22 by Wi-Fi so that the media items can be displayed to a user. This can therefore represent an alternative technique to the plug-in unit 20. In some arrangements the relay unit 24 can perform a protocol conversion where signals are transmitted by the transmitter 12 using a first protocol, but the visual display screen 22 receives signals in a second protocol. The relay unit 24 is configured as a 5V mains powered custom PCB which is mounted inside an enclosure. In this way, the relay unit 24 can act as a socket server, allowing fast communication between a trigger on the device 2 and active content on the visual display screen 22.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a device 2 in another embodiment of the invention. The device 2 in this example is identical to the device 2 in Figure 1. However, instead of providing a receiver in a plug-in unit 20, a plurality of receivers 32a, 32b, 32c are provided in respective lighting units 30a, 30b, 30c. Each lighting unit 30a, 30b, 30c comprises batteries 34a, 34c, 34c and one or more LEDs 36a, 36b, 36c, although different sources of illumination may be provided in alternative designs. It is currently envisaged that each lighting unit 30a, 30b, 30c will have one 3.6V AA 2200 - 2600 mAh battery.

In this arrangement, and as before, a user touches one of the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c, which may correspond to a product that they wish to purchase. This can initiate transmission of the relevant data packet by the transmitter 12. This broadcast is received by the receivers 32a, 32b, 32c at each of the relevant lighting units 30a, 30b, 30c. In this example embodiment each lighting unit 30a, 30b, 30c corresponds to one of the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c. Therefore, a touch event at the first touch pad 6a means that a signal is broadcast by the transmitter 12 and this initiates operation of the LEDs 36a at the first lighting unit 30a. The LEDs 36b, 36c at the second and third lighting units 30b, 30c are not operational until such time as the second or third touch pads 6b, 6c are selected by a user.

The lighting units 30a, 30b, 30c may be positioned close to or adjacent products that correspond to images or printed information on the touch pads 6a, 6b, 6c. The LEDs 36a, 36b, 36c can be illuminated so that an operator in a commercial outlet can rapidly identify a product corresponding to a user selection. In addition, the user can enjoy a visual display corresponding to their selection. In a preferred embodiment LEDs 36a, 36b, 36c are illuminated for 15 seconds unless another touch event occurs in which case the illuminated LED is turned off so that another LED can be turned on. These effects are possible using a device that is responsive to user touch events, but which has a long life using off-the-shelf batteries. In one arrangement there may be a small array of LEDs 36a, 36b, 36c in each lighting unit 30a, 30b, 30c. For example, there may be six LEDs in a line. The array can be controlled to display a simple animation when it is activated, and a simple microcontroller may be provided to facilitate this animation. Each lighting unit 30a, 30b, 30c uses a technique called "charlieplexing" to individually control any of the six LEDs using a total of three wires. This allows use of a smaller microcontroller with only five pins. The remaining two pins can then be used to control the receiver 32a, 32b, 32c within the relevant lighting unit 30a, 30b, 30c.

Claims

1. A device for use in a commercial outlet, comprising:

a trigger unit configured to detect a user touch;

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal to a receiver upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display or other media content can be provided to the user; and

a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the trigger unit and the transmitter;

wherein the trigger unit has an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from the power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount, and wherein the trigger unit transitions between the active mode and the inactive mode at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the first frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.

2. The device of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of separate trigger units connected to the transmitter.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a signal that is indicative of the trigger unit that detected the user touch.

4. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first frequency is at least 1 Hz, preferably around 2Hz.

5. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the trigger unit comprises a capacitive sensor configured so that the effect of a user touch has a duration that is longer than the user touch itself.

6. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein, upon detection of a touch event, the trigger unit is configured to transition between the active mode and the inactive mode at a second frequency which is higher than the first frequency and is selected so that the inverse of the second frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the user touch.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second frequency is at least 8Hz and is preferably around 16Hz.

8. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the active mode has a duration which is shorter than the duration of the inactive mode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the active mode has a duration which is less than 10 microseconds, preferably around 1 microsecond.

10. A system for use in a commercial outlet, comprising:

the device of any of the preceding claims;

a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter; and a visual display or media player configured to provide a visual display or other media content to the user on receipt of a signal from the receiver.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiver is provided in a relay unit that is configured to receive the signal from the transmitter and is configured to generate a second signal for transmission to a second receiver.

12 The system of claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the visual display is configured to display static and/or moving images to a user.

13. The system of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the visual display comprises one or more lighting units arranged in the commercial outlet.

14. A method of operating a device in a commercial outlet, comprising the steps of:

detecting a user touch using a trigger unit;

transmitting a signal to a receiver upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display or other media content can be provided to the user; providing a power supply to the trigger unit and the transmitter; and transitioning the trigger unit between an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from the power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount, wherein the transitioning is performed at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.

15. A computer readable memory medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of: detecting a user touch using a trigger unit;

transmitting a signal to a receiver upon receipt of a signal from the trigger unit so that a visual display or other media content can be provided to the user; and transitioning the trigger unit between an active mode in which it draws a first amount of power from a power supply and an inactive mode in which it draws a second amount of power from the power supply, which is less than the first amount, wherein the transitioning is performed at a first frequency which is selected so that the inverse of the frequency is longer than a predicted duration of the effect of the user touch.