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US 2026/0094411 A1Published application
Product identification systems and methods
OwnerMinjun HUANG, Terry Tae-il CHUNGinventors
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Abstract
Embodiments described herein relate to vending systems that allow a customer to directly remove and handle products before purchasing. Systems described herein can include cameras that can capture images of products stored in, removed from, or returned to the vending system. Based on these images, the system can both determine the identity of the product and the temperature of the product. This can help with inventory tracking, quality control, and preventing unauthorized activity related to the vending system.
Claims25
A method for identifying characteristics of products in a cabinet, the method comprising:
- detecting a first characteristic of a first product stored in a storage area of the cabinet, wherein the product storage area is accessible to a consumer via a door, wherein the first characteristic is detected by a camera within the cabinet, wherein the first characteristic comprises a shape of the product, a dimension of the product, or a coloring of the product;
- detecting a second characteristic of the first product by the camera, wherein the second characteristic comprises infrared energy;
- determining, based on the detected first characteristic, an identity of the product;
- determining, based on the detected second characteristic, a temperature of the product.
1 more element
A vending system, comprising:
- a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products, and a door coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration in which the products are accessible to a consumer;
- a camera arranged within the cabinet and configured to detect characteristics of a product, wherein the characteristics comprise a first characteristic and a second characteristic,
- wherein the first characteristic comprises a visual characteristic of the product, and
- wherein the second characteristic comprises infrared energy;
- a control unit in communication with the camera,
- wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product based on the first characteristic, and
- wherein the control unit is configured to determine a temperature of the product based on the second characteristic.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.