Scanner window with display
An apparatus to identify items in a transaction includes an imaging device with a housing having an exit window, an imaging assembly having a first imaging sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view (FOV) directed through the exit window, and a display assembly positioned to generate a display view on or through the exit window and positioned such that the display view is positioned to consume a first portion of the exit window that at least partially overlaps with a second portion of the exit window that is consumed by the first FOV. The apparatus may be configured to present a graphical user interface to a user and to accept input from the user to aid in identification of the items involved in the transaction. The imaging device may be used in a system which includes an illumination assembly and optionally a point-of-sale (POS) module.
1 . An imaging device comprising:
a housing having an exit window;
an imaging assembly having a first imaging sensor, the imaging assembly having a first field of view (FOV) directed through the exit window; and
a display assembly positioned to generate a display view through the exit window and positioned such that the display view is positioned to consume a first portion of the exit window that at least partially overlaps with a second portion of the exit window consumed by the first FOV,
wherein the display assembly is configured to alternate between a first state and a second state, the first state includes presenting a graphical user interface (GUI), the second state includes not presenting the GUI, and the display assembly is configured to capture image data over the second portion of the exit window during the second state,
wherein the housing has (i) a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region, a substantially horizontal window, and a weigh platter, and (ii) an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion with the exit window, wherein the exit window is a substantially upright window, and
wherein the imaging device is configured to alternate between the first state and the second state based on a positive dwell time signal from a weigh platter.
2 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is configured to display the GUI to a user within the display view of the display assembly, wherein the GUI comprises information pertaining to any of: a product, at least one produce item, a purchase transaction, a product scan, debug status, a product weight determination, and machine vision application, wherein the display assembly is further configured to accept a user input.
3 . The imaging device of claim 2 , wherein the display assembly is configured to intermittently present the GUI to the user.
4 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is configured such that the display view is at least partially transparent during the second state.
5 . The imaging device of claim 4 , wherein the display assembly is further configured to intermittently accept input from a user via the GUI presented in the first portion of the exit window.
6 . The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a touchscreen configured to accept user input from a GUI presented in the first portion.
7 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is configured to alternately display information to a user in the first portion of the exit window, further wherein the imaging assembly is configured to capture item-identification data through the second portion of the exit window and/or provide illumination to the first FOV through the first portion of the exit window.
8 . The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising an illumination assembly configured to provide illumination over the FOV.
9 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the exit window of the display assembly includes any of: a capacitive touchscreen, an array of transparent touch sensors, a grid of printed nanowires on a transparent sheet, frosted elements applied to the exit window, and markings applied on a bezel at edges of the exit window.
10 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is adjacent to the exit window.
11 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is a backlit display assembly, edge lit display assembly, or projection-based display assembly.
12 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is switchable between translucent, opaque, semi-transparent, and/or transparent modes.
13 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is controllable to interleave a display within the display view with (i) exposure of sensors of the imaging assembly and/or (ii) illumination from an illumination assembly of the imaging device.
14 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a slot scanner, kiosk scanner, or bioptic scanner.
15 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the housing has (i) a lower housing portion with an upper surface facing a product scanning region and a substantially horizontal window and (ii) an upper housing portion extending above the lower housing portion with the exit window, wherein the exit window is a substantially upright window.
16 . The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a focal point of the first imaging sensor is a predetermined distance away from the exit window into a the first FOV so that a view displayed on the exit window is perceived by the first imaging sensor as being blurry.