Dispensing control system for accommodating persons with disabilities and method
A dispenser that is configured to switch between a first mode in which the user interacts with external surfaces of the dispenser to make selections and initiate dispensing and a second mode in which the user makes selections and initiates dispensing using gesture controls. In some cases, the gesture control feature could be incorporated into an accessibility panel that can be retrofitted with existing dispensers to add gesture control. In some cases, the dispenser broadcasts an identifier with a wireless beacon that facilitates selection and dispensing of a product.
1 . A dispenser comprising:
a dispensing circuitry configured to selectively dispense a product;
a user interface configured to present one or more product options for selection on a display;
a processor configured to control the user interface and the dispensing circuitry;
a non-transitory, computer-readable storage media comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to being executed, cause the processor to:
establish a first mode of controlling selection and dispensing of products, wherein in the first mode, the user interface is configured to receive one or more product selection options and initiate dispensing of one or more products through physical interaction with one or more external surfaces of the dispenser;
in response to detecting a touchless activation input, establish a second mode of controlling selection and dispensing of products, wherein in the second mode, the user interface is configured to detect one or more product selection options and initiate dispensing of one or more products through touchless interaction with a touchless sensor of the dispenser, wherein the touchless sensor is configured to detect touchless interactions within a sensing region spaced apart a distance below the display separate from a display interaction region such that initiation of touchless interactions does not require proximity to the display while the display is physically unreachable by a user initiating one or more touchless interactions; and
switch from the second mode to the first mode in response to one or more of: (1) dispensing a product in the second mode; or (2) a predetermined time period elapsing.
2 . The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the touchless sensor is a gesture recognition sensor.
3 . The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein to detect the touchless activation input comprises detecting an activation gesture based on the gesture recognition sensor.
4 . The dispenser of claim 3 , wherein in the second mode, the touchless interaction with the touchless sensor comprises recognizing a plurality of gestures with the gesture recognition sensor to navigate through one or more product selections on the user interface and dispense a selected product.
5 . The dispenser of claim 4 , wherein in the second mode, at least a portion of the plurality of gestures are mapped to corresponding functions of physical buttons on the dispenser.
6 . A dispenser comprising:
a dispensing circuitry configured to selectively dispense a product;
a user interface configured to present one or more product options for selection;
a processor configured to control the user interface and the dispensing circuitry;
a non-transitory, computer-readable storage media comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, in response to being executed, cause the processor to:
establish a first mode of controlling selection and dispensing of products, wherein in the first mode, the user interface is configured to receive one or more product selection options and initiate dispensing of one or more products through physical interaction with one or more external surfaces of the dispenser;
in response to detecting a touchless activation input, establish a second mode of controlling selection and dispensing of products, wherein in the second mode, the user interface is configured to detect one or more product selection options and initiate dispensing of one or more products through touchless interaction with a touchless sensor of the dispenser, wherein the touchless sensor is a gesture recognition sensor, wherein to detect the touchless activation input comprises detecting an activation gesture based on the gesture recognition sensor, wherein in the second mode, the touchless interaction with the touchless sensor comprises recognizing a plurality of gestures with the gesture recognition sensor to navigate through one or more product selections on the user interface and dispense a selected product, wherein in the second mode, at least a portion of the plurality of gestures are mapped to corresponding functions of physical buttons on the dispenser, wherein in the second mode, at least one gesture is mapped with a next button to move selection of a product option on the user interface of the dispenser to a next product option on the user interface; and
switch from the second mode to the first mode in response to one or more of: (1) dispensing a product in the second mode; or (2) a predetermined time period elapsing.
7 . The dispenser of claim 6 , wherein in the second mode, at least one gesture is mapped with a previous button to move selection of a product option on the user interface of the dispenser to a previous product option on the user interface.
8 . The dispenser of claim 6 , wherein in the second mode, at least one gesture is mapped with an enter button to initiate dispensing of a selected product on the user interface.
9 . A method of dispensing a product, the method comprising:
establishing a first mode of controlling selection and dispensing of products on a dispenser, wherein in the first mode, a user interface on the dispenser is configured to receive one or more product selection options and initiate dispensing of one or more products through physical interaction with one or more external surfaces of the dispenser;
detecting a touchless activation input with a gesture recognition sensor of the dispenser;
in response to detecting the touchless activation input with the gesture recognition sensor of the dispenser, establishing a second mode of controlling selection and dispensing of products, wherein in the second mode, the user interface is configured to detect one or more product selection options and initiate dispensing of one or more products through gesture interaction with the gesture recognition sensor of the dispenser, wherein in the second mode, the gesture interaction with the gesture recognition sensor comprises recognizing a plurality of gestures with the gesture recognition sensor to navigate through one or more product selections and dispensing a selected product on the dispenser, wherein in the second mode, at least a portion of the plurality of gestures are mapped to corresponding functions of physical buttons on the dispenser, wherein in the second mode, at least one gesture is mapped with a next button to move selection of a product option on the user interface of the dispenser to a next product option on the user interface; and
switching from the second mode to the first mode in response to one or more of: (1) dispensing a product in the second mode; or (2) a predetermined time period elapsing.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein in the second mode, at least one gesture is mapped with a previous button to move selection of a product option on the user interface of the dispenser to a previous product option on the user interface.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein in the second mode, at least one gesture is mapped with an enter button to initiate dispensing of a selected product on the user interface.