Object storing apparatus and object access method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11023697-B2
Application number	US-201916393975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2019
Priority date	Jan 17, 2019
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

The present invention provides an object storing apparatus, an object access method, an object obtaining service method, and an object indication method thereof. The object storing apparatus includes a cabinet body and a cabinet door, and storing positions are disposed inside the cabinet body. The object access method includes the following steps. Whether the cabinet door is opened is determined. In response to the cabinet door being opened, whether a scanning operation for a first external object is activated is determined. The first external object being not an existing external object at a storing position. In response to the scanning operation being activated, object storing is determined. In response to the existing external object being moved, object obtaining is determined. Accordingly, an automatic and convenient storing function can be provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An object storing apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet body, comprising an internal space;
a cabinet door, movably disposed on the cabinet body, and adapted to open or close the internal space;
a plurality of storage elements, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to store at least one external object;
a scanning apparatus, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to scan the at least one external object;
a cabinet door detector, detecting whether the cabinet door is opened or closed;
a processor, coupled to the scanning apparatus and the cabinet door detector, and adapted to control the scanning apparatus to activate a scanning operation according to a detection result of the cabinet door detector; and
a plurality of object blocking mechanisms, coupled to the processor, respectively disposed on the corresponding storage elements, and adapted to block the at least one external object from being placed on or into the corresponding storage element,
wherein when the scanning operation is activated and the cabinet door detector detects that the cabinet door is opened, the processor controls at least one object blocking mechanism to be opened for correspondingly placing the at least one external object on or into the at least one storage element.

2. The object storing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a scanning illumination apparatus, coupled to the processor, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to illuminate a scanning area of the scanning apparatus.

3. The object storing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein when the cabinet door detector detects that the cabinet door is opened, the processor controls the scanning illumination apparatus to illuminate the scanning area of the scanning apparatus with a first brightness.

4. The object storing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a scanned object detector, coupled to the processor, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to detect the at least one external object.

5. The object storing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein when the scanned object detector detects the at least one external object, the processor controls the scanning illumination apparatus to illuminate the scanning area of the scanning apparatus with a second brightness.

6. The object storing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second brightness is greater than the first brightness.

7. The object storing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein when the scanning illumination apparatus provides illumination of the second brightness, the processor controls the scanning apparatus to activate the scanning operation.

8. The object storing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of stored object detectors, coupled to the processor, disposed in the internal space in respective correspondence with the storage elements, and adapted to detect whether the at least one external object is stored by the corresponding storage element.

9. The object storing apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a plurality of indication illumination apparatuses, coupled to the processor, and disposed in the internal space in respective correspondence with the storage elements.

10. The object storing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein when the scanning operation is activated and the stored object detectors do not detect the at least one external object, the processor controls at least one of the corresponding indication illumination apparatuses to provide illumination.

11. The object storing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a touch element, coupled to the processor, disposed on the cabinet door, and adapted to generate a touch position; and
a display element, coupled to the processor, disposed on the cabinet door, and adapted to generate a display area, to present an image on the cabinet door.

12. The object storing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the touch position and the display area do not overlap.

13. The object storing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the touch position corresponds to one of the at least one storage element or the at least one external object.

14. The object storing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein information corresponding to one of the at least one storage element or the at least one external object is displayed on the display area.

15. The object storing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storing element, recording at least one of original information, extended information, and inventory information of the at least one external object.

16. An object storing apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet body, comprising an internal space;
a cabinet door, movably disposed on the cabinet body, and adapted to open or close the internal space;
a plurality of storage elements, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to store at least one external object;
a scanning apparatus, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to scan the at least one external object;
a cabinet door detector, detecting whether the cabinet door is opened or closed;
a processor, coupled to the scanning apparatus and the cabinet door detector, and adapted to control the scanning apparatus to activate a scanning operation according to a detection result of the cabinet door detector;
a scanning illumination apparatus, coupled to the processor, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to illuminate a scanning area of the scanning apparatus; and
a scanned object detector, coupled to the processor, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to detect the at least one external object,
wherein when the cabinet door detector detects that the cabinet door is opened, the processor controls the scanning illumination apparatus to illuminate the scanning area of the scanning apparatus with a first brightness,
wherein when the scanned object detector detects the at least one external object, the processor controls the scanning illumination apparatus to illuminate the scanning area of the scanning apparatus with a second brightness.

17. An object storing apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet body, comprising an internal space;
a cabinet door, movably disposed on the cabinet body, and adapted to open or close the internal space;
a plurality of storage elements, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to store at least one external object;
a scanning apparatus, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to scan the at least one external object;
a cabinet door detector, detecting whether the cabinet door is opened or closed;
a processor, coupled to the scanning apparatus and the cabinet door detector, and adapted to control the scanning apparatus to activate a scanning operation according to a detection result of the cabinet door detector;
a plurality of stored object detectors, coupled to the processor, disposed in the internal space in respective correspondence with the storage elements, and adapted to detect whether the at least one external object is stored by the corresponding storage element; and
a plurality of indication illumination apparatuses, coupled to the processor, and disposed in the internal space in respective correspondence with the storage elements.

18. An object storing apparatus, comprising:
a cabinet body, comprising an internal space;
a cabinet door, movably disposed on the cabinet body, and adapted to open or close the internal space;
a plurality of storage elements, disposed in the internal space, and adapted to store at least one externa

Assignees

• Chen kai yi
• Chou Pin Yu
• Tang Sheng Chieh
• Liang Che Wei
• Weng Chia Shin
• Wang Wei Jun
• Chiu Wen Yi
• Compal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chen Kai-Yi
• Chou Pin-Yu
• Tang Sheng-Chieh
• Liang Che-Wei
• Weng Chia-Shin
• Wang Wei-Jun
• Chiu Wen-Yi

Classifications

• A47F2010/025

  using stock management systems · CPC title

• A47F10/02 Primary

  for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets (A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D) · CPC title

• G07F17/12 Primary

  comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned · CPC title

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title

• A47F3/001

  Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation · CPC title