Central control box and intelligent retail system

Abstract

The utility model is suitable for the technical field of intelligent retail, and provides a central control box and an intelligent retail system. The central control box comprises a lower shell, an upper shell, a main control board and a battery assembly. The upper shell is connected to the lower shell, and the upper shell and the lower shell define a containing cavity. The main control board is contained in the containing cavity and provided with a main control chip and a plurality of connecting interfaces connected with the main control chip, the connecting interfaces comprise power interfaces, and notches are formed in the positions, corresponding to the connecting interfaces, of the upper shell and / or the lower shell so that the connecting interfaces can be exposed; the battery assembly is connected to the lower shell or the upper shell, located in the containing cavity and electrically connected with the main control board so as to supply power to the main control board when a power source connected into the power interface is disconnected. According to the central control box, when the power interface is not connected with a power supply (such as power failure), power can be supplied to the main control board through the battery assembly, so that the central control box can continue to work normally, and when the central control box is applied to an intelligent container, the loss of an operator caused by power failure can be reduced or avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of smart retail technology, and more specifically, to a central control box and a smart retail system. Background Art

[0002] Smart vending machines are a common type of commercial automation equipment that can automatically settle accounts based on the goods selected by the user. Smart vending machines are not restricted by time or location and are a new form of commercial retail that can operate 24 hours a day, effectively saving manpower and facilitating transactions. They are widely used in shopping malls, office buildings, parks, stadiums and other places.

[0003] In the related technology, the smart cabinet is connected to the mains, and all the devices in the smart cabinet (such as the central control box, camera, etc.) are powered by the mains, and the internal control of the smart cabinet is mainly realized by the central control box. When there is a sudden power outage, the sensors and central control box in the smart cabinet will not be able to continue working. If someone is buying goods at this time, the transaction will not be completed, which will affect the user's shopping experience. If the cabinet door is open or the user has taken the goods, the smart cabinet will not be able to complete the settlement due to the lack of power, which is easy to cause losses to the operator. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a central control box and a smart container to solve the technical problem in the prior art that the smart container cannot continue to work during a power outage.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present application is: to provide a central control box, including a lower shell, an upper shell, a main control board and a battery assembly. The upper shell is connected to the lower shell and enclosed with the lower shell to form a receiving cavity; the main control board is accommodated in the receiving cavity and is provided with a main control chip and multiple connection interfaces connected to the main control chip, the multiple connection interfaces include a power interface, and the upper shell and / or the lower shell are provided with notches corresponding to the connection interfaces to expose the connection interfaces; the battery assembly is connected to the lower shell or the upper shell and is located in the receiving cavity, and is electrically connected to the main control board to supply power to the main control board when the power connected to the power interface is disconnected.

[0006] In some embodiments, a battery compartment is provided on the upper shell or the lower shell, and the battery assembly is accommodated in the battery compartment. The battery compartment and the upper shell or the lower shell are an integral structure, and the battery compartment includes a main body and a mounting portion provided on the main body, the main body forms a receiving cavity, the battery assembly is accommodated in the receiving cavity, and the battery compartment is connected to the upper shell or the lower shell through the mounting portion. In some embodiments, a wiring hole and a limiting structure are provided in the main body, the main control board is provided with a battery interface, the battery interface is opposite to the wiring hole, the wires of the battery assembly pass through the wiring hole and are electrically connected to the main control board, the limiting structure and the cavity wall of the receiving cavity form a limiting space, and the battery of the battery assembly is arranged in the limiting space. In some embodiments, an opening and a flip cover connected to the opening are provided on the upper shell or the lower shell corresponding to the battery compartment, and the central control box also includes a battery cover, and the battery cover is rotatably installed or detachably installed on the upper shell or the lower shell to be able to close or open the opening, and the flip cover is located on one side of the battery cover.

[0007] In some embodiments, the plurality of connection interfaces further comprises at least one of an Ethernet port, an RS232 port, an RS485 port, a relay port, a weighing sensor port, a temperature sensor port, a light strip port, a door lock port, a power supply port, and a door presence detection switch port. In some embodiments, the upper shell and the lower shell are both made of metal, or the upper shell and the lower shell are both made of plastic.

[0008] In some embodiments, the main control board further includes a forced battery power button, which is used to trigger the battery assembly to power the main control board, and the upper shell and / or the lower shell are provided with a button avoidance gap corresponding to the forced battery power button; and / or, the main control board further includes a master-slave toggle switch to switch the master-slave state of the central control box, and the upper shell and / or the lower shell are provided with a switch avoidance gap corresponding to the master-slave toggle switch. In some embodiments, the lower shell further includes a support column extending upward and located in the accommodating cavity, and the main control board is connected to the support column so that there is a gap between the main control board and the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity. In some embodiments, the upper shell or the lower shell includes a fixing portion, and the fixing portion includes a fixing hole and / or a buckle.

[0009] The present application also provides a smart retail system, including the central control box and an interactive terminal connected to the connection interface of the central control box.

[0010] The central control box and smart retail system provided in the embodiments of the present application place the main control board in a receiving cavity formed by the upper shell and the lower shell, which helps to protect the components on the main control board. The battery assembly is connected to the upper shell or the lower shell and is electrically connected to the main control board, so that the battery assembly can supply power to the main control board, so that the working state of the central control box is not affected by adapter failure or power outage. When the central control box is applied to the smart container, even if there is a sudden power outage, the central control box can ensure the normal transaction and avoid or reduce the loss of the operator. In addition, integrating multiple types of interfaces into one main control board helps to reduce the number and size of the central control boxes and reduce the cost of the central control boxes. At the same time, users can easily connect different types of devices or expand functions according to usage requirements.

[0011] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present application. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present application, it can be implemented in accordance with the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present application are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0013] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the central control box provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a central control box provided by an embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another perspective of a central control box provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a central control box provided by another embodiment of the present application from one perspective;

[0017] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a central control box provided by another embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0018] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a central control box provided in yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the central control box provided in yet another embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Among them, the reference numerals in the figure are:

[0021] 100, central control box; 101, fixed part; 10, lower shell; 11, support column; 20, upper shell; 21, opening; 22, flip cover; 23, notch; 24, button avoidance notch; 25, switch avoidance notch; 26, power supply through hole; 30, main control board; 32, connection interface; 301, power interface; 302, RS232 interface; 3021, first RS232 interface; 3022, second RS232 interface; 3023, third RS232 interface; 303, RS485 interface; 3031, first RS485 interface; 3032, second RS485 interface; 304, compressor relay interface; 305, network port; 3051, first network port; 3052, second network port; 306, battery interface; 307, weighing sensor interface; 308, RS485 interface; 309, RS485 interface; 310, RS485 interface; 311, RS485 interface; 312, RS485 interface; 313, RS485 interface; 314, RS485 interface; 315, RS485 interface; 316, RS485 interface; 317, RS485 interface; 318, RS485 interface; 319, RS485 interface; 320, RS485 interface; 321, RS485 interface; 322, RS485 interface; 323, RS485 interface; 324, RS485 interface; 325, RS485 interface; 326, RS485 interface; 327, RS485 interface; 328, RS485 interface; 329, RS485 interface; 330, RS485 interface; 331, RS 071, first weighing sensor interface; 3072, second weighing sensor interface; 308, temperature sensor interface; 3081, first temperature sensor interface; 3082, second temperature sensor interface; 309, light strip interface; 310, door lock interface; 311, door in-position detection switch interface; 312, battery power switch; 313, terminal connection interface; 314, software control light; 315, battery indicator light; 316, main control chip indicator light; 33, forced battery power button; 34, master-slave toggle switch; 35, power supply interface; 40, battery assembly; 41, wire; 50, accommodating cavity; 60, battery compartment; 61, main body; 611, accommodating cavity; 612, wiring hole; 613, limiting structure; 62, installation part; 70, battery cover; 71, buckle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0024] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present utility model, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0025] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "install", "connect", "connect", "fix" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0026] See also Figure 1 The embodiment of the present application proposes a central control box 100, including a lower shell 10, an upper shell 20, a main control board 30 and a battery assembly 40. The upper shell 20 is fixedly connected to the lower shell 10, and encloses the lower shell 10 to form a receiving cavity 50. For example, the upper shell 20 has a cavity with an opening facing downward, that is, the upper shell 20 includes a top wall and a first side wall connected to the top wall, and the lower shell 10 has a cavity with an opening facing upward, that is, the lower shell includes a bottom wall and a second side wall connected to the bottom wall. When the upper shell 20 is connected to the lower shell 10, the top wall and the first side wall of the upper shell 20, and the bottom wall and the second side wall of the lower shell 10 enclose the receiving cavity 50. For another example, the upper shell 20 has a cavity with an opening facing downward, the upper shell 20 includes a top wall and a first side wall connected to the top wall, and the lower shell 10 includes a bottom wall. The bottom wall of the lower shell 10 closes the opening of the upper shell 20, and the bottom wall of the lower shell 10 and the top wall and the first side wall of the upper shell 20 jointly enclose the receiving cavity 50. The upper shell 20 can be connected to the lower shell 10 by a snap-fit ​​structure, and the upper shell 20 can also be detachably connected to the lower shell 10 by bolts, screws, etc. The upper shell 20 and the lower shell 10 can both be made of metal, such as iron, aluminum, alloy, etc., and the upper shell 20 and the lower shell 10 can also be made of plastic, which can be formed by injection molding or the like.

[0027] It should be noted that the upper shell 20 and the lower shell 10 are placed horizontally relative to the central control box 100. If the central control box 100 is placed vertically, they can be the front shell and the rear shell respectively.

[0028] The main control board 30, as the control center of the central control box 100, can be fixed to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. The main control board 30 is accommodated in the accommodating cavity 50, and is provided with a main control chip (not shown) and multiple connection interfaces 32 connected to the main control chip. The main control chip can be used to realize the logic control of the central control box 100. The multiple connection interfaces 32 include at least a power interface 301. The upper shell 20 and / or the lower shell 10 are provided with a notch 23 corresponding to the connection interface 32 to expose the connection interface 32 for easy plugging and unplugging of the power supply. The power interface 301 is used to connect the power supply to supply power to the central control box 100.

[0029] The battery assembly 40 is fixedly mounted on the lower shell 10 or the upper shell 20 and accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and is electrically connected to the main control board 30. The battery assembly 40 may include devices such as batteries, storage batteries, energy storage capacitors, etc. that can provide electrical energy. Optionally, the battery assembly 40 may include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The battery assembly 40 is electrically connected to the main control board 30, so that it can provide electrical energy to the main control board 30 to ensure the normal operation of the main control board 30 when the power interface 301 is not connected to the power supply or the power supply is suddenly disconnected. For example, when there is a power outage or the power supply is suddenly disconnected due to an adapter, the battery assembly 40 can provide electrical energy to the main control board 30 to ensure the normal operation of the central control box 100.

[0030] In the central control box 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application, the main control board 30 is arranged in the accommodating cavity 50 formed by the upper shell 20 and the lower shell 10, and the battery assembly 40 is connected to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10, and is electrically connected to the main control board 30, so that the battery assembly 40 can supply power to the main control board 30. Therefore, when the power interface 301 suddenly fails or there is a sudden power outage, the battery assembly 40 can supply power to the main control board 30 in time to ensure that the central control box 100 can work normally. When the central control box 100 is used in a smart container, it can help avoid the purchaser's self-service shopping process. The sudden power outage causes the inability to complete the settlement, lock the door, and other operations, which can reduce the loss of the operator. In addition, integrating multiple types of interfaces into one main control board helps to improve the compatibility of the central control box 100, so that the central control box 100 can be used for users with different needs, and can be conveniently connected to different types of devices or expand functions according to the use requirements, and the application range is wider.

[0031] See also Figures 1 to 7 , Figures 1 to 3 Corresponding to the central control box of the first embodiment, Figure 4 and Figure 5 Corresponding to the central control box of the second embodiment, Figure 6 and Figure 7Corresponding to the central control box of the third embodiment, the main difference between the central control box 100 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the difference in the number and type of interfaces. The first embodiment has more interfaces than the second embodiment, and the main difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the different structures of the upper shell 20 and the lower shell 10.

[0032] In some embodiments, a containing structure is provided on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10, and the battery assembly 40 is contained in the containing structure. The containing structure may include fixing ribs, mounting grooves, battery compartments, etc. provided on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. The shape and size of the containing structure are adapted to the shape and size of the battery assembly 40, and are used to support the battery assembly 40 and limit the position of the battery assembly 40 on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. Optionally, the shape and size of the containing structure may be slightly larger than the battery assembly 40. When the battery assembly 40 is contained in the containing structure, there is a certain gap between the two, so as to facilitate the installation and removal of the battery assembly 40.

[0033] By adopting the above technical solution, the battery assembly 40 is accommodated in the accommodating structure, which can ensure the installation position of the battery assembly 40 on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10, and improve the stability and safety of the battery assembly 40.

[0034] In some embodiments, the containing structure is a battery compartment 60 having an opening, and the battery assembly 40 can be placed into the battery compartment 60 through the opening of the battery compartment 60 , or the battery assembly 40 can be taken out of the opening of the battery compartment 60 .

[0035] like Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the battery compartment 60 includes a main body 61 and a mounting portion 62 provided on the main body 61. The main body 61 forms a receiving cavity 611 with an opening on one side. The battery assembly 40 is received in the receiving cavity 611. The battery compartment 60 is connected to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 through the mounting portion 62. The battery assembly 40 is installed in the cavity of the main body 61. The mounting portion 62 can be a mounting edge, a protrusion, or the like. For example, the mounting portion 62 is a mounting edge, and a mounting hole is provided on the mounting edge. The battery compartment 60 is detachably connected to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 through the mounting hole. For example, the mounting portion 62 is a protrusion, and a groove that is engaged with the protrusion is provided on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. The battery compartment 60 is engaged with the groove on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 through the protrusion, so that the battery compartment 60 is connected to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. The battery compartment 60 can be connected to any position of the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. For example, the battery compartment 60 can be disposed in the accommodating cavity 50 and connected to the top wall of the upper shell 20. For example, the battery compartment 60 can be disposed in the accommodating cavity 50 and connected to the top wall of the lower shell 10.

[0036] In such Figure 6 and Figure 7In the embodiment shown, the battery compartment 60 can be an integral structure with the upper shell 20, and can be specifically formed integrally with the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 by stamping, injection molding, etc., that is, the battery compartment 60 is a part of the upper shell 20, so that the stability of the battery compartment 60 is better. In other embodiments, the battery compartment 60 can also be an integral structure with the lower shell 10.

[0037] By adopting the above technical solution, the battery assembly 40 is accommodated in the receiving cavity 611 of the battery compartment 60, which can realize the separation of the battery assembly 40 and the main control board 30, reduce the mutual influence of the main control board 30 and the battery assembly 40 in heat dissipation, help to improve the heat dissipation effect of the main control board 30 and the battery assembly 40, and the installation stability of the battery assembly 40 is better.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, a wiring hole 612 and a limiting structure 613 are provided in the battery compartment 60, and the main control board 30 is provided with a battery interface 306, and the battery interface 306 is opposite to the wiring hole 612. The wire 41 of the battery assembly 40 passes through the wiring hole 612 and is electrically connected to the main control board 30. The limiting structure 613 and the cavity wall of the receiving cavity 611 form a limiting space, and the battery of the battery assembly 40 is arranged in the limiting space. The wiring hole 612 is a through hole, and the wiring hole 612 can be opened at the bottom of the battery compartment 60, or it can be opened on the side wall of the battery compartment 60. When the battery compartment 60 is accommodated in the receiving cavity 50 and connected to the upper shell 20, the wiring hole 612 can be opened at the bottom of the battery compartment 60 to shorten the connection distance between the battery assembly 40 and the main control board 30. At the same time, the battery compartment 60 has a large space, which is convenient for the user to connect the wire 41 of the battery assembly 40 to the main control board 30. The limiting structure 613 may be a columnar, plate-shaped, sheet-shaped structure, etc., and the number may be one or more, and may be arranged on the bottom wall of the battery compartment 60, or on the side wall of the battery compartment 60. When the battery assembly 40 is accommodated in the limiting space, one end of the battery assembly 40 abuts against the limiting structure 613, and the position of the battery assembly 40 is limited by the limiting structure 613 and the inner wall of the battery compartment 60, ensuring that the battery assembly 40 is installed in the correct position, while preventing the battery assembly 40 from moving or offsetting.

[0039] By adopting the above-mentioned technical solution, the main control board 30 is provided with a battery interface 306, and the wiring hole 612 can lead the wire 41 of the battery assembly 40 out of the battery compartment 60, and then connect it to the main control board 30, so as to realize the electrical connection between the battery assembly 40 and the main control board 30, which helps to simplify the overall wiring and structural layout; the limiting structure 613 can ensure that the battery assembly 40 is correctly installed in the battery compartment 60 and maintained in the correct position, which can prevent the battery assembly 40 from moving or shifting during transportation and use, and help to improve the stability and reliability of the battery assembly 40.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, an opening 21 and a flip cover opening 22 communicating with the opening 21 are provided on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 corresponding to the battery compartment 60, and the central control box 100 further includes a battery cover 70, which is rotatably mounted on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 to close or open the opening 21, and the flip cover opening 22 is located on one side of the battery cover 70, so that the battery cover 70 can be flipped through the flip cover opening 22. The position of the opening 21 corresponds to the position of the battery assembly 40. When the battery assembly 40 is connected to the upper shell 20, the opening 21 is provided on the upper shell 20, and when the battery assembly 40 is connected to the lower shell 10, the opening 21 is provided on the lower shell 10. The flip cover opening 22 is a through hole or a blind hole, and the flip cover opening 22 is communicated with the opening 21. Optionally, the flip cover opening 22 is provided at the middle position of either side of the opening 21, so as to facilitate flipping the battery cover 70. The battery cover 70 may be a cover-shaped, disc-shaped or other structure, and the shape and size of the battery cover 70 are adapted to the shape and size of the opening 21. The battery cover 70 covers the opening 21, and the battery compartment 60 is located below the opening 21. When the battery cover 70 covers the opening 21, it can also cover the opening end of the battery compartment 60. The battery cover 70 can cover the opening 21 in a variety of ways. Optionally, a buckle 71 may be provided on the battery cover 70, and the battery cover 70 is connected to the upper shell 20 through the buckle 71. The battery cover 70 covers the opening 21, and the gap between the two is small, so it is difficult to directly remove the battery cover 70 from the opening 21. By providing a connected flip cover opening 22 at the opening 21, when the battery cover 70 needs to be opened, the flip cover opening 22 can provide enough space for the user to open the battery cover 70 from the flip cover opening 22.

[0041] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the battery cover 70 can also be detachably connected to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 by means of screws, bolts, etc., so as to cover the opening 21. For example, the battery cover 70 can be detachably connected to the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 by a snap structure, so as to cover the opening 21.

[0042] In this embodiment, an opening 21 is provided on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 corresponding to the accommodating cavity 611, which is convenient for installing the battery compartment 60. The battery cover 70 can be detachably installed on the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 to close or open the opening 21, so as to protect the battery components in the battery compartment 60 and prevent the entry of impurities such as dust. At the same time, when the battery component 40 needs to be replaced, there is no need to disassemble the upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10. Only the battery cover 70 needs to be opened, and the battery component 40 is exposed. The battery component 40 can be directly replaced. After the replacement is completed, the battery cover 70 can be closed again. The operation is simple and convenient.

[0043] In some embodiments, the connection interface 32 also includes at least one of a weighing sensor interface 307, a temperature sensor interface 308, a light strip interface 309, a door lock interface 310, and a door in-position detection switch interface 311, for example, one, more than one, or all of them. The weighing sensor interface 307 and the light strip interface 309 are used to connect the weighing sensor, and the number of the weighing sensor interfaces 307 can be one or more. For example, the weighing sensor interface 307 can include a first weighing sensor interface 3071 and a second weighing sensor interface 3072. The first weighing sensor interface 3071 and the second weighing sensor interface can be used to connect a weighing sensor respectively, so as to improve the success rate of smart container item recognition by combining the weighing algorithm with the visual algorithm. Combining the data of the two weighing sensors can improve the measurement accuracy. The light strip interface 309 is used to connect the light strip on the external smart container to control the opening and closing of the light strip. The temperature sensor interface 308 may include a first temperature sensor interface 3081 and a second temperature sensor interface 3082. The first temperature sensor interface 3081 and the second temperature sensor interface 3082 are both used to connect a temperature sensor (such as an NTC resistor). The main control chip can detect the change in the resistance of the NTC resistor through the built-in ADC interface to calculate the corresponding temperature to control the temperature of the smart container. The door lock interface 310 is used to connect the smart container door lock to control the switch of the smart container door through the door lock interface 310. The door in-position detection switch interface 311 is used to connect the door in-position detection switch to sense whether the door is in an open or closed state, so as to monitor whether the shopping is completed; in addition, if the cabinet door is violently opened, the central control box 100 can sense it in time and can issue an on-site loudspeaker alarm and notify the back-end operation and maintenance personnel to avoid the risk of theft of items in the smart container.

[0044] The multiple connection interfaces 32 may also include at least one of an RS232 interface 302, an RS485 interface 303, a relay interface 304, and an Ethernet port 305, which may be reasonably configured according to the use requirements of the central control box 100. The RS232 interface 302 is used to connect to a device that supports the interface, and the number of RS232 interfaces 302 may be one or more. For example, Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the RS232 interface 302 includes a first RS232 interface 3021, a second RS232 interface 3022 and a third RS232 interface 3023. The first RS232 interface 3021 can be used to connect to an interactive terminal as a communication interface with the interactive terminal; the second RS232 interface 3022 can be used to connect to a high-voltage control board, etc., to communicate with the high-voltage control board, and can also be used to communicate with other devices that support the RS232 interface; the third RS232 interface 3023 can be used to connect to another central control box in a double-door smart container to communicate with it to achieve double-door control; it can also be used for RS232 communication with other devices. The RS485 interface 303 is used to connect to devices that support the RS485 protocol. The number of RS485 interfaces 303 can be one or more. For example, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the RS485 interface 303 includes a first RS485 interface 3031 and a second RS485 interface 3032. The first RS485 interface 3031 can be used for RS485 communication with the high-voltage control board in the smart container, and can also be used for communication with other devices that support RS485 (such as fans, condensers, etc.). The second RS485 interface 3032 can be used as a backup interface and can be used for RS485 communication with peripheral devices. The compressor relay interface 304 is used to connect an external compressor relay module, and the relay module is then connected to the compressor in the smart container, so that the central control box 100 can control the compressor, and then control the switch of the compressor according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, so that the temperature in the smart container is in a normal state. The network port 305 is used to connect an external device to transmit data, and the number of network ports 305 can be one or more. For example, the network port 305 may include a first network port 3051 and a second network port 3052. The first network port 3051 may be used to connect a network camera. The first network port 3051 may be powered by a private Power over Ethernet (POE) and may be connected to a network camera with or without private POE. When a network camera with private POE is connected, the power supply line of the network camera may be saved, and the line may be simpler. The second network port 3052 may be used to connect an interactive terminal, such as a tablet computer, a display screen, etc., provided on a smart container.

[0045] The central control box 100 integrates the interfaces of the light strip and the compressor relay module, which can save the high-voltage control box, which has advantages in terms of cost, installation and after-sales. The central control box 100 adds 2 RS485 interfaces, because some smart containers still install high-voltage control boxes, and high-voltage control boxes usually use RS485 protocol communication. Therefore, this central control box can not only support high-voltage control boxes with RS232 interfaces, but also support high-voltage control boxes with RS485 interfaces, with better compatibility.

[0046] In some embodiments, the connection interface 32 also includes a terminal connection interface 313, which can be used to connect an interactive terminal, and can output a predetermined voltage (such as 12V) to power a terminal that requires a specific power supply. In some embodiments, the main control board 30 is also provided with a battery power switch 312, and the battery power switch 312 can be used to set whether the battery assembly 40 supplies power to the main control board 30. In some embodiments, the main control board 30 also includes a forced battery power button 33, which is used to trigger the battery assembly 40 to power the main control board 30 (regardless of the state of the battery power switch 312). The upper shell 20 and / or the lower shell 10 are provided with a button avoidance notch 24 corresponding to the forced battery power button 33. For example, when the user presses the forced battery power button 33 for three seconds and then releases it, the central control box 100 forces the battery assembly 40 to power the main control board 30. The main control panel 30 also includes a master-slave toggle switch 34 to switch the master-slave status of the central control box 100. The upper shell 20 and / or the lower shell 10 are provided with a switch avoidance gap 25 corresponding to the master-slave toggle switch 34. For example, the switch is turned to the left for slave mode, and the switch is turned to the right for master mode. The single-door cabinet is in master mode by default; in the double-door cabinet scenario, one central control box 100 is in master mode, and the other central control box 100 is in slave mode.

[0047] The main control board 30 may also be provided with a software control light 314 and a battery indicator light 315. The software control light 314 is used to indicate the control state of the central control box 100, and the battery indicator light 315 is used to indicate whether the battery assembly 40 has power. For example, a constant light indicates that the battery has power, and a light off indicates that the battery is dead. The main control chip indicator light 316 is used to indicate whether the power supply of the main control chip is normal. For example, a constant light indicates that the power supply of the main control chip is normal, and a light off indicates that the main control chip is not powered. The debugging interface is used for software debugging during the R&D stage and after-sales analysis.

[0048] The application scenario is as follows: When the external power supply of the smart container is powered off, the central control box 100 will automatically switch to the battery assembly 40 for power supply to complete the last transaction. After the last transaction is completed, the central control box 100 can cut off the power supply of all sensors and only keep the main control chip in standby mode to reduce the power consumption of the built-in battery assembly 40. There are three situations after the subsequent operation and maintenance personnel arrive at the scene: In case 1, the smart container is still in a power outage state. You can wake up the main control chip by pressing and holding the forced battery power button for 3 seconds to use the built-in battery for power supply. At this time, the main control chip indicator light is normally lit. In case 2, in case 1, press and hold for 3 seconds, the main control chip indicator light is not on, indicating that the built-in battery assembly 40 may have run out of power. At this time, the operation and maintenance personnel need to insert the battery they carry with them into the power interface 301 to power the central control box 100 to continue operating the smart container. In case 3, the smart container has received a call and can be used normally. At this time, the central control box 100 can automatically restart and resume normal operation.

[0049] In some embodiments, the main control board 30 further includes a power supply interface 35, and the upper shell 20 and / or the lower shell 10 are provided with a power supply through hole 26 corresponding to the power supply interface 35. The power supply interface 35 is used to supply power to the device connected to the main control board 30. The power supply interface 35 can be used to connect a network camera without private POE to power the network camera. The power supply interface 35 can output a voltage of 12V, and the power supply interface 35 can specifically be a network camera (Internet Protocol Camera, IPC) power supply interface. The upper shell 20 and / or the lower shell 10 are provided with a power supply through hole 26 corresponding to the power supply interface 35.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the plurality of connection interfaces 32 and the corresponding function buttons, control lights, indicator lights, etc. can be separately arranged on multiple sides to make the structural layout more reasonable.

[0051] In some embodiments, the lower shell 10 also includes a support column 11 located in the accommodating cavity and extending upward. The main control board 30 is connected to the support column 11 so that there is a gap between the main control board 30 and the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 50. The support column 11 can raise the main control board 30 by a certain distance, thereby raising the distance between each interface and the lower shell 10, which is convenient for users to plug or unplug the interface. The support column 11 can be a columnar, rod-shaped or other structure. The support column 11 can be snapped or plugged into the lower shell 10, or it can be fixed to the lower shell 10 by a fixed connection method such as welding, screws, injection molding, etc. The support column 11 can be connected to the bottom wall of the lower shell 10, or it can be connected to the side wall of the lower shell 10. The number of support columns 11 can be one or more. When the lower shell 10 is plastic, multiple support ribs can also be provided to increase the hardness of the lower shell 10.

[0052] For example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, Figures 1 to 3 The difference is that the number of connection interfaces 32 is different. The multiple connection interfaces 32 may include a first network port 3051, a second network port 3052, a battery power switch 312, a power interface 301, a terminal connection interface 313, a first RS232 interface 3021, a second RS232 interface 3022, a door lock interface 310, a first weighing sensor interface 3071, a second weighing sensor interface 3072, a first temperature sensor interface 3081, a compressor relay interface 304, and a light strip interface 309. The main control board 30 is provided with a master-slave toggle switch 34, a forced battery power button 33, a software control light 314, a battery indicator light 315, and a main control chip indicator light 316. The specific description of each interface, button, switch, and indicator light is the same as that in the previous example, and will not be repeated here.

[0053] See also Figures 1 to 7The upper shell 20 or the lower shell 10 includes a fixing portion 101, through which the central control box 100 can be fixed to an external structure, such as a cabinet of a smart container. The fixing portion 101 includes at least one of a fixing hole and a buckle. Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the fixing portion 101 is the mounting edge of the lower shell 10 that exposes the upper shell 20 on both sides. The mounting edge is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, through which the central control box 100 can be fixed to a structure such as a cabinet. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the fixing portion 101 is a hanging ear at the four corners of the lower shell 10, and a mounting hole is formed on the hanging ear.

[0054] The present application also provides a smart retail system, including the above-mentioned central control box 100 and an interactive terminal, the interactive terminal is used for human-computer interaction, the interactive terminal can be connected to the network port 305, the terminal connection interface 313 or the RS232 interface 302, so that the interactive terminal communicates with the central control box 100, and shopping instructions can be input, settlement lists can be displayed, commodity prices can be displayed, etc. through the interactive terminal.

[0055] The present application also provides a smart container, including the above-mentioned smart retail system, a compressor, a camera, a weighing sensor, a temperature sensor, a cabinet door lock, etc., to realize the smart control and smart retail of the container. The compressor and the camera are both electrically connected to the central control box 100. The compressor is a cooling component in the smart container, and the compressor is electrically connected to the compressor relay interface 304. The compressor is used to reduce the temperature in the smart container so that the temperature in the smart container is in a normal state. The camera is used to capture the image in the smart container, and is a device for identifying the purchased items based on the image. The camera can be connected to the network port 305. The weighing sensor is used to measure the weight in the cabinet, and can be electrically connected to the first weighing sensor interface 3071 and / or the second weighing sensor interface 3072. The smart container can combine the weighing algorithm with the visual algorithm to improve the success rate and accuracy of the goods identification. The temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature in the cabinet, and the temperature sensor is electrically connected to the first temperature sensor interface 3081 and / or the second temperature sensor interface 3082. The cabinet door lock is electrically connected to the door lock interface 310.

[0056] The smart retail system and smart container provided in this embodiment can supply power to the central control box 100 through the battery assembly 40 when the smart container suddenly loses power due to a city power outage, a power interface failure, or a power line break, so that the smart container is not affected, the normal transaction is guaranteed, and the loss caused by the power outage to the operator can be reduced or avoided.

[0057] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A central control box, characterized in that: include: lower shell; An upper shell connected to the lower shell and enclosed with the lower shell to form a receiving cavity; A main control board is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and is provided with a main control chip and a plurality of connection interfaces connected to the main control chip, wherein the plurality of connection interfaces include a power interface, and the upper shell and / or the lower shell are provided with notches corresponding to the connection interfaces to expose the connection interfaces; A battery assembly is connected to the lower shell or the upper shell and is located in the accommodating cavity, and is electrically connected to the main control board to supply power to the main control board when the power source connected to the power interface is disconnected.

2. The central control box according to claim 1, characterized in that: A battery compartment is provided on the upper shell or the lower shell, and the battery assembly is accommodated in the battery compartment; The battery compartment and the upper shell or the lower shell are an integral structure; or, The battery compartment includes a main body and a mounting portion provided on the main body, the main body forms a receiving cavity, the battery assembly is received in the receiving cavity, and the battery compartment is connected to the upper shell or the lower shell through the mounting portion.

3. The central control box according to claim 2, characterized in that: The battery compartment is provided with a wiring hole and a limiting structure, the main control board is provided with a battery interface, the battery interface is opposite to the wiring hole, the wires of the battery assembly pass through the wiring hole and are electrically connected to the main control board, the limiting structure and the cavity wall of the accommodating cavity form a limiting space, and the battery of the battery assembly is arranged in the limiting space.

4. The central control box according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper shell or the lower shell is provided with an opening corresponding to the battery compartment and a flip cover connected to the opening. The central control box also includes a battery cover, which is rotatably installed or detachably installed on the upper shell or the lower shell to be able to close or open the opening, and the flip cover is located on one side of the battery cover.

5. The central control box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multiple connection interfaces also include at least one of an Internet port, an RS232 interface, an RS485 interface, a relay interface, a weighing sensor interface, a temperature sensor interface, a light strip interface, a door lock interface, a door presence detection switch interface, and a power supply interface.

6. The central control box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper shell and the lower shell are both made of metal, or the upper shell and the lower shell are both made of plastic.

7. The central control box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The main control board further includes a forced battery power button, the forced battery power button is used to trigger the battery assembly to supply power to the main control board, and the upper shell and / or the lower shell are provided with a button avoidance notch corresponding to the forced battery power button; and / or, The main control panel also includes a master-slave toggle switch to switch the master-slave state of the central control box, and the upper shell and / or the lower shell are provided with a switch avoidance gap corresponding to the master-slave toggle switch.

8. The central control box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The lower shell further includes a support column extending upward and located in the accommodating cavity, and the main control board is connected to the support column so that there is a gap between the main control board and the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

9. The central control box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The upper shell or the lower shell includes a fixing portion, and the fixing portion includes a fixing hole and / or a buckle.

10. An intelligent retail system, characterized in that: include: The central control box as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9; The interactive terminal is connected to the connection interface of the central control box.

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