Commodity Registration Feedback Timing for Barcode and RFID Scans

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Solution Overview

Problem

The timing of notification sounds for successful reading of barcode and RFID tags differs due to varying reading areas, causing user confusion in commodity registration devices.

Innovation Solution

A commodity registration device with an optical reading unit and wireless tag reading unit that determines if a commodity is within the reading range before emitting a notification sound for successful reading, prioritizing RFID tag information when both are read, and using distinct sounds for different registration methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the wireless tag reading unit reads the tag before the commodity is positioned in the optical reading unit's reading range, then the reading speed is improved, but the notification timing becomes inconsistent causing user confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading speedVSAvoiduser experience consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless tag reading unit performs preliminary reading of the commodity code before the commodity enters the optical reading unit's reading range. This allows the system to prepare the reading result in advance, improving reading speed while the notification is timed to occur only when the commodity is properly positioned, maintaining user experience consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification unit provides feedback to the user only when the commodity is detected to be within the optical reading unit's reading range. This feedback mechanism ensures that the notification timing is synchronized with the user's expected interaction, resolving the inconsistency caused by premature wireless tag reading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If the notification sound is emitted immediately when the wireless tag is read, then the response time is improved, but the timing differs from code symbol reading causing confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidtiming information consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary reading of the wireless tag to capture the commodity code in advance, reducing the overall response time. However, the notification emission is conditioned on the commodity being within the optical reading range, ensuring timing consistency with code symbol reading operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification unit uses feedback from the commodity position detection to determine when to emit the notification sound. This ensures that the notification timing is synchronized across different reading methods (wireless tag and code symbol), preventing user confusion while maintaining fast response through preliminary reading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the reading range of the wireless tag reading unit is extended, then the reading convenience is improved, but the timing synchronization with the optical reading unit deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading convenienceVSAvoidtiming synchronization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The extended reading range of the wireless tag reading unit allows it to read commodity codes preliminarily at a distance. The system then uses the commodity position detection result to determine the appropriate timing for notification emission, maintaining synchronization precision despite the extended reading range and improved convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3882837B1Commodity registration device
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 TOSHIBA TEC KK
  • EP3882837B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3882837B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3882837B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a commodity registration device includes an optical reading unit with a reading range. The optical reading unit is configured to read a code symbol on a commodity in the reading range. A wireless tag reading unit is configured to read a commodity code from a wireless tag of the commodity in the reading range. A processor determines whether the commodity is in the reading range of the optical reading unit and causes a notification unit to indicate the commodity has been registered if the wireless tag reading unit successfully reads the commodity code from the wireless tag while the commodity is determined to be in the reading range of the optical reading unit.