Omron Electronic Components Targets Vending With Optical Sensing Technology

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL -- New from Omron Electronic Components is an image-sensing technology with a camera, processor and external interface that are integrated onto a single PCB, measuring only 60mm. x 40mm. Omron says its Human Vision Components board has applications for vending machines.

Each Human Vision Component module offers 10 functions that detect and estimate aspects of face, age, gender, gaze, blink, expression, hand and body.

In addition to vending machines, Omron said its image-sensor technology can be used in home appliances, industrial research, robotics, digital signage and building automation -- situations that involve people and machine interaction. In a vending implementation, for example, the technology can use age and gender estimations to make product recommendations at the point of purchase.

Omron Electronic Components is the Americas subsidiary of Omron Corp., a global supplier of electronics and control system components and services.