JPH05324893A - Bar code reader and cash containing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a plurality of remote hand sensors which read information stored in the form of bar codes so as to improve the versatility of a cashbox device constituted on the basis of bar codes. CONSTITUTION: Information is displayed on an integral display 24 and transmitted to a cashbox device through an infrared transmitter 22 in a handset. Decoded information is sent to a keyboard simulator, which is programmed to generate the data corresponding to the codes sent from keys when a user presses the keys corresponding to coded data on a keyboard.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bar code reader, and more particularly to a device with a remote handheld scanner. The invention is particularly concerned with modifications to existing cash machines.

Bar code readers have become commonplace in many retail stores, for example in bar code labeled supermarkets that contain coded information about the price of goods. An infrared bar code reader reads and decodes the code and displays the coded price on the cash machine.

Bar code readers are typically hand-held devices or pens connected to a register with a coiled code. The variable length of the code allows the bar code to be read at any position around the cash machine, which is helpful to the user, but has the disadvantage that the operator is tied to the cash machine.
For example, the bar code of an item cannot be read several meters away from the cash box.

Some bar code readers used are fixed next to the cash box. Instead of reading the bar code with a pen, the user swipes the encoded article over the reader. The reader emits an audible tone indicating that the item has been read and the price is displayed. The memory in the cash machine stores the price,
When the bar codes of all of a customer's purchases are read, they can be summed up.

While this device has the advantage of being quick and easy to work with, this code reader is fixed in position with respect to the cash box and is hard-wired. It also has the drawback of being tied to a cash box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and therefore a cash-dispensing device equipped with a sensor,
A remote handheld scanner with a display and a transmitter for sending sensed price information to a remote cash register.

More specifically, the present invention provides a sensor means for detecting external coded information, a microprocessor and a memory means for processing the output of the sensor means, and an integrated display for displaying the detected coded information. At least one hand-held scanner having a portable display means and transmitting means for transmitting the displayed information to a remote location;

Articles having at least one cashier or other receiving device with a sensor for receiving information sent by a handheld scanner from a remote location and a display for displaying the received information. We provide a device to read and display the price of.

The present invention also comprises a plurality of keys,
A keyboard, each of which is programmed to send a unique address to a memory means for storing an item-related signal, such as a price, associated with that key, and an encoding sent by the remote handheld scanner and sensed by the scanner. A sensor for sensing information and data based on the information contained in the scanner's memory means, and a keyboard simulation for receiving the data received by the sensor and simulating the function of a keyboard key according to the nature of the received data. A conventional electronic cash register having means and means for addressing the memory means at the output of the keyboard simulation means is provided.

Since there is no physical connection between the cashier and the handheld sensor, the problems of the prior art are eliminated. The user can move the handheld sensor to the location of the article to be read, read the code, and view the price and total on the integrated display. When this work is completed, the user returns to the cash box and sends the stored information to the cash box, for example by infrared transmission.

The present invention is particularly suitable for a bar or restaurant environment where each waiter or store clerk can carry a handheld scanner. Even if the waiter does not return to the cash machine, the customer can be served meals and drinks and informed of their charges. The information stored in the handset can then be sent to the cashier to activate the cashier and store the information therein. This allows several waiters or store personnel to use the same cash dispenser without congestion and to bill customers accurately.

[0012] Preferably, the cash machine is connected to the central computer by a hard-wired link. With such a connection, all cash dispensers can be centrally programmed and the information from the cash dispensers can be verified. This is especially useful for inventory control and monitoring of sales force work.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The block diagram of FIG. 1 shows a hand-held scanner 10 with an integrated display, which is particularly suitable for use by retail store associates. The device is provided with an infrared sensor 12, but other remote sensors may be used, for example located at a convenient location on the scanner for reading the information recorded on the bar code. ing. Generally, a barcode contains information about the price of the item for sale by the user. The output of the sensor is decoded by a decoder 14, which is shown separately for clarity, but the system controller 1
6, for example, can be part of a 65C02 8-bit CMOS microprocessor. The processor 16 and decoder 14 examine the received bar code data to determine if it is for an item for sale or a system control command. If the item is for sale to a customer, for example a drink, the decoder outputs the address to the lookup table 18. The look-up table stores the prices of all items for sale at their own unique addresses. Thus, if address 1010 is located at the address port of memory 18, the price stored at that location is written to the output of the memory. Generally, the memory is 8k
EPROM. The price data is written to the transaction store 20, which is a regular 8k static RAM, from where it is sent to the display 24. Generally, the display is a liquid crystal display of the type widely available in the market.

The above routine is usually repeated many times. That is, when a customer needs a large amount of drink, each bar code is sequentially read, and the price and the running total are displayed.

Each time the user reads the transaction bar code,
The price is read from the lookup table 18 into the transaction store. The storage device continuously outputs the price to the display.

Along with reading the item for sale, the scanner can read system control commands, such as the end of multiple transaction commands. When the processor 16 recognizes such a command, the decoder is instructed to bypass the look-up table 18 and send the data from the transaction store.

Adder means, such as a logic unit in the CPU, adds the transactions stored in 20 and outputs the sum to the display. The scanner is then used to send the contents of the transaction store via the infrared transmitter 22 to the cashbox or to a system computer or cash register as described below, although other remote transmitters may be used. it can.

Although shown as two separate and distinct components, transmitter 22 and sensor 12 may actually be a single component composed of a pair of LEDs side by side. This is convenient and convenient for the scanner as it eliminates the need to operate or reposition the device for data transmission.

After completion of the above sequence of events, the transaction store is cleared with a reset pulse from processor 16.
However, this information is held elsewhere in storage. It may be included in the system software program so that the pulses are sent automatically. Alternatively, a "start transaction" bar code may be utilized, similar to the end transaction command, causing it to send a reset command to storage device 20.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a modification of a conventional cash machine, such as that used in retail stores, to allow the scanner of FIG. 1 to be used. This figure shows the elements of the control board that are provided on the cash machine and allow the normal keyboard functions of the cash machine to be bypassed.

In the conventional electronic cash dispenser, each key of the keyboard has a corresponding function. These functions include a sales floor sign indicating the sales floor of an item, a programmed price of each item, and the like.

The additional control panel has an infrared sensor 3 for receiving data sent from the transmitter 22 of the remote scanner.
0 and a decoder 32 that decodes the received data to the standard required by the cash dispenser in use. This data is sent to the keyboard simulator 34, which sends to register 36 the same command that the actual keyboard 38 sent. Thus, if the user sends a transaction with data streams representing beer and glass of wine from the handset 10 and then continues the transaction stop command, the keyboard simulator will cause the keyboard buttons that the user is programming for beer and wine. Sends the output that the keyboard sends when pressed to a register.

The register 36 sends the address code to the lookup table 40, reads the price data stored in advance at each address, and outputs it to the display 42. Of course, by integrating the control board with the circuitry of an existing cash machine, the user can use "open cash machine", sum and other commands as usual.

It will be appreciated that the above device has many advantages over current cash dispensers which use bar code readers that are hard-wired to the cash dispenser. In the case of a hard-wired reader, it is necessary to carry the item to be purchased to the cash deposit machine so that the user of the cash dispenser can read it. With the device of the present invention described above, the user can read the barcode at any position in the store or restaurant,
In addition, regardless of the position of the user, the current total can be known without having to go to the cash deposit apparatus to check. At the end of the series of transactions, the user returns to the cash machine and
Information can be downloaded to the cash machine via a remote infrared link.

Also, a large number of handsets can be used for one cash box. For example, in a bar or a night club with 12 clerk, each clerk can carry his or her handset and be processed by three cash dispensers. Since the cash dispenser is programmed to receive data sent from either handset, congestion around the cash dispenser can be substantially eliminated. Each handset can also send a handset identifier, which can be recorded in a separate memory (not shown) in the cashier control panel 28 and read periodically to, for example, monitor the performance of the clerk. it can.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, in which the system computer 40 is bidirectionally connected to the keyboard simulator of the cash box. The advantage of this structure is that the simulator for each cash dispenser can be centrally programmed. In addition, the computer can be provided with a charge / communication port through which the EPROM lookup table of the handheld scanner can be reprogrammed by the computer.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which may or may not be used with the two-way connection shown in FIG. The cash drawer used in this embodiment is only provided with a cash drawer and a display. In other words, no keyboard or keyboard simulator is provided. The cash dispenser is provided with a display 54 and a cash drawer 56, as well as a sensor 50 and a decoder 52. The decoded price information is displayed directly and it is opened by sending a "close trade" command at the decoder directly to the cash drawer.

The values from the decoder can be coupled to the central computer 40 of FIG. 3 via a two way data link. Decoder 52 sends the transaction to the computer and prepares to receive the new transaction. Alternatively, a memory may be provided that stores unsent transactions for later retrieval.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a scanner used in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Handheld Scanner 12 Sensor 14 Decoder 16 CPU 18 Reference Table 20 Storage Device 22 Transmitter 24 Display 28 Cash Deposit Device 50 Sensor 54 Display

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device for reading and displaying the price of an article, comprising sensor means for detecting external coded information, a microprocessor and memory means for processing the output of the sensor means, and the detected coded information. At least one handheld scanner having integrated display means for providing a display based on the displayed information, and transmitting means for transmitting the displayed information to a remote location; and a sensor for receiving information sent by the handheld scanner from the remote location. At least one cashbox or other receiving device with a display for displaying the received information. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control computer connected to the cash box by a two-way data link. 3. The cash dispenser further comprises a keyboard simulator that simulates address information sent from an existing keyboard when receiving data sent from a remote handheld scanner. 1 or 2 devices. 4. A plurality of handheld scanners and a plurality of cash deposit devices, wherein the scanner is programmable to send information to predetermined ones of the cash deposit devices. Equipment. 5. A cash machine as shown in the accompanying drawings. 6. A conventional electronic device comprising a plurality of keys, each of which is provided with a keyboard which is programmed so as to be able to send a unique signal relating to the item corresponding to the key, for example a price, to a central processor for processing. A cash register for sensing data sent from a remote handheld scanner based on coded information sensed by the scanner and information contained in the memory means of the scanner;
A keyboard simulation that receives the data received by the sensor, simulates the functions of the keys of the keyboard according to the nature of the data received, and in the same way simulates keyboard signals and sends them to the CPU so that it can act on said information. A cash register having means. 7. A cash container device for reading and displaying the price of an article, as shown in the accompanying drawings. 8. A conventional electronic cash register with modifications as shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings.