GB2128005A

GB2128005A - Key function presetting

Info

Publication number: GB2128005A
Application number: GB08325490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kumehiko Matsuda; Yasuhide Nakamura; Hachizou Yamamoto
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 1982-09-25
Filing date: 1983-09-23
Publication date: 1984-04-18
Also published as: JPS5955568A; GB8325490D0; GB2128005B; DE3334320C2; CA1209275A; DE3334320A1

Abstract

A preset system is provided in an electronic cash register for modifying a function key layout at operator's choice. A key determination table is included in a read only memory for defining a key function when a key is actuated. A key function exchange table is included in a random access memory, which stores a modified key assignment table. The preset system is associated with the key function exchange table to preset a desired key assignment. When a key is actuated in the normal registration mode, a CPU determines the key function in accordance with the information stored in the key determination table and the key function exchange table. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Key layout presetting system in an electronic cash register Background and summary of the invention The present invention relates to an electronic cash register and, more particularly, to a preset system for modifying the layout of keys, for example, function keys in an electronic cash register.

Generally, the key layout of the electronic cash register is determined by the manufacturer, and the key layout can not be modified by the operator. However, the frequency of the key actuation of a specific function key differs depending upon the type of store. Therefore, it is desirable that the key layout can be modified by the operator in order to facilitate the key input operation.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a key layout presetting system for modifying the key layout in an electronic cash register.

Brief description of the drawings The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic cash register of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view showing an example of the layout of a keyboard included in the electronic cash register of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the keyboard included in the electronic cash register of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the electronic cash register of Figure 1; Figures 5(A) and 5(B) are flow charts for explaining an operational mode of the electronic cash register of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a flow chart for explaining another operational mode of the electronic cash register of Figure 1.

Description of the preferred embodiments An electronic cash register generally includes, as shown in Figure 1, a drawer 10 for containing money therein, and a keyboard panel 12 for introducing transaction data. The keyboard panel 12 includes numeral keys for introducing numeral data, and function keys for introducing various commands into the electronic cash register. The electronic cash register further includes clerk identifying keys 14 for indicating the clerk who operates the electronic cash register, a mode selection switch 16 for placing the electronic cash register in a desired operational mode, a display unit 18 for displaying the transaction data, and a printer unit 20 for printing out the transaction data on a receipt slip 22 and/or a journal paper 24.

The keyboard panel 12 includes, as shown in Figure 2, numeral keys 120 for introducing the numeral data, function keys 122 for introducing various commands, and department keys 124 for introducing information related to a department to which the transaction relates.

In the conventional electronic cash register, the key layout of the keyboard panel 12 is determined by the manufacturer, and the key layout can not be changed by the operator.

Figure 2 shows an example of the key layout of the keyboard panel 12. The frequency of the key actuation of a specific function key included in the function keys 122 differs depending upon the type of store. The present invention is to provide a preset system for assigning a desired key function to a selected function key position included in the function keys 122, at an operator's choice.

In accordance with the present invention, fourteen key positions (j) through 14 shown in Figure 3 are connected to a preset system so that a desired key function is assigned to a selected key position. A receipt slip advance key 1220, a journal paper advance key 1222, and a total key 1224 are not connected to the preset system. That is, these three function keys are provided at respective fixed positions.

Figure 4 shows a control circuit of an embodiment of an electronic cash register of the present invention.

Like elements corresponding to those of Figures 1,2 and 3 are indicated by like numerals.

As already discussed above, the keyboard panel 12 includes the numeral keys 120, the function keys 122 and the department keys 124. The key input signal developed from the keyboard panel 12 is applied to a central processor unit 40 via a key encoder 42. The key input signal developed from the key encoder 42 is applied to a key input detection circuit 44. An output signal of the key input detection circuit 44 is applied to a buffer circuit 46 which is connected to the mode selection switch 16. An output signal of the buffer circuit 46 is applied to the central processor unit 40.

A read only memory 50 and a random access memory 60 are connected to the central processor unit 40.

The read only memory 50 stores programs for controlling the operation of the electronic cash register, and stores a fixed key determination table 500 which memorizes a basic layout of the function keys 122. The random access memory 60 stores transcation data registered into the electronic cash register, and stores a key signal exchange table 600 which performs the preset operation of the present invention. The display unit 18 and the printer unit 20 are controlled by output signals developed from the central processor unit 40.

An example of the fixed key determination table 500 is shown in the following Table 1. Table 1 only shows the key assignment related to the fourteen key positions W through (i) . The remaining key assignment is omitted from the description for the purpose of simplicity, because the remaining key positions do not relate to the preset system.

TABLE 1

Key Position Key Label & Function Key Signal Hard Code O VP Validation Print 8 Key O n Minus Key 10 G RA Received-on-Account 14 Key PO to Paid-Out Key 12 RCPT Receipt Issue Key 9 06 #/TM Non-Add/Time 13 Display Key RF RF Refund Key 15 Void Key 11 PLU Price Lookup Key 1 (i) %1 Percent 1 Key 6 OH CH Cheque Key 4 ST ST Sub-Total Key 3 (9 %2 Percent 2 Key 7 54 CR Credit Key 5 A preset operation for presetting key assignment in the key signal exchange table 600 will be described with reference to Figures 5(A) and 5(B).

To preset a modified function key layout, the mode selection switch 16 is operated to place the electronic cash register in a preset mode, wherein the preset mode is temporarily memorized in the buffer circuit 46 (steps n1, n2 and n3). The thus memorized preset mode information is applied to and memorized in an area 400 in the central processor unit 40 when any one of the keys included in the keyboard panel 12 is actuated and the key actuation is detected by the key input detection circuit 44 via the key encoder 42 (steps n4 and n5). When the preset mode information is introduced into and memorized in the area 400, the central processor unit 40 selects preset operation programs stored in the read only memory 50 (step n6).Then, a key layout preset job code is introduced through the keyboard panel 12 through the use of the numeral keys 120 and a multiplication key 1200 (step n7) so that the central processor unit 40 selects the function key layout modification preset program stored in the read only memory 50 (steps n8 and n9).

To perform the actual preset operation, a desired key position (for example the key position (3 )of which function is desired to be changed is actuated. The related hard code signal (in this example, the key hard code "8") is introduced into the central processor unit 40 via the key encoder 42 (steps n10, nil and n12).

Then, the multiplication key 1200 is actuated to indicate that the now introduced key position is desired to be changed. In response to the actuation of the multiplication key 1200, the central processor unit 40 determines the key position (in this example, the key position 0) ) corresponding to the introduced key code signal (in this example, the key hard code "8") with reference to the fixed key determination table 500 stored in the read only memory 50 and, then, selects a corresponding memory area (in this example, the memory area (i)) in the key signal exchange table 600 provided in the random access memory 60 (steps n13 and n14).

Thereafter, the operator introduces a desired key code signal (for example, "3" when the key position Q is desired to be changed to perform the sub-total key function (ST) ) through the use of the numeral keys 120.

Then, a period key 1202 is actuated. The central processor unit 40 functions to preset the key hard code (in this example, "3") in the selected memory area (in this example, the memory area~ ) of the key signal exchange table 600 in the random access memory 60 (steps n15 and nI 6).

The above-mentioned preset operation is repeated to preset the key hard codes for the fourteen key positions in the key signal exchange table 600. When the preset operation is completed, the total key 1224 is actuated to inform the central processor unit 40 of the completion of the preset operation (steps n17 and n18).

When the key layout modification is not required, the operator actuates the total key 1224 after the electronic cash register is placed in the key layout preset mode (steps n10 and n20). When the total key 1224 is actuated under those conditions, the central processor unit 40 functions to sequentially select the memory areas 1 through 14 in the key signal exchange table 600 and, then, functions to sequentially read out the key hard codes stored in the memory areas (i) through (i) of the fixed key determination table 500, whereby the thus re d out key hard codes are introduced into and memorized in the corresponding memory areas W through w in the key signal exchange table 600 (steps n21, n22 and n23). That is, when the key layout modification is not required, the regular key assignment, which is stored in the fixed key determination table 500, is preset in the key signal exchange table 600.

A key input operation in the normal registration operation mode will be described with reference to Figure 6.

When the presetting operation is completed, the mode selection switch 16 is operated to place the electronic cash register in the normal registration operation mode. When the operator actuates a desired key on the keyboard panel 12, for example, the key position ;3,the key encoder 42 develops the corresponding key code (in this example, "8") to the central processor unit 40 (steps n31, n32 and n33).In response to the thus applied hard code signal, the central processor unit 40 searches the hard code ("8") stored in a memory column 5000 of the fixed key determination table 500 in he read only memory 50 so as to read out the key position information (in this example, the key position ~ ) from the corresponding memory area in a memory column 5002 of the fixed key determination table 500 (steps n34 and n35). In case the thus read out key position is exchangeable position, the central rocessor unit 40 functions to select the corresponding memory area (in this example, the memory area W) in the key signal exchange table 600 so that the hard code (in this example, "3") stored in the selected memory area is read out.Then, the central processor unit 40 functions to search the memory area in the fixed key determination table 500, which stores the key code (in this example, "3") read out from the key signal exchange table 600, whereby the key function (in this example, the sub-total key function (ST) is read out (steps n36, n39, n40, n41 and n42).

When the key position checked at the step n36 is not the exchangeable position, the existence of the key signal exchange table 600 is neglected. That is, the subsequent operation is conducted in accordance with the key function memorized in the fixed key determination table 500 (steps n37 and n38). It is preferable that a flag section is provided in the fixed key determination table 500 so as to indicate whether the actuated key position is the exchangeable position or not.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An electronic cash register comprising: key input means for introducing transaction data; key encoder means, connected to said key input means, for developing a key code in response to a signal developed from said key input means; a fixed key determination table which determines key function in response to said key code developed from said key encoder means; central processor means for executing an operation in accordance with said key function determined by said fixed key determination table; and a key function exchange table which stores information to change the key function determined by said fixed key determination table.

2. The electronic cash register of claim 1, further comprising: preset means for presetting said information in said key function exchange table.

3. The electronic cash register of claim 2, wherein said fixed key determination table is included in a read only memory.

4. The electronic cash register of claim 2, wherein said key function exchange table is included in a random access memory.

5. An electronic cash register having a plurality of keys, and means storing data which determines the function carried out by the register in response to the operation of the respective keys, wherein the stored data is alterable so that the functions performed by the respective keys can be interchanged.

6. An electronic cash register substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.