JP2001317990A - Electronic balance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an operator to actually feel whether or not inputted informa tion is surely inputted, if an inputting operation of information for specifying an article is facilitated by using a voice input. SOLUTION: An electronic balance is provided with a metering part for outputting metered value data, by metering the weight of an article. When an article specifying data for specifying the article are inputted in voice, a display unit 4 displays and outputs article information for recognizing the article as the specified article, and calculates the amount data based on the unit price of the article specified by the article-specifying data and the metered value data outputted from the metering part. Thus, the inputting operation of the information for specifying the article by a method for voice inputting is facilitated. In this case, it enables an operator to actually feel whether the input information has been input surely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic balance for measuring the weight of an article and obtaining the price of the article based on the measured value.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an electronic balance for measuring the weight of an item, there is an electronic balance that calculates the amount of the measured item based on the measured value when a certain item is measured.
For example, it is used for bulk sales in the fruits and vegetables section of a supermarket. Such an electronic balance is provided with a PLU file (Price Look Up File) for an item whose amount can be calculated, and calculates the amount of the item measured by integrating the unit price and the weighing value in the PLU file. I have.

On the other hand, as a sales form of a product using such an electronic balance, a sales form in which a customer himself / herself weighs a desired amount of an article to be purchased with the electronic scale has been conventionally performed. In such a sales form, the customer himself / herself purchases a desired amount of goods on a weighing dish of an electronic balance and inputs information for specifying the goods to the electronic balance. Thus, the electronic balance recognizes the unit price of the item based on the input product identification information, calculates the amount of the item by integrating the unit price and the weighing value, and calculates the amount of money and the item name of the item. Print and issue the described label. Therefore, the customer sells the product in a flow of attaching the label to the item to be purchased and bringing it to a checkout counter (cash register).

[0004]

In order to improve the operability of an electronic balance capable of calculating the price of an article from a weighing value, how to easily input information for specifying a product is improved. That is important. In particular, in the case of adopting a sales form in which the customer operates the electronic balance, the importance is higher.

In view of the above, there has been proposed an invention in which information of a plurality of articles, for example, an article name and an image image of the article are displayed on a display device, and an information portion of the article can be touch-input by a touch panel. An invention (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-170945) in which the name of an article can be input by voice has been put into practical use or proposed.

[0006] Touch input and voice input using such a touch panel can be said to be extremely effective methods for facilitating input operation of information for specifying an article. However,
In the case of voice input, it is difficult for the operator to realize whether or not the input information has been input. As a result, there is a problem that the operator may feel uneasy as to whether or not the information input by voice has been input.

Although the voice input method is undoubtedly an extremely effective method for facilitating the input operation of information for specifying an article, the voice input may be inconvenient depending on a place or a situation. is expected. For example, in places where there are many people, such as a grocery store in a supermarket,
Many people may feel psychological resistance to voice input, and it may be impossible to input uttered voices correctly in places with a lot of noise. Also,
Due to problems such as intonation, whether speech recognition is performed correctly largely depends on individual differences.

Further, when voice input is employed, there is a problem that it is sometimes unclear what voice should be input in order to specify the item. For example, in the case of a product called green onion, in a supermarket or the like, there are cases where a plurality of types of green onion are placed according to their production areas. In such a case, it is better to simply say "green onion", It is unclear whether it is better to say "?" Or "○ x Leek".

An object of the present invention is to facilitate input operation of information for specifying an article.

Another object of the present invention is to make the operator realize whether or not the input information has been input.

Another object of the present invention is to enable input of information for specifying an article even when voice input is inconvenient.

Another object of the present invention is to allow an operator to easily understand what utterance should be made when inputting voice.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to effectively use the display area of the display.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic balance, comprising: a display; a weighing unit for weighing an item to output weighing value data; and item specifying data for specifying the item. When the voice is input, the product information for recognizing the product is displayed and output on the display as the specified product,
Means for calculating price data based on the unit price of the item specified by the item specifying data and the weighing value data output from the weighing unit.

Therefore, when the item specifying data for specifying the item is input by voice, the item information for recognizing the item is displayed and output on the display as the specified item. This facilitates the operation of inputting information for specifying an item by a method called voice input, and in this case, it is possible to make the operator realize whether or not the input information has been input.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to the first aspect, a touch panel is provided so as to be superimposed on a display area of the display unit, and information on a plurality of items is displayed and output on the display unit. Further, the item identification data corresponding to the case where the position of the item information displayed on the display unit on the touch panel is touched is used as the basis for calculating the amount data.

Therefore, it is possible to input the item specifying information by voice input or touch input using a touch panel. As a result, even when voice input is inconvenient, information for specifying an article can be input.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic balance, a display unit, a weighing unit for weighing an item and outputting weighing value data, item specifying data for specifying the item, and a unit weight of the item. A PLU file stored in the storage unit in association with the unit price per hit, an item information file stored in the storage unit in association with the item identification data for identifying the item and the item information for recognizing the item; An audio data file stored in the storage unit in association with the item identification data for identifying the item and audio data obtained by quantifying an audio feature when the name of the item corresponding to the item identification data is uttered; Voice recognition means for generating voice data by numerically converting the feature amount of the generated voice, and searching for the corresponding item specifying data from the voice data file based on the generated voice data, A product information display for searching for product information of the product from the product information file based on the product specifying data retrieved by the voice recognition means, and displaying the retrieved product information on the display as a voice-input product; Means for searching the unit price per unit weight of the article from the PLU file based on the article specifying data searched by the voice recognition means, and weighing value data output from the weighing unit and the searched unit weight per unit weight. Amount calculating means for obtaining amount data based on the unit price of
Is provided.

Therefore, when the item specifying data for specifying the item is input by voice, the voice recognizing means searches the voice data file for the corresponding item specifying data based on the generated voice data, and displays the item information. The means displays and outputs the retrieved item information to the display device as the item input by voice. This facilitates the operation of inputting information for specifying an item by a method called voice input, and in this case, it is possible to make the operator realize whether or not the input information has been input.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to the third aspect, the item information file stores image image data of the item as item information.

Therefore, the image image of the article input by voice is displayed and output on the display, and the operator can intuitively understand what kind of information the input information is.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to the third or fourth aspect, a touch panel disposed so as to overlap a display area of the display unit and a plurality of items stored in the item information file. Display display means for displaying and outputting article information on the display, and from the PLU file based on article identification data corresponding to a touch input of the location of the article information displayed on the display on the touch panel. Find the unit price per unit weight of the item,
A second price calculating means for obtaining price data based on the weighing value data output from the weighing unit and the retrieved unit price per unit weight.

Therefore, it is possible to input the item specifying information by voice input or touch input using the touch panel. As a result, even when voice input is inconvenient, information for specifying an article can be input.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5
In the electronic balance according to any one of the above, the item information displayed and output on the display includes information to be uttered to input the item identification information by voice.

Therefore, the operator can recognize the utterance at the time of voice input by looking at the item information displayed and output on the display, and the voice input operation is facilitated. Also,
Since the product information displayed and output on the display is also used as product information when touch input is performed using the touch panel, effective use of the display area on the display is achieved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, an interface for data transfer and data stored in the PLU file, the article information file, and the audio data file are stored. Download means for downloading from an external device via the interface.

Therefore, by downloading the data via the interface by the download means, it becomes easy to newly take in new data, and it becomes easy to update existing data.

[0028]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic balance according to the present embodiment includes a main body 1 and a measuring section 2.

The main body 1 has an operation panel 3
A display 4 as a display device having a liquid crystal display, and a label issuing port 5 are provided. The operation panel 3 includes a key key 6 and a numeric keypad 7. Measuring unit 2
Is electrically connected to the main body 1, weighs the article placed on the weighing pan 8, and outputs the weighing data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical connection of each section. A CPU 9 that executes various arithmetic processes and the like to centrally control each unit is provided.
A fixed data storage unit 10 composed of a ROM or a flash memory for storing fixed data, and a RAM used as a work area or the like by storing variable data in a rewritable manner;
11 are connected via a system bus 12. The fixed data storage unit 10 stores a control program in its ROM, and stores various files described later in a flash memory functioning as a storage unit.

An I / O port 13 is connected to the CPU 9 via a system bus 12, and a measuring unit 15 is connected to the I / O port 13 via an A / D converter 14. These A / D conversion unit 14 and measurement unit 15
Is built in the weighing section 2. The weighing unit 15 is configured by, for example, a load cell, and has a structure that weighs the weight of an article placed on the weighing dish 8 and outputs weighed value data. The output from the weighing unit 15 is an analog output, and this analog output is output from the A / D conversion unit 14.
Is converted to digital data and input to the I / O port 13. Therefore, the CPU 9 refers to a control program stored in the ROM of the fixed data storage unit 10, a file stored in the flash memory, and the like based on the output data from the weighing unit 15 input to the I / O port 13. While using the RAM 11 as a work area, the weight of the article placed on the weighing pan 8 can be obtained by calculation.

The CPU 9 includes a printer controller 17 for driving and controlling the printer unit 16 housed in the main body 1, a display controller 18 for driving and controlling the display 4, and an operating unit controller for driving and controlling the operation panel 3. 19 is also connected via the system bus 12. Therefore, the CPU 9 drives and controls the printer controller 17 based on the print data while using a partial area of the RAM 11 as a print buffer. As a result, a print head in the printer unit 16, for example, a line thermal printer head is driven to perform a printing operation. In the case of the present embodiment, the printer unit 16 is configured to perform a printing operation on label paper (not shown), and a label (not shown) after printing is issued from the label issuing port 5. Further, the CPU 9 drives and controls the display controller 18 based on image image data stored in the fixed data storage unit 10 or synthesized by the image memory while using the image memory provided as the RAM 11. As a result, a large number of liquid crystal shutters provided in the display 4 in a matrix are selectively opened and closed, and an image based on the image data is displayed on the display 4.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of a PLU (Price Look Up) file, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of a product information file. The flash memory of the fixed data storage unit 10 functions as a storage unit and stores various files in a rewritable and storable state. In the present embodiment, as a part of the file stored in the flash memory, the PLU file 1
01 and an article information file 201.

The PLU file 101 shown in FIG. 3 is conceptually composed of a product code 112, a product name 113, a unit price 114, a tare 115,
This is a file that stores various types of information of the number of packs 116 in association with each other. That is, the PLU file 101 has a file structure in which at least the product number 111 functioning as the item specifying data for specifying the item and the unit price 114 per unit weight of the item are stored in association with each other.

The item information file 201 shown in FIG. 4 conceptually includes image image data 212 for each product number 211.
Are stored in association with each other. That is, the item information file 201 has a file structure in which the part number 211 functioning as item specifying data for specifying an item and the image image data 212 functioning as item information for recognizing the item are stored in association with each other. . Here, the product number 211 is the product number 111 of the PLU file 101.
Corresponding to For example, product number 1 in the PLU file 101
01 “0002” and product number 2 in the item information file 201
11 "0002" specifies an article called cherry. Therefore, in the PLU file 101,
The item name 113 of “cherry” and its unit price 114 are stored in association with the product number 101 of “0002”, whereas the item information file 201 stores “000”
The image data 212 of “cherry” is stored in correspondence with the product number 211 of “2”.

The contents of the image data 212 include, for example, digital photograph data on an article such as a cherry, digital data on an image or the like such as an illustration or a picture which can visually recognize the article, and the name of the article. And digital data of an image including a character to be specified. In any case, the image data 21
2 is image data. In order to intuitively understand the contents of such image data 212, FIG.
See No. 2. FIG. 12 illustrates a display screen of the display 4 after the product number, which is the item specifying information, is specified as an example of the display screen during the registration process. In such a display screen, the display image of the cucumber and the character “cucumber” are both driven and controlled by the display controller 18 based on the contents of the image data 212,
The result is the content displayed on the display 4.

Next, the electronic balance according to the present embodiment includes a voice recognition circuit unit 20. The voice recognition circuit unit 20 is connected to the CPU 9 via the system bus 12 and
The predetermined data is transferred to the RAM 11 under the control of the PU 9. That is, the voice recognition circuit unit 20 includes a CPU (not shown).
Built-in microcomputer with microphone 2
1 is provided with a circuit configuration for recognizing voice data input from the outside via the voice communication device 1. More specifically, the speech recognition circuit unit 2
0 indicates an audio data file 301 (see FIG. 5) in which the item specifying data for specifying the item and the voice data obtained by quantifying the voice feature amount when the corresponding item name is uttered are stored in association with each other. It has a storage area called voice recognition data 22 as a storage unit for storing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of the audio data file 301. As is apparent from FIG. 5, the sound data file 301 conceptually includes sound comparison data 312 functioning as sound data in correspondence with a product number / command 311 functioning as item specifying data for specifying an item. Is stored.

The product number in the product number / command 311 in this case corresponds to the product number 111 of the PLU file 101 and the product number 211 of the product information file 201. For example, P
The part number 101 "0002" in the LU file 101, the part number 211 "0002" in the item information file 201, and the part number / command 311 "00" in the audio data file 301.
"02" both specify an article called cherry. Therefore, in the PLU file 101, "0002"
The product name 113 of “cherry” and its unit price 114 are stored in association with the product number 101 of the product information 101. In the product information file 201, the product number 211 of “0002” is stored.
"Cherry" image data 21
2 is stored in the audio data file 30
In 1, the voice comparison data 312 is stored in correspondence with the product number / command 311 of “0002”. The content of the audio comparison data 312 is digital data obtained by digitizing the feature amount of the audio in time series. For example, the voice comparison data 312 corresponding to the product number / command 311 of “0002” includes the feature amount of the voice when the utterance of “cherry” is made.

The command in the product number / command 311 is typically a command meaning a print instruction. In the area of the voice comparison data 312 corresponding to the command indicating the print instruction, “print” is displayed.
Is stored in which digital data obtained by digitizing the feature amount of the voice in the case of uttering in a time series manner.

Accordingly, the control program of the microcomputer provided in the voice recognition circuit unit 20 generates voice data by digitizing the feature amount of voice input from the outside via the microphone 21 and generates voice data based on the generated voice data. The audio data file 301 is searched for similar audio data. That is, the most similar audio data is searched from the audio data file 301 while matching the audio data obtained by digitizing the feature amount of the audio input from the outside via the microphone 21 with the audio data stored in the audio data file 301. Is done. At this time, if the closeness of the feature amount between the generated voice data and the voice data stored in the voice data file 301 is within a predetermined range, data matching is determined, whereas the closeness of the feature amount is determined. If is outside the predetermined range, it is determined that there is no matching data. Then, when there is matching data, the voice recognition circuit unit 20 transmits and outputs the data of the product number / command 311 corresponding to the voice comparison data 312 via the system bus 12.

Note that the speech recognition method itself by the speech recognition circuit unit 20 may use any conventionally known technique. In other words, if it is possible to recognize that voice data obtained by quantifying the feature of voice input from the outside via the microphone 21 and voice data stored in the voice data file 301 represent the same voice. Any recognition method may be used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a LAN board 23 functioning as an interface is connected to the CPU 9 via the system bus 12. This LA
The N board 23 connects the electronic balance of the present embodiment and an external device, for example, a host computer 24, to the hardware.
A connection is made via an AN line 25 to enable communication with a connected external device such as a host computer 24 in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In FIG. 2, devices such as a HUB required in an actual LAN environment are omitted.

Next, the processing executed by the CPU 9 according to the control program stored in the fixed data storage section 10 and the processing executed by the speech recognition circuit section 20 by its microcomputer function will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing by the CPU 9 after the power is turned on. After power on, RAM11
Is performed (step S101), and the ROM and flash memory in the fixed data storage unit 10 are checked (step S101).
102). Next, the I / O port 13 is initialized (step S103), and it is determined whether or not there is a task process (step S104). If it is determined that there is a task process (Y in step S104), if it is a key task (Y in step S105), the process is posted to the key task process (step S106), and if it is a communication task process (step S107). Y), the processing is posted to the communication task processing (step S108).

Here, the key task is a key key 6
And the task processing executed by operating the numeric keypad 7. An example of the key task is a registration process, which will be described later with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

On the other hand, the communication task is called LA
This means task processing for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device such as the host computer 24 via the N board 23. As an example, there is a download process of data stored in various files. For example, in the electronic balance of the present embodiment, the storage contents of the PLU file 101, the item information file 201, and the audio data file 301 can be downloaded. In this case, the item information file 20
For example, the data transferred from the external device includes data having a code instructing storage in the product number 211 and image data 21.
2 is included in association with data having a code for instructing storage into the data. Therefore, in an electronic balance that receives such a data string via the LAN board 23, the CPU 9
Is executed, such a data string is appropriately stored in the free address area of the item information file 201. As a result, in the item information file 201, the product number to be transferred and the image image data are associated with each other, and the product number 211 and the image image data 212
Respectively. Such a download processing method is similarly applied to the PLU file 101 and the audio data file 301. Here, a function of a download unit that downloads data stored in the PLU file 101, the item information file 201, and the audio data file 301 from an external device via the LAN board 23 as an interface is executed. However, the present invention is not limited to such data download processing, and any conventionally known data download processing may be used.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the key task process executed by the CPU 9. As a key task process, after waiting for a predetermined time (step S
201), the state of the key 6 is determined (step S2).
02). If the key 6 is off (Y in step S202), the CPU 9 drives and controls the display controller 18 so that the display on the display 4 is turned off (step S203). Is executed (step S204).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the key key 6 is turned on (N in step S202), it is determined which position the key key 6 is in (step S205, etc.). . As a result, when it is determined that the position of the key 6 is the registered position (Y in step S205), the registration process is executed (step S212), and when it is determined that the key is not the registered position (step S212). S205
N), other processing is executed (step S21)
3). Here, the registration process means a process of updating the number of packs for each sold product in bulk sales. That is, the process of updating the pack number 116 of the merchandise in the PLU file 101 with the sales is performed.

When the registration process is executed (Y in step S205), the necessity of initializing the RAM 11 and the like is determined (step S206). This determination is, for example,
This is performed by referring to a flag that is set in the flag area of the RAM 11 and that indicates the presence or absence of initialization. In other words, when such processing is performed, a flag indicating whether or not the registration processing has been initialized is set in the flag area of the RAM 11. Therefore, by referring to this flag, it is determined in step S206 whether or not initialization is necessary. As a result, if it is determined that the initialization is unnecessary (N in step S206), the registration process is immediately executed (step S212), whereas if it is determined that the initialization is necessary (Y in step S206), An initialization process is performed (Step S207). In this initialization process, R
The work area data in the AM 11, for example, variable data and various flags used for display are cleared. Thereafter, the CPU 9 causes the display controller 18 to perform a test display on the display 4.
Is driven (step S208), and it is determined whether or not the weighing data is stable with reference to the weighing data from the weighing unit 15 (step S209). If the CPU 9 determines that the scale data is stable (Y in step S209),
A zero range check is performed (step S210), an initial registration display is performed (step S211), and a registration process is executed (step S212).

The registration initial display executed in step S211 is performed by the display controller so that the display based on the data for the registration initial screen in the display image data stored in the flash memory of the fixed data storage unit 10 is displayed. 18 is performed by drive control. In this case, the data for the registration initial screen is, for example, data in which a display as shown in FIG. In other words, on the display screen of FIG. 11, the first instruction area 41 displaying "Please put the purchased product on the back and say the product name to the microphone." A second instruction area 42, a weight display area 43, a unit price display area 44, and the like.
The price display area 45 is displayed and output. In the example shown in FIG. 11, no display is made in the weight display area 43, the unit price display area 44, and the price display area 45. On the other hand, at the time of execution, on the initial registration screen, the weight display area 43, the unit price display area 44, and the price display area 45 are displayed.
Alternatively, the system configuration may be such that a 0 value is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of a registration process executed by the CPU 9, and FIG.
0 is a flowchart showing a flow of audio data processing executed by the microcomputer function at 0, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the input data processing (step S302) during the registration processing. In the present embodiment, the flowcharts of the registration processing shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 and the flowchart of the audio data processing shown in FIG. 9 are executed in parallel by separate microcomputers, whereby The specification is executed by a voice input process. At this time, in the registration processing shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, data obtained by the audio data processing shown in FIG. 9 is used. Hereinafter, the registration processing shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 and the audio data processing shown in FIG. 9 will be described in parallel.

As a registration process executed by the CPU 9, it is determined whether or not voice data has been input (step S30).
1). The presence or absence of the input of the voice data is determined by the CPU 9 based on whether or not data, commands, and the like are transmitted from the voice recognition circuit unit 20 to the CPU 9 via the system bus 12 by the voice data processing shown in FIG. In this case, as an example, a partial area of the RAM 11 is allocated as a flag area to determine the presence or absence of voice data, and the flag is set when data, a command, or the like is transmitted from the voice recognition circuit unit 20. For example, by referring to the state of the flag, the presence / absence of audio data input can be easily determined. However, this is merely an example, and any determination method that can determine whether data or a command has been transmitted from the voice recognition circuit unit 20 can be used.

As the voice data processing shown in FIG. 9, first, voice data analysis processing is executed (step S40).
1). This processing is performed by the microphone 21 as an analog audio signal.
This is a process of converting an audio signal, which is taken into the audio recognition circuit unit 20 through amplification through the amplification and converted into a digital signal after the amplification, for example, an audio signal which is product specifying information, into a predetermined format. In other words, the audio signal converted into the digital signal is converted into a digital signal, and its characteristic amount is digitized in time series, so that the audio comparison data in the audio data file 301 stored in the storage area of the audio recognition data 22 is obtained. This is converted into a format that can be compared with 312. Next, as audio data processing, the input audio data is stored in the audio data file 301.
A voice data search process is performed in which the voice data is compared with the voice comparison data 312 in the middle and the matching voice comparison data 312 is searched (step S402). Through the audio data analysis processing (step S401) and the audio data search processing (step S402) as described above, the feature amount of the input audio is digitized to generate audio data, and the audio is generated based on the generated audio data. Data file 301
Part number / command 31 which is the product identification data corresponding to
The function of the voice recognition means for retrieving 1 is executed. Since such a function is performed using a conventionally known voice recognition technique, the details thereof are omitted.

Next, as a result of the search processing in step S402, if there is voice data matching the input voice data in the voice comparison data 312, the voice recognition circuit unit 20 determines the product number and the product number corresponding to the voice comparison data 312. Command 3
11 is transmitted to the CPU 9 via the system bus 12 (step S403). By the above processing, for example,
When the voice "Sakurakubo" is input to the voice recognition circuit unit 20 via the microphone 21, the voice data search process in step S402 causes the product number "0002" to be input.
The command 311 is searched, and the product number / command 311 of “0002” is sent to the CPU via the system bus 12.
9 is output.

As a process of step S403 shown in FIG. 9, when the voice recognition circuit unit 20 transmits and outputs a part number / command 311 corresponding to the voice comparison data 312 to the CPU 9 via the system bus 12, the processing shown in FIG. In the flowchart, it is determined in step S301 that there is voice input data, and input data processing is executed (step S30).
2).

FIG. 10 shows details of the input data processing.
That is, the CPU 9 searches the PLU file 101,
A product having a product number 111 corresponding to the product number / command 311 transmitted and output from the voice recognition circuit unit 20 is searched (step S501). For example, assuming that the product number / command 311 transmitted and output from the voice recognition circuit unit 20 is “0002”, a product called cherry whose product number 111 is “0002” is retrieved from the PLU file 101. Then, when a product having the corresponding product number 111 is searched from the PLU file 101 as described above (step S5).
(Y of 01), the CPU 9 searches the article information file 201, finds the same part number 211 as the part number 111 searched in step S501, and transfers the image image data 212 corresponding to the part number 211 to the image memory in the RAM 11. The display controller 18 is driven and controlled such that the image data developed in the image memory is displayed on the display 4 (step S50).
2). As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the display of the first instruction area 41 such as "Please put the purchased product on the back and say the product name to the microphone." Instead, the product name is displayed in the product name display area 46, and the picture is displayed in the picture display area 47. Second instruction area 42, weight display area 43, unit price display area 44, and price display area 45, "Please say print if weight and price are acceptable."
Is maintained as it is. Here, the information of the article is retrieved from the article information file 201 based on the article number / command 311 which is the article specifying data retrieved by the voice recognition means, and the retrieved information is displayed on the display 4 as the voice-inputted article. The function of the article information display means to be output is executed.

Thereafter, the product name registration, that is, information of the PLU file 101 corresponding to the searched product number 111,
The unit price 114 and the tare 115 are registered in the resist area of the RAM 11 (step S503).

On the other hand, in step S501, the PLU
If a product having the corresponding product number 111 is not retrieved from the file 101, it is determined whether or not the voice input data is “print” (step S50).
4). That is, in step S504, it is determined whether the data of the product number / command 311 transmitted and output from the voice recognition circuit unit 20 via the system bus 12 is a command meaning a print instruction. If it is determined in step S504 that the voice input data is "print", processing for registering the command, that is, the print instruction, in the registration area of the RAM 11 is executed (step S505). If it is not determined that there is, return.

Here, the description returns to the registration processing shown in FIG. In the registration process executed by the CPU 9, as described above,
In steps S301 and S302, processing relating to the voice input data is executed. Then, in the registration process, when it is determined that there is no voice input data (N in step S301), or in the input data process (step S301).
When step 302) is completed, a normal weighing process is executed (steps S303 to S313). Such processing is
Since there is no difference from a general weighing process, a brief description will be given.

First, the weighing data output from the weighing unit 15, converted to digital by the A / D conversion unit 14, and read via the I / O port 13 is read (step S 303), and the weighing data processing (step S 303) Step S304), auto zero processing (step S305), data read processing from a quartz timer (step S306), gross calculation processing (step S307), and auto clear processing (step S308) are performed. Next, step S50 in the input data processing during the registration processing shown in detail in FIG.
The data of the tare 115 registered in the resist area of the RAM 11 with the product name resist of No. 3 is used.
The data of the tare 115 is subtracted from the gross calculated in step 07 to obtain a net (step S309).
Then, the auto clear condition check (step S31)
After 0), the price, that is, the amount data is obtained in step S311. At this time, in the input data processing during the registration processing shown in detail in FIG. 10, the data of the unit price 114 registered in the resist area of the RAM 11 by the product name registration in step S503 is used, and the net and unit price 114 obtained in step S309 are used. Are integrated to obtain the price, that is, the amount data. Here, the part number and the product identification data searched by the voice recognition means
The unit price per unit weight 114 of the item is retrieved from the PLU file 101 based on the command 311, and the price data is obtained based on the weighing value data output from the weighing unit 15 and the retrieved unit price per unit weight 114. The function of the amount calculation means is executed. Thereafter, the price is rounded (step S312), and the necessary information display 4 is displayed.
Is displayed (step S313).

The processing described above (steps S303 to S303)
According to 313), when an article, which is an article, is placed on the weighing dish 8, the weight is calculated, and this is displayed in the weight display area 43 of the display 4. In addition, prior to the weighing of such an article, if the voice data has been captured by the microphone 21, the process proceeds to step S30.
Since the data of the unit price 114 and the tare 116 corresponding to the input voice data have been obtained by the input data processing in 2, the unit price and price of the corresponding product are displayed in the unit price display area 44 and the price display area 45 of the display 4, respectively. Is done. If the voice data has not been captured by the microphone 21 prior to the weighing of the product, the net calculation process in step S309 and the step S311
Since the price calculation processing cannot be executed in the step (a), only the weight of the article placed on the weighing pan 8 is calculated, and the tare processing or the like is not performed.

FIG. 12 shows a display example when a voice of “cucumber” is input to the microphone 21 and a predetermined amount of cucumber is placed on the weighing dish 8. That is, when the voice of “cucumber” is captured, the above-described registration processing and voice input processing shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 are executed, the product name of “cucumber” is displayed in the product name display area 46, and the picture display area 47 is displayed. A cucumber pattern is displayed. Then, “80 g” is displayed in the weight display area 43, “150 yen” is displayed in the unit price display area 44, and “120 yen” is displayed in the price display area 45 according to the weight of the cucumber placed on the weighing dish 8. Is displayed. Second, "Please say print if you like the weight and price."
Of the instruction area 42 is maintained as it is.

In step S314, the CPU 9 that has executed such a display process as illustrated in FIG. 12 determines in step S314 whether or not there is a print instruction. For this processing, the CPU 9 uses a command indicating a print instruction registered in the registration area of the RAM 11 in the print instruction registration in step S505 in the input data processing during the registration processing shown in detail in FIG.
That is, if a command indicating a print instruction is not registered in the registration area of the RAM 11, the CPU 9 determines that there is no print instruction and returns the process to step S301. It is determined that there is a print instruction, and label print processing is executed (step S315). This label print processing is performed based on the contents displayed on the display 4,
Specifically, the product name, weight, unit price, and price are
This is a process for driving and controlling the printer controller 17 so that the label is printed and issued in step 6. Then, following such processing, processing for incrementing the number of packs of the PLU file 101 is executed (step S31).
6). This process is a process for incrementing the number of packs 101 in the PLU file 101 corresponding to the product number 111 according to the audio data input by the microphone 21 by one. In principle, the fact that the label has been issued necessarily means that the product is purchased, so it is necessary to register the number of purchased packs in the PLU file 101. Such registration processing is performed in step S
This is realized by the processing in 316.

At the time of actual operation, the customer affixes the label printed by the electronic scale of the present embodiment to the article to be purchased, takes it to the checkout counter, and registers the product in the cash register. Above, make the payment.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. The present embodiment is an example in which the display display area 48 and the third instruction area 49 are displayed on the display 4 as the registration initial screen displayed on the display 4 by the process of step S211 in FIG. The display area 48 on the display 4 includes:
A plurality of data stored in the image image data 212 of the item information file 201 is displayed with a total of 12 data in 3 columns and 4 rows as one page. As data forming the basis of such display, a page of an image image to be developed in three columns and four rows in the image memory of the RAM 11 based on the image image data stored in the image image data 212 of the item information file 201 Data. Such page data depends on the number of data stored in the image image data 212 of the item information file 201.
Multiple pages are prepared each time they are needed. However, even if such page data is generated every time it is needed,
The data may be stored in the flash memory of the fixed data storage unit 10 in advance or may be used. Here, the function of the display means for displaying the article information of the plurality of articles stored in the article information file 201 on the display 4 is executed.

Then, in the third instruction area 49, an instruction is displayed, such as "If you want to see the next product list, please say Tsugi." Therefore, in the electronic balance according to the present embodiment, the voice comparison data 312 of the voice data file 301 shown in FIG. 5 stores voice data obtained by quantifying the feature amount of voice when “tsugi” is uttered. And the corresponding part number / command 3
11 stores a command indicating the next (next). As a result, when a voice “tsugi” is captured via the microphone 21, the voice recognition circuit unit 20 transmits a command for instructing a hook (next) corresponding to the voice to the CPU 9 via the system bus 12. Output, CPU 9
Controls the display controller 18 so that the next page data is displayed on the display 4 in response to the command.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the product name and design of a product that can be input by voice are displayed in the display area 48 of the display 4, so that the convenience of inputting by voice is achieved. In other words, it is clear at a glance what kind of utterance should be made in order to identify the product.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. In the present embodiment, in addition to voice input, touch input using the touch panel 26 is possible.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical connection of each part. As shown in this block diagram, in the present embodiment, a touch panel 26 is provided so as to overlap the display surface of the display 4, and the touch panel 26 is configured to be driven and controlled by the operation unit controller 19.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing the flow of a registration process corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. Although the registration process in the present embodiment is also basically the same as the registration process in the first embodiment, the CPU 9 performs step S321 as
If it is determined in step S301 that there is no voice input data, it is determined whether there is key input data.

That is, as shown in FIG. 17, in the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the display information display area 48 of the display 4 includes the item information file 2.
A plurality of data stored in the 01 image image data 212 is displayed with a total of 12 data in 3 columns and 4 rows as one page. Then, the displayed image data 2
When the part 12 is touched, the XY coordinate data of the position touched from the touch panel 26 is transmitted and output to the CPU 9. As a result, the CPU 9 sets the item information file 2
01, based on the image data stored in the image data 212 of the image data, the merchandise item to be touched is determined based on the position information of the data to be developed in three columns and four rows in the image memory of the RAM 11 and the XY coordinate data of the touched position. It is possible to recognize whether the input has been made. Therefore, similarly to the product specification by voice input, product specification by touch input using the touch panel 26 can be performed.

Here, the display 4 illustrated in FIG.
13 is different from the display example illustrated in FIG. 13 in that the display contents of the second instruction area 42 and the third instruction area 4 are different.
9 and the display content of the fourth display area 50 where "print button" is displayed. In other words, in FIG. 13 showing the second embodiment, the display of "Please print if the weight and price are acceptable" is displayed as the second instruction area 42, but FIG. In this embodiment, a message such as "Please print if the weight and price are acceptable or touch the print button" is displayed. Also, the second
In FIG. 13 showing the third embodiment, the display of the third instruction area 49 is "Please say Tsugi when looking at the next product list." As the display according to the present embodiment, an instruction display consisting of “MORI” and “TSUGI” is displayed. Further, as a display example that is not displayed in FIG. 13 showing the second embodiment, a display “print button” is set in the display of the present embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17. So, C
When the position of the “print button” is touch-input, the PU 9 generates a command indicating a print instruction and executes a print operation. Further, when the position of “Mori” is touch-input, the display content of the previous page is displayed in the display area 48, and when the position of “Tsugi” is touch-input, the display area 48 is displayed. The display controller 18 is controlled to display the display content of the next page.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of input data processing executed as input data processing during registration processing. The processing here is basically the same as the input data processing illustrated in FIG. The difference is that, in the present embodiment, in addition to voice input, key input using the touch panel 26 is possible, so that the content corresponds to such input. That is, FIG.
In the flowchart of FIG. 5, as input data, step S
It is determined whether it is determined that there is voice input data by 301 (step S511) or whether there is key input data by step S321 (step S512). When it is determined that the voice input data is present (Y in step S511), the same processing as the processing illustrated in FIG. 10 is executed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the key input data is present (Y in step S512), it is determined whether or not the item name is specified (step S513). The process proceeds to the processing step of step S502 of calling and displaying the data of the product name. On the other hand, if the key input data is not the product name designation, it is determined whether or not the input key is a print key (print button) (step S514). If the key input data is a print key, the process proceeds to a print instruction registration step S505. .

With such a configuration, in the electronic balance according to the present embodiment, not only voice input but also touch input using the touch panel 26 can be used to input a product (step S502) or print an instruction (step S502).
505) is possible. Therefore, the processing shown in FIG.
A unit price per unit weight of the item is searched from the PLU file 101 based on the product number 211 which is the item specifying data corresponding to the case where the information position of the item displayed in the item is touch-input, and is output from the weighing unit 15. The function of the second amount calculating means for obtaining the amount data based on the measured value data and the retrieved unit price per unit weight is executed.

In this embodiment, the PLU file 101, the item information file 201, and the audio data file 301 have different file structures. However, such a file structure is not essential in the present invention.
The PLU file 101 and the item information file 201 may form one file structure.

In the second and third embodiments, the function of the article information display means is not limited to the display of a single product as illustrated in FIG. 12 in the first embodiment. Alternatively, the selected product information may be voice-input or touch-input and displayed on the display 4 as a product while maintaining the display state while displaying the plurality of products.

[0079]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic balance, a display, a weighing unit for measuring the weight of an article and outputting weighing value data, and article specifying data for specifying the article by voice. In the case of, the item information for recognizing the item is displayed and output on the display as the specified item, based on the unit price of the item specified by the item specifying data and the weighing value data output from the weighing unit. Means for calculating the amount data, so that the input operation of the item identification information can be facilitated by using a method of voice input, and whether or not the information input in this case is surely input. Can be realized by the operator.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to the first aspect, a touch panel is provided so as to be superimposed on a display area of the display, and information on a plurality of items is displayed and output on the display. Since the item identification data corresponding to the case where the position of the item information displayed on the display unit on the touch panel is touch-input is used as the basis for calculating the amount data, even when voice input is inconvenient, The item identification information can be input by touch input using a touch panel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic balance, a display unit, a weighing unit for weighing an item and outputting weighing value data, item specifying data for specifying the item, and a unit weight of the item. A PLU file stored in the storage unit in association with the unit price per hit, an item information file stored in the storage unit in association with the item identification data for identifying the item and the item information for recognizing the item; An audio data file stored in the storage unit in association with the item identification data for identifying the item and audio data obtained by quantifying an audio feature when the name of the item corresponding to the item identification data is uttered; Voice recognition means for generating voice data by numerically converting the feature amount of the generated voice, and searching for the corresponding item specifying data from the voice data file based on the generated voice data, A product information display for searching for product information of the product from the product information file based on the product specifying data retrieved by the voice recognition means, and displaying the retrieved product information on the display as a voice-input product; Means for searching the unit price per unit weight of the article from the PLU file based on the article specifying data searched by the voice recognition means, and weighing value data output from the weighing unit and the searched unit weight per unit weight. Amount calculating means for obtaining amount data based on the unit price of
Therefore, the input operation of the item specifying information can be facilitated by using the method of voice input, and in this case, the operator can feel whether or not the input information has been input. it can.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to the third aspect, the article information file stores image image data of the article as the article information. The operator can intuitively understand whether the information is specific information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to the third or fourth aspect, a touch panel disposed on a display area of the display unit and a plurality of items stored in the item information file are provided. Display display means for displaying and outputting article information on the display, and from the PLU file based on article identification data corresponding to a touch input of the location of the article information displayed on the display on the touch panel. Find the unit price per unit weight of the item,
A second amount calculating means for obtaining amount data based on the weighing value data output from the weighing unit and the searched unit price per unit weight, so that the touch panel can be operated even when voice input is inconvenient. The item specifying information can be input by the used touch input.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5
In the electronic balance according to any one of the above, since the article information displayed and output on the display includes information to be uttered to input the article identification information by voice, the operator displays the information on the display. Since it is possible to recognize the utterance at the time of voice input by looking at the output item information, it is possible to facilitate the voice input operation. In addition, the product information displayed and output on the display is also used as product information when touch input is performed using the touch panel, so that the display area of the display can be effectively used.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic balance according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, an interface for transferring data and data stored in the PLU file, the item information file, and the audio data file are stored. A download unit that downloads from an external device via the interface; therefore, new data can be easily imported, and existing data can be easily updated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing electrical connection of each unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of a PLU file.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of an article information file.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram conceptually showing the contents of an audio data file.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing after power-on.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a key task process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a registration process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of audio data processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of input data processing during registration processing.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen when inputting article specifying information as an example of a display screen during a registration process.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen after article identification information is input as an example of a display screen during a registration process.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen when inputting article specifying information as an example of a display screen during registration processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an outline of electrical connection of each part as a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a registration process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of input data processing executed as input data processing during registration processing.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen when inputting article specifying information as an example of a display screen during a registration process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 weighing unit 4 display (display) 22 storage unit (speech recognition data) 23 interface (LAN board) 24 external device (host computer) 26 touch panel 101 PLU file 111 product identification data (product number) 114 unit price 201 product information file 211 Item specifying data (part number) 212 Item information, image image data 301 Voice data file 311 Item specifying data (part number / command) 312 Voice data (Data for voice comparison)

Claims (7)

[Claims] An indicator, a weighing unit for weighing an item and outputting weighing data, and item information for recognizing the item when the item identification data for identifying the item is input by voice. Means for displaying and outputting on the display as the specified item, and calculating price data based on the unit price of the item specified by the item specifying data and the weighing value data output from the weighing unit. Electronic scales. 2. A display device, comprising: a touch panel arranged so as to be superimposed on a display area of the display device, displaying product information of a plurality of products on the display device, and displaying product information on the display device on the touch panel. 2. The electronic balance according to claim 1, wherein the item identification data corresponding to the case where the position is touch-input is used as a basis for calculating the amount data. 3. An indicator, a weighing unit for measuring the weight of an item and outputting weighing value data, and storing the item specifying data for specifying the item and the unit price per unit weight of the item in association with each other. PL stored in the unit
A U file, an item information file for storing in a storage unit the item identification data for identifying the item and item information for recognizing the item, and an item information file for identifying the item; and the item identification data for identifying the item An audio data file that is stored in a storage unit in association with audio data obtained by quantifying an audio feature amount when an item name of an article corresponding to the utterance is uttered, and an audio data file obtained by quantifying an input audio feature amount is stored in a storage unit. Voice recognition means for generating and searching for the corresponding item identification data from the audio data file based on the generated audio data; and the item information from the item information file based on the item identification data retrieved by the voice recognition unit. Item information display means for searching for the item information of the item, and displaying and outputting the searched item information to the display unit as a voice-input item; A unit price per unit weight of the item is searched from the PLU file based on the item specifying data searched by the voice recognition unit, and the weighing value data output from the weighing unit and the searched unit price per unit weight are obtained. And an amount calculating means for obtaining amount data based on the electronic balance. 4. The electronic balance according to claim 3, wherein the item information file stores image image data of the item as item information. 5. A touch panel arranged so as to be superimposed on a display area of the display, display display means for displaying and outputting on a display, item information of a plurality of items stored in the item information file, and the touch panel. A unit price per unit weight of the item is searched from the PLU file based on the item identification data corresponding to a case where the position of the item information displayed on the display unit is touched and output from the weighing unit. The electronic balance according to claim 3, further comprising: second amount calculating means for obtaining amount data based on the weighed value data and the retrieved unit price per unit weight. 6. The electronic balance according to claim 1, wherein the article information displayed and output on the display includes information to be uttered to input the article identification information by voice. 7. An interface for data transfer, and download means for downloading data stored in the PLU file, the item information file, and the audio data file from an external device via the interface. 7. The electronic balance according to any one of items 3 to 6.