JP2013182591A - Order terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an order terminal is not capable of detecting opening/closing of a lid part.SOLUTION: An order terminal comprises: a main body housing; a lid housing which takes an opening or closing position with respect to the main body housing; an input part provided on the lid body with keys for inputting order information of menu items; a display part provided on the main body housing for displaying the order information from the input part; a magnet provided on the lid housing at a position where it does not face the display part and the input part when the main body housing and the lid housing are closed or where a distance longer than a normal magnetic flux detection distance is secured; a magnetic sheet metal provided on the main body housing for being attracted to the magnet so as to maintain closing state of the main body housing and the lid housing; a magnetic sensor of magnetic force introduced from the sheet plate; and a control part provided on the main body housing for detecting an opening/closing of the lid housing by the magnitude of the magnetic force from the magnetic sensor and controlling input and display.

Description

  One embodiment relates to an order terminal.

  In restaurants, order entry portable terminals are used in which a clerk opens a lid and inputs an order (see, for example, Patent Document 1). 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable terminal and an open / close detection device including a magnetic body that guides magnetic force from a magnet to a magnetic sensor are known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). A mobile phone or an electronic device has first and second housings that can be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism, and detects opening and closing using a magnet and a magnetic sensor (see, for example, Patent Documents 3-7).

JP 2007-316808 A JP-A-2005-44110 JP 2004-20289 A JP 2003-283621 A JP 2010-85868 A JP 2003-166826 A JP 2010-206238 A

  However, in the conventional technology described above, the order terminal cannot detect the opening / closing of the lid. The order terminal cannot detect that the lid has been closed or the lid has been opened when the order input operation has been completed. The ordering terminal cannot obtain the timing of turning off and on the display screen.

  In order to solve such a problem, according to one embodiment, a main body casing, a lid casing that takes an open position and a closed position with respect to the main body casing, and a lid casing provided An input unit having a key for inputting order information of a menu item, a display unit provided in the main unit housing for displaying the order information from the input unit, the display unit, the input unit, and the main unit A magnet provided on the lid housing at a position that does not face due to the closure of the lid housing and the lid housing, or a position that is longer than the normal magnetic flux detection distance, and the main body housing that is attracted to the magnet And a magnetic sheet metal that is provided in the main body housing with the open / closed state of the lid housing closed, a magnetic sensor for magnetic force guided from the sheet metal, and the magnitude of the magnetic force from the magnetic sensor Is used to detect the opening and closing of the lid housing. Order terminal being characterized in that a control unit provided in the main body casing to control the display is provided.

It is a front view of the order terminal concerning one embodiment. It is a figure showing the section structure in the closed state of the order terminal concerning one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross-section in the closed state of the order terminal which concerns on the 1st modification of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross-section in the closed state of the order terminal which concerns on the 2nd modification of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross-section in the closed state of the order terminal which concerns on the 3rd modification of embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an order terminal according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the drawings, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(One embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front view of an order terminal according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure between AA ′ in FIG. 1 in a closed state of the order terminal according to the embodiment. In these drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements. The order terminal according to the present embodiment is a handy terminal for business use in which a store clerk accepts and inputs an order from a customer at a restaurant or the like. The handy terminal 10 has a main body 11 and a lid 12, and the lid 12 can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 11 via a hinge mechanism 13.

  This handy terminal 10 is provided with a main body housing 14, a lid housing 15 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body housing 14, and is provided in the lid housing 15 for inputting order information for menu items. A key input section 16 (input section) having a plurality of menu keys, a screen display section 17 (display section) provided on the main body casing 14 for displaying order information input by the key input section 16, and this screen display A key sheet 18 provided on the lower part of the screen of the unit 17 and superimposed on the screen display unit 17.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the handy terminal 10 includes a magnet 19 provided at a position different from the plurality of key areas of the screen display unit 17 and the key input unit 16 on the lid housing 15 side, and a main unit housing. A sheet metal 20 that is provided on the body 14 and is held by the magnet 19 to hold the main body housing 14 and the lid housing 15 in a closed state when the main body housing 14 and the lid housing 15 are closed; The opening and closing of the lid housing 15 is detected by the magnetic sensor 21 of the magnetic force guided from the sheet metal 20 and the magnitude of the magnetic force provided from the magnetic sensor 21 below the screen display unit 17. And a control unit 22 that controls display and input.

  In the hinge mechanism 13, a flexible printed wiring board for electrically connecting the control unit 22 and the key input unit 16 is passed. The main body casing 14 and the lid casing 15 have side walls 23 and 24, respectively. The side wall 23 and the side wall 24 come into contact with each other when the main body 11 and the lid 12 are folded, and the key input unit 16 and the screen display unit 17 face each other. The plurality of menu keys of the key input unit 16 in FIG. 1 are arranged in a matrix. Various characters are printed on the key tops of these menu keys. Alternatively, a paper on which a key name is printed so as to be positioned immediately above each key is inserted on the surface of the key input unit 16. Examples of character types include menu item keys such as “coffee”, “curry”, “salad”, “dessert”, confirmation key, enter key, additional key, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the handy terminal 10 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 25 on the main body 11, a touch panel 26 stacked and attached on the display surface of the LCD 25, and a surface of the touch panel 26. And a protective sheet 27. The LCD 25, the touch panel 26, and the protective sheet 27 are integrated to form a touch input type display screen. Further, the side walls 23 project from the four sides to the center of the screen to form a rectangular opening. The display screen is exposed from the opening to form the screen display unit 17. A membrane key is used for the key sheet 18. The key sheet 18 includes a numeric keypad for displaying numbers, an arrow key for displaying up and down arrows, a transmission key for displaying “Send”, and the like. The handy terminal 10 accepts input of order information by operation input to the key input unit 16 and the key sheet 18 together with the touch panel 26.

  The magnet 19 is a permanent magnet for adsorption that holds the closed state of the main body housing 14 and the lid housing 15. The magnet 19 is made of a magnetic material having a weak residual magnetic flux. The magnet 19 is, for example, a ferrite metal oxide magnetic body. The magnet 19 may be a rare earth cobalt alloy magnetic material or a neodymium iron boron based alloy magnetic material. A magnetic material magnetized by the magnet 19 is used for the sheet metal 20. The sheet metal 20 has a size in the longitudinal direction similar to the size in the longitudinal direction of the magnet 19, and has a portion bent downward from a side portion along the longitudinal direction. The sheet metal 20 has one end portion 28 having a surface portion facing the magnet 19 in the closed state, and is bent downward from the one end portion 28 via a gap G that is shorter than the distance from the one end portion 28 to the magnetic sensor 21. The other end portion 29 for inducing magnetic force to the magnetic sensor 21 is provided. That is, the sheet metal 20 has an L-shape between the magnet 19 and the magnetic sensor 21. The L-shape refers to an inverted L-shape obtained by folding the L-shape up and down. The handy terminal 10 may use a sheet metal 20 whose bent shape is changed. For example, the handy terminal 10 may use an S-shaped sheet metal 20 that hangs down from the one end portion 28 and bends to the side wall 23 and then returns to the magnetic sensor 21 side. The S-shape refers to an inverted S-shape that is an S-shape folded up and down. When the sheet metal 20 having an S-shape is used, the handy terminal 10 can bring the other end 29 close to the control unit 22.

  The magnetic sensor 21 detects magnetic force. The magnetic force refers to the strength of the magnetic field or the magnetic flux density obtained by multiplying the strength of the magnetic field by the permeability in the air. For example, the magnetic sensor 21 includes a pair of magnetic bodies that change impedance by magnetic force, a high-frequency oscillator applied to these magnetic bodies, and a pair of impedances for detecting a change in impedance of the pair of magnetic bodies at this frequency. This is a bridge circuit for magnetic detection that includes a resistor and a voltage source and is configured by bridge connection.

  The control unit 22 executes an application program for receiving product orders and performs overall control. The control unit 22 includes a main board (main board) 33 attached on the partition wall 30 at the bottom, and a control circuit 34 provided on the main board 33. The control circuit 34 includes a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory), a driver IC (integrated circuit), and the like. The driver IC is a function for capturing input signals from the touch panel 26, the key input unit 16 and the key sheet 18, a function for displaying an image corresponding to the image data on the LCD 25, and a communication interface of the wireless transmission / reception unit 31 (FIG. 1). A controller that has a function to perform. The wireless transmission / reception unit 31 performs wireless communication with a wireless repeater installed in the store. The handy terminal 10 has a battery 32 in the main body housing 14.

  The handy terminal 10 having such a configuration is put in a store clerk's pocket with the main body 11 and the lid 12 closed as shown in FIG. In this state, the magnet 19 and the sheet metal 20 are attracted. The magnitude of the magnetic force by the magnet 19 is such that the magnetic force of the magnet 19 is not substantially detected by the magnetic sensor 21. The magnet 19 is attached so that direct magnetic force does not reach the magnetic sensor 21 below the magnet 19. In order to prevent this magnetic force from reaching, the material, size and magnetization direction of the magnet 19 itself are determined. The sensitivity of the magnetic sensor 21 is determined so that the magnetic sensor 21 at the bottom of the main body 10 does not detect a direct magnetic force from above. The handy terminal 10 guides the magnetic force of the magnet 19 inside the sheet metal 20 by the sheet metal 20 and induces the magnetic force to the magnetic sensor 21. A magnetic force having a stable strength is supplied to the magnetic sensor 21 by the sheet metal 20 bent in an L shape or an S shape. The control unit 22 detects that the handy terminal 10 is closed.

  On the other hand, the lid portion 12 is about to be opened with respect to the main body portion 11 by an operation by a store clerk in the passenger seat. The magnet 19 is separated from the sheet metal 20. When the magnet 19 moves away from the one end portion 28 of the sheet metal 20, the magnetic sensor 21 cuts off the magnetic flux from the other end portion 29 of the sheet metal 20. The control unit 22 detects that the lid unit 12 is opened with respect to the main body unit 11. The handy terminal 10 detects that the handy terminal 10 is open.

  In the open state in which the main body 11 and the lid 12 are opened, the menu items are exposed as shown in FIG. In the handy terminal 10, “coffee” is input by the key input unit 19, the number of people, for example, “2” is input by the key sheet 18, and the “send” key is pressed. The control unit 22 generates order data including the information “coffee” and “2”. The wireless transmission / reception unit 31 wirelessly transmits this order data. The handy terminal 10 transmits radio waves to the radio receiver of the in-store system via a repeater installed on the ceiling or the like. When the wireless receiver normally receives the order data, the wireless receiver transmits a wireless signal including an acknowledgment message to the handy terminal 10.

  When the ordering operation is completed, the main body 11 and the lid 12 are closed by a user operation. The magnet 19 is attracted to the sheet metal 20. The magnetic sensor 21 starts to detect the magnetic force. The control unit 22 detects that the handy terminal 10 is closed. In this way, the handy terminal 10 can detect opening and closing. Since the sheet metal 20 induces a magnetic force and shortens the distance between the sheet metal 20 and the magnetic sensor 21, the handy terminal 10 can perform a detection operation even when the magnetic sensor 21 is disposed below the screen display unit 17.

  The order entry portable terminal according to the conventional example determines whether or not the order entry portable terminal is in operation by increasing the pause time of key input as an example of a method for detecting opening and closing. In the conventional example, when the order data is forgotten to be transmitted or there is a transmission error, warnings such as sound of an error sound and vibration by a vibrator are performed, and the battery and the power supply to the LCD and the touch panel are turned off. Since the order entry portable terminal is usually carried in an employee's pocket or the like, it is difficult for a person to hear an error sound when the order entry portable terminal is put in the pocket. It is difficult for people to feel the vibration of the vibrator. Unnecessarily, the battery power is used up for the screen backlight. In the timer detection type open / close detection method, an error sound and a vibrator are driven after a certain amount of time has elapsed after the lid is closed, so that it is difficult to detect the opening of the lid. Further, the order entry portable terminal according to the conventional example returns the state of the terminal from the suspended state by turning on the power by the key input, and it is difficult to detect that the lid is opened. On the other hand, according to the handy terminal 10, opening / closing can be quickly detected immediately after the opening / closing operation.

  In addition, it is difficult for the order entry portable terminal according to the conventional example to be provided with the open / close detection mechanism. As an open / close detection mechanism, a mechanical (contact) switch is generally known because it is inexpensive. However, an order entry portable terminal is required to be waterproof. Open / close detection is difficult. On the other hand, according to the handy terminal 10, detection can be performed without using a contact-type switch.

  In addition, according to the handy terminal 10, detection can be performed without having to use a magnet for the magnetic sensor separately from the single magnet 19 for holding. Since the magnet is expensive, the handy terminal 10 can perform detection by using the magnet 19 as both a closed holding function and a magnetic force induction function without mounting a separate magnet for a magnetic sensor in terms of price competitiveness. If the holding magnet and the magnetic induction detecting magnet are mounted as different applications, if the magnetic force of the holding magnet is too strong, the point data recorded on the magnetic card or the clock is adversely affected by the leakage magnetic flux. With the holding magnet, the attractive force becomes too strong, and the lid portion is difficult to open. The magnetic force of the holding magnet cannot be increased. On the other hand, according to the handy terminal 10, since the magnet 19 is used for both holding the closed state and detecting the magnetic induction, the detection function can be realized with an inexpensive configuration.

  In addition, with respect to the problem that the order entry portable terminal according to the conventional example cannot detect opening and closing, simply mounting a single magnet for holding on the order entry portable terminal and the distance between the holding magnet and the magnetic sensor and There are constraints on the positional relationship. For example, there are space constraints. Since the screen display unit has a flat panel shape, the order entry portable terminal has a structure in which the main board is provided below the screen display unit. In order input portable terminals, the main board must be arranged at the bottom of the main body in order to make the main body thinner. Furthermore, with respect to the problem that the order entry portable terminal according to the conventional example cannot perform opening / closing detection, providing a magnet and a magnetic sensor in the same housing and performing opening / closing detection causes the distance between these magnets and the magnetic sensor to be short. The magnetic sensor always detects the magnetic force, making it difficult to design. On the other hand, according to the handy terminal 10, the magnetic force can be transmitted to the magnetic sensor 21 satisfactorily. The handy terminal 10 has a point that the magnetic sensor 21 and the magnet are arranged in separate casings, and that the magnetic force of the magnet 19 is compensated by the magnetic sheet metal 20. The handy terminal 10 is different from the conventional example in that the existing parts are used and the magnet 19 is provided on the lid 12 side and the sheet metal 20 is provided on the main body 11 side.

(First modification)
The order terminal according to the embodiment may arrange the magnetic flux by adding a yoke or another sheet metal around the holding magnet 19, and the magnetic sensor 21 may detect the magnetic force.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure between AA ′ in FIG. 1 in the closed state of the order terminal according to the first modification. The above-described symbols represent the same elements as each other. The order terminal according to the first modification is a handy terminal, and has the same configuration as that of the handy terminal 10 unless otherwise specified.

  The handy terminal according to this modification is provided with a yoke 35 on the magnet 19. The yoke 35 has an inner bottom that overlaps the outer surface of the magnet 19 and an inner wall that overlaps the axial end surface thereof. The yoke 35 does not increase the size of the magnet 19 but increases the downward magnetic force. The magnetic flux from the magnet 19 may be aligned by two sheet metals equivalent to the yoke 35. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the influence of the magnetic force on the outside without simply increasing the size of the magnet 19 and without increasing the magnetic strength of the magnet 19.

  Further, the handy terminal according to this modified example has another sheet metal 36 for suction instead of the sheet metal 20. The sheet metal 36 is a sheet metal having a size in the longitudinal direction similar to the size in the longitudinal direction of the magnet 19 and partially bent downward. The size extending below the sheet metal 36 is smaller than the size below the sheet metal 20. By adjusting the gap interval by slightly separating the tip of the other end 37 of the sheet metal 36 from the magnetic sensor 21, an adsorption force having the same magnitude as the adsorption force according to the example of the above embodiment is realized. it can.

(Second modification)
The order terminal according to the embodiment may guide the magnetism to the magnetic sensor 21 by providing a screw instead of the sheet metal 20.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross-sectional structure between AA ′ in FIG. 1 in the closed state of the order terminal according to the second modification. The above-described symbols represent the same elements as each other. The order terminal according to the second modification is also a handy terminal, and has the same configuration as the handy terminal 10 unless otherwise specified.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the handy terminal according to this modification has a sheet metal 38 on the side wall 23 of the main body 11. The sheet metal 38 has a longitudinal size that is about the same as the longitudinal size of the magnet 19. The upper surface of the sheet metal 38 is set lower than the upper surface of the protective sheet 27 that is the same as the upper surface of the protective sheet 27 of the screen display unit 17. The sheet metal 38 faces the magnet 19 when the main body housing 14 and the lid housing 15 are closed. The sheet metal 38 is provided with a magnetic screw 39 below the sheet metal 38. The screw 39 has a screw head 40 below the sheet metal 38 and a screw tip is inserted into the boss 41 and fixed. The boss 41 is fixed on the partition wall 30 of the main body 11. Thereby, in the closed state, the magnetic force of the magnet 19 can be guided to the magnetic sensor 21 through the sheet metal 38 and the screw 39, respectively.

(Third Modification)
In the second modification, the screw 39 may be fastened with another magnetic sheet metal.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure between AA ′ in FIG. 1 in the closed state of the order terminal according to the third modification. The above-described symbols represent the same elements as each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the handy terminal according to this modification has a screw 42 shorter than the screw length of the screw 39, and the screw 42 is partitioned by another magnetic sheet metal 43 and nut 44 in the main body 11. Screwed to the wall 30. A screw 42 is fastened to the main body 11. Thereby, in the closed state, the magnetic force of the magnet 19 can be guided to the magnetic sensor 21 through the sheet metal 38, the screw 42, and the sheet metal 43, respectively.

(Other)
Instead of the sheet metal 20, a magnetic body or metal that induces magnetic flux may be provided in the lid portion 12, and a magnetic body or the like that may pass the magnetic flux may be provided in the main body portion 11 to induce magnetic force. As for the shape of the sheet metal 20, it is sufficient if the shape can induce a strong magnetic force to the magnetic sensor 21 even if the distance between the sheet metal 20 and the magnetic sensor 21 is shortened. In the above embodiment, the magnet 19 is provided at a position not facing the key input unit 16 and the screen display unit 17 in the closed state. The magnet 19 is provided in the lid housing 15 at a position that is longer than the normal magnetic flux detection distance. The normal magnetic flux detection distance or more indicates that the distance between the magnet 19 and the magnetic sensor 21 is longer than the distance at which the magnetic sensor 21 is always in the detection state.

  The above-described embodiment is not limited to the embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal display is used for the display unit. However, the display unit may be an organic EL (Electroluminescence) element.

  Although several embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Handy terminal (order terminal which concerns on embodiment) 11 ... Main-body part, 12 ... Cover part, 13 ... Hinge mechanism, 14 ... Main-body part housing | casing, 15 ... Cover part housing | casing, 16 ... Key input part, 17 ... Screen display unit, 18 ... key sheet, 19 ... magnet, 20 ... sheet metal, 21 ... magnetic sensor, 22 ... control unit, 23, 24 ... sidewall, 25 ... LCD, 26 ... touch panel, 27 ... protective sheet, 28 ... one end , 29 ... other end, 30 ... partition wall, 31 ... wireless transmission / reception unit, 32 ... battery, 33 ... main board, 34 ... control circuit, 35 ... yoke, 36 ... sheet metal, 37 ... other end, 38, 43 ... Sheet metal, 39, 42 ... screw, 40 ... screw head, 41 ... boss, 44 ... nut.

Claims (5)

A main body housing;
A lid housing that takes an open position and a closed position with respect to the main body housing;
An input unit provided with a key for inputting order information of menu items provided in the lid unit case;
A display unit provided on the main body housing for displaying the order information from the input unit;
A magnet provided in the lid housing at a position where the display portion and the input portion and the main body housing and the lid housing do not face each other by closing, or at a position that is equal to or longer than a normal magnetic flux detection distance;
A magnetic sheet metal that is attracted to the magnet to hold the open / close state of the main body housing and the lid housing in a closed state and is provided in the main body housing;
A magnetic sensor of magnetic force derived from this sheet metal,
An ordering terminal comprising: a control unit provided in the main body housing for detecting opening and closing of the lid housing by the magnitude of the magnetic force from the magnetic sensor and controlling input and display .   The sheet metal has one end facing the magnet when the body housing and the lid housing are closed, and a distance from the one end to the magnetic sensor by bending downward from the one end. 2. The order terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a second end for inducing the magnetic force to the magnetic sensor through a short gap.   The order terminal according to claim 1, wherein a yoke having an inner bottom that overlaps the outer surface of the magnet and an inner wall that overlaps an end surface in the axial direction is further provided on the lid housing.   2. The order terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sheet metal faces the magnet when the main body casing and the lid casing are closed, and includes a magnetic screw below the sheet metal.   5. The order terminal according to claim 4, further comprising another magnetic sheet metal that fastens the screw together with the main body.

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