JP2017127149A - Cradle device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cradle device capable of introducing a self-order style ordering system using a portable terminal even when there is no power supply facility for each table at a store.SOLUTION: The cradle device is provided with an upper connecting terminal 26a on an upper end side of a cradle body 2 including a storage battery and a lower connecting terminal 26b on a lower end side. In a state in which two or more cradle bodies 2 are stacked and connected in a vertical direction, all cradle bodies 2 are charged from a charging terminal of one cradle body 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a cradle device, and more particularly to a cradle device that can introduce a self-ordering order system using a portable terminal even when there is no power supply facility for each table in a store.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a self-order type ordering system in which an order is made by a customer operating a tablet computer or the like installed on a table or the like when a customer places an order at a restaurant, for example, the system of Patent Document 1 is known. Yes. In this system, a tablet computer is used as a self-order terminal, a store POS terminal, a management terminal that transmits an order to the POS terminal, and a network can be wirelessly communicated with each other, and a customer can place an order by operating the tablet computer. It is something that can be done.

  Conventionally, as a so-called cradle device that holds a portable terminal such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, or a smartphone on a table or the like or charges the portable terminal, for example, a charger for a portable terminal disclosed in Patent Document 2 is known. It has been. This portable terminal charger is a device that can charge the portable terminal by placing the portable terminal in the housing recess of the charger body and connecting the charging cord connected to the charger to a household power source. is there.

JP 2013-45411 A JP 2011-91924 A

  Conventional ordering systems allow customers to place orders by directly operating mobile terminals such as tablet computers, so they can provide sufficient customer support even when a large number of staff members are unable to secure orders. Useful in terms.

  On the other hand, as a portable terminal used as an order terminal of the order system as described above, a general-purpose tablet computer tends to be used instead of a dedicated device. A general-purpose tablet computer can be used as an order terminal simply by installing a software program, which is superior to a dedicated product in terms of cost.

  However, the general-purpose tablet computer as described above usually does not include a storage battery having a capacity capable of operating for a long time as an order terminal in a store. Therefore, when an order system using a general-purpose tablet computer is introduced, an outlet or the like for receiving power from a commercial power source is installed for each table, and the tablet computer is charged via a conventional cradle device or the like. There is a need.

  However, it is expensive to provide power supply equipment on each table in order to charge a portable terminal from a commercial power source, and once the power supply equipment is provided, there is a problem that the arrangement of the table or the like is hindered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cradle device capable of introducing a self-order type ordering system using a portable terminal even when there is no power supply facility for each table in a store in view of the above-mentioned problems. It is.

  The configuration of the present invention made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problem is a cradle device provided with a storage battery for supplying power to a mobile terminal, and an upper connection terminal provided on the upper end side of the cradle device; A lower connection terminal provided at a position corresponding to the upper connection terminal on the lower end side of the cradle device, and a charging terminal for charging the storage battery with power supplied from a commercial power source, and two or more In the state where the cradle device is stacked in the vertical direction and the upper connection terminal and the lower connection terminal are connected, the storage battery of the two or more cradle devices is charged by receiving the power supply from one of the charging terminals. It is characterized by doing.

  The cradle device according to the present invention includes a cradle body and an attachment attached to the mobile terminal, the attachment includes an attachment power receiving terminal for receiving power supply from the cradle body, and the cradle body includes the attachment. It is desirable to provide an attachment power supply terminal that supplies power to the portable terminal through the attachment by contacting the power receiving terminal.

  In the cradle device according to the present invention, the cradle body further corresponds to one or more engagement pins provided on the upper end side of the cradle body, and the one or more engagement pins on the lower end side of the cradle body. It is preferable that an engagement hole provided at a position to be provided is provided.

In the cradle device according to the present invention, the cradle body may further include an indicator that indicates a remaining power of the storage battery.

  When the indicator is provided, the indicator displays a predetermined warning when the storage battery is abnormal and / or the cradle device exceeding a predetermined number is stacked and supplied with power from the commercial power source. Also good.

According to the configuration of the present invention, since the cradle device includes a storage battery for supplying power to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal can be operated for a long time without receiving power from a commercial power source. Thereby, even in a store where there is no power supply facility from a commercial power source for each table, the order system can be introduced in a self-order manner.
In addition, the cradle device can charge the two or more cradle devices from the charging terminal of one cradle device in a state where two or more cradle devices are stacked vertically by the upper connection terminal and the lower connection terminal. It is not necessary to provide a power supply facility from a commercial power source for each cradle device, and a self-order type ordering system can be introduced with a minimum power source facility.

It is a perspective view of the state which mounted the portable terminal in the cradle apparatus in an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the positional relationship of the cradle main body, an attachment, and a portable terminal in an example of the embodiment. It is a top perspective view of a cradle body in an example of the embodiment. It is a bottom perspective view of a cradle body in an example of the embodiment. It is a top view of the cradle main body in an example of the embodiment. It is a perspective view of an attachment in an example of the embodiment. It is a figure of an attachment in an example of the embodiment, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a bottom view.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the present specification and each drawing, the same elements as those described above with reference to the previous drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

1 and 2 are views showing a state in which a portable terminal 4 such as a tablet computer is placed on the cradle device 1 in this embodiment, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a side view.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cradle device 1 includes a cradle body 2 and an attachment 3. The cradle apparatus 1 is mounted on a mounting portion 22 of the cradle body 2 described later with the attachment 3 attached to the mobile terminal 4. To do.

  The cradle body 2 is supplied with electric power from a commercial power source via an AC adapter (not shown), and charges the storage battery (not shown) built in the cradle body 2 and the power stored in the storage battery 4 The function to supply to.

  The attachment 3 is an attachment for placing the portable terminal 4 such as a well-known tablet computer on the cradle body 2, and includes an attachment power receiving terminal 32 for receiving power supply from the cradle body 2 as will be described later. ing.

  3 to 5 are views showing the cradle main body 2 constituting the cradle device 1, FIG. 3 is a plan perspective view, FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a plan view. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cradle body 2 has an outer appearance of a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view by an upper housing 21 a including a placement portion 22 and a storage battery housing portion 23 and a lower housing 21 b. .

  The upper casing 21a and the lower casing 21b are casings for storing a storage battery, a control circuit, and other components housed in the cradle body 2. In this embodiment, the upper and lower casings 21a and 21b are connected to each other. In the combined state, it is formed with a width of about 160 mm, a depth of about 100 mm, and a height of about 47 mm.

  A placement unit 22 serving as a part on which the mobile terminal 4 is placed is provided in front of the upper casing 21a, that is, the front side. The placement portion 22 is a groove-like portion provided in the left-right direction of the upper housing 21a, and the mobile terminal 4 is placed in the groove-like portion. In addition, the mounting portion 22 includes an attachment engagement groove 22 a that engages with an attachment 3 described later at the center, and an attachment power supply terminal 22 b that supplies power to the mobile terminal 4 via the attachment 3. In this embodiment, the width of the groove serving as the placement portion 22 is approximately 17 mm at the upper end side, approximately 10 mm at the lower end side, and the upper end side of the central portion where the attachment engaging groove 22 a is provided is approximately 25 mm wide. The general dimensions can be changed as appropriate. In this embodiment, 5V and 2A power is output from the attachment power supply terminal 22b. However, the power supply voltage, current, and the like may be appropriately changed according to the mobile terminal 4 to be used.

  A storage battery housing portion 23 is provided behind the upper housing 21a, that is, on the back side, and forms a space for housing the above-described storage battery. Although the cradle device 1 of the present embodiment includes a storage battery having a capacity of approximately 16,000 mAh in the storage battery housing portion 23, the capacity of the storage battery can be changed as appropriate.

  Engagement pins 24a to 24c are formed in the vicinity of the front center of the upper casing 21a and on the upper left and right ends on the rear side. The engagement pins 24a to 24c are provided at positions corresponding to later-described engagement holes 25a to 25c, and function as positioning pins when the cradle bodies are stacked in the vertical direction.

  An upper connection terminal 26a is provided in the vicinity of the rear center of the upper housing 21a. The upper connection terminal 26a is a terminal for electrically connecting the plurality of stacked cradle bodies 2 when the cradle bodies 2 are stacked in the vertical direction as will be described later.

  An indicator 29 is provided in front of the upper casing 21a, that is, in front of it. The indicator 29 indicates the remaining amount of the storage battery of the cradle body 2 and displays a warning in a predetermined state. The indicator 29 of the present embodiment is composed of six green LEDs, and displays the remaining amount of the storage battery in six levels. In the present embodiment, the number of simultaneous connections of the cradle body 2 is limited to five for the purpose of overcurrent and other protection. When six or more cradle bodies 2 are stacked and charged up and down, all the LEDs of the indicator 29 blink to display a warning that unauthorized charging is being performed.

  The lower housing 21b is provided with engagement holes 25a to 25c at positions corresponding to the above-described engagement pins 24a to 24c. When two or more cradle bodies 2 are stacked in the vertical direction, one cradle is provided. By engaging the engagement pins 24a to 24c of the main body 2 with the other cradle main body 2 engagement holes 25a to 25c, the two or more cradle main bodies 2 are positioned.

  Near the center of the rear side of the lower housing 21b, a lower connection terminal 26b is provided at a position corresponding to the above-described upper connection terminal 26a. When two or more cradle bodies 2 are stacked in the vertical direction, the upper connection terminal 26a of one cradle body 2 and the lower connection terminal 26b of the other cradle body 2 are connected, thereby the two or more cradle bodies 2 are connected. Are electrically connected.

  The left side surface of the cradle main body 2 is connected to or disconnected from a charging terminal 27 for receiving the supply of power from a commercial power supply via an AC adapter and charging the storage battery, and the charging terminal 27 and other electronic circuits. A switch 28 is provided. In the present embodiment, the commercial power source is converted into a DC current of 5V and 3A by an AC adapter and is supplied to the cradle body 2. However, the charging voltage, current, and the like may be arbitrarily changed.

  6 and 7 are views showing the attachment 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view, FIG. 7 (a) is a front view, FIG. 7 (b) is a side view, and FIG. 7 (c) is a bottom view. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A to 7C, the attachment 3 includes an attachment front panel 31a, an attachment rear panel 31b, and an attachment power receiving terminal 32 provided on the lower end side of the attachment rear panel 31b. Yes.

  The attachment front panel 31 a and the attachment back panel 31 b are synthetic resin members that constitute the appearance of the attachment 3. In the present embodiment, the cradle device 1 includes the cradle body 2 and the attachment 3. However, when the mobile terminal 4 is placed on the cradle device 1, the attachment is attached to the mobile terminal 4. 3 is engaged with the attachment engaging groove 22a of the cradle body 2 and placed. Therefore, the shape of the lower part of the attachment rear panel 31b is substantially the same shape as the attachment engagement groove 22a of the cradle body 2.

  The attachment front panel 31a is a member formed so as to follow the back shape of the portable terminal to which the attachment 3 is attached. As described above, the placement portion 22 of the cradle body 2 is formed as a groove having a width of about 17 mm on the upper end side, and is a portion wider than the thickness of a known tablet computer that becomes the mobile terminal 4. . By forming the attachment front panel 31 a in accordance with the thickness and the back surface shape of the tablet computer to be the mobile terminal 4, various well-known tablet computers can be placed on the cradle body 2 as the mobile terminal 4.

  The attachment power receiving terminal 32 is a terminal for receiving supply of electric power from the storage battery of the cradle main body 2 by contacting the attachment power supply terminal 22 b of the cradle main body 2. By electrically connecting the attachment power receiving terminal 32 and the charging terminal of the portable terminal 4, the portable terminal 4 to which the attachment 3 is attached is simply placed on the placement portion 22 of the cradle body 2, and the portable terminal 4 is powered. Can be supplied. The portable terminal 4 in the present embodiment is a known tablet computer, but there are various connectors for supplying power to the tablet computer depending on the model of the tablet computer. The cradle device 1 according to the present embodiment can supply power via the attachment power receiving terminal 3 to absorb differences between connectors and the like depending on the model, and supply power via a unified connection terminal. The cradle device 1 of the present embodiment is assumed to be installed for each table in a store or the like. However, if the power cable is frequently attached and detached during use in the store, the connector for connecting the cable is damaged. It is usually easy. In the present embodiment, charging of the mobile terminal 4 is performed by contacting the attachment power receiving terminal 32 of the attachment 3 and the attachment power supply terminal 22b of the cradle body 2 regardless of attachment / detachment of a power cable or the like. Etc. can be effectively prevented. A part of the attachment rear panel 31b may be extended rearward, or a connection terminal cover that covers the upper connection terminal 26a of the cradle body 2 may be provided as a separate member. When the cradle device 1 of the present embodiment is used in a restaurant or the like, it is desirable that the upper connection terminal 26a is not exposed to the outside except when necessary, but the connection 3 is provided with a connection terminal cover. The upper connection terminal 26a can be prevented from being exposed without greatly increasing the number of parts.

  As described above, the cradle device 1 of the present embodiment includes the upper connection terminal 26a on the upper end side of the cradle body 2, and includes the lower connection terminal 26b at a corresponding position on the lower end side. With this configuration, when two or more cradle bodies 2 are stacked in the vertical direction, the stacked cradle bodies 2 are electrically connected to form one parallel charging circuit. When the charging terminal 27 of one cradle body 2 is connected to a commercial power source by an AC adapter in a state where the cradle body 2 is stacked, the storage batteries of all the stacked cradle bodies 2 can be charged. As described above, it is assumed that the cradle device 1 of the present embodiment is installed for each table in a store or the like. However, with the above configuration, a plurality of cradle devices 1 are connected from one commercial power outlet or the like via an AC adapter. Can be charged. The portable terminal 4 can be charged by the storage battery of the cradle body 2 and the plurality of cradle bodies 2 can be charged simultaneously, so that the installation cost of the power supply facility can be greatly reduced. In the present embodiment, all the connected cradle main bodies 1 are charged at the same time, but may be sequentially charged in a predetermined order. A plurality of cradle devices 1 can be charged with one power supply device by charging the connected cradle main body 2 in order from the top, and can be used sequentially from the cradle device 1 that has been charged.

Although the description of the present embodiment has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cradle body 1 of the present embodiment has a width of about 160 mm, a depth of about 100 mm, and a height of about 47 mm, but the size of the cradle device may be changed as appropriate depending on the mobile terminal used, the installation location, and the like.
Other specific configurations are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cradle apparatus 2 Cradle main body 21a Case 21b Case 22 Mounting part 22a Attachment engaging groove 22b Attachment power supply terminal 23 Battery storage part 24a-c Engagement pin 25a-c Engagement hole 26a Upper end side connection terminal 26b Lower end side connection Terminal 27 Charging terminal 28 Switch 29 Indicator 3 Attachment 31a Attachment body 31b Attachment body 32 Attachment power receiving terminal 4 Mobile terminal

Claims (5)

A cradle device provided with a storage battery for supplying power to a mobile terminal,
The upper connection terminal provided on the upper end side of the cradle device, the lower connection terminal provided on the lower end side of the cradle device and corresponding to the upper connection terminal, and the power supply from the commercial power supply A charging terminal for charging the storage battery,
In a state where two or more cradle devices are stacked in the vertical direction and the upper connection terminal and the lower connection terminal are connected to each other, by receiving the supply of electric power from one charging terminal, the two or more cradle devices A cradle device for charging a storage battery. The cradle device includes a cradle body and an attachment attached to the mobile terminal,
The attachment includes an attachment power receiving terminal for receiving power from the cradle body;
The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the cradle body includes an attachment power supply terminal that supplies power to the mobile terminal through the attachment by contacting the attachment power receiving terminal. The cradle body is further provided with one or more engagement pins provided on the upper end side of the cradle body, and an engagement hole provided at a position corresponding to the one or more engagement pins on the lower end side of the cradle body. The cradle device according to claim 2, further comprising:   The cradle device according to claim 2, wherein the cradle body further includes an indicator that indicates a remaining power of the storage battery. 5. The display according to claim 4, wherein the indicator displays a predetermined warning when the storage battery is abnormal and / or the cradle device exceeding a predetermined number is stacked and supplied with electric power from the commercial power source. Cradle device.