JP3148560B2 - POS system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a POS system for reading bar codes and managing merchandise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional POS system, as a means for confirming whether or not a bar code has been normally read by a scanner device, a means for generating a sound and confirming it audibly to a scanner operator, or The confirmation was made by means of visually confirming by light emission.

[0003] The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-79314 is provided with a notification line for an instruction code from a POS terminal to a scanner device, and means for setting the instruction code by key operation is provided. It is possible to change the volume and timbre of the sounding unit by presetting the command code and sending the command code to the scanner device, thereby easily changing / setting the volume and timbre.

[0004]

However, in the means for informing the operator by the visual means as described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm it depending on the illumination of the place to be used. Similarly, in the case of the means for giving an audible notification, there has been a problem that the sound cannot be confirmed by surrounding sounds.

[0005] According to the invention of Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-79314, there is disclosed a technique capable of changing the tone color and volume of a sound output from a sounding unit. However, raising the volume so as not to be interrupted by the surrounding sounds causes a new problem that the state becomes extremely noisy.

[0006] The present invention solves these problems by providing a tactile stimulus to an operator for confirmation. As a result, it is possible to easily confirm even a place where it is difficult to confirm visually and audibly.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, a bar code reading means for reading a bar code, and a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving information read by the bar code reading means to / from a POS terminal. A data judging unit for judging whether the data transmitted by the transmitting unit is normal, and, when the data judging unit judges that the data is normal, give an operator a tactile stimulus for confirmation. A notifying means, and the notifying means is a barcode such as a scanner device.
Integrated into the handle of the reader
To provide a tactile stimulus to the operator.

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

According to the present invention, the bar code is read by the bar code reading means, the read information is read into the POS terminal main body through the transmitting means, and the read data is normal by the data determining means inside the POS terminal main body. It is determined whether the data is normal, and if the data is normal, the notification means provided in the bar code reading means notifies the user that the reading has been normally performed by the tactile stimulus.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the output level of the haptic stimulus caused by the protrusion of the protrusion or the vibration of the electromagnetic excitation vibrator is adjusted by the level adjuster in accordance with the user.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between each means in the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a bar code reading unit. The bar code reading means mainly includes a handy type scanner, a ground type scanner device, and the like. Reference numeral 12 denotes a transmission unit. Barcode reading means 1
The information read in step 1 is transmitted to the POS, and the setting information from the POS is transmitted to the barcode reading means.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a data judgment unit. When the information read by the bar code reading means 11 is transmitted through the transmission means 12, it is determined whether the information is normal data.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a notification unit. When the data determining means 13 determines that the data is normal, the operator is notified of the fact.

Reference numeral 15 denotes level adjusting means. The level of the tactile stimulus in the notification means 14 is adjusted.

FIG. 2 shows the contents of the control instruction code for controlling the scanner device from the POS system. The control command code includes a command to set the barcode scanner unit to the reading prohibited state, a command to release the barcode scanner unit from the reading prohibited state, a command to sound from the scanner sound device, and a light emission from the scanner light emitting device. There are a command and a command to be notified by the tactile notification device of the scanner, and a character code is assigned to each of them.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of the protrusion projection. FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 3B is a transverse sectional view. The inside of the projection 41 is a magnet, and the outside of the magnet is covered with a member such as rubber, and when it comes into contact with the body, it is of a shape and material that gives a soft stimulus. The protrusion 41 has a bottom surface fixed to the center of the coil 42 with the spring 43 and the stopper 40 interposed therebetween.

When a current is applied to the coil, the protrusion generates a force in a direction opposite to the resistance of the spring 43 due to the action of the magnetic force. When the force exceeds the resistance of the spring 43, the protrusion is separated from the outer frame by the outer frame. It will protrude upward. FIG. 5 shows this.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the electromagnetic excitation vibrator. A coil 45 is wound around the iron core 44, and a vibrating piece 46 is attached to the vibrating shaft 47 at a position close to the iron core 44. A coil spring is attached to the vibration shaft 47, and a force acts in a direction of moving the vibration piece 46 away from the iron core by the elastic force of the coil spring.

When the switch 48 is turned on, the coil 45
Current flows through the core 44 and the iron core 44 is excited.
Moves in a direction approaching the iron core 44. Then, when an alternating current is passed through this circuit, the vibrating piece vibrates in synchronization with the frequency of the alternating current (FIG. 4B).

FIG. 5 shows the projection 4 in the projection shown in FIG.
It is explanatory drawing of the system which changes the force which 1 projects. The protruding force of the protruding portion 59 can be changed by switching the switch 51 to change the resistors 52 to 54 of different sizes by changing the switch 51.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a system for changing the vibration force in the electromagnetic excitation vibration section of FIG. The vibration force of the vibration unit 60 can be changed by selecting the output terminal of the transformer 58 by changing the switch 57 and changing the voltage by changing the switch 57.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a stationary scanner device.
An example is shown in which a protruding portion or an electromagnetic excitation vibration portion is provided on a band, and the band is worn on a part of the body. The stationary scanner also includes a light emitting device 82 and a sounding device 83.

FIG. 8 is an external view of the handy type scanner. The projection 41 is arranged at a position where the projection 41 touches when it is held by hand. In the case where the electromagnetic excitation vibrating section is provided, the vibration need only be transmitted to the operator holding the hand scanner.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a selection screen for selecting a means for notifying the operator that the reading was normal when the bar code was successfully read by the scanner.

Under this screen display, the setting can be changed by pressing the [Change] key and pressing one of the numeric keys [1] to [3] on the keyboard of the POS system. When the numeric key [1] is depressed, changes the flag as to whether or not to sound the sounding portion. Similarly, the numeric key [2] changes a flag indicating whether the light emitting unit of the light emitting device emits light, and the numeric key [3] changes a flag indicating whether the vibrating unit vibrates.

FIG. 10 is a change setting screen for changing, from the POS system, the vibration force used to notify the operator of the normal reading of a bar code when the bar code can be read normally by the scanner device. On this screen, the settings can be changed by pressing numeric keys [1] to [3].

FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts of one embodiment of the present invention. When the input process of the scanner device is started (step S11), the POS system instructs the scanner device to set the bar code scanner unit to one of the control command codes, ie, the command “a” to set the bar code scanner unit to the reading prohibited state.
Is transmitted, and the barcode scanner unit is controlled to be in the reading prohibited state (step S12).

Then, means for notifying the operator of the normal reading of the scanner device is set. Each means has a flag, and in the default state, all are set to the ON state (step S13), and the flags of the means whose settings have been changed are changed to the OFF state (steps S14 to S1).
9). Next, a buffer for storing the barcode data read by the scanner device is prepared in the POS system and the scanner device (step S20), and the POS system instructs the scanner device to control the barcode scanner unit which is one of the control instruction codes. The command “b” for canceling the reading prohibition state is transmitted, and the barcode scanner unit is set to the reading enabled state (step S21).

When the scanner device reads the barcode normally, the scanner device reads the barcode data
Send to OS system. When the POS system confirms that the read data has been transmitted and can be received (step S22), the POS system receives the barcode data (step S24). If there is no barcode read data, after a waiting time (step S13), it is repeatedly checked whether there is barcode read data.

Upon completion of the reception, the POS system transmits to the scanner device an instruction "a" for setting the scanner to the reading prohibited state, which is one of the control instruction codes, and is ready to receive the next scanning data again. Until it is possible, the scanner device is set to the reading prohibited state (step S25).

The bar code data received is analyzed by the POS system, and if it is determined that the bar code data has been received normally, the previously set flag is checked (steps S27, S29, S29).
31), the POS system provides a third
By transmitting the command control code shown in the figure, each notification unit is operated (steps S28, S30, S32).

The above is the flow of one barcode data reading operation. If the notification means is to be changed, the process returns to step S13 of the display screen in FIG. 10A again (step S33). If the input of the scanner is finished (step S35), the process ends. If the input is continued, the process is step S20. (Step S34).

By this processing, the operator can surely know that the bar code has been read normally.

[0041]

According to the conventional light-emitting device and sound-emitting device, the present invention can be applied to tactile stimulation even in places where it is difficult to check the light emission of the light-emitting device due to lighting or in places where noise is intense. , It is possible to confirm it.

It is also very useful when a hearing impaired person operates a POS terminal.

Further, since the recognizing means itself does not make a sound, no noise is generated, and even when a plurality of devices are used at the same time, the sound from the adjacent POS is erroneously recognized. Nor.

In addition, since it is not necessary to always check the light emitting portion with the eyes, operations such as inputting and checking the monitor can be performed at the same time, thereby improving the working efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a relationship between respective means in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of a control instruction code for controlling the scanner device from the POS system.

FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional view of a protrusion, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the protrusion.

FIG. 4 (A) is an electromagnetic excitation vibrator using a direct current,
(B) is a diagram showing a configuration of an electromagnetic excitation vibration unit using an alternating current.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for changing a protrusion output in a protrusion protrusion.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system that changes a vibration force in an electromagnetic excitation vibration unit.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a stationary scanner.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a handy type scanner.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when a notification unit is selected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when the vibration force at the time of notification is changed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Barcode reading means 12 Transmission means 13 Data judgment means 14 Notification means 15 Level adjustment means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-266348 (JP, A) JP-A-2-85791 (JP, A) JP-A-2-24591 (JP, A) 258179 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 58-174755 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 2-7597 (JP, U) Registered Utility Model 3005573 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07G 1/00-5/00 G06F 17/60 G06K 7/10

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code reading means for reading a bar code, a transmitting means for transmitting information read by the bar code reading means to a POS terminal, and whether or not the data transmitted by the transmitting means is normal. Data judging means for judging, and notifying means for giving an operator a tactile stimulus when the data judging means judges that the data is normal, for notifying the operator, and the notifying means is integrated with the bar code reading means. Is
A POS system comprising: