JP5736396B2 - Information terminal and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to an information terminal used for inputting information on products ordered by a customer at a restaurant or the like, and a program thereof.

  In a restaurant such as a family restaurant, a hand-held information terminal, a so-called handy terminal, is known in which a staff member can input information on a product ordered by a customer and wirelessly transmit it to a kitchen or the like.

  This handy terminal includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit for inputting order information. The handy terminal has a built-in rechargeable battery and operates with the voltage of the battery.

JP 2007-147434 A

  If the handy terminal continues to be used with a low battery level, the battery will eventually run out and the business will be interrupted.

  The purpose of the embodiment is to appropriately notify the user of battery replacement or charging before the battery runs out, thereby avoiding problems such as operation stoppage during work and improving work efficiency. To provide an information terminal and its program.

  The information terminal includes a base portion having operation means, a lid portion provided on the operation means of the base portion so as to be openable and closable, a battery for outputting an operating voltage of the information terminal, and opening of the lid portion. Counting means for counting the number of times or the number of closing times, and notification means for notifying that the battery needs to be replaced or charged when the count value of the counting means is equal to or greater than a set value.

The figure which shows the operation surface of each embodiment. The figure which shows the back side of each embodiment. The block diagram of the control circuit of each embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the guidance sentence displayed on the liquid crystal display part of each embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control of 2nd Embodiment.

[1] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a hand-held information terminal, which is a handheld information terminal for inputting customer order information and transmitting it wirelessly at a restaurant or the like, and is openable and closable via a base member 10 and the base member part 10 via hinges 2 and 3. A connected lid 20 is provided.

When in use, the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 11 disposed on the inner operation surface of the base unit 10 and the operation disposed on the inner operation surface of the lid unit 20 by opening the lid unit 20 as illustrated. The keypad 21 is exposed. When not in use, the lid 20 can be closed and stored in a pocket of an attendant.
A plurality of handy terminals 1 are prepared according to the number of shop assistants who receive orders and the scale of the shop.

  The liquid crystal display unit 11 of the base unit 10 functions as an operation means for inputting order information, and displays a large number of operation patterns 11a with product names, product graphics, product pictures (icons) and the like. An operation pattern display area that is arranged and displayed, and a key display area 11b that displays key patterns such as numerical values and characters arranged vertically and horizontally. In addition, the liquid crystal display unit 11 displays a received radio wave intensity display pattern 11c that indicates the reception intensity of radio waves transmitted from the order station 40 described later in a stepwise manner in the uppermost region, and also stores a storage amount of the battery 16 described later. Is displayed in a stepwise manner.

  The operation keypad 21 of the lid portion 20 also functions as an operation means for inputting order information. The operation keypad 21 includes a number of operation keys 21a with product names, product graphics, product pictures (icons), and the like. Arranged vertically and horizontally.

  The liquid crystal display unit 11 of the base unit 10 is exposed by opening the lid unit 20 in the right direction while holding the base unit 10 with the left hand, and can be touch-operated with the right hand finger. Similarly, the operation keypad 21 of the lid 20 can be touch-operated with the right finger.

  A plurality of operation keys such as an upward shift key 12, a downward shift key 13, and a circular enter key (ENT key) 14 are arranged on a side surface portion along the longitudinal direction of the base body portion 10. The enter key 14 is for confirming the input order information, and can be pressed with the thumb of the left hand while holding the base 10 with the left hand. Similarly, the upward shift key 12 and the downward shift key 13 can be pressed with the thumb of the left hand while the base unit 10 is held by the left hand.

  The magnet 18 a is disposed above the operation surface of the lid 20 and the magnetic flux sensor 18 b is disposed above the operation surface of the base body 10. When the lid 20 is closed, the magnet 18a approaches or contacts the magnetic flux sensor 18b, and the magnetic flux sensor 18b detects the magnetic flux of the magnet 18a. When the lid 20 is opened, the magnet 18a is separated from the magnetic flux sensor 18b, and the magnetic flux sensor 18b does not detect the magnetic flux of the magnet 18a. The opening / closing of the lid 20 can be detected by the output of the magnetic flux sensor 18b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a battery cover 15 is detachably provided at the lower part of the back surface of the base portion 10, and a rechargeable battery 16 is fitted and attached inside the battery cover 15. The battery 16 outputs a voltage necessary for the operation of the handy terminal 1.

  The user of the handy terminal 1 can charge the battery 16 by removing the battery cover 15, taking out the battery 16 therein, and setting the battery 16 in a dedicated charger. Thereafter, the user removes the battery 16 that has been charged from the charger and attaches it to the base unit 10. With this attachment, the handy terminal 1 is turned on.

  The user attaches the battery cover 15 to the original position after the battery 16 is mounted. A cover sensor 17 is disposed in the vicinity of the attachment position of the battery cover 15. The cover sensor 17 detects removal and attachment of the battery cover 15 by any one of mechanical, optical, and magnetic methods.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit of the handy terminal 1 and a control circuit of an external device that performs wireless communication with the handy terminal 1.
A CPU 100 of a microcomputer is mounted on the circuit board of the base 10 in the handy terminal 1. The CPU 100 includes a touch panel 101, an LCD display module 102, a wireless communication unit 103, a ROM 104, a RAM 105, a voltage detection unit 106, the cover sensor 17, a clock 108, a clock battery 109, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) 110, and an upward shift key. 12, Downward shift key 13, Enter key 14, and magnetic flux sensor 18b are connected.

  The touch panel 101 and the LCD display module 102 constitute a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 11 in the base unit 10. That is, the LCD display module 102 displays images of various operation patterns and various operation keys, and the touch panel 101 transmits the display.

  The wireless communication unit 103 is provided with an antenna 103a, wirelessly transmits information and signals supplied from the CPU 100 to an external device via a communication network such as a LAN (local area network) 30, and wirelessly from the external device. Information and signals to be transmitted are received via the LAN 30 and supplied to the CPU 100.

  The ROM 104 stores an operating system (OS), application programs necessary for order reception processing, and various display pattern data such as characters, graphics, and pictures. The RAM 105 stores various types of data generated as the CPU 100 executes processes. The voltage detection unit 106 detects the voltage V of the battery 16 in the battery 16 attached to the base unit 10.

  The clock 108 measures the current time. The watch battery 109 is a small-capacity button battery, for example, that outputs a voltage necessary for the operation of the watch 108. The SRAM 110 is for storing a count value of a counting means, which will be described later. The SRAM 110 receives the voltage of the watch battery 109 and holds it even when the battery 16 is removed.

  A membrane key 201 is mounted on the circuit board of the lid 20 in the handy terminal 1. The membrane key 201 has a large number of contacts that operate in response to pressing of the fingers on the operation keys 21a of the operation keypad 21, and supplies signals of these contacts to the CPU 100 of the base unit 10 as order input information.

  As an external device that performs wireless communication with the handy terminal 1, an order receiving device so-called order station 40 that accepts order information wirelessly transmitted from the handy terminal 1 is installed in a kitchen or the like. The order station 40 and the handy terminal 1 constitute an information processing system that executes merchandise order acceptance processing.

  The order station 40 includes a CPU 41 that executes order acceptance processing. A wireless communication unit 42, an operation unit 43, and a display unit 44 are connected to the CPU 41. The wireless communication unit 42 wirelessly transmits information and signals supplied from the CPU 41 to the handy terminal 1 via the LAN 30, and receives information and signals wirelessly transmitted from the handy terminal 1 via the LAN 30 and supplies them to the CPU 41. To do.

The CPU 100 of the handy terminal 1 has the following means (1) to (9) as main functions based on the program in the ROM 104.
(1) Information input in response to a touch operation on the liquid crystal display unit 11, a press operation on the operation keypad 21, an upward shift key 12, a downward shift key 13, an enter key 14 or the like is taken in as order information. Transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the order information to the order station 40 by the wireless communication unit 103.

  (2) Analog display control means for analog-displaying the value of the detection voltage V of the voltage detection unit 106 in a stepwise manner, for example, in three steps by the battery remaining amount display pattern 11d of the liquid crystal display unit 11.

  (3) Opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the lid 20 based on the output of the magnetic flux sensor 18b.

  (4) Counting means for counting the number of times the lid 20 is opened based on the detection result of the open / close detection means. The count value of the counting means is hereinafter referred to as count value N.

  (5) Control means for setting the count value N of the number of times of opening to the initial value “0” when the battery 16 is removed.

  (6) Notification means for notifying that the battery 16 needs to be replaced or charged by displaying on the liquid crystal display section 11 when the count value N is equal to or greater than the set value Ns when wireless transmission by the transmission means is completed. For example, a numerical value “200” is determined as the set value Ns. This numerical value “200” corresponds to the minimum number of transmissions for which operation is guaranteed when a fully charged battery 16 is used.

  (7) Suspend control means for setting a suspend state for power saving when the lid 20 is closed or when no operation input is received for a predetermined time with the lid 20 open.

  (8) After the suspend state is set, on the condition that the lid 20 is open and the enter key 14 is turned on (pressed), a resume process is executed to release the suspend state. Control means.

  Specifically, when the cover sensor 17 detects the removal of the battery cover 15, the control means (5) captures the detection as the removal of the battery 16 and sets the count value N to the initial value “0”. After setting, the system of the handy terminal 1 is shut down. As a time from the detection of the removal by the cover sensor 17 to the shutdown, a predetermined time, for example, 500 msec, which is sufficiently shorter than the time required for the user to actually remove the battery 16 after removing the battery cover 15 is set. Yes. The initial value “0” is set within this fixed time to perform shutdown. The actual removal of the battery 16 by the user is after this shutdown. The count value N is set to an initial value “0” at the manufacturer side or the store side at the time of product shipment or sale of the handy terminal 1.

Next, control executed by the CPU 100 of the handy terminal 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the lid 20 is closed (NO in step 301), or the CPU 100 does not accept an operation input by turning on the enter key 14 for a predetermined time even when the lid 20 is open (in step 301). YES, NO in step 302), the setting of the suspended state for power saving is maintained (step 303). Subsequently, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the battery cover 15 is removed based on the output of the cover sensor 17 (step 304).

  If the battery cover 15 has not been removed (NO in step 304), the CPU 100 returns to the beginning and monitors the opening / closing of the lid 20 (step 301). If the battery cover 15 is removed (YES in step 304), the CPU 100 sets the count value N of the number of times the lid 20 is opened to an initial value “0” (step 305), and after setting the handy terminal 1 The system is shut down (step 306).

  When the lid 20 is opened (YES in step 301) and the enter key 14 is turned on (YES in step 302), the CPU 100 executes a resume process for releasing the suspended state (step 307). Then, the count value N of the number of times the lid 20 is opened is incremented by “1” (step 308). Subsequently, the CPU 100 receives, as order information, information input in response to a touch operation on the liquid crystal display unit 11, a press operation on the operation keypad 21, a press operation such as the upward shift key 12, the downward shift key 13, and the enter key 14. (Step 309).

  The CPU 100 has no transmission key ON operation (touch operation) in the key display area 11b of the liquid crystal display unit 11 (NO in step 310), no removal of the battery cover 15 (NO in step 311), and the lid 20 Is open (NO in step 312), the order information is continuously taken in (step 309).

  When taking in the order information, if the battery cover 15 is removed (YES in step 311), the CPU 100 sets the count value N of the number of opening of the lid 20 to the initial value “0” (step 311). 305), after the setting, the system of the handy terminal 1 is shut down (step 306). In addition, when taking the order information, the CPU 100 ends the taking of the order information when the lid 20 is closed (YES in Step 312).

  When taking in the order information, the CPU 100 wirelessly transmits the taken order information to the order station 40 (step 313) when the transmission key is turned on (YES in step 310). When the wireless transmission is finished, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the count value N of the number of times the lid 20 is opened is greater than or equal to the set value Ns (step 314).

  CPU 100 determines that count value N is less than set value Ns (NO in step 314), battery cover 15 is not removed (NO in step 311), and lid 20 is open (NO in step 312). Then, taking in the order information is resumed (step 309).

  When the count value N is greater than or equal to the set value Ns (YES in step 314), the CPU 100 displays a guidance message on the liquid crystal display unit 11 indicating that the battery 16 needs to be replaced or charged, as shown in FIG. 315). In this case, for example, the CPU 100 displays a guidance sentence “Please replace or charge the battery / ENT key after confirmation”. The phrase “ENT key after confirmation” included in this guidance sentence is for informing the user that the enter key 14 should be turned on after confirmation of the guidance sentence.

  The user of the handy terminal 1 recognizes that the battery 16 needs to be replaced or charged by looking at the guidance text. Then, the user turns on the enter key 14 in accordance with this detection. In response to the ON operation of the enter key 14 (YES in step 316), the CPU 100 cancels the display of the guidance text on the liquid crystal display unit 11 (step 317). Subsequently, if the battery cover 15 is not removed (NO in step 311) and the lid 20 is open (NO in step 312), the CPU 100 resumes taking in the order information (step 309).

  The user who sees the indication of the guidance notices that the battery 16 needs to be replaced or charged, and removes the battery cover 15 by removing the battery cover 15 between tasks, such as when there is no orderer, and the battery. 16 replacements or charging can actually be performed.

  When the battery cover 15 is removed (YES in Step 304 or YES in Step 311), the CPU 100 sets the count value N of the number of opening of the lid 20 to the initial value “0” (Step 305). After the setting, the system of the handy terminal 1 is shut down (step 306). In this case, as the time from when the battery cover 15 is removed to when the shutdown is performed, a certain time (which is sufficiently shorter than the time required for the user to actually remove the battery 16 after removing the battery cover 15) 500 msec). The actual removal of the battery 16 by the user is after this shutdown.

  When the count value N of the number of times the lid 20 is opened is equal to or greater than the set value Ns, that is, when the number of times the lid 20 is opened reaches 200 times, and wireless transmission of order information is repeated at least 200 times, The battery 16 is in a state where the remaining amount is low and the service life is almost exhausted. At this time, by performing the notification using the above-mentioned guidance sentence, the user of the handy terminal 1 can perform replacement or charging of the battery 16 before the battery runs out. As a result, it is possible to avoid the problem that the operation stops in the middle of work, and to improve work efficiency.

  In addition, since the guidance text is displayed when one order of wireless transmission of the order information is completed, the guidance text is not displayed while the order is being received. Therefore, the order information for one time can be taken in and transmitted wirelessly.

  The liquid crystal display unit 11 has a display of a battery remaining amount display pattern 11d, and the remaining amount of the battery 16 can be known to some extent by looking at the display. However, the display of the battery remaining amount display pattern 11d is only a rough level display. Since the guidance text is displayed separately from the display of the remaining battery capacity display pattern 11d, the problem that the handy terminal 1 continues to be used while the battery 16 is nearly exhausted can be reliably solved.

[2] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The CPU 100 of the handy terminal 1 has the following means (11) as a main function based on the program in the ROM 104, and replaces the means (5) and (6) of the first embodiment with the following (12). (13) means. Since the other means (1) to (4) and the means (7) and (8) are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  (11) Counting means for counting the number of times of wireless transmission by the transmitting means. Hereinafter, the count value of the counting means is referred to as a count value T.

  (12) Control means for setting the count value N of the number of times of opening and the count value T of the number of times of transmission to the initial value “0” when the battery 16 is removed.

  (13) When wireless transmission by the transmission means is completed, when either one of the condition that the count value N is equal to or greater than the set value Ns and the condition that the count value T is equal to or greater than the set value Ts is satisfied, Informing means for informing that charging is necessary by displaying on the liquid crystal display unit 11. For example, a numerical value “200” is determined as the set value Ns. This numerical value “200” corresponds to the minimum number of transmissions for which operation is guaranteed when a fully charged battery 16 is used. For the set value Ts, a numerical value “200” corresponding to the minimum number of transmissions is determined.

  Specifically, the control means (12), when the cover sensor 17 detects the removal of the battery cover 15, captures the detection as the removal of the battery 16, and sets the count values N and T to the initial values “0”. The system of the handy terminal 1 is shut down after the setting. As a time from the detection of the removal by the cover sensor 17 to the shutdown, a predetermined time, for example, 500 msec, which is sufficiently shorter than the time required for the user to actually remove the battery 16 after removing the battery cover 15 is set. Yes. This control means performs the shutdown by setting an initial value “0” within this fixed time. The actual removal of the battery 16 by the user is after this shutdown. The count values N and T are set to the initial value “0” on the manufacturer side or the store side when the handy terminal 1 is shipped or sold.

The control executed by the CPU 100 of the handy terminal 1 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
That is, when the battery cover 15 is removed (YES in step 304 or YES in step 311), the CPU 100 sets the count values N and T to initial values “0” (step 305), and after the setting, The system of the handy terminal 1 is shut down (step 306).

  Further, when the transmission key in the key display area 11b of the liquid crystal display unit 11 is turned on (YES in step 310), the CPU 100 wirelessly transmits the captured order information to the order station 40 (step 313), and counts. The value T is incremented by “1” (step 313a).

  Subsequently, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the count value N is greater than or equal to the set value Ns (step 314), and determines whether or not the count value T is greater than or equal to the set value Ts (step 314a).

  When the count value N is greater than or equal to the set value Ns (YES in step 314), or the count value T of the number of transmissions is greater than or equal to the set value Ts (YES in step 314a), the CPU 100 needs to replace or charge the battery 16. A guidance message to that effect is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11 (step 315).

  The handy terminal 1 releases the suspended state and turns on the operation of the liquid crystal display unit 11 every time the lid 20 is opened and the enter key 14 is turned on. For this reason, the power of the battery 16 is consumed even when the order information is not transmitted wirelessly. Considering this point, the guide sentence display condition is that the number N of times of opening the lid 20 is equal to or greater than the set value Ns.

  The wireless transmission may be repeated a plurality of times with the lid 20 once opened. In consideration of this point, apart from the number of times the lid 20 is opened, the number of transmissions T is equal to or greater than the set value Ts, which is a condition for displaying the guidance text.

  Thus, by making both the number of times of opening and the number of times of transmission a guide display condition, the remaining amount of the battery 16 can be notified more appropriately. Other configurations, controls, and effects are the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description is omitted.

[3] Modification
The set values Ns and Ts are not limited to the numerical value “200” but can be appropriately selected according to the capacity and performance of the battery 16. Different values may be set as the set values Ns and Ts.

  Although the number of times of opening the lid 20 is counted, the number of times of closing the lid 20 may be counted instead of the number of times of opening, and the count value of the number of times of closing may be used as the count value N.

  Although it is notified by displaying a guidance text that the battery 16 needs to be replaced or charged, a method for the notification can be selected as appropriate. For example, various notifications are conceivable, such as blinking a specific image pattern on the liquid crystal display unit 11, generating a buzzer sound from the base unit 10, or causing the base unit 10 to vibrate slightly like a mobile phone.

  In addition, each said embodiment and modification are shown as an example, and are not intending limiting the range of invention. The novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, rewrites, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In these embodiments and modifications, the scope of the invention is included in the gist, and is included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Handy terminal, 10 ... Base | substrate part, 11 ... Touch-panel-type liquid crystal display part, 11a ... Operation pattern, 11b ... Key display area, 11c ... Received electric wave intensity display pattern, 11d ... Battery remaining amount display pattern, 15 ... Battery cover , 16 ... battery, 17 ... cover sensor, 18a ... magnet, 18b ... magnetic flux sensor, 20 ... lid body part, 21 ... operation keypad, 21a ... operation key, 40 ... order station, 100 ... CPU, 103 ... wireless communication part 106: Voltage detector

Claims (6)

A base portion having operating means;
A lid portion provided on the operating means of the base portion so as to be freely opened and closed;
A battery that outputs a terminal operating voltage;
Counting means for counting the number of times the lid is opened or closed;
Informing means for notifying that the battery needs to be replaced or charged when the count value of the counting means is equal to or greater than a set value;
An information terminal comprising: The battery is detachable,
Control means for setting the count value of the counting means to an initial value upon removal of the battery;
Further comprising
The information terminal according to claim 1. The operation means is a touch panel type display unit disposed on the base unit.
The notification means displays a message on the display unit that the battery needs to be replaced or charged.
The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above. Transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting information input by operation of the operating means;
Counting means for counting the number of transmissions of the transmitting means;
Control means for setting the count value of the number of transmissions to an initial value when the battery is removed;
Further comprising
The informing means informs that the battery needs to be replaced or charged when the count value of the number of times of opening or closing is equal to or greater than a set value when wireless transmission by the transmitting means is completed, and the transmitting means When the wireless transmission by is completed, if the count value of the number of transmissions is greater than or equal to a set value, it is notified that the battery needs to be replaced or charged.
The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal is an information terminal. Suspend control means for setting a suspend state for power saving when the lid is closed or when an operation input is not accepted for a predetermined time with the lid open.
Resume control means for executing a resume process for canceling the suspended state on the condition that the lid is open and there is some operation after setting the suspended state;
The information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: In an information terminal including a base portion having an operation means, a lid portion provided on the operation means of the base portion so as to be freely opened and closed, a battery for outputting a terminal operating voltage, and a computer,
The computer,
Counting means for counting the number of times the lid is opened or closed;
Informing means for notifying that the battery needs to be replaced or charged when the count value of the counting means is greater than or equal to a set value;
A program characterized by functioning as

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