JPH0229487Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a cash register, which is an electronic cash register. This invention relates to a cash register whose operability is improved by giving instructions by lighting.

[Conventional technology]

Cash registers, which are used in stores and the like to manage product sales, have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years due to advances in microelectronics, and are becoming more complex to operate. Therefore, when registering sales through a complicated procedure involving many key operations, the operator is likely to get lost in the operating procedure and make an erroneous operation.

Conventionally, therefore, the current operation content is shown by lighting an indicator lamp in the display window where the amount of money, etc. is displayed, or the operating procedure up to the present is displayed in the display window.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, even if the current operation details and the operating procedures up to now are displayed on the display window of the cash register, it is not possible to sufficiently prevent erroneous operations if the registration involves many key operations.

Therefore, this invention was proposed to solve these conventional problems.
Even when registering a more complicated procedure than a process,
To provide a cash register that allows an operator to easily operate keys without causing malfunction.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, the cash register according to the present invention has a plurality of key scan signal lines, a plurality of key return signal lines, and a plurality of key scan signal lines. a plurality of keys that connect a corresponding one of the key return signal lines to a corresponding one of the key return signal lines, and connect a key scan signal line and a key return signal line corresponding to each key. a counter that is controlled by a processing control section and generates a pulse for determining key operation and a pulse for lighting the display means, and an operation based on a signal sent from the key return signal line. a key reading unit that determines the key that has been
A key processing section that receives the output of this key reading section and processes the key contents, and a key correspondence flag conversion section that generates key correspondence flag data that indicates the next key that can be operated based on the processing status of this key processing section. The processing control unit sequentially supplies the key operation determination pulses to the key scanning signal line, and also performs a key reading process of sending the key operation determination pulses to the key reading unit via the key return signal line. , a key lighting process for lighting each of the lighting display means by sequentially supplying the display means lighting pulse to the key scan signal line and sequentially supplying the key corresponding flag data to the key return signal line; and the key processing. The processing of the key contents by the key correspondence flag conversion part and the key input process of generating the key correspondence flag data by the key correspondence flag converting part are performed in a time-sharing manner.

[Effect]

In the cash register according to the present invention,
The lighting display means that lights up based on the key correspondence flag data indicates the next key that can be operated. Also, in this cash register,
Since the processing control unit performs time-sharing processing of key reading processing, key lighting processing, and key input processing, the key return signal line is shared for determining the operated key and lighting the lighting display means.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a cash register according to one embodiment. When key operations are performed in two or more steps, this cash register can indicate the next key to be operated by lighting up, for example, a light emitting diode attached to the key.

In FIG. 1, each key 1 provided on the keyboard has a light emitting diode D (D ₀₀ to _{D 35} ).
are attached in one-to-one correspondence with each key 1. FIG. 2 shows an example of the keyboard 2, which includes a multiplication key 1a, a numeric key 1b, a department key 1
Keys 1 such as c and cash sales total/deposit key 1d are arranged. Here, a light emitting diode D ₁₀ is attached to the multiplication key 1a, and the department keys 1c ₁ ,
1c ₂ , 1c ₃ , 1c ₄ have light emitting diode pulses
D ₀₄ , D ₁₄ , D ₂₄ , and D ₃₄ are attached. In this way, the light emitting diodes D ₀₀ to _{D 35} provided corresponding to each key 1 are connected to the T ₀ to T ₅ signal lines coming out of the output port 3 and the K ₀ to K coming out of the key return terminal input/output switching unit 4. Connected to ₄ signal lines in a matrix. For example, the light emitting diode D ₁₀
Connected to T ₀ signal line and K ₁ signal line. In addition,
For example, when the multiplication key 1a is pressed, the contact closes and the T ₀ signal line and the K ₁ signal line are short-circuited.

Next, the key reading operation will be explained. At the time of key reading, the data input/output port 6 and the key return terminal input/output switching section 4 are switched to the input side by the processing control section 5. Further, a counter 7 that counts from 0 to 5 starts counting according to a command from the processing control section 5, and its output is sent to the output port 3. The output port 3 receives the control signal from the processing control unit 5, and based on the output of the counter 7,
Output “ ₁ ” pulse signal (T ₀ to T ₅ signal line)
_T5 signals) are output sequentially. The T ₀ to _{T 5} signals at this time are signals for a period corresponding to the key reading process in the time division process in FIG. 3.

Here, for example, when the multiplication key 1a is pressed, the key contact closes and _the T ₀ signal line and the K ₁ signal line are electrically connected, so in FIG _.
It passes through the signal line and enters the data input/output port 6 via the input/output switching unit 4. Then, the output of the port 6 which has been switched to the input port is sent to the key reading section 8, thereby determining which key has been pressed.

Note that even if pulse signals of output "1" are sequentially supplied to the T ₀ to T ₅ signal lines, the light emitting diode
D ₀₀ to D ₃₅ do not light up.

The processing up to now corresponds to steps , , in the flowchart of FIG.

When the key reading unit 8 determines that, for example, the multiplication key 1a has been pressed, the output of the key reading unit 8 is then sent to the key input processing unit 9.
Multiplication processing is performed. In this key input processing section 9, based on the input of each key 1, the current total registration process,
Various key input processes such as account registration process and department registration process are performed.

Next, a signal indicating what key processing is currently being performed is sent from the key input processing section 9 to the processing status store control section 10.
If it is 0, the contents of the key processing are checked and it is determined whether the key operation involves two or more steps. If it is determined that the key operation involves two or more steps, the processing status (x:
S ₁ to S _o ) are stored in the processing status memory 11. For example, the key input processing section 9 is in the process of multiplication, so in this case, the store control section 10 sends the processing status x (the state after processing in the processing section 9).
As a result, “7” is stored in the processing status memory 11.

Next, when the contents of the processing status memory 11 are read by the key correspondence flag converter 12, based on the read processing status x,
A pattern corresponding to the processing status is read from the ROM 13. At this time, when reading this pattern, when the processing status is x = 0,
If the start address in ROM13 is “L”,
The reading start address of the pattern corresponding to each processing status x is L+6x. Here, "6" is the number of vertical columns of the keys 1 arranged on the keyboard 2 in this example, and corresponds to the number of columns of the light emitting diodes D ₀₀ to _{D 35} . FIG. 7 shows a pattern corresponding to processing status x, and when x=7, pattern 7 is read out. Figure 8 shows the above
A pattern 7 read out from the ROM 13 is shown. In this Figure 8, b ₀ to _{b 3} are bit numbers, and the rows of light emitting diodes D ₀₀ to _{D 35} (horizontal arrangement)
It corresponds to L+6x to 6+6x+5 are addresses. Further, in FIG. 8, "1" indicates that the light emitting diode D is on, and "0" indicates that the light emitting diode D is off.

Next, the data read from the ROM 13 is sequentially processed by the key correspondence flag converter 12.
Transferred to RAM14. This transfer is RAM14
The process starts from address W0 within. Here, a key correspondence flag conversion unit 1 converts the processing status x into a flag corresponding to the actual key position and creates data on which light emitting diode D is to be turned on (off).
In step 2, new data is added to the data from the ROM 13, taking into account additional conditions such as unit price preset and repeat setting, and the data is transferred to the RAM 14. The above unit price preset allows you to set frequently used unit prices in a certain department in advance.
This function allows you to register the amount by pressing the department key, even if you do not enter a number at the time of registration. Also, the repeat setting is a function that allows you to register products in the same department and price without entering the price when registering products in the same category and price consecutively.

FIG. 9 shows an example of key correspondence flags created by the key correspondence flag conversion unit 12 (processing status is x=
Example 7) is shown. In this example, for example 4
A unit price is preset for each department, and "1" is set in the flag corresponding to the four department keys _1c1 . In FIG. 9, W0 to W0+5 indicate addresses within the RAM 14.

The processing up to this point corresponds to the processing at steps 2', 3', and 4' performed following the key input at step 1' in the flowchart of FIG. Here, step 2' is a key branch that branches to the process corresponding to the pressed key 1.
In addition, in step 3', each key process and process status x corresponding to the pressed key 1 are stored in the memory 1.
Processing to store it to 1 is performed. Another step
In step 4', processing is performed to convert each processing status x into a key correspondence flag.

By the way, the processing control unit 5 repeatedly controls the time-sharing process, and as shown in FIG. 3, after the key reading process (the period in the figure), the process shifts to the key lighting process (the period in the figure). Note that during the period shown in the figure, the main routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is performed.

During the key lighting processing period, the processing control section 5 switches the data input/output port 6 and the key return input/output switching section 4 to the output side. At this time, the output of the counter 7 is sent to the read address selection section 15, and the address selection section 15 sequentially supplies the read addresses for reading out the key correspondence flags to the RAM 14. The key correspondence flag data read from the RAM 14 by supplying the read address is sent to the data input/output port 6 via the key correspondence flag input section 16. This port 6
Then, the input data is inverted and supplied to the input/output switching section 4. For example, the data (1001) of W0 in FIG. 9 is inverted to (0110) and sent to the input/output switching unit 4. Here, the data (K ₀ to K ₃ ) obtained by inverting the data of b ₃ , b ₂ , b ₁ , b ₀ is K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ ,
Each signal is output from the _K3 signal line. In Figure 4,
The K ₀ to K ₃ signals that are sequentially output are shown.

At this time, the output from the counter 7 is sent to the output port 3, and the output port 3 outputs "1" with a long pulse width as shown in the period in FIG.
The pulse signals (T ₀ to _{T 5} ) are sequentially output from the T ₀ signal line.

Here, when the output of the counter 7 is 0, the data of W0 is read out, inverted, and then output to the K ₀ to K ₃ signal lines, and the output port 3 outputs T ₀
“1” is output to the signal line. Therefore, at this time, in this example, the light emitting diodes D ₀₀ to D ₃₀ are lit. When the light is on for a certain period of time, T ₀ becomes "0" and T ₁ becomes "1", and the data of W0+1 is inverted and output, so at this time the light emitting diodes D ₀₁ , D ₁₁ , and D ₂₁ light up. do. In this way, the light emitting diodes D are sequentially lit up to the _T5 signal line in accordance with the key correspondence flags. In Figure 10,
Light emitting diode D ₀₀ when processing status x=7
An example of turning on (off) ~D ₃₅ is shown. Diagonal lines in the figure indicate lights out. In this way, each light emitting diode D emits light based on the AND logic of T and K, and the light emitting diode D has a potential difference when emitting light.
Since it has 2V, it does not affect key scan processing. Using the T and K signal lines for both lighting of the light emitting diodes and key scanning processing in a time-division manner reduces the burden on implementation.

The processing up to now corresponds to the processing in step 5 in FIG.

Note that since the key lighting period is repeated after another process, the light emitting diode D is continuously lit while being visually observed. Light emitting diode D
continues to be lit until the next input.

In FIG. 10, the key 1 whose light emitting diode D is lit indicates the key 1 that can be pressed following the multiplication key 1a, and the key 1 that can be pressed next is indicated by the lighting of the key 1. Therefore, the operator will not make a mistake in key operation.

Note that the keys 1 that are lit in Fig. 10 are the return key 1e that is pressed when processing returns, the clear key 1f that is used to correct the number entered or cancel the multiplication mode, etc., and the number keys 1b other than the zero key. , and 4
Department key _1c1 .

By the way, FIG. 11 shows the ROM 1 corresponding to the processing status x of each key 1 including the multiplication key 1a.
3 and the key correspondence flags written in the RAM 14 are shown. In this Figure 11, the processing status x=0 is the current key 1d, x=1 is the total sales (credit) key 1g, and x=2 is the department key 1.
c, x=3 is the minus key 1h, x=4 is the return key 1e, x=5 is the correction key 1i, x=6 is the subtotal key 1j, x=7 is the above-mentioned multiplication key 1a, x=8 is the exchange key It corresponds to 1d. Here, when the cash/deposit key 1d is pressed after the transaction, it becomes the currency exchange key 1d. Further, in FIG. 11, as additional conditions, a unit price preset is set for the 4th department key _1c1 , and a repeat setting is set for the 2nd department key _1c3 .

In addition, when attaching the light emitting diode D to the key 1, it may be attached so that a part of the light emitting diode D is exposed from the key 1. If the key 1 is made of a translucent material, the key It may be installed inside 1.

Furthermore, instead of using the light emitting diode D, a small lamp may be used and this lamp may be housed within the key 1.

Further, a light emitting diode D or a lamp may be provided on the keyboard panel at a position near each key 1.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, in the cash register according to the present invention, the next key to be operated is indicated by the lighting display means that is lit based on the key correspondence flag data.

Therefore, even when performing a complicated operation that requires many key operations, the operator can perform the key operations reliably without getting confused.

In addition, in this cash register, the processing control section performs time-sharing processing of key reading processing, key lighting processing, and key input processing, so the key return signal line is used to determine which key has been operated and to turn on the lighting display means. It is shared with

Therefore, although the lighting display means described above is used, there is no need to provide a dedicated signal line for the lighting display means, and the configuration of the device does not become complicated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a cash register according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of keys on the keyboard of the cash register, and FIG.
4 is a time chart showing the operation of the above cash register, FIG. 5 is an operation flow chart of the above cash register, and FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the operation of the above cash register. Operation flowchart, 7th
The figure shows a pattern in the ROM that corresponds to processing status x, Figure 8 shows a pattern corresponding to processing status when x=7, and Figure 9 shows a key correspondence flag when x=7. , FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of key lighting, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing patterns in the ROM (processing status correspondence patterns) corresponding to each processing status and key correspondence flags in the RAM. 1...key, 5...processing control section, 8...key reading section, 9...key input processing section. 12...Key correspondence flag conversion section.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A plurality of key scan signal lines, a plurality of key return signal lines, and, when operated, a corresponding one of the key scan signal lines and a corresponding one of the key return signal lines. a plurality of keys, which are connected to a key scan signal line and a key return signal line corresponding to each key, and a plurality of lighting display means, which are connected to the key scan signal line and the key return signal line corresponding to each key; and a processing control unit. a counter that generates a pulse for determining a key operation and a pulse for lighting the display means under control of the key controller; a key reading unit that determines the operated key based on a signal sent from the key return signal line; and the key reading unit a key processing section that processes the key contents upon receiving the output of the key processing section; and a key correspondence flag conversion section that generates key correspondence flag data indicating the next key to be operated based on the processing status of the key processing section; The processing control unit sequentially supplies the key operation determination pulses to the key scanning signal line, and performs a key reading process of sending the key operation determination pulses to the key reading unit via the key return signal line, and the display. a key lighting process for lighting each of the lighting display means by sequentially supplying a lighting pulse to the key scan signal line and sequentially supplying the key corresponding flag data to the key return signal line; A cash register formed by time-sharing processing of content processing and key input processing for generating the key correspondence flag data by the key correspondence flag conversion section.