JPH03280192A - Handy terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely input order information even in the middle stage of the rotation of an input means and to improve working efficiency by displaying either the two different kinds of connecting states of a display part and the input means on a display via a connector rotated freely. CONSTITUTION:The display part 3 on one plane of which the display 3a is formed and the input means 4 on the front and back planes of which keyboards 4b1, 4c1 are provided are connected via the connectors 3c, 4c rotated freely having a movable contact by which either the two different kinds of connecting states are formed based on the prescribed range of angle of rotation, and also, they are connected electrically. A connecting state display means which displays the connecting states A, B formed by the connectors 3c, 4c are displayed on the display 3a is provided. Therefore, the same connection state can be maintained in the prescribed range of angle of rotation, and also, the connecting state A can be displayed on the display 3a, thereby, the input of the order information can be surely performed even in the middle stage of the rotation of the input means 4. In such a way, it is possible to improve the working efficiency in the input of the order information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is used in a POS system for a restaurant to transmit order information such as a menu ordered by a customer to 208 devices installed in each work area within the store. Concerning the handheld terminal used.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an increasing number of restaurants have introduced restaurant POS systems and the like in order to quickly and reliably process orders received from customers. This restaurant POS system includes a POS station, a POS register, a handy terminal for ordering, a printer for the kitchen, and the like.

In such a restaurant POS system, a waitress inputs order information such as a menu received from a customer into a handy terminal for ordering. Then, the handheld terminal for ordering will send the entered order information to the PO.
The PoS station transmits the received order information to the PoS register located at the checkout office and to the kitchen printer located in the kitchen.

An example of such a conventional ordering handy terminal will be explained based on FIG. 11. This device has a display 1a and a keyboard 1b arranged on the front side of the main body 1 of the device. However, this keyboard 1b has all the keys necessary for inputting order information.

Further, as an example of a handy terminal for ordering that is different from the above-mentioned one, there is one shown in FIG. 12. This includes a display 2a and a keyboard 2b arranged on the front of the device main body 2, and a key unit 2c that can be opened and closed like a door via a hinge 2c at the front end of the device main body 2.
are connected to each other, and a keyboard 2d is disposed on the inner surface of this key unit 2c.

However, the keys necessary to input order information are divided into two groups, one of which is on the keyboard 2b.
The other one is arranged on the keyboard 2d. The inside of the hinge 2c is hollow, and a signal line for electrically connecting the keyboard 2d and the main body 2 of the device is inserted into this hollow portion.

In either case, these order handy terminals are held with one hand and the order information is entered with the other hand.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In general, a handy terminal for ordering requires approximately 120 keys to input order information, and when considering operability, each key has a width of 1 cm.
A certain amount of area is required.

In the handy terminal for ordering shown in FIG. 11, all necessary keys are arranged on the front side.

Therefore, as the keyboard lb becomes larger, the main body 1 of the device also becomes larger, and as a result, the device becomes difficult to hold and has poor operability.

On the other hand, in the handy terminal for ordering shown in FIG. 12, by closing the key unit 2c, the size can be reduced to about the same size as the above-mentioned one.
Although it is convenient to carry, on the other hand, when using it, the key unit 2c must be opened again, and even after opening, the back side of the key unit 2c comes into contact with the fingers holding the main body 2, making it difficult to hold. When the keys on the key unit 2c side are operated manually, the device becomes unstable and input is difficult.

Furthermore, by supporting both the device main body 2 and the key unit 2c with the entire palm of one hand, instability during input can be resolved, but in this case, the device must be held in a different position. This takes time and effort, and there is a risk of dropping the device.

Means for Solving the Problem A display is formed on one side of a handheld terminal that displays order information such as the number of customers and product names entered through input means such as a keyboard on a display and then transmits this order information to a host machine. A display section and an input means provided with keyboards on the front and back sides are connected through a rotatable connector having a movable contact that forms one of two different connection states based on a predetermined rotation angle range. A connection status display means is provided for connecting and electrically connecting the connectors, and for displaying the connection status formed by the connector on the display.

By holding the display with one hand and rotating the input means with the other hand, you can input order information using different keyboards, so you can input order information and when rotating the input means. The device can be held securely at all times regardless of the situation, and at the same time, the device will not become unstable when inputting order information, improving its operability.Furthermore, the device can be made smaller. I can do it. In addition, the input means can be rotated in any direction.
Furthermore, the same connection status is maintained within a predetermined rotation angle range, and the connection status is displayed on the display, making it possible to reliably input order information even when the input means is in the middle of rotation. . This can greatly improve work efficiency when inputting order information.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 10. As shown in FIG. 2, this handy terminal has a display section 3 in which a display 3a such as an LCD and a function sheet 3b are disposed on the front surface, and a convex connector 4a having a cylindrical shape at one end. It consists of a keyboard section 4 as an input means.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (view from arrow A in FIG. 2), there are screw holes 4 in the upper part of the convex connector 4a.
A is formed through the terminal 4, and a metal terminal 4a serving as a movable contact is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the terminal 4a.

A recessed connector 3c is formed on the lower surface of the display section 3, as shown in FIG. It is formed.

Further, in this handy terminal, the convex connector 4a is inserted into the concave connector 3C, and the display section 3 and the keyboard section 4 are rotatably connected. As shown in FIG. 7, a menu sheet 4b is provided on one surface, and a menu sheet 4C is provided on the other surface as shown in FIG. However, the letters A and B are printed on the lower ends of the menu sheet 4b and the menu sheet 4C, respectively, to identify the sides. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, an entry key 3d is provided on the left side of the display section 3.

On the other hand, this handy terminal has a structure as shown in FIG.
Radio wave transmitter/receiver 3 connected to battery 3e behind a
A function key sheet 3b is provided on the back side of the function sheet 3b, and a recessed connector 3C is provided at the bottom thereof. However, the function key sheet 3b1 is connected to the signal line 3b.
, to the radio wave transmitter/receiver 3f.

Further, the keyboard section 4 includes an arithmetic circuit unit 4e disposed inside a casing 4d having a convex connector 4a integrally formed at the upper end thereof, and further includes a menu as a keyboard on one side of the casing 4d. key sheet 4b,
and the menu sheet 4b are stacked and arranged, and
A menu key sheet 4c1 as another keyboard and a menu sheet 4C are provided on the other side of the housing 4d.
are arranged in a stacked manner.

However, the menu key sheet 4b and the menu key sheet 4c are connected to the arithmetic circuit unit 4e via a signal line 4f. The arithmetic circuit unit 4e is connected to a metal terminal 4a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the convex connector 4a via a signal line 4g.

Furthermore, a brush terminal 3c is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the recessed connector 3C at a position corresponding to the metal terminal 4a of the convex connector. This brush terminal 3c is connected to the radio wave transmitter/receiver 3f via a signal line 3g.

Furthermore, depending on the connection state between the metal terminal 4a and the brush terminal 3c, the menu key sheet 4b,
Only one of the menu key sheet 4c and the menu key sheet 4c can be input.

The convex connector 4a and the concave connector 3C are fixed to each other by screws 5a and nuts 5b inserted through the screw holes 4a and 3C.

In such a configuration, a clerk who receives an order from a customer holds the display section 3 with his left hand, and uses his right index finger to display order information such as the number of customers and the menu on the function sheet 3b on the display section 3. Alternatively, the selected order information is registered by inputting it using the menu sheet 4b on the keyboard section 4 and then pressing the entry key 3d with the thumb of the left hand (if the dominant hand is the right hand).

However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the A drawing brush terminal 3C8, the A drawing metal terminal 4a1. are in contact with each other, and only the menu key sheet 4b (A side) can be input, and at this time, based on the command output from the connection status display means, the letters rAJ are displayed on the lower right part of the display 3a. is displayed.

If the menu to be entered is on the back side of the keyboard section 4, the user rotates the keyboard section 4 with the right hand while holding the display section 3 with the left hand, as in the case of inputting.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
C3, and metal terminal 4a3 for B picture. contacts, and only the menu key sheet 4c (side B side) can be input, and at the same time, based on the command output from the connection status display means, the characters rBJ are displayed on the lower right part of the display 3a. .

In this way, by holding the display unit 3 with one hand and rotating the keyboard unit 4 with the other hand, order information can be input by switching between the menu key sheets 4b and 4c. As a result, the device can be held securely at all times, regardless of whether the order information is input or the keyboard section 4 is rotated. At the same time, the device will not become unstable when order information is input, and Operability can be improved and the device can be further downsized.

Further, the keyboard section 4 can be rotated in any direction, and the same connection state is maintained within a predetermined rotation angle range, and the connection state is displayed on the display 3a. It is possible to reliably input order information even while the machine is rotating. This can greatly improve work efficiency when inputting order information.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention is a handy terminal that displays order information such as the number of customers and product names entered through input means such as a keyboard on a display, and then transmits this order information to a host machine. A rotatable device having a movable contact point that forms one of two different connection states between a display portion formed with a device and an input means provided with a keyboard on the front and back sides based on a predetermined rotation angle range. Since the connection state display means is provided to connect and electrically connect via the connector and to display the connection state formed by the connector on the display unit, it is possible to hold the display unit with one hand while holding the display unit with the other hand. Order information can be entered using different keyboards by rotating the input means by hand; therefore, the device must be held securely at all times, regardless of whether the order information is input or the input means is rotated. At the same time, the device does not become unstable when inputting order information, and its operability can be improved.
The device can be downsized. In addition, the input means can be rotated in any direction, and the same connection state is maintained within a predetermined rotation angle range, and the connection state is displayed on the display, so that the input means can be rotated in any direction. Even if the order information is entered, it is possible to input the order information reliably. This can greatly improve work efficiency when inputting order information.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an overview of the hardware configuration in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a display section and a keyboard section in a state before they are connected to each other, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the keyboard section in a state before they are connected to each other. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connector of
5 is a view taken from arrow B in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a front view showing the external appearance of the device, FIG. 7 is a rear view thereof, FIG. Figure 9 is a side view showing the connection state between the brush terminal and the metal terminal when only the A side of the keyboard can be input, and Figure 10 is the brush terminal and the metal terminal when only the B side of the keyboard can be input. 11 is a front view showing an example of a conventional handy terminal, and FIG. 12 is a front view showing another conventional example. 3...Display section, 3a...Display unit, 3c, 4a...
Connector, 4...Input means, 4a,...Movable contact, b C...Keyboard applicant Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A handheld terminal that displays order information such as the number of customers and product names input using an input means such as a keyboard on a display and then transmits this order information to a host machine, has a display section with a display formed on one side, and a display section on the front and back. and an input means provided with a keyboard via a rotatable connector having a movable contact that forms one of two different connection states based on a predetermined rotation angle range, and an electrical connection. A handy terminal comprising: a connection state display means for displaying a connection state formed by the connector on the display device.