JPH03283215A - Handy terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a handy terminal with which operability in inputting can be improved and of which size need not be increased by disposing a plural layers of key boards combined with each other to slide freely, and disposing menu keys for menus of a higher usage frequency on the side of the lower layer key board to be opened earlier. CONSTITUTION:A key board having a number of keys, that is a menu key board 8 having a number of menu keys 7, is disposed at a lower part of a main body case 3. A menu key board 15 having a number of menu keys 14 is also installed to slide freely over the menu key board 8 in the main body case 3. Menus of a relatively usage frequency are selected for the menu key 14 in the menu key boards 14 positioned at the lower laver. For the menu key board 8 positioned at the lower layer, menus of a higher usage frequency are selected and set at an upper position. The opening quantity for the upper layer menu key board 15 is adjusted for the menu key 7 to be selected. The menu keys 7 can thus be selected with a small opening quantity, thereby the operability is improved.

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 manually 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 sends 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 handheld terminal will be explained based on FIG. 6. This device has a display device 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 handheld terminal for ordering that is different from the above-mentioned one, there is one shown in FIG. A display 2a and a keyboard 2b are disposed on the front of the device main body 2, and a hinge 2 is attached to the front end of the device main body 2.
A key unit 2C is connected to the key unit 2C so as to be openable and closable like a door, and a keyboard 2d is attached to the inner surface of the key unit 2c.
is arranged.

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. Note that the inside of the hinge 2c is hollow, and wiring between the keyboard 2d and the device body 2 is performed using 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 handheld terminal for ordering requires approximately 120 keys to enter order information manually, 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. 6, all necessary keys are arranged on the front side.

Therefore, as the keyboard 1b becomes larger, the main body 1 of the apparatus also becomes larger, and as a result, the apparatus becomes difficult to hold and its operability becomes poor.

On the other hand, in the handheld terminal for ordering shown in Fig. 7, by closing the key unit 2C, the size can be reduced to about one part compared to the above-mentioned one, making it convenient to carry. On the other hand, when using the key unit 2C, 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 device body 2, making it difficult to hold. The equipment becomes unstable and difficult to handle manually.

Furthermore, by supporting both the device main body 2 and the key unit 2C with the entire palm of one hand, instability during manual operation 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 the 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 the host machine. A main body case that can be held with one hand is provided, and a multi-layer keyboard with a large number of menu keys is arranged on the surface of the main case on which the display is provided, and is arranged so as to be slidably stacked on top of each other. Menu keys for frequently used menus are placed on the side of the keyboard that is opened quickly.

Operation: By holding the main body case with the display section in one hand and sliding the manual keyboard with the other hand, order information can be entered manually using a different keyboard, ensuring that the device is always in operation. In addition to improving operability when inputting order information, the device does not become bulky even with a large number of keys, and in particular, the lower keyboard can be opened quickly. Since the menu keys for frequently used menus are placed on the side where the user is asked, it is possible to receive necessary orders even with a small amount of movement of the upper keyboard.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 5. First, a vertically long rectangular main body case 3 is provided with a width suitable for holding with one hand. At the top of one side of the main body case 3, a display 4 made of an LCD or the like is provided. Below the display 4, a numeric keypad 5 and function keys 6 located on both sides of the numeric keypad 5 are provided.

Next, at the bottom of the main body case 3, there is a keyboard provided with a large number of keys, that is, a large number of menu keys 7.
A menu keyboard 8 is provided.

Main body frames 9 are formed on both sides of the menu keyboard 8 at both ends thereof. A slide groove 11 having a pull-out stop step 10 forming a pull-out stop means at the lower end is formed inside these main body frames 9, and a slide groove 11 is formed on the bottom surface of the slide groove 11 in the vertical direction. A connecting portion 12 is provided along which is a long electrical conductor.

This connecting portion 12 is connected to a printed wiring board 13 disposed inside the main body case 3. Further, each menu key 7 of the menu keyboard 8 is also connected to the printed wiring board 13.

Moreover, a menu keyboard 15 on which a large number of menu keys 14 are arranged is further slidably attached to the menu keyboard 8 of the main body case 3. That is, on both sides of the menu keyboard 15, slide guides 17 protrude which have step-shaped stoppers 16 that abut against the wave stopper step 10 and engage the slide grooves 11 in a vertically slidable manner. It is formed. These slide guides 17 are disposed so as to go under the display 4 when the menu keyboard 15 is superimposed on the menu keyboard 8. When the menu keyboard 15 is pulled out, it acts to prevent the menu keyboard 15 from steadying. In addition, the slide guide 1
A large number of contact portions 18 that come into contact with the connection portion 12 are formed on the lower surface of the connector 7 . That is, the contact portion 18 and the connection portion 12 are provided with a common electrode, and the individual electrodes of the menu key 14 are wired in a matrix in a vertical and horizontal manner.

Therefore, the menu keyboard 15 located in the upper layer
The menu key 14 has a relatively frequently used menu selected. Furthermore, for the menu keyboard 8 located in the lower layer, frequently used menus are selected and set from the upper position. Thereby, when the lower layer menu keyboard 15 is selected, consideration is given so that the opening amount of the upper layer menu keyboard 8 does not become too large.

In such a configuration, the clerk who receives an order from a customer holds the main body case 3 with his left hand, assuming he is right-handed, and inputs order information such as the number of customers and the menu using the index finger of his right hand. In other words, the number of customers, table number, etc. are entered using the numeric keypad 5, and the menu is entered using the menu key 1.
4 or menu key 7. Normally, the menu keys 14 are operated with the menu keyboard 15 closed, but if you want to input a menu that is not set on the menu keyboard 15, slide the upper menu keyboard 15 downward. The lower layer menu keyboard 8 is opened and the menu key 7 of the menu keyboard 8 is operated. In this case, the menu keys 7 on the lower layer menu keyboard 8 are those on the upper side that are frequently used, so the menu keys 7 to be selected are
The amount of opening of the upper layer menu keyboard 15 is adjusted accordingly. This makes it possible to select the menu key 7 with a small amount of opening, improving operability.

The state shown in FIG. 3(a) is the state in which the menu keyboard 15 is opened halfway, but if you look at its cross section, it is in the state shown in FIG. 3(b), and the menu keyboard 15 is opened to the maximum. The opened state is shown in FIG. 3(C), and the menu keyboard 15 is prevented from being removed by a removal preventing means formed by the removal preventing step portion 10 and the stopper 16. Therefore, menu keyboard 1
5 can be operated without fear of falling off, and stable operation is possible.

Furthermore, when performing the sliding operation of the menu keyboard 15, the main body case 3 is held with one hand, but the grip state is such that the finger is resting on the main body frame 9 of the main body case 3. The menu keyboard 15 can be easily operated without fingers touching the movable menu keyboard 15.

The order information manually entered in this manner is transmitted to the host machine by a built-in radio wave transmitter/receiver (not shown), and necessary processing is performed.

In the above embodiment, the input means is formed by a fixed keyboard and one slidable keyboard, but it is also possible to arrange two or more slidable keyboards so that they can be slid independently. It is also possible to do so. In this case, the electrical connection may be made not only at the side edges of the keyboard, but also by forming a long connection line in the sliding direction at the center of the back surface of the keyboard.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention uses 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 the order information to a host machine. A main body case on which a display device is formed and can be held with one hand is provided, and a multi-layer keyboard having a large number of menu keys arranged on the surface of the main body case on which the display device is provided is slidably stacked on top of the other. The menu keys for frequently used menus are placed on the side of the lower keyboard that is opened quickly, so you can hold the main body case with the display part in one hand while using the other hand. By sliding the keyboard of the input means, order information can be entered using a different keyboard, making it possible to always hold the device securely and improving operability when inputting order information. Furthermore, even if a large number of keys are arranged, the device does not become bulky, and in particular, the menu keys for frequently used menus are arranged on the side of the lower keyboard that is opened quickly, so that the upper This has the advantage of allowing necessary orders to be received even with a small amount of keyboard movement.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keyboard in a closed state, FIG. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the upper layer keyboard showing the electrical connection state;
6 is a front view showing an example of a conventional handheld terminal, and FIG. 7 is a front view showing another conventional example. 3... Main body case, 4... Display, 7, 14... Menu key, 8, 15... Keyboard Applicant Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd."j -9+ □ipi! Sn] 4 Z Figure

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.The main body has a display formed on one side and is held with one hand. A case is provided, and a plurality of layers of keyboards each having a large number of menu keys are arranged on top of each other in a slidable manner on the surface of the main case on which the display device is provided, so that the lower keyboard can be opened quickly. A handy terminal featuring menu keys for frequently used menus on the side.