JPH0559586U - POS system dedicated keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To reduce the number of I / O boards required compared to the number of external devices connected to the computer of the POS system. [Structure] The POS system dedicated keyboard 1 is connected to a keyboard connection terminal 22 of a POS system computer 2. Board keys 10 and 101 for inputting data relating to product information and data relating to commands are provided on the board body of the POS system dedicated keyboard 1. Further, terminals 11a, 11 for connecting the scale 18 and the scanner 19 which are external devices of the computer 2 to each other.
b is provided. An interface circuit 12 for performing signal processing between the board keys 10, 101, the scale 18, the scanner 19 and the like and the computer 2 is provided inside the board body.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a POS system dedicated keyboard that is an external device of a POS system computer.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In the cashier departments of recent supermarkets, restaurants, etc., a keyboard for entering product data etc., a display for displaying the purchase amount, a drawer for taking in / out money, a purchase item / price etc. are printed on a receipt. There is a printer for In addition, a reading device for inputting the barcode data attached to the product, a scale for measuring the weight of the product, etc. may be provided as needed. Most of these devices are respectively connected to dedicated I / O boards prepared in a general-purpose computer, and the POS system is configured as a whole. That is, the application software of the computer is not only a cash register but also a product management and sales management.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, most of the external devices connected to the general-purpose computer, except for the keyboard, require a dedicated I / O board, which has the disadvantage that the cost burden on the system user side is large. Moreover, one of all the cables output from each external device is collected on the back side of the general-purpose computer, and if the number of collected cables is large, there is a risk of miswiring. In particular, a wide variety of external devices will be required for the POS system in the future, and it is expected that the number of them will increase. Therefore, the above problems are urgently desired to be improved.

The present invention was created under the background described above, and its purpose is to determine the number of I / O boards required in comparison with the number of external devices connected to the computer of the POS system. It is to provide a keyboard for POS system that can reduce the number of times.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The POS system-dedicated keyboard according to the present invention is a POS system-dedicated keyboard that is connected to a keyboard connection terminal of a POS system computer, and has a board key for inputting product information data and command data, respectively. The computer is provided with a terminal to which another external device is connected, and an interface circuit which performs signal processing between the keyboard and the external device and the computer.

[0006]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a POS system-dedicated keyboard, and is also an explanatory view showing the overall outline of the POS system, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the POS system-dedicated keyboard, and FIG. 3 is an interface circuit. It is a block diagram.

First, the overall outline of the POS system will be described with reference to FIG. The computer 2 used in the POS system is a general-purpose computer, and a keyboard 3 and a CRT 21 attached to it are provided as standard equipment. An I / O board (RS485C communication interface circuit) (not shown) is set on the back side of the computer 2, and this I / O board has a 2-line display for displaying the purchase amount, guidance items, and the like. 9. Liquid crystal display 4 for displaying the purchase price, products, etc. in a list, receipt / journal printer 5, slip printer 6, kitchen printer 7, for printing purchase products / price etc. on receipt or paper Drawers 8 are connected to each. These devices are external devices to the computer 2 and are connected according to the request from the system user.

The POS system dedicated keyboard 1 of the present invention is connected to the keyboard connecting terminal 22 of the computer 2, and the keyboard 3 is connected to the computer 2 via the POS system dedicated keyboard 1. That is, the POS system dedicated keyboard 1 is provided between the keyboard 3 and the computer 2.

On the board body β, board keys 10 and 101 for inputting data relating to product information and data relating to specific commands are provided, respectively. The board key 10 1 is composed of 30 keys, and mainly the purchase amount and the number of products can be input, while the board key 10 is composed of 156 keys. It is possible to input these data after each key has a function related to the type of product, command, etc.

Further, RS-232C standard terminals 11a and 11b are provided on the inner side of the board body β, respectively. A scale 18 for measuring the weight of the purchased product is connected to the terminal 11a, while a scanner 19 for reading the barcode attached to the product is connected to the terminal 11b. A card reader 13 for reading magnetic data of a credit card or the like is provided on the outer right side of the board body β. These devices are connected to the computer 2 through the POS system dedicated keyboard 1 and are still external devices of the computer 2 (these devices are other external devices for convenience of description).

A cashier key 14 for security, a control key 15 for setting a function switch, and an LED lamp 16 for displaying the current function are provided on the board body β, respectively. .. Furthermore, on the front side of the board body β, there is a Clark key 17 into which the key held by each person before the cashier starts work can be inserted. The Clarke key 17 outputs data of the key type corresponding to the name of the cashier.

Although not shown, a reset switch 125 and a power input adapter socket 126 are provided on the inner side of the board body β (see FIG. 3).

Next, the internal structure of the POS system dedicated keyboard 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The board body β is composed of a front panel β1 and a bottom plate β2.

Board keys 10, 101, a cashier key 14, a control key 15, an LED lamp 16, a reset switch 125, a power input adapter socket 126, and a clerk key 17 are attached to the front panel β1, respectively.

A card reader 13 is screwed to the right side surface of the bottom plate β2, while a substrate α having an interface circuit 12 described later is screwed to the center of the bottom plate β2 via a spacer or the like. There is.

The terminals 11a and 11b are mounted on the substrate α, and also connectors and the like for connecting the above-mentioned components provided on the front panel β1 or the bottom plate β2 to the interface circuit 12 are mounted. Further, a terminal 11c to which one end of a cable connecting between the POS system-dedicated keyboard 1 and the computer 2 is connected, and a terminal 11d to which one end of a cable connecting to the keyboard 3 is connected are respectively attached.

Next, the interface circuit 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The interface circuit 12 is a circuit centering on the MPU 121 that performs signal processing between the computer 2 and the board keys 10 and 101 and other external devices, and includes the MPU 121, communication drivers 122 and 123, buffer 124, and the like. It has a circuit configuration consisting of.

Transmission / reception between the computer 2 and the MPU 121 is performed via the keyboard connection terminal 22 on the computer side, the cable, the terminal 11c on the keyboard side dedicated to the POS system, and the PORT B terminal of the MPU 121, while the computer 2 and the keyboard are connected. Transmission / reception with the computer 3 is performed via a keyboard connection terminal 22 on the computer side, a cable, a terminal 11c on the keyboard side dedicated to the POS system, a buffer 124, a terminal 11d, and a cable.

The buffer 124 is a bidirectional buffer amplifier that switches signals transmitted and received between the computer 2 and the keyboard 3, and the transfer state of the buffer 124 is switched by the interface circuit 12. That is, the signal output from the PORT C terminal of the MPU 121 is guided to the transfer gate of the buffer 124.

Transmission / reception between the scale 18 and the MPU 121 is performed via the terminal 11a, the communication driver 122 for RS-232C, and the RXA and TXA terminals of the MPU 121. On the other hand, transmission / reception between the scanner 19 and the MPU 121 is performed via the terminal 11b, the RS-232C trusted driver 123, and the RXB and TXB terminals of the MPU 121. Furthermore, transmission / reception between the card reader 13 and the MPU 121 is performed via the CSI terminal of the MPU 121.

On the other hand, the exchange of signals between the board keys 10 and 101 and the MPU 121 is performed through the PORT A terminal, and although not shown in the figure, the MPU 121 and the cashier key 14, the control key 15, and the clarke key are not shown. Signal exchange with 17 is done via another PORT terminal. In addition, a signal for lighting the LED lamp 16 is output from the MPU 121 via several ports of the terminal.

That is, if the key data output from the board keys 10 and 101, the measurement data output from the scale 18, the read data output from the scanner 19 and the card reader 13 are input to the MPU 121, the MPU 121 The data is processed according to the type of data and is transferred to the computer 2 at a predetermined timing. The data output from the cashier key 14, the control key 15, the clerk key 17, etc., is also transferred to the computer 2 in the same manner as described above, if necessary.

In particular, when specific key data or setting data of the control key 15 is input, the command program is sequentially processed, and in this process, data related to the command is output to the computer 2. Depending on the type of command, the LED lamp 16 is turned on or the transfer state of the buffer 124 is changed to switch between the keyboard 3 for the computer 2 and the POS system dedicated keyboard 1.

The POS system keyboard according to the present invention is not limited to this embodiment with respect to the type and number of terminals, and can be changed appropriately according to the external device to be connected to the terminals, and the interface circuit can be changed. As for the above, changes may be made accordingly.

[0025]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, in the case of the POS system dedicated keyboard according to claim 1 of the present invention, a part of the external device of the computer of the POS system is connected to the terminal on the keyboard while the external device and the computer are connected. Since the internal interface circuit is used to perform signal processing between the two, the number of I / O boards required for the computer can be reduced by the number of external devices, and as a result, the system user side The cost burden of can be eased. Also, since the number of cables that can be collected in the computer is reduced by the amount of the external device, the risk of miswiring is reduced. In particular, the number of external devices used in the POS system is expected to increase in the future, so it is considered to be significant. Furthermore, even if the number of external devices increases, there is the advantage that the software on the computer side does not need to be changed significantly.

In the case of the keyboard for exclusive use with the POS system according to claim 2 of the present invention, since the interface circuit is mainly composed of the MPU, there is an advantage that the hardware structure is relatively simple. However, there is a merit that even if the type of external device to be connected is changed or the number of external devices is increased, it is possible to easily deal with it by simply changing the program.

In the case of the POS system dedicated keyboard according to claim 3 of the present invention, since the POS system dedicated keyboard for the computer and the attached keyboard can be switched, these keyboards should be replaced. The advantage is that you can fully utilize the functions of the attached keyboard.

In the case of the keyboard for exclusive use of the POS system according to claims 4 and 5 of the present invention, since the scanner, scale or card reader is frequently used, there is an advantage that the usability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention and is an explanatory diagram showing an external appearance of a POS system dedicated keyboard and an overall outline of the POS system.

FIG. 2 is likewise an exploded perspective view of the keyboard for the POS system.

FIG. 3 is likewise a block diagram of an interface circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 POS system dedicated keyboard 10, 101 Board keys 11a, 11b terminals 12 Interface circuit 13 Card reader 18 Scale 19 Scanner 2 Computer 22 Keyboard connection terminal

Claims (5)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A keyboard for exclusive use with a POS system, which is connected to a keyboard connection terminal of a computer of a POS system, wherein a board key for inputting data related to product information and data related to a command, and other external equipment in the computer. 2. A keyboard for exclusive use with a POS system, comprising: a terminal to which is connected, and an interface circuit for performing signal processing between the computer and the board key and other external equipment. 2. The interface circuit according to claim 1 is an MP.
The POS according to claim 1, which has a structure centered on U.
System dedicated keyboard. 3. A keyboard for exclusive use with a POS system, which is connected between the computer of claim 1 and a keyboard attached to the computer, wherein a buffer for amplifying a signal transmitted and received between the computer and the keyboard is provided. The keyboard for exclusive use of the POS system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transfer state of the buffer is switched by the interface circuit according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The PO according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the other external device according to claim 1 is a scanner for reading a barcode attached to a product and / or a scale for measuring the weight of the product.
Keyboard for S system only. 5. A card reader is provided on the outer surface, and the read data of the card reader is processed by the interface circuit of claim 1 or 2 and transferred to the computer of claim 1. The keyboard for exclusive use of the POS system described in 3 or 4.