WO2017010857A1

WO2017010857A1 - Luminescent label and the interface thereof for machines offering products or services to consumers

Info

Publication number: WO2017010857A1
Application number: PCT/MX2015/000101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gabriel GONZÁLEZ FRANCO; Raúl GUTIÉRREZ TORRES; Ignacio Baeza Ramos
Original assignee: Idear Electronica S.A. De C.V.
Priority date: 2015-07-13
Filing date: 2015-07-13
Publication date: 2017-01-19
Also published as: CO2018000150A2; CR20180035A; MX2018000491A

Abstract

There are various automatic machines which interact with users, performing different functionalities, including but not limited to: machines for car parks, for the recharging and sale of cards for public transport, vending machines for buying articles for consumption, automated teller machines, coffee dispensers, etc. The interface of said machines with the users is by means of the display of information on a screen, information on labels and/or small luminous signals, such as illuminated buttons and/or indicator lights installed in the visible areas of the cabinet. These luminous labels were invented on the basis of the information obtained from the errors committed by the user using the current machines, said labels controlling the zones independently from each other, on the same screen, and interacting with a logical processing unit.

Description

one

LUMINISCENT LABEL AND ITS INTERFACE, FOR APPLIANCES THAT OFFER PRODUCTS OR SERVICES TO CONSUMERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Luminescence is the property that bodies have to shed light, without raising the temperature of the bodies and also making them visible almost only in the dark; Taking advantage of this characteristic of the bodies, represents a technical and competitive advantage for the present invention, which by its characteristics is identified with two specific fields, the electric-electronic and the mechanical.

BACKGROUND Technological advances have allowed the implementation of a new industrial revolution, in which the number of people demanding services such as the use of cards for various uses is increased: bank account management, contracting of various services (electricity, telephone, water, etc), purchase of convenience products, receipts and personal documents (minutes, identification cards, etc.), transport services, tickets to certain spaces (stadiums, fairs and exhibitions) among many other uses of this type of cards. In the same way, the use of machines that automate this type of services becomes a trend for the use of both money and other means of payment. This is the particular case of vending machines for products and services; either in terms of swallowing coins or pre-payment; and also digital, manual, electrical, electronic, and those that combine any of the previous modalities.

This dynamic to automate the way of acquiring products and services, requires users able to manipulate the information that is displayed on the screens of the vending equipment, which in the best case, is a friendly, attractive interface with graphic elements enough for the user to perform a procedure that rarely applies a proof of concept or a pilot test to serve the people who use these machines.

The speed with which new machines appear, the diversity of products and services offered in the market, prevent the existence of a unique interface, capable of serving all users in a uniform and reliable way; where this last element is decisive so that the user accepts to interact with these machines. Emphasizing the problems of the diversity of machines of these types, we can see that the interfaces generate the following conflicts:

• The client affects his economic situation, by choosing a different option to the one he really wants to acquire and for what is before this team.

• The amount of services is so diverse that it is not possible for a user to use all the machines for all the services he needs and, in most cases, he only uses it once for long periods of time.

· The low use of the machine does not allow the user to learn the different options he has for handling.

• The use of the machines is specific to a service and only some allow two or more combined uses, but the interfaces used cause errors for handling.

· The growing senior group and the children's group are affected to personally contract or purchase products and services.

• Machines use a certain number of buttons, of which some do not have functionality because the interface does not require it, but this creates confusion with users.

• The order and location of the screens with the interfaces do not match the physical buttons of the machines, so sometimes, between two physical buttons, a graphic element that confuses the user is displayed. • The interface of these machines with the users is carried out using the display of information on a screen, through information on the labels and / or small light signals such as illuminated buttons and / or indicator lights installed in the visible parts of the cabinet; for each option the user wants.

• Only some machines allow you to use code reading devices, use different currencies and denominations of paper money to make payments or receive changes, issue vouchers, tickets, etc.

• Among other.

Derived from the involuntary errors that become disadvantaged for users of this type of technology, coupled with their complexity, the lack of use, information and training that people have to face the contracting of services or purchase of products; a technical solution option is presented in this application; which has the following advantages:

• It is a user friendly solution of any age.

• The user does not require special training, and could even be weak visual, illiterate, etc. To use the machines.

• Attractive in its form of presentation and the way in which the user is guided through the different options menus and that not only apply to a single menu, but that in the same team, there may be a mixture of services or products that the machine sells.

· Its cost of implementation is cheaper, than implementing various machines for various products.

• Optimize space that is not occupied with multiple machines for multiple. services, that is, a single cabinet is used for multiple services. In the state of the art, we find different technologies that try to guide users before a machine in a special or defined way, for example: The invention US 20030167669 A1, Label with internal luminescence, consists of a fluorescent marker for a key on the computer keyboard. The label consists of a face with adhesive, which also has two layers of vinyl plastic such as mylar and is rectangular and that matches the size of the key face and the character or a message on the key. The face with adhesive is placed on the key and on the opposite side it has a printed luminescent paint or ink on its upper side and the second layer of transparent plastic vinyl covers the luminescent layer; This label only allows a user to identify the key required for the operation of the computer and its use is completely fixed for low light conditions in the room; or for those users with visual weakness.

Other inventions, work in reverse, when there is little light in the room, but a user turns on the machine, then the light emitted by the device is so high, that the user is unable to read, until after a while in the same conditions to adapt your field of vision; as is the case of the invention US 20080166203 A1; which consists specifically of an algorithm that adjusts the brightness of the machine, in relation to the darkness of the room, avoiding the visual deterioration of the human; Other technologies with similar characteristics are EP075119 A1, EP2051225 A2, US7412790 B2; In addition there are technologies that turn on predetermined phosphor layers on screens, such as US3780462 and US4016460.

There are also some methods and apparatus for displaying images on a screen that has luminescence such as the invention US20110199396 A1, which determines loads by means of an input image frame, estimates the brightness of the [Full] screen that displays the image and then uses a relationship between the predetermined loads per channel and causes a change in brightness on the screen to regulate the display of the objects on the screen; However, this algorithm can be compared with the edition of the image aimed at a self-correction of brightness and contrast. In addition, in the state of the art we find some inventions that emerge from others; that is, lacking inventive activity such as CN 2392233Y which consists of a long-lasting label but which technically only uses a long-lasting luminescence ink between two layers of plastic where one of them has adhesive.

Other protected systems in the world, include housings connected to light sources, which under conditions of light shortage, light a specific emergency serial, such as the invention US 7241021 B2. But closest to the proposed invention, EP 1562188 A1 is found in the invention, which comprises an electroluminescent display device and the image management method, which focuses on the quality management of an image that prevents its deterioration through an electroluminescence cell in non-saturation areas that employs a method of compensating for deficiencies; The cell is connected to a power source to supply the image,

DESCRIPTION The characteristic details of this novel luminescent label and its interface, for devices that offer products or services to consumers, are clearly shown in the following description and in the accompanying figures, as well as a description of that, where they follow themselves reference signs to indicate the parts and figures shown.

Brief description of the figures:

Figure 1 is a conventional exploded perspective view with a "fisheye" approach that allows you to appreciate the composition of the luminescent label for devices that offer products or services to consumers Figure 2 is a conventional exploded perspective view of the luminescent label placed in an apparatus that allows to appreciate the connection between them.

Figure 3 is a conventional exploded perspective view of the first variant of the luminescent label.

Figure 4 is a conventional exploded perspective view of the second variant of the luminescent label.

Figure 5 is a conventional exploded perspective view of the third variant of the luminescent label.

Figure 6 is a conventional exploded perspective view of the sixth variant of the luminescent label.

Based on the previous figures, the luminescent label for devices that offer products or services to consumers comprises at least three covers 1, 2 and 3 of flexible material, transparent and sensitive to touch; all of them form the same body, where the one that has contact with the screen A of the apparatus B in which it is used, has a layer of adhesive material and sticks on the screen A; Between each pair of said covers 1, 2 and 3, there is a panel 4A, 4B with at least two LEDs 5, which are turned on and off using an interface operated by a logic processing unit 6; said interface, acts as an electronic selection menu, where in accordance with the user's needs when choosing the options in the first cover 1, the invention illuminates a first section 7 of the LEDs 5 found in the first panel 4A and due to the transparency of the covers, the user perceives it on screen A (being able to highlight, text, images, signals, lights, etc.) where this section 7 represents the beginning of a menu of options desired by the user and its selection is transmitted by means of data bus 13 to the processing unit 6, which in turn, allows to induce the next option that the user must select in the required menu, then represents the desired selection by the user, the unit 6 sends the respective ignition serial to a second section 8 of the leds 5 that are in the second panel 4B, and at the same time section 7 goes out in the first panel 4A; This procedure is repeated by interspersing the sections between the two panels 4A, 4B until the user is led by a path of luminescent options that interact between the user and the processing unit 6, until the user arrives without errors to the acquisition of a good or service; which depends on the type of the device A in which the label and conventional devices (bar code readers, paper money feeding devices, slot machines, etc.) with which the device A counts are used; A first variant of the labels described above, consists in using conventional electroluminescent paint 11, which is printed in specific sectors defined by the user on at least the second cover 2, and to allow the connection between the different sectors with electroluminescent paint 11 is employs a bus 13A of conventional conductive material (preferably a compound with silver) to connect the paint sectors 11; use the third cover 3 (or the one closest to the inside of the apparatus A) with adhesive and protect the connections between the different sections with the cover 1, which may have any type of information printed to facilitate interaction with the user;

A second variant of the first label described, consists of placing a panel 4A or 4B followed by at least one filter 9 polarized at 90 ° to generate darkened areas in the screen A and avoid having to turn off the LEDs in the first section 7, and only obscures the label superimposed on screen A;

A third variant of the above label is that followed by the filters 9, a conventional liquid crystal layer 10 is found, to direct the light they receive in certain sections of the label; A fourth variant of the labels consists in the liquid crystal layer 10 being of the TN type, that is to say that they are placed parallel to the user's view; A fifth variant of the labels consists in the liquid crystal layer 10 being of the IPS type, that is to say that they are placed perpendicular to the user's view; A sixth variant of the labels described above, consists of using combined between the covers 1, 2 and 3, light painting 11 and / or panels 4A, 4B and their different components contained in variants three, four or five.

Claims

CLAIMS Having sufficiently described my invention, what I consider to be a novelty and therefore, claim of my exclusive property contained in the following claims:

1. A luminescent label for devices that offer products or services to consumers who use covers, LEDs, electroluminescent paint, LCD and filters for handling light and logical processing units, characterized in that it comprises at least three covers of flexible material , transparent and sensitive to touch; all of them, form the same body, where the one that has contact with the screen of the apparatus in which it is used, has a layer of adhesive material and sticks on the screen; between each pair of said covers, there is a panel with at least two LEDs, which are turned on and off using an interface operated by a logical processing unit; said interface serves as an electronic selection menu, where in accordance with the user's needs when choosing options on the first cover, the invention illuminates a first section of the LEDs found on the first panel and due to transparency of the covers, the user perceives it on the screen (being able to highlight lightly, text, images, signals, lights, etc.) where this section represents the beginning of a menu of options desired by the user and their selection is transmitted through of data bus to the processing unit, which in turn, allows to induce the next option that the user must select in the required menu, then represents the desired selection by the user, the unit sends the respective power signal to a second section of the LEDs that are in the second panel, and at the same time the section goes out in the first panel; This procedure is repeated iteratively by inserting the sections between the two panels until the user is driven by a sequence of luminescent options that interact between the user and the unit of processing, until the user arrives without errors to the acquisition of a good or service; which depends on the type of device in which the label is used and conventional devices (barcode readers, paper money feeding devices, slot machines, etc.) that the device has;

2. The label of claim one characterized in that it consists in using conventional electroluminescent paint, which is printed in user-defined sectors under at least the second cover, to allow the connection between the different sectors with electroluminescent paint a bus is used of conventional conductive material (preferably a compound with silver) and connect the paint sectors; and use the third cover with adhesive and protect the connections between the different sections with the cover, which may have any type of information printed to facilitate interaction with the user;

3. The label of claim one characterized in that it consists in placing a panel followed by at least a 90 ° polarized filter to generate darkened areas on the screen and avoid having to turn off the LEDs in the first section, and only obscures the label superimposed on the screen;

4. The labels of claim three characterized in that followed by the filters, a conventional liquid crystal layer is found to direct the light they receive in certain sections of the label;

5. The labels of claim four characterized in that the liquid crystal layer is of the TN type, that is to say that they are placed parallel to the user's view;

6. The labels of claim four characterized in that the liquid crystal layer is of the IPS type, that is to say that they are placed perpendicular to the user's view;

7. The labels of the preceding claims characterized in that the sections instead of darkening on the screen by serial of the interface operated by the processing unit, remain intermittent until such time as the user selects it and then the previous menu options , already chosen by the user darken or turn off;

8. The labels of the preceding claims characterized in that the sections instead of darkening on the screen by signals from the interface operated by the processing unit, remain intermittent until such time as the user selects it and then the previous menu options , already chosen by the user are opaque;

9. The labels of the preceding claims characterized in that between at least two decks there is a panel such as that of claim one and at least two decks are paint sectors such as those of claim two, being able to be adjacent or not;

10. The labels of claim nine characterized in that it has a filter like that of claim three;

11. The labels of claim ten characterized in that it has a liquid crystal layer as in claim four;

12. The labels of claim eleven characterized in that the liquid crystal is like that of claim five;

13. The labels of claim twelve characterized in that the liquid crystal is like that of claim six;

14. The labels of the preceding claims characterized in that some sectors darken or go out as in claim seven;

15. The labels of the preceding claims characterized in that some sectors remain intermittent as in claim eight; Y

16. The labels of the preceding claims characterized in that some sectors darken as in claim seven and others remain intermittent as in claim eight;