JP3462030B2 - Information input device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device used in a store that uses a card such as an IC card, which is one type of electronic money.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, a method of making payment using a card instead of cash is widely known. Particularly, as an electronic money settlement method capable of electronically making an instant settlement, there is a settlement method using an IC card, for example. This IC card type electronic money is expected to spread rapidly in the future. Conventionally, it is convenient for small-scale shopping in a supermarket or the like, which is not familiar with card settlement, and it is not necessary to prepare coins, which is advantageous for both customers and stores. This payment method using an IC card requires a dedicated terminal such as a card reader / writer. Then, the customer makes an IC on this card reader / writer.
Payment is made by inserting a card and entering a personal identification number.

[0003]

In the past, this card reader / writer was connected to a POS terminal by a cable, and most of the card reader / writer was placed close to the POS terminal. Therefore, even in supermarkets where IC card transactions are expected to spread in the future, card reader / writers
It will be installed on the soccer table near the OS terminal. However, since this place is also a place to receive purchased products and the like, as a customer, it is difficult and extremely difficult to operate such as inputting a personal identification number. Further, since it is located at a position where it can be easily seen by the surrounding people such as a cashier, there is no consideration for security when inputting the personal identification number.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to pay attention to the fact that there is a dead space inside the vertical bar code scanner of a POS system of a supermarket or the like and the vertical surface on the customer side, and an IC card which is one of electronic money. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an information input device having a plurality of functions capable of safely and efficiently processing payment by a card such as.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bar code scanning section that optically reads a bar code attached to a product and a housing-shaped storage support section that stores and holds the bar code scanning section. And a vertical bar code scanner installed upright on the soccer table, a card reader / writer embedded in the inside of the storage support part having a card insertion port, and customer input for inputting a personal identification number. Section and a display section for displaying the personal identification number input from the customer input section, and the card insertion slot, the customer input section and the display section are arranged on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support section. It is an information input device. Therefore, the card insertion port of the card reader / writer, the customer input unit, and the display unit are installed on the vertical surface facing the customer waiting for sales processing. Therefore, the customer can perform the input operation regarding the card on the spot while waiting for the sales process, and as a result, the operability of the customer is improved.

The information input device according to claim 2 is the information input device according to claim 1.
The information input device as described above, further comprising an input section shade arranged at the periphery of the customer input section. Therefore, by providing the input section shade, it is possible to block the appearance of input at the customer input section from the view of another person. it can. Therefore, the content of the input process of the personal identification number or the like becomes less visible to others than when the customer input unit is simply installed facing the customer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soccer table having a bar code scanning section for optically reading a bar code attached to a product and a housing-shaped housing support section for housing and holding the bar code scanning section. A vertical bar code scanner installed upright, a card reader / writer embedded in the inside of the storage support, having a card insertion slot arranged on the customer side vertical surface of the storage support. A display unit is provided on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support unit, and a customer input unit is provided in a recessed portion that is recessed inward of the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support unit. Therefore, since the customer input section is arranged inside the customer-side vertical surface, it is possible to block the appearance of the input from the customer input section from the view of another person. Therefore, the content of the input process such as the personal identification number is less visible to others than the case where it is arranged on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support portion.

The information input device according to claim 4 is the information input device according to claim 3.
In the information input device described above, the customer input section is disposed in a state in which the customer input section is slanted upward in a recessed portion on the back side of the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support section. Therefore, since the customer input section is made to sneak into the storage support section, the appearance of the input at the customer input section can be blocked from the view of another person. Therefore, the content of the input process of the personal identification number or the like becomes less visible to others than when the customer input unit is simply installed facing the customer. In addition, since it is arranged in an obliquely upward state, the operability of the input process of the customer's personal identification number and the like is improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Or, it demonstrates based on FIG. First, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a POS system including a vertical bar code scanner showing a first embodiment of the present invention. A vertical bar code scanner 1 for optically reading a bar code attached to a product is erected at a substantially central portion of a horizontally long soccer table 2 and on an edge portion on the customer side. A bar code scanning section 4 is housed and held with its surface exposed slightly above the front surface of the housing support section 3 in the shape of a flat housing of the vertical bar code scanner 1. A keyboard 5 having a plurality of keys, which are data input units for inputting product data such as product codes and prices, and a display 6 functioning as a cashier-side display unit are disposed on the storage support unit 3. A customer side display unit 7 as a customer side display unit is arranged on the left side of the front. Further, the POS terminal 8 is placed on the checkout counter 9 together with the drawer 10. The POS terminal 8 is connected to each unit of the vertical barcode scanner 1 by a cable (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the vertical bar code scanner 1 as seen from the customer side. Vertical barcode scanner 1
Is the storage support portion 3 located on the back side of the barcode scanning portion 4.
A card reader / writer 12 for reading and writing the IC card 11 (see FIG. 4) is embedded in the inside of the storage support portion 3 at a substantially central portion of the vertical surface of the customer side of the card insertion slot 1
Only 3 is exposed. Further, on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support section 3 near the card insertion slot 13, a customer input section 14 having a plurality of keys such as a numeric keypad for the customer to input a personal identification number at the time of settlement and functioning as a keyboard is provided. And a display 15 for displaying the number of input digits and the like are arranged in parallel. These are connected to the card reader / writer 12 by a cable (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the card reader / writer 12. The card reader / writer 12 is provided with a card carrying path 16 for carrying the IC card 11 from the card insertion slot 13. The card transport path 16 is provided with a plurality of rotatable transport roller pairs 17 facing each other so as to sandwich the upper and lower sides of the card at regular intervals. A reader / writer unit 18 that exchanges data with the IC card 11 conveyed from the card insertion slot 13 is arranged on the card conveyance path 16.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the IC card 11. The IC card 11 is a thin plate having the same size as a rectangular credit card. And this IC card 1
An IC (integrated circuit) such as a microchip (not shown) is embedded in the inside of 1. Further, on the front surface of the card, a connection unit 19 for exchanging data with the reader / writer unit 18 of the card reader / writer 12 is provided.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each unit built in the POS terminal 8. This POS terminal 8
A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 100, which is a computer, is built in, and the microcomputer 100 drives and controls each unit. The microcomputer 100 includes an arithmetic circuit, a program counter control circuit, an instruction recorder,
A ROM 101 that stores fixed data such as a program in advance via a bus line 102 such as an address bus and a data bus, and a variable data to a CPU 101 that centrally controls each unit by incorporating a command register, a clock circuit, and the like. Is connected to a RAM 104 for variably storing. The RAM 104 functions as a work area, an image memory, etc. by utilizing the function of variably storing variable data. In FIG. 5, ROM 103 and RAM 1
Although 04 is provided only one, this is merely a conceptual illustration, and actually, a plurality of ROMs 103 and RAs are provided.
There is M104. The RAM 104 is backed up by a battery (not shown). Here, each part of the vertical bar code scanner 1 whose drive is controlled by the microcomputer 100 of the POS terminal 8 will be described below.

The bar code scanning unit 4 embedded in the vertical bar code scanner 1 is connected to the bus line 102 via the scanning unit I / F 4a, and the bar code data read by the operation of the scanning unit I / F 4a. The microcomputer 100
Send to.

Further, the display 6 above the vertical bar code scanner 1, the customer side display unit 7 and the keyboard 5 are provided.
The external input / output device 20 such as
Is connected to the bus line 102 via. And
The display 6 and the customer side display unit 7 are the microcomputer 1
When the display data from 00 is input to the input / output controller 20a, the input / output controller 20a is drive-controlled to display a predetermined item. The keyboard 5 also inputs a signal corresponding to the pressed key to the microcomputer 100 by the operation of the input / output controller 20a.

Further, the card reader / writer 12 embedded in the vertical bar code scanner 1 is connected to the bus line 102 via the card reader / writer I / F 12a, and the microcomputer 100 is operated by the operation of the card reader / writer I / F 12a. Send and receive data.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each unit built in the card reader / writer 12. Like the POS terminal 8, the microcomputer 200 built in the card reader / writer 12 is configured by connecting a plurality of ROM 203 and RAM 204 (not shown) to the CPU 201 via the bus line 202. And this microcomputer 200
Controls the drive of each part of the card reader / writer 12.

The reader / writer unit 18 is connected to the bus line 202 via the reader / writer controller 18a,
When the data from the microcomputer 200 or the IC card 11 is input to the reader / writer controller 18a, a signal corresponding to the data is input to the microcomputer 200 or the IC card 11 by the operation of the reader / writer controller 18a.

The display 15 is a display controller 15a.
Is connected to the bus line 202 via the
When the display data from is input to the display controller 15a, the display controller 15a is driven and controlled to display predetermined items such as the number of input digits.

The customer input unit 14 is the input unit controller 1.
A signal (for example, a personal identification number) corresponding to the pressed key is connected to the bus line 202 via 4a and is input to the microcomputer 200 by the operation of the input controller 14a.

Then, the card reader / writer 12 is
When it is connected to the bus line 202 via the F8a and the data from the microcomputer 200 is input to the I / F8a, a signal corresponding to the data is operated by the I / F8a to cause the POS terminal 8 to operate.
To enter. In addition, the data from the POS terminal 8 is I / F.
8a, a signal according to the data is input to the I / F 8a.
Is input to the microcomputer 200.

Further, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each part built in the IC card 11. Similarly to the POS terminal 8, the microcomputer 300 built in the IC card 11 is also configured by connecting a plurality of ROMs 303 and RAM 304 (not shown) to the CPU 301 via the bus line 302. The microcomputer 300 controls each part of the IC card 11.

The personal identification number collating unit 305 is connected to the bus line 302 via the collating unit controller 305a, and the customer input unit 14 of the card reader / writer 12 operates the reader / writer controller 18a to operate the connecting unit I / F.
When the personal identification number input to the microcomputer 300 through the reference numeral 19a is input to the matching unit controller 305a, the ROM 3
Whether or not the personal identification number stored in 03 matches this personal identification number is collated by the operation of the collating unit controller 305a.

That is, when the customer inserts the IC card 11 into the card insertion slot 13 of the card reader / writer 12 embedded in the vertical bar code scanner 1 at an arbitrary timing during sales processing, the IC card 11 is connected. Part 1
9 and the reader / writer unit 18 of the card reader / writer 12 are electrically connected. Next, the customer presses the key of the customer input unit 14 according to the display on the display unit 15 and inputs the personal identification number. In response to this input, C of the card reader / writer 12
The PU 201 supplies a signal corresponding to the personal identification number to the CPU 301 of the IC card 11. As a result, the CPU 301 of the IC card 11 collates the personal identification numbers and outputs a signal to start a transaction if the personal identification numbers match, and outputs a signal to re-enter the personal identification number or a signal that the transaction cannot be performed if the personal identification numbers do not match.

In such a structure, the card reader / writer 12 and the customer input unit 14 (including the display 15) are
By utilizing the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support 3 which is a dead space of the existing vertical barcode scanner 1 and the internal space of the storage support, the storage support 3 faces the customer at a substantially central portion. It is embedded integrally with the vertical bar code scanner 1 at a position. That is, the card reader / writer 1
2 and the customer input unit 14 (including the display unit 15) are installed integrally with the vertical bar code scanner 1 on a vertical surface facing a customer waiting for sales processing. Therefore, the customer can perform the input operation regarding the card on the spot while waiting for the sales process, and as a result, the operability of the customer can be improved.
In addition, since the field of view of another person is blocked by being installed facing the customer, the contents of the input process of the personal identification number and the like are basically difficult for others to see. Furthermore, the card reader / writer 12
Since the housing for the customer input unit 14 (including the display 15) is also used as the housing for the vertical barcode scanner 1, the cost can be reduced and the soccer table 2 can be widely and effectively used. Wiring can also be simplified. Also, since the customer himself processes the card in parallel with the cashier's sales processing,
Overall processing efficiency is improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
And shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a vertical bar code scanner showing a second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the customer side, and FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway view showing a vertical bar code scanner of the second embodiment. It is a side view which shows an internal structure. The same parts as those described in the first embodiment of the present invention described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The vertical bar code scanner 1 includes an IC card 11 in a substantially central part of a vertical surface on the customer side of the storage support part 3 on the back side of the bar code scanning part 4.
Card reader / writer 1 for reading and writing data
2 is buried inside the storage support 3 to expose only the card insertion slot 13. Further, on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support section 3 near the card insertion slot 13, a customer input section 14 having a plurality of keys functioning as a keyboard for inputting a customer's personal identification number, and a display for displaying the number of input digits and the like. A container 15 is arranged in parallel, and each is connected to the card reader / writer 12 by a cable (not shown). Then, the customer input unit 14
An input portion shade 21 is disposed on the periphery of the.
The input portion shade 21 is formed of a rectangular thin plate that covers the upper portion, and a thin plate that covers both side surfaces and has one side that gently inclines in a gentle arc from the tip portion to the lower portion of the upper thin plate.

Therefore, by providing the shade 21 for the input section, it is possible to block the state of pressing the key of the customer input section 14 from the view of another person. Therefore, the content of the input process of the personal identification number and the like becomes more difficult for others to see than when the customer input unit 14 is simply installed on the vertical surface facing the customer.

Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
0 and FIG. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a vertical bar code scanner showing a third embodiment of the present invention as seen from the customer side, and FIG. 11 shows a vertical bar code scanner of a third mode with a part cut away. It is a side view which shows an internal structure. The same parts as those described in the first or second embodiment of the present invention described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The vertical bar code scanner 1 has a card reader / writer 12 for reading and writing an IC card 11 at a substantially central portion of a customer side vertical surface of a storage support portion 3 on the back side of the barcode scanning portion 4. It is buried inside to expose only the card insertion slot 13. Further, on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support portion 3 near the card insertion slot 13, a customer input portion 14 having a plurality of keys functioning as a keyboard for inputting a customer's personal identification number is provided with a recess 22 of the storage support portion 3. The surface having a plurality of keys is arranged rearward and in an obliquely upward state. Further, an indicator 15 for displaying the number of input digits and the like is arranged in parallel on the upper part thereof, and each is connected to the card reader / writer 12 by a cable not shown.

Therefore, by letting the customer input section 14 sink into the recess 22 of the storage support section 3, the customer input section 1
The state of pressing the 4 key can be blocked from the view of another person. Therefore, it becomes difficult for others to see the contents of the input processing such as the personal identification number. Further, by tilting the customer input unit 14, the operability of the input process of the customer's personal identification number and the like is improved.

The input portion shade 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above is input by a customer in a state of being slid into the recess 22 of the storage support portion 3 according to the third embodiment. It may be attached around the portion 14.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the IC
Although the card 11 is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and a card which requires input of a personal identification number and which is inserted into a card reader / writer, such as a credit card or a bank card, may be used.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the card reader / writer is built in the storage support of the vertical bar code scanner, and the card insertion slot and the display are provided on the vertical surface of the storage support on the customer side. Since I arranged the customer input section,
The operability of the customer such as inputting on the spot while the sales processing is waiting is improved, and the processing can be performed in parallel with the sales processing of the cashier, so that the processing efficiency is improved.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in the information input device according to claim 1, since the shade for the input portion is further provided on the periphery of the customer input portion, the state of the input at the customer input portion can be changed. It is possible to block the view of another person, the contents of the input processing such as the personal identification number become hard to see from the other person, and the settlement by a card such as an IC card which is one of electronic money can be processed safely and efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the card reader / writer is built in the storage support of the vertical bar code scanner, and the card insertion port and the display are provided on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support. Since the customer input part is arranged in the recessed part on the back side of the customer side vertical surface of the storage support part, the operability of the customer such as inputting on the spot while waiting for sales processing is possible. The processing efficiency can be improved because the processing can be performed in parallel with the cashier's sales processing. In addition, it is possible to block the appearance of input at the customer input unit from the view of other people, making it difficult for others to see the details of input processing such as personal identification numbers, and payment with a card such as an IC card, which is one type of electronic money, can be performed. It can be processed safely and efficiently.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information input device according to the third aspect, the customer input section is arranged in a recessed state in which the customer input section is recessed to the inner side of the vertical surface on the customer side of the storage support section in an obliquely upward state. Since it is installed, it is possible to block the appearance of the input at the customer input unit from the view of others, and the operability of the input processing of the customer's personal identification number and the like is improved. It is possible to process payment by card such as a card safely and efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a POS system including a vertical barcode scanner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the vertical barcode scanner as seen from the customer side.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a structure of a card reader / writer.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of an IC card.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each unit incorporated in the POS terminal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each unit incorporated in the card reader / writer.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of electrical connection of each unit incorporated in the IC card.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the vertical bar code scanner showing the second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the customer side.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the internal structure of a vertical barcode scanner of a second embodiment with a part cut away.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a vertical bar code scanner showing a third embodiment of the present invention as seen from the customer side.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the internal structure of a vertical barcode scanner of a third embodiment with a part cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Vertical barcode scanner 2 soccer stand 3 Storage support 4 Bar code scanning section 12 Card reader / writer 13 Card slot 14 Customer input section 21 Input Shade 22 recess

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07G 1/00-5/00 G07F 17/00-17/42 G07F 5/00-9/10 G07D 1 / 00 G07D 9/00 G07D 9/04 G07D 7/00-7/20 G06K 17/00 G06F 17/60 G06F 19/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code scanning section for optically reading a bar code attached to a product, and a housing-shaped housing support section for housing and holding the bar code scanning section, which is erected on a soccer table. Vertical bar code scanner, a card reader / writer that has a card insertion port and is embedded inside the storage support section, a customer input section for inputting a personal identification number, and an input input from the customer input section. An information input device, comprising: a display unit for displaying the number of digits, etc., wherein the card insertion slot, the customer input unit, and the display unit are arranged on a vertical surface of the storage support unit on the customer side. 2. The information input device according to claim 1, further comprising an input portion shade arranged around the customer input portion. 3. A bar code scanning section for optically reading a bar code attached to a product, and a housing-shaped housing support section for housing and holding the bar code scanning section, which is erected on a soccer table. A vertical bar code scanner, a card reader / writer embedded inside the storage support, having a card insertion slot arranged on the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support, and a storage support of the storage support. An information input device, comprising: a display unit provided on a customer-side vertical surface; and a customer input unit provided in a recessed portion of the storage support unit that is recessed on the back side of the customer-side vertical surface. 4. The information input device according to claim 3, wherein the customer input unit is disposed in a recessed portion that is recessed inward of the customer-side vertical surface of the storage support unit in an obliquely upward state.