Patent Application
20110055051
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-200802, filed on Aug. 31, 2009; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication device used by a customer when a customer makes an order on table of an eating house such as a restaurant and a cover unit for covering a communication terminal of the communication device.
In recent years, an order managing system is used in order to accurately and quickly communicate an order of a customer to cooks in an eating house such as a restaurant. In the order managing system, a handy terminal individually carried by a store clerk is used for inputting order data. The input order data is transmitted to a radio communication unit set on a ceiling or the like and configured to enable radio communication with the handy terminal. The order data is transmitted from the radio communication unit to a kitchen printer for instructing cooks in a kitchen about order menu items and a POS (Point of Sales) terminal as a checkout apparatus set on a checkout counter.
From the viewpoint of improvement of efficiency of operation, a reduction in personnel expenses, and the like, in some case, a customer order terminal with which a customer himself or herself can make an order is provided on each of tables. Like the handy terminals, such a customer order terminal can communicate with the radio communication unit by radio. Order data input to the customer order terminal is transmitted to the radio communication unit.
In general, according to one embodiment, a certain embodiment provides a communication device including: a communication terminal including a first component having a display section provided on a front surface, a second component having an operation button unit provided on a front surface, and a coupling section configured to openably and closably couple the first and second components; and a first cover configured to cover a front surface of the communication device in a state in which the first and second components are open and including at least two windows arranged in positions corresponding to the display section and the operation button unit.
Another embodiment provides a communication device including: a communication terminal including an operation section on a front surface; and a cover configured to cover a side of the communication terminal on which the operation section is provided and including a window for exposing a portion of the operation section to the outside, wherein the operation section includes, in a position covered with the cover, a mode switching section configured to switch a mode.
Another embodiment provides a cover unit configured to cover a communication terminal including a first component and a second component that is opened and closed between a state in which the second component is opened with respect to the first component and a state in which the second component is closed with respect to the first component, the cover unit including: a first cover attached to a front surface side of the first component and the second component exposed to an outer side in the state in which the second component is opened; and a second cover attached to a rear surface side of the first component and the second component on the opposite side of the front surface side in a state in which the second component is opened, wherein the first cover includes: a display section window arranged in a position corresponding to a display section provided on the front surface of the first component when the cover unit is attached to the communication terminal; and an operation button unit window arranged in a position corresponding to an operation button unit provided on the front surface of the second component when the cover unit is attached to the communication terminal.
A first embodiment is explained with reference to
A display section 15 on which a menu and the like are displayed is provided on an exposed surface (a front surface) 11A of the first component 11. The display section 15 is a touch panel type display section. A store clerk can, for example, input order data and transmit the data by touching the display section 15. An operation button unit 16 including plural operation buttons 16A is provided on an exposed surface (a front surface) 12A of the second component 12.
In
The controller 70 is connected to an application switching section 78. The application switching section 78 is connected to a recording section 79 such as a RAM. The recording section 79 has recorded therein an application in a store clerk order mode in which a store clerk individually carries the handy terminal 3 and makes an order and an application in a customer order mode in which a customer makes an order on a table. The application switching section 78 switches an application to be started between the store clerk order mode and the customer order mode. When the application of the handy terminal 3 is switched, operation for, for example, pressing a pre-set switching button of the operation button unit 16 is performed. Specifically, the handy terminal 3 includes a switching operation section for performing operation for switching the application to be started (display content of the display section 15). An input in the operation button unit 16 is detected by the button-operation detecting section 71 and sent to the controller 70. The controller 70 sends, on the basis of an input from the button-operation detecting section 71, a control signal for an application switching command to the application switching section 78. The application switching section 78 switches, on the basis of the control signal for application switching received from the controller 70, the application to be started. According to the switching of the application of the handy terminal 3, the display switching section 73 switches the display content of the display section 15 between display content for the store clerk and display content for the customer.
In this embodiment, the application to be started is switched between the store clerk order mode and the customer order mode. However, in another embodiment, the same application may be used in the store clerk order mode and the customer order mode. In this case, the application switching section 78 is not provided. When the display content of the display section 15 is switched between the store clerk order mode and the customer order mode, operation for, for example, pressing the pre-set switching button of the operation button unit 16 is performed. An input in the operation button unit 16 is detected by the button-operation detecting section 71 and sent to the controller 70. The controller 70 sends, on the basis of an input from the button-operation detecting section 71, a control signal for a display content switching command to the display switching section 73. The display switching section 73 switches the display content of the display section 15 on the basis of the control signal for display content switching received from the controller 70.
As shown in
As shown in
A surface area of the display section window 41 is smaller than a surface area of the display section 15. When the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are attached to the handy terminal 3, a portion of the display section 15 is exposed to the outside and the remaining portion is covered with the first cover 31. In other words, the display section 15 includes an exposed section exposed to the outside and an unexposed section covered with the first cover 31. A surface area of the operation button unit window 42 is smaller than a surface area of the operation button unit 16. When the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are attached to the handy terminal 3, a portion of the operation button unit 16 is exposed to the outside and the remaining portion is covered with the first cover 31. In the portions of the display section 15 and the operation button unit 16 covered with the first cover 31, buttons unnecessary during the customer order mode such as the switching operation section, which is the button for switching an application, are arranged. Consequently, during the customer order mode, the customer can perform operation using only buttons necessary for an order. In this embodiment, portions of both the display section 15 and the operation button unit 16 are hidden by the cover 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a portion of only the display section 15 may be hidden.
A cutout section for LED 45 is provided in a boundary portion between the front panel 35 and the sidewall 36A of the first cover 31. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In this embodiment, the projections 58 are provided in the regions of the second cover 32 that are set in contact with the rear surface of the second component 12. However, in another embodiment, groove-like recesses may be provided in regions set in contact with the rear surface of the first component 11. In this case, the recesses function as the position adjusting sections configured to arrange the front surface of the first component 11 and the front surface of the second component 12 on the same plane when the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are attached to the handy terminal 3. In this embodiment, the thickness d1 of the first component 11 is large compared with the thickness d2 of the second component 12. However, the thickness d1 of the first component 11 may be small compared with the thickness d2 of the second component 12. In this case, as in the case explained above, the position adjusting sections configured to arrange the front surface of the first component 11 and the front surface of the second component 12 on the same plane may be provided in the second cover.
Actions of the communication device 30 according to this embodiment are explained below.
The store clerk makes an order using the handy terminal 3. When the store clerk makes an order, in the handy terminal 3, the application in the store clerk order mode is started. First, the store clerk presses the power switch 21 to thereby turn on the power supply for the handy terminal 3. The store clerk inputs order data of the customer to the handy terminal 3 and transmits the order data to the radio communication unit 4. The order data transmitted to the radio communication unit 4 is transmitted to the kitchen printer 5 and the POS terminal 6 via the communication line 8.
On each of the tables in the store, the communication device 30 formed by attaching the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 to the handy terminal 3 in a state in which the second component 12 is opened with respect to the first component 11 is arranged. In the handy terminal 3, the application in the customer order mode is started. First, the customer touches the display section 15 of the handy terminal 3 of the communication device 30 to thereby turn on the power supply for the handy terminal 3. The customer inputs order data to the handy terminal 3 and transmits the order data to the radio communication unit 4. As in the case of the store clerk communication mode, the order data transmitted to the radio communication unit 4 is transmitted to the kitchen printer 5 and the POS terminal 6 via the communication line 8. When the customer is not using the handy terminal 3, the power supply for the handy terminal 3 is automatically turned off.
Switching of the application to be started between the store clerk order mode and the customer order mode is performed by performing operation for, for example, pressing the pre-set switching button of the operation button unit 16. An input in the operation button unit 16 is detected by the button-operation detecting section 71 and sent to the controller 70. The controller 70 sends the application switching command to the application switching section 78 on the basis of the input from the button-operation detecting section 71. The application switching section 78 switches, on the basis of the command from the controller 70, the application to be started. According to the switching of the application of the handy terminal 3, the display switching section 73 switches the display content of the display section 15 between the display content for the store clerk and the display content for the customer.
At least in the customer order mode, an error state of the handy terminal 3 such as a state in which the transmission button of the display section 15 for transmitting a data transmission command to the radio communication unit 4 is not pressed is detected by the input-operation detecting section 77 and sent to the controller 70. The controller 70 sends an LED lighting command to the LED control section 75 on the basis of an input from the input-operation detecting section 77. According to the LED lighting command, the LED control section 75 lights the LED 23. When the LED 23 is lit, the customer can check the lighting of the LED 23 from the cutout section for LED 45 provided in the first cover 31 of the communication device 30. Consequently, the customer checks the error state of the handy terminal 3.
When a battery of the battery mounting section 25 of the handy terminal 3 is replaced in a state in which the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are attached to the handy terminal 3, the replacement of the battery is performed through the window for battery replacement 55 of the second cover 32 of the communication device 30.
When the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are attached to the handy terminal 3, portions of the display section 15 and the operation button unit 16 are exposed to the outside and the remaining portions are covered with the first cover 31. In the portions of the display section 15 and the operation button unit 16 covered with the first cover 31, buttons unnecessary during the customer order mode such as the button for switching an application (the switching operation section) are arranged. Consequently, during the customer order mode, the customer can perform operation using only buttons necessary for an order. In other words, the customer is prevented from pressing the buttons unnecessary during the customer order mode by mistake. For example, start of the application in the store clerk order mode because of operation of the button for switching an application by the customer by mistake is prevented.
In the handy terminal 3 of the embodiment explained above, in the customer order mode, the power supply is turned on when the customer touches the display section 15. However, as a modification, in the customer order mode, as in the store clerk order mode, the power supply may be turned on when the customer presses the power switch 21. In this case, as shown in
The handy terminal 3 of the embodiment explained above includes the first component 11 and the second component 12 pivotable with respect to the first component 11. However, in another embodiment, the handy terminal 3 is not limited to this. For example, as a modification, as shown in
As shown in
In the modification of the embodiment, the display section 15 may be covered with a thin transparent film or the like. Consequently, since the user can perform input of order data, transmission of the data, and the like without directly touching the display section 15, it is possible to prevent stains of the display section 15.
In this embodiment, the LED 23 is provided in the boundary portion of the front surface 11A of the first component 11 and the side 11C on the lower side in
In the embodiment, the LED is used as the warning section for checking the error state of the handy terminal 3. However, as a modification, the error state may be checked by using other components such as a buzzer.
In the embodiment, the application to be started is switched by performing the operation of the operation button unit 16. However, in a certain modification, the application to be started may be switched by performing the operation of the display section 15. In this case, the controller 70 sends the application switching command to the application switching section 78 on the basis of an input from the input-operation detecting section 77. In other words, the handy terminal 3 only has to include a switching operation section configured to switch display content of the display section 15. Similarly, the transmission button for transmitting the data transmission command to the radio communication unit 4 may be provided in the operation button unit 16 rather than in the display section 15.
In the embodiment, the male screw portions (not shown) of the screws 59 are screwed in the screw holes 46, whereby the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 are coupled. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a certain modification, the first cover 31 and the second cover 32 may be coupled by, for example, providing a fitting portion of the first cover 31 and the second cover 32.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-200802 | Aug 2009 | JP | national |
