WO2000036545A1

WO2000036545A1 - Bar code scanner and portable magnetic cards

Info

Publication number: WO2000036545A1
Application number: PCT/FR1999/003107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine Moskofidis; Arnaud Niatel
Original assignee: C.I.B. (Commerce Information Business)
Priority date: 1998-12-17
Filing date: 1999-12-10
Publication date: 2000-06-22
Also published as: AU1663600A; FR2787606A1; FR2787606B1

Abstract

The invention concerns the general technical sector of portable appliances (2) called 'transaction terminals' which combine a 'cash desk' or 'cash register' function with a reader for bank card or the like. The invention is characterised in that it incorporates a laser bar code scanner (40) or a scanning device for scanning the signatures, thereby providing a completely integrated highly practical machine, having no interface and independent of its base (1).

Description

PORTABLE MAGNETIC CODES AND BAR CODES READER

The present invention relates to the general technical sector of portable devices called "collection terminals" and which allow the payment of an invoice, restaurant bill or the like by the Customer, using his bank card or another means of payment.

The latest and most efficient terminals of this type, developed by the Applicant, combine a "cash register" or "cash register" function with a bank card reader and / or a check payment device and / or, in a first family of machines, a drawer-type device for cash settlement.

Those skilled in the art know the functions and features of a cash register.

Among other functions of which only the essentials will be recalled here, the cash register can also transmit, when placed on its base, and via connection pads, an indication of “reset to zero” and the data allowing to update the stocks for the management of a store, or similar data.

The most recent models therefore consist of a machine combining a cash register function and a bank card reader, portable function, containing all the memory and all the information necessary for the envisaged operations and which, placed on its base, can communicate by a Modem with different peripherals connected by cable such as:

a keyboard 17 for loading the product codes and preparing an invoice, for example a display screen 15

a bar code reader 80, of known laser type, commonly known as "hand shower" (19).

Although the development described above was developed by the Applicant, a more complete development was not considered possible due to its complexity and technical problems which seemed insoluble.

Furthermore, the profession has not posed the problem of achieving such integrations, despite a need for more integrated machines, capable for example of reducing the number of gestures to be performed for an operation, or of simplifying these gestures, or reduce their hardship, etc.

There are also known mobile or fixed telephone projects comprising various cash register and / or barcode reader functions and the like, but on a telephone basis and using multiple interfaces, telecommunications antennas, etc. which does not represent than a simple “modular” application or juxtaposition of advances in electronics and new user habits, unlike the invention which offers a radically “integrated” solution and provides great comfort and saves time and efficiency . Furthermore, such systems have never been marketed and their degree of feasibility is unknown.

A merit of the invention is to have considered additional integration, against trends in the profession which clearly distinguish electronic banking on the one hand, and banking professions on the other hand, and despite the foreseeable technical problems. In addition, the laser shower has always been considered in the profession as a device of the body.

Another merit of the invention is that it has succeeded in solving the technical problems linked to the integration of the laser reader or of a scanner. The present invention resides in the fact of combining the development described above with an integrated bar code laser reader and / or a laser scanner. The result is a fully integrated machine with unrivaled practicality.

The bar code laser reader makes it possible, in a known manner, to read the bar codes and to integrate the data contained in the code. The laser scanner makes it possible to “scan” for example a signature and to transmit it in real time, for example from a delivery vehicle or the like, to a central verification system. We can naturally carry out all other verifications of this order, or even scan orders and transmit them, etc.

One of the technical problems which opposed the very idea of integrating a scanner and / or a laser reader comes from the usual design of known machines. It was believed that it was not possible to envisage a bar code laser reader which was isolated from the base. Indeed, all known designs require recognition by the system of contact with the "base" to gain access to the connection cable.

The machines of the prior art incorporate a special circuit for detecting the presence of the "base" which is the support of the device and fulfills the functions of connectors, in the prior art, with the peripherals. In the absence of recognition, the telephone and serial RS232 (input-output) connections are not made.

The general technical solution of the invention is based on a process which consists in "deceiving" the "portable" (ie the device grouping together the cash function and the payment function, in particular by bank card, and, according to the invention, integrating the laser reader) so that the on-board electronic system of the portable receives information which places it in a configuration identical to that in which it would be placed if it were in position on its base.

The invention also relates to the machines themselves, designed and manufactured by incorporating said method, as well as their uses in all areas of industry, services, trade, and in particular catering, including in air, rail and sea transport, and all areas using machines of this type.

There are several particular means capable of achieving this "decoy", and the skilled person will be able to envisage them on reading the general principle stated above, and the description and examples which will follow.

The general principle of the invention is to carry out an electronic assembly adapted so that the operating system of the portable, and more specifically its circuit for detecting the presence of the base, receives a signal indicating that the portable is in the "put down" position. based, "when it is not.

According to one embodiment, said signal is transmitted continuously.

According to another embodiment, said signal is emitted at the time of the operation (whatever it is) to be performed.

According to an option, the fact of starting the operation generates a code which triggers said signal.

The preferred embodiment of the invention consists in modifying the operating system of the portable device by providing it with information according to which the screen and the keys are in “on” or “lit” mode, when in reality they are in "off" mode (indeed, a permanent "on" mode would quickly drain the laptop battery). The choice of this criterion is explained by the fact that the “on” or “lit” state constitutes, or generates, the base recognition signal on certain machines.

This configuration (screen and keys lit or lit) is that which the system encounters when it is placed on its base (indeed, at this moment, the problem of discharging the batteries no longer arises, since the base is supplied with energy). The system therefore considers that the laptop is on its base (while it is actually far away for the operation to be performed) and the laser reader therefore accepts to read the barcode, as it does in the prior art to the state laid on the base.

As indicated above, this only represents a non-limiting mode of "decoy" according to the invention.

Another mode, still by way of nonlimiting example, consists in entering a specific code in the operating system of the portable, which causes the setting "on" or "lit" only during the sales operations carried out on the machine.

The triggering factor is then the start of the sales operation, which sends the code, this code deceiving the system as described in the first example.

The difference between the two examples is that, in the first example, the laser reader is activated as soon as the laptop leaves its base, and remains permanently activated, while in the second example the laser is only activated when '' it may be used for a sales transaction.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment of a machine according to the invention, with bar code laser reader and / or front scanner;

- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of another non-limiting embodiment of a machine according to the invention, with barcode laser reader and / or lateral scanner; FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment of a machine according to the invention, with bar code laser reader and / or rear scanner;

FIG. 4 represents a diagram according to the invention making it possible to produce a lure circuit in a machine called a 2-line display, of which a reference is Model 730T;

FIG. 5 represents a diagram according to the invention making it possible to produce a lure circuit in a machine called a 4-line display, of which a reference is Model 730T GE.

- Figure 6 shows a configuration of the prior art with peripheral laser shower.

In the figures, the same references have the same meaning:

1 base

13 connection cable with peripherals

15 screen

17 peripheral keyboard

19 peripheral laser shower (prior art)

laptop case

3 bank card reader

5 keyboard

7 paper printer

9 connection between the laptop and the base 40 laser barcode reader and / or scanner (mode according to the invention)

60 modification of the base presence detection card, for a 2-line display

62 comparator

70 modification of the base presence detection card, for a 4-line display

72 regulator

80 bar code reader in a prior art "hand shower"

Those skilled in the art will understand that the scanner or the laser reader poses the same technical problem, solved according to the invention. We can therefore integrate one or the other, or both. Similarly, their positioning may be arbitrary. One can be positioned on the front, the other on the rear, or one laterally to the right, and the other laterally to the left, or the laser reader and / or the scanner under the housing, or the two devices integrated into one. All these embodiments are included in the invention, as well as the other modes accessible to those skilled in the art.

Depending on the case, the implementation of other systems may be modified, such as the bank card reader (non-limiting example, see Figure 3).

The criterion of these implantation will be on the one hand the envisaged use, the reduction of the painfulness of the operator's gestures, the ease, the logic and the speed of the gestures, and similar considerations which precisely represent the great progress brought by the 'invention.

The following examples illustrate the invention without, however, limiting its scope. Example 1:

In a 2-line display device, of the 730T type from the company Ingenico (TM), the connection with the base is detected at the level of the card 60 by the presence of the supply voltage by a comparator circuit 62 of type MAX 707 (TM).

The modification made according to the invention to deceive the system consists in forcing the tab No. 4 of the comparator to a voltage of + 5V by the signal LIGHT 2 which corresponds to the command by the software of the lighting of the backlight of. laptop keyboard. For this purpose, a connection is made between pin 5 of connector J3 to tab No. 4 of the MAX 707 comparator on the main board. The connection can in particular be a wire strap connector.

This generates a voltage at the comparator 62, which therefore considers that the laptop is placed on its base.

This finally allows the RS 232 input circuits to be used for reading by the bar code laser reader 40, while the machine is held in hand for the operation to be carried out.

Example 2:

In a 4 or 8 line display device, of the 730T GE type from the company Ingenico (TM), the connection with the base is detected at the level of the card 60 by a detection of the telephone line contacts (signal: " posed ”corresponding to the value“ 1 ”).

The modification made according to the invention to deceive the system consists in removing a CMS type strap (ST7) (TM) and in connecting the n ° 3 tab (P11) of the microprocessor to a voltage + 5V by a wire strap .

This generates the value "1" for the "landed" signal, and the system therefore considers that the laptop is placed on its base. This allows the RS 232 input circuits to be used for reading by the bar code laser reader 40, while the machine is held in hand for the operation to be carried out.

Claims

1 Method for integrating a laser barcode reader and / or a laser scanner in portable devices called “cashing terminals” which combine a “cash register” or “cash register” function with a bank card reader and / or a payment device by check or the like, characterized in that it consists in "luring" the "portable" (that is to say the device combining the cash function and the payment function, in particular by bank card, and, according to the invention, integrating the scanner and / or laser reader) so that the on-board electronic system of the portable receives information which places it in a configuration identical to that in which it would be placed if it were in position on its base.

2 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electronic assembly adapted so that the operating system of the portable, and more specifically its circuit for detecting the presence of the base, receives a signal indicating that the portable is in position "placed on the base", when it is not.

3 Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said signal is transmitted continuously.

4 Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said signal is issued at the time of the operation (whatever it is) to be performed.

5 Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the beginning of the operation generates a code which triggers said signal.

6 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it consists in modifying the operating system of the laptop by providing it with information according to which the screen and the keys are in "on" or "mode". lit ", when in reality they are in" off "mode 7 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it consists in entering a specific code in the operating system of the laptop, which causes the setting "on" or "lit" only during sales operations carried out on the machine.

8 Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the triggering factor is then the start of the sales operation, which sends the code, this code deceiving the system.

9 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in a 2-line display device, of the type

730T from the company Ingenico (TM), the connection with the base is detected at the level of the card 60 by the presence of the supply voltage by a comparator circuit 62 of the MAX 707 (TM) type, and in this that we deceive the system by forcing the tab N ° 4 of the comparator to a voltage of + 5V by the signal LIGOT 2 which corresponds to the command by the software of the lighting of the backlight of the portable keyboard, by establishment of a connection between pin 5 of connector J3 to tab No. 4 of the MAX 707 comparator on the main board.

10 Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the connection is a wire strap connector, which generates a voltage at the comparator 62.

11 Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, in a 4 or 8 line display device, of the 730T GE type from the company Ingenico (TM), the connection with the base is detected at the level of the card 60 by a detection of the telephone line contacts (signal: "placed" corresponding to the value "1"), and the system is deceived by removing a "strap" of CMS (ST7) (TM) type and by connecting tab 3 (P11) of the microprocessor to a voltage + 5V by a wire strap, which generates the value "1" for the "set" signal. 12 Portable devices called “collection terminals” which combine a “cash” or “cash register” function with a bank card reader and / or a payment device by check or the like, characterized in that they integrate a reader barcode laser and / or laser scanner.

13 portable devices called “collection terminals” which combine a “cash” or “cash register” function with a bank card reader and / or a payment device by check or the like, according to claim 12, characterized in that '' they integrate a barcode laser reader and / or a laser scanner by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

1 4 Portable devices according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the bar code laser reader and / or the scanner are in the front position.

1 5 Portable devices according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the barcode laser reader and / or the scanner are in the rear position.

1 6 portable devices according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the bar code laser reader and / or the scanner are in the right or left lateral position.

1 7 Portable devices according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the bar code laser reader and / or the scanner are in position under the housing.

1 8 Uses of devices according to any one of claims 12 to 17 in all fields of industry, services, trade, and in particular catering, including in air, rail and sea transport, and all fields using machines of this type.