Module

A module provided in a predetermined space of an operation panel of a transaction terminal device to input and output digital information, includes: a wireless unit, a scanner unit, and a housing. The housing has a first front surface member and a second front surface member, a lower side of the first front surface member projects toward an operator with respect to an upper side of the first front surface member, an upper side of the second front surface member projects toward the operator with respect to a lower side of the second front surface member, an antenna of the wireless unit is provided on a back side of the first front surface member, a lower side of the antenna projects toward the operator with respect to an upper side of the antenna, and the scanner unit reads a code through an opening of the second front surface member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Application No. 2020-122854 filed Jul. 17, 2020, and the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

At least an embodiment of the present invention relates to a module.

Description of the Related Documents

Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2013-127706 describes an information processing system provided with an IC (Integrated Circuit) card reader and an information processing device. Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2015-197942 describes a configuration in which a card reader is disposed and attached to the inner side (back side) of a front panel constituting a front surface of a housing (frame) of a host device such as an ATM (Automated Teller Machine).

Further, there is known a configuration in which a wireless unit that performs data communication by using NFC (Near Field Communication) is provided in a transaction terminal device such as an ATM. In addition, there is known a configuration in which a scanner unit for reading an external code such as a two-dimensional code is provided in a transaction terminal device such as an ATM.

Each of the above-mentioned wireless unit and scanner unit is provided, for example, in a predetermined space (for example, an opening) in an operation panel of the transaction terminal device. When both the wireless unit and the scanner unit are provided in the transaction terminal device, it is conceivable that the wireless unit and the scanner unit are provided in one housing to form one module, and the module is provided in the predetermined space of the operation panel.

However, it is difficult to miniaturize each of the wireless unit and the scanner unit while maintaining the performance. Therefore, it is difficult to realize a small module that can be provided in a space having a limited size while incorporating a wireless unit and a scanner unit.

At least an embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a small module incorporating a wireless unit and a scanner unit.

SUMMARY

A module of at least an embodiment of the present invention is a module provided in a predetermined space of an operation panel of a transaction terminal device to input and output a digital information, the module including: a wireless unit, configured to perform a data communication using at least a near field communication; a scanner unit, configured to read an external code; and a housing, configured for incorporating the wireless unit and the scanner unit. The housing includes: a first front surface member, disposed obliquely with respect to a vertical direction; and a second front surface member, provided below the first front surface member and disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. A lower side of the first front surface member projects toward an operator with respect to an upper side of the first front surface member. An upper side of the second front surface member projects toward the operator with respect to a lower side of the second front surface member. An antenna of the wireless unit is provided on a back side of the first front surface member. A lower side of the antenna projects toward the operator with respect to an upper side of the antenna. And, the scanner unit is configured to read the external code through an opening of the second front surface member.

According to at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a small module incorporating a wireless unit and a scanner unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

<A Module100which is an Example of an Embodiment>

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating an example of a module100which is an example of an embodiment.FIG.2is a side view illustrating the module100.FIG.3is a front view illustrating the module100. The module100illustrated inFIGS.1to3is a module provided in a predetermined space of an operation panel of a transaction terminal device (for example, seeFIGS.4and5) such as an ATM for inputting/outputting digital information. Specifically, the module100includes a wireless unit110, a scanner unit120, and a housing130.

The wireless unit110is a unit for inputting data using at least NFC (Near Field Communication). That is, the wireless unit110has an antenna and performs wireless communication with an NFC-compatible card (for example, a credit card or a point card) or information terminal (for example, a smartphone or a wearable terminal). The antenna may be realized by, for example, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) antenna. Further, the wireless unit110may be compatible with wireless communication other than NFC.

The scanner unit120is a unit for reading an external code. The code is an optically readable code such as a two-dimensional code and a bar code. For example, the code is printed on an object such as paper or displayed on a screen of an information terminal. The scanner unit120images this code and processes image data obtained by this imaging to read the data indicated by the code.

The housing130is a housing incorporating the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120. As illustrated inFIG.3, the housing130has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front surface side.

The front surface side is, for example, the side of an operator (user) of the transaction terminal device when the module100is provided in the transaction terminal device, and is the left side inFIG.2or the near side inFIG.3.

Specifically, the housing130has a first front surface member131, a second front surface member132, and a back surface member133. The first front surface member131and the second front surface member132are members on the front surface side of the housing130.

The first front surface member131is a member that is disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. The vertical direction is, for example, the vertical direction (gravity direction) when the module100is provided in the transaction terminal device, and is the longitudinal direction ofFIGS.2and3. The lower side of the first front surface member131projects toward the operator with respect to the upper side of the first front surface member131. The lower side is, for example, the lower side when the module100is provided in the transaction terminal device, and is the lower side ofFIGS.2and3. The upper side is the side opposite to the lower side, and is the upper side ofFIGS.2and3.

The second front surface member132is a member provided below the first front surface member131and disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. The upper side of the second front surface member132projects toward the operator with respect to the lower side of the second front surface member132. The second front surface member132is provided with an opening132afor allowing the scanner unit120to read a code.

Further, the first front surface member131and the second front surface member132are continuous. That is, the lower side of the first front surface member131and the upper side of the second front surface member132are connected. However, another member (connecting member) may be provided between the lower side of the first front surface member131and the upper side of the second front surface member132.

The back surface member133is a member on the back surface side of the housing130. The back surface side is the side opposite to the front surface side, and is the right side inFIG.2and the back side ofFIG.3. The back surface member133has, for example, a rectangular plate shape parallel to the vertical direction. Although not illustrated, the back surface member133is provided with an opening for introducing wires of the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120into a control device inside the transaction terminal device.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the antenna of the wireless unit110is provided on the back side of the first front surface member131, and the lower side of the antenna of the wireless unit110projects toward the operator with respect to the upper side of the antenna of the wireless unit110. The back side of the first front surface member131is the side opposite to the operator (right side ofFIG.2) when viewed from the first front surface member131. In the example ofFIG.2, the antenna is disposed in the housing130so as to be parallel to the first front surface member131. Consequently, for example, an NFC-compatible card or information terminal is brought into contact with or close to the first front surface member131, so that digital information can be input and output by NFC.

A mark131ais marked at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the center of the antenna of the wireless unit110in a surface on the front surface side of the first front surface member131. The operator relies on the mark131ato bring the NFC-compatible card or information terminal into contact with or close to the first front surface member131.

As described above, the lower side of the first front surface member131projects toward the front surface side, so that the wireless unit110disposed in parallel with the first front surface member131is also disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction such that the lower side is the front surface side.

As a result, the vertical length of the wireless unit110can be shortened without narrowing the antenna area of the wireless unit110as compared with a configuration in which the wireless unit110is disposed in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the vertical length of the module100incorporating the wireless unit110while securing the antenna area of the wireless unit110.

Further, a surface of the first front surface member131faces diagonally upward, so that it is easy for the operator to bring the NFC-compatible card or information terminal into contact with or close to the first front surface member131.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.2, the scanner unit120reads a code through the opening132aof the second front surface member132. As described above, the upper side of the second front surface member132projects toward the front surface side, so that the opening132aopens diagonally downward, and the reading (imaging) direction of the scanner unit120also becomes the diagonally downward direction. Therefore, the scanner unit120is also disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction.

Herein, the scanner unit120is disposed such that one part of the scanner unit120fits in a space created by disposing the wireless unit110obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. For example, as illustrated inFIG.2, one part of the scanner unit120is located between the lower side of the wireless unit110and the back surface member133when viewed from the front surface side.

That is, at least the one part of the scanner unit120is provided at such a position as to overlap the lower side of the wireless unit110in the horizontal direction. The horizontal direction is, for example, the horizontal direction (direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity) when the module100is provided in the transaction terminal device, and is the crosswise direction ofFIGS.2and3.

Consequently, the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120can be partially overlapped when viewed from the front surface side, and the vertical length of the module100incorporating the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120can be further shortened.

Further, the reading (imaging) direction of the scanner unit120is obliquely downward, so that the operator can easily guide a code displayed on an object such as paper or a screen of an information terminal to a position readable by the scanner unit120.

For example, the scanner unit120irradiates an object to be read with auxiliary light, and reads the code by reflected light of the auxiliary light. The reading (imaging) direction of the scanner unit120is obliquely downward as described above, so that the irradiation direction of the auxiliary light is also obliquely downward, and therefore it is possible to avoid direct irradiation to eyes of the operation by the auxiliary light.

The wireless unit110and the scanner unit120are disposed so as to partially overlap each other when viewed from the front surface side, so that a distance between the information terminal and the wireless unit110gets close when the information terminal is brought close to the scanner unit120(opening132a) in order to cause the scanner unit120to read the code displayed on the information terminal.

Therefore, for example, in a case where the information terminal is compatible with NFC, when the scanner unit120reads the code displayed on the information terminal, data communication by NFC is further performed between the information terminal and the wireless unit110. That is, the reading of the code displayed on the information terminal by the scanner unit120and the data communication by NFC between the information terminal and the wireless unit110can be performed in parallel.

<A Transaction Terminal Device Provided with the Module100>

FIGS.4and5are diagrams each illustrating an example of a transaction terminal device provided with the module100. The module100can be provided, for example, in a transaction terminal device400illustrated inFIG.4. The transaction terminal device400is a transaction terminal device (host device of the module100) that inputs and outputs digital information such as an ATM and a POS (Point Of Sale).

The transaction terminal device400has an operation panel410for allowing the operator of the transaction terminal device400to perform various operations. As illustrated inFIG.4, the operation panel410is provided with a display screen411, a numeric keypad412, and an opening413. The display screen411displays various information to the operator. Further, the display screen411may be a touch panel display or the like that accepts touch operation from an operator. The numeric keypad412accepts numerical input by key operation from the operator.

The opening413is an opening having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front surface side of the module100, and is an example of a predetermined space for providing the module100. As illustrated inFIG.5, the housing130of the module100is fitted into the opening413and fixed by screwing or the like.

The wires of the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120are connected to the control device (for example, seeFIG.6) inside the transaction terminal device400.

The shape and the size of the housing130of the module100are designed to match the shape and the size of the opening413. At this time, the vertical length of the module100can be shortened as described above, and therefore even when the shape and the size are limited, it is possible to realize the module100that has the wireless unit110having a sufficient antenna area, and also includes the scanner unit120.

Although the opening413is described as an example of the predetermined space for providing the module100, the predetermined space for providing the module100is not limited to the opening413. For example, the predetermined space for providing the module100may be a flat plate member or the like having a screw hole or the like to which the back surface member133of the module100can be fixed. In this case, the flat plate member or the like is provided with an opening for introducing the wires of the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120into the control device inside the transaction terminal device.

FIG.6is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the control device610and the module100of the transaction terminal device400.

The transaction terminal device400is provided with the control device610that controls the module100. The control device610includes a processor611, a memory612, a module communication interface613, and an external communication interface614. The processor611, the memory612, the module communication interface613and the external communication interface614are connected by, for example, a bus619.

The processor611is a circuit that performs a signal process, and is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the entire control device610. The processor611may be realized by other digital circuits such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Further, the processor611may be realized by combination of a plurality of digital circuits.

The memory612includes, for example, a main memory and an auxiliary memory. The main memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The main memory is used as a work area for the processor611.

The auxiliary memory is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a flash memory. Various programs for operating the control device610are stored in the auxiliary memory. The program stored in the auxiliary memory is loaded into the main memory and executed by the processor611.

The module communication interface613is a communication interface that communicates with a module (for example, the module100) provided in the transaction terminal device400.

It is a communication interface for communicating with (for example, module100). The module communication interface613is, for example, an interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus). The module communication interface613is controlled by the processor611.

The external communication interface614is a communication interface for communicating with the outside of the transaction terminal device400. The external communication interface614is, for example, a communication interface of a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WLAN (Wireless LAN). The external communication interface614is controlled by the processor611.

The module100may include a hub620in addition to the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120. InFIG.6, the housing130is not illustrated.

The hub620is a line concentrator that is connected to the module communication interface613of the control device610via a communication cable and relays communication between the wireless unit110and the control device610and between the scanner unit120and the control device610. When the module communication interface613of the control device610is a USB communication interface, the hub620is a USB hub. In this case, the communication cable that connects the hub620and the module communication interface613is a USB cable.

The wireless unit110and the scanner unit120are connected to the control device610by the hub620, so that the module100and the control device610can be connected to each other with a single communication cable while the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120are incorporated in the module100. Therefore, the work of providing the module100in the transaction terminal device400is facilitated. In addition, it is possible to reduce the number of required communication cables and the number of ports used for the module100among the communication ports of the control device610.

<Main Effects of this Embodiment>

According to the module100, the antenna of the wireless unit110is disposed in parallel with the first front surface member131disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction, so that it is possible to shorten the vertical length of the module100without reducing the antenna area of the wireless unit110. Therefore, it is possible to provide the small module100incorporating the wireless unit110and the scanner unit120.

As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification.

(1) A module provided in a predetermined space of an operation panel of a transaction terminal device to input and output a digital information, the module including: a wireless unit, configured to perform a data communication using at least a near field communication; a scanner unit, configured to read an external code; and a housing, configured for incorporating the wireless unit and the scanner unit. The housing includes: a first front surface member, disposed obliquely with respect to a vertical direction; and a second front surface member, provided below the first front surface member and disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. A lower side of the first front surface member projects toward an operator with respect to an upper side of the first front surface member. An upper side of the second front surface member projects toward the operator with respect to a lower side of the second front surface member. An antenna of the wireless unit is provided on a back side of the first front surface member. A lower side of the antenna projects toward the operator with respect to an upper side of the antenna. And, the scanner unit is configured to read the external code through an opening of the second front surface member.

When the module is configured as described in (1), the antenna of the wireless unit is disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction, so that it is possible to shorten the vertical length of the module without reducing the antenna area of the wireless unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide the small module incorporating the wireless unit and the scanner unit.

(2) The module described in (1), in which the antenna of the wireless unit is disposed in parallel with the first front surface member.

When the module is configured as described in (2), the antenna of the wireless unit is disposed in parallel with the first front surface member disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction, so that it is possible to shorten the vertical length of the module without reducing the antenna area of the wireless unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide the small module incorporating the wireless unit and the scanner unit.

(3) The module described in (1) or (2), in which at least one part of the scanner unit is disposed at such a position as to overlap a lower side of the wireless unit in a horizontal direction.

When the module is configured as described in (3), at least the one part of the scanner unit is disposed in a space created by disposing the antenna of the wireless unit in parallel with the first front surface member disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction, and therefore it is possible to further shorten the vertical length of the module.

(4) The module described in any one of (1) to (3), further comprising: a line concentrator, configured to concentrate respective wires of the wireless unit and the scanner unit and perform connection to a control device of the transaction terminal device.

When the module is configured as described in (4), it is possible to perform connection between the wireless unit and the control device of the transaction terminal device and between the scanner unit of the control device of the transaction terminal device by a single communication cable while incorporating the wireless unit and the scanner unit.