Abstract:
The integrated point of sale (POS) terminal includes: a calculating device; and a monitor, an input device and an output device respectively electrically connected to the calculating device. An input data is inputted into the calculating device via the input device and displays on the monitor, and then the output data is displayed thereon and outputted from the output device post calculation. In other POS, the input device performs input and output functions, or a touch panel might be the input device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a point of sale (POS) system. In particular, the present invention relates to an integrated POS system, which effectively integrates the main board, the flat panel display, the input device, the output device and so on therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the conventional POS system, the input device (such as keyboard, card reader and magnetic strip, etc.) is individually electrically connected to a computer main board. When data for cashing information, credit card, electronic tender and so on are input to the computer main board, an invoice, a receipt or a credit card receipt is output by another external device. Due to the variety of application requirements, a variety of external peripheral devices could be required, resulting in need for more operating space, mass amounts of data and power cabling and more potential points of failure. This combination creates the potential for extended downtime and maintenance costs. 
         [0003]    It is therefore attempted by the applicant to resolve the above situation encountered in the prior article. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Based on the deficiencies in the prior article, a fully integrated point of sale (POS) is provided in the present invention. A space is formed inside the housing of the POS by placing the system I/O on an inclined platform. This creates an acceptable location for mounting of an additional output device. The flat panel display is located on the front of the housing, thus integrating the flat panel display and the output device are into the POS. Furthermore, the flat panel display, the output device and the input devices are commonly integrated in the POS. 
         [0005]    In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the POS includes: a finished housing, with integrated main board, output device and flat panel display. 
         [0006]    The POS also includes an input device receiving a data. The flat panel display, the input device and the output device are electrically connected to the main board. Data is transmitted to and processed by the main board and displayed on the flat panel display. The output device receives and outputs the processed data. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the flat panel display is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a plasma flat panel (PFP) display, and the LCD has a size ranged between 7 inches and 12 inches. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the input device is one selected from a group consisting of a magnetic strip reader, a card reader and a magnetic strip/card reading combination machine. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the flat panel display is a touch panel presenting a keyboard thereon, and the output device is a printer. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the output device has a cover. The POS further includes a button located on the housing and a ratchet having one end connected to the button and a second end connected to the flat panel display. The ratchet is released to erect the flat panel display such that the cover of the output device is opened when the button is pressed. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a POS is provided, which includes: a flat panel display electrically connected to a main board; and a first input device displayed on the flat panel display. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the flat panel display is a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
         [0013]    Preferably, the flat panel display has a screen and the first input device is displayed on the screen. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the POS further includes a printer electrically connected to the main board and a second input device, wherein the first input device receives a input data, the second input device is one selected from a group consisting of a magnetic strip reader, a card reader and a magnetic strip/card reading combination machine and receives a second input data. The first and the second input data are transmitted to and processed by the main board and output from the printer. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the POS further includes at least one port electrically connected between the main board and at least one input/output device. The POS further includes a housing and a plate engaged to the housing. 
         [0016]    In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a POS is provided, which includes: a displaying device electrically connected to a main board; and an input/output device displayed on the displaying device. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the input/output device receives a first datum, the datum is processed by the main board and the processed datum is displayed on the displaying device. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the POS further includes a magnetic strip/card reading combination machine electrically connected to the main board and receiving a second datum, wherein the second datum is processed by the main board and displayed on the displaying device. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the POS further includes a printer electrically connected to the main board, and the processed first datum and the processed second datum are output from the printer. The printer further includes an auto-cutter and a manual-cutter. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the displaying device has a touch panel. 
         [0021]    The above objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1(A)  schematically illustrates a stereo diagram showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 1(B) ,  1 (C),  1 (D),  1 (E),  1 (F) and  1 (G) respectively schematically illustrates (B) a front view, (C) a vertical view, (D) a bottom view, (E) a left side view, (F) a right side view and (G) a rearview of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a stereo diagram showing the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3(A)  schematically illustrates a stereo diagram showing the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIGS. 3(B) ,  3 (C),  3 (D),  3 (E),  3 (F) and  3 (G) respectively schematically illustrates (B) a front view, (C) a vertical view, (D) a bottom view, (E) a left side view, (F) a right side view and (G) a rearview of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following Embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred Embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
         [0028]    Except for the particular description, the component and its reference numeral in the different drawings of the specification are referred to the same component and the same reference numeral. For instance, the reference numeral “ 11 ” in both  FIGS. 1(A) and 2  is referred to the flat panel display. 
         [0029]    Please refer to  FIG. 1(A) , which schematically illustrates a stereo diagram showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The POS  10  is mainly includes flat panel display  11 , printer  12  and magnetic strip reader  13 , in which these three components are integrated in the housing  19 . Flat panel display  11  is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a touch panel, which adopts the flat panel display of 7 to 12 inches (e.g. 7, 8, 10, 12 inches, etc.) according to the designing specification of POS  10 . Flat panel display  11  of the first preferred embodiment preferably has a size of 7 inches or 8 inches. Certainly, the flat panel display with other size is also adequate. The usage of flat panel display  11  can decrease the weight of POS  10 , obtain better space configuration and improve the heat dispersion of POS  10 . 
         [0030]    The input device includes but not limit in the magnetic strip reader  13 . Other IC-chip card reader, magnetic strip/card reading combination machine also can act as the input device. A main board ( 23 ,  FIG. 1(E) ) is disposed in the housing  19  of POS  10 , and can be the circuit board having logic algorithm function for receiving the cashing data from the input device and calculating and outputting. Flat panel display  11 , printer  12  and magnetic strip reader  13  are individually electrically connected to the main board. When POS  10  is operated, the storage medium (e.g. the magnetic strip) data of the card is input to the main board through the reader  13 , and is presented on the screen of flat panel display  11 . After the user&#39;s operation and the main board calculation, the output data is presented on the screen of flat panel display  11  and is further output from the printer  12 . 
         [0031]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1(B) to 1(G) , which schematically illustrates (B) a front view, (C) a vertical view, (D) a bottom view, (E) a left side view, (F) a right side view and (G) a rearview of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Except for the components and their reference numerals showing on the specific directional drawings, the reference numerals in  FIGS. 1(B) to 1(G)  still adopts those in  FIG. 1(A) . An inclined plate is designed on housing  19  of POS  10  in the first preferred embodiment, such that the POS  10  laterally looks like a “mountain” shape and a space is formed inside the housing  19 . Printer  12  can be disposed in the space and flat panel display  11  can be disposed on the housing  19 . Therefore, flat panel display  11  and printer  12  can be integrated and disposed in/on the POS  10  at the same time. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 1(C) , a set of heat dissipation fins  14  is further disposed on the POS  10 , the warm air generated inside the space of POS  10  can be effectively exhausted by the heat dissipation apparatus composed of the fins  14 , which is beneficial for the long-term operation to the POS  10 . A button  17  and a ratchet (not shown in  FIG. 1(C)  but shown as “ 23 ” in  FIG. 3(E) ) is disposed at the lateral side of housing  19  of POS  10  to control the erection/descent. These technical characteristics and the advantages are further illustrated in the following embodiment. 
         [0033]    Please continuously refer to  FIG. 1(C) , since 7- or 8-inch flat panel display  22  is adopted in POS  10  of the first preferred embodiment, flat panel display  11  and printer  12  are not overlapped in the space configuration. Thus, the auto-cutter and the manual cutter can be disposed in the printer  12  to be beneficial for paper-cutting post the continuous roll printing. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 1(D) , plate  15  in the bottom of POS  10  is engaged to the housing  19 , rather than screwed to the housing  19 . It is helpful for rapidly assembling or disassembling the electronic device in or out the POS  10 . Various ports  16  with different specifications are also disposed on the bottom of POS  10 , such as RJ-45 connector pinouts, USB (universal serial bus), VGA (video graphics array) connector and so on, so as to increase the external electronic devices which are compatible with the port  16 . Since port  16  is disposed at one end of POS  10  approached to the magnetic strip reader  13 , the user can easily assemble or disassemble the external electronic devices when POS  10  is disposed on the edge of the desk or counter. The designed drawback that the ports are configured on the back of the conventional POS but are not adequate for rapidly assembling/disassembling is overcome in the configured design of the port  16 . Alternatively, the user can rapidly increase or remove the external electronic devices connected to POS  10  by using the holes on the desk or counter, and achieve the purpose for integrating external circuits. 
         [0035]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , which schematically illustrates the stereo diagram showing the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , a liquid crystal display (LCD)  11  is disposed on the front side of POS  20 , and the preferred size of LCD is 12 inches. An output bin  18  and a magnetic strip reader  13  are also disposed on the front side of POS  20 . In Embodiment 2, since the 12-inch LCD  11  basically occupies the most area of the slide plate of POS  20 , printer  12  is embedded in the POS  20  and only shows the output bin  18 . After the cashing data is printed with the printer  12 , the invoice or receipt is cut by the auto-cutter disposed at the output bin  18 , and the user gets the invoice or receipt. A set of rail apparatus is disposed on the rear surface of LCD  11 , and the corresponding rail is disposed on the POS  20  to move LCD  11  with the rail to show the cover of printer  12 , so that the continuous roll invoice or receipt is changed. 
         [0036]    Please together refer to  FIGS. 3(A) ,  3 (C),  3 (E) and  3 (F) showing the third preferred embodiment, POS  30  further includes the button  17  and ratchet  22  disposed on the housing  19 , and one end of ratchet  22  is connected to button  17  and another end thereof is connected to LCD  11 . The user press down the button  17  to release ratchet  22 , and ratchet  22  is swing and the pivot connected between 10-inch LCD  11  and housing  19  is pivoted to erect LCD  11 , and then the cover  21  of printer  12  is opened and the continuous roll invoice or receipt in the printer  12  can be replaced. Furthermore, the erected position of LCD  11  of POS  30  does not obstruct the opening of cover  21  of printer  12  and the paper-cutting of output bin  18 . The user can simultaneously check out and replace the continuous roll invoice. Therefore, LCD  11  and printer  12  can be together integrated in the POS  10  of the present invention. In addition, because of the erection of LCD  10 , POS  30  also shows the interior space, and the user can further repair the device inside the POS  30 . 
         [0037]    In addition, please refer to  FIGS. 3(B) and 3(C) , it is noted that 10-inch LCD  11  and the printer are partially or fully overlapped at the front view and the vertical view. The overlapped configuration can save the space configuration for each component in the POS  30  and achieve the demand for artistic design. However, for avoiding from the paper cutting of printer  12 , the output bin  18  and the manual cutter of printer  12  are disposed on the front portion of printer  12  (i.e. the surface near the user). This design is significantly different from the conventional output bin which is disposed at upper rear portion (i.e. one part away from the user) or the lower front portion of the printer or the machine. The conventional product is not adequate to the human engineering design and has worse visual effect. The design of output bin  18  of printer  12  of the present invention not only conform the design principle of human engineering, but also has excellent visual effect for the POSs  10 ,  20 ,  30 . Furthermore, when 10- or 12-inch LCD  11  is adopted in the POS  30 , the auto-cutter rather than the manual cutter is adopted as the paper cutting device in the printer  12  due to the space configuration. 
         [0038]    The structures and the operations of three integrated point of sales in the present invention are illustrated as above. Two or more than two output/input devices are only necessary to integrate as the integrated POS in the present invention. In other preferred embodiments, the input device also can act as the output device at the same time. For instance, the touch panel disposed on the screen of flat panel display can be the input/output device. After the stored data in the storage medium of card is read by the magnetic strip reader of the POS, presented on the flat panel display and computed with the main board, the processed data can be presented on the flat panel display again. Transactions can be accomplished by the POS even when the printer is not installed into the POS. 
         [0039]    In another preferred embodiment, the main board, the flat panel display and the printer are installed in the POS, and the touch panel on the screen of the flat panel display acts as the input device. The transaction data is keyed in with the touch panel and output from the printer post the main board processing, and the transaction is therefore completed. 
         [0040]    Therefore, the main board, the flat panel display and input device and/or the output device and so on can be effectively integrated in the POS in the present invention. Further, the input and output devices with different specifications and interfaces can be rapidly increased or removed so as to easily repair the integrated POS, reduce the unnecessary wiring, decrease the setup costs, and maintain workspace and counter cleanliness. Further, the POS can meet the requirements of human engineering design and artistic design because of the configuration of the output bin and the auto-cutter of printer. The POS of the present invention can be applied in the retail, department stores, restaurants and hospitality. 
         [0041]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred Embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed Embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.