Cash dispensing automated banking machine display failure detection system and method

• US 20050029340A1
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ferraro, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 7,025,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers

Abstract

An automated banking machine is operative to test a display module thereof. The test determines whether the display module fails to produce an acceptable display output. A predetermined color sequence is sent to the display module for display thereof. A sensor device positioned adjacent the display module screen is operative to sense displayed colors. A machine controller is operative to determine whether the display module displayed the correct color sequence. A display module error signal can be generated responsive to the display module failing to display the proper color sequence. The testing of the display module may continue repeatedly to continually update its display status.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a display module of an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes a currency dispenser mechanism in operative connection with at least one controller, wherein the currency dispenser mechanism is operative to dispense currency from the machine to a user of the machine, including:

(a) instructing the display module to display a predetermined sequence including a plurality of colors,

(b) determining whether the display module displayed the sequence,

(c) generating a display module error signal through operation of the at least one controller responsive to a negative determination in (b).

44. The method according to claim 1 wherein (b) includes sensing outputs displayed through the display module.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein (b) further includes comparing the sensed outputs to at least a portion of the sequence.

46. The method according to claim 1 and further including

(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) responsive to a positive determination in (b).

47. The method according to claim 46 wherein (a) includes repeatedly instructing the display module to display the same predetermined sequence.

48. The method according to claim 47 and further including

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d).

2-43. -43. (canceled)

49. A method of determining failure in a display module of an automated banking machine, including:

(a) instructing an automated banking machine display module to output a predetermined sequence including a plurality of colors,

(b) sensing outputs displayed through the display module,

(c) comparing the sensed outputs with the sequence for correspondence,

(d) generating a display module failure signal responsive to the sensed output not corresponding to the sequence.

50. The method according to claim 49 and further including

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) responsive to the sensed output corresponding to the sequence.

51. The method according to claim 49 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to repeat displaying the same sequence.

52. The method according to claim 49 wherein the display module includes a display screen having a display screen area, wherein the display screen area includes display screen test area, wherein the display screen test area is of a size less than the display screen area size, wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display the same color sequence in the display screen test area.

53. The method according to claim 49 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined hue sequence including at least three different colors.

54. The method according to claim 53 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined hue sequence including the colors blue, red, and green.

55. A method of monitoring a display module of an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser, comprising:

(a) instructing the display module to display a predetermined pattern,

(b) determining through operation of the machine if the pattern was not displayed.

56. The method according to claim 55 and further including

(c) generating a display module error signal through operation of the machine responsive to a determination that the pattern was not displayed.

57. The method according to claim 55 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined multiple color sequence.

58. The method according to claim 57 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined multiple color sequence including a plurality of same first type colors followed by a plurality of same second type colors.

59. The method according to claim 58 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined multiple color sequence including a plurality of same first type colors followed by a plurality of same second type colors followed by a plurality of same third type colors.

60. The method according to claim 57 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined color sequence including colors other than black and white.

61. The method according to claim 60 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined color sequence including the colors blue, red, and green.

62. The method according to claim 57 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined hue sequence.

63. The method according to claim 57 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined color sequence consisting of black and white.

64. The method according to claim 55 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined brightness sequence.

65. The method according to claim 55 wherein (a) includes instructing the display module to display a predetermined sequence including a plurality of different colors of light.

66. Computer readable media bearing instructions operative to cause a computer to carry out the method steps recited in claim 55.

67. The method according to claim 55 wherein in (a) the pattern comprises a changing pattern.

68. The method according to claim 55 wherein in (a) the pattern is displayed in an area underlying a fascia of the machine.

69. The method according to claim 55 wherein (a) includes instructing the output of at least one sequence which includes the pattern.

70. The method according to claim 69 wherein in (a) the at least one sequence includes outputting at least three colors.

71. The method according to claim 70 wherein (a) includes instructing the output of the at least one sequence in at least one test area of the display module and wherein (b) includes sensing display outputs in the test area with at least one display sensor.

72. The method according to claim 71 wherein (a) includes instructing the output of the at least one sequence in a plurality of disposed test areas and (b) includes sensing the display outputs in the plurality of test areas.

73. The method according to claim 71, wherein the display module comprises a touch screen, and further comprising:

touching the touch screen with a finger,

wherein in (a) the at least one test area underlies the finger.

74. The method according to claim 71 wherein the display module comprises at least one light source providing backlighting, and further comprising:

(c) changing the output of the at least one light source responsive to at least one controller in the machine.

75. The method according to claim 74 and further comprising:

(d) sensing ambient light through operation of an ambient light sensor;

wherein the output in (c) is changed responsive to ambient light sensed in (d).

76. The method according to claim 75 wherein in (d) the ambient light sensor is positioned adjacent at least one display sensor.

77. The method according to claim 74 wherein (c) includes instructing the at least one light source to output a level of light, and further comprising

(d) sensing with the at least one display sensor the light output during at least a portion of (c);

(e) analyzing the sensed level in (d) through operation of at least one controller in the machine to determine if the at least one light source exhibits a malfunction.

78. The method according to claim 77 and further comprising:

responsive to determination in (e) that at least one light source exhibits a malfunction, operating at least one controller in the machine to send at least one message.

79. The method according to claim 71 wherein the machine comprises a plurality of transaction function devices, and wherein in (a) the sequence is determined responsive to a status associated with at least one transaction function device other than the display module.

80. The method according to claim 79 wherein in (a) the sequence is determined responsive to communication with at least one remote system.

81. A method comprising:

(a) operating at least one controller in an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser, to instruct a display on a user interface of the machine to produce at least one output in at least one test area of the display;

(b) sensing display outputs in the at least one test area of the display with at least one display sensor;

(c) analyzing the display outputs through operation of the at least one controller to determine if the display is functioning properly.

82. The method according to claim 81 wherein in (a) the at least one output comprises a sequence including a plurality of colors.

83. The method according to claim 81 wherein the at least one output comprises at least one pattern.

84. The method according to claim 81 wherein in (a) the controller is operative to instruct the display to output a level of light, and wherein in (c) the at least one controller is operative to determine if at least one light source associated with the display requires replacement.

85. The method according to claim 81 wherein the at least one controller is operative to execute at least one software application producing outputs through the display, wherein in (a) the at least one test area does not include outputs produced responsive to the at least one application.