Visual display and remote control panel system

• US 3,962,698 A
• Filed: 11/20/1974
• Issued: 06/08/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Don N. Hunt
• Original Assignee: Don N. Hunt
• Inventors: Anderson, Robert P., Hunt, Don N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold
• Application Number:
  US05/525,378
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286, 340/166 EL, 340/324 M, 340/166 R, 340/336, 340/337
• US Class Current: 340/286.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A remote control and display panel system suitable for eating establishments, for example, wherein the orders as to item and quantity per item, for a succession of customers, may be fed into a composite memory system and displayed on the display panel so that cook personnel may perceive the same. Information fed into the memory system is continuously strobed so as to supply a visually continuous read-out of such information on the display panel. Features are incorporated in the system to provide for accommodation to the use of a plurality of controls panels with one or more display panels; equipment is provided for clearing and ease of operation.

Claims

1. An illuminatable display and control panel system including, in combination:

a display panel having a matrix of lighting means for giving a visual indication and indicia means for identifying rows and columns of said matrix, said matrix comprising a series of individual, multi-numeral lighting devices;

a control panel having plural series of finger-actuated, successively actuatable switch means for successively selecting particular numeral illumination of particular light means of said matrix;

memory means for electronically storing information as derived from successive series of switch means selections; and

means for strobing said memory means and coupled to said lighting means to provide a continuously visible display of said selections simultaneously.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein such combination is provided with means for clearing said display panel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said plural series of switch means of said control panel are arranged in separated groups, two of said groups corresponding to the ordinate and abscissa of said display panel matrix.

4. An electrically illuminated display panel and control board combination for eating establishments, including, in combination:

a cook'"'"'s display panel having a series of multi-numeral lights indicating customer, food item, and item quantity selection, and indicia so labelling said lights;

a waitress'"'"' control panel having a series of actuatable switches indicating particular customer, item, and item-quantity selection, said switches having indicia identifying the same as to customer, item, and quantity selection; and

means intercoupling said switches with said lights for presenting in a continuously visible display said lights as illuminated in correct numerals to reflect a series of prior successive switch groupings selection.