Simple data input apparatus

• US 4,682,014 A
• Filed: 01/02/1986
• Issued: 07/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitsuko Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nitsuko Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwama, Teruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US06/815,486
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2765 implemented by means of portable magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

A simple data input apparatus is equipped with a magnetic card reader and uses an input guide sheet. The input guide sheet has such input items as service number, commodity number, quantity and unit price printed thereon and includes a magnetic strip storing the order in which these items are to be indicated. The simple data input apparatus is provided with an input guide section on which a plurality of indicating lamps are arranged. The data stored on the magnetic strip of the input guide sheet are read by the magnetic card reader and written into a RAM provided inside the apparatus. The input guide sheet is then placed on the input guide section and the indicating lamps light sequentially in accordance with the input item indication order written into the RAM from the magnetic strip. The operator enters those input items printed on the guide sheet that correspond to the lighted indicating lamps, thereby placing the apparatus display unit or a printer in an input mode to display or print out the entered information.

Claims

1. A simple data input apparatus having a magnetic card reader, a memory for storing data read by said magnetic card reader, and an input guide section having a plurality of indicating lamps, said apparatus being provided with an input guide sheet having input items printed on a surface thereof for inputting of data to said apparatus and including a magnetic strip having the order in which these items are to be indicated stored thereon in advance, wherein the input items stored on said magnetic strip are read by said card reader and stored in said memory, after which said input guide sheet is placed on said input guide section and said indicating lamps are lighted in dependence upon data stored in said memory and in accordance with the input items printed on said input guide sheet.

2. The simple data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said indicating lamps are so arranged as to be situated in the vicinity of the input items printed on said input guide sheet when said input guide sheet is placed on said input guide section.

3. The simple data input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein numbers written on or near said indicating lamps, numbers identical with a diagram or the diagram are so printed as to correspond to the input items printed on the input guide sheet, whereby correspondence is established between said indicating lamps and said input items printed on said input guide sheet.

4. A simple data input apparatus having a magnetic card reader, a memory for storing data read by said magnetic card reader, and an input guide section having a plurality of indicating lamps, said apparatus being provided with an input guide sheet having input items printed on a surface thereof for inputting of data to said apparatus, viewing portions corresponding to said printed input items for enabling lighted ones of said indicating lamps to be viewed, and a magnetic strip having the order in which these items are to be indicated stored thereon in advance, wherein the input items stored on said magnetic strip are read by said card reader and stored in said memory, after which said input guide sheet is placed on said input guide section and said indicating lamps are lighted in dependence upon data stored in said memory and in accordance with the input items printed on said input guide sheet.

5. The simple data input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the viewing portions of said input guide sheet are holes through which said indicating lamps can be viewed.

6. The simple data input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said input guide sheet comprises a translucent material.

7. The simple data input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said input guide sheet comprises a transparent material.