Diagnostic data processing system with selective touch-sensitive display

• US 4,916,699 A
• Filed: 03/10/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ohashi, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US07/166,461
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 371/15, 371/29, 371/17, 371/16.5, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 340/706, 340/712, 340/718
• US Class Current: 714/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/321 Display for diagnostics, e.g. diagnostic result display, self-test user interface

Abstract

There is disclosed a data processing machine comprising a transparent position detecting device which is installed closely adjacent to a display device and which detects positions on the display screen. A block diagram display device displays a block diagram related to the execution of respective data processings. A functional diagnosis system is actuated when the selection of any of the respective blocks of the block diagram displayed on the display device is detected by the position detecting device. The diagnoses determines whether the function or data processing corresponding to the selected block is normal.

Claims

1. A self diagnostic data processor having plural diagnosable functions comprising:

processing means for performing plural diagnosable functions;

input means for generating a diagnosis mode signal;

said processing means performing diagnosis of at least one of said plural diagnosable functions in response to receipt of said diagnosis mode signal;

display means for displaying said plural diagnosable functions;

display drive means for driving said display means to present said plural diagnosable functions in a block diagram menu format in response to said diagnosis mode signal;

selection means for selecting one of said plural diagnosable functions, said selection means including a transparent touch-sensitive panel overlaying said display means which detects a touched position of said display means in order to provide a function indication signal corresponding to a selected diagnosable function;

said display drive means, in response to receipt of said function indication signal, driving said display means to present a submenu of plural tests applicable to said selected diagnosable function;

said selection means further provides a test indication signal corresponding to a touched position of said display screen which is indicative of a desired test; and

function diagnosis means, responsive to said test indication signal, for carrying out said desired test and for generating a test result;

said display means displaying said test result.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said data processor is a point of sale terminal.

3. A diagnostic method for use with a data processor of plural diagnosable functions, said diagnostic method comprising:

generating a diagnosis mode signal during which a diagnosis is carried out on a function of said data processor;

displaying on a display screen said plural diagnosable functions in a block diagram menu format in response to said diagnosis mode signal;

selecting one of said plural diagnosable functions through the use of a touch-sensitive panel which overlays said display screen in order to provide a function indication signal indicative of a touched position on said display screen which corresponds to a selected diagnosable function;

displaying on said display screen a submenu of plural tests applicable to said selected diagnosable function in response to said function indication signal;

selecting one of said plural tests through the use of said tough-sensitive panel in order to provide a test indication signal corresponding to a touched position of said display screen which is indicative of a desired test;

performing said desired test in response to said test indication signal in order to provide a test result; and

displaying said test result on said display screen.

4. A method for carrying out a diagnosis on a function of a data processor having at least a plurality of function blocks, a display screen and a transparent touch-sensitive panel overlaying the display screen, comprising the steps of:

generating a signal for designating a diagnosis mode during which a diagnosis is carried out on a function of said data processor;

displaying a visual image having a plurality of areas on said display screen, in response to the generated diagnosis mode designating signal, each of said areas indicating a different one of said plurality of function blocks;

generating a first signal for selecting a function block from the displayed plurality of function blocks through touching of said transparent tough-sensitive panel, a touched position on said transparent touch-sensitive panel corresponding to one of the displayed plurality of function blocks;

displaying a plurality of diagnosable functions for the selected function block, on said display screen in response to said first selecting signal;

generating a second signal for selecting a function to be diagnosed from the displayed plurality of diagnosable functions through touching of said transparent touch-sensitive panel, a touched position on the panel corresponding to one of the displayed plurality of diagnosable functions;

carrying out a diagnosis on the selected function to generate a test result in response to said second selecting signal; and

displaying said test result on said display screen.