Push-button switch member, portable information terminal having push-button switch member and payment system using portable information terminal

• US 6,784,874 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Company Limited (Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Company Limited (Shin-Etsu Chemical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/661,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 345/172, 345/168, 345/169, 345/170, 345/173, 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/2.1, 345/2.3, 341/22, 341/23, 705/39, 705/41, 705/44, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/385, 200/6.A, 200/5.A
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/026 Adhesive sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/02 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/024 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/006 Bank automat; Cash register; Vending machine
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

A push-button switch member comprises a touch panel having at least one push-button switch, an electronic display disposed in operative association with the push-button switch, and at least one key top portion disposed in operative association with the push-button switch. The key top portion is provided with a functional display of the push-button switch. A portable information terminal is provided with such push-button switch member and a communicator operatively connected to the push-button switch member for communicating with other equipment having a communication function through endless interactive communication. When the portable information terminal approaches the other equipment having the function communicating with the portable information terminal, functional display information stored in the other equipment is inputted into the portable information terminal through the interactive communication.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal comprising:

an electronic display operable to produce a function display;

a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact; and

a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,

wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,

wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,

wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment, and

wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information.

2. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said portable information terminal is a portable communication machine.

3. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said other equipment comprises a piece of electrical or electronic equipment.

4. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display as text or an image in accordance with function display information obtained from information stored in a server of a seller or provider which is in communication with a base station.

5. A portable information terminal comprising:

an electronic display operable to produce a function display;

a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact; and

a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,

wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,

wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,

wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,

wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information, and

wherein said portable information terminal is capable of instructing the other equipment to perform a function corresponding to the function display displayed on said push-button switch when said push-button switch is pushed.

6. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein the other equipment comprises a piece of electrical or electronic equipment.

7. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises home automation equipment that is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication.

8. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises an automatic vending machine that is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication, and

wherein the automatic vending machine comprises one of a tobacco automatic vending machine, a drink automatic vending machine and a ticket automatic vending machine.

9. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, further comprising a memory capable of storing personal information including information of birth date, identification number and address of a user and a transmission means for transmitting the personal information from said memory to the automatic vending machine.

10. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, further comprising a printing portion operable to print a bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out,

wherein the bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out comprises personal information including information of birth date, identification number and address of a user,

wherein the bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out only is readable by ultraviolet light, and

wherein the automatic vending machine comprises a reader operable to read the bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out.

11. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises an award/payment processing terminal provided at or in a store, and

wherein the award/payment processing terminal is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication.

12. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises a domestic electrical or electronic piece of equipment that is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication.

13. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display as text or an image in accordance with function display information obtained from information stored in a server of a seller or provider which is connected to a base station.

14. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display to be substantially the same as a function display displayed on the other equipment.

15. A price payment system comprising:

an electronic display operable to produce a function display;

a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact;

a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function;

a first server operable to receive order information via an award/payment processing terminal provided for an automatic vending machine or a seller or provider in response to an operation of said push-button switch, said first server being operable to convert the order information into payment information of a customer; and

a second server operable to receive the payment information,

wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,

wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,

wherein said communication means is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said communication means is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,

wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information,

wherein said price payment system is in communication with a bank of the seller or provider and a bank of the customer, and

wherein said price payment system is capable of transferring an amount money corresponding to the payment information between an account the bank of the customer and an account of the bank of the seller or provider.

16. A price payment system according to claim 15, wherein said payment information includes seller/provider information, product/service information, selling number information, price information and personal specific information, and

wherein said second server is operable to receive the seller/provider information, the price information and the personal specific information.

17. A price payment system comprising:

an electronic display operable to produce a function display;

a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact; and

a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,

wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,

wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,

wherein said communication means is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said communication means is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,

wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information,

wherein said communication means is capable of instructing the other equipment to perform a function corresponding to the function display displayed on said push-button switch when said push-button switch is pushed,

wherein said price payment system is in communication with a bank of the seller or provider and a bank of the customer, and

wherein said price payment system is capable of transferring an amount money corresponding to the payment information from an account of the bank of the customer to an account of the bank of the seller or provider.

18. A price payment system according to claim 17, wherein said payment information includes seller/provider information, product/service information, selling number information, price information and personal specific information, and

wherein said second server is operable to receive the seller/provider information, the price information and the personal specific information.

19. A portable information terminal comprising:

a push-button switch member comprising a touch panel having a push-button switch provided thereon, an electronic display disposed in operative association with said push-button switch, and a key top portion disposed in operative association with said push-button switch, said electronic display operable to produce a function display through said key top portion; and

a communication means operatively connected to the push-button switch member for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,

wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment, and

wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information in response to receipt of the received function display information.