Use unit for bank note processing machines

• US 20030038847A1
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
• Original Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
• Inventors: Duvel, Volker, Bomm, Hans, Herberg, Raimund
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/22 Means for sensing or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing bank notes, in particular for singling, counting, sorting and testing the authenticity of bank notes or papers of value, which can be operated in a plurality of operating modes and wherein a display device is provided for selecting and displaying the operating modes. Such an apparatus and method are to be improved in such a way that the operator prompting can be learned easily and fast, without any sacrifice of flexibility.

This is obtained by designing the display device to display icons having variable functions associated therewith that are selectable by an input device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing bank notes, in particular for singling, counting, sorting and testing the authenticity of bank notes or papers of value, which can be operated in a plurality of operating modes, the individual operating modes being displayable on a display device, characterized in that the display device is designed to display symbols (icons), the symbols having variable functions associated therewith which are selectable or presettable by an input device and/or by specific device functions.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the operator interface is divided into a function menu and an operator menu, the function menu being designed for selecting general commands and the operator menu containing the command selection for the different operating modes of the bank note processing apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display unit has a keypad associated therewith and the key layout and/or the possible activation of the keys is displayed by the display panel.

4. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least the area of the display device containing the function menu is of touch-sensitive design, said touch-sensitive part being divided into a plurality of segments each having a certain function associated therewith by an underlying symbol of the display unit.

5. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the touch-sensitive display device contains a fingerprint sensor designed to record an operator'"'"'s fingerprint to permit only authorized persons to operate the bank note processing apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an acoustic input and output device is provided that is designed to receive function or operator commands and to output status messages.

7. A method for processing bank notes, in particular for singling, counting, sorting and testing the authenticity of bank notes or papers of value, which can be operated in a plurality of operating modes and wherein a touch-sensitive display device is provided for selecting and displaying the operating modes, characterized in that the functions or operator commands to be selected are selected with the aid of symbols displayed on the display unit, the selection being effected by an input unit or specific device functions.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the selection is effected by pressing on a touch-sensitive, transparent switch matrix divided into segments and disposed over the symbols displayed by the display unit, a function being selected by actuating the transparent switch over the symbol.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the operator interface is divided into a function menu and an operator menu, the selection of general commands being effected by the function menu, and the command selection for operating the bank note processing apparatus being executed by the operator menu.

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the function and operator commands are selected or executed only by the area of the display device containing the function menu.

11. A method according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that only access-authorized persons are permitted to operate the bank note processing apparatus by the operator being authenticated by a fingerprint recorded by means of the touch-sensitive display device.

12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that an operator-unique initial menu is called up and displayed upon identification of an operating person by the fingerprint.

13. A method according to any of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that an acoustic input and output device is used that serves to receive function or operator commands and to output status messages.