Retail terminal having a plurality of base assemblies each of which includes a separate power supply and associate method

• US 6,053,410 A
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Wike, Charles K. Jr., Lippert, Kurt J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/070,502
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/462.43, 235/462.45, 235/462.47, 235/462.3, 235/462.31, 345/905, 361/725, 361/731
• US Class Current: 235/462.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means

Abstract

A retail terminal includes a first base assembly and a first power supply which is mounted on the first base assembly. The retail terminal also includes a second base assembly and a second power supply which is mounted on the second base assembly. The retail terminal further includes a core module assembly for performing a point-of-sale retail function and a product demonstration retail function. When the core module assembly is performing the point-of-sale retail function, the core module assembly is secured to the first base assembly and electrically coupled to the first power supply. When the core module assembly is performing the product demonstration retail function, the core module assembly is secured to the second base assembly and electrically coupled to the second power supply.

Claims

1. A method of operating a retail terminal which includes (i) a core module assembly, (ii) a first base assembly having a first power supply secured thereto, and (iii) a second base assembly having a second power supply secured thereto, comprising the steps of:

operating the core module assembly so as to perform point-of-sale retail functions for a first time period while (i) the core module assembly is secured to the first base assembly, and (ii) the core module assembly is electrically coupled to the first power supply;

detaching the core module assembly from the first base assembly after the first time period operating step;

electrically decoupling the core module assembly from the first power supply after the first time period operating step;

attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly after the detaching step;

electrically coupling the core module assembly to the second power supply after the electrically decoupling step; and

operating the core module assembly so as to perform product demonstration retail functions for a second time period while (i) the core module assembly is secured to the second base assembly, and (ii) the core module assembly is electrically coupled to the second power supply,

wherein the core module assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a main controller board positioned within the housing, (iii) a hard drive device positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the main controller board, (iv) a data input device, electrically coupled to the main controller board, which is configured to allow a user to input data signals to the main controller board, (v) a plurality of electrical connectors, supported by the housing, which are configured to electrically couple the main controller board to a number of external devices,

wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes (i) a cash drawer connector configured to electrically couple a cash drawer to the main controller board, (ii) a LAN connector configured to electrically couple a LAN to the main controller board, (iii) a scanner connector configured to electrically couple a scanner to the main controller board, (iv) a power connector configured to electrically couple a power supply to the main controller board, (v) an external speaker connector configured to electrically couple an external speaker to the main controller board, and (vi) a printer connector configured to electrically couple a printer to the main controller board, and

wherein (i) the first base assembly includes a first housing, (ii) the first power supply is contained within the first housing, (iii) the second base assembly includes a second housing, and (iv) the second power supply is contained within the second housing.

2. The met hod of claim 1, wherein:

during the first time period operating step, the core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from the second base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from the second power supply, and

during the second time period operating step, the core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from the first base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from the first power supply.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first base assembly includes a first intermediate power cable and a first source power cable,

the second base assembly includes a second intermediate power cable and a second source power cable,

during the first time period operating step, the first power supply is (i) electrically coupled to the core module assembly via the first intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to an AC power source via the first source power cable,

the electrically decoupling step includes the step of decoupling the first intermediate power cable from the core module assembly,

the electrically coupling step includes the step of coupling the second intermediate power cable to the core module assembly, and

during the second time period operating step, the second power supply is (i) electrically coupled to the core module assembly via the second intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to the AC power source via the second source power cable.

4. A retail terminal, comprising:

a first base assembly;

a first power supply which is mounted on said first base assembly;

a second base assembly;

a second power supply which is mounted on said second base assembly; and

a core module assembly for performing a point-of-sale retail function and a product demonstration retail function,

wherein when said core module assembly is performing said point-of-sale retail function, said core module assembly is (i) secured to said first base assembly, and (ii) electrically coupled to said first power supply,

wherein when said core module assembly is performing said product demonstration retail function, said core module assembly is (i) secured to said second base assembly, and (ii) electrically coupled to said second power supply,

wherein the core module assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a main controller board positioned within the housing, (iii) a hard drive device positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the main controller board, (iv) a data input device, electrically coupled to the main controller board, which is configured to allow a user to input data signals to the main controller board, (v) a plurality of electrical connectors, supported by the housing, which are configured to electrically couple the main controller board to a number of external devices, and

wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes (i) a cash drawer connector configured to electrically couple a cash drawer to the main controller board, (ii) a LAN connector configured to electrically couple a LAN to the main controller board, (iii) a scanner connector configured to electrically couple a scanner to the main controller board, (iv) a power connector configured to electrically couple a power supply to the main controller board (v) an external speaker connector configured to electrically couple an external speaker to the main controller board, and (vi) a printer connector configured to electrically couple a printer to the main controller board.

5. The retail terminal of claim 4, wherein:

when said core module assembly is performing said point-of-sale retail function, said core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from said second base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from said second power supply, and

when said core module assembly is performing said product demonstration retail function, said core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from said first base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from said first power supply.

6. The retail terminal of claim 4, wherein:

said first base assembly includes a first housing,

said first power supply is contained within said first housing,

said second base assembly includes a second housing, and

said second power supply is contained within said second housing.

7. The retail terminal of claim 6, wherein:

said first base assembly includes a first intermediate power cable and a first source power cable,

said second base assembly includes a second intermediate power cable and a second source power cable,

when said core module assembly is performing said point-of-sale retail function, said first power supply is (i) electrically coupled to said core module assembly via said first intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to an AC power source via said first source power cable, and

when said core module assembly is performing said product demonstration retail function, said second power supply is (i) electrically coupled to said core module assembly via said second intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to said AC power source via said second source power cable.

8. A method of operating a retail terminal which includes (i) a core module assembly, (ii) a first base assembly having a first power supply secured thereto, and (iii) a second base assembly having a second power supply secured thereto, comprising the steps of:

operating the core module assembly so as to perform point-of-sale retail functions for a first time period while (i) the core module assembly is secured to the first base assembly, and (ii) the core module assembly is electrically coupled to the first power supply;

detaching the core module assembly from the first base assembly after the first time period operating step;

electrically decoupling the core module assembly from the first power supply after the first time period operating step;

attaching the core module assembly to the second base assembly after the detaching step;

electrically coupling the core module assembly to the second power supply after the electrically decoupling step; and

operating the core module assembly so as to perform product demonstration retail functions for a second time period while (i) the core module assembly is secured to the second base assembly, and (ii) the core module assembly is electrically coupled to the second power supply,

wherein the core module assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a main controller board positioned within the housing, (iii) a data input device, electrically coupled to the main controller board, which is configured to allow a user to input data signals to the main controller board, and (iv) a plurality of electrical connectors, supported by the housing, which are configured to electrically couple the main controller board to a number of external devices, and

wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes a power connector configured to electrically couple the first power supply or the second power supply to the main controller board.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

during the first time period operating step, the core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from the second base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from the second power supply, and

during the second time period operating step, the core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from the first base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from the first power supply.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first time period operating step includes the step of operating the core module assembly so as to perform an assisted retail function, and

the second time period operating step includes the step of operating the core module assembly so as to perform an unassisted retail function.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the first base assembly includes a first housing,

the first power supply is contained within the first housing,

the second base assembly includes a second housing, and

the second power supply is contained within the second housing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first base assembly includes a first intermediate power cable and a first source power cable,

the second base assembly includes a second intermediate power cable and a second source power cable,

during the first time period operating step, the first power supply is (i) electrically coupled to the core module assembly via the first intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to an AC power source via the first source power cable,

the electrically decoupling step includes the step of decoupling the first intermediate power cable from the core module assembly,

the electrically coupling step includes the step of coupling the second intermediate power cable to the core module assembly, and

during the second time period operating step, the second power supply is (i) electrically coupled to the core module assembly via the second intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to the AC power source via the second source power cable.

13. A retail terminal, comprising:

a first base assembly;

a first power supply which is mounted on said first base assembly;

a second base assembly;

a second power supply which is mounted on said second base assembly; and

a core module assembly for performing a point-of-sale retail function and a product demonstration retail function,

wherein when said core module assembly is performing said point-of-sale retail function, said core module assembly is (i) secured to said first base assembly, and (ii) electrically coupled to said first power supply,

wherein when said core module assembly is performing said product demonstration retail function, said core module assembly is (i) secured to said second base assembly, and (ii) electrically coupled to said second power supply,

wherein the core module assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a main controller board positioned within the housing, (iii) a data input device, electrically coupled to the main controller board, which is configured to allow a user to input data signals to the main controller board, and (iv) a plurality of electrical connectors, supported by the housing, which are configured to electrically couple the main controller board to a number of external devices, and

wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes a power connector configured to electrically couple said first power supply or said second power supply to the main controller board.

14. The retail terminal of claim 13, wherein:

when said core module assembly is performing said point-of-sale retail function, said core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from said second base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from said second power supply, and

when said core module assembly is performing said product demonstration retail function, said core module assembly is (i) spaced apart from said first base assembly, and (ii) electrically decoupled from said first power supply.

15. The retail terminal of claim 13, wherein:

said first base assembly includes a first housing,

said first power supply is contained within said first housing,

said second base assembly includes a second housing, and

said second power supply is contained within said second housing.

16. The retail terminal of claim 15, wherein:

said first base assembly includes a first intermediate power cable and a first source power cable,

said second base assembly includes a second intermediate power cable and a second source power cable,

when said core module assembly is performing said point-of-sale retail function, said first power supply is (i) electrically coupled to said core module assembly via said first intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to an AC power source via said first source power cable, and

when said core module assembly is performing said product demonstration retail function, said second power supply is (i) electrically coupled to said core module assembly via said second intermediate power cable, and (ii) electrically coupled to said AC power source via said second source power cable.