Input/output device and terminal device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11250674-B2
Application number	US-201816981034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2018
Priority date	Mar 20, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

An input and output device includes: an operation unit that is disposed on a front side and that receives data input by an operator; and a table unit that is disposed further forward than the operation unit and that protrudes in a forward direction. The table unit includes: a notched portion that is provided on a first side in a left-right direction and that opens forward and upward; and a recessed portion that is provided on a second side in the left-right direction, the first side being opposite to the first side, the recessed portion comprising an upper surface having a recessed shape.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input and output device comprising:
an operation unit that is disposed on a front side and that receives data input by an operator;
a table unit that is disposed further forward than the operation unit and that protrudes in a forward direction;
a human sensor that detects the operator and that outputs a human detection signal indicating whether or not the operator is present,
wherein the table unit comprises:
a notched portion that is provided on a first side in a left-right direction and that opens forward and upward;
a recessed portion that is provided on a second side in the left-right direction, the first side being opposite to the first side, the recessed portion comprising an upper surface having a recessed shape; and
a light emitter that is provided on at least one of the notched portion and the recessed portion, and that emits visible light to notify the operator of a position at which an article is to be placed when the human detection signal indicates that the operator is present.

2. The input and output device according to claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion has a shape corresponding to a beverage container.

3. The input and output device according to claim 1 , wherein the table unit has a round shape that protrudes forward.

4. The input and output device according to claim 1 , wherein the notched portion comprises a stick holder for hooking a rod-shaped body.

5. The input and output device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation unit comprises a numeric pad, and
the notched portion is disposed on a side of the numeric pad.

6. The input and output device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation unit comprises an intercom, and
the recessed portion is disposed on a side of the intercom.

7. The input and output device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the operation unit comprises a numeric pad and an intercom,
a distance between the notched portion and the numeric pad is shorter than a distance between the notched portion and the intercom, and
a distance between the recessed portion and the intercom is shorter than a distance between the recessed portion and the numeric pad.

8. The input and output device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light detector that detects the visible light from the light emitter and outputs a detection signal; and
a controller that determines, based on the detection signal, whether or not the visible light is blocked by the article placed in the notched portion or the recessed portion when the operator leaves the operation unit, the controller alerting the operator that the article has been forgotten upon determining that the visible light is blocked.

9. The input and output device according to claim 8 , wherein the light detector comprises an optical sensor that is provided on the front side, the light detector detecting visible light reflected by at least one of the operator, a background of the operator, and a sheet-shaped article on which information is printed.

10. The input and output device according to claim 8 , wherein the light detector comprises a camera that acquires image information.

11. The input and output device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light emitter comprises:
a first light emitter that is disposed on an edge of the recessed portion and that emits light to indicate a location of the recessed portion; and
a second light emitter that is disposed on an edge of the notched portion and that emits light to indicate a location of the notched portion.

12. The input and output device according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a light detector that detects visible light emitted from at least one of the first and the second light emitters, and that outputs an article detection signal indicating whether or not the article is placed in at least one of the recessed portion and the notched portion; and
a controller that determines that the operator has forgotten the article when the human detection signal indicates that the operator is absent and the article detection signal indicates that the article is placed in the at least one of the recessed portion and the notched portion.

13. The input and output device according to claim 1 , wherein the left-right direction is substantially perpendicular to a direction away from the operation unit.

14. A terminal device comprising:
the input and output device according to claim 1 ; and
an active unit that performs at least one of operating an object and displaying information based on data input from the input and output device.

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Hosokawa Tatsuro
• Morishita Naoki
• Kitahata Yutaro
• Kondo Jun

Classifications

• G07D11/60

  User-interface arrangements · CPC title

• G07F19/205 Primary

  Housing aspects of ATMs · CPC title

• G07D11/14

  Inlet or outlet ports · CPC title

• G07F19/201 Primary

  Accessories of ATMs · CPC title