US3631403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retail sales transaction terminal
Assignee: Singer Co
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Filing: 1969-09-08
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1989-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A data input and function-directing terminal in the form of a point of sale transaction device having manually operable numerical and function specifying keys, and a data processor comprised of a read-only-memory, a set of data-handling registers and a read/write memory for manipulation of data between the terminal and various ones of a plurality of input/output devices according to a sequence of operator actions that are supervised by a fixed program in the read-only-memory, and variable program that may be entered manually into the processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Einar Asbo
- 👤 Joseph R Herr
- 👤 Jerry W Sublett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/14; G06F13/20; G06F13/22; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0227; G06F3/14; G06F3/147; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/10; G07G1/12; G09; G09G; G09G3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A retail sales transaction terminal comprising: a plurality of manually operable digit keys for entering numeric data into said terminal; means operatively coupled to said digit keys for generating data signals indicative of the digit key operated; a plurality of manually operable function keys for entering functional data into said terminal; means operatively coupled to said function keys for generating data signals indicative of the function key operated; sequencing means operatively coupled to both said means for generating data signals indicative of operated digit and function keys; said sequencing means having a plurality of stored instructions for effecting predetermined operations in said terminal; said sequencing means having a first output coupled to a first common bus and a second output coupled to a second common bus with instruction data appearing on said first common bus and other data appearing on said second common bus; a memory coupled between said first and second common bus and having a plurality of storage locations; instruction decoding means coupled to said first bus for entering certain of said data signals into certain locations in said memory; and an arithmetic unit electrically coupled between said first and second bus which performs arithmetic operations on certain numeric data under control of certain said instructions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A retail sales transaction terminal comprising: a plurality of manually operable digit keys for entering numeric data into said terminal; means operatively coupled to said digit keys for generating data signals indicative of the digit key operated; a plurality of manually operable function keys for entering functional data into said terminal; means operatively coupled to said function keys for generating data signals indicative of the function key operated; sequencing means operatively coupled to both said means for generating data signals indicative of operated digit and function keys; said sequencing means having a plurality of stored instructions for effecting predetermined operations in said terminal; said sequencing means having a first output coupled to a first common bus and a second output coupled to a second common bus with instruction data appearing on said first common bus and other data appearing on said second common bus; a memory coupled between said first and second common bus and having a plurality of storage locations; instruction decoding means coupled to said first bus for entering certain of said data signals into certain locations in said memory; and an arithmetic unit electrically coupled between said first and second bus which performs arithmetic operations on certain numeric data under control of certain said instructions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 1 wherein: said plurality of instructions are divided into two groups; selector means coupled to said sequencing means and normally operating to effect the execution of a first sequence of successive ones of said instructions in a group; said selector means being responsive to certain instructions in said first sequence for initiating the execution of a second sequence of instructions in either of two groups; said selector means including means responsive to certain instructions in said second sequence for initiating the execution of a third sequence of instructions starting at the instruction immediately following the instruction that initiated said second sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 2 wherein: the execution of certain said instructions generates a first and second code; said arithmetic unit includes means for comparing the value of said first and second codes; said means for comparing providing an output which is coupled to said selector means to cause said selector means to continue effecting the execution of successive instructions when the first code is at least equal to the value of the second code and to effect the execution of another sequence of successive instructions when the value of said first code is less than the value of said second code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 2 wherein said selector means includes: an instruction register coupled to said means for temporarily storing individual ones of said instructions therein; at least some of said instructions including other data such as numeric data, address locations and the like; a decoder having its input coupled to said instruction register and a first output coupled to said first common bus and a second output coupled to said second common bus for decoding said instructions in said instruction register and applying instruction data only to said first common bus and other data to said second common bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The traNsaction terminal according to claim 4 wherein: said plurality of instructions stored in said sequencing means are divided into two groups; and group selecting means coupled to said decoder cause individual instructions from either of said two instruction groups to be entered into said instruction register in response to data appearing in said decoder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 1 wherein said arithmetic unit includes: a plurality of registers coupled to said second common bus; a decoder coupled between said first common bus and said plurality of registers and responsive to certain instruction data appearing on said first common bus for enabling transfer of data between various ones of said registers and between said memory and said registers by way of said second bus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 6 wherein: said arithmetic unit performs arithmetic operations on data in two of said registers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 6 further including: multidigit display means coupled to said second common bus; decoder means coupled between said first common bus and said display means for enabling the visual display by said display means of data in at least one of said registers in response to certain instruction data appearing on said first common bus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 1 wherein: at least some of said function keys have key illumination means associated therewith; said memory including stored data indicative of which ones of said function keys are to be next operated after execution of a certain function; said illumination means being responsive to said data in said memory to enable the illumination means associated with the function key next to be actuated to be energized in response to the execution of a certain function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 1 further including: a cash drawer having a closed and an open position; cash drawer opening means coupled to said first common bus and responsive to certain data appearing on said first common bus for opening said cash drawer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 1 further including: a data receiving and transmitting device coupled between said first and second common bus for transferring data from said terminal to a peripheral device and to enter data from said peripheral device into said transaction terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 11 wherein said data receiving and transmitting device includes: a shift register having a parallel input coupled to said second common bus and a serial output adapted to be received by said peripheral device; and a decoder coupled between said shift register and said first common bus for entering data on said second common bus into said shift register in response to certain instruction data appearing on said first common bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least said digit keys enable predetermined data codes to be entered into said memory which codes are indicative of the maximum number of digit keys that may be operated immediately prior to operation of predetermined ones of said function keys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least said digit keys enable predetermined data codes to be entered into said memory which codes are indicative of a requirement for operation or no operation of said decimal digit keys immediately prior to operation of predetermined ones of said function keys.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least said digit keys enable predetermined codes to be entered into said memory which codes are indicative of a requirement for operation of decimal digit keys including entry of a check digit immediately prior to operation of predetermined ones of said function keys.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The transaction terminal according to claim 1 wherein: both said means for generating data signals indicative of opeRated digit and function keys are coupled to said sequencing means by way of said first and second bus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |