Synthesized speech-facilitated product preparation and/or delivery system and method4882475Abstract In the case of a pizza home delivery system, customer addresses and mapping information may be auomatically retrieved and displayed based on customer telephone number, and order data including an assigned order number may be imprinted on a label to be attached to each pizza container. Preferably, the system produces the order number in the form of a bar code on an adhesively backed label. Each driver may check out order for delivery by inserting his coded identification key at a bar code reader station and having the bar code labels scanned into the system, so that each order is assigned to a particular driver in a reliable and accurate manner. A voice synthesizer unit at the station can then remind the driver that the order includes beverages or more than one pizza container, and can advise the driver when the sum of the cash payments he has received for his deliveries exceeds a certain amount, making it advisable to deposit some of the accumulated cash before the next delivery. The system is modular and readily expanded to a multi-store system with a centralized telephone order entry station. Claims We claim as our invention: Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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Micro Terminal Control Codes
CTL @ Switches terminal to local mode
CTL F Changes the display Baud rate
Increments to next higher rate for each "CTL F"
sequence
Baud Rate Table
Terminal Code Baud Rate
00 110
01 134.5
02 150
03 300
04 600
05 1200
06 1800
07 Switch Setting
2400
08 3600
09 4800
10 7200
11 9600
12 19.2 KB
13 19.2 KB
14 19.2 KB
15 4800
CTL G Rings the bell
CTL H Destructive backspace with wrap around
CTL I Tab function - standard tab spacing is for 8
characters Screen scrolling occurs at the bottom
of the page
CTL J Line feed function
CTL K Vertical tab with scroll blanking the intervening
lines
CTL L Clears the screen and homes the cursor
CTL M Carriage return character
CTL N Non-destructive vertical cursor movement with top
to bottom scrolling
CTL O Non-destructive downward cursor movement with
bottom to top scroll
CTL P Non-destructive left cursor movement with
wrap around moving up a line on wrap
CTL Q Non-destructive right to left cursor movement
with wrap around moving down a line on wrap.
CTL R Moves cursor to home
CTL S Generates a break signal
CTL T (14H) Line graphic symbol +
CTL U (15H) Line graphic symbol <
CTL V (16H) Line graphic symbol >
CTL W (17H) Line graphic symbol -
CTL X (18H) Line graphic symbol
CTL Y (19H) Line graphic symbol [
CTL Z (1AH) Line graphic symbol ]
##STR1##
(1CH) Line graphic symbol
CTL ] (1DH) Line graphic symbol
CTL (1EH) Line graphic symbol
CTL - (1FH) Line graphic symbol
Note: For graphic symbol control characters, attribute bit
7 must be set to zero
Micro Terminal Escape Sequences
Note: The escape key CHR$(27) is struck or transmitted
before the upper case character identifying the
function
<ESC> A Auxiliary port control (not implemented on
microterminal)
<ESC> B Display microterminal Uart configuration switch
settings and Baud rate
<ESC> C Enter control mode and show all "non-displayable"
ascit characters
<ESC> D Toggles the microterminal online or local
<ESC> E Toggles the microterminal from FDX to HDX and
back
<ESC> F Turns control mode off
<ESC> G Flips status line to normal video and turns on
the graphics attribute bit
<ESC> H Turns off the graphics attribute bit
<ESC> IV Set attributes to specified sequence "V". All
subsequent characters retain this attribute
setting until changed by another <ESC> IV
sequence is entered
Attribute Bit Attribute
#7 Graphics
#6 Blank
#5 Underline
#4 Double width
#3 Double height
#2 Blink
#1 Half intensity
#0 Reverse video
Note: A logic 0 value in a bit position enables an
attribute
<ESC> K Enables or disables the keyboard
<ESC> L Light pen control (not implemented on the
microterminal)
<ESC> Mxy Dynamic cursor control - X is the column
parameter and is valid from 0 to 79
Y is the line parameter and is valid from 0 to 23
X and Y values increment up from the ASCII Blank
character (20)
The command:
<ESC> M (25 Hex), (26 Hex) moves the cursor to
position (5,6)
<ESC> P Dumps screen data to the auxiliary port - (not
implemented on the micro terminal)
<ESC> Q Reruns self-test
<ESC> R Causes the contents of the current line from left
margin to be sent to the host character by
character
<ESC> S Causes screen contents from the home position
to the current cursor position to be sent to the
host
<ESC> T Erases the current line from the cursor to the
right margin
<ESC> W Erases switch information and Baud rate from
the status line
<ESC> Y Erases entire screen from the cursor location to
the end of the screen including the current
cursor location
Micro-Terminal Switch Positions (FIG. 13A)
SW 1 Switch Position
Function Default
#1 On for 50 HZ Off
Off for 60 HZ
#2 Loop mode Off
On connects TXD + RXD
Off disconnects TXD + RXD
#3 External test flag Off
On enabled
Off disabled
Disabled if self test is not selected
#4 + #5 Cursor select
SW5 SW4 Cursor
on on solid underline
on off solid block
off on blinking underline
off off blinking block
SW #4 Off
SW #5 Off
#6 Reverse video Off
On - enabled
Off - disabled
#7 External attributes
On
On - enabled
Off - disabled
#8 Power on and reset self test
On
On - enabled
Off - disabled
Micro Terminal Switch Positions (FIG. 13A)
SW #2 Position
Function Default
#1 On - CRLF Off
Off - CR
#2 Keyboard On
On - scanned
Off - encoded
#3 Local/on line Off
On - local
Off - on line
#4 FDX/HDX On
On - FDX
Off - HDX
#5 Slow On
On - transmit slow
Off - Recv slow
Effectively disabled by #6 + #7
#6 Off
Split Baud rate
#7 Off
SW6 SW7 Divisor
on on 32
on off 16
off on 4
off off 7
#8 Word length Off
On - 7 bit
Off - 8 bit
Micro Terminal Switch Positions (FIG. 13A)
SW #3 Position Function Default
#1, #2, #3, #4 Band Rate
SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 Baud Rate
on on on on 110
on on on off 134.5
on on off on 150
on on off off 300
on off on on 600
on off on off 1200
on off off on 1800
on off off off 2400
off on on on 3600
off on on off 4800
off on off on 7200
off on off off 9600
off off on on 19.2 KB
off off on off 19.2 KB
off off off on 19.2 KB
off off off off 4800
2400 Band SW#1 on
off SW#2
off SW#3
off SW#4
#5 + #6 Parity Select
SW5 SW6
off off space if enabled
off on mark if enabled
on off even if enabled
on on odd if enabled
SW#5 on
off SW#6
#7 Parity enable
On - No parity
Off - Parity enabled
SW#7 on
#8 Stop bits
On - two stop bits
Off - one stopbit
Characteristics of the Micro Terminal
1. Current prototype boards were loaded with the switches
backwards - the three switch position arrangements
will be inverted on Version II (switch position #8
will become #1 and so forth)
2. Graphics control characters are misinterpreted by the
micro terminal board above 2400 Baud. This could be
cables or software not operating properly and has yet
to be repaired.
3. When double wide characters are sent to the screen,
the attribute must be properly set and the characters
must be sent twice (Double becomes Ddoouubbllee) The
second half of the character is accessed during the
second character time. Likewise with double height
characters, each line should be sent twice. It
naturally leads that for a double wide, double high
character two lines must be sent and each one must use
doublet characters.
The function and exemplary parameters for the
components of FIGS. 13A-13E are tabulated as follows.
Functions and Exemplary Parameters for the
Components of the Circuit of FIGS. 13A-13E.
FIG. 13A
U1, U2, U3 Terminal Configuration Controller, e.g.
type 74HC245
U4 Attribute RAM, e.g. type 6264
U5 Character RAM, e.g. type 6264
FIG. 13B
U6, U7 Data Latch, e.g. 74HC573
U8 Decoder, e.g. 74HC138
U9, U10 Keyboard Scan, e.g. 74HC240
In a prototype electric circuit bypass capacitors (designated C1 to C25, but not shown in FIGS. 13A-13E) were connected between the plus five volt supply line (+5 V) and ground, and had values of 0.1 microfarad except for two (C24 and C25) which were each rated at one hundred microfarads and six volts (6 V). In order to deal with noise problems, the pull-up potential of the Data Bus was increased so as to be nearer to the supply voltage, and additional decoupling capacitors were added. It is planned to use conductors of larger cross section for power and ground, and the power to the cathode ray tube 220, FIG. 12, will be the unregulated input voltage at line 240, FIG. 13E. An on-board DC to DC converter will be used in the CRT module 182. This improves system efficiency and distributes the internal heat dissipation. Basically, the modifications will improve the reliability of the terminal while retaining the advantages of the original configuration. It is contemplated that a cathode ray tube with a green screen phosphor may enhance readability of the microterminal display. Anti-reflective coatings are being considered for the window means 140. An optional "iconized" keyboard, FIG. 31, is designed to function in the same fashion as the elastomeric keyboard but with an additional fourteen keys. The technology of this keyboard is significantly different from the elastomeric unit. It is considered that both keyboards have their own market and as such the "iconized" style of keyboard will work well in food service installations but the elastomer unit is more appropriate for the more conventional computer terminal application. The emphasis here is upon the flexibility of this unit. A keyboard change will only affect the "look" of the unit, not its functions. Additionally, the circuit board is being redesigned to allow the use of custom character sets. This involves the addition of three more IC's. Since the configuration is fairly well determined, ten components will be removed from the existing board and will be replaced by one. The components to be removed are three dip switches, three buffers (74HC245), three resistor packs and one 74HC138 decoder chip. Reliability and performance should be enhanced by this reduction in component count. Description of the Specific Embodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a specific implementation of a pizza home delivery system falling within the scope of the present invention. The illustrated system includes a manager station 14-10 and a driver check-out station 14-11, FIG. 14A, and a make station 14-12 and an order entry station 14-13, FIG. 14B. The manager station 14-10 may include conventional data processing equipment such as a personal computer 14-20 with a keyboard 14-21, a monitor 14-22 and a line printer 14-23. This equipment may generate daily reports including individual driver cash reconciliation reports, based on the data generated at the driver station 14-11 as herein described. Cash deposits by the drivers may be entered into the system via keyboard 14-21, for example. A portable hand held data unit 14-26 may have a receptacle at the manager station such that when the unit is inserted into such receptacle, it is placed on line with the total system. Such a receptacle is commonly used with a hand held data unit model 121 of the Norand Corporation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Rechargeable batteries of the unit 14-26 may be recharged from power supply 14-27 while the unit is associated with its receptacle. The unit 14-26 may represent means for transporting system data to a manager's residence, for example, or to a delivery vehicle, for example, as well as means for collecing inventory and/or pricing data for input to the system. Scanner box 14-28 at the manager station may be identical to scanner box 14-30 at the driver station 14-11, so that these units are fully modular and interchangeable. An instant bar code reader such as 14-31 may be plugged into either scanner box and may be used to instantaneously read an individual bar code assigned to each driver, as well as to read the bar codes of labels such as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As an example, the manager station may have an automatic cash depository similar to an automatic teller machine. The driver may deposit cash with the system by presenting a badge or card with his identifying bar code e.g. at a receiving slot associated with a fixed scanner, or to hand held reader 14-31; or an individually coded key such as indicated at 14-35 may be inserted in a key receiving aperture of scanner box 14-28 as indicated in FIG. 14A. The driver may also manually enter his personal identification code on a keyboard 14-36. If there is a match of identification codes, the driver may be permitted to enter the amount of his cash deposit for example via a keyboard coupled with the system, in a manner similar to operation of automatic teller machines. A similar procedure using a key such as 14-35 and the keyboard 14-36 may be used for maintaining a record in the system of the hours worked by each employee. The scanner box 14-30 of the driver check-out station 14-11 may be mounted generally as shown in FIG. 6 and arranged to receive individual driver's identification keys as indicated at 14-40. The hand held bar code reader 14-31 may be triggered manually by a button 14-41 to read a label on a box such as 251, FIG. 6, e.g. while the box is supported on a table surface such as 252. In the example of FIG. 14A, reader 14-31 may also be triggered manually by the button 14-41 to read a bar code on an employee badge or identification card as an alternative to the key identification means 14-40. An indicator light 14-42 may emit green light when a valid bar code is read, and may provide a red light signal to indicate the need for a repeated read operation. Information on the construction of bar code readers is found in a pending application of Jonathan R. White, U.S. Ser. No. 905,779 filed Sept. 10, 1986, Attorney's Docket DN 5726, and in a pending application of Arvin D. Danielson and Dennis Alan Durbin, U.S. Ser. No. 894,689 filed Aug. 8, 1986. Reference is also made to a commercial product of Norand Corporation known as the 20/20 Instant Portable Bar Code Reader. An exemplary interface circuit for the scanner boxes 14-28 and 14-30 may be similar to that shown in FIGS. 15A-15J. The data communications means of the system of FIGS. 14A and 14B is illustrated as comprising a network controller 14-50 coupled with the other stations via a communications bus such as indicated at 14-51. Network controller 14-50 and identical network controllers 14-52 and 14-54 at the make station 14-12 and the order entry station 14-13 may be similar to those shown in a pending application of Arvin D. Danielson, Joseph J. Kubler, Dennis Alan Durbin, Micheal D. Morris and Keith K. Cargin, Jr., U.S. Ser. No. 907,496 filed Sept. 15, 1986, and in a pending application of Keith Cargin, Jr., George E. Hanson and Phillip Miller, U.S. Ser. No. 915, 023, filed Oct. 3, 1986. A voice module 14-56 with its speaker 14-57 may be of conventional construction and a similar unit may be provided at other stations for example as indicated at 14-60 and 14-61 in FIG. 14B. These units may function as described with reference to voice synthesizer unit 71, FIG. 6. FIG. 14B illustrates the case where a receipt printer 14-64 prints receipts such as indicated at 260, FIG. 9. In the specific embodiment of FIG. 14B, a bar code printer 270 is shown located at an order entry station in correspondence with bar code printer 42 of FIG. 1. The printer 270 may produce a bar code label such as described with reference to FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 which may be adhesively applied to an appropriate size box at the make station 14-12, for example, and scanned at the driver check-out station 14-11 as previously described. An exemplary bar code printer is a modified Zebra thermal bar code printer. Microterminals such as indicated at 14-71 and 14-72 may correspond with those shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13A through 13E and may be associated with respective telephone consoles and operated as described herein. The coupling of terminals within a store with other units e.g. at a manager station via a loop fiber optic network is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,430,700 and 4,604,693 of Norand Corporation and is utilized in a commercial system of Norand Corporation known as the A Line Food Service Management System. Summary of Operation of FIGS. 14A and 14B In operation of the specific exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 14A and 14B, a telephone order is processed at station 14-13 by entering the telephone number of the incoming call into the system e.g. automatically or via a keyboard such as indicated at 271. The telephone number may serve to retrieve the caller's last known address for display at 272, where it can be verified. In an initial type of system, customer addresses may be entered manually as at 36, FIG. 7, on a bar code label supplied by printer 270, as indicated at 274, FIG. 14B. Other desired data may be entered manually, for example as indicated at 31 through 35 and 37, 38 and 39, FIG. 7, or such data may also be mechanically imprinted by the system as represented in FIG. 8. In an initial system, a person from make station 14-12 may periodically pick up completed labels and affix the same to appropriate packaging, e.g. generally as indicated in FIG. 3. At the make station 14-12, each order may be read out on-line by means of the receipt printer 14-64 to produce duplicate receipt slips such as indicated at 260, FIG. 9. Such slips may be used in place of monitor 22, FIG. 2, to sequence the order preparation process. Thus, a receipt slip such as 260, FIG. 9, may accompany each pizza as it is being packaged (as indicated in FIG. 5) at the make station 14-12, and may accompany the packaged order as delivered to the driver station 14-11. In the actual system of FIGS. 14A and 14B, the time of each order would be entered into the system, and voice synthesizer units 14-60, 14-61 and 14-56, 14-57 would be activated if a given order had not been checked out at scanner means 14-30, 14-31 within a time interval established in the system. In an actual operating system similar to that of FIGS. 14A and 14B, the voice synthesizer unit may repeat warning messages at a selected interval specifying the number of minutes an overdue order has been in the system. Other messages may be given exclusively at the driver station, for example a reminder concerning beverages for an order being checked out, or a message to a specific driver identified at scanner means 14-30, 14-31, suggesting that a deposit of accumulated cash would be advisable. Description of FIGS. 15A through 15J The exemplary scanner interface circuit of FIG. 15A et seq. is most closely related to the embodiment of FIG. 6. In this case, a coded key sensor of FIG. 6 is coupled to connector 15-10, FIG. 15E, and the instant scanner unit at 82 is coupled to a connector 15-12, FIG. 15A, while keyboard 84, FIG. 6, is coupled at 15-15, FIG. 15D. Exemplary components in FIG. 15A et seq. may be as follows:
______________________________________
Exemplary
Component Description Type Designation
______________________________________
J2 RS-232 Interface DE-9S*
J3 Instant Bar Code DA-155*
Reader Interface
J4 Key lock input 10P-HDR
U2 RS-232/TTL LT1080
converter
Y1 Crystal (5.5295
Megahertz)
U7 Eight-Bit Microcomputer
8031
U6 Octal Transparent Latch
74HC573
Three-State
U5 EPROM chip 27256
U9A, U9B Two to Four Decoders
74HC139
U11 Binary Counter 74HC4020
U12 Binary Counter 74HC4040
U13A, U13B
Comparator LM393
UI Octal D-Type Flip-Flop
74HC574
Positive Edge-Trig-
gered Three-State
U3, U10 Octal Transparent
74HC573
Latch, Three-State
J1 Keyboard Interface
Header-
S15P**
B1 Piezo transducer (beeper)
QMB111
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*"S" stands for socket or receptacle type of connector.
**"P" stands for pin type of connector.
The following shows an exemplary program sequence for the driver station 14-11, FIG. 14A, or 70, FIG. 6:
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(1) Input from scanner box e.g. 14-30, FIG. 14A:
Employee Number and Order Number of box such
as 251, FIG. 6, from bar code label of FIG.
7 or FIG. 8 on the box.
(2) Get order from order storage means 290, FIG. 14A.
(2A) Does order have more than one box?
(2A1) If yes, speak: "* ------ pizza's"
then go to (1) for order number of
other box or boxes.
(2A2) If no, continue at (2B).
(2B) Does order contain beverages?
(2B1) If yes, speak: "This order contains
beverage" (e.g. via synthesizer unit
14-56, 14-57, FIG. 14A, or 71, FIG. 6).
(2C) Is order for cash payment only?
(2C1) If yes, speak: "This order is cash
only".
(2D) Compute and speak: "** ------ minutes
out the door".
(2E) Driver cash too high?
(2E1) If yes, speak "Driver please make a
drop (deposit)".
(3) Update files.
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*A number is to be spoken here according to the number of boxes needed fo
the order.
**A number is to be spoken here according to the number of minutes betwee
the original entry of the order and scanning of the box or boxes for the
order at the checkout station.
An exemplary directory of speech synthesizer elements at respective directory location numbers is as follows:
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VERSION .0.
DIRECTORY # WORD OR PHRASE
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0 BETWEEN SENTENCE PAUSE
1 0
2 1
3 2
4 3
5 4
6 5
7 6
8 7
9 8
10 9
11 10
12 11
13 12
14 13
15 14
16 15
17 16
18 17
19 18
20 19
21 20
22 30
23 40
24 50
25 60
26 70
27 80
28 90
29 OF
30 THIS ORDER IS CASH ONLY
31 PIZZA'S
32 DRIVER PLEASE MAKE A DROP
33 MINUTES OUT THE DOOR
34 THIS ORDER CONTAINS BEVERAGE
35 INVALID ORDER NUMBER
THIS PIZZA IS IGNORED
XON - XOFF
XON EVERY SEVERAL SECONDS, GUARANTEES
32 OR MORE BYTES IN INPUT BUFFER
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The following is an outline concerning the circuitry of FIGS. 15A-15J: 1.0 Scope: This document describes the architecture of a CCD 20/20 scanner interface equipped with a Key Board, Key Lock (removable nonvolatile memory module), and an RS-232 communications link. This document includes a description of the memory mapped I/0, the RAM location and the I/0 port functions. 2.0 Scanner Unit Architecture: The interface is an 8031 microcontroller base unit with 32K of program memory and 8K of data memory. Port I/0 consists of an RS-232 two line type interface, a scanner interface that will service a 20/20 bar code reader or a wand, and a key lock type nonvolatile removable memory module. Memory mapped I/0 is made up of a 12 key keypad matrix input/output, a buzzer, two LED output bits, an eight bit address switch, and a memory read location to reset a watchdog timer. 2.1.0 Interface memory map: 2.1.1 Memory Map Location:
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(1) Program memory:
Starts at 0000 hex
(2) RAM memory: Starts at 0000 hex to 3FFF
hex
(3) Key Pad 4000 hex
Write bits 0,1,2
Read bits 0,1,2,3
(4) Buzzer 4000 hex Write bit 3
(5) LEDs 4000 hex
Green LED Write bit 4
Red LED Write bit 5
(6) Address Switch
8000 hex
(7) Watch-Dog C000 hex
The watchdog will reset the
CPU in no less than 1 sec.
and no longer than 2 sec.
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2.1.2 Memory Mapped I/0 Operation Definition: Key Pad Operation:
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Key Pad Matrix Truth Table
Key Write bit Read bit
______________________________________
1 0 2
2 1 2
3 2 2
4 0 1
5 1 1
6 2 1
7 0 0
8 1 0
9 2 0
* 0 3
0 1 3
# 2 3
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Write bit low to column (bit 0 thru 2)
Read bit as a low true for row (bit 0 thru 3)
Buzzer operation: Initialize bit to 0 when not in use To operate, write bit 3 alternating from "1" to "0" at twice the desired frequency. Example: for 2000 hertz tone, the period between writing a "1" to a "0" or "0" to a "1" would be 250 microseconds LED Operation: Green LED--write bit 4 Low to turn "ON" High to turn "OFF" Red LED--write bit 5 Low to turn "ON" High to turn "OFF" 2.2.0 Interface I/0 Assignments: 2.2.1 Scanner interface signals:
______________________________________
Signal Name/type Port # Description
______________________________________
/PROX Input P3.2 Read Data (unit reading)
XOVR Input same Wand scanner data input
TD Output P1.0 Commands to CCD 20/20
RTS Output PI.1 Clock to CCD 20/20
CTS Input P1.2 High if 20/20
Low if wand
SCNPWR OUTPUT P3.4 Digital type wand enable
active high.
______________________________________
2.2.2 RS-232 Interface:
______________________________________
Signal Name/type Port # Description
______________________________________
RX Input P3.0 Received Data
TX Output P3.1 Transmit Data
______________________________________
2.2.3 Keylock Interface:
______________________________________
Signal Name/type Port # Description
______________________________________
KYPWR/ Output P1.3 Key module power
CS Output P1.4 Key module chip select
D1 Output P1.5 Serial Data into key
SK Output P1.6 Serial Data Clock
DO Input P1.7 Serial Data from key
LOFO Input P3.3 Last-on-First-off
This signal goes high
after the key is all
connected and low before
the key disconnects.
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Description of FIGS. 16A-16H and 17A-17D FIGS. 16A-16H and 17A-17D show exemplary circuitry for the voice modules 14-56, FIG. 14A, and 14-60, FIG. 14B. Exemplary components for this circuitry may be as follows:
______________________________________
Speech Electronics, FIGS. 16A-16H
Component Description
______________________________________
FIG. 16A
16-J3 RS-232 D-Sub Connector
16-U2 RS-232 Interface, e.g. MAX 232
FIG. 16B
16U8, U9 Watchdog Counter, e.g.
74HC390
FIG. 16C
16-Y1 Crystal 12.0000 MHZ
16-U3 Microcontroller, e.g.
80C31
16-U4 e.g. 74HC573
16-U6 Program Storage, e.g. 27C64
FIG. 16D
16-U17, U18 e.g. 74HC244
16-U7 e.g. 74HC573
16-J1 37 Pin D-Sub Connector
FIG. 16E
16-U10 e.g. 74HC193
16-U11 Parallel to Serial
Shift Register, e.g.
74HC597
16-U12 Continuously Variable
Slope Modulator (CVSD)
chip, e.g. MC3418
FIG. 16E
16-U15 e.g. LTC1044
FIG. 16F
16-REG1 e.g. LM340T-5
16-DS1 Red Light Emitting Diode
("Power On" Indicator)
FIG. 16G
16-U13 Switched Capacitor
Filter Chip, e.g.
MF4-100
16-R4 Volume Adjust
Potentiometer, e.g.
zero to one
hundred kilohms
16-U14 Audio Power Amplifier
chip, e.g. LM386
16-U2 RCA Phone Jack
(To Eight-Ohm Speaker)
FIG. 16H
C1-C18 Bypass Capacitors
e.g. 0.1 microfarad
Read Only Memory Module, FIGS. 17A-17D
FIG. 17A
17-J1 37 Pin D-Sub Connector
17-J2 20 Pin Connector
(for additional ROM)
17-J3 20 Pin Connector
(for additional ROM)
FIG. 17B
17-U1, U8 EPROM e.g. 27C256
FIG. 17C
SEL1-SEL4 512K or 256K
EPROM Selectors
17-U9 e.g. 74HC138
17-U10 e.g. 74HC688
SW1 PROM Size Select
(Six Pole DIP Switch,
Open = 256K EPROM)
FIG. 17D
C1-C10 Bypass Capacitors
e.g. 0.33 microfarad
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The speech generator comprises the speech electronics of FIGS. 16A through 16H and the read only memory module of FIGS. 17A-17D. The speech electronics is contained in its own housing and connects to the host system (indicated in FIGS. 14A and 14B) via a nine pin connector 16-J3, FIG. 16A. The speech electronics module has a standard RCA phono jack 16-J2, FIG. 16G, to connect its audio output to an external speaker such as indicated at 14-57, FIG. 14A, or 14-61, FIG. 14B. The module also has a volume control, 16-R4, FIG. 16G, and a "power on" indicator 16-DS1, FIG. 16F. The speech module mates with the ROM module via a thirty-seven pin "D" connector 16-J1, FIG. 16D, at its top side. Together the two modules are mounted in a vertical position with the ROM module on top. The ROM module contains the actual voice messages, stored in CMOS EPROMS indicated at 17-U1 through 17-U8, FIG. 17B. The module normally contains a single "main" board mounted in the center of its housing. The main board has provision for holding up to eight EPROM chips of either the 27C256 or 27C512 variety (jumper selectable). The speech electronics "reads" 30,000 bits per second from the ROM module, so a single 256K ROM chip can store 8.5 seconds of speech. As an example, a fully populated ROM module main board can contain sixty-eight seconds of speech if using 27C256 EPROM chips, and 136 seconds of speech if using 27C512 EPROM chips. The ROM module is designed to accept two additional "piggyback" EPROM boards, each with six EPROM chips. One board mounts on top of the main ROM board, while the other mounts beneath the main ROM board. A ROM module so equipped with 27C512 chips permits 5.7 minutes of continuous non-repetitive speech. The ROM module receives its power through the thirty-seven pin "D" connector, 17-J1, FIG. 17A, as well as twenty-four bits of ROM addressing, from the speech electronics module. Eight bit parallel ROM data (via D0-D7) is fed back to the speech electronics module via the same connector. The speech electronics module contains a microcontroller 16-U3, and RS-232 interface 16-U2, a "watchdog" circuit 16-U8, 16-U9, FIG. 16B, a continuously variable slope monitor chip 16-U12, an audio filter chip 16-U13, and a small audio power amplifier stage 16-U14. Chip 16-U6 provides storage for the microcontroller program. The microcontroller provides ROM module addressing and receives the resultant byte of data from the ROM module. The speech data byte is output from the microcontroller to a parallel to serial shift register 16-U11, FIG. 6E. The shift register 16-U11 is clocked continuously by counter hardware 16-U10, providing a constant thirty kilobit per second data stream to the CVSD chip 16-U12, FIG. 16E. Chip 16-U12 converts the serial data stream to an analog signal (voice) which is then bandwidth-limited to three kilohertz by a switched capacitor filter chip 16-U13, FIG. 16G. The audio signal is amplified by audio power amplifier chip 16-U14 and output to the RCA phono jack 16-J2. The CVSD chip 16-U12 is driven continuously, even during "no speech" times to prevent undersirable clicks at the beginning and end of messages. At the end of the last message, the microcontroller 16-U3 outputs a "quieting" pattern byte to the shift register 16-U11 to quiet the output of the CVSD chip 16-U12. The speech electronics board uses a "watchdog" timer circuit 16-U8, 16-U9 to reset the microcontroller in case the program fails. The watchdog circuit must be pulsed by the microcontroller via line 1610, FIG. 16C and FIG. 16B, every twelve milliseconds or it will generate a reset pulse resetting the microcontroller. The microcontroller 16-U3 communicates with the host system via an RS-232 port bus 1611, FIG. 16C, FIG. 16A, using X-on/X-off protocol. The microcontroller buffers up to thirty commands from the host system, and executes them sequentially. Commands from the host system consist of numbers, separated by spaces, and followed by a carriage return. Each number represents a message stored in the ROM module; see the table with the heading "VERSION .0. (application page 38). A phrase may consist of just one number (e.g. No. 30, No. 32, or No. 34), or a combination of numbers (e.g. No. 22 followed by No. 33) to form a complete sentence. The speech electronics module begins executing the first message upon receiving a carriage return. There is no real limit on the number of messages stored in ROM. The only limit is the ROM space needed to speak them all. Messages are stored sequentially in the ROM address space. At the very "bottom" of ROM memory space is a library of all the messages. The library contains five bytes of information for each message stored in ROM. The first three bytes of each message description in the library define the absolute starting address of the message in ROM. The last two bytes define the length of the message (in bytes). The microcontroller 16-U3 locates each message to output by multiplying the message number, receive from the host system, by five so as to obtain the proper address offset in the message library. The microcontroller then retrieves the pertinent data from the library, then proceeds to the absolute ROM memory address and begins retrieving ROM speech data for that message a byte at a time. The counter hardware 16-U10 controlling the shift register 16-U11 and the CVSD chip 16-U12 also signals via line 1612, FIG. 16E, FIG. 16B to the microcontroller 16-U3 when a new byte of data is required by the shift register 16-U7. The speech message is supplied from the CVSD chip 16-U12 to the filter chip 16-U13 via line 1614, FIG. 16E, FIG. 16G. During quiet times the microcontroller ignores these requests for data so that the shift register continues to output its current byte of data repeatedly to the CVSD chip 16-U12. Of course, the data byte is the "quieting" byte needed to quiet the output of the CVSD chip. DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 18A-18I FIGS. 18A-18I illustrate an exemplary speech editor system for receiving analog (voice) signals at jack 18-J2, FIG. 18G, and digitizing the signals for storage and processing. Exemplary components for the speech editor circuitry are as follows:
______________________________________
Component Description
______________________________________
FIG. 18A
18-J1 RS-232 D-Sub Connector
18-U4 RS-232 Interface
e.g. MAX232
18-U6, U7 e.g. 74HC390
FIG. 18B
Y1 Crystal, 12.000 MHz
18-U5 Microcontroller, e.g.
80C31
18-U3 e.g. 74HC573
18-U2 e.g. 74HC138
18-U12 Program storage
18-U8, U9 RAM e.g. 6264
FIG. 18C
U10, U11 RAM, e.g. 6264
FIG. 18D
18-REG1 E.G. LM340T-5
18-J4 Two-pin Mate and
Lock Connector
FIG. 18E
C-1-C21 Filter Capacitors,
e.g. 0.1 Microfarad
FIG. 18G
18-U16 E.G. 74HC193
18-U18 Serial to Parallel
Shift Register, e.g.
74HC595
18-U19 Serial to Parallel
Shift Register, e.g.
74HC597
18-U21 Switched Capacitor
Filter Chip, e.g.
MF4-100
FIG. 18H
18-U17 Continuously Variable
Slope Modulator
(CVSD), e.g. MC 3418
18-U20 Switched Capacitor
Filter Chip, e.g.
MF4-100
18-J3 RCA Audio Jack
FIG. 18I
18-U14 e.g. LTC 1044
______________________________________
The editor circuitry of FIGS. 18A through 18I is controlled via an RS-232 input at 18-J1, FIG. 18A, and communicates with the host personal computer system using the X-on/X-off protocol. The program (known as "PHRED") running on the host personal computer prompts the user with a menu. The menu possibilities are: (1) RECORD A PHASE (2) PLAY BACK A PHRASE (3) READ DIGITIZED PHRASE FROM PHRED ONTO DISK (4) WRITE DIGITIZED PHRASES FROM DISK TO PHRED (5) LIST PHRASES CURRENTLY ON DISK (6) CHECK LINK WITH PHRED (checks RS-232 link) The RAM storage 18-U8 through 18-U11 may provide only 8.5 seconds of speech, so that any message recorded or played back can be only 8.5 seconds long. If the message is to be longer, then it can be divided into several sections and played back on the "target" system with no perceptible pause between sections. To record a phrase the user selects the appropriate menu and follows the prompts on the screen. The editor system accepts the user audio via input 18-J2, FIG. 18G, and amplifies the signal at 1810 to usable levels. The analog signal is passed through the band-limiting filter 18-U21 which limits the bandwidth to three kilohertz, and is then sent via line 1811, FIG. 18G, FIG. 18H, to the CVSD chip 18-U17. The CVSD chip digitizes the analog signal into a serial data stream at thirty kilobits per second. The serial data is supplied via line 1812, FIG. 18H, FIG. 18G, to the serial to parallel shift register 18-U18. The microcontroller 18-U5 is signaled by the counter hardware 18-U15 (via line 1814, FIG. 18G, FIG. 18H, of bus 1815, FIG. 18H, FIG. 18B,) that a byte of data is available for RAM storage, at the output port of shift register 18-U18. The byte of digitized voice data is placed in the next available RAM location and the RAM address counter 18-U2, 18-U3, FIG. 18B, is advanced to the next location. The procedure is repeated again and again until RAM space is used up or the user presses the space bar on the host computer keyboard, to stop recording. Once a message is stored in the RAM memory 18-U9 through 18-U11, it can be played back in its entirety or in small sections, again menu selected by the user. A phrase can be dissected into its individual words or sounds and each stored as a new independent phrase. The editor plays back the selected phrase, or partial phrase, by reading sequential bytes of data from the RAM storage and outputting them one at a time to the parallel to serial shift register 8-U19, FIG. 18G. Counter hardware alerts the microcontroller that a new byte is needed by the shift register when the last byte has been shifted out. Actually the shift register 18-U19 is "double-buffered" meaning that it contains two byte storage locations. One is undergoing shifting while the other waits. This allows the processor 18-U5 more time to deliver another byte of data, a feature that facilitates programming. The shift register 18-U19 outputs the digital voice data via 1817, FIG. 18G, FIG. 18H, to the CVSD chip 18-U17 at thirty kilobits per second for conversion to analog form. A resultant analog signal from the chip 18-U17 is bandwidth-limited to three kilohertz at component 18-U20 and output to a buffer amplifier 1818, FIG. 18H. The buffer amplifier simply drives a pair of head phones so that the user can hear the results of his/her editing. The audio signal is bandwidth-limited by component 18-U21, FIG. 18G, when recording to prevent "aliasing", a distortion that is caused by a signal changing too much between digitization sample periods. The bandwidth-limiting at the output of 18-U17, FIG. 18H, is needed to limit the high frequency content of the signal, and to strip off the digitization noise that occurs as a result of waveform reconstruction. Once the user is satisfied with the edited phrase, he or she can transfer the data to the host system's mass storage device (e.g. a hard or floppy disk, or a system RAM disk) where it will be stored as a unique message. A message, or group of messages, can be transferred from the host memory to EPROM devices such as 17-U1 through 17-U8, FIG. 17B, for use in the target speech generator device. As previously described, first the messages are collected and butted together (to save memory space), and a library formed defining each message's absolute starting address and length. This is done using the program "DOMFILE" which prompts the user for the names of the stored message phrases and links them together and creates the library. The library is linked first so it resides in the lowest target ROM addresses. Description of FIGS. 19A-19F FIGS. 19A through 19F show a circuit for the scanner box 14-28 or 14-30, FIG. 14A, which has been revised somewhat in comparison to the circuit of FIGS. 15A-15G. Exemplary components in FIG. 19A et seq. may be as follows:
______________________________________
Component Description
______________________________________
FIG. 19A
19-J1 Nine Position Connector
for RS-232 Interface
19-J2 Fifteen Position Connector
for Instant Bar Code
Reader Interface
19-J3 Ten Pin Header for
Key Lock Input
19-U1 RS-232/TTL Converter
e.g. LT1080
19-Y1 Crystal (5.5295
megahertz)
19-U2 Microcomputer,
e.g. 8031
19-U7 e.g. DS1232
FIG. 19B
19-U3 e.g. 74HC573
19-U4 e.g. 27C64
19-U11 e.g. 74HC574
19-U5 e.g. 6264
19-U8 e.g. 74HC139
FIG. 19C
19-J4 Fifteen Position Header
for Keyboard Interface
19-J7 Three Position Header
(See FIG. 19E)
19-B1 Piezo Transducer (Beeper)
e.g. QMB111
19-U6, e.g. 74HC573
19-U10
19-J5 Sixteen Position Header
for LED Interface
19-J6 Sixteen Position Header
FIG. 19D
19-REG 1 e.g. SA3052
19-L1 e.g. fifty microhenries
C1-C19, e.g. 0.1 microfarad
C22
C20 e.g. 100 microfarads,
25 volts
C21 e.g. 220 microfarads,
6.3 volts
FIG. 19E
19-DS1 e.g. red and green (two-color)
light emitting diode
______________________________________
The circuit of FIGS. 19A-19F will be readily understood from the description given in relation to FIGS. 15A-15H. Description of FIGS. 20 through 25 FIG. 20 shows a series of infrared emitting diodes which may be utilized for sensing a hole pattern in a driver identification key such as shown in FIG. 21. The diodes may be mounted in two arrays 20-CR1 and 20-CR2, for example each corresponding to Siemens part number LD266. A sixteen position header 20-J1, FIG. 20, may mate with a corresponding header 19-J5, FIG. 19C. An arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 20 may be utilized for coupling two arrays of infrared sensors, e.g. Siemans BPX86 phototransistor arrays, with the header 20-J6, FIG. 19C. FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 show a preferred key configuration 300 for use in conjunction with the scanner boxes 14-28, 14-30, FIG. 14A, for identifying individual drivers. The key cooperates with the infrared emitter arrays 20-CR1 and 20-CR2, FIG. 20, to transmit a pattern of infrared beams unique to the particular key. Sensor arrays coupled with header 19-J6, FIG. 19C, are activated according to the particular transmitted identifying code and supply the identifying code to latches 19-U6 and 19-U10, FIG. 19C, for use in the system as previously described. The key 300 as presently being produced in prototype quantities is made of molded black ABS plastic with a series of twelve code positions 301-312, FIG. 21. As initially formed, the code positions are defined by wells 301a-312a and 301b-312b, FIG. 22. To code a particular key blank, selected ones of the wells such as 301a, 301b are joined a by drilling through the interposed web 320 as indicated by dot-dash lines 321, FIG. 22. As presently used, wells 312a and 312b at the twelfth code position are never joined to form a complete hole, and the optical emitter and sensor aligned with code position 312 are used to sense whether or not a key has been inserted. Wells 311a and 311b are always joined as indicated by bore 331 to form a complete hole at eleventh code position 311 which serves to determine whether the key has been fully inserted. Where the code positions 301-310 have a uniform center to center spacing of 0.10 inch, position 311 may be spaced from position 310 by 0.08 inch, and may be spaced from position 312 by 0.120 inch, so that the optical emitter for position 311 has its beam axis 341 offset from the axis of position 311 by 0.02 inch. Where the key receptacle of FIGS. 24 and 25 has infrared beam transmissive apertures uniformly spaced at 0.10 inch centers, (each aperture having a diameter of 0.055 inch, and the wells tapering from 0.062 inch diameter to 0.060 inch diameter), the receptacle beam transmissive apertures may fully register within the cross section of the wells at positions 301-310 and 312, but the receptacle beam transmissive aperture for position 311 will define an effective beam position as indicated at 350, FIG. 21, whose center 341 is offset from the center of position 311 by 0.02 inch. A detent (shown in FIG. 24) may cooperate with notch 361 or 362 to tend to retain the key in fully inserted position. Code positions 301-309 may be selectively provided with through-holes to define five hundred and twelve differently coded identification keys for a given system, while code position 310 may be utilized as a parity bit position. For example, the sum of the through-holes at any of positions 301-310 may be maintained as an odd number (odd parity) by the choice of a through-hole or not, at position 310. In full scale production of the illustrated system it is intended to use a carbon dioxide laser in conjunction with an accurately positionable fixture to apply the respective different through-hole patterns to a set of blank keys. The blank keys can be produced by injection molding very economically. If desired, after the holes have been selectively formed to define the individual keys, the holes can be filled or covered with a clear or infrared-transmissive plastic. FIG. 24 shows a cross section of a key receptacle formed of outer parts 401 and 402, and inner parts 403 and 404. The parts have adjoining elongated recesses 401a, 403a and 402a, 404a for accommodating circuit boards 406 and 407 carrying the optical arrays 408 and 409. FIG. 25 shows twelve apertures 403b which are aligned with twelve infrared emitters 410 of array 408. The parts 403 and 404 are provided with twelve sets of aligned apertures such as 403b, 404b, FIG. 24, which may transmit an optical beam of the desired cross section. The apertures 403b transmit the respective beams from the emitters 410 in slot 403a, to the key receiving chamber 411, and the apertures 404b pass the beams transmitted through the key to array 409 which contains sensor elements 412. The apertures 403b and 404b may have a diameter (e.g. 0.055 inch) about ten percent less than the minimum diameter (e.g. 0.060 inch) of the through holes such as 321 and 331, FIG. 22, in the key (a reduction in cross-sectional area of about twenty percent). The part 404 with its array of photosensors 412 would appear as a mirror image of part 404 shown in FIG. 25 so that the twelve photosensors 412 would be aligned with respective ones of the twelve beam axes such as indicated at 414, FIG. 25. The position of beam axis 341, FIG. 21, has been specifically indicated in FIG. 25, to assist in correlating these figures. Inner parts 403 and 404 have polygonal walled cavities 403c and 404c which cooperate to define the key receiving chamber 411 substantially conforming to the cross-sectional contour of the insertion end of key 300 as shown in FIG. 23. The circuit boards 406 and 407 may have a width of about 0.80 inch corresponding to the widths of the enlarged portions of recesses 403a and 404a. The circuit boards were identical in the exemplary preferred embodiment which took advantage of the electrical pinouts and physical symmetries of the LED and phototransistor devices 408 and 409. The array circuit boards 406 and 407 are each connected to the main circuit board (containing the circuitry of FIGS. 19A-19F) by sixteen conductor flat ribbon cables such as 414 which couple with printed circuit board stake headers 415 and 416, FIG. 24, via stake header receptacles such as 417. As shown in FIG. 25, a key faceplate 420 may have an aperture 420a accommodating the key of FIGS. 21-23 and aligned with the key receiving chamber defined by cavities 403c, 404c, FIG. 24. The faceplate 420 fits into a square aperture 421a of a plate 421 which may form a part of a scanner box such as indicated at 14-28 and 14-30, FIG. 14A. The mating parts 403 and 404 have cooperating semicylindrical grooves such as 403d, FIG. 25, which accommodate a detent plunger 430 having a rounded tip 430a which can be raised by the rounded end 431 of the key 300, FIG. 21, against the action of a beryllium copper leaf spring 432, FIG. 24, and then urge the key into the correct inserted position and hold it in such position. Four screws such as 445, FIG. 25, hold the parts 401-404 in assembled relation, and four screws such as 446, FIG. 24, hold the key receptacle assembly and faceplate 420 in fixed relation to wall 421. Description of FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 In a cook station such as shown in FIG. 2, the remote data presentation means 22 may alternatively take the form of a printer for producing a paper printout such as shown in FIG. 9. Such a printer is indicated at 14-64, FIG. 14B. In FIGS. 26, 27 and 28, a solenoid actuated cutting mechanism is illustrated for association with a conventional print mechanism (e.g. a model DP-575L Citizen dot matrix printer) which provides a paper tape width of seventy millimeters and forty print columns per line. The cutter mechanism has been designed so as to operate effectively with a low current power supply such as shown in FIG. 29 et seq. The cutter mechanism includes a cutter mounting plate 450 which has a paper feed slot 450a through which the paper is fed after being printed upon. The plate 450 is rotatable (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 28) about an axis 451 to provide access to the printer mechanism immediately to the rear thereof. A buffer pad 452 projects forwardly of plate 450 and may engage a removable cover to maintain the plate 450 in its upright position. The paper path is indicated with dot dash lines at 453 in FIG. 28. A knife blade 455 has sharp knife edges 455a, FIG. 28A, normally disposed below paper support edges 450b, 450c and 450d, but driven upwardly to cut the paper via a rotary shaft 460 having cutter lifting fingers 457 and 458 which lift the cutter blade 455 when the shaft 460 is driven rotationally in the direction of arrow 461, FIG. 28. A paper guide throat member 464 has a slot contour 464a for guiding the paper toward the position of knife blade 455. The throat member 464 has notches generally configuraing with notches 450e and 450f of plate 450, FIG. 26, to accommodate the vertical motion of cutter lifting fingers 457 and 458. By way of example the throat member 464 has a throat width of about 2.75 inches with rounded lateral boundaries as indicated in FIG. 26. As viewed in FIG. 28, the throat has a maximum height of 0.125 inch (normal to the plane of the paper), and has curved upper and lower walls (radius of curvature 0.0625 inch) coverging to a slot 464b with a height of 0.062 inch. The height of slot 450a of plate 450 is generally 0.093 inch except at notches 450e and 450f. In a successfully operating cutter, the knife blade 455 was made from 0.015 inch stock, and had a length of 2.80 inches, where the slot 450a had a length of 2.90 inches. The outside pair of teeth had tips spaced inwardly 0.15 inch from the respective outer margins. The remaining four teeth were uniformly spaced from the outer teeth at 0.50 inch centers, so that all six teeth were uniformly spaced. The height of the teeth was 0.10 inch, and the teeth were ground at one side to form a sharp edge as indicated at 455a, FIG. 28A. The rotary shaft 460 was driven by a rotary solenoid 470 by means of the circuit of FIG. 29A et seq. which will now be described. It is considered that a linear solenoid action could perhaps rotate the shaft 460 via a crank with even greater effectiveness in conjunction with the illustrated electric driving circuit. Description of FIGS. 29A and 29B FIGS. 29A and 29B show an exemplary electric circuit which has been actually utilized with the cutter of FIGS. 26, 27, 28 and 28A to effect a cut in about ten milliseconds. This is considered to represent a ballistic type of cutting operation. The illustrated circuit supplies eighty volt power for driving the solenoid 470, FIG. 26, twelve volt power for the printer mechanism, and five volt power for the printer control module of FIG. 30A et seq. The following are the exemplary circuit parameters of the circuitry now in successful operation:
______________________________________
Component
Designation Description
______________________________________
FIG. 29A
29-REG. 1 Inverting Switching Regulator,
e.g. 4193
29-REG. 3 e.g. LT1070
29-J4 Nine Pin D SUB
Connector
______________________________________
Circuit Exemplary Type
Element or Value
______________________________________
C3 47 picofarads
C4 470 microfarads (25 volts)
C5, 7, 8, 12 0.1 microfarads
C6 33 microfarads (16 volts)
C9, 11 470 microfarads (25 volts)
CR1 RG2J
CR3 SA20 diode
CR4 RG2J diode
L1 130 microhenries
L2, 3 50 microhenries
L4 150 microhenries
L6 27 microhenries
Q1 2N3906
Q3 SGSP363
R3 560 ohms
R5, R6 1 megohm
R7 1.2 kilohms
R8 68 ohms
R9 75 kilohms (1%)
R10 220 kilohms
R11, 14 1.21 kilohms (1%)
R12 10 kilohms (1%)
______________________________________
Component
Designation Description
______________________________________
29-J1 Two Pin Stake Header
29-REG2 e.g. SI3052
28-J3 Seven Position Header
______________________________________
Circuit Exemplary
Element Type or Value
______________________________________
R1 one kilohm (two watts)
R2,4 one kilohm, 1/4W, 5%
C1 22 microfarads (100 volts)
C2 470 microfarads (100 volts)
C10 3.3 microfarads (6.3 volts)
C13 100 microfarads (16 volts)
C14 12000 microfarads (16 volts)
C15 1 microfarad
L5 10 microhenries
CR2 1N4005
Q2 TIP122
Q4 2N3904
______________________________________
The solenoid 470, FIG. 26, is driven from capacitor 29-C2 via connector 29-J1. In present service, the cutter is actuated every four seconds, but it is feasible to actuate at about two second intervals. At each actuation it is considered that capacitor 29-C2 is substantially fully discharged (down to a voltage below 9.6 volts), and that a subsequent substantially complete recharging would take in about 21/2 seconds. Description of FIGS. 30A through 30E FIGS. 30A through 30E show an exemplary control circuit which is being used to control the cutter drive circuit of FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B. The CUTBAR output at line 480, FIG. 30C, connects with pin 2 of connector 29-J3, FIG. 29B, via connector 30-J4, FIG. 30D, to control actuation of the cutter drive solenoid 470, FIG. 27. Connector 30-J1, FIG. 30B, receives a signal according to the condition of a paper feed button on the printer, while connector 30-J6, FIG. 30B, receives the signal from a change paper switch. Connector 30-J2, FIG. 30C, receives an eighteen pin connector for the flex cable from the printer. Connector 30-J4 mates with connector 29-J3, FIG. 29B, of the printer power supply and cutter control module. The following are exemplary parameters for FIGS. 30A-30E:
______________________________________
Component
Designation Description
______________________________________
FIG. 30A
30-U5 Microcomputer
e.g. 80C31
30-U1 Three-State Latch
e.g. 74HC573
30-U10 8k .times. 8 EPROM
e.g. 2764
30-U9 8k .times. 8 STATIC RAM
e.g. 6264
30-U7 e.g. DS1231
30-Y1 Crystal (e.g. 12.000 MHZ)
FIG. 30B
30-J1 Connector to Paper Feed
Button, e.g. two position
stake header
30-J6 Connector to Change Paper
Switch, e.g. two position
stake
30-U3 Octal Bus Transceiver
e.g. 74HC245
30-U4A, Two to Four Bit Decoder
U4B e.g. 74HC139
30-U8 D-Type Flip Flop
Positive Edge Triggered
Three State, e.g.
74HC574
30-SW1 Hex Switch
FIG. 30C
30-U2 Hex Schmitt Trigger
e.g. 74HC14
30-U6 Tristate Inverting Octal Buffer
e.g. 74HC240
30-J2 Eighteen Pin Connector
for Flex Cable from
Printer Module
30-Q2, NPN Transistor Array,
Q3, Q4 e.g. STA401A
FIG. 30D
30-U11 RS-232 Interface, e.g.
MAX232
30-J4 Seven Pin Connector, e.g.
Molex stake header
______________________________________
Description of FIG. 32 In another version of cutoff mechanism, a commercially available cutter blade was notched as indicated at 455A, FIG. 26, to produce successive make slips such as 471, 472, 473, FIG. 32, which are joined by integral bridging material 475, 476, which links the strips together until manually severed. With the paper strip exactly centered, a blade 455 of lesser length than the width of the paper strip would leave bridging parts at each margin of the strip. It is considered, however, that it is preferable to make blade 455 of somewhat greater length that the paper width so as to sever the paper strip at both margins thereof in spite of variations in the position of the paper strip, and to provide the notch 455A centrally of the blade so a to leave only a single bridging part (such as 457 and 476) between successive printed parts (such as 471-473). In this way, the successive make slips are reliably held by the printer feed mechanism against falling in an uncontrolled fashion, the slips being readily manually severed from each other whenever convenient. ##SPC1## The following shows an exemplary program sequence for entering an order, checking for orders which have not been checked out for an excessive time, and if necessary delivering a speech message e.g., at the make station 14-12, FIG. 14B. (1) Answer telephone to receive incoming telephone order. (2) Enter phone number of customer by means of the. microterminal (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 or FIG. 31). (3) Master p | ||||||