초록 ▼

A push-button switch member comprises a touch panel having at least one push-button switch, an electronic display disposed in operative association with the push-button switch, and at least one key top portion disposed in operative association with the push-button switch. The key top portion is prov

A push-button switch member comprises a touch panel having at least one push-button switch, an electronic display disposed in operative association with the push-button switch, and at least one key top portion disposed in operative association with the push-button switch. The key top portion is provided with a functional display of the push-button switch. A portable information terminal is provided with such push-button switch member and a communicator operatively connected to the push-button switch member for communicating with other equipment having a communication function through endless interactive communication. When the portable information terminal approaches the other equipment having the function communicating with the portable information terminal, functional display information stored in the other equipment is inputted into the portable information terminal through the interactive communication.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable information terminal comprising:an electronic display operable to produce a function display;a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a

1. A portable information terminal comprising:an electronic display operable to produce a function display;a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact; anda communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment, andwherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information. 2. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said portable information terminal is a portable communication machine. 3. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said other equipment comprises a piece of electrical or electronic equipment. 4. A portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display as text or an image in accordance with function display information obtained from information stored in a server of a seller or provider which is in communication with a base station. 5. A portable information terminal comprising:an electronic display operable to produce a function display;a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact; anda communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information, andwherein said portable information terminal is capable of instructing the other equipment to perform a function corresponding to the function display displayed on said push-but ton switch when said push-button switch is pushed. 6. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein the other equipment comprises a piece of electrical or electronic equipment. 7. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises home automation equipment that is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication. 8. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises an automatic vending machine that is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication, andwherein the automatic vending machine comprises one of a tobacco automatic vending machine, a drink automatic vending machine and a ticket automatic vending machine. 9. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, further comprising a memory capable of storing personal information including information of birth date, identification number and address of a user and a transmission means for transmitting the personal information from said memory to the automatic vending machine. 10. A portable information terminal according to claim 8, further comprising a printing portion operable to print a bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out,wherein the bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out comprises personal information including information of birth date, identification number and address of a user,wherein the bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out only is readable by ultraviolet light, andwherein the automatic vending machine comprises a reader operable to read the bar-code print-out or concealed data print-out. 11. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises an award/payment processing terminal provided at or in a store, andwherein the award/payment processing terminal is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication. 12. A portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein the piece of electrical or electronic equipment comprises a domestic electrical or electronic piece of equipment that is operable to communicate with the portable information terminal via the endless interactive communication. 13. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display as text or an image in accordance with function display information obtained from information stored in a server of a seller or provider which is connected to a base station. 14. A portable information terminal according to claim 5, wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display to be substantially the same as a function display displayed on the other equipment. 15. A price payment system comprising:an electronic display operable to produce a function display;a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact;a communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function;a first server operable to receive order information via an award/payment processing terminal provided for an automatic vending machine or a seller or provider in response to an operation of said push-button switch, said first server being operable to convert the order information into payment information of a customer; anda second server operable to receive the payment information,whe rein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,wherein said communication means is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said communication means is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information,wherein said price payment system is in communication with a bank of the seller or provider and a bank of the customer, andwherein said price payment system is capable of transferring an amount money corresponding to the payment information between an account the bank of the customer and an account of the bank of the seller or provider. 16. A price payment system according to claim 15, wherein said payment information includes seller/provider information, product/service information, selling number information, price information and personal specific information, andwherein said second server is operable to receive the seller/provider information, the price information and the personal specific information. 17. A price payment system comprising:an electronic display operable to produce a function display;a touch panel having a push-button switch comprising a movable key top portion, through which the function display produced by said electronic display is displayed, a stationary contact, and a movable contact disposed under said key top portion opposed to said stationary contact, said movable contact being capable of being depressed by said key top portion toward said stationary contact; anda communication means operatively connected to said push-button switch for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,wherein said key top portion, said movable contact and said stationary contact are positioned in an overlapped positional relationship,wherein one of said movable contact and said stationary contact is capable of being electrically connected to a circuit that is operable to perform a function corresponding to the function display such that, when said movable contact is depressed such that said movable contact and said stationary contact become in contact with each other, the circuit performs the function corresponding to the function display,wherein said communication means is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said communication means is within a communication proximity to the other equipment,wherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information,wherein said communication means is capable of instructing the other equipment to perform a function corresponding to the function display displayed on said push-button switch when said push-button switch is pushed,wherein said price payment system is in communication with a bank of the seller or provider and a bank of the customer, andwherein said price payment system is capable of transferring an amount money corresponding to the payment information from an account of the bank of the customer to an account of the bank of the seller or provider. 18. A price payment system according to claim 17, wherein said payment information includes seller/provider information, product/service information, selling number information, price information and personal specific information, andwherein sa id second server is operable to receive the seller/provider information, the price information and the personal specific information. 19. A portable information terminal comprising:a push-button switch member comprising a touch panel having a push-button switch provided thereon, an electronic display disposed in operative association with said push-button switch, and a key top portion disposed in operative association with said push-button switch, said electronic display operable to produce a function display through said key top portion; anda communication means operatively connected to the push-button switch member for communicating via endless interactive communication with other equipment having a communication function,wherein said portable information terminal is operable to receive function display information from the other equipment via the interactive communication when said portable information terminal is within a communication proximity to the other equipment, andwherein said electronic display is operable to produce the function display based on the received function display information in response to receipt of the received function display information.