DE2833271A1 - DEVICE FOR CALCULATING AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION - Google Patents

Description

Device for calculating and displaying information

The invention "relates to a device for use "when calculating and displaying information that is relates to the time and to a second characteristic value, for example a charge rate or a flow rate. The invention be described in particular with reference to the calculation and presentation of the costs of a telephone call, although it can, of course, be applied in other fields where the passage of time is one of those to be considered Characteristic values is.

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One of the problems "when using the phone or other data-transmitting services, for which charges are calculated according to the duration of a connection which is made by the user is that the user ends up using a circuit does not know the exact cost of the service.

In British patent specification 827 554 · is already the creation a telephone charge meter on the subscriber line has been proposed, but with this previously proposed arrangement it is necessary to electrically connect an electromagnet in the display device to a chain of charge pulses, which are transmitted over the telephone line from a facility in the central office, with the charge as a Number of time units are displayed, but not as the cost of the call in monetary value.

The device according to the invention provides a forward up-to-date presentation of the costs of a time-dependent service, for example a telephone call, during the Service. Furthermore, there is no need for the device to be directly connected electrically to the service equipment.

Embodiments of the invention are now exemplary with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a calculation

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and front and side view device of telephone charges; . -

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a punch card for use in feeding information into the device;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through part of a card reader ;

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the electrical circuit of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the electrical Circuitry which illustrates features of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the electrical circuit of another embodiment.

From Fig. 1 it can be seen that the device comprises a base 1 with a flat top surface 2 which extends from an edge 3 and an inclined front 4 is surrounded. In the surface 2 there is a recess 5 through which through a punch card 6 can be used to program the device with information which over time varies, e.g. with the fee rates or the tariff information according to the time of day at which a telephone call is being made and the charge ranges or distances over which the phone call extends, and with any taxes or charges that are to be included in the fee.

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The front 4- of this particular device has a inclined window 7, through which the data display can be viewed «Four digits in the data display are each capable of assigning one of the digit groups 0 - 9 show and either the time in hours and minutes according to the twelve hour clock, or a charge calculation in monetary units to represent up to two significant digits, with a decimal point between the second and the third Group of digits is shown during the display of the telephone costs. A fifth position is in the Ability to show a morning or afternoon display while the clock is being set, or a display of the fee range, which was selected during the area selection.

On the window 7 made of electrically insulating plastic material, there is a pair of start-stop touch contact switches 8 and a row of six pairs of touch contacts 9 _ 14 for the selection of the charge range "

There are five more pairs of touch contacts 15-19 on the surface 2 and its function will be explained further below. To use the device, the punch card 6, which carries the required information, fed into the device via the recess 5 and the appropriate switch contacts operated as necessary to set the clock and other functions. A telephone set is then on the Otrerflache 2 placed, which the recess 5 and the contacts on the surface 2 covers.

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In Pig. 2 a punch card 21 is shown, which is made of flexible Plastic material consists and which is coded with transversely extending columns of holes, which information regarding the cost of a unit of time and the duration of this unit of time, both at certain times of the day as also for certain distance ranges. The card is read along six longitudinal rows, column after column. One of the rows does not contain any holes and is only read, to determine that a card is in the reader. A second row 23 has a punched hole only where there is no hole in the other four rows 24-27 in the same column, causing the program to detect a cheesecloth can. The other four rows 24-27 of each column contain either a four-bit binary character or a binary coded group of decimal digits. The information is from the card in a random or indiscriminate way Random access memory (RAM) read, in an embodiment to be described below in blocks, which correspond to the rows in RA.M.

Fig. 3 shows a punched card with holes 22, which went through the recess 5 to a card reader and which is inserted between a base 28 and a spring contact 29 of the card reader. The spring contact 29 'is by means of a B-rivet 32 mounted on a printed circuit board 31. The spring contact 29 goes through a slot 33 in. The printed Switching plate 31 through and touches a fixed contact ^

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on the circuit board 3I so that an electrical connection rivet 32 and contact 34 in normal position of the reader is established. When the card 21 is inserted into the reader, the spring contact 29 is lifted from the base 28 and the connection between the spring contact 29 and the fixed one Contact 34- is broken ", It can be seen that in the reader six spring contacts 29 are arranged side by side to read the rows of holes punched in the card 21.

In Figo 4 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical Circuit shown which is suitable for use with the device shown in Fig. 1 »'To the circuit blocks include a card reader 35 'which corresponds to the reader described with reference to FIG. 3, a representative Means 36j which corresponds to that by the window 7 is visible through it, clock one te 11 end! Keys 371 of which certain touch contacts are on the Surface 2 are arranged, and a keyboard 38 with keys, which correspond to the other touch contacts on the surface 2 and the touch contacts on the window 7.

^A 50 Hz input is given to one input of a timing divider 39 and inputs from the time setting buttons 37 are given to a second input to the divider 39. Outputs from the divider 39 are sent to a cost calculator 4-1, a supply or budget calculator 42, a comparison stage 43 and a display control device 44. An output from the time setting buttons 37 is also given

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an alarm indicator 45 with an output from the indicator 45 applied to the display controller 44, and a second output from indicator 45 to comparison stage 43 is upset. An output from the comparison stage 43 is on an alarm device 46 is applied. The information from the card reader 35 is transmitted via logic reading 47 under the control of the signals fed from the timing divider 39 to a memory 48 of rate data which has an output which is passed through a sum checking circuit 49 and an error code circuit 51 is applied to the display controller 44. The keyboard 38 has an output under the control of signals from the timer through a keyboard register 52 to the cost calculator 41, and the output from the cost calculator is sent to the display control device 44 via a cash register 53. One input is also sent from the rate data memory 48 to the cost calculator 41. Another output from keyboard 38 is on abandoned a total memory 54, one of which is output the display controller 44 is abandoned and the other output of which is applied to an adder 55 whose output is given up to a second input of the total memory 54. A third output from keyboard 38 is on the supply or budget calculator 42, the output of which is posted to a budget store 56, with an output from the budget store is applied to the display control device 44 and a second output from the budget memory 56 to the computer 42 zuiüc.ic is managed.

In Fig. 5 details of the card reader 35, the logic

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reading 47 and the keyboard 38 illustrates.

The card reader 35 has a scanning logic circuit, on whose input time pulses from the divider 39 via line 62 to be abandoned «, the outputs from the logic circuit are movable via corresponding multiplex diodes 63 Contacts 64 of the card reader 35 abandoned The fixed Contacts 65 of the card reader 35 are in communication with one Digit placement circuit 66 where the outputs from the card reader contacts under the control of a synchronizing signal from circuit 61 on line 67 are »The contacts 64 are each scanned many times at high speed as each column of punched holes appears between contacts 64 and 65, and the number pattern in a column is built up in the order "

When the card is initially inserted into the reader, each pair of contacts 64, 65 is open when the card is further inserted In particular, some of the movable contacts 64 will fall into holes in the first column and the number pattern into the column is constructed in the arrangement circuit 66 as Result of repeated scanning of the contacts. Further insertion of the card causes all contact pairs 64, 65 be opened again and the composite statement is transmitted via line 68 to ßatendatenspeicher 48. The consecutive Scanning each column of digits and building a statement in the arrangement circuit 66 allows that the punch card is read accurately, despite the contact

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impact and the fact that the contacts are not all may be made at the same time *

The output of the keyboard assembly 38 as described in Pig. 5 also stands up under control of the timer signals Line 62. These clock signals or timer signals are applied to a scanning logic circuit 63a, which the senses an electrode of each of the touch pad keys 64a of the keyboard. The other electrode of each key 64a is connected with an encryption circuit 65a via a CMOS buffer -66a under the control of signals on the line 67a from logic circuit 63a. The output from the Encryption 65a is on line 68a on the register 52 abandoned «

In operation, the device is in the card-reading state if it has just been switched on when the Card has been withdrawn, or if the data contained in data memory 48 is in some way undermined became. A review of the information in the data store is provided by setting up * that the sum of all digit groups entering the memory 48 has a predetermined value, and that this value by means of of the sum check circuit 49 to the error code detection circuit 51 is fed to the control device 44 signal and to provide a representation, which in practice is the number 8 at every point on the display field 36, if something is wrong ". However, if the sum over-

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test is valid, the result is a random text display through the window 7 »which forms the display field 36.

An alarm device can be provided by inputting a signal through the key 19 which is one of the time setting keys 37 in order to provide the alarm register 45 with a code that corresponds to a required alarm time, in the event that the comparison stage 43 proves that the set alarm time has been reached, a Alarm signal is given by the alarm device 46.

To set the time display so that the correct time is shown, it is necessary to first set the timer, which is a twelve hour clock, to be set either in the morning or in the afternoon and on the correct day of the week, xtreil, the fee calculation differs on certain days is. The timer is set for the day of the week and for the morning or afternoon by pressing the Button contacts 15 on the surface 2 touched. The contacts form one of the timer setting buttons. When touching this key 15 disappears the displayed time and a single digit appears against a morning display or IT afternoon display under the control of the performing control device 44 on the time scale 39 »The single digit means a certain day of the week according to a Code and while the key 15 is actuated, the display field 36 runs through the code sequence. If the right ad has been reached, the key 15 is released and the

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random time display reappears.

The time representation itself is determined by. Actuate of buttons 16 and 17 of time setting buttons 37 'one at a time, separated by a representation of hours and minutes to run through the window 7 in the display field 36 under the control of the control device 44 via the divider 39 · In the spring case, where the required number of hours or 7. Minutes has been set, you leave the release the corresponding key. If the registers of the display control device 44 are set with the desired time information, so the display field 36 remains dormant until the start / Stop touch contact button on the display window 7 in the precise moment of the set time is actuated, whereby the control device 44 is instructed to enter the numerical To make time display the function of a normal digital clock.

Is the information on the card 6 fed into the memory 48 via the reading a? ._ 35 and the timer on the correct time set, the telephone set can be placed on the surface 2. It is now also possible for the device to do so to operate so that the display field 36 appears in monetary units through the window 7, according to the duration a phone call and the distance over which the call is being made.

To do this, it is necessary to set the fee range

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to know, i.e. the distance, "for example locally, up to 56 km, over 56 km or internationally, talking about polygamy, to be led. Each pair of touch keys 9-14 · corresponds to a "particular charge area and prior to the call one presses the corresponding of the keys 9-14-, "From the operated Charge range selection button, a signal goes to the control device 44, which causes the time display, from Window 7 to disappear and a code letter is displayed which corresponds to one of the actuated buttons 9-14-. The relevant fee range information occurs at the same time via the register 52 in the cost calculator 4-1. The computer 4-1 receives the required information from the memory 48 with regard to the charge rates according to the time of day and the selected area. As soon as the phone connection is established press the start / stop touch switch button 8, which is located on the keyboard 38 in Fig. 4-, and the computer 4-1 is instructed via register 52, the result via the control device 4-4 in the display field 36 its calculation of the subsequent elapsed time, multiplied by the charge rate according to the day and time. The actual cost of the call, which is ongoing, e.g. every two seconds for an international Calls that have been brought up to date are thus displayed through the window 7 according to the output of the time scale 39. At the end of a call, the costs can be read and the representation 7 can be viewed by pressing the Cause key 8 to return to a normal display.

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sweep. The last cost value / is stored in the cash register 53 and can be called up by actuating the start / stop button 8 in order to instruct the control device 44 to determine the amount from memory 53 for display.

It is also provided that a fund number can be entered using the "18 on the surface 2 in a memory 56 via a computer 42 can enter, the key 18 being part of the keyboard 38 (Fig. 4) forms. The key 18 is used in conjunction with the Keys 16 and 17 actuated, which are normally used for setting the time to enter the Budget store 56 ~ to introduce numbers for current ones Amounts are representative. In one working method, a quarterly budget amount is fed into memory 56 and the calculator 42 is programmed to calculate a portion of the amount in the budget memory 56 on a daily basis therewith the currently available budget amount can be represented. The number of days is thus fed into the memory 56 and it can be displayed via the display field 36 when a predetermined combination of buttons 9-14 is actuated, to instruct the recording equipment if necessary.

It is also possible, by means of the adder 55, to check the cash amounts summarize which make up the cost of the telephone calls and appear from time to time in the memory 53, and the To store total sum which is received in memory 54. The total amount can be read out from the memory 54 and

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by, the display field 36 can be displayed upon receipt of instructions by the control device 44 · from a predetermined Combination of buttons 9-14. Pressing another predetermined combination of buttons 9-14 · on the Keyboard 38 is used to set the total memory 44 if this is necessary.

FIG. 6 shows circuitry which can be used with that described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 Platform, display field, switch contact, card reader and punch card is suitable. The circuit arrangement of FIG. 6 includes a 50 Hz basic timing information input 70 a Rockwell PPS4-1 microprocessor 71 which is used for timer outputs is provided and has an MM memory for data storage and an EOM memory for program storage. All control functions are carried out by means of successive Instructions as they are according to the input conditions are defined by a program. A display device 72 which shows a visible display through the window 7 comprises five digit group representations, each digit group being formed from seven segments. The signals to the segments are operated in multiple circuits and are fed from the microprocessor 71 via seven of eight digit data lines 73 abandoned; The eighth line 73 carries the information of the decimal point. The display device 72 is a multi-circuit display of five groups of fluorescent digits, which go directly through the transistor outputs operated on the microprocessor «, The

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The representation is basically a multiple arrangement of triode tubes with a single heater, which is also the cathode, with five separate grids, one covering each digit, and forty anodes giving seven struts for each group of digits plus five decimal points.

Groups of digits are usually disabled by setting the grid voltage more negative than that of the filament. When the Zaffern groups are scanned, one grid at a time is positive and at the same time with respect to heating Time is the digit information given as a positive voltage on the anodes. Electrons go through from the heater the grid through to the positive anodes, which are filled with fluorescent Material are coated. The groups of digits are scanned in succession and the complete representation is refreshed for 5 seconds.

Touch switches 74- which correspond to switches 9-19 of FIG. 1 are connected to the microprocessor 71 via lines 75. A card reader 76 provides input on a Line 77 to microprocessor 71 and six scan lines 78 83 select the digits of the display device 72 multiple: jc: and the touch switches 74- "and the card reader are in Contact to provide multiplexed inputs to microprocessor 71. A power supply / reset circuit 64 is with the input of the microprocessor is shown connected and starts the equipment automatically once it is connected to the main line is.

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The card reader 76 is constructed so that it cards punched plastic, which correspond to the standardized 80-column computer cards, reads in all dimensions, with the exception of the card thickness, which in this case is 400 x microns. Before the card is inserted, all reader contacts are closed and inserting the card causes the contacts to open. If a contact finger falls into a punched hole, it is the contact that corresponds to this row is closed again.

The card reader has six contact fingers, which have six rows read punched hole data on the card. These contacts are sensed using the same signals as scan the groups of digits of the display device and a common return line dst fed back into the microprocessor. If the unit is in the card-reading state, the micropulse processor scans the reader at high speed to ensure that it registers all contact closures will.

The touch switches 74- each consist of two isolated ones Plates that are bridged with the finger. These are gradually scanned by the same signals as the representing groups of digits, which are applied to the one plate of each switch. The other plate is with one of the two common lines connected via a CMOS buffer are fed back to the microprocessor. When a switch is touched, a weak current passes through the skin between

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the two plates, which causes a pulse to be fed to the corresponding input of the microprocessor will.

The basic timing reference for the unit is derived from the 50 Hz trunk feed 70. This feed Input is requested at intervals by a program in order to detect changes and thereby create the timing input. At each leading edge or leading edge of the waveform, the program calls a counter, which the following outputs or creates outputs:

Z 10 0.2 seconds

τ 5 1 second

i 10 10 seconds

τ 6 1 minute

τ 10 10 minutes

- 6 1 hour

7 12 12 hours (morning / afternoon ^

The hours and minutes are binary coded in the microprocessor They are held in decimal format and are shown in seven prior to exiting on lines 73 to display device 72 Individual struts converted to existing groups of digits. This is achieved using a tracing board, which the seven braced Holds encodings that correspond to each of the digits 0-9.

When the unit is switched on and programmed, it will hold

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the time counter has a random value. If the program uses the display device 72 scans, it also sees the three touch switches 15 - 17 »which are denoted by 74 · (Fig. 6), which allows the user to set the time. The three switch functions as described above are the following:

(a) Minute setting - increments of the minute counter at intervals of a second.

(b) Hour setting - increments of the hour counter at intervals of a second.

(c) Day setting and setting morning / afternoon changes from morning to afternoon and then changes in the number of days at one-second intervals.

In all cases the user keeps his finger on the appropriate one Switch until the required number is reached, and then he releases the switch.

If the program proves that one of these switches has been touched it increments the appropriate counter and periodically scans the switch to determine if it continues is. After the user set the correct time and day, the timer value will be held, until the program senses that the start / stop switch is touched has been. At this point the timer begins to run.

The various periods created by the timing program are also used to determine the

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To determine the duration of a telephone call. At the beginning of the When the call is made, the program reads the appropriate rate from the data memory according to the selected distance range. This is defined as a number of seconds between 0.2 seconds and 20 minutes. When the start button 8 is pressed, the shows Immediately display the cost of a unit. The rate is then reduced proportionally at intervals of 0.2 seconds, When it reaches zero, at which point the cost of a unit of the display is added and the rate register will be charged again. This process is repeated until the phone call is completed.

The invention is not limited to the examples described here Embodiments turned off alone. Within the scope of the invention Rather, manifold modifications are readily given to the person skilled in the art.

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L e r s e ι t e

Claims (1)

PATENT CLAIMS (λ) Apparatus for use in calculating and displaying information which is a function of time and a second characteristic, characterized by the following features: a source (39) of time measurement signals; a first data memory (48) for storing first data relating to a number of the second characteristic values; means (35) »(4-7) for feeding the first data into the first data memory (48); a calculator (41); a first input and a second input to the computer, the first input and the second input to the computer being connected to a timing signal derived from the source (39) and to the output of the first data memory (48), respectively; a third input to the computer (41); means (38, 52), which is connected to the third input, for preparing the computer (41) for working both according to the time measurement signal and according to one of the selected characteristic values; a display device (36), the display device (36) being connected to the output of the computer (41); means (8) for instructing the computer (41) to operate in accordance with the time measurement signal and the second selected characteristic value in order to create a continuous, up-to-date representation of the result of the operation on the display means (36); and means (8) which hold the representation in a required stage. - 21 - 80 9 8 86/1003 ORIGINAL INSPECTED %: 283327! 2 «Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a device ( ¹ IA-) for applying a time measurement signal, which is derived from the source (39), to the display device (36) for the purpose of creating a time display, 3c device according to claim 2, characterized that it has a device (8) on vralche causes the display (56) of the result the operation is replaced by the time representation. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it a second memory (53) which causes the result of the operation to be stored in the second memory is stored, and means (8) are provided to store this result of the operation from the second memory and to cause it to be displayed by the display device (36). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it a third memory (54 *) for storing the result of a number of these operations in the third Memory (54-), as well as means (38) to cause that the sum of these results α the display device (36) is displayed » 809886/1003 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has the following merlanale: a second computer (42) and a fourth memory (56) 5 a device (37 »38) to introduce a stock or fund number in the fourth memory (56), a first input to the second computer (42) being formed by an output from the budget memory (56), and a second input to the second computer (42) is formed by a further time measurement signal, which derives from the source (39); a facility, which with a third input on second computer (42) is connected to instruct the second computer (42) according to the further timing signal and the input from the budget store (56) in order to work Delivery of a timely budget number to the fourth store (56); and means (38) for causing the contemporary budget from the display facility (36) is shown. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it an error checking device (49, 51) which connected to the first memory (48) for reviewing the first data; and an output from the Error checking device for the display device (36) to provide a display in the event of an error to offer. - 23 80 9886/1003 28332?} 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a registration device (45) for setting a Time and an alarm device (46) which is actuated in response to a timing signal from the source (39) when the set time is reached. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (35) for storing the first data
has a card reader. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (38), which with the third input for
Preparing the computer is connected, has a number of touch contact switches. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 and 10, characterized
characterized in that it is a multiple circuit device or multiplex device
(71) has for feeding in the first data from
Card reader (76), the outputs from the touch switches (74) and the input to the display device (72). t it