FR2475766A1 - METHOD OF DISPLAYING MANAGEMENT DATA IN AN ELECTRONIC APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING AND DISPLAYING A PRICE, AND APPLICATION TO TAXIMETERS - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Electronic apparatus, such as a taximeter, used for calculating and displaying prices and control data and comprising a calculating and storing unit (10) supplying the prices and control data and a display device (14), characterized in that it comprises a register or memory (12) in which is recorded, in coded form, a mention indicating the non-obligation to pay, and a selector (11) with two inputs connected, one with said calculating and storing unit (10) and the other to said register (12), and an output connected to said display device (14) and an AND gate (12) with two inputs connected, one to a clock (15) and the other to a logic circuit (16) which delivers a positive polarity signal when the taximeter is in a state corresponding to the display of control data, said AND gate (13) having an output connected to said selector and which controls, alternately, the passage towards the display device (14) of the control data issued from said unit (10) and of the mention recorded in said register (12).

Description

The present invention relates to electronic devices

  calculating and displaying a price to pay, such as electronic taximeters, and also designed to

the management data display.

  Companies with a fleet of taxis wish to have detailed data on the service provided by the vehicles (total revenues, total mileage over a given period, total number of races, etc ..) and electronic taximeters include briefs and means appropriate calculation for this purpose. The means are provided for selecting the type of data to be displayed, the management data being visualized by means of a particular display device or with the same one as that

which is used to display the price.

  It is the same for other types of electrical appliances.

  such as those used in

fuel tribution, etc.

  It is important, in order to avoid possible fraud, that the customer can easily check that the data being visualized is relevant to the price of transport and

  no management data. This is even necessary when

  that price and management data and the price to pay

  are viewed using the same display device.

  One solution for this is to place under the display device inscriptions that explain the type of data displayed, such as "price to pay" when the price is displayed, etc ... But this solution requires provide additional registrations

on the front wall of the unit.

  The invention relates to a management data display method that enables the client to perceive that the data displayed is management data, and that does not require

  to provide additional registrations.

  According to the invention, a flashing display of the management data is carried out and, during the intervals separating the periods where the management data appears, it is indicated that the data displayed indicates that the data are in effect.

  do not concern the price of transport.

  For example, the word "no" can be displayed

in the display device.

  the blinking of the management data display

  gives a surprising visual effect, very different from the

  normal price, which is continuous, and will inevitably attract the customer's attention. The latter will then read the mention such as 'not due' appearing intermittently to the

place encrypted data.

  The invention will be well understood on reading the

  following description of an exemplary embodiment shown

on the drawings attached.

  FIG. 1 shows the front wall of an electronic taximeter carrying a display device; FIG. 2 represents in schemablock form the

  control device of the display.

  FIG. 1 illustrates the display mode according to the invention

  tion. The visible wall 1 of the electronic door taximeter

  six digital display modules 2 which in the example -

  represented, are seven segments shown in fine line. This device is used to display both the transport price and management data such as total mileage, total revenue, etc. Known means are provided.

  to select the type of data you wish to display.

expensive.

  According to the invention, when one chooses to display data,

  These data are displayed intermittently and alternately with the display of an indication that the displayed data are not an indication of the cost of transport. This mention must be able

  be formed using the six seven-segment display modules.

  and use for this purpose the words "not due" as

shown in Figure 1.

  Of course we could also use display modules of another type, for example at twelve or fifteen

  segments, and another mention having the same meaning.

  The schéúa-blocks of FIG. 2 explain the means making it possible to obtain such a display mode. Block 10 designates the unit for storing and calculating the taximeter,

  which is in itself of a known type. Unit 10 receives the

  seems necessary information to calculate the data

  (mileage, applicable fare, etc.) and also des-si-

  S selection of the type of data to be displayed. It delivers data to be displayed to a selector 11. The selector 11 receives on its other input the data corresponding to the mention "not due", issued permanently

by a register 12.

  the selector 11 is controlled by an AND gate 13 and

  transmits to the display device 14, incorporating the

  dules 2 of Figure 1, the information from the unit when the output of the door 13 is at the level "0", and those from the register 12 in the opposite case. the AND gate 13 has an input connected to a clock 15 emitting signals H in slots with a period of the order of 1 to 2

  seconds and its other input connected to a logic circuit 16.

  The circuit 16 receives from the unit 10 signax representing

  and combines these signals to provide a signal at level "1" when the taximeter is not in a state corresponding to the display of the price. In this case, the AND gate 13 transmits the clock signal H. The selector 11 can then transmit alternately,

  at the rate of the clock signal y, the management data is

  10 and the data delivered by the register 12, which results in the alternate display of said data and the mention "not dl" by the device 14, the aforementioned period of 1 to 2 seconds for reading clear

  displayed indications while providing the effect of

desired gnotement.

  It should be noted that the circuits shown in Figure 2 can be made in the form of a microprocessor ensuring all the necessary functions. Such a

  realization does not present any difficulties for a specialist

listing.

  In the example described, the management data and the price are displayed by means of a unique display device. However, the invention is also applicable in the case where the management data and the price are displayed on devices of FIG. separate display. In this case, the data representing the price will be transmitted directly to the corresponding display device without going through the

  selector, the diagram being identical for the rest.

  The example described concerns an electronic taximeter, but

  it is clear that the invention is applicable to all

  electronic products fulfilling the same functions, namely the calculation and display of a price to be paid and management data, for example to the devices used in

  fuel dispensing stations.

Claims (4)

claims   1. A method for displaying management data in an electronic device for calculating and displaying a price to be paid, characterized in that a flashing display of the management data is produced and, during the intervals between the periods the management data appears, it is indicated that the data displayed does not concern the price to be paid. 2. A method according to claim 1, applied to an electronic taximeter, in which the price to be paid for the transport and the management data are displayed at means of a single device.   3. Electronic device for calculating and displaying a price and management data including a storage unit and calculation (10) providing the information necessary for the display, characterized in that it comprises a selector (11). ) whose inputs are respectively connected to said unit (10) and to a register (12) and whose output is connected to the management data display device (14), which selector is controlled by an AND gate (13). ) who receives on the one hand   a clock signal (H) and on the other hand an indi-   when we visualize management data.   4. Electronic Taximeter according to claim 3, characterized in that the display device (14) also serves for displaying the price.