JP2000101756A - Public telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to easily charge a battery when the capacity of the battery of a portable telephone set runs short and the telephone set cannot be used while a user is out, by equipping the set with a control means which controls a charge interface, connects between a power source part and a charger and supplies the charger with a power source. SOLUTION: When a commercial power source is inputted, a power source unit 22 supplies each part with a power source voltage V. Also, a charger 24 for charging a portable telephone set is connected to this power source unit 22 through a charge interface 23. Then, when a capacity of a battery of a possessed portable telephone set runs short and the telephone set cannot be used while a user is out, the user sets the portable telephone set to the charger 24 equipped to a public telephone set 1. Next, when a charge key 20 is operated after a coin is charged, a control part 21 controls the charge interface 23 and supplies the charger 24 with the power source from the power source unit 22. Then, charge to the battery of the portable telephone set is started from the charger 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a public telephone capable of making a call using coins or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Public telephones can be placed at various locations and make calls to the other party at any time when the user has coins or the like. On the other hand, mobile phones have been spreading rapidly in recent years, and mobile phones can make outgoing calls from any location within the range of the base station's radio wave, and can receive incoming calls no matter where they are. Can be. Normally, a battery is used as a power source for this type of mobile phone.
I use a charger to charge it.

[0003]

Since a mobile phone is always carried and sends and receives incoming calls,
If the frequency of use is high, the battery capacity decreases rapidly,
When a user tries to use it, it may not be usable. In such a case, it is possible to charge the battery using the charger as described above, or to replace the battery with a spare battery. However, a user of this type of mobile phone usually carries the charger when going out. In many cases, there is no spare battery, and there is a demand for a device that can easily charge the battery on the street or the like.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily charge a battery of a mobile phone when the battery capacity of the mobile phone is exhausted while the user is away from home.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, the present invention has a power supply unit, operates based on power supply from the power supply unit, and uses at least one of a coin and a card. A public telephone that accepts a call based on one of the inserted coin and the inserted card during the call and stores a charge when the power is supplied, and a power supply unit; A charging interface connected between the charging device and a coin, or a card is inserted, and when a charging instruction operation is performed on the charging device, the charge is stored as a battery charging fee, and the charging interface is stored. Control means for controlling the connection between the power supply unit and the charger and supplying power from the power supply unit to the charger, wherein the battery of the portable terminal is charged by the charger. It is. Further, the battery of the portable terminal starts to be charged when a prescribed charge prescribed as a charge is stored, and is charged for a time corresponding to the prescribed charge. The charging instruction operation includes an off-hook operation and a dial operation, and when the dial operation is performed after the off-hook operation, the control unit stores the charging fee as the fee, starts charging the battery of the mobile terminal, and performs a call based on the dial operation. Is started, the charge is stored as a call charge when a charge storage signal is received, and the charging of the battery of the portable terminal is terminated when the call ends. In addition, a timer for a predetermined time which is started when the charging fee is stored is provided, and the control means controls the charging interface if the next charging fee cannot be stored when the timer expires, and a power supply from the power supply unit to the charger. The supply is stopped to terminate the charging of the battery of the portable terminal. In addition, there is provided a setting means for setting the public telephone to the transmission stop mode when the charging instruction operation is performed, and setting the public telephone to the transmission permission mode when the charging of the battery of the portable terminal is completed. Also,
A charging section for accommodating a portable terminal is provided at the time of charging by a charger, a door is provided in the charging section, and a locking mechanism is provided in the door. Further, a card key for unlocking the door is provided.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a public telephone according to the present invention. The public telephone 1 is provided with a control unit 21 as shown in FIG.
1, a polarity detecting circuit 13 for detecting the polarity of L2, a communication circuit 14, a coin processing unit 16 for performing processing such as sorting, storing, and storing of inserted coins, a display 17, and a buzzer 18
, A dial key 19 and a charging key 20 are connected.

The control unit 21 has a forced disconnection switch 1
When a charge signal arrives from the exchange via the lines L1 and L2 during a call and there are no stored coins at that time, the control unit 21 opens the forcible disconnection switch 12 to cut the DC loop of the line. Disconnect. The control unit 21
Is connected to a dial circuit (not shown), and upon detecting operation of the dial key 19, the control unit 21 sends the operation signal to the dial circuit to cause the dial circuit to transmit a DP or PB dial signal to the lines L1 and L2. The handset 15 is connected to the communication circuit 14, and the DC loops of the lines L1 and L2 are opened and closed by the hook switch 11 linked to the on-hook and the off-hook of the handset 15.

A commercial power supply is used as a power supply for the public telephone 1, and the power supply unit 22 supplies a power supply voltage V to the above-described units when the commercial power supply is input. Further, a charger 24 for charging the mobile phone is connected to the power supply unit 22 via a charging interface 23. As described above, the public telephone 1 enables a call by inserting a coin and also charges the mobile phone.

[0009] That is, when the battery of the portable telephone held when going out runs out and becomes unavailable, the user sets the portable telephone in the charger 24 provided in the public telephone 1 and inserts coins. Thereafter, when the charging key 20 is operated, the control unit 21 controls the charging interface 23 to supply the power from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24. Then, charging of the battery of the mobile phone from the charger 24 is started.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the public telephone 1. The public telephone 1 has a well-known coin slot 4 in addition to the above-described components.
1. A coin return port 42 is provided. As described above, the public telephone 1 is also capable of charging the mobile phone, and therefore, is provided with the charging unit 30 for housing the mobile phone 3. The charging unit 30 includes a door 31 and a door 31.
Part 32 for fixing the telephone to the public telephone body, and door 31
3 for locking / unlocking the main body of the public telephone
3 (locking / unlocking mechanism section) and a card key pocket section 34 into which a card key described later is inserted.

Next, FIG. 6A shows the public telephone 1 shown in FIG.
6 (b) is a front view of the main part of the public telephone 1 shown in FIG. The door 31 of the charging unit 30 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the pivotal movement is made in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Here, when charging the mobile phone 3, the door 31 is opened at a position indicated by a dotted line in the figure, and the mobile phone 3 is set in the charging unit 30. Then the door 31
Is closed, the door 31 is at the position shown by the solid line in the figure.

The opening and closing of the door 31 of the charging unit 30 is performed based on the card key 4 shown in FIG. That is, when the card key 4 is inserted into the card key pocket portion 34 with the door 31 closed, the shaft pin 33B of the lock portion 33 interlocks with the insertion of the card key 4.
Is stored in the storage section 33A, and the door 31 is unlocked. Thus, the door 31 can be freely opened. Then, the user opens the door 31 with the card key 4 inserted into the card key pocket part 34, closes the door 31 after setting the mobile phone in the charging part 30, and in this state the card key 4
When the card key 4 is pulled out of the card key pocket portion 34, the shaft pin 33B of the lock portion 33 moves from the storage portion 33A to the position indicated by the dotted line in the figure in conjunction with the removal of the card key 4, and the door 31 is locked. Therefore, the mobile phone 3
When the battery is charged, the card key 4 is
4 and the door 31 is locked,
The theft of the mobile phone 3 during charging can be prevented.

The door 31 is provided with a switch (micro switch) for detecting the opening and closing of the door 31, and the control unit 2 determines whether the door 31 is closed and the contact of the switch is closed.
When the control unit 21 detects that the card key 4 is inserted into the card key pocket part 34, a solenoid (not shown) is driven to move the shaft pin 33B into the storage part 33.
By storing it in A, the door 31 can be automatically unlocked. Further, when the control unit 21 detects that the door 31 is closed and the contact of the switch is closed, and further when the control unit 21 detects that the card key 4 is pulled out of the card key pocket unit 34, the solenoid is driven. The door 31 can be automatically locked by moving the shaft pin 33B from the storage section 33A to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows embodiment. The operation of the present invention will be described based on this flowchart. If the user of the mobile phone loses the battery capacity of the mobile phone and cannot use it, the card key 4 is charged to the card key pocket 3 of the public telephone 1 in order to charge the battery.
Insert into 4. Thereby, the door 31 of the charging unit 30 is unlocked and the door 31 can be freely opened, and the user opens the door 31 of the charging unit 30 (step S1). Subsequently, the mobile phone is set in the charging unit 30 by the user (step S2), and then the charging unit 30 is set by the user.
Is closed and the card key 4 is pulled out of the card key pocket 34, the door 31 is locked (step S3).

Next, when the user presses the charge key 20 (step S4) and a coin is inserted (step S4).
5) In step S6, the control unit 21 controls the coin processing unit 16 to store coins and starts a built-in timer (not shown) in step S6. Subsequently, the control unit 21
Controls the charging interface 23 in step S8 to supply the power from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24, thereby charging the battery of the mobile phone 3 connected to the charger 24 from the charger 24.

Then, charging is performed until the time of the timer corresponding to, for example, the stored 10-yen coin elapses, and when the timer expires and the determination in step S9 becomes "Y", the coins that have been inserted and stored are stored. Step S
Judge at 10. Here, if there is any coin being accumulated, the coin is stored in step S6, and the coin is further charged for a time corresponding to the stored coin amount (steps S7 to S9).

In this way, when the coin is inserted and the battery of the portable telephone is charged for a time corresponding to the coin, and there is no coin when the timer expires, the control unit 21 proceeds to step S11 to set the charging interface. By controlling the power supply 23, the power supply from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24 is stopped, and the charging of the battery of the mobile phone is terminated. In this case, the control unit 21 normally uses the buzzer 18 that sounds when the coins run out or the remaining number runs out in the public telephone, and controls the buzzer 18 to send out a charge end sound to allow the user to send a charge end sound. To notify the end of charging.

When the user listens to the charge end sound and inserts the card key 4 into the card key pocket 34, the door 31 of the charging section 30 is unlocked (step S).
12). As a result, the door 31 of the charging unit 30 is
Is released, and the mobile phone 3 is taken out of the charging section 30 (step S13).

Here, at the time of step S4 when the user presses the charging key 20, the control unit 21 of the public telephone 1
The control unit 21 determines that the purpose of the user is to charge the battery of the mobile phone 3, and stops the calling function of the public phone 1 in step S14. Then, the end of the charging of the mobile phone 3 is determined in step S15, and when this is determined to be “Y”, the control unit 21 permits the calling function of the public telephone 1 in step S16. In this case, when the coin is inserted in the public telephone 1, a call can be made. When the call ends and the card key 4 is inserted into the card key pocket 34,
The door 31 of the charging unit 30 is unlocked (Step S12).
As a result, the user opens the door 31 of the charging unit 30 and takes out the mobile phone 3 from the charging unit 30 (Step S13).

When the charging of the mobile phone 3 is completed and the answer is "Y" in step S15, the control section 21 displays the charging completion sound on the display 17 together with the transmission of the charging completion sound. . Then, the charge completion display is deleted as follows. That is, a switch for detecting the opening and closing of the door 31 of the charging unit 30 is provided, and the card key 4 is inserted into the card key pocket unit 34 so that the user can take out the charged mobile phone 3 from the charging unit 30. When the door 31 is unlocked and the door 31 is opened, the control unit 21
Detects the opening of the contact point of the switch in conjunction with the opening of the door 31, and erases the display if the display 17 indicates that charging is completed. With this configuration,
When a third party attempts to make a call using the public telephone 1, it is possible to identify at a glance whether the mobile telephone 3 set inside the charging section 30 is being charged or has been charged, and the charging is completed. When the end is displayed, the outgoing call can be made using the public telephone 1.

As described above, the charger 24 is provided in the public telephone 1 that allows a call by inserting a coin, and the battery of the portable telephone 3 is charged from the charger 24 by inserting the coin. It should be noted that the charging process for charging the battery of the mobile phone 3 uses the charging process inherent to the public telephone 1.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the operation of steps S21 to S24 in FIG.
Since the operation is the same as that of steps S1 to S4 in FIG. 2 already described, detailed description will be omitted. After the user sets the mobile phone 3 in the charging unit 30, the charging key 20 is pressed and coins are inserted (step S25), and the inserted coins are stored in the coin storage unit in the coin processing unit 16. . In this case, the control unit 21 of the public telephone 1 determines in step S26 whether or not the inserted coin amount has reached a prescribed amount required for charging the battery of the mobile telephone 3 (step S26). If the inserted coin amount does not reach the specified amount, the control unit 21 controls the coin processing unit 16 to accumulate coins to be continuously inserted by the user in the coin storage unit.
At step 27, the stored coins are stored, and
At 8, a battery charging time of the mobile phone 3 corresponding to the specified amount is set in a built-in timer (not shown) and the coin charging timer is started. Subsequently, the control unit 21 proceeds to step S
By controlling the charging interface 23 at 29 and supplying power from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24, charging of the battery of the mobile phone 3 connected to the charger 24 is started from the charger 24.

When the battery of the portable telephone 3 is charged in this way and the timer expires and the determination in step S30 becomes "Y", it is determined that the battery of the portable telephone 3 is sufficiently charged, and the control is performed. The unit 21 controls the charging interface 23 in step S31 to stop the power supply from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24, and ends the charging of the battery of the mobile phone. In this case, the control unit 21 controls the buzzer 18 to output a charge end sound and notifies the user of the end of the charge.

When the user listens to the charge end sound and inserts the card key 4 into the card key pocket 34, the door 31 of the charging section 30 is unlocked (step S).
32). As a result, the door 31 of the charging unit 30 is
Is released, and the mobile phone 3 whose battery has been charged is taken out of the charging section 30 (step S33). As described above, in the second embodiment, after the mobile phone 3 is set in the charging unit 30 of the public telephone 1, when the user inserts a coin for a charging time for sufficiently charging the battery of the mobile phone 3, the coin is inserted. And the battery is charged from the charger 24 for the charging time.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the operations of steps S41 and S42 in FIG.
Since the operation is the same as that of steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 2 already described, detailed description will be omitted. After the user sets the mobile phone 3 in the charging unit 30 (steps S41, S4
2) The user goes off-hook (step S43), inserts a coin (step S44), and then presses a specific dial of the dial key 19 (step S45).
The control unit 21 of the public telephone 1 is connected to the charger 24 by storing coins in step S46 and controlling the charging interface 23 in step S47 to supply power from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24. The charging of the battery of the mobile phone 3 is started from the charger 24. At this time, the control unit 21 controls the switch 12 to close the loops of the lines L1 and L2,
The specific dial number already operated in step S45 is transmitted to the lines L1 and L2. As a result, the other party corresponding to the specific number is called.

Here, when the other party answers the call, a call is started, and a billing signal (that is, a coin storage signal) is transmitted from an exchange (not shown) to the lines L1 and L2. This coin storage signal is transmitted from the exchange at regular intervals thereafter when the telephone conversation is ongoing. The control unit 21 determines whether or not the coin storage signal has been received in step S48 via the polarity detection circuit 13. When the coin storage signal is received and the determination in step S48 becomes "Y", the coin is subsequently inserted and accumulated. It is determined in step S49 whether or not there is a coin.

Here, if there are coins inserted and stored, the control unit 21 controls the coin processing unit 16 to store the stored coins in step S50, and proceeds to step S51 to end the call of the user. The presence / absence of the on-hook indicating the above is determined via a switch (not shown) interlocked with the hook switch 11. Then, in the case of off-hook, step S48
Returning to, it is determined whether or not a coin storage signal has been received.

As described above, when the user's telephone call is continuing, the control unit 21 sequentially determines the reception of the storage signal in step S48 and the on-hook in step S51. Is determined to be "Y", the control unit 21 controls the charging interface 23 in step S52 to stop the power supply from the power supply unit 22 to the charger 24, and ends the charging of the battery of the mobile phone. At this time, the buzzer 18 is controlled to output a charge end sound, thereby notifying the user of the end of charge. Thereafter, the control unit 21 determines in step S53 that the switch 1
2 to open the line to open the contact of the switch 12. Then, the door 31 of the charging unit 30 is opened by the user who has listened to the charging end sound, and the mobile phone 3 whose battery has been charged is taken out of the charging unit 30 (step S54).

On the other hand, if a coin storage signal arrives during a call and there is no coin stored in the public telephone 1 and the determination is "N" in step S49, the control unit 21 controls the charging interface 23 in step S55 to control the power supply. The power supply from the unit 22 to the charger 24 is stopped, and charging of the battery of the mobile phone is terminated. At this time, the buzzer 18 is controlled to output a charge end sound, thereby notifying the user of the end of charge. Subsequently, the control unit 21 controls the switch 12 in step S56 to open the contact of the switch 12 and
1 and L2 are released, and then it is determined in step S57 whether or not on-hook is detected.
Move to 54.

As described above, in the third embodiment, when a coin is inserted and a specific dial is operated, a part of the inserted coin is first stored for charging the battery of the mobile phone 3 and the battery of the mobile phone 3 is charged. When the other party responds by sending the specific dial and a coin storing signal arrives from the exchange, the remaining coins inserted are stored for a call, and when the call is finished, the battery of the mobile phone 3 is charged. Is terminated. In this case, the charge for charging the battery of the mobile phone 3 is the income of the telephone company that has installed the public telephone 1.

In the present embodiment, the charger 24 is provided in the public telephone 1 capable of making a call by inserting coins to charge the battery of the portable telephone 3. However, the public telephone which makes a call using a card is used. In addition, the present invention can be similarly applied to a public telephone that makes a call using both coins and cards. Here, when the battery of the mobile phone 3 is charged using the card, the value information (frequency) corresponding to the charge is subtracted from the inserted card. Further, in the present embodiment, an example of charging the battery of the mobile phone 3 has been described. However, any mobile terminal that uses a battery as a power source, such as a handy terminal having a display function, may be used. Can be similarly charged. Also,
In the present embodiment, the charging key 20 is provided separately from the dial key 19, but may be shared with the dial key 19.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a public telephone is provided with a charger and a charging interface, and when a coin is inserted or a card is inserted, a charging instruction operation to the charger is performed. When the coin is inserted, the charging fee for the battery is stored from the inserted coin or inserted card, and the charging interface is controlled to supply power from the power supply section of the public telephone to the charger to charge the battery of the mobile terminal. If the battery capacity of the portable terminal is lost during use and the battery cannot be used, the battery can be easily charged using a public telephone installed on the street. In addition, the battery of the portable terminal is started to be charged when the prescribed charge prescribed as the charge is stored, and the battery is charged only for the time corresponding to the prescribed charge, so that the battery of the mobile phone is sufficiently charged. be able to. In addition, when a dial operation is performed after off-hook, the charge is stored and the battery of the portable terminal is started to be charged, and a call is started based on the dial operation and the call charge is stored when a charge storage signal is received. Therefore, it is possible to make a call using the public telephone even while the mobile phone is being charged. In addition, a timer is provided for a predetermined time that is activated when the charging fee is stored, and when the next charging fee cannot be stored when the timer expires, the charging of the battery of the mobile terminal is terminated. Can be charged. Also, when the charging instruction operation is performed, the public telephone is set to the outgoing call stop mode, and when the charging of the battery of the portable terminal is completed, the public telephone is set to the outgoing call permission mode. It can be carried out. In addition, since the charging section for storing the mobile terminal at the time of charging is provided, the door is provided in the charging section, and the door is provided with a locking mechanism, so that the theft or mischief of the mobile terminal being charged can be prevented.
In addition, since the card key for unlocking the door is provided, only the user who owns the card key can open the charging unit and take out the portable terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a public telephone according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first operation of the public telephone.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second operation of the public telephone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a third operation of the public telephone.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the public telephone.

FIG. 6 is a top view and a front view of main parts of the public telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... payphone, 3 ... mobile phone, 4 ... card key, 1
1 ... hook switch, 12 ... forced disconnection switch, 13 ...
Polarity detection circuit, 14 ... Communication circuit, 15 ... Handset, 16 ...
Coin processing unit, 17 display, 18 buzzer, 19 dial key, 20 charging key, 21 control unit, 22 power supply unit, 23 charging interface, 24 charger, 30 charging unit, 31 Door 33: Locking part (locking / unlocking mechanism), 34: Card key pocket, L1,
L2 ... line.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A coin which has a power supply unit, operates based on power supply from the power supply unit, permits a call based on use of at least one of a coin and a card, and inserts the coin during a call. And in a public telephone that stores a charge from one of the inserted cards, a charger that charges a battery when power is supplied, a charging interface connected between the power supply unit and the charger, When a coin is inserted or a card is inserted and a charge instruction operation is performed on the charger, the charge is stored as a charge rate for the battery, and the charge interface is controlled by controlling the charge interface. Control means for connecting power and supplying power from the power supply unit to the charger, wherein the battery of the portable terminal is charged by the charger. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein charging of the battery of the portable terminal is started when a prescribed charge prescribed as the charge is stored, and charging is performed for a time corresponding to the prescribed charge. A public telephone that features. 3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the charging instruction operation includes an off-hook operation and a dial operation, and when a dial operation is performed after the off-hook operation, the control unit stores a charging fee as the fee and charges the battery of the portable terminal. A public device comprising: starting charging, storing a charge as a call charge when a call is started based on the dial operation and receiving a charge storage signal, and terminating charging of the battery of the portable terminal when the call ends. Phone. 4. The charging interface according to claim 1, further comprising a timer for a predetermined time that is started when the charging fee is stored, wherein the control unit is configured to store the next charging fee when the timer expires. A public telephone that stops power supply from the power supply unit to a charger to terminate charging of the battery of the portable terminal. 5. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein when the charging instruction operation is performed, the public telephone is set to a transmission stop mode, and when the charging of the battery of the portable terminal is completed, the public telephone is set to a transmission permission mode. A public telephone comprising setting means. 6. The public device according to claim 1, further comprising: a charging unit for storing the portable terminal at the time of charging by the charger, a door provided in the charging unit, and the door having a locking mechanism. Phone. 7. The public telephone according to claim 6, further comprising a card key for unlocking the door.