JP2883476B2 - Load control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a load control device for controlling the driving time of a load by using a card storing numerical data such as an amount of money, a so-called prepaid card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electric appliances such as pay televisions and pay refrigerators installed in inns and the like are connected to a power source via a load control device so that a fee is charged according to the usage time each time the device is used. ing. This load control device is provided with a card insertion slot for inserting a prepaid card storing numerical data as an amount for paying a usage fee,
When the prepaid card is inserted, the reader / writer reads numerical data, that is, the amount of money from the prepaid card.

When the usage fee for the usage time selected to use the electric product is within the range of the read amount, the electric product is energized for the selected usage time. In addition, in order to prevent numerical data read errors,
When the number of data reading operations of the reader / writer has reached a predetermined number, this is notified, and a reader card is inserted into the card insertion slot to clean the reader / writer.

[0004]

However, before the number of data reading operations of the reader / writer reaches the predetermined number, if the reading / writing portion of the reader / writer becomes extremely dirty and a reading error occurs, the data is read from the card. The card is returned to the card slot without reading. In this state, since the display for cleaning the reader / writer is not displayed, the card may be repeatedly inserted without cleaning, and there is a problem that the state in which the card cannot be used continues.

Further, if a write error occurs when writing predetermined data to a card with a reader / writer in a state where a read error occurs, there is a problem that the card may not be usable there. . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a load control device in which a state in which a card cannot be used due to a delay in cleaning a reader / writer does not continue.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A load control device according to the present invention reads out data stored in a card inserted into a card insertion slot and connected so as to be capable of data transmission by reading means, and loads the data by the read data. A load control device for controlling a drive time of the read data, a means for checking a read error of read data, a means for counting the number of read errors, a means for comparing a count value of the read error count and a predetermined value, A display unit for performing a predetermined display when the numerical value is larger than the predetermined value.

[0007]

When the card is inserted into the card slot, the reading means reads the data of the card. When data is read, the presence or absence of a read error is checked. When a read error occurs, the number of read errors is counted. When the count value of the number of read errors is larger than a predetermined value, a predetermined display is displayed on the display unit. As a result, the reading means can be cleaned at an appropriate time, and the card cannot be used after the cleaning time is missed.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. 1 and 2 are an external perspective view and a rear view of the load control device according to the present invention. A card insertion slot 2 for inserting, for example, a magnetic card MC, which is a prepaid card, is provided near the right side of the front surface 1a of the rectangular parallelepiped case 1. Also, near the left side of the front surface 1a, a display for displaying the amount of the numerical data read from the magnetic card MC, the remaining use time of the energized electrical product, and an instruction to clean the reader / writer that reads and writes the numerical data, etc. A part 3 is provided.

Between the display unit 3 and the card insertion slot 2, there are provided a start switch 4 for instructing the start of energization and setting of the energizing time to the electric product, a return switch 5 for instructing the return of the magnetic card MC, and a display unit. A release switch 6 for releasing the display of 3 is provided on the same line at an appropriate distance. The start switch 4 can set an energization time of, for example, 10 minutes by one operation, and can increase the energization time according to the number of operations. The setting is released after a predetermined number of operations.

On the other hand, on the left side of the back 1b of the case 1,
An electric product connection terminal 7 for electrically connecting electric products such as a television and a refrigerator to be energized is provided, and a power cord PC for connecting a load control device to a power source is provided on the right side.
Is derived. This power cord PC is connected to the electrical product connection terminal 7 via a relay contact (not shown) of a relay 9 described later provided in the case 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the load control device. Computing unit 20 consisting of microcomputer
The input port a ₀ and a ₁ of the control unit 20 with a built-in a and timer 20b, is connected to the start switch 4 and return the switch 5, the input port a ₂ is connected release switch 6. The output port b ₀ of the control unit 20 is connected to the display unit 3, the relay control unit 8 is connected to the output port b _1. The relay control unit 8 is connected to the relay 9 and the relay 9
Is controlled to open and close a relay contact (not shown).

The power cord PC is connected to the electrical product connection terminal 7 via a relay contact (not shown) of the relay 9. One input / output terminal I / O of the control unit 20 is connected to a reader / writer 10 for reading and writing data to and from the magnetic card MC. In the other input / output terminal I / O, the number of read errors of the read data is stored, and a reference value for determining when to clean the reader / writer 10 and data of a usage fee for the usage time of the electric product are stored. Storage unit
11 is connected.

Next, the operation of the load control device thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the control contents of the control unit. First, for example, a pay television (not shown) to be energized is connected to the electrical product connection terminal 7, and the power cord PC
Is connected to a power source (not shown) to make the load control device usable.

On the other hand, the magnetic card MC inserted into the card insertion slot 2 stores numerical data as an amount for paying a fee for using a pay television. By the way, when a pay TV is used, the magnetic card MC described above is inserted into the card slot 2.
Insert The control unit 20 checks the input / output port terminal I / O to which the reader / writer 10 is connected, and controls whether or not the magnetic card MC is inserted (S1).

[0015] If it is determined that the magnetic card MC is not inserted, it is determined whether the release switch 6 is operated so as to cancel the display of the display unit 3 examines the input port a ₂ (S2), has not been operated For example, it waits until the magnetic card MC is inserted or the release switch 6 is operated. When it is determined that the release switch 6 has been operated, if a display for instructing cleaning of the reader / writer 10 is displayed on the display unit 3, the display is released (S3), and the control operation ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the magnetic card MC is inserted, the numerical data stored in the magnetic card MC, that is, the amount is read by the reader / writer 10, and the read amount is written in the storage unit 11 (S4). Next, determine whether there is
(S5) If it is determined that there is no readout amount, that is, if a card such as a magnetic card MC or a business card having no remaining amount is inserted, the amount cannot be read out, and the inserted card is pushed out to the card insertion slot 2. To return (S6) and end the control operation. This prevents the use of pay television by unauthorized cards.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the read amount exists (S
5) The read data is checked (S7), and it is determined whether or not there is a read error (S8). If it is determined that there is no reading error, the amount read by the reader / writer 10 is displayed on the display unit 3 (S9). Next, the control unit 20 determines whether the start switch 4 examines the input ports a ₀ has been operated (S10)
. If it is determined that the start switch 4 has been operated to energize the pay television, the usage fee for the usage time set by the start switch 4 is read from the storage unit 11, and the usage fee is subtracted from the amount read from the magnetic card MC. The remaining amount is written on the magnetic card MC (S11).

[0018] Then the use time set Setting the timer 20b, and closing the relay contact (not shown) controls the relay control unit 8 outputs a signal to the output port b ₁ is excited relay 9 And connect the power cord PC to the electrical product connection terminal 7
, The power supply to the pay television is started (S12), and the pay television is operated. Subsequently, the magnetic card MC is pushed out of the card insertion slot 2 and returned (S13). When the energization is started, the timer 20b counts down (S14) and counts the set use time.

Then, it is determined whether or not the time has elapsed.
(S15), and continues the energization to the end use time set, open circuit if it is determined to have ended, and outputs the signal to the output port b _1, by controlling the relay control unit 8 relay contacts and the relay 9 to the inoperative And turn off the power to the pay TV (S16)
Then, the control operation for controlling the energization of the pay television ends.

If it is determined in step (S10) that the start switch 4 has not been operated, it is determined whether or not the return switch 5 has been operated (S17). If you decide that
The inserted magnetic card MC is pushed out and returned to the card insertion slot 2 (S18), and the control operation ends. That is, when the use of the pay television is stopped after the magnetic card MC is inserted into the card insertion slot 2, the magnetic card MC can be returned by operating the return switch 5.

Further, in step (S8), if it is determined that there reading error, a data read count N _F from the previous predetermined time from the present time, the read error count N _E read error has occurred in the data read count Ratio _NE
/ A N _F = R _E is calculated by the arithmetic unit 20a (S19). continue,
It reads the reference value R _R are stored in advance in the storage unit 11 in order to clean the reader writer 10 (S20), and compares the number of read errors N _E and the reference value _R R (S21).

Here, the read error frequency _NE is equal to the reference value R _R
If it is determined that the number exceeds the limit, an instruction to clean the reader / writer 10 is displayed on the display unit 3 (S22), the magnetic card MC is returned to the card insertion slot 2, and the control operation ends. Note that if not exceeded the reference value R _R to return the magnetic card MC without displaying the instruction to be cleaned into the card insertion port 2 ends the control operation.

In this way, when the count value of the number of read errors of the data read by the reader / writer 10 becomes larger than the predetermined value, the magnetic card MC is returned, and the display unit 3 is instructed to clean the reader / writer 10. Is displayed, the proper cleaning time reached immediately before the read error continues does not miss. By performing cleaning in accordance with the display on the display unit 3, the reading error can be eliminated, and a state in which the reading error continues can be prevented from occurring.

Further, the state in which the write error continues as in the case of the read error is eliminated, and the state in which the magnetic card becomes unusable can be prevented from continuing. Therefore, it is possible to provide a load control device whose reliability does not decrease even after long-term use.

In the present embodiment, a magnetic card is used as a card for storing numerical data. However, the same effect can be obtained when other optical memory cards are used. In addition, although the energization of the pay TV is controlled, the present invention is not limited to the television, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be used for energization control of various electric products or water flow control valves.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the count value of the number of read errors of read data is larger than a predetermined value, an instruction to clean the read means is displayed. It is possible to prevent a state in which the reading error continues without losing the proper cleaning time that has reached just before continuing. In addition, it is possible to prevent the state in which the card becomes unusable due to a write error from continuing. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that a load control device that does not reduce the reliability even when used for a long time can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a load control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the load control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a load control device.

FIG. 4 is a half part of a flowchart showing control contents of a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a half part of a flowchart showing control contents of a control unit.

[Description of Signs] 1 Case 2 Card insertion slot 3 Display section 4 Start switch 5 Return switch 6 Release switch 7 Electrical product connection terminal 10 Reader / writer MC Magnetic card

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A load control device for reading data stored in a card inserted into a card insertion slot and coupled to be capable of data transmission by reading means, and controlling a load driving time by the read data. Means for checking a data read error, means for counting the number of read errors, means for comparing the count value of the read error count with a predetermined value, and a method for determining whether the count value is greater than the predetermined value. And a display unit for displaying a display.