JP2911764B2 - Prepaid card type timer 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 prepaid card type timer device for pay-per-viewing a television receiver or the like provided in each room or each bed of a hotel, a hospital, etc. The present invention relates to a device that can be made free of charge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a prepaid card type timer device is attached to a television receiver in a hospital room such as a hospital, and a prepaid card is inserted into the device to reduce the remaining frequency of the card at regular intervals. A timer device has been put to practical use so that the user can watch television only for a time corresponding to the remaining number of cards.

In such a device, in order to make a specific channel free, a TV tuner is provided in the device so that the tuner can receive all the paid and free channels. Register in advance in the software so that the microcomputer in the timer device can determine whether it is free or not,
When a specific channel is selected by the remote control pad dedicated to the timer device, the tuner selects the same channel and converts the received video signal and audio signal into one or two channels of the RF signal and converts the signal into a coaxial cable. To the TV receiver via
Further, the microcomputer determines whether the selected channel is paid or free, and if the channel is a pay channel, the remaining number of the prepaid card is subtracted, and if the channel is a free channel, the subtraction is not performed. is there.

In addition, in order to make it free only when receiving UHF, a tuner is provided in the prepaid card type timer device, a switching circuit for UHF and VHF, a pay button and a free button are provided, and when the pay button is pressed, only the VHF band is used. There is a prepaid card type timer device that is configured to charge for reception and to charge only by pressing the free button to receive only the UHF band.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the video signal and the audio signal received and demodulated by the prepaid card type timer apparatus are transmitted to the television receiver through a coaxial cable. However, there is a problem that a paid program can be viewed free of charge by a simple operation of directly connecting a coaxial cable carrying an audio signal to a television receiver without passing through a prepaid card type timer device.

Further, since the prepaid card type timer device itself has a built-in high-priced television tuner, the price of the entire device becomes extremely high. When the timer device is installed in each of a large number of hospital rooms such as hospitals, Significant capital investment was required.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention firstly comprises a frequency detecting means capable of detecting the frequency of a prepaid card, and a frequency detecting means connected to a television receiver. Power supply control means for supplying power to the television receiver based on the detection operation; and power-on detection means for detecting power-on of the television receiver in a state where power is supplied to the television receiver by the control means. And a frequency subtracting means for subtracting the frequency of the prepaid card based on the power-on detecting operation of the detecting means, wherein the television receiver is UHF
UHF reception detection means for detecting a signal output only at the time of band reception and outputting a UHF detection signal is provided on the television receiver side, and the UHF reception detection means and the frequency subtraction means are connected to each other, and the same frequency subtraction means is provided. The present invention relates to a prepaid card type timer device which stops the frequency subtraction operation based on the input of the UHF detection signal from the UHF reception detection means. Second, the UHF reception detection means comprises: The first voltage detecting means detects a signal voltage applied to a UHF selection terminal of a tuner section of a television receiver and converts the signal to the UHF detection signal.
And a prepaid card type timer device described above.

[0008]

In the prepaid card type timer device, when the prepaid card is inserted, the frequency detecting means detects the frequency of the card, and when there is a remaining frequency, the power control means transmits the power to the television receiver based on the detecting operation. Power can be supplied. When the power of the television receiver is turned on in this state, the power is supplied to the television receiver by the power control means. When the power of the television receiver is turned on, the frequency subtracting means subtracts the frequency of the prepaid card based on the power-on detecting operation of the power-on detecting means.

In such a state, the television receiver is set to VH
When switching from the reception state of the F band to the reception state of the UHF band,
UHF reception detection means of the television receiver detects a signal output only during reception in the UHF band, and outputs a UHF detection signal. The UHF detection signal is input to the frequency subtraction means of the timer device, and the same frequency subtraction means stops subtracting the frequency of the prepaid card based on the input of the UHF detection signal. Therefore, free viewing can be performed only when the television receiver receives the UHF band.

[0010] When the television receiver is in the UHF band reception state,
When switching to the HF band reception state, the UHF reception detection means detects the signal voltage applied to the UHF selection terminal of the tuner section of the television receiver, and converts the signal to the UHF detection signal. The UHF detection signal is input to the frequency subtraction means of the timer device, and the same frequency subtraction means stops subtracting the frequency of the prepaid card based on the input of the UHF detection signal. Therefore, UHF in a television receiver
Free viewing can be performed only when receiving a band.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention. The configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a TV common listening path provided in a hospital, a hotel, and the like. A TV receiver 2 for each room is connected to the common listening path 1, and an RF TV signal received by an antenna is shared by the same. The audio signal is supplied to the television receiver 2 in each room through the listening path 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a tuner section of the television receiver 2, which selectively receives a specific channel from the RF television signal under the control of the microcomputer 5 based on the channel selection operation of the channel switch 4, and selects the signal in the VHF band. If the frequency is low, a VL signal (a signal indicating VHF Low) is output from the terminal 3a. If the signal is a high frequency in the VHF band, a VH signal (a signal indicating VHF High) is output from the terminal 3b. If it is a band, a U signal (a signal indicating that it is in the UHF band) is output from the terminal 3c (UHF selection terminal). Further, it converts the received video signal and audio signal into an intermediate frequency signal and outputs it to the video / audio processing unit 7.

Reference numeral 5 denotes the microcomputer, and a power switch 6
Is turned on, a power supply (AC100) is supplied to each part of the television receiver 2 via a prepaid card type timer device 10 described later.
V) is supplied to set the operating state, the tuner unit 3 is instructed to receive the channel selected by the channel switch 4, and an operation instruction is also given to the video / audio processing unit 7.

Reference numeral 7 denotes the video / audio processing unit, which detects a video signal and an audio signal when an intermediate frequency signal is input from the tuner unit 3 based on a command from the microcomputer 5, and detects a CRT 8 and a speaker (not shown). ) For playback.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an I / F circuit (UHF reception detecting means) connected to the terminal 3c of the tuner section 3, and when the tuner section 3 is detecting reception of a UHF band RF television signal, that is, When the U signal is output from the terminal 3c, the UHF detection signal (U) is detected by detecting the signal voltage and detecting the same signal by a prepaid card type timer device.
This signal is converted into a signal indicating that an HF band RF television signal is being received, and the signal is transmitted to the prepaid card type timer device 10 via the signal line L1. This I /
The F circuit 9 always outputs the UHF detection signal when the tuner unit 3 detects the UHF band television signal. The detection of the UHF band television signal by the tuner unit 3 ends and the terminal 3c , The output of the UHF detection signal is stopped. I /
Specifically, the F circuit 9 includes a transistor T as shown in FIG.
And resistors R1 to R4. The transistor T detects the voltage of the U signal output from the terminal 3c at the time of UHF reception and turns on, and the line A goes low.
The signal is sent to the timer device 10 described later as an F detection signal.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a prepaid card type timer device connected to the television receiver 2 by the signal line L1 and the power line L2. The signal line L1 of the television receiver 2 is connected to an external control terminal 13 of the timer device 10, and the power line L2 of the television receiver 2 is connected to a current detection unit (power-on detection means) 15 of the timer device 10. ing.

In the timer device, reference numeral 11 denotes a reader / writer for the prepaid card 12, and by inserting the prepaid card 12 into the writer 11,
The remaining number of cards is read and sent to the microcomputer 16. When the television switch is finished and the eject switch 18 is pressed, the remaining number is written to the card 12 and the card 12 is ejected according to a command from the microcomputer 16.

Reference numeral 13 denotes the external control terminal connected to the I / F circuit 9 of the television receiver 2;
When the UHF detection signal is input from the circuit 9, the signal is sent to the microcomputer 16. Reference numeral 14 denotes a power supply control unit (power supply control means) to which a commercial power supply of 100 V is supplied through a power supply line L3. The power supply control unit 14 has a relay R therein and is controlled by the microcomputer 16 when the remaining number of the prepaid card 12 exists. The relay R is turned on to supply power to the television receiver 2 via the current detection unit 15.

Reference numeral 15 denotes the current detection unit, to which the power supply line L2 of the television receiver 2 is connected, and to the power supply control unit 14, the relay R is turned on and the television receiver 2 is in a power-suppliable state. When the power switch 6 of the television receiver 2 is turned on, the power is supplied to the television receiver 2 and the power supply current is detected via the power line L2, and the on / off state of the power switch 6 of the television receiver 2 is detected. Is what you do.

Reference numeral 16 denotes the microcomputer. The frequency detecting means 16a (see FIG. 3) detects the frequency from the reader / writer 11, and when there is a remaining frequency, the power control unit 14
Is set so that power can be supplied to the television receiver 2 by sending an instruction to turn on the relay R. The above TV receiver 2
In the power-on state in which the power switch 6 of FIG.
When there is no input of the HF detection signal (when the line A in FIG. 2 is at a high level), the microcomputer 16 determines that the charge is required, and the frequency subtraction means 16b performs the prepaid operation based on the current detection signal from the current detection unit 15. The frequency of the card is subtracted, and the remaining frequency is displayed on the display unit 17. Also, the frequency subtraction means 16b operates while the UHF detection signal is being input from the external control terminal 13 (while line A in FIG. 2 is at a low level).
Is configured to stop the subtraction process of the frequency and display an indication (for example, FREE) on the display unit 17 that it is free of charge. When the take-out switch 18 is depressed, the write command means 16c is switched to the frequency subtraction means 16b.
The remaining number is read out from, the remaining number is sent to the reader / writer 11 and a remaining number writing command is given, and the relay R is turned off via the frequency detecting means 16a. Therefore, when the take-out switch 18 is pressed, the power of the television receiver 2 is turned off at the same time.

When the prepaid card 12 is inserted into the reader / writer 11 with the power switch 6 of the television receiver 2 turned off, the prepaid card timer 1
The remaining number is displayed on the display unit 17 of 0 for 1 to 2 seconds, and then is not displayed. When a prepaid card having a residual count of 0 is inserted into the card device 10, the card is automatically ejected, and the relay R inside the timer device 10 is turned off under the control of the microcomputer 16,
By stopping the power supply to the television receiver 2,
It is configured so that you cannot watch TV.

The present invention is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. First, when watching a television, the prepaid card 12 having the remaining number is inserted into the reader / writer 11 of the prepaid card type timer device 10. Then, the reader / writer 11 reads out the remaining count of the card 12 and sends it to the microcomputer 16. The frequency detection means 16a of the microcomputer 16 confirms that the above-mentioned residual frequency is present, and turns on the relay R of the power supply control unit 14, so that the power supply line L3, the power supply control unit 14, the current detection unit 1
5 and a power supply (AC) to the television receiver 2 through the line L2.
100 V). In this state, when the power switch 6 of the television receiver 2 is turned on, power is supplied to the television receiver 2 via the power supply line L2, and the television receiver 2 enters an operating state. At this time, the current detector 15 detects the power supply current of the television receiver 2 via the power supply line L2, and the frequency subtraction means 1 of the microcomputer 16
A current detection signal is sent to 6b. Therefore, the microcomputer 16
Detects that the television receiver 2 is on based on the current detection signal.

When the channel switch 4 of the television receiver 2 selects a high-frequency or low-frequency specific channel in the VHF band, the tuner section 3 selects and receives the specific channel under the control of the microcomputer 5, and the low frequency of the VHF band is received. A VL signal is sent to the microcomputer 5 from the terminals 3a and 3b if the channel is a high-band channel, and a VH signal if the channel is a high-band channel in the VHF band. Further, the received signal is converted into an intermediate frequency signal and transmitted to the video / audio processing unit 7. Thereby, the selected channel is reproduced.

At this time, since no signal is input from the tuner unit 3 to the I / F circuit 9, no UHF detection signal is input to the external control terminal 13 of the prepaid card type timer device 10. Subtraction means 16
b starts the subtraction processing of the card frequency based on the input of the current detection signal from the current detection unit 15 and displays the remaining frequency on the display unit 17. Then, when the remaining frequency becomes 0, the frequency detecting means 16a turns off the relay R of the power control unit 14 and stops the power supply to the television receiver 2. Therefore, it is no longer possible to watch television.

On the other hand, when a specific channel in the UHF band is selected by the channel switch 4 of the television receiver 2, the tuner 3 selects and receives the specific channel in the UHF band under the control of the microcomputer 5, and The channel is reproduced by the processing of. The tuner unit 3 sends a U signal from the terminal 3c to the microcomputer 5 and the I / F circuit 9.

The I / F circuit 9 detects the signal voltage of the U signal, and outputs a UHF detection signal to the line L based on the detection.
1 to the external control terminal 13 of the prepaid card type timer device 10. Therefore, the tuner unit 3
While receiving the UHF band channel, the above UHF
The detection signal is input to the prepaid card type timer device 10. The frequency subtraction means 16b of the microcomputer 16 in the timer device 10
When the detection signal is input, "FREE" indicating that the card is free is displayed on the display unit without performing the process of subtracting the frequency of the prepaid card based on the detection of the detection signal. Therefore, while the frequency subtraction means 16b is detecting the UHF detection signal, that is, while viewing the UHF band channel on the television receiver 2, the frequency subtraction processing is not performed, and the frequency can be set free. it can.

Of course, when the channel switch 4 is set to VHF
When the channel is switched to the band channel, the input of the UHF detection signal to the microcomputer 16 is stopped because the U signal is deactivated, and the microcomputer 16 again performs the frequency subtraction processing based on the stop of the input of the detection signal. Will be started.

As described above, the present apparatus is used for the television receiver 2
The voltage applied to the UHF selection terminal (terminal 3c) of the tuner unit 3 is detected, and this signal is converted into a UHF detection signal that can be detected by the prepaid card type timer device 10.
Since the F circuit 9 is provided on the television receiver 2 side and the timer device 10 stops the subtraction processing of the remaining card number based on the same signal, the signal (UHF detection signal) from the television receiver 2 is generated. It is not free unless input to the timer device 10, so that it is not possible to make it free as easily as the conventional device, and the disadvantages of the prior art can be solved.

Further, since there is no need to provide a TV tuner in the prepaid card type timer device itself, the cost of the device can be reduced, and the capital investment for installing the device in all rooms such as hospitals is reduced. Can be reduced.

Since the I / F circuit 9 detects the voltage applied to the UHF selection terminal 3c of the tuner section of the television receiver, the configuration thereof is simple, and the I / F circuit 9 has a simple I / F circuit for an already installed television receiver. Since the / F circuit 9 can be added and the software of the microcomputer of the current prepaid card type timer device can be changed, the conventional timer device can be easily changed to the present device. is there.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the signal is free only when receiving the UHF band is described. However, if the I / F circuit 9 is configured to detect the signal voltage at the terminal 3a or 3b of the tuner unit 3, the VHF can be used. Needless to say, it can be made free only at the time of reception in the low band of the band or in the high band of the VHF band.

[0032]

As described above, the present apparatus is provided with the UHF reception detecting means for detecting the signal output only at the time of UHF band reception of the television receiver and outputting the UHF detection signal on the television receiver side. Based on the detection signal, the timer device side stops the process of subtracting the remaining number of cards. Since the signal (UHF detection signal) from the television receiver is not input to the timer device, free viewing is not performed. It is not possible to make it free of charge as easily as the conventional device, and the conventional disadvantage can be solved.

Further, since there is no need to provide a TV tuner in the prepaid card type timer device itself, the cost of the device can be reduced, and for example, the amount of capital investment when installing the device in all rooms such as hospitals. Can be reduced.

Since the UHF reception detecting means detects the voltage applied to the UHF selection terminal of the tuner section of the television receiver, its configuration is simple, and the UHF reception detection means has a simple circuit (UHF) for the already installed television receiver. Reception detection means)
And a simple change of the configuration of the current prepaid card type timer device, it is possible to easily change from the conventional timer device to the present device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a prepaid card type timer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an I / F circuit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing functions of a microcomputer of the prepaid card type timer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Television receiver 3 Tuner section 9 I / F circuit 10 Prepaid card type timer device 12 Prepaid card 14 Power supply control section 15 Current detection section 16 Microcomputer 16a Frequency detection means 16b Frequency subtraction means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-207464 (JP, A) JP-A-63-64491 (JP, A) JP-A-7-336664 (JP, A) 91509 (JP, A) JP-A-4-145597 (JP, A) JP-A-59-33377 (JP, U) JP-A-61-166672 (JP, U) JP-A-5-68163 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 7/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A power detecting means connected to the television receiver and capable of supplying power to the television receiver based on the frequency detecting operation of the power detecting means; Power on detection means capable of detecting power on of the television receiver in a state where power is supplied to the television receiver by the control means, and subtracting the frequency of the prepaid card based on the power on detection operation of the detection means. A prepaid card type timer device having a frequency subtraction means for performing a UHF reception detection means for detecting a signal output only when the television receiver receives a UHF band and outputting a UHF detection signal on the side of the television receiver. The UHF reception detecting means is connected to the frequency subtraction means, and the frequency subtraction means detects the UHF from the UHF reception detection means. Prepaid card type timer device, characterized in that is to stop the subtraction operation of the frequency based on the input item. 2. The UHF reception detection means detects a signal voltage applied to a UHF selection terminal of a tuner section of the television receiver, and converts the signal to the UHF detection signal. Item 2. A prepaid card type timer device according to Item 1.