JPH04252395A - Charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a charging device capable of using both a coin and a card and displaying data corresponding to the amount of usage on a card when the card is used. CONSTITUTION:The inserted coin is confirmed by means of a coin selector 128. The inserted card is confirmed by a card read/write unit 130. A clock signal from a clock generator 102 is counted by a counter 104 so as to measure its operating time. By a CPU100, the operating time is subtracted from the usable time based on the inserted charge. At the time of using the card, the data according to the amount of usage is magnetically recorded on the card by means of the card read/write unit 130. Further, the data according to the amount of usage is printed on the surface of the card by a printer 132.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a toll input device.
In particular, the present invention relates to a charge input device that is attached to, for example, a pay television set or a washing machine in a laundromat.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there have been charge input devices installed in pay TVs installed in hotels and the like, washing machines in coin laundry machines, etc., which operate these devices by inserting coins, for example. Also,
Some of these devices were activated by inserting a card, such as a prepaid card, on which monetary data was recorded.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, there is no conventional charge input device that can accept both coins and cards. Also, when using a card, it was not possible to know the remaining amount available on the card. Therefore, when using pay TV etc. using the card,
Sometimes the TV would turn off in the middle of a program.

[0004] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a charge input device that can use both money and cards, and when using a card, can display data on the usage amount on the card. It is to provide.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a money slot for inserting money, a card slot for inserting a card on which monetary data is recorded, and a coin or slot inserted from the money slot. A reading means for reading the amount data from the card inserted through the card slot, a subtraction means for subtracting the amount corresponding to the amount used from the amount corresponding to the amount data of the money or card, and the amount obtained by the subtraction means. and printing means for printing data corresponding to usage amount on the card.

[0006]

[Operation] The amount data of the money or card is read by the reading means. And by means of subtraction,
The amount corresponding to the usage amount is subtracted from the amount corresponding to the charged fee. When using a card, data corresponding to the usage amount is printed on the card by a printing means.

[0007]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, both money and cards can be used when using pay TV or the like. Moreover, when using a card, data corresponding to the usage amount is printed on the card, so by looking at the card, you can know the remaining amount, available usage time, etc.

The above objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention. This fee input device 10 includes a first case 12 . For example, a panel switch 14 is attached to one side of the first case 12. The panel switch 14 includes, for example, six switches, each of which displays settings, on-timer, off-timer, clear, registration, return, etc. The time is set by the configuration switch; in this case, the on timer is used to set the time from the off state to the on state, and the off timer is used to set the time from the on state to the off state. Used to set. The set time is registered in the charge input device 10 by the registration switch. The clear switch is used to cancel the set time. Also,
The return switch is used when taking out coins, cards, etc.

A display 16 is formed above the panel switch 14 by, for example, seven segments of light emitting diodes (LEDs). This display 1
The normal time is displayed at 6, and when the timer switch is used to set the on time and off time, the time is also displayed. Further, a lamp 18 is formed on the upper part of the display 16, and the lamp 18 blinks when the fee input into the fee input device 10 is being used. Furthermore, a card slot 20 for inserting a prepaid card or the like is formed at the bottom of the panel switch 14.

A second case 22 is formed in close contact with one main surface of the first case 12. A coin slot 24 is formed on one side of the second case 22 along with the panel switch 14 and the like. Coins and the like are inserted into this money slot 24.

Next, the circuit configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 and the like. The control circuit of this charge input device 10 is C
Contains PU100. A clock generator 102 and a counter 104 are connected to the CPU 100. Clock signals from clock generator 102 are counted by counter 104. Furthermore, a reset circuit 106 is connected to the CPU 100. This reset circuit 106 is for returning the entire system to its initial state when the control circuit is powered on.

The CPU 100 includes an address bus 108,
A memory 114 is connected via a data bus 110 and a control bus 112. In this memory 114, on-time, off-time, etc. are stored, for example, by a timer switch of the panel switch 14. Also,
This memory 114 stores the remaining amount of charges in the charge input device 10 and the like. Furthermore, a backup battery 116 is connected to the memory 114 so that the data in the memory 114 will not be erased even in the event of a power outage.

[0014] The CPU 100 also has an address bus 1.
08 and control bus 112 to decoder 1.
18 are connected. Decoder 118 is connected to display controller 122 via chip select 120. This display controller 122 is connected to the LEDs and lamps 18 of the display 16. The display controller 122 has a data bus 1.
CPU 100 and memory 114 are connected via 10. Then, the display controller 122 operates in response to a command from the CPU 100, and the display 16
to display information. Furthermore, a clock 124 is connected to the data bus 110, and the time can be displayed on the display 16.

The address bus 108, data bus 110 and control bus 112 are connected to the input/output controller 1.
26. The input/output controller 126 includes an interface, to which the panel switch 14, a coin selector 128 for selecting the type of coin, a card read/write unit 130, and the like are connected. The card read/write unit 130 is used to read data recorded on the prepaid card and write new data to the prepaid card. A printing device 132 such as a thermal head is formed in the card read/write unit 130, and this printing device 132 is driven by a driver 134. Driver 134 is also connected to input/output controller 126;
A drive signal is sent from the driver 134 to the printing device 132 in response to a command from here.

A current detection circuit 136 is connected to the input/output controller 126. A television 138, a washing machine 140, and the like are connected to the current detection circuit 136, and by detecting the current, it is detected that these devices are operating. A buzzer 142 is also connected to the input/output controller 126, and this buzzer 142 gives a warning to the user. Electric power is supplied to the control circuit of this charge input device 10 by a power supply circuit 144 .

Next, the operation of this fee input device 10 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 and the like. First, in the first step S1, the charge input device 10 is powered on. Here, the system is brought to an initial state by the reset circuit 106. Next, in step S3, the user inserts coins or a prepaid card. Then, in step S5, insertion of coins or prepaid cards is confirmed. In this case, the insertion of coins is performed by the coin selector 128, and the insertion of prepaid cards is confirmed by the card read/write unit 130.

If the prepaid card is inserted into the charge insertion device 10, the process advances to step S7. In step S7, the card read/write unit 130 accepts the prepaid card and reads its amount data. Here, the remaining usable time is calculated by the CPU 100. If the remaining time is 0 or the card is not applicable to the charge insertion device 10, the prepaid card is returned and a warning is issued by the buzzer 142.

If the remaining time of the prepaid card is not 0, in step S9, the off timer of the panel switch 14 registers the time until the television is turned off. At this time, by the LED of the display 16,
The set number will be displayed. The set time is determined by the registration switch of the panel switch 14, and the CPU 100
The data is processed and stored in the memory 114.

Once the time is set, the process proceeds to step S11, where the clock signal from the clock generator 102 is counted in seconds by the counter 104. Then, the set time stored in the memory 114 is subtracted, and the television remains on until the set time reaches 0. At this time, the current detection circuit 136 detects the current flowing through the television. Therefore, only while current is flowing through the TV,
Clock signals are counted. Therefore, even if the main power of the TV is on, if the TV is not displayed,
Clock signals are not counted.

In the next step S13, when the set time reaches 0 or when the return switch of the panel switch 14 is pressed, the television is turned off. Then, in step S15, the card read/write unit 1
30 magnetically records usage data on the prepaid card. In this case, since the clock signal is counted in seconds, the data recorded on the prepaid card is also recorded in seconds.

Further, in step S17, the card read/write unit 130 prints data regarding the usage amount on the surface of the prepaid card. In this case, information from the CPU 100 is transmitted to the input/output controller 1
26 to the driver 134. Then, in the driver 134, the card read/write unit 13
A drive signal for driving the 0 printing device 132 is formed. This drive signal drives the printing device 132 and prints data regarding the usage amount on the surface of the prepaid card.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of dots are printed on the surface of the prepaid card. In this embodiment, for example, a 1000 yen prepaid card will be explained. The numbers 0,500,1000 are printed in advance on the prepaid card. Then, seven dots are printed under each number depending on the amount spent. Multiple rows of these dots are printed, which tells you the remaining amount. For example, the balance is 500
In the case of a circle, a row of dots is printed from 1000 to just before 500, as shown in FIG. Therefore, by looking at this dot, you can know the amount of money that can be used. In this embodiment, the amount of money is printed on the prepaid card, but it is also possible to print numbers such as 0, 30, 60, etc., and make the prepaid card usable for one hour. In this way, the number of uses of a prepaid card can be displayed in any manner as required, such as amount or time. Next, in step S19, the prepaid card is ejected. At this time, a buzzer sounds to warn you not to forget to take out your prepaid card.

When a coin is inserted into the fee input device 10, the coin is accepted in step S21. Then, in step S23, for example, a time period until the television is turned off is set. In step S25, time is counted and the television is turned on. Balance is 0
or the return switch is pressed, step S2
At step 7, the television is turned off and any remaining money is refunded.

[0025] As described above, in this fee input device 10,
Both currency and prepaid cards can be used. Moreover, when using a prepaid card, the usage amount is printed, so you can see at a glance how much usage is left.

[0026] As a printing method, other methods than dots can be applied, such as printing with numbers. Furthermore, not only the time until the television is turned off, but also the time from the off state to the on state can be set using the on timer of the panel switch 14. When setting the on-timer and off-timer, it is also possible to display which timer is being set using, for example, green and red lamps. In addition to coins, banknotes may also be used as currency. moreover,
This charge input device 10 can be attached not only to a pay TV but also to other equipment such as a washing machine in a coin laundry.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the fee input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a prepaid card used in the fee input device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Charge input device 20 Card input slot 24 Money input slot 100 CPU 102 Clock generator 104 Counter 114 Memory 128 Coin selector 130 Card read/write unit 132 Printing device 134 Driver 136 Current detection circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A money slot for inserting money, a card slot for inserting a card with amount data recorded thereon, money inserted from the money slot, or a card inserted from the card slot. a reading means for reading amount data from the money, a subtraction means for subtracting an amount corresponding to the usage amount from an amount corresponding to the amount data of the money or the card, and data corresponding to the usage amount obtained by the subtraction means. A charge input device including a printing means for printing on the card.