JPS60162351A - Dial indicating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dial assuredly a telephone number by reading and storing the bar codes recorded on a card and reading the stored numeric information to send it to a display device which indicates a dialing operation. CONSTITUTION:A card which contains the recorded bar codes corresponding to a telephone number is put into a card inserting part. Then an optical reader 17 reads the bar codes and stores the corresponding numeric characters to a register 54. The register 54 sends the stored number information to an LED drive circuit 56 by one character in response to a read command signal 60 sent from a pulse control circuit 58 and while a dial indication release switch PSW is kept open. The circuit 56 turns on successively light emitting elements LEDL1- L12 on a display panel DISP set above push-buttons of a telephone in accordance with the numeric characters of the bar codes. The telephone number can be dialed by pushing the push-buttons in response to the glowing order of the LEDs. In this case, the circuit 58 controls the circuit 56 so that these LEDs never glow before a detection signal 66 is received from a dial detecting means 64.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dialing instruction device configured to read barcode information recorded on a card and sequentially indicate the digits to be dialed on a telephone.

BACKGROUND ART AND PROBLEMS Generally, when looking at a telephone number written on a business card or the like and trying to call the other party, the following inconveniences may occur. In other words, the telephone number written on a business card is generally small and difficult to read, and when the recipient is an organization, corporation, etc., multiple telephone numbers such as a representative number and a direct number are written side by side. It's an inconvenience to have to do it.

In such a case, first, the telephone number may be read and dialed incorrectly, resulting in an incorrect call. Second, even if you read the phone number correctly, when you read the phone number on the business card while dialing the phone, you may forget which part of the phone number you dialed, or you may be unable to read multiple phone numbers, for example. When these numbers are written side by side on a business card, the user's eyes tend to shift to a phone number on a line other than the line containing the desired phone number, and the user loses track of the next number to dial. As a result, the call may have to be repeated or the call may be the wrong one.

In order to solve this problem, the following methods have been proposed.

The first method is to encode a telephone number, record the code on a card such as a business card by an appropriate means, read the code recorded on the card with an appropriate reader to generate an electrical signal, and generate an electrical signal. This method sends a signal to the telephone line to call the other party. However, this method has the disadvantage that the telephone itself must be modified and construction work is required. Furthermore, the equipment required to carry out this method is expensive.

The second method is to send the electrical signal generated in the first method to the telephone line, and then drive the rotary or push-button dial of the telephone from outside the telephone based on this electrical signal. It is. however,
Although this method does not require modification of the telephone itself, it does require a dial drive mechanism to be attached to the telephone from the outside, and has the disadvantage that the mechanism becomes complex.

A third method is to connect a device in which a telephone number is stored in a storage device such as a semiconductor memory to a telephone set, and when calling the other party stored in the storage device, a device corresponding to the telephone number is connected to the telephone. This method involves pressing a button. However, this method has disadvantages in that it is necessary to replace or modify the telephone, construction work is required, and the equipment is expensive. Furthermore, with this method, if the number of phone numbers that can be stored increases, it will not only be difficult to find the button on the device, but also the price of the entire device will be high, and it will be difficult to install the device. The disadvantage is that it requires a lot of space.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a dialing instruction device configured to allow dialing a telephone number easily and reliably.

Structure of the Invention The dial instruction device according to the present invention includes a reading means for reading barcode information recorded on a card, a storage means connected to the reading means, a control means for sequentially reading numerical information from the storage means, and display means for instructing the dial corresponding to the numerical information.

Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows an example of a dial indicating device to which the present invention is applied.

Here, 1 is a main body, and this main body l includes a stand part IA on which a telephone (not shown) is placed, a display part 1B connected to the front end of this stand part IA, and this display part IB. The key power section LC provided below, the card insertion section ID provided between the display section IB and the key power section IC, and the display attached to the telephone (for example, the button switch part of a button phone) from above. It has a panel DISP. FIG. 2 shows a detailed enlarged view of this display panel DISP.

In FIG. 1, the display section IB is a barcode reader BC.
The device is for displaying the telephone number read by R, and includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) in which a plurality of number electrodes capable of displaying numbers 0 to 9 are arranged horizontally, and its driving circuit (not shown). ). The size of the numbers displayed on the LCD can be, for example, 15 mm x 15 mm.

The key human power part IC is 1 corresponding to the numbers from 0 to 9.
0 number keys 2, clear key 3, and display control key S
It has PC and cc. Each number key 2 is connected to a barcode generator (not shown) which generates a barcode signal corresponding to each number when pressed.

This display control key SPC is a key for controlling the telephone number to be displayed so that it is easy to dial. Now, assuming that the number [2j key is pressed after the SPC key is pressed, the numbers displayed on the 1 display section IB-1- are arranged every second. For example, r 03. -46-81]-7(
1-84. Here, - means blank display. Similarly, if you press the sPc key followed by the number "3" key, for example "o426!3Ei -223
-78J appears on the display section IB.

On the other hand, when the display control key cc is pressed, commas are also displayed on the display section IB for every third number from the left. For example, r 042,898,223,76J.

Therefore, if neither of these display control keys SPC or CG is pressed, the eight-court information recorded on the card will be displayed as is. That is, if an area code, a city code, etc. are recorded in advance on the card as a group, they will be displayed accordingly. However, if the telephone number is recorded in advance as a series of numbers, the series of numbers will be displayed as is on the display section IB.

The insertion section ID has a horizontally long slit hole 4 having a width slightly larger than the width of the card on which the bar code is to be printed, and guides 5 provided on both sides of the hole 4. Therefore, the card can be inserted along the guide 5 only when the card is inserted in a vertically long state.

Inside the main body 1, a thermal transfer mechanism is provided for recording a /<- code corresponding to a telephone number on a card inserted into the main body 1 from an insertion section 10.

This thermal transfer mechanism records a barcode corresponding to a telephone number on the card in the following manner. That is,
By sequentially pressing the numeric keys 2 on the keypad IC, a barcode signal corresponding to the telephone number is read from a ROM (not shown) via a controller (not shown). Based on the read 8-code signal, the controller 418 displays the digits of the corresponding telephone number on the LCD of the display unit IB, and drives its thermal transfer mechanism to record the read/h code on the card. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the display panel DISP has a portion (
(indicated by diagonal lines in the figure). That is, the dial instruction LED Ll shown in the first diagram corresponds to the button switch rlJ of the button phone.
Corresponding to the following, LEDL2 is the button switch
2", the wood panel DISP is integrally combined with the bush switch. In the present invention, L
E[l Any one of Ll to L12 lights up in sequence,
Accordingly, by sequentially pressing the button switches corresponding to the lit LEDs, the dial operation can be performed more reliably. In addition, LED Ll~L1
2 does not need to be lit, and only the number display on the display section IB is sufficient, press the dial instruction release switch PSW.
All you have to do is close it. A control circuit for performing these operations will be described in detail later.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the thermal transfer mechanism. As shown in this figure, a card 7 is inserted into the main body l through the hole 4 of the insertion part ID.
Two sets of nip rollers 8 are arranged so as to grip. Each set of nip rollers 8 is provided in parallel and horizontally. Each nip roller 8 also includes a drive roller 8A coupled to a suitable motor (not shown) and a driven roller 8B brought into compressive contact with the drive roller 8A by suitable elastic means (not shown). Furthermore, the height of each set of nip rollers 8 is determined in advance so that the contact portion of the two rollers in each set of nip rollers 8 is at the same height as the hole 4 of the insertion portion ll1l.

The insertion portion ID is located close to the inner and outer sides of the two sets of nip rollers 8.
Two microswitches 9 and 10 are provided so as to detect the front end of the card 7 inserted into the main body 1 through the hole 4. The motor that drives the drive roller 8A and the two microswitches 9 and 10 are controlled by the controller described above.

When the card 7 is inserted into the main body l through the hole 4 of the insertion part IO, one of the microswitches 9 is closed, and the two drive rollers 8A of the two nip rollers 8 rotate in the directions shown by the arrows in FIG. do. Therefore, the card 7 inserted into the main body 1 through the hole 4 is pinched by one of the nip rollers 8 closer to the insertion portion ID, and further fed into the main body 1 by the rotation of this one nip roller 8. The front end of the card 7 thus fed into the main body 1 is sandwiched between the other two pump rollers 8 and further fed into the main body 1 to close the other microswitch IO. Thus, the driving of the two drive rollers 8A of the two nip rollers 8 is stopped, and the feeding of the card 7 is stopped. Incidentally, guides (not shown) are provided between the two sets of nip rollers 8 to guide both sides of the card 7 so that the card 7 fed therebetween travels straight.

As shown in FIG. 3, a thermal head 11 for thermally transferring a barcode to the card 7 is provided between two sets of nip rollers 8 so as to be close to the top surface of the card 7 sandwiched between these rollers 8.

Similarly, a platen 12 is provided so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the card 7 and located directly below the thermal head 11.

Further, 13 is an ink film, which is rewound from a rewinding drum 14 provided in the main body 1, and is rewound to the thermal head 11.
and the top surface of the card 7, and the winding drum 15
It is wound up. Guide rollers 18 are provided on both sides of the thermal head 11 and allow the ink film 13 rewound from the unwinding drum 14 to run stably between the thermal head 11 and the upper surface of the card 7, so that the ink film 13 is moved steadily between the thermal head 11 and the upper surface of the card 7.
Wind it up.

The thermal head 11 is lowered by a driving means (not shown) and presses the ink film 13 onto the first side of the card 17 when recording a bar code on the top surface of the card 7.

The thermal transfer mechanism may be configured as one or more, or as shown in FIG.
In order to arrange the optical reader 17 so as to be close to the upper surface of the card 7, it is necessary to arrange the optical reader 17 so as to be located on the same line as the thermal head 11 in the feeding direction of the card 7. be. The optical reader 17 has a light emitter such as a laser beam and a light receiver, and irradiates the light from the emitter to the 8-code recorded on the card 7'2, and detects the reflected light from the top of the card 7. The barcode on the card 7 is detected by detecting it with a light receiver. This allows a reconfirmation of already recorded barcodes or a new reading of barcodes recorded on a separate card.

As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 denotes a changeover switch provided in the key human power section IC, which switches the previously described controller (not shown) to the "record" mode or the "display" mode. This controller introduces ON signals from the two microswitches 9 and 1O and a barcode detection signal from the optical reader 17, and connects a motor (not shown) that drives the winding drum 15 and a thermal head. 11, a motor (not shown) that drives the driving roller 8A of the knee/broach 8, and an LCD of the display section 1B.

With the above configuration, a barcode corresponding to a telephone number is recorded on the card 7 in the following manner. Furthermore, if necessary, it is also possible to read the 8-code recorded on the card 7 again and display the corresponding telephone number on the display section IB. That is, first, set the switch switch 18 to the "record" side, and use the numeric keys 2 of the key operator IC to enter the telephone number (
number). As a result, Barney No. 148 corresponding to the telephone number is input to the controller (not shown), and at the same time, the entered telephone number is displayed on the LCD of the display section IB. If the number is entered incorrectly, the clear key 2 is pressed to erase the number displayed on the LCD by the controller, and the telephone number is entered again. Next, the card 7 is inserted into the main body I through the hole 4 of the insertion section ID. As a result, the front end of the card 7 closes one of the microswitches 9, and the two knob rollers 8 rotate to feed the card 7 into the main body l.

When the front end of the card 7 closes the other microswitch 10, the first winding drum 15 starts winding up the ink film 13, and at the same time, the thermal head 11 presses the ink film 13 onto the card 7 that is being fed and is moving. A bar code corresponding to the entered telephone number is recorded on the card 7 as shown in FIG. When this recording is finished, the winding drum 1
5 finishes winding up the ink film 13, the rotation of the two nip rollers 8 temporarily stops, and the thermal head 1
1 or rise. Next, the two nip rollers 8 rotate in reverse to return the card 7 fed into the main body 1 to the outside of the main body 1. In this way, a barcode corresponding to the telephone number can be easily recorded on the card 7.

Set the selector switch 18 to the display j side, and insert the card 7 with the barcode recorded as described above into the main body 1.
into the main body l through the hole 4 of the insertion part IO. As a result, the card 7 is fed into the main body l in the same manner as described above. During this feeding, the portion where the bar code is recorded passes directly under the optical reader 17, and the eight-code is detected by the optical reader 17. The phone number corresponding to the detected barcode is displayed on display section IB.
The card 7 is displayed on the LCD of the main body 1, and when the detection is completed, the nip roller 8 is reversed to force the card 7 out of the main body 1. In this way, card 7 with a barcode written on it
From there, the digits of the telephone number corresponding to the barcode can be displayed on the LCD of the display section IB, which has display digits of an appropriate size.

The display section IB is located directly in front of the telephone set on the stand section IA, and the telephone number displayed there is very easy to see. Therefore, display a telephone number of an appropriate size corresponding to the barcode on the display section IB, and while looking at the number,
Able to dial on a telephone.

In addition, in the above explanation, a recording means for recording a Nohe code on a card having an appropriate size, a reading means for reading a barcode recorded on the card, and a corresponding method based on the read barcode are explained. Although the notification system has been shown in which a notification means for notifying the telephone number of the user is integrated into the main body, it is also possible to use the following modification, for example.

(1) The recording means, the reading means, and the notification means are each configured independently.

(2) As a recording means, a numeric keyboard is used, and a bar code can be displayed by inputting numbers manually using the numeric keys.
The present invention may be constructed by combining a sheet-like barcode display device having D and a copying machine that can appropriately reduce the barcode on the LCD of the barcode display device and record it on a card.

(3) In the case of (2) above, magnetic toner can be used as the material for recording the barcode on the card, and in this case, the reading means can be an optical one as described above. In addition to barcode leagues, magnetic heads can also be used.

(4) As a notification means, not only a numeric display but also a voice alarm can be used. can be announced by voice.

Figure 4 shows the LICD drive circuit included in the telephone number display unit shown in the first figure. Here, 17 is the optical reader shown in the third figure, and 30 stores the read numerical data and sends a shift command signal. A register 34 that performs a shift operation in response to the signal 32 is a liquid crystal display capable of displaying a comma "," and is included in the display section IB shown in the first diagram.

Further, 36 is a control circuit which sends a barcode reading start instruction signal 38 to the optical reader 17, and also sends a shift instruction signal to the register 30, and sends a shift instruction signal to the LCD 34.
A comma display command signal 38 is sent to the target.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the control procedure of the control circuit shown in FIG. 4.

In block 40, it is determined whether a card has been inserted into the insertion section ID. If the card is inserted into the device,
It is determined in block 42 whether either the SPc key or the CC key shown in the first figure has been pressed.

If either the SPc key or the CC key has been pressed, it is determined in block 44 whether or not the SPc key has been pressed. If the SPc key has not been pressed, it is determined that the CC key has been pressed, and a comma display command number 3 is sent to the LCD 34 (block 4B). Afterwards, the display section 1B shown in the first diagram
As mentioned above, a comma will be displayed every third number due to the left rule of numbers.

If it is determined in block 44 that the SPc key is pressed, a check is made in block 48 to see if a numeric key is subsequently pressed.

If a number key is pressed, the number is read (block 750) and a shift command signal 32 is sent to the register 30. In this way, the numbers divided into desired numbers are displayed on the display section IB shown in the first figure.

Note that if neither the SPC key nor the CC key is pressed, numerical data is directly sent from the optical reader 17 to the LCD 34, and displayed as recorded in the form of a barcode.

FIG. 6 shows the dial instruction display panel DIS shown in FIG. 1.
A circuit for driving P is shown. Here, 17 is the optical reader shown in FIG. 3, which reads the telephone number from the barcode recorded on the card.

Further, the register 54 is a register that temporarily stores the number string read by the optical reader 17. Then, in response to the read command signal 60 sent from the panel control circuit 58, the number information θ2 is sent out from the register 54 one character at a time. However, when the dial instruction release switch PS-111 is closed, the read command signal 60 is not sent from the panel control circuit 58. Therefore, the dial instruction LEDs Ll to 12 are as follows:
None of them are ever lit.

In response to the number information from the register 54, the LED drive circuit 56 turns on any one of the dial instruction LEDs L1 to LI2. Thus, for example, if a phone number r91813?8J is recorded on the card in the form of a barcode, then LEDrL! 3J, LE
D rLIJ, LED rL8J, LED r
LIJ, LEDrL3J, LEDrL7J, L
ED rL8J Cam? &Lights up.

However, the panel control circuit 44 is designed to ensure that the next LED is not turned on unless a detection signal 66 is received from the dial detection means 64 attached to the button phone in order to confirm that the button switch has been pressed. Configure. As a result, after a certain button switch is pressed, the LED to be pressed next is lit.

As the dial detection means 84, for example, in order to detect dial sounds such as "bi, bo, pa" of a butsuhon,
Use a small microphone 1. It is very suitable for Nru.

In addition, in the following explanation of J-, the dial instruction LED
However, for example, the present invention can be practiced even if the following statement is made.

(1) Use a liquid crystal display (1,011) instead of the LED.

(2) Use an electroluminescence (EL) lamp or an EL surface light source instead of an LED.1.
%ru.

(3) For telephones equipped with a rotary dial (±, use a display panel in which an LED can be attached to the periphery of the dial to be rotated.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, the number to be dialed can be sequentially notified, so that dialing can be performed without error.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are configuration diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a driving circuit diagram of the liquid crystal display shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart 1 showing the control procedure of the control circuit shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a drive circuit diagram of the dial instruction display panel shown in FIG. 1. ■...Main body, IA...Base part, 1B...Display part, IC...Key input part, ID...Insertion part, D ISP...Dial instruction display panel, 2...
Numeric key, 3... Clear key, 4... Hole, 5... Guide, 7... Card, 8... Nip roller, 8A... Drive roller, 8B... Followed roller, 8110. ...Micro switch, 11...Thermal head, 12...Platen, 13...Ink film, 14...Rewinding drum, 16...Guide roller, 17...Optical reader, 18... - Changeover switch, 30...Register, 34...Liquid crystal display, 54...Register, 58...LED drive circuit, Ll-L12...LED, 5th...Panel control circuit, 64 ...Dial detection means. Patent applicant Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Figure 1 1Δ Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] a reading means for reading barcode information recorded on the card; and an energy storage means connected to the reading means;
A dialing instruction device, which is patented, comprising a control means for sequentially extracting numerical information 7,lj from the storage means, and a display means for indicating a dial corresponding to the read numerical information.