JPS61262894A - Fare card apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention is installed in a house, etc., and when a prepaid card or the like on which charges are written in advance is inserted, gas, electricity, water, etc. The present invention relates to a charge card device that allows use of a charge card.

<Summary of the Invention> The fare card device according to the present invention is designed to allow use of gas, electricity, and water when the card is inserted.

<Conventional technology> Currently, in residential buildings, the meters of gas, electricity, and water used by the residents are read on a predetermined day (meter reading date), and the bill collector collects the data according to the amount used, such as at the end of January. The amount was collected.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> By the way, in the past, gas charges, electricity charges, water charges, etc., were collected separately by the collectors of each company. Also, when collecting electricity charges, water charges, etc., there is an inconvenience in that multiple bill collectors are required. In particular, in residences such as one-room apartments, there are often no residents at the apartment entrance, making the collection process difficult to proceed as expected.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a charge card device that eliminates the collection work by a bill collector and reduces the collection cost.

Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, the fare card device according to the present invention provides a card that outputs a usable signal when the card is inserted and enables the controlled equipment to be used. It is characterized by being equipped with a detection section.

<Example> First, the present invention will be explained in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the charge card device according to the present invention includes a card detection section 3 that outputs a usable signal when a card 1 is inserted to enable the controlled device 2 to be used. Controlled devices such as gas controllers and electric controllers are turned on only when the card is held.

The present invention will be specifically explained below.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of the charge card device according to the present invention. The device shown in this figure is installed in a residence such as a one-room apartment, and is used by residents to purchase a card (10, jf, ;
When a card (prepaid card) 10 with a prepaid amount (remaining amount D) written on the magnetic stripe 11 of the t is inserted, it is stored inside the device so that gas can be used. The charge card device main body 12 and the gas controller (controlled device) 13 are separated.

The charge card device body 12 retains the card 10 inside when it is inserted, turns on the gas controller 13 to enable gas to be used, and if gas is used in this state, this usage 1- The gas usage fee is calculated from the remaining amount of the card 10, and the remaining amount is updated by subtracting this gas usage fee from the remaining amount of the card 10, and the new remaining amount becomes less than or equal to the predetermined set amount a. The card reader 14, the remaining amount display 15, the remaining amount warning lamp 16, the gas on/off relay 17, and the CP
U (central processing unit) 18, RAM 19, and ROM 20
It is composed of:

As shown in FIG. 3, the card reader 14 is a card inserter and a
It is provided just behind the return slot 22, and when the card 10 is inserted into the front self-card insertion/return slot 22, the magnetic stripe 1 of the card 10 is inserted while retaining it inside.
1 is read out and supplied to the CPU 18.

When the CPU 18 outputs a card return command, the card reader 14 returns the held card 10 from the card insertion/return slot 22.

Further, the remaining amount display 15 is displayed on the customer service surface 2 as shown in FIG.
1, and displays the remaining balance when it is supplied from the CPU 18.

Further, the remaining amount notification lamp 16 is provided on the customer service surface 17 as shown in FIG.
Blinks when a balance warning signal is supplied from.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the gas on/off relay 17 is configured to close its contact (A contact) 17a'f when the CP018 outputs a gas open command. gas controller 13
gas becomes available.

Further, the CPU 18 is configured with a microprocessor, a counter, etc., and the charge card device main body 12 and the gas controller 13 are controlled by the CPU 18.
is controlled.

It's a trench, RAM19 is S-RAM (static ram),
It is composed of a D-RAM (dynamic RAM) and the like, and the CPU 18 uses this RAMI 9 as a work area.

The ROM 20 is a non-volatile memory in which the CPU 8 program, charge/pulse number data, etc. are stored, and the CPU 18 operates based on this program.

Next, the operation of this charge card device will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, before inserting the card 10 into the card insertion/return slot 22, if the remaining amount from the previous card 10 is not %0, the CPU 18 turns on the gas on/off relay 17 to enable the use of gas, and also returns the remaining amount. If it is %Ol, the gas on/off relay 17 is turned off, making the gas unusable. In any of these situations, if a resident inserts the card 10 into the card insertion/return slot 22 of the fare card device, the card league 14
detects this, supplies a card detection signal to CPTJIB, and holds this card 10.

The CPU 18 that received this card detection angle is the fourth CPU.
Execute step STI shown in the figure 1y, card reader 1
4 to read the remaining amount of the card 10, in step ST2, it is determined whether or not this remaining amount has been read correctly.
If all of these conditions are met, this remaining amount is captured and memorized as a valid take, and card 1 is
Set the balance above 0 to %0. Next, the CPU 8 proceeds to step ST3, adds this new remaining amount to the previous remaining amount of the card 10, displays this total amount as a "tap remaining amount" on the remaining amount display 15, and stores it. Then, in step ST4, the gas on/off relay 17 is turned on to enable the gas to be used.

Next, the CPU 18 proceeds to step ST5 and checks whether the gas detection switch 25 of the gas controller 13 is repeatedly opened and closed.

Here, if gas is currently in use, the gas detection switch 25 turns on/off at a speed corresponding to the amount of gas used, and the output (input signal) of this gas amount detection switch 25 is stored. Since the value of the counter is not Mμ, the CPU 18 determines that there is an input signal when reading the value of this counter, calculates the gas fee from this count result in the next step ST6, subtracts this from the remaining amount, and The result is displayed on the remaining amount display 15. Next, in step ST7, the CPU 18 determines whether the remaining amount on the lever is less than or equal to a predetermined set amount a, and if D≧a, returns to step ST5, repeats the above-mentioned operation, and again if D<
In case a, operate the card reader 14, protrude the card 10 from the card insertion/return slot 22, and insert the card 1.
0 is allowed to be returned, and then the process proceeds to step ST8, where it is determined whether the remaining balance is (month)l. Here l)
= % Q If not #, cpuls steps ST
After proceeding to step ST9 and flashing the remaining amount warning lamp 16, the process returns to step ST5 and the above-described operations are repeated. When D-'0# is reached, the CPU 18 branches from step ST8 to step STIO to turn off the gas on/off relay 17 to disable the gas. If the resident pulls out the card 10 and inserts a new card 10 with the card 10 protruding from the card insertion/return slot 22, the CPU 8 returns to step STI due to an interrupt and repeats the above-described operations.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the card 10 is inserted into the fare card device main amount 12, it is held inside and the new remaining amount t' is rewritten with the remaining amount of this card 10 and is 10. I made it possible to use the dregs when necessary, and after that, I made it impossible to take out this card 10 unless the remaining amount became less than the set amount a.
It is possible to prevent the card 10 in use from being used illegally at other residences. Also, when using gas,
Since the gas usage fee is automatically deducted from the remaining amount in accordance with this usage 1, the collection work by a fee collector can be eliminated.

Further, in the embodiment described above, gas can be used for cans unless the balance is on the east side, but this may be controlled depending on the presence or absence of the card 10. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in this case. In the flow shown in this figure, it is detected in step 5T11 that the card 10 is inserted into the card leak 14, and the CPU 8
After having the card reader 14 read the remaining amount on the card 10 and the housing code C'/6:, step S 'I'
] In step 2, it is determined whether this is valid or not, and if it is not valid, the card 10 is returned and the operation is stopped. In addition, if these balances are valid, and the housing code C is valid, CPU1B
Proceed to snap 8T13 and pass on/off relay 17
After turning on the gas and making the gas available, step STI
4, it is checked whether card 10 has been pulled out. In this case, the end of the card 10 protrudes from the card insertion/return slot 22 so that the resident can pull out the card 10. In this state, when card 10 is withdrawn or the balance reaches 0, C
The PU 18 proceeds to step 5T15 and turns off the gas on/off relay 17, making the gas unusable.

Thus, in this embodiment, the prepaid card 1
If 0 is inserted, that is, if there is an advance payment, it is determined whether the house code C matches the number of this house, and if it matches, gas is used in the trench where the card 10 is extracted. This allows you to turn off the gas simply by pulling out the card 10 when you go out.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, gas is controlled by the card 10, but it may also be used to control things other than gas, such as electricity and water.

Further, the card 10 may be an IC (integrated circuit) card or any other medium as long as the medium itself can store data.

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the balance is not checked, and if the house code C of the card 10 matches the number of this house and the card 10 is on hold, gas, electricity, etc. , the water supply, etc. may be turned on.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce collection costs by eliminating the collection work by a collection person, and to control the on/off of gas, electricity, water, etc. using a card. can,

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an overview of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of the fare card device according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is the same implementation. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the charge card device according to the present invention. 1...Card, 2...Controlled device, 3...Card detection unit O Applicant: Tateishi Ikki Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney: Tetsuji Iwakura (1 other person) Figure 1 Card 2: Controlled device Equipment 3...Card detection part loading Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] A charge card device comprising a card detection unit that outputs a usable signal when a card is inserted to enable a controlled device to be used.