JP3880591B2 - Timer device - Google Patents

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a timer device that performs a payment processing of a usage fee of an electric device using a recording medium such as a magnetic card or an IC card when various electric devices such as a television and a video are used for a fee in a hospital or a hotel. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric equipment connection type timer device in which the usable frequency is recorded on a recording medium and inserted into a timer body so that various electric equipment can be used.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in hospitals and the like, a technique using a magnetic card or IC card type timer as a technique for paying a fee for watching an electric device installed in a hospital room by an inpatient, for example, a television. In this method, a card in which the usable frequency of the television is recorded in advance is inserted into the timer, so that viewing can be performed within a predetermined time according to the usable frequency recorded on the card. Specifically, the viewing time after the TV is turned on is measured with a timer, and the card availability count is subtracted according to the timer, and when the remaining count is exhausted, TV viewing is impossible. Put it in a state.

By the way, some inpatients watch television for only a few hours a day, while others watch television for several hours a day. Those who watch TV for many hours a day are quick to subtract the card frequency, and the burden of the usage fee has been increased. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the burden on a person who watches a television for a long time. For example, a prepaid card type timer device that enables free viewing only when receiving the UHF band has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-130726

  However, the prepaid card type timer device described in Patent Document 1 is free viewing regardless of the usage time of the television, and in the case of paid viewing, frequency subtraction is performed at regular intervals as in the conventional timer device. It did not reduce the burden on those who watch TV for hours.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a timer device that changes the subtraction rate of the card frequency in accordance with the usage time of an electric device, and reduces the burden on a person who has used the electric device for a long time.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a reader / writer that reads and writes the recording data of the recording medium into which a recording medium in which the usable frequency is recorded is inserted, and a switch unit that turns on / off the connection of the power supply to the electric device, When a power source is connected to the electrical device, sensor means for detecting whether or not the electrical device is in operation, and when a recording medium having a remaining usable frequency is inserted into the reader / writer, the switch means is turned on, Switch control means for turning off the switch means when there is no remaining usable frequency in the recording medium, and a frequency for subtracting a predetermined frequency subtraction value from the available frequency of the recording medium every unit time during which the electrical equipment is operating subtracting means, and integrating means for integrating the operating time of the electrical device detected by said sensor means, power subtraction for each time range of the plurality of time ranges of the operating time Storage means for table defining a is set, based on the specified value of the table set in the storage means, a frequency subtraction value corresponding to a time range in which the running integrating means is integration time belongs the frequency and the frequency subtraction value setting means for setting the subtracting means, when the date is changed, or, whenever the recording medium to the reader writer predetermined time has elapsed since the inserted resets the operation time of the integrated unit is integrated , characterized by comprising a reset means for Ru is changed to the value of the operation at the start of the electric equipment the frequency subtraction value setting of the frequency subtraction value setting means.

  In this invention, the operating time of the electric equipment is integrated, and a frequency subtraction value corresponding to the time range to which the integrated time belongs is set. In addition, every time the date changes or a recording medium is inserted and the integration time is reset every time a fixed time has elapsed to return to the original frequency subtraction value setting.

The invention according to claim 2 is the table according to the above invention, wherein the specified value of the table set in the storage means is changed, and the plurality of time ranges or the frequency subtraction value corresponding to each time range is changed. A change means is provided.

  In this invention, the setting means which can set arbitrarily the time range and the frequency subtraction rate in each time range is provided.

Invention of Claim 3 was provided with the display part which displays the frequency subtraction value corresponding to the time range to which the operation time of the said electric equipment integrated | accumulated and the present operation time belong in the said invention, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. To do.

  In this invention, the display part which displays the total operation time of an electric equipment and the present frequency subtraction rate is provided, the time until a change of a frequency subtraction rate is shown to a user is shown.

  According to the present invention, since the frequency subtraction rate can be changed according to the cumulative viewing time of the television, it is possible to reduce the burden on the usage fee for the person who views the television for many hours per day. Also, every time a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of viewing or when the date changes, the accumulated viewing time is reset and changed to the original frequency subtraction rate, so the preferential time can be kept in units of one day. it can.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view in which a television card timer according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a television. The TV card timer 100 is fixed to the right side of the main body of the TV 103. The TV card timer 100 has an AC 100 V output outlet, and the power plug of the TV 103 is connected to the output outlet in the TV card timer 100. The power plug of the TV card timer 100 is connected to an AC 100V outlet of a hospital or the like. A card insertion slot 101 is provided on the front surface of the television card timer 100, and a user inserts a television card into the card insertion slot 101. A remote controller 102 is connected to the TV card timer 100. When a user inserts a card having a remaining number into the card insertion slot 101, the TV 103 is operated to turn on / off the TV 103, The volume can be changed freely.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the television card timer according to the embodiment of the present invention. Controls the card reader / writer 1 that reads and rewrites data recorded on the inserted TV card, the eject button 2 that ejects the card, the display unit 3 that displays the remaining card usage, and the entire TV card timer. A control unit 4, a power control relay 5 that supplies power to an external television according to the control unit 4, a current sensor 6 that detects whether the television is turned on, and a clock IC 7 that manages date and time are provided.

  When the user inserts a card, the control unit 4 reads the card data from the card reader / writer 1 and checks the remaining number. If there is a remaining number, power is supplied from the power control relay 5 to the 100V output outlet and power is supplied to the television 103. When the user turns on the power of the television, the current sensor 6 detects that the power is on, and the control unit 4 accumulates the time when the power is turned on. While the TV is turned on, the card frequency is subtracted every time a predetermined time elapses. The control unit 4 has a built-in memory, and stores settings such as a ratio for subtracting card frequency subtraction, an accumulated time when the TV is turned on, and the like. The display unit 3 displays the remaining usage frequency of the inserted card, as well as the ratio of subtracting the accumulated time when the TV is turned on and the card usage frequency.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main process of the entire TV card timer. When the user inserts a television card (s1), the card data is read by the card reader / writer 1, and power is supplied from the power control relay 5 to the television (s2). Thereafter, the memory is initialized (s3), and elapsed time processing (s4) and frequency subtraction processing (s5) are executed. Memory initialization resets the accumulated time and frequency subtraction rate settings when the TV is turned on. The elapsed time process and the frequency subtraction process will be described in detail later. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the card eject button has been pressed (s6). If not, the remaining card count is further checked through the card reader / writer 1 (s7). Repeat the time process and the frequency subtraction process. If the eject button is pressed or if the card is not usable even if the eject button is not pressed, power supply from the power control relay 5 to the TV is cut off (s8), and the TV card is ejected (s9). ). After that, it returns to the initial operation.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing elapsed time processing and frequency subtraction processing. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing elapsed time processing. The built-in clock IC is checked (s10), and if the date changes (s11), the accumulated time when the TV is turned on is reset (s12). Thereafter, the process returns to the main processing operation.

  FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing the frequency subtraction process. When the power of the television is turned on (s13), the time after the power is turned on is integrated (s14). The power on / off is detected by the current sensor 6. When the unit time has elapsed since the power was turned on (s15), a predetermined subtraction value is subtracted from a predetermined rate, that is, the card usable frequency (s16). Thereafter, when the time range specified by each rate setting is exceeded (s17), the rate is changed (s18). The time range specified in the rate setting and the frequency subtraction value per unit time are determined and changed according to the rate setting table described later. Thereafter, the process returns to the main process.

  As described above, once the television is turned off, the time is not accumulated, and when the television is turned on again, the time is further accumulated to the accumulated time until the previous time. In other words, regardless of continuous viewing or viewing at intervals, the rate is changed according to the accumulated viewing time.

  FIG. 5 shows a rate setting table. The rate setting table is stored in a memory in the control unit 4. FIG. 4A is an example of a rate setting table. In this setting, subtraction is performed once every minute when the TV is turned on within 2 hours. If the TV has been turned on for more than 2 hours, 0.5 degrees is subtracted every minute. As described above, when the viewing time of the television exceeds a predetermined time, the frequency subtraction per unit time is reduced, and the burden on a person who views the television for a long time can be reduced.

  FIG. 5B is an example of another setting table. In this setting, subtraction is performed once every minute when the TV is turned on within 2 hours. If the TV is turned on for 2 hours or more, 0.5 degrees is subtracted every 1 minute after 2 hours. Further, when the time when the TV is turned on exceeds 4 hours, 0.3 frequency subtraction is performed every minute. In this way, the rate may be changed in a plurality of stages.

  FIG. 6C shows another example of the setting table. In this setting, subtraction is performed once every minute when the TV is turned on within 2 hours. If the TV is turned on for 2 hours or more, 0.5 degrees is subtracted every 1 minute after 2 hours. Further, when the time when the TV is turned on exceeds 4 hours, 0 frequency subtraction, that is, frequency subtraction is not performed every minute. In this way, it may be set to allow free viewing.

  FIG. 4D shows another example of the setting table. In this setting, subtraction is performed once every minute when the TV is turned on within 2 hours. If the TV is turned on for 2 hours or more, 0.5 degrees is subtracted every 1 minute after 2 hours. If the TV is turned on for more than 6 hours, it is decremented once every minute, that is, returns to the original rate. In this way, when the viewing time is too long, the original rate may be restored.

  The rate setting described above can be arbitrarily changed. For example, the code classification of the rate setting table is written in a setting magnetic card or IC card, and is read and set by the card reader / writer 1. Further, a dip switch for changing the setting condition may be provided on the substrate in the timer device. Alternatively, a dedicated remote controller for changing the setting conditions may be provided, and the rate setting table may be transmitted and set.

  The above-mentioned rate is displayed on the display unit 3 that displays the remaining card usage frequency and the like. The display unit 3 displays the current rate and the accumulated time when the TV is turned on, so that a person watching the TV can easily determine how long the TV will be changed after the TV is viewed. ing.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a television card timer according to another embodiment. The television card timer in this embodiment is also used by being fixed to the right side surface of the television like the television card timer shown in FIG. The television card timer in this embodiment includes a ROM 8 for data storage instead of the clock IC 7 shown in FIG. 2, and the other configuration is the same as that of the television card timer in FIG. The ROM 8 stores the rate setting table shown in FIG. The memory in the control unit 4 stores the accumulated time when the television is turned on, and counts 24 hours after the television card is first inserted. Also in the television card timer of this embodiment, the main process shown in FIG. 3 and the frequency subtraction process shown in FIG. 4B are executed, and the rate is changed based on the rate setting table stored in the ROM 8. .

  The rate setting can be arbitrarily changed also in the television card timer in the present embodiment. As described above, as described above, the code classification of the rate setting table is written in the setting card and read by the card reader / writer 1, or the dip switch for changing the setting condition on the board in the timer device. A method of setting by setting or setting a dedicated remote controller for changing the setting conditions and transmitting and setting the rate setting table can be considered.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing elapsed time processing of the television card timer in this embodiment. The control unit 4 counts the time after the television card is inserted (s19). When 24 hours have elapsed since the television card was inserted for the first time (s20), the integrated time when the television was turned on is reset (s21), and the 24-hour counter is reset (s22). Thereafter, the process returns to the main processing operation.

  As described above, in the TV card timer according to the present embodiment, the user who watches TV for a long time by changing the frequency subtraction value per unit time after the accumulated time when the TV is turned on exceeds a predetermined time. Can be reduced. The subtraction value and each time range setting can be arbitrarily changed, and can be set as intended by the television card timer operator. Furthermore, since the current rate and the total time of viewing the television are displayed on the front of the television card timer, it is possible to easily determine how long the user will view and change the rate later. In addition, a clock IC is built in and the original frequency subtraction rate is changed every time the date changes, or a 24 hour counter is built in and the card is first inserted, and the original frequency subtraction rate is changed every 24 hours. This makes it possible to keep the preferential time on a daily basis.

Overall view of TV card timer connected to TV TV card timer block diagram Flow chart showing the main process of the entire TV card timer Flow chart showing elapsed time processing and frequency subtraction processing Rate setting table Block diagram of a television card timer in another embodiment The flowchart which showed the elapsed time process of the television card timer in another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1-card reader / writer 2-eject button 3-display unit 4-control unit 5-power control relay 6-current sensor 7-clock IC
8-ROM
100-TV card timer 101-Card slot 102-Remote control 103-TV

Claims (3)

A reader / writer that inserts a recording medium on which the usable frequency is recorded and reads / writes recording data of the recording medium;
Switch means for turning on / off the connection of the power supply to the electrical equipment;
Sensor means for detecting whether or not the electrical equipment is operating when a power source is connected to the electrical equipment;
A switch control means for turning on the switch means when a recording medium having a remaining usable frequency is inserted in the reader / writer, and for turning off the switching means when there is no remaining usable power in the recording medium;
Frequency subtraction means for subtracting a predetermined frequency subtraction value from the available frequency of the recording medium every unit time during which the electrical equipment is operating;
Integrating means for integrating the operating time of the electrical equipment detected by the sensor means ;
Storage means for setting a table defining a frequency subtraction value corresponding to each time range of the plurality of time ranges of the operating time;
A frequency subtraction value setting means for setting, in the frequency subtraction means, a frequency subtraction value corresponding to a time range to which the operation time accumulated by the accumulation means belongs , based on a prescribed value of a table set in the storage means ;
When the date changes or every time a fixed time elapses after the recording medium is inserted into the reader / writer, the operating time accumulated by the integrating means is reset, and the frequency subtraction set by the frequency subtraction value setting means is reset. and reset means Ru is changed to the value of the operation at the start of the electrical equipment of the value,
A timer device comprising: 2. The timer device according to claim 1, further comprising a table changing unit that changes a prescribed value of the table set in the storage unit and changes the plurality of time ranges or a frequency subtraction value corresponding to each time range. . 3. The timer device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a frequency subtraction value corresponding to the accumulated operating time of the electric device and a time range to which the current operating time belongs. .

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