DE4039970A1 - Telephone call tariff indication device - uses microprocessor calculating tariff charge fed to visual display and speech synthesiser - Google Patents

Abstract

The tariff indication device for use with a telephone or telecopier appts. etc. uses a microprocessor with an external and/or internal current supply, receiving the 16kHz tariff count pulses provided by the exchange. The tariff rate is held in a memory and the calculated tariff charge is fed to an optical LCD display. The operation of the display and the programming of the tariff rate etc. is effeced via a manual input keyboard. A speech synthesizer is coupled to the microprocessor for providing speech phrases for announcing the tariff charge etc. via a loudspeaker coupled to the speech synthesiser via an intermediate LF filter. ADVANTAGE - Provides simultaneous visual and audio output.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical device to record and display fees for the Telecommunications equipment that can be connected to the telephone network, the device comprising a microprocessor with external and / or internal power supply, in the over a switch that from the telephone line count pulse transmitted from the exchange, for example 16 kHz counting pulses are fed in, the one with an adjustable memory for the fees factor, a single counter and a total counter is connected to an electrical or electronic optical display, in particular LCD-An show, is coupled and the controls (button)  for manual operation, especially the call of the different ads, and for the programs fee factor and deletion of individual and has a totalizer.

Such a device is device-wise from DE 89 02 720 U1 known.

Such devices according to Ober are from practice known concept.

Based on this state of the art Invention based on the object of such direction to improve that example wise even blind people who visual displays cannot capture a capture of the ad values of the device is possible.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes that to the microprocessor as further data output device a speech synthesizer is coupled,  the current meter readings saved by the µP, Factors and additional operating support from one Stock of phrases, syllables and sentences for one acu stical message and thus the readable Contents of the LC display reproduces the speech syntheziser a low pass filter, this one given if adjustable AF amplifier, and the latter one Speaker is connected, by means of which the delivered signals of the speech synthesizer acoustically are ejectable.

This arrangement ensures that the Operating data shown in the optical display at the same time acoustically via the loudspeaker be delivered. It goes without saying that Volume via the setting of the AF amplifier adjustable by means of a potentiometer.

Further developments are in claims 2 and 3 designated.

A training that is an advantageous next education, but also an independently inventive one  Measure includes, is characterized in that a switchable to the telephone line, Lock for counting connected in parallel to the switch is arranged on the output side with a Telephone or the like can be coupled and dialed can be switched as transparent or blocking.

The lock is a transparent circuit Counting pulses (16 kHz pulses) possible to include one for example on the telephone itself to be able to use the fee counter, which then parallel to the electrical device the ent speaking values, decentralized wherever the corresponding data centrally against the device captures and stores or ejects. In the normal state the lock can be in the locked position, so that it is blocked for the 16 kHz pulses. Choice wise is a transparent circuit by bridging possible, so that the counting pulses on the remote speaker itself via one located there Fee counters can be evaluated.

An embodiment of the invention is in the Drawing shown and below in more detail described.

It shows:

Fig. 1 An electrical device in view;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the circuitry structure of the device.

The electrical device 1 for recording and displaying charges for connectable to the telephone network telecommunications equipment, such as telephony apparte, facsimile or the like telecommunications equipment consists of electrotechnical and electronic components, which are arranged within a housing, which is shown in Fig. 1. The housing has control elements (buttons) E, B, S, G, P, by means of which certain functions can be set and called up. The device also has a display field 2 in which the corresponding data can be read off via an LCD display. A loudspeaker is arranged behind a housing opening 3 , the volume of which can be adjusted via a potentiometer by means of a knurled wheel 4 . In addition, a plug-in key 5 is provided on the housing, by means of which the function key P, which is used for programming, can be locked or released.

The individual functional elements can be seen from the block diagram according to FIG. 2. As an essential and central component, the device has a microprocessor µP. This can be powered by an internal or external power supply described later. This microprocessor µP can be fed via a switch to the counting pulses transmitted by the telephone connection line (connections La, Lb) from the switching center. The counts are 16 kHz counts that are within a certain bandwidth. The crossover is set in such a way that the 16 kHz counting pulses, including corresponding tolerances, can be filtered out and read into the microprocessor as counting pulses. In this case, an indicator is arranged between the exchange line or the connection terminals La and Lb in front of the switch, which determines the voltage drop when the exchange line is occupied, the operating voltage being tapped from the indicator, which is used to supply power to the microprocessor. The reset input of the microprocessor is controlled and the microprocessor started via a converter into which additional energy can be fed via an external power supply or a battery. The microprocessor is coupled to an adjustable memory (EEPROM), which serves as a memory for events and also for variables. For example, the memory can be used to store the fee factor, the individual fees and the total fee as well as the individual units and total units. The memory is electrically supplied via the exchange line (telephone line).

An exclusive external supply is also possible, which gets by without an indicator and converter, and then  only a battery or the like as elek electrical supply can be used.

The LCD display, which is visible in display field 2 of device 1, is additionally coupled to the microprocessor. Furthermore, controls are provided under different types. On the one hand, operating elements E, B, S, G are provided, which are used for manual operation. For example, the individual units, the corresponding fee amount and the sum of the units as well as the fee factor can be called up and displayed in display zone 2 . The control element B can be switched and is preferably adjusted during assembly, but can only be operated subsequently by an authorized hand, namely when the key 5 is inserted. Only then can the circuit P be operated, namely to change the fee factor and to delete the individual or total count or fee rate.

You can also hear the data displayed on the display panel is a speech to the microprocessor µP connected to the syntheziser that is stored by the µP current meter readings, factors and additional Be support from a stock of phrases, syllables and sentences to form an acoustic message and thus the readable content of the LC display again there, the speech synthesizer using a low-pass filter and this a NF amplifier and a loudspeaker is connected by means of which the filtered Signals from the speech synthesizer can be ejected acoustically are. The NF amplifier is still with a potentio meter P, by means of which the volume is adjusted is adjustable. The low pass filter filters all frequencies from above 6 to 7 kHz.

In addition, one is connected to the telephone line switchable (in the exemplary embodiment between indicator and turnout) Lock connected in parallel to the turnout arranged for the counting pulses, the output side with a telephone or the like tele communication device can be coupled. The lock is an option as transparent or lockable, so that choice  pass through the 16 kHz counts and at connected to the wires a and b with charges show equipped telecommunication devices evaluation are bar, or the counts are in Blocked position of the blocked lock filtered out. The The lock is made transparent by pressing bridging.

The invention is not based on the embodiment limited, but a lot within the scope of the revelation times variable.

All new, in the description and / or drawing disclosed individual and combination features regarded as essential to the invention.

Reference symbol list

1 = electrical device
2 = display field
3 = housing opening
4 = knurled wheel
5 = key
6 = trunk line of the DBP
7 = indicator
8 = switch
9 = lock
10 = connection of telephones
11 = ext. Power supply or battery
12 = converter
13 = reset
14 = speech synthesizer
15 = filter
16 = EEPROM
17 = µP
18 = operating elements (buttons)
19 = MF amplifier
20 = LCD
21 = controls (switchable)

Claims (4)

1. Electrical device for recording and displaying charges for connectable to the telephone network telecommunications equipment, the device having a microprocessor with external and / or internal power supply, in which the counting pulses transmitted by the telephone line from the switching center to the switch 16 kHz counting pulses are fed in, which is connected to an adjustable memory for the charge factor, a single counter and a totalizer, to which an electrical or electronic optical display, in particular an LCD display, is coupled and the operating elements (buttons) for manual operation, in particular calling up the different displays, and for programming the charge factor and deleting individual and total counters, characterized in that a speech synthesizer is coupled to the microprocessor as a further data output device, which the v om µP ge stored current counter readings, factors and additional operator support from a stock of phrases, syllables and sentences to an acoustic message and thus reproduces the readable content of the LC display, the speech synthesizer a low-pass filter, this a possibly adjustable AF amplifier and the latter is followed by a loudspeaker, by means of which the filtered signals of the speech synthesizer can be ejected acoustically. 2. Electrical device according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that the low-pass filter as a filter is designed by means of its higher frequencies than approx. 6 to 7 kHz are filterable. 3. Electrical device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the microprocessor has a reset input, which is replaced by the  the incoming call pulse controlled the telephone line the microprocessor starts. 4. Electrical device according to the preamble of the An Proverb 1, in particular according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one to the Telephone connection line switchable, parallel lock for the counting pulses switched to the soft is arranged, the output side with a remote intercom or the like can be coupled and choice can be switched as transparent or blocking.