Line-powered pay telephone
OwnerRonald J. Honick, Richard A. Padulainventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pay telephone unit is disclosed that derives all operating power from the tip and ring conductors of the telephone line without the need for a battery. All data is stored in nonvolatile memory requiring no power for data retention, even when disconnected from the telephone line. The unit employs an interrupt architecture that advantageously reduces current consumption in comparison with prior art polling arrangements. In addition, stored power from operational circuitry is diverted to keep the real-time clock operating during momentary disruptions in line power. Diverted power may also be used to permit certain parameter settings, when initiated by the real-time clock, to be changed while the telephone unit is in an on-hook condition.
Claims32
A pay telephone unit for connection to a telephone line, said telephone unit comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a nonvolatile memory device associated with said microprocessor;
- said memory device operative to receive and store usage information output from said microprocessor, as well as being operative to store therein program code and rate information;
- said memory device maintaining memory contents during on-hook condition without application of power thereto;
- power control circuitry operative to initiate power up of said microprocessor responsive to predetermined inputs;
- power routing circuitry operatively associated with said power control circuit to direct power from said telephone line to said microprocessor only in response to said predetermined inputs;
- and
- a real time clock device, said power routing circuitry further operative to direct power from said telephone line to said real time clock device irrespective of said predetermined inputs such that said real time clock device will directly receive all of its power from the telephone line in both off-hook and on-hook conditions.
A pay telephone unit for connection to a telephone line, said telephone unit comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a nonvolatile memory device associated with said microprocessor, said memory device having at least program code and rate information stored therein;
- power control circuitry operative to initiate power up of said microprocessor responsive to predetermined inputs;
- power routing circuitry operatively associated with said power control circuit to direct power from said telephone line to said microprocessor only in response to said predetermined inputs;
- and
- a real time clock device, said power routing circuitry further operative to direct power from said telephone line to said real time clock device irrespective of said predetermined inputs such that said real time clock device will directly receive all of its operating power from the telephone line in both off-hook and on-hook conditions.
A pay telephone unit for connection to a telephone line, said telephone unit comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a flash memory device associated with said microprocessor;
- a real time clock device;
- power control circuitry operative to initiate power up of said microprocessor responsive to at least a hookswitch mechanism indicating an off-hook condition;
- and
- power routing circuitry operatively associated with said power control circuitry to direct power from said telephone line to said microprocessor in response to said off-hook condition, said power routing circuitry further operative to direct power from said telephone line to said real time clock device irrespective of said off-hook condition such that said real time clock device will directly receive all of its operating power from the telephone line in both off-hook and on-hook conditions without application of supplemental power thereto.
A pay telephone unit for connection to a telephone line, said telephone unit comprising;
- a microprocessor;
- a real time clock device;
- a flash memory device associated with said microprocessor for storing program code, rate information and usage records;
- power control circuitry operative to initiate power up of said microprocessor responsive to predetermined inputs;
- power routing circuitry operatively associated with said power control circuitry to direct power from said telephone line to said microprocessor only in response to said predetermined inputs, said power routing circuitry further operative to direct power from said telephone line to said real time clock device irrespective of said predetermined inputs;
- and
- whereby said telephone unit is operative to derive all of its operating power from said telephone line without use of batteries.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.