Telephone paystation
US4136262A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 1977 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M17/023
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A high security full prepay telephone paystation utilizes a low current escrow unit and a coin counter for determining the amount of money deposited in the escrow. Also, circuitry is provided for sensing whether any money at all has been deposited in the escrow. If no money has been deposited, the circuit permits dial and voice signals to pass to permit "0," "1" and certain emergency numbers, such as "911" to be passed to central offices designed to accept such numbers without the need for depositing a coin. If money is deposited, but that money is insufficient as determined by the coin counter, the dial and voice circuitry is inhibited. In addition, an improved coin box and paystation locking mechanism further improves the security of the station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.