Paystation (e.g., Escrow Control) Patents (Class 379/132)
  • Patent number: 4719648
    Abstract: A telephone paystation coin refund and collect circuit for operating a coin relay with power obtained from a two-wire business telephone line. The circuit employed utilizes charge storage capacitors and MOS-FET transistors for current pulsing of the relay coil with current flow in either direction as determined by a signal from an associated microprocessor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Inventor: Eduard F. B. Boeckmann
  • Patent number: 4698840
    Abstract: A self-contained, pre-pay coin operated telephone wherein when the user removes a handset from a switchhook, a local dial tone is generated, prompting the user to enter a telephone number of a called party. Once the first digit of that telephone number has been entered, the locally generated dial tone is removed and the user completes the entry of the telephone number. Once the proper coin has been deposited, the internal computer causes the telephone to couple itself to a central office. The telephone number entered by the user is then sent to the central office under control of the internal computer. During this time, the microphone in the handset is muted to disable communication. Once the user hears the called party answering, then the user must actuate a push-to-talk switch to indicate to the computer that the party has answered. The user is then allowed to speak to the called party and deposited coins are retained at the termination of the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Seiscor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee V. Dively, Jack M. Grubbs