Patent US4041291A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4041291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dollars and cents telephone metering computer
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-12-19
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A battery powered hand held or telephone snap-on computer programmed digital calculator instrument, for simultaneously timing, computing and calculating cost plus tax of a running long distance telephone toll call (LDTTC) in dollars & cents ($ & ¢) and flashing same on a digital display readout screen. A caller feeds toll cost numbers into a calculator register via a numerically marked push-button key board...and sets a fixed charge selector switch to (1) or (2) minutes. At the start of a (LDTTC) caller presses a START BAR, actuating the computer programmed digital calculator circuits to perpetually flash ($ & ¢) of a running (LDTTC) on a digital display screen. At the end of said call, caller presses STOP BAR, again actuating the computer programmed digital calculator circuits to compute tax on final total simultaneously storing grand total into an accumulative digital storage register while flashing same on a digital display screen. Accumulative (LDTTC) totals can be retrieved and flashed on a digital display screen or erased anytime by pressing appropriately marked push buttons.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip D. Pavda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/28; H04M15/30; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283; G06Q30/0284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
An electronic solid state telephone toll call calculator of a size capable of being hand-held or affixed to a telephone by a snap-on arrangement, said calculator comprising: a display for displaying and noting the running telephone toll cost plus tax in dollars and cents; a keyboard having ten numerically marked pushbutton keys for entering the numerals 0- 9 and four pushbar keys labeled "clear", "start", "stop" and "+"; a calculator chip for computing the running cost of long distance telephone calls and connected to said display; a calculator memory for storing the values computed by the calculator chip; elapsed minute timer logic means responsive to actuation of the "start" key for measuring the duration of a long distance telephone call in minute intervals and generating a timing signal at the end of each interval; cost count logic means responsive to said timing signals for generating a cost signal representative of the cost for each interval measured by the elapsed minute timer logic means; opto-driver switching and isolator for calculator programing means responsive to said cost signals for enabling the calculator chip to add the cost represented by each cost signal to the running cost stored in the calculator memory; tax logic means responsive to actuation of the 37 stop" key for directing the calculator chip to compute the tax on the telephone call and add it to the running cost stored in the memory; means responsive to actuation of said "clear" key for clearing all circuits within the elapsed minute timer logic means, the calculator chip and the tax logic means; a blinker light for blinking on and off during telephone conversations to indicate that the calculator circuits are functioning; means for retrieving the running cost stored in said memory and displaying the same in response to actuation of a storage retrieve button or key switch on said keyboard; and means for erasing the value stored in said memory in response to actuation of a storage erase button or key switch located on said keyboard.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
An electronic solid state telephone toll call calculator of a size capable of being hand-held or affixed to a telephone by a snap-on arrangement, said calculator comprising: a display for displaying and noting the running telephone toll cost plus tax in dollars and cents; a keyboard having ten numerically marked pushbutton keys for entering the numerals 0- 9 and four pushbar keys labeled "clear", "start", "stop" and "+"; a calculator chip for computing the running cost of long distance telephone calls and connected to said display; a calculator memory for storing the values computed by the calculator chip; elapsed minute timer logic means responsive to actuation of the "start" key for measuring the duration of a long distance telephone call in minute intervals and generating a timing signal at the end of each interval; cost count logic means responsive to said timing signals for generating a cost signal representative of the cost for each interval measured by the elapsed minute timer logic means; opto-driver switching and isolator for calculator programing means responsive to said cost signals for enabling the calculator chip to add the cost represented by each cost signal to the running cost stored in the calculator memory; tax logic means responsive to actuation of the 37 stop" key for directing the calculator chip to compute the tax on the telephone call and add it to the running cost stored in the memory; means responsive to actuation of said "clear" key for clearing all circuits within the elapsed minute timer logic means, the calculator chip and the tax logic means; a blinker light for blinking on and off during telephone conversations to indicate that the calculator circuits are functioning; means for retrieving the running cost stored in said memory and displaying the same in response to actuation of a storage retrieve button or key switch on said keyboard; and means for erasing the value stored in said memory in response to actuation of a storage erase button or key switch located on said keyboard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electronic solid state telephone toll call calculator of claim 1 wherein said display includes means for automatically determining the placement of the decimal point when displaying dollars and cents values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The electronic solid state telephone toll call calculator of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of induction pickups attached to the the telephone externally also connected to the calculator and automatically responsive to coded information transmitted by the phone company for deriving information as to the start of the call, the fixed initial cost of the call, the running cost for each minute interval thereafter, and the termination of the call.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |