Automatic device for testing telephone equipment

• US 3,875,343 A
• Filed: 03/19/1973
• Issued: 04/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph Quere
• Original Assignee: Joseph Quere
• Inventors: Quere, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Application Number:
  US05/342,839
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 179/175.3R,175.2R,2A,6R,81R,84R,1.1R,18BE,175 328/72
• US Class Current: 379/27.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)

Abstract

An automatic answering device for testing telephone equipment comprising a detector for detecting a telephone call, a signal generator of audio frequency signals, and a normally-released relay for connecting the detector to the telephone line. When the relay operates, the telephone line is connected to the signal generator. A counter counts while the call is incoming. Thereafter, the relay operates.

Claims

1. An automatic telephone line test device comprising detector means for detecting intervals of telephone ringing current appearing on said line, generating means for generating signals at audio frequency, first relay means connected to have one position to connect the detector means to a telephone line and another position to connect the generator means to said telephone line, multi-stage ringing interval counter means for counting a predetermined number of ringing current intervals as they are received over said line and detected by the detector means, timing circuit means operating during a predetermined interval of time and resetting said ringing interval counter means to an initial state at the end of said time interval, control means actuated by an output of said ringing interval counter means to switch said electromagnetic relay to said other position to trigger the operation of the said timing circuit means.

2. An automatic device according to claim 1 and cycle counting means, said timing circuit comprising an oscillator and said cycle counter for counting the cycles from the output of the said oscillator which are applied to the counter, and means for delivering, when the count of the said cycles has reached a predetermined number, a return of the counter to a zero setting for bringing back the said counter means to its initial state.

3. An automatic device according to claim 2, including an AND gate connected between the said oscillator and the said cycle counter, said AND gate having two inputs one of which is connected to the output of the said control means and the other to the output of the said oscillator, the AND gate output being connected to a counting inlet of the said cycle counter.

4. An automatic device according to claim 3, wherein the said ringing interval counter means has a return to zero terminal, the output of the first stage being connected via one input of a two input AND gate to the input of the return to zero input of the said cycle counter, the other input of said last named AND gate being connected to a terminal for receiving cyclic pulses for the rhythm entry of the counter means, the outputs of the other counter stages being connected to the said control means via a set of correction gates for selecting an outlet by means of a key switch for choosing the number of ringing repeats which said counter means must count before the generating means is connected to the telephone line.

5. An automatic device according to claim 4, and means responsive to said detector means for activating an electro-magnetic relay having a reversing contact which drives a flip flop, the output of which corresponds to the working positions of the relay contact, means for connecting said flip flop to an impulse input of the first stage of the said counter means whilst the output corresponding to the rest position of the contact is connected to the rhythm input of each stage of the counter means.

6. The device of claim 1 and means for operating said ringing interval counter means to advance it one count responsive to each of a plurality of ringing intervals, and means responsive to said ringing interval counter reaching a preselected count for actuaTing said control means.

7. An automatic telephone test device comprising detector means for detecting telephone ringing signals, generating means for generating signals at audio frequency, first relay means having one position for connecting the detector means to a telephone line and another position for connecting the generator means to said telephone lines, multi-stage ringing interval counter means for counting a preselected number of ringing intervals as detected by said detector means, timing circuit means operating during a predetermined time interval and for thereafter resetting said ringing interval counter means to the initial state at the end of said time interval, control means actuated by an output of said ringing interval counter means to switch said first relay means into said other position and to trigger the operation of said timing circuit means, second relay means having a reversing contact, flip-flop means having outputs which corresponds to the operate and release positions of the second relay means, means responsive to said detector means for causing said second relay means to drive said flip-flop, and means for connecting said flip-flop to an input of a first stage of said ringing interval counter means while an output corresponding to rest positions of said second relay means is connected to a rhythm input of each stage of said ringing interval counter means.

8. An automatic device according to claim 7, wherein said timing circuit means comprises an oscillator having an output, cycle counter means connected to said oscillator, a first two input AND gate having one input connected to the output of said oscillator and the other input connected to the output of said control means, the output of said AND gate being connected to a counting inlet of said cycle counter which counts the successive cycles from the said oscillator, means responsive to the count of the said cycle counter reaching a predetermined number for giving a reset signal to said ring counter means, second two input AND gate, means for connecting an output of the first stage of said counter means to one input of said second two input AND gate, the other input of the said second AND gate being connected to the rhythm input of said ringing interval counter means, means for counting the output of said second AND circuit to a reset input of the said cycle counter, key switch means, and means for connecting the outputs of the other ring counter stages to said control means via a set of selection gates for selecting an outlet by means of said key switch, whereby said answering device selects a number of ringing intervals which said ring counter means must count before said generating means is connected to the telephone line.