Interface device for use with an alarm system and a telephone system

• US 3,882,278 A
• Filed: 07/16/1973
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward T. Coll
• Original Assignee: Edward T. Coll
• Inventors: Coll, Edward T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bartz, C. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/379,610
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 179/5R,2C,1C
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The present device provides a means to connect, or interface, a telephone system coupler with an alarm system. The present device provides terminals which are energized when the alarm system is effective, for example only during the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'night'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' hours, and further includes switching means to provide power to the telephone system coupler when said last mentioned terminals are energized; i.e., when the coupler system is to be activated in response to the alarm system being turned on. Further, the present system provides a timing circuit which keeps the necessary circuits connected through the telephone system coupler activated for the required period of time, and also provides a circuit, through a switching means, which connects an audio circuit to the telephone system coupler for transmission of audio signals into and through a normal telephone system.

Claims

1. An interface device to be used to connect an alarm system to a telephone system coupler comprising in combination a first source of power adapted to be activated during predetermined hours, means connecting said first source of power to said telephone system coupler to provide power thereto, first signal switching means having first and second terminals, first circuitry means connecting said first and second terminals to said telephone system coupler to activate said first switching means in response to a particular signal being transmitted to said telephone system coupler, first timing circuitry means connected to said first and second terminals to provide a threshold signal after a predetermined time that said particular signal has been applied to said telephone system coupler, second switching means connected to receive said threshold signal and further connected to said first switching means to cause said first switching means to be turned off in response to said threshold signal being generated, second circuitry means connected to said first switching means to enable a signal to be applied to said telephone system coupler which in turn causes it to seize a telephone line connected thereto in response to Said first signal switching means being switched, third circuitry means connected to said first signal switching means and to said alarm system as well as to said telephone system coupler to enable audio signals to be transmitted from said alarm system through said first signal switching means, through said telephone system coupler to said seized telephone line, fourth circuitry means connected to said first signal switching means to provide control signals through said first signal switching means to said telephone system coupler, and fifth circuitry means including second timing circuitry means connected to both said first circuitry means and said fourth circuitry means whereby at least one of said control signals is connected to disconnect said second timing circuitry means while said first signal switching means are activated and whereby said second timing circuitry means is connected to disenable said first circuitry means from passing said particular signal after a given period of time during which said second timing circuitry is activated.

2. An interface device as defined in clain 1 wherein said means connecting said first source of power to said telephone system coupler includes a first relay switching means which is energized by said first source of power.

3. An interface device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first signal switching means includes a second relay switching means having a plurality of transfer straps and associated points and a first electronic switching means serially connected thereto to energize said second relay switching means.

4. An interface device as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of transfer straps and associated points includes first transfer strap and point means and said third circuitry means is connected through said first transfer strap and point means to be connected to both said alarm system and said telephone system coupler.

5. An interface device as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of transfer straps and associated points includes second transfer strap and point means and said second circuitry means is connected therethrough to enable said telephone line to be seized.

6. An interface device as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of transfer straps and associated points includes third transfer strap and point means and said fourth circuitry means is connected therethrough to provide said control signals.

7. An interface device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first timing circuitry means includes a resistor-capacitor circuit and said second switching circuit is a second electronic switching circuit having a control element and said control element is connected to said resistor-capacitor circuit so that when said capacitor is charged to a threshold value said second electronic switching circuit conducts.

8. An interface device as defined in claim 7 wherein said first signal switching means includes a second relay means serially connected to a first transistor to be energized when said first transistor conducts and further includes a second transistor whose collector element is connected to the base element of said first transistor and said second electronic switching circuit has an output element connected to the base element of said second transistor whereby when said second electronic switching circuit conducts said first transistor becomes non-conducting.