Telephone data set including visual display means

• US 3,920,926 A
• Filed: 12/07/1973
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eric Egils Auzins, George Victor Lenaerts
• Original Assignee: Eric Egils Auzins, George Victor Lenaerts
• Inventors: Lenaerts, George Victor, Auzins, Eric Egils
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/422,816
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 179/9R,9K,9B,9BB,2DP,2CA,9AN 340/365R,365E,324AD 235/152,84L 307/247A 178/17C
• US Class Current: 379/93.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2725 using electronic memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set

Abstract

A conventional telephone set having a pushbutton pad is modified to include a memory system through which any information keyed on the pushbutton pad must pass before it is transmitted on the telephone line. The use of a memory allows the data stored therein to be viewed on a visual display and thus to be checked for accuracy prior to transmission. The set is also provided with an error correction facility whereby the last entry only or the entire contents of the memory may be erased and the correct data entered. The memory is of the non-destructive read-out type, thereby providing the telephone set with a redial capability. Also included in the set are a contact debounce circuit and a control circuit which causes the display to flicker on and off during the send cycle.

Claims

1. A telephone data set comprising:

a conventional telephone set having a pushbutton pad, a handset, and circuit means for connecting the set to a telephone line;

memory means for storing binary signals corresponding to the signals from the pushbutton pad;

a send circuit connected to said memory means for generating telephone signalling signals corresponding to the contents of the memory means;

an error correct key;

a logic control circuit for allowing the memory means to store a plurality of signals generated by the pushbutton pad, said control circuit being responsive to the signal from one of the keys on the pushbutton pad for causing the signals stored in the memory means to be fed sequentially to the send circuit and hence unto the telephone line;

said logic control circuit including error circuit means responsive to a first momentary actuation of the error key to erase from the memory means the data corresponding to the last-entered digit.

2. A telephone data set as defined in claim 1 wherein said error circuit means is responsive to a second consecutive momentary actuation of the error key to clear the memory means.

3. In a telephone data set comprising a conventional telephone set having a plurality of keys and a memory means for storing binary signals corresponding to the signals from the keys, a control debounce circuit means for allowing the data representing any one of said keys to be written into the memory means only after a predetermined time interval subsequent to the occurrence of the last noise pulse generated by the switch contacts of that key, said contact debounce circuit means comprising:

a counter circuit adapted to be connected to a source of clock signals;

first means for controlling the operation of the counter circuit including a first gating means for resetting it when none of the keys is actuated and for allowing it to count when at least one key is being actuated, and for resetting it whenever a contact bounce occurs;

second gating means for decoding a predetermined count of the counter, thereby providing an output signal a predetermined amount of time after the last contact bounce; and

second means responsive to said output signal for inhibiting the operation of the counter circuit, for resetting it and maintaining it in the reset state until the release of the key which initiated the count.

4. A telephone data set comprising:

a conventional telephone set having a pushbutton pad and circuit means for connecting the set to a telephone line;

memory means for storing binary signals corresponding to the signals from the pushbutton pad;

a send circuit connected to said memory means for generating telephone signalling signals corresponding to the contents of the memory means;

a visual display for viewing the contents of the memory means;

a logic control circuit for allowing the memory means to store a plurality of signals generated by the pushbutton pad, said logic control circuit including display control means for causing said visual display to be enabled and disabled in synchronism with said telephone signalling signals whereby the visual display is caused to flicker during the send cycle.

5. In a telephone data set comprising a conventional telephone set having a pushbutton pad and circuit means for connecting the set to a telephone line, memory means for storing binary signals corresponding to the signals from the pushbutton pad, a send circuit connected to said memory means for generating telephone signalling signals corresponding to the contents of the memory means, said signalling signals comprising a plurality of tones or pulses each one of which is separated from an adjacent one by a predetermined time interval;

a visual display for viewing the contents of the memory means;

a method for controlling said visual display comprising the steps of;

a. disabling the visual display during the time that each of said tones or pulses is being sent on the teLephone line; and

b. enabling the visual display during each of said predetermined time intervals, thereby causing the visual display to flicker during the send cycle.

6. A telephone data set comprising, a conventional telephone set having a pushbutton pad, memory means for storing binary signals corresponding to the signals from the pushbutton pad, a visual display for viewing the contents of the memory means, a logic control circuit for allowing the memory means to store a plurality of signals generated by the pushbutton pad, said logic control circuit including display control means comprising:

a. second circuit means for enabling the display with the handset off-hook only when data has been entered into the memory means since the handset was last on-hook;

b. third circuit means for enabling the visual display with the handset on-hook when data has been entered into the memory means since the handset was placed on-hook;

c. fourth circuit means for disabling the visual display at the end of a send cycle with the handset off-hook.