Button illumination for repertory dialer with low battery voltage indication
First Claim
1. In a telephone set having a plurality of buttons, each button representing a plurality of digits precorded in a memory within the telephone set, a display circuit means comprising light-emitting elements, each element being associated wih one of selected buttons within the plurality of buttons for identification of buttons representing a preferred plurality of digits recorded in memory, and each one of the selected buttons having associated therewith a light-emitting element of a distinctive color, the display circuit means further including both battery supply means for powering the display circuit means, and circuit-connecting means responsive to the operation of a switch for applying power from the battery supply means to the display circuit means, and the light-emitting elements being arranged to provide a low battery indication when the potential of the battery supply means goes below a predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display illuminating circuit for a repertory dialer telephone set allows for a subscriber to operate a desired repertory button in low ambient light emergency situations. The circuit illuminates the desired buttons by distinguishable colors of light-emitting elements. Activation of the illumination circuit occurs in response to the telephone set going off-hook and then only for a limited period to conserve battery life. A battery voltage monitoring arrangement provides an indication when a local battery needs to be replaced. In response to an activation signal provided by the voltage monitoring arrangement, the light-emitting elements flash at a level that is detectable by the subscriber going off-hook even in normal ambient light conditions.
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Citations
8 Claims
- 1. In a telephone set having a plurality of buttons, each button representing a plurality of digits precorded in a memory within the telephone set, a display circuit means comprising light-emitting elements, each element being associated wih one of selected buttons within the plurality of buttons for identification of buttons representing a preferred plurality of digits recorded in memory, and each one of the selected buttons having associated therewith a light-emitting element of a distinctive color, the display circuit means further including both battery supply means for powering the display circuit means, and circuit-connecting means responsive to the operation of a switch for applying power from the battery supply means to the display circuit means, and the light-emitting elements being arranged to provide a low battery indication when the potential of the battery supply means goes below a predetermined level.
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8. In a telephone set having a plurality of buttons, each button representing a plurality of digits prerecorded in a memory within the telephone set, a display circuit means comprising light-emitting elements, each element being associated with one of selected buttons within the plurality of buttons for identification of buttons representing a preferred plurality of digits recorded in memory;
battery supply means for powering the display circuit means, and circuit-connecting means responsive to the operation of a switch for applying power from the battery supply means to the display circuit means, the circuit-connecting means activating the display circuit means for a fixed time period and after this time period the circuit-connecting means deactivating the display circuit means, the display circuit means being activated each time the switch is operated, and the light-emitting elements being intensity modulated by alternating between a low and a high intensity level in response to activation of the circuit-connecting means and the potential of the battery supply means going below a predetermined level.
Specification