Cordless telephone system
First Claim
1. In a cordless telephone system including a handset unit and a control unit each including transmitter means and receiver means for wireless communication between said units, each transmitter means having an audio signal input and each receiver means having an audio signal output, a line circuit in said control unit for connection to at least one outside line and including an input for receiving audio signals to be transmitted to the outside line and an output for transmission of signals received from the outside line, a speaker amplifier in said control unit having an input and an output, a speaker in said control unit connected to said speaker amplifier output, a microphone amplifier in said control unit having an input and an output, a microphone in said control unit connected to said microphone amplifier input, control means in said control unit for operation thereof in a plurality of modes including a "normal" mode and a "local answer" mode, said control means in said "normal" mode being arranged to connect said audio signal output of said control unit receiver means to said input of said line circuit and to connect said output of said line circuit to said audio signal input of said control unit transmitter means while inhibiting transmission of audio signals to and from said speaker amplifier input and said microphone amplifier output, said control means in said "local answer" mode being arranged to connect said line circuit output to said speaker amplifier input and to connect said microphone amplifier output to said line circuit input while inhibiting transmission of audio signals from said audio signal output of said control unit receiver means to said input of said line circuit, voice-operated switching means in said control unit associated with said microphone amplifier and operable in said "local answer" mode, said voice-operated switching means being responsive to microphone-generated audio signals of above a certain threshold value and being then operable to inhibit transmission of audio signals through said speaker amplifier to said speaker.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cordless telephone system includes a control unit having a speaker, a microphone and control circuitry for selective operation in a "normal" mode for communications between the handset and an outside party, a "local answer" mode for communications between a party at the control unit and an outside party, an "intercom" mode for communications between parties at the control unit and the handset and a "3-way" mode for communications between parties at the control unit and handset and an outside party. A microprocessor so responds to ring detect, control and switch-generated interrupt signals as to obtain the desired communications.
138 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. In a cordless telephone system including a handset unit and a control unit each including transmitter means and receiver means for wireless communication between said units, each transmitter means having an audio signal input and each receiver means having an audio signal output, a line circuit in said control unit for connection to at least one outside line and including an input for receiving audio signals to be transmitted to the outside line and an output for transmission of signals received from the outside line, a speaker amplifier in said control unit having an input and an output, a speaker in said control unit connected to said speaker amplifier output, a microphone amplifier in said control unit having an input and an output, a microphone in said control unit connected to said microphone amplifier input, control means in said control unit for operation thereof in a plurality of modes including a "normal" mode and a "local answer" mode, said control means in said "normal" mode being arranged to connect said audio signal output of said control unit receiver means to said input of said line circuit and to connect said output of said line circuit to said audio signal input of said control unit transmitter means while inhibiting transmission of audio signals to and from said speaker amplifier input and said microphone amplifier output, said control means in said "local answer" mode being arranged to connect said line circuit output to said speaker amplifier input and to connect said microphone amplifier output to said line circuit input while inhibiting transmission of audio signals from said audio signal output of said control unit receiver means to said input of said line circuit, voice-operated switching means in said control unit associated with said microphone amplifier and operable in said "local answer" mode, said voice-operated switching means being responsive to microphone-generated audio signals of above a certain threshold value and being then operable to inhibit transmission of audio signals through said speaker amplifier to said speaker.
- 10. In a cordless telephone system including a handset unit and a control unit each including transmitter means and receiver means for wireless communication between said units, each transmitter means having audio and control signal input means and each receiver means having audio and control signal output means, a line circuit in said control unit for connection to at least one outside line and including an input for receiving audio signals to be transmitted to the outside line and an output for transmission of signals received from the outside line, a ring detect circuit in said control unit connected to the outside line for detecting a ring condition of the outside line, speaker and microphone means connectable to said input and output means of said transmitter and receiver means of said control unit for intercom communication with said handset, manually operable intercom switch means on said control unit, control means coupled to said input and output of said line circuit, said input and output means of said transmitter and receiver means of said control unit and said speaker and microphone means of said control unit, said control means including a microprocessor and an interrupt circuit coupled to said microprocessor, to said output means of said receiver means of said control unit, to said ring detect circuit and to said intercom switch means, said interrupt circuit being arranged to apply an interrupt signal to said microprocesor in response to any one of a number of initiating signals including a control signal from said handset unit, a ring detect signal from said ring detect circuit and a signal from said intercom switch means and said microprocessor means being arranged to respond to said interrupt signal to perform control operations in accordance with the status of said control unit and the identity of the signal which initiated said interrupt signal.
Specification