Communication terminal equipment

• US 5,483,574 A
• Filed: 05/18/1992
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yuyama, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US07/884,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 379/2, 379/26, 379/28, 379/32, 379/387, 379/413, 455/127, 455/343
• US Class Current: 379/32.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/005 Feeding arrangements without the use of line transformers

Abstract

A telephone set includes an audio system circuit and a data system circuit connected to a data terminal equipment having a data communication function in and an oral communication function. The telephone set includes a power supply circuit connected to a switching system through a telephone line and a current limiting portion for controlling connection between the data system circuit and the power supply circuit. When connection between the telephone set and the switching system is established through the line, power supply to the telephone set from the switching system through the line. The power is only supplied to the telephone set only via the line and the supplied power is further provided separately to the audio system circuit and the data system circuit through the power supply circuit. After the line connection is established, if a short-circuit occurs in the data terminal equipment, the current limiting portion cuts off a power supply path from the power supply circuit to the data system circuit. In this instance, only the power supply to the data system circuit is cut off. Power supply to the audio system circuit is maintained so that the oral communication function is not disabled and the availability of the telephone set is enhanced.

Claims

1. A communication terminal equipment, connected to a communication line, including first processing means for transmitting/receiving a first signal through said communication line and second processing means for transmitting/receiving a second signal different than said first signal through said communication line, said first and second processing means being driven by power supplied from said communication line, the communication terminal equipment comprising:

detection means for detecting a specific event occurring for which the supplied power to said second processing means should be cut off;

power supply cutoff means, responsive to the detection of said specific event by said detection means, for cutting off the supplied power to said second processing means; and

power supply resumption means, responsive to an externally applied signal indicative that said specific event has been eliminated after cutting off of the supplied power by said power supply cutoff means, for resuming the supplied power to said second processing means.

2. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 1, wherein said specific event is a state where an overcurrent flows in said second processing means.

3. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal equipment is a telephone set including audio processing means in said first processing means and said communication line is a telephone line for transmitting an audio signal as said first signal.

4. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 1, wherein said second signal includes a data signal and said second processing means includes transmission/reception processing means for said data signal.

5. The communication terminal equipment according to claim 4, wherein said second processing means further includes data processing means for processing data based on said data signal transmitted/received by said transmission/reception processing means.

6. A communication terminal equipment, connected to a communication line, including a plurality of processing means for transmitting/receiving a signal through said communication line, said plurality of processing means being driven by power supplied from said communication line, the communication terminal equipment comprising:

detection means for detecting occurrence of a specific event for which the supplied power to a specific one of said plurality of processing means should be cut off; and

power supply cutoff means, responsive to a detection output of said detection means indicative of occurrence of the specific event, for cutting off the supplied power only to the specific one of said plurality of processing means,

said power supply cutoff means comprising

control means, coupled to said detection means, for generating a first signal responsive to receipt of said detection output for directing cut off of the supplied power and a second signal responsive to receipt of an externally provided signal indicative that the specific event has been eliminated for directing resumption of the supplied power, and

a switch, operatively coupled in series between said communication line and said detection means, for cutting off the supplied power from said communication line upon receipt of said first signal and for resuming the supplied power upon receipt of said second signal.

7. A communication terminal apparatus having first and second processing means for respectively transmitting/receiving first and second signals over a communication line, operating power being supplied to the communication terminal apparatus through the communication line, the communication terminal apparatus comprising:

power supply means, coupled to the communication line, for outputting the operating power respectively for said first and second processing means; and

current limiting means, coupled between said power supply means and said second processing means, for selectively supplying the operating power to said second processing means, said current limiting means having

switching means including a first terminal coupled to the operating power output said power supply means and a second terminal,

monitor means, coupled between the second terminal of said switching means and said second processing means, for generating and outputting an abnormality signal upon the occurrence of an abnormal event in said second processing means, and

control means, coupled to said switching means, for switching said switching means to an open position upon receipt of the abnormality signal and for maintaining said switching means in a closed position otherwise,

said control means having a reset terminal for receiving a reset signal indicative that the abnormal event no longer exists, said control means switching said switching means to the closed position upon receipt of the reset signal.

8. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 7, wherein said monitor means comprises a resistor, the abnormality signal being output when said monitor means determines that a voltage drop across said resistor exceeds a predetermined value.

9. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 7, wherein said monitor means comprises a coil, the abnormality signal being output when said monitor means determines that a potential across said coil exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication line is a telephone line, said first processing means comprises a telephone unit and the first signals are audio signals and wherein said second processing means comprises data processing means and the second signals are data signals.