Communication line relay system

Claim 2

A relay system for receiving a binary signal carried by a communication line, wherein one state of said binary signal is manifested by a line voltage greater than the line voltage associated with the other state of said binary signal, said relay system being for the purpose of converting said states of said binary signal to corresponding states of at least one output circuit thereof, comprising in combination: a. means including an output relay having an energizing coil and at least one set of output contacts for defining an output circuit capable of assuming two states, the first state by a closed condition of said contacts, the second state by an open condition of said contacts; b. means including voltage-regulating circuit coupled with said communication line for providing a regulated voltage from said received binary signal, said voltage not exceeding a predetermined value safe for the operation of said relay; and c. means including a bistable circuit having one input connected with said voltage regulating means (b), an output coupled with said energizing coil of said relay (a) for applying current to said coil from said voltage-regulating means, and a trigger input coupled with said communication line sensing the state of said binary signal, for triggering said bistable circuit to apply said current To said energizing coil to provide said first state of said relay contacts when said binary signal is in its first state and for deenergizing said coil to provide said second state of said relay contacts when said binary signal is in its second state.

Claim 3

A relay system for receiving a binary signal in bipolar form carried by a communication line and for converting the two states capable of being assumed by said binary signal into corresponding states of at least one output circuit of said relay system, comprising in combination: a. means including a polarizing bridge circuit connected with said communication line for receiving said bipolar binary signal and for providing a polarized signal therefrom; b. an output relay having an energizing coil and at least one set of output contacts for defining an output circuit capable of assuming two states, the first state by a closed condition of said contacts, the second state by an open condition of said contacts; c. means including a voltage-regulating circuit, connected with said means (a), for providing a regulated voltage from said polarized signal, said voltage not exceeding a predetermined value safe for the operation of said relay; and d. means including a bistable circuit having one input connected with said voltage-regulating means (c), an output coupled with said energizing coil of said relay (b) for applying current to said coil from said voltage-regulating means, and a trigger input coupled with said communication line sensing the state of said binary signal, for triggering said bistable circuit to apply said current to said energizing coil to provide said first state of said relay contacts when said binary signal is in its first state and for deenergizing said coil to provide said second state of said relay contacts when said binary signal is in its second state.

Claim 4

A relay system for receiving a binary signal in bipolar form carried by a communication line and for converting the two states capable of being assumed by said binary signal into corresponding states of at least one output circuit of said relay system, comprising in combination: a. means including a polarizing bridge circuit connected with said communication line for receiving said bipolar binary signal and for providing a polarized signal therefrom; b. an output relay having an energizing coil and at least one set of output contacts for defining an output circuit capable of assuming two states, the first state by a closed condition of said contacts, the second state by an open condition of said contacts; c. means including a voltage-regulating circuit, connected with said means (a), for providing a regulated voltage from said polarized signal, said voltage not exceeding a predetermined value safe for the operation of said relay; and d. means including a bistable circuit having one input connected with said voltage-regulating means (c), an output coupled with said energizing coil of said relay (b) for applying current to said coil from said voltage-regulating means, and a trigger input coupled with said communication line sensing the state of said binary signal, for triggering said bistable circuit to apply said current to said energizing coil to provide said first state of said relay contacts when said binary signal is in its first state and for deenergizing said coil to provide said second state of said relay contacts when said binary signal is in its second state.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said voltage-regulating circuit includes a transistor coupled with said polarizing bridge and a zener diode coupled with said transistor to control the voltage across said transistor at a value substantially equal to said predetermined value.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said transistor is of the NPN-type, wherein said zener diode has an avalanche voltage rating substantially equal to said predetermined voltage and is connected directly across the collector and base of said transistor to provide a fixed voltage of the collector above the base, and wherein said voltage-regulating circuit further includes a bias resistor connected across the base and emitter of said transistor to bias said transistor into conduction for providing said predetermined voltage across said transistor from its collector to emitter.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bistable circuit of said means (d) comprises a regenerative bistable circuit wherein said trigger input thereof is connected directly to said communication line for sensing the state of said binary signal, and wherein said output thereof is connected directly with said energizing coil of said relay to apply said current to said coil.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said output relay includes two sets of output contacts respectively defining first and second output circuits which, in turn, are respectively associated with said first and second states of said binary signal, wherein said relay includes first and second energizing coils for respectively closing said contacts of said first and second output circuits, wherein said regenerative bistable circuit includes two regeneratively coupled transistors the output of the first connected directly with said first energizing coil and the output of the second transistor connected directly with said second energizing coil, whereby when said received binary signal is in its first binary state said first transistor is triggered into conduction causing said first output circuit contacts to close while said second output circuit contacts remain open thereby representing the first state of said received bInary signal, and when said received signal is in its second state said second transistor is triggered into conduction causing said second output circuit contacts to close while said first output circuit contacts are caused to remain open thereby representing the second state of said received signal.

Claim 9

A relay system for receiving a binary signal in bipolar form carried by a communication line and for converting the two states capable of being assumed by said binary signal into corresponding states of the output of said relay system, comprising in combination: a. means including a polarizing bridge circuit connected with said communication line for receiving said bipolar binary signal and for providing a polarized signal therefrom; b. an output relay including two sets of output contacts for defining first and second output circuits and first and second energizing coils for respectively closing said contacts when said coils are respectively energized; c. a voltage-regulating circuit connected with said polarizing bridge circuit for providing a regulated voltage from said polarized signal not exceeding a predetermined value safe for the operation of said relay, said regulating circuit including an NPN-transistor connected across the output of said polarizing bridge circuit and a zener diode having an avalanche voltage substantially equal to said predetermined value connected across the collector and base of said transistor to provide said avalanche voltage of the collector above the base causing said transistor to conduct, thereby providing said regulated voltage of the output of said regulating circuit across said transistor; and d. a regenerative bistable circuit including first and second regeneratively coupled transistors, a first input connection with said regulating circuit (c) for receiving current therefrom, a trigger input connection coupled with said communication line for triggering said first transistor into conduction and said second transistor into a cutoff condition when said received binary signal is in its first state and for triggering said second transistor into conduction and said first transistor into a cutoff condition when said received binary signal is in its second state, a first driven connection coupling said first transistor with said first energizing coil of said relay (b) for energizing said first coil when said first transistor is conducting, and a second driven connection coupling said second transistor with said second energizing coil for energizing said second coil when said second transistor is conducting.

Claim 10

A relay system for receiving a binary signal in bipolar form carried by a communication line and for converting the two states capable of being assumed by said binary signal into corresponding states of the output of said relay system, comprising in combination: a. means including a polarizing bridge circuit connected with said communication line for receiving said bipolar binary signal and for providing a polarized signal therefrom; b. an output relay including two sets of output contacts for defining first and second output circuits and first and second energizing coils for respectively closing said contacts when said coils are respectively energized; c. a voltage-regulating circuit connected with said polarizing bridge circuit for providing a regulated voltage from said polarized signal not exceeding a predetermined value safe for the operation of said relay, said regulating circuit including an NPN-transistor connected across the output of said polarizing bridge circuit and a zener diode having an avalanche voltage substantially equal to said predetermined value connected across the collector and base of said transistor to provide said avalanche voltage of the collector above the base causing said transistor to conduct, thereby providing said regulated voltage of the output of said regulating circuit across said transistor; and d. a regenerative bistable circuit including first and second regeneratively coupled transistors, a first input connection with said regulating circuit (c) for receiving current therefrom, a trigger input connection coupled with said communication line for triggering said first transistor into conduction and said second transistor into a cutoff condition when said received binary signal is in its first state and for triggering said second transistor into conduction and said first transistor into a cutoff condition when said received binary signal is in its second state, a first driven connection coupling said first transistor with said first energizing coil of said relay (b) for energizing said first coil when said first transistor is conducting, and a second driven connection coupling said second transistor with said second energizing coil for energizing said second coil when said second transistor is conducting.