Stored energy signalling circuit

Claim 2

A signalling circuit adapted for connection to a telephone line comprising: a switching circuit including a signalling device; energy storage means; circuit means for coupling said switching circuit and said energy storage means to said telephone line wherein said telephone line applies a unidirectional energizing potential to said switching circuit and said energy storage means, and second circuit means coupling said switching circuit to said telephone line for detecting the presence of ringing signals on said telephone line to enable said switching circuit to pass current pulses through said signalling device from said energy storage means and actuate said signalling device at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of said ringing signals.

Claim 3

A circuit for actuating a signalling device in response to receiving a telephone ringing signal comprising: a pair of input terminals for connection to a telephone line for receiving ringing signals; a control device having first and second terminals which define a unidirectional controllable current path therebetween and a third terminal for controlling the current flow through said path; a signalling device; circuit means for connecting said signalling device in a series circuit with said first and second terminals of said control device between said pair of input terminals; a first unidirectional current conduction device connected in said series circuit and poled for conduction in the same direction as said unidirectional current path; capacitive means; circuit means connecting said capacitive means to said series circuit so that said capacitive means is charged by the conduction of said first unidirectional current conduction device and discharged by the conduction of said control device through said signalling device; a second unidirectional current conduction device, and circuit means for connecting said second unidirectional current conduction device between one of said input terminals and said third terminal of said control device so that said control device is rendered conductive to actuate said signalling device by said ringing signal when a reversal of polarity is exhibited across said input terminals.

Claim 4

A circuit for actuating a signalling device in response to receiving a telephone ringing signal comprising: a pair of input terminals for connection to a telephone line for receiving ringing signals; a control device having first and second terminals which define a unidirectional controllable current path therebetween and a third terminal for controlling the current flow through said path; a signalling device; circuit means for connecting said signalling device in a series circuit with said first and second terminals of said control device between said pair of input terminals; a first unidirectional current conduction device connected in said series circuit and poled for conduction in the same direction as said unidirectional current path; capacitive means; circuit means connecting said capacitive means to said series circuit so that said capacitive means is charged by the conduction of said first unidirectional current conduction device and discharged by the conduction of said control device through said signalling device; a second unidirectional current conduction device, and circuit means for connecting said second unidirectional current conduction device between one of said input terminals and said third terminal of said control device so that said control device is rendered conductive to actuate said signalling device by said ringing signal when a reversal of polarity is exhibited across said input terminals.

Claim 5

A circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said circuit means for connecting said second unidirectional device into said circuit includes a voltage breakdown device that is rendered conductive when the signal exceeds a preset amplitude.

Claim 6

A circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein resistive means is connected in said series circuit for limiting the current flow from said telephone line.

Claim 7

A circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein a biasing circuit means is connected between said third terminal of said first device and said series circuit.

Claim 8

A circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said control device is a transistor and one end of said signalling device is connected to the emitter of said transistor and the other end of said signalling device is connected to said first unidirectional device, and said capacitive means is connected between the collector of said transistor and the junction of said signalling device and said first unidirectional device.

Claim 9

A signalling circuit adapted for connection to a plurality of telephone lines comprising: a switching circuit including a signalling device, and circuit means for connecting said switching circuit to said Plurality of telephone lines so that upon receiving ringing signals from one of said telephone lines said circuit means enables said switching circuit to pass current pulses from the other of said telephone lines through said signalling device actuating said signalling device at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of said ringing signal.

Claim 10

A signalling circuit adapted for connection to a plurality of telephone lines comprising: a switching circuit including a signalling device, and circuit means for connecting said switching circuit to said Plurality of telephone lines so that upon receiving ringing signals from one of said telephone lines said circuit means enables said switching circuit to pass current pulses from the other of said telephone lines through said signalling device actuating said signalling device at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of said ringing signal.

Claim 11

A signalling circuit adapted for connection to a plurality of telephone lines comprising: a switching circuit including a signalling device; first circuit means for connecting said plurality of telephone lines to said switching circuit for applying thereto a unidirectional energizing potential from each of said telephone lines, and second circuit means coupled to said telephone lines and said switching circuit, wherein said circuit means detects the presence of ringing signals on any of said lines and renders said switching circuit conductive to actuate said signalling device at a rate corresponding to the frequency of said ringing signals.

Claim 12

A signalling circuit adapted for connection to a plurality of telephone lines comprising: a switching circuit including a signalling device; first circuit means for connecting said plurality of telephone lines to said switching circuit for applying thereto a unidirectional energizing potential from each of said telephone lines, and second circuit means coupled to said telephone lines and said switching circuit, wherein said circuit means detects the presence of ringing signals on any of said lines and renders said switching circuit conductive to actuate said signalling device at a rate corresponding to the frequency of said ringing signals.

Claim 13

A signalling circuit as defined in claim 8 wherein: said first circuit means includes capacitive means connected to said switching circuit and said telephone line for receiving and storing a charge so that said capacitive means discharges through said signalling device when said switching circuit is rendered conductive.

Claim 14

A signalling circuit as defined in claim 9 wherein: second circuit means detects reversals in voltage polarity across any of said telephone lines for enabling said switching circuit to transmit energy to said signalling device from the other of said telephone lines and said capacitive means.

Claim 15

A circuit for actuating a signalling device in response to receiving telephone ringing signals comprising: a plurality of terminals for connection to a plurality of telephone lines wherein each separate terminal connects to a conductor in a different one of said telephone lines; a common terminal for connection to another conductor in each of said plurality of telephone lines; a control device having first and second terminals which define a unidirectional controllable current path therebetween and a third terminal for controlling the current flow through said path; a first plurality of unidirectional current conduction devices corresponding to the number of said plurality of terminals, each having one end connected to a different one of said plurality of terminals and having the other end connected in common and wherein said conduction devices are poled for conduction in the same direction as said unidirectional current path; a signalling device; circuit means connecting said signalling device and the first and second terminals of said control device in a series circuit between said common connection and said common terminal, so that the control device is poled for conduction in the same direction as the plurality of unidirectional current conduction devices; a second plurality of unidirectional current devices corresponding to the number of said plurality of terminals, each having one end connected to a different one of said plurality of terminals and having the other end connected in common and wherein the plurality of unidirectional conductive devices are poled for conduction in the same direction, and circuit means for connecting said common connection of said second plurality of said unidirectional current conduction devices to said third terminal of said control device so that a reversal of polarity at one of said polarity of terminals renders said control device conductive.

Claim 16

A circuit for actuating a signalling device in response to receiving telephone ringing signals comprising: a plurality of terminals for connection to a plurality of telephone lines wherein each separate terminal connects to a conductor in a different one of said telephone lines; a common terminal for connection to another conductor in each of said plurality of telephone lines; a control device having first and second terminals which define a unidirectional controllable current path therebetween and a third terminal for controlling the current flow through said path; a first plurality of unidirectional current conduction devices corresponding to the number of said plurality of terminals, each having one end connected to a different one of said plurality of terminals and having the other end connected in common and wherein said conduction devices are poled for conduction in the same direction as said unidirectional current path; a signalling device; circuit means connecting said signalling device and the first and second terminals of said control device in a series circuit between said common connection and said common terminal, so that the control device is poled for conduction in the same direction as the plurality of unidirectional current conduction devices; a second plurality of unidirectional current devices corresponding to the number of said plurality of terminals, each having one end connected to a different one of said plurality of terminals and having the other end connected in common and wherein the plurality of unidirectional conductive devices are poled for conduction in the same direction, and circuit means for connecting said common connection of said second plurality of said unidirectional current conduction devices to said third terminal of said control device so that a reversal of polarity at one of said polarity of terminals renders said control device conductive.

Claim 17

A circuit as defined in claim 11 wherein a capacitive means is connected to said common terminal of said first plurality of unidirectional current conduction devices so that said capacitive means is charged by the conduction of any of said devices.

Claim 18

A circuit as defined in claim 12 wherein said circuit means connecting said common connection of said second plurality of unidirectional current devices to said tHird terminal of said first device includes a voltage breakdown device that is rendered conductive when the signal exceeds a preset amplitude.

Claim 19

A circuit as defined in claim 13 including a plurality of resistors corresponding to the number of said plurality of terminals, a different resistor being connected between each of said plurality of terminals and the associated one of said plurality of unidirectional current conductive devices.

Claim 20

A circuit as defined in claim 14 wherein a biasing circuit means is connected between said third terminal of said control device and said series circuit.

Claim 21

A circuit as defined in claim 15 wherein said control device is a transistor and one end of said signalling device is connected to the emitter of said transistor and the other end of said signalling device is connected to said first unidirectional device.