Control circuit for telephone answering set with a recorder using a conventional record-play switch

Claim 2

A telephone answering set coupled to a telephone line for reproducing an announcement and recording messages comprising announcement tape reproducing means, a message tape deck, a record-play switch associated with said message tape deck, said record-play switch having ''''record'''' and ''''play'''' positions, ring signal responsive means, a line seizure circuit and automatic programming means, said telephone answering set having an ''''automatic answer'''' condition and a ''''message play'''' condition in which said message tape deck is enabled to play back messages, said telephone answering set in said ''''automatic answer'''' condition responding to a ring signal received in said telephone line, said ring signal actuating said ring signal responsive means, said ring signal responsive means then actuating said line seizure circuit to establish line seizure and in addition actuating said automatic programming means into an ordered sequence of starting and stopping said announcement tape reproducing means and starting and stopping said message tape deck and subsequently deactuating said line seizure circuit and releasing line seizure and first switching means having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, said first switching means coupled to said record-play switch, said ''''on'''' position corresponding with said ''''record'''' position and said ''''automatic answer'''' condition, said ''''off'''' position corresponding with said ''''play'''' position and said ''''message play'''' condition, said first switching means in said ''''on'''' position rendering operational at least one of said line seizure circuit and said ring signal responsive means.

Claim 3

In claim 1, a record control within said message tape deck coupled to said record-play switch, said first switching means coupled to said record control.

Claim 4

In claim 1, conventional controls within said message tape deck for rewind, fast forward and play.

Claim 5

In claim 1, said message tape deck comprising a conventional tape deck.

Claim 6

In claim 1, said message tape deck comprising a conventional cassette recorder.

Claim 7

In claim 1, a power source, an associated telephone set, said telephone line having positive and negative terminals, a transistor, said transistor having a base, a diode, said diode having an anode and a cathode, said telephone line having positive and negative terminals, and a voltage in said telephone line, said voltage being high when said telephone set is not operated, operation of said telephone set causing line seizure and a drop of said voltage to talking voltage, said power source producing a voltage intermediate between said resting voltage and said talking voltage, said transistor in series with said message tape deck across said power source, said anode of said diode connected to said negative terminal of said telephone line, said cathode of said diode oriented to said base, said talking voltage forward biasing said diode and said base, enabling said message tape deck for telephone conversation recording, said resting voltage reverse biasing said diode and turning off said message tape deck when said telephone set is not Operated.

Claim 8

In claim 6, a battery, said battery in series with said diode and said base, increasing operating differential of said talking voltage with respect to said power source voltage.

Claim 9

A telephone answering set coupled to a telephone line for reproducing an announcement and recording messages comprising announcement tape reproducing means, a message tape deck, a record-play switch associated with said message tape deck, said record-play switch having ''''record'''' and ''''play'''' positions, ring signal responsive means, a line seizure circuit and automatic programming means, said telephone answering set having an ''''automatic answer'''' condition and a ''''message play'''' condition in which said message tape deck is enabled to play back messages, said telephone answering set in said ''''automatic answer'''' condition responding to a ring signal received in said telephone line, said ring signal actuating said ring signal responsive means, said ring signal responsive means then actuating said line seizure circuit to establish line seizure and in addition actuating said automatic programming means into an ordered sequence of starting and stopping said announcement tape reproducing means and starting and stopping said message tape deck and subsequently deactuating said line seizure circuit and releasing line seizure, first switching means having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions and second switching means having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, said first and second switching means coupled to said record-play switch, said ''''on'''' position of said first switching means corresponding with said ''''off'''' position of said second switching means, with said ''''record'''' position and with said ''''automatic answer'''' condition, said ''''off'''' position of said first switching means corresponding with said ''''on'''' position of said second switching means, with said ''''play'''' position and with said ''''message play'''' condition, said first switching means in said ''''on'''' position rendering operational at least one of said line seizure circuit and said ring signal responsive means, said second switching means in said ''''on'''' position enabling said message tape deck for ''''message play.''''

Claim 10

A telephone answering set coupled to a telephone line for reproducing an announcement and recording messages comprising announcement tape reproducing means, a message tape deck, a record-play switch associated with said message tape deck, said record-play switch having ''''record'''' and ''''play'''' positions, ring signal responsive means, a line seizure circuit and automatic programming means, said telephone answering set having an ''''automatic answer'''' condition and a ''''message play'''' condition in which said message tape deck is enabled to play back messages, said telephone answering set in said ''''automatic answer'''' condition responding to a ring signal received in said telephone line, said ring signal actuating said ring signal responsive means, said ring signal responsive means then actuating said line seizure circuit to establish line seizure and in addition actuating said automatic programming means into an ordered sequence of starting and stopping said announcement tape reproducing means and starting and stopping said message tape deck and subsequently deactuating said line seizure circuit and releasing line seizure, first switching means having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions and second switching means having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, said first and second switching means coupled to said record-play switch, said ''''on'''' position of said first switching means corresponding with said ''''off'''' position of said second switching means, with said ''''record'''' position and with said ''''automatic answer'''' condition, said ''''off'''' position of said first switching means corresponding with said ''''on'''' position of said second switching means, with said ''''play'''' position and with said ''''message play'''' condition, said first switching means in said ''''on'''' position rendering operational at least one of said line seizure circuit and said ring signal responsive means, said second switching means in said ''''on'''' position enabling said message tape deck for ''''message play.''''

Claim 11

In claim 8, a power source, said second switching means including a transistor, a base for said transistor, a switch, ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions for said switch corresponding with said ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said second switching means and a diode, said transistor in series with said message tape deck across said power source, said switch in said ''''on'''' position sending current from said power source to said base of said transistor, turning said transistor on and energizing said message tape deck for ''''message play'''', said diode in series with said automatic programming means and said base of said transistor, said automatic programming means sending current from said power source through said diode to said base of said transistor, turning said transistor on, energizing said message tape deck for ''''automatic answer'''' and subsequently turning said transistor off, and deactuating said message tape deck during said ordered sequence of automatic answer, said diode preventing current flow backward from said power source through said second switching means to energize said automatic programming means.

Claim 12

In claim 8, a record control within said message tape deck coupled to said record-play switch, said first and second switching means coupled to said record control.

Claim 13

In claim 8, conventional controls within said message tape deck for rewind, fast forward and play.

Claim 14

In claim 8, said message tape deck comprising a conventional tape deck.

Claim 15

In claim 8, said message tape deck comprising a conventional cassette recorder.

Claim 16

In claim 8, an ac line, a power source, said second switching means including a switch having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions Corresponding with said ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said second switching means, a transistor, and a relay, said relay having a coil and contacts, said transistor in series with said coil of said relay across said power source, said switch in said ''''on'''' position sending current to said transistor, turning said transistor on, said transistor then turning said relay on, said contacts in series with said message tape deck across said ac line enabling said message tape deck to operate in ''''message play'''', said automatic programming means turning said transistor on and off in ordered sequence of automatic answering, energizing and deenergizing said relay and turning said message tape deck on and off, when said switch is in said ''''off'''' position.

Claim 17

In claim 8, said message tape deck having an input, said input continuously coupled by a capacitor to said telephone line.

Claim 18

In claim 8, said message tape deck having an input, said input coupled by a capacitor to said line seizure circuit.

Claim 19

In claim 8, a start switch to start said automatic programming means, simulating the receipt of a ring signal, said switch connecting said second switching means to said automatic programming means, said switch being enabled when said second switching means is in said ''''on'''' position, corresponding with ''''message play'''' condition, preventing accidental actuation of said automatic programming means when said telephone answering set is in ''''automatic answer.''''

Claim 20

In claim 8, a power source and manually actuated third switching means having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, in series with said message tape deck, across said power source, said third switching means substantially in parallel with said second switching means and in said ''''on'''' position enabling operation of said message tape deck for telephone recording and dictation.

Claim 21

In claim 8, a power source, said first and second switching means including a single pole, single throw switch, said switch having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions corresponding with said ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said first (and second) switching means and with said ''''off'''' and ''''on'''' positions of said second switching means, a buffer inverter transistor, a second transistor, said second transistor in series with said message tape deck across said power source, said buffer inverter transistor when ''''on'''' turning said second transistor ''''off'''', said buffer inverter transistor when ''''off'''' turning said second transistor ''''on'''', said switch in said ''''on'''' position turning ''''on'''' said buffer inverter transistor, said buffer inverter transistor turning ''''off'''' said second transistor, said automatic programming means turning said second transistor ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' during said ordered sequence of automatic answering thereby energizing and subsequently deactuating said message tape deck, said switch in said ''''off'''' position, turning ''''off'''' said buffer inverter transistor, said second transistor being turned ''''on'''' by said buffer inverter transistor to enable said message tape deck for ''''message play.''''

Claim 22

In claim 19, a start switch to start said automatic programming means, simulating the receipt of a ring signal, a transistor, a base for said transistor, said transistor held normally ''''on'''' from said power source, said base connected to said single pole, single throw switch, said start switch connecting said transistor and said automatic programming means, said single pole, single throw switch in said ''''on'''' position turning said transistor ''''off'''', disabling said start switch, said single pole, single throw switch in said ''''off'''' position restoring said transistor to ''''on'''' condition and enabling said start switch, preventing actuation of said start switch in ''''automatic answer.''''

Claim 23

In claim 8, a power source and a rectifying element, said rectifyinG element in series with said message tape deck and said automatic programming means across said power source, said automatic programming means in automatic answer, furnishing power from said power source to said announcement tape reproducing means and to said message tape deck through said rectifying element, said second switching means furnishing power from said power source ahead of said rectifying element to said message tape deck for ''''message play'''', said rectifying element preventing current flow from said power source to said announcement tape reproducing means during ''''message play.''''

Claim 24

In claim 21, said rectifying element comprising a thyristor triggered into a latched condition and released into an unlatched condition by said automatic programming means.

Claim 25

In claim 21, said rectifying element comprising a diode.

Claim 26

In claim 21, said second switching means including a transistor, said transistor having a base, and a switch, said switch having ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions corresponding with said ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions of said second switching means, said transistor in series with said message tape deck across said power source, said switch in said ''''on'''' position sending current from said power source to said base of said transistor, turning said transistor on and enabling said message tape deck for ''''message play.''''