Dictating machine telephone connector link

Claim 1

A connector link adapted to be connected between a dictating machine and a telephone and operable in response to the operation of an incoming call sensing device to automatically start the dictating machine and to automatically connect telephone talk lines to the machine to enable recording on the machine from any telephone at a remote location the connector link being especially adapted for use with any one of at least several different types of dictating machines each having different recording circuit impedances, without interfering with use of the selected dictating machine for normal microphone recording, and without modifying the dictating machine, the connector link comprising, in combination, first and second input terminals adapted to be readily connected to talk lines of a telephone; third and fourth input terminals adapted to be readily connected to a device for sensing an incoming call on the telephone; first and second output terminals adapted to be readily connected to the recording circuit of a dictating machine; third and fourth output terminals adapted to be readily connected to a recording medium drive mechanism of the dictating machine; readily changeable impedance matching means between said first and second input terminals and said first and second output terminals for matching the impedance of the telephone system to the impedance of the recording circuit of any one of at least several different types of dictating machines, each having different input impedances; means for electrically connecting said third output terminal to said fourth output terminal in response to operation of the sensing device to start the drive mechanism of the dictating machine, said means comprising a low voltage power supply energizable from a power line, first relay means connected to said power supply and energizable in response to operation of the sensing device, a first switch operated by said first relay means, second relay means connected to said power supply and energizable in response to operation of said first switch; a second switch and a third switch operated by said second relay means; means connecting said third switch to said third and fourth terminals; third relay means connected to said power supply and energizable in response to operation of said second switch; and fourth switch means responsive to operation of said third relay means to electrically connect said first and second input terminals to said third and fourth output terminals thereby electrically connecting the talk lines from the telephone system to the recording circuit of the dictating machine; at least said third switch and fourth switch means being normally open to enable use of the dictating machine for nOrmally microphone recording without interference by the connector link; said power supply, relay means impedance matching means, switches, and switch means all being mounted in a common housing separate from said dictating machine and telephone system.