Transcribe control circuit for a dictating system

Claim 2

A circuit for interconnecting an external source of prerecorded signaLs with a central record/playback unit of a dictating system of the type having an endless recording loop for re-recording said pre-recorded signals on said endless recording loop, said central record/playback unit including energizable seizure control means for enabling the recording of signals on said endless recording loop, the interconnecting circuit comprising actuable pre-amplifier means for receiving the signals from the external source and for supplying the amplified signals to the input of the central record/playback unit for rerecording, means responsive to the actuation of said preamplifier means to energize the seizure control means of the central record/playback unit, and signal activated switching means responsive to the signals from the external source for deactivating the external source and the seizure control means if the signals from the external source cease for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 3

A circuit as recited in claim 1 wherein the central record/playback unit includes a loop tautness sensing switch which is activated when the loop of available recording material for dictation has been exhausted, and wherein the interconnecting circuit further comprises an indicator circuit which is responsive to the activation of the recording loop tautness switch for presenting a visual indication and for deenergizing the seizure control means to terminate the re-recording operation when the available loop of recording material has been exhausted.

Claim 4

A circuit for coupling a central record/playback unit of an endless tape loop recording system with an external, magnetic tape recorder/playback machine, the central record/playback unit having a recording section and a seizure control section, said seizure control section enabling the recording of signals on said endless loop of tape upon being energized, the coupling circuit comprising an audio pre-amplifier for receiving and amplifying audio signals received from the external recorder/playback machine and for supplying the amplified audio signals to the recording section of the central record/playback unit for re-recording on the endless loop of tape, and signal operated switch means responsive to the presence of the audio signals from the external recorder/playback machine for selectively controlling both the seizure control section of the central record/playback unit and the external recorder/playback machine.

Claim 5

A circuit for coupling a central record/playback unit of an endless tape loop recording system with an external, magnetic tape recorder/playback machine, the central record/playback unit having a recording section and a seizure control section, said seizure control section enabling the recording of signals on said endless loop of tape upon being energized, the coupling circuit comprising an audio pre-amplifier for receiving and amplifying audio signals received from the external recorder/playback machine and for supplying the amplified audio signals to the recording section of the central record/playback unit for re-recording on the endless loop of tape, and signal operated switch means responsive to the presence of the audio signals from the external recorder/playback machine for selectively controlling both the seizure control section of the central record/playback unit and the external recorder/playback machine.

Claim 6

A circuit as recited in claim 3 wherein the signal operated switch means includes means for disconnecting the audio pre-amplifier from the central record/playback unit and for stopping the external recorder/playback machine a predetermined time after the cessation of the supply of audio signals from the external recorder/playback machine.

Claim 7

A circuit as recited in claim 3 wherein the central record/playback unit further includes privacy means for producing a privacy control signal when the seizure control section is activated and the coupling circuit further includes means responsive to the privacy control signal to prevent the signal operated switch means from being initially activated throughout the duration of the privacy control signal.

Claim 8

An improved record/playback dictating system of the type having a plurality of remote dictating stations connected to at least one common terminal at a central record/playback unit, the remote dictating stations each including a record/playback/rewind function control circuit and a separate privacy and seizure control circuit, the central record/playback unit having an endless loop of recording material, means for recording signals on and playing signals back from the recording material and electromechanical means for movably supporting the loop of recording material during the recording of signals on the recording material, wherein the improvement comprises a privacy and seizure control circuit for each remote dictating station including electronic first switch means connected in series between the record/playback/rewind function control circuit and tHe common terminal, first means at the central record/playback unit for selectively supplying a first bias voltage of a predetermined polarity to the first switch means to make it become substantially conductive, second bias means at the central record/playback unit for supplying a second bias voltage of a polarity opposite to that of the first bias voltage, electronic second switch means responive to the conductive state of the first switch means and connected between the second bias means and the first switch means for supplying the second voltage to the first switch means to maintain it in its substantially conductive state when the first switch means is made substantially conductive by the first bias means, electronic third switch means at the central record/playback unit, the third switch means including a control electrode and a resistance element connected between the control electrode and the second bias means, the third switch means being conductively responsive to the flow of current from the second bias means through the resistance element, the third switch means being connected between the second bias means and the electromechanical means for supplying the second voltage to activate the electro-mechanical means when the third switch means is conductive, the electro-mechanical means including means connected in series between the second bias means and the first switch means of each remote dictating station to supply the second voltage as a potential reverse bias voltage to the first switch means of each remote dictating station when the electromechanical means is activated, thereby preventing the seizure control circuits of the remote dictating stations from thereafter becoming activated, coupling means for interconnecting an external source of pre-recorded signals with the central record/playback unit, the coupling means including preamplifier means for receiving and amplifying the signals from the external source, means for supplying the amplified signals from the pre-amplifier means to the input of the central record/playback unit for re-recording, the pre-amplifier means including a direct current return path to the common terminal for causing current to flow from the second bias means through the resistance element of the third switch means to make the third switch means become conductive and activate the electro-mechanical means, thereby reverse biasing the first switch means of each remote dictating station, and signal activated switching means responsive to the signals from the external source for interrupting the direct current return path through the pre-amplifier means when the signals from the external source cease for a predetermined period of time, thereby making the third switch means non-conductive and deactivating the electro-mechanical means.

Claim 9

An improved record/playback dictating system of the type having a plurality of remote dictating stations connected to at least one common terminal at a central record/playback unit, the remote dictating stations each including a record/playback/rewind function control circuit and a separate privacy and seizure control circuit, the central record/playback unit having an endless loop of recording material, means for recording signals on and playing signals back from the recording material and electromechanical means for movably supporting the loop of recording material during the recording of signals on the recording material, wherein the improvement comprises a privacy and seizure control circuit for each remote dictating station including electronic first switch means connected in series between the record/playback/rewind function control circuit and tHe common terminal, first means at the central record/playback unit for selectively supplying a first bias voltage of a predetermined polarity to the first switch means to make it become substantially conductive, second bias means at the central record/playback unit for supplying a second bias voltage of a polarity opposite to that of the first bias voltage, electronic second switch means responive to the conductive state of the first switch means and connected between the second bias means and the first switch means for supplying the second voltage to the first switch means to maintain it in its substantially conductive state when the first switch means is made substantially conductive by the first bias means, electronic third switch means at the central record/playback unit, the third switch means including a control electrode and a resistance element connected between the control electrode and the second bias means, the third switch means being conductively responsive to the flow of current from the second bias means through the resistance element, the third switch means being connected between the second bias means and the electromechanical means for supplying the second voltage to activate the electro-mechanical means when the third switch means is conductive, the electro-mechanical means including means connected in series between the second bias means and the first switch means of each remote dictating station to supply the second voltage as a potential reverse bias voltage to the first switch means of each remote dictating station when the electromechanical means is activated, thereby preventing the seizure control circuits of the remote dictating stations from thereafter becoming activated, coupling means for interconnecting an external source of pre-recorded signals with the central record/playback unit, the coupling means including preamplifier means for receiving and amplifying the signals from the external source, means for supplying the amplified signals from the pre-amplifier means to the input of the central record/playback unit for re-recording, the pre-amplifier means including a direct current return path to the common terminal for causing current to flow from the second bias means through the resistance element of the third switch means to make the third switch means become conductive and activate the electro-mechanical means, thereby reverse biasing the first switch means of each remote dictating station, and signal activated switching means responsive to the signals from the external source for interrupting the direct current return path through the pre-amplifier means when the signals from the external source cease for a predetermined period of time, thereby making the third switch means non-conductive and deactivating the electro-mechanical means.

Claim 10

An improved record/playback dictating system as recited in claim 6 wherein the coupling means further comprises means responsive to the reverse bias voltage from the electromechanical means to prevent the coupling circuit from becoming activated if the central record/playback unit has already been seized by one of the remote dictating stations.