Signal monitoring control apparatus

Claim 2

A voice-signal-monitoring control apparatus usable in combination with a telephone line and the like for detecting the presence and continuity of a voice signal in such a line, where such a signal is characterized throughout its duration by a chain of successive, alternating talking and nontalking intervals, with both kinds of such intervals no longer than one time span, and with the nontalking intervals no less than another time span which is shorter than said one time span, said apparatus comprising an input circuit adapted to be operatively coupled to such a Line to receive signals carried therein, a digital criterion-determining circuit operatively connected to said input circuit, cooperating therewith to follow, continuously, signal conditions in the line so as to identify and note the continuity of a signal having the interval characteristics described above, said criterion-determining circuit including clock pulse means, and pulse counting means operatively connected to said clock pulse means, said pulse counting means including one portion which reaches a certain count condition in the absence of a voice signal, and another portion which, in the presence of such a signal, inhibits said one portion from reaching said certain count condition, and an output circuit operatively connected to said pulse counting means and placeable by the latter in two different output conditions, one of which indicates the presence of a voice signal as above described in the line, and the other of which indicates the absence of such a signal, the output circuit being placed and held in its said one output condition under all circumstances in the absence of said one portion of said pulse counting means having reached its said certain count condition, and on the latter event occurring being placed in its said other output condition.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one and other portions of said pulse counting means each comprises a digital pulse counter which counts in the portion, and said clock pulse means comprises a pair of clock pulse generators, each operatively connected to a different one of said counters to supply countable pulses thereto.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, which further includes electronic gating means operatively interconnecting said counters whereby a predetermined count condition reached in the counter in said other portion of said pulse counting means is effective to prevent the counter in said one portion of said pulse counting means from reaching its said certain count condition.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said counter in said other portion of said pulse counting means, and the clock pulse generator supplying pulses thereto are so constructed that said predetermined count condition is reached in a time exactly equaling said other time span.

Claim 6

Voice-signal-monitoring control apparatus usable in combination with a telephone line and the like for detecting the presence and continuity of a voice signal in such a line, where such a signal is characterized throughout its duration by a chain of successive alternating talking and nontalking intervals, with both kinds of such intervals no longer than one time span, and with the nontalking intervals no less than another time span which is shorter than said one time span, said apparatus comprising an input circuit adapted to be operatively coupled to such a line to receive signals carried therein, a first resettable digital pulse counter and a first clock pulse generator connected to supply countable pulses thereto, means operatively interconnectingg said input circuit and said first counter whereby with a signal present in the line said first counter is held reset, and with no signal present in the line the first counter is enabled to count pulses, said first counter, if enabled to count pulses throughout an interval at least equaling said other time span, reaching a predetermined count condition, a second resettable digital pulse counter and a second clock pulse generator connected to supply countable pulses thereto, said second counter, if enabled to count pulses throughout an interval at least equaling said one time span, reaching a certain count condition, means operatively interconnecting said first and second counters whereby reaching of said predetermined count condition by said first counter is effective to reset said second counter, and an output circuit operatively connected to said second counter and placeable thereby in two different output conditions, said output circuit being placed in oNe of its said output conditions under all circumstances in the absence of said second counter having reached its said certain count condition, and being placed in its other output condition on the second counter reaching said certain count condition.

Claim 7

Voice-signal-monitoring control apparatus usable in combination with a telephone line and the like for detecting the presence and continuity of a voice signal in such a line, where such a signal is characterized throughout its duration by a chain of successive alternating talking and nontalking intervals, with both kinds of such intervals no longer than one time span, and with the nontalking intervals no less than another time span which is shorter than said one time span, said apparatus comprising an input circuit adapted to be operatively coupled to such a line to receive signals carried therein, a first resettable digital pulse counter and a first clock pulse generator connected to supply countable pulses thereto, means operatively interconnectingg said input circuit and said first counter whereby with a signal present in the line said first counter is held reset, and with no signal present in the line the first counter is enabled to count pulses, said first counter, if enabled to count pulses throughout an interval at least equaling said other time span, reaching a predetermined count condition, a second resettable digital pulse counter and a second clock pulse generator connected to supply countable pulses thereto, said second counter, if enabled to count pulses throughout an interval at least equaling said one time span, reaching a certain count condition, means operatively interconnecting said first and second counters whereby reaching of said predetermined count condition by said first counter is effective to reset said second counter, and an output circuit operatively connected to said second counter and placeable thereby in two different output conditions, said output circuit being placed in oNe of its said output conditions under all circumstances in the absence of said second counter having reached its said certain count condition, and being placed in its other output condition on the second counter reaching said certain count condition.

Claim 8

Voice-signal-monitoring control apparatus usable in combination with a telephone line and the like for detecting the presence and continuity of a voice signal in such a line, where such a signal is characterized throughout its duration by a chain of successive alternating talking and nontalking intervals, with both kinds of such intervals no longer than one time span, and with the nontalking intervals no less than another time span which is shorter than said one time span, said apparatus comprising a first resettable digital timing means for producing anoutput signal on having continuously timed for a first certain time interval equaling said one time span, a second resettable digital timing means for producing a control signal on having continuously timed for a second certain time interval equaling said other time span, first coupling means coupling said first and second timing means whereby a control signal produced by the latter is effective to reset the former, and second coupling means for coupling said second timing means to a telephone line for the communication to the former of signals in the latter, whereby during each interval that a signal exists in the line the second timing means is held reset, and during each interval that a signal is absent from the line the second timing means is enabled to time.

Claim 9

Voice-signal-monitoring control apparatus usable in combination with a telephone line and the like for detecting the presence and continuity of a voice signal in such a line, where such a signal is characterized throughout its duration by a chain of successive alternating talking and nontalking intervals, with both kinds of such intervals no longer than one time span, and with the nontalking intervals no less than another time span which is shorter than said one time span, said apparatus comprising a first resettable digital timing means for producing anoutput signal on having continuously timed for a first certain time interval equaling said one time span, a second resettable digital timing means for producing a control signal on having continuously timed for a second certain time interval equaling said other time span, first coupling means coupling said first and second timing means whereby a control signal produced by the latter is effective to reset the former, and second coupling means for coupling said second timing means to a telephone line for the communication to the former of signals in the latter, whereby during each interval that a signal exists in the line the second timing means is held reset, and during each interval that a signal is absent from the line the second timing means is enabled to time.