Visual status indicator circuit

Claim 2

A subscriber telephone station comprising: a first pair of communication leads for connecting said subscriber station to a telephone switching network, said subscriber station including a transducing network connectable across said first pair of communication leads and operable for communicating intelligible information to and from said subscriber station over said communication leads, said transducing network being activated from voltage potentials present on said first pair of communication leads from said telephone switching network; a first ringer connected across said first pair of communication leads and operable for providing audible signals to a subscriber indicating an incoming calling connection, said ringer being activated from pulsating voltage potentials supplied over said first pair of communication leads; and a first current-sensitive light indicating device connected in one lead of said first pair of communication leads at a point in said lead closer to said telephone switching network than the connection of either said transducing network or said first ringer so that said first light indicating device will provide a pulsating visual indication when said first ringer is being activated and will provide a steady visual indication when said transducing means is being activated.

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said light indicating device is a bipolar light emitting diode.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said light indicating device is a liquid crystal display.

Claim 5

The invention set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a second pair of communication leads for connecting said subscriber station to a telephone switching network; means for connecting said transducing network either to said first pair of communication leads or to said second pair of communication leads; a second ringer connected across said second pair of comMunication leads and operable for providing audible signals to a subscriber indicating an incoming calling connection, said ringer being activated from pulsating voltage potentials supplied over said second pair of communication leads; and a second current-sensitive light indicating device connected in one lead of said second pair of communication leads at a point in said lead closer to said telephone switching network than the connection of either said transducing network or said second ringer so that said second light emitting indicating device will provide a pulsating visual indication when said second ringer is being activated and will provide a steady visual indication when said transducing means is being activated from current supplied over said second line.

Claim 6

The invention set forth in claim 4 further comprising: a second subscriber telephone station having a transducing network connectable across either of said pair of communication leads and having a current-sensitive light indicating device associated with each of said communication leads; and means for directly interconnecting said stations so that the light indicating device associated with said second subscriber telephone station and connected in said first pair of communication leads provides visual signals at said second station identical to the visual signals provided at said first station by said first light indicating device associated with said first subscriber telephone station and connected in said first pair of communication leads and so that the light indicating device associated with said second subscriber telephone station and connected in said second pair of communication leads provides visual signals at said second station identical to the visual signals provided at said first station by said second light indicating device associated with said first subscriber telephone station and connected in said second pair of communication leads, both said second station light emitting devices being operable directly from current provided over said respective telephone lines.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein all said light indicating devices are bipolar light emitting diodes.

Claim 8

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein all said light indicating devices are liquid crystal displays.

Claim 9

The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein said first ringer is located physically within said first station, and wherein said second ringer is located physically within said second station.

Claim 10

The invention set forth in claim 1 further comprising hold means operable for connection across said first pair of communication leads and wherein said light indicating device is connected in series with said hold means so that when said hold means is enabled current passes through said light indicating device in a steady manner thereby providing a steady visual indication.

Claim 11

The invention set forth in claim 1 further comprising an alternating current bypass and wherein said light indicating device includes a first section operable for providing a first color indication and a second section operable for providing a second color indication; said first section of said light indicating device being connected in said one lead of said first pair of communication leads in series with said transducing network and with said ringer so that when said transducing network is being activated only said first section of said light indicating device is operated to provide a first color indication; and said second section of said light indicating device being connected across said first pair of communication leads by said alternating current bypass when pulsating voltages are applied to said first pair of communication leads from said telephone switching network so that when said ringer is activated both said first and second sections of said light indicating device are operated concurrently to provide a third color indication, which third color indication is a combination of said first and second color Indications and said third color indication being provided in a pulsating manner.

Claim 12

The invention set forth in claim 10 further comprising hold means operable for connection across said first pair of communication leads and wherein said second section of said light indicating device is connected in series with said hold means so that when said hold means is enabled and said transducing network remains connected across said communication leads said third color indication is produced by said light indicating device, and when said hold means is enabled and said transducing network is removed from across said first pair of communication leads said second color indication is produced by said light indicating device.

Claim 13

The invention set forth in claim 10 wherein said light indicating device comprises a pair of bipolar light emitting diodes.

Claim 14

A visual status indicator circuit for use in a telephone switching system wherein communication connections are established directly from a telephone switching network over a pair of communication leads to a subscriber station, said status indicator circuit comprising: a transducing network connectable across said communication leads and operable for communicating intelligible information to and from said subscriber station over said communication leads, said transducing network being activated from direct current present on said pair of communication leads from said telephone switching network; a ringer connected across said pair of communication leads and operable for providing audible signals to a subscriber station indicating an incoming calling connection, said ringer being activated from bipolar voltage potentials supplied over said communication leads; and a bipolar light indicating device connected in series in one lead of said pair of communication leads at a point in said lead between said telephone switching network and said ringer and between said telephone switching network and said transducing network so that said bipolar light indicating device provides pulsating visual indications from current supplied over said lead when said ringer is being activated and provides a steady visual indication from current supplied over said lead when said transducing network is being activated.

Claim 15

A visual status indicator circuit for use in a telephone switching system wherein communication connections are established directly from a telephone switching network over a pair of communication leads to a subscriber station, said status indicator circuit comprising: a transducing network connectable across said communication leads and operable for communicating intelligible information to and from said subscriber station over said communication leads, said transducing network being activated from direct current present on said pair of communication leads from said telephone switching network; a ringer connected across said pair of communication leads and operable for providing audible signals to a subscriber station indicating an incoming calling connection, said ringer being activated from bipolar voltage potentials supplied over said communication leads; and a bipolar light indicating device connected in series in one lead of said pair of communication leads at a point in said lead between said telephone switching network and said ringer and between said telephone switching network and said transducing network so that said bipolar light indicating device provides pulsating visual indications from current supplied over said lead when said ringer is being activated and provides a steady visual indication from current supplied over said lead when said transducing network is being activated.

Claim 16

The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein said light indicating device is a bipolar light emitting diode.

Claim 17

The invention set forth in claim 13 wherein said light indicating device is a liquid crystal display.

Claim 18

The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein said light indicating device includes a first section operable for providing a first color indication and a second section operable for providing a second color indication; said first section of said light indicating device being connected in said one lead of said pair of communication leads in series with said transducing network and with said ringer so that when said transducing network is being activated only said first section of said light indicating device is operated to provide a first color indication; and said second section of said light indicating device being connected across said pair of communication leads when pulsating voltages are applied to said pair of communication leads from said telephone switching network so that when said ringer is activated both said first and second sections of said light indicating device are operated concurrently to provide a third color indication, which third color indication is a combination of said first and second color indications and said third color indication being provided in a pulsating manner.

Claim 19

The invention set forth in claim 16 wherein said second section connection to said communication leads includes an alternating current bypass, said bypass comprising a series connection of a capacitor and resistor connected between said second section of said light indicating device and one lead of said communication lead.

Claim 20

The invention set forth in claim 17 wherein said second section Connection to said communication leads includes an alternating current bypass, said bypass comprising a second ringer connected between said second section of said light indicating device and one lead of said communication lead.