US4012601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic pushbutton dial assembly for a subscriber telephone
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1975-04-04
•
Granted: 1977-03-15
•
Expires: 1995-04-04
Abstract
Abstract An automatic dial for a subscriber telephone utilizes a keyboard array to enter coded information into an integrated circuit digit processor. The digit processor includes a programmed ROM for storing an instruction set to control the operation of the dial, an arithmetic/logic unit for performing arithmetic and logic operations on data according to said instruction set, and a first read/write RAM for storing the data being processed. A second integrated circuit RAM, which is selectively connected to the output of the digit processor, is provided for the storage and retrieval of changeable groups of selected telephone numbers. A pulse or tone generator is also selectively connected at the output of the digit processor for the selective transmission of pulse or tone signals over the telephone lines according to the stored instruction set and coded information derived from the keyboard. The integrated circuits and pulse or tone generator are arranged on a single circuit board mounted on the bottom side of a mounting bracket with an insulator sandwiched between the circuit board conductors and the mounting bracket. The keyboard is provided on the upper side of the mounting bracket with insulated conductors selectively connecting the key terminals to the circuit board. The bracket is adapted to be mounted in any standard subscriber telephone unit with standard pulse or tone generator conductors and mute conductors provided for connection to any standard telephone network. This invention relates to an automatic dial system for a subscriber telephone set and more particularly to an automatic dial system which utilizes a digit processor for control.
Inventors
- 👤 Engelbert W. Kehren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27495
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An automatic dial assembly for a telephone set comprising: a. a bracket member having upper and lower major surfaces for mounting said automatic dial system in the telephone set; b. a keyboard array having a plurality of keys, said array being mounted on the upper major surface of said bracket member and including a first set of terminal members selectively coupled to said array; c. a circuit board mounted on the lower major surface of said bracket member, said circuit board including an integrated circuit digit processor having at least one set of input terminals and at least one set of output terminals, and signal generator means for generating dial signals mounted thereon, said circuit board including a second set of terminal members and a plurality of conductor members selectively coupling said second set of terminal members to the input terminals of said digit processor and selectively coupling at least one output terminal of said digit processor to said signal generator means; and d. means selectively electrically coupling the first set of terminals on said keyboard array to the second set of terminals on said circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An automatic dial assembly for a telephone set comprising: a. a bracket member having upper and lower major surfaces for mounting said automatic dial system in the telephone set; b. a keyboard array having a plurality of keys, said array being mounted on the upper major surface of said bracket member and including a first set of terminal members selectively coupled to said array; c. a circuit board mounted on the lower major surface of said bracket member, said circuit board including an integrated circuit digit processor having at least one set of input terminals and at least one set of output terminals, and signal generator means for generating dial signals mounted thereon, said circuit board including a second set of terminal members and a plurality of conductor members selectively coupling said second set of terminal members to the input terminals of said digit processor and selectively coupling at least one output terminal of said digit processor to said signal generator means; and d. means selectively electrically coupling the first set of terminals on said keyboard array to the second set of terminals on said circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The automatic dial assembly according to claim 1 including an electrically insulating member located between the lower major surface of said bracket member and said circuit board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The automatic dial assembly according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator means is a pulse responsive relay means for generating dial pulse signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The automatic dial assembly according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator means is a tone generator for generating a plurality of different tones corresponding to digital signals provided by said digit processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The automatic dial assembly according to claim 1 including a switch mounted on said printed circuit board for providing reset data to said digit processor, said switch being positioned on said circuit board to be in mechanical communication with a switch hook of the telephone set.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automatic dial assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket includes two bent over members for mounting said automatic dial in a corresponding bracket of the telephone set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
208 words
An automatic dial assembly for a telephone set comprising: a. a bracket member having upper and lower major surfaces for mounting said automatic dial system in the telephone set; b. a keyboard array having a plurality of keys, said array being mounted on the upper major surface of said bracket member and including a first set of terminal members selectively coupled to said array; c. a circuit board mounted on the lower major surface of said bracket member, said circuit board including: i. an integrated circuit digit processor having at least one set of input terminals and at least one set of output terminals, ii. random access memory means having data input terminal means, data output terminal means, and address means, iii. signal generator means for generating dial signals mounted thereon, iv. a second set of terminal members, and v. a plurality of conductor members selectively coupling said second set of terminal members to the input terminals of said digit processor and selectively coupling the output terminals of said digit processor to said random access memory means and to said signal generator means; and d. means selectively electrically coupling the first set of terminals on said keyboard array to the second set of terminals on said circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
208 words
An automatic dial assembly for a telephone set comprising: a. a bracket member having upper and lower major surfaces for mounting said automatic dial system in the telephone set; b. a keyboard array having a plurality of keys, said array being mounted on the upper major surface of said bracket member and including a first set of terminal members selectively coupled to said array; c. a circuit board mounted on the lower major surface of said bracket member, said circuit board including: i. an integrated circuit digit processor having at least one set of input terminals and at least one set of output terminals, ii. random access memory means having data input terminal means, data output terminal means, and address means, iii. signal generator means for generating dial signals mounted thereon, iv. a second set of terminal members, and v. a plurality of conductor members selectively coupling said second set of terminal members to the input terminals of said digit processor and selectively coupling the output terminals of said digit processor to said random access memory means and to said signal generator means; and d. means selectively electrically coupling the first set of terminals on said keyboard array to the second set of terminals on said circuit board.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3479470A
Cited
US3523163A
Cited
US3676607A
Cited
US3760121A
Cited
US3856982A
Cited
US3882284A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |