US4069477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tone address decoder for pager
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1975-05-22
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1995-05-22
Abstract
Abstract An address tone decoder is disclosed for detecting a predetermined address tone code and for activating remaining pager circuitry upon receipt of the appropriate address tone sequence in which the detection of tones of the appropriate frequencies starts normally-off timing circuits. The signal from the timing circuit associated with the first tone is effectively elongated to coincide with the signal from the timing circuit associated with the second tone in the sequence. A cross inhibiting circuit provides shock protection by resetting the timing circuit associated with one tone when another tone is simultaneously present. A group call timer is included which provides an activation signal responsive to an elongated first tone.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Maben
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/022; H04W88/025; H04W88/027; G; G08; G08B; G08B3/00; G08B3/10; G08B3/1008; G08B3/1016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a paging unit including means for receiving predetermined sequential tone address signals followed by message signals and for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry to present the message to the recipient in response to receipt of a decoded tone address sequence, the improvement in the address decoding circuitry comprising: tuned reed actuated tone detectors each generating a signal upon the presence of a predetermined tone; a first normally-off timing circuit actuated in response to the generation of a signal due to the detection of a first predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; a second normally-off timing circuit actuated in response to the generation of a signal due to the detection of a second predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; means for extending the duration of the output of the timing circuit associated with said first predetermined tone to overlap the output from the timing circuit associated with said second predetermined tone; means for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry in the simultaneous presence of the outputs from the timing circuits and, cross inhibiting shock protection means for inhibiting the output of one timing circuit only in the presence of a tone to which the other timing circuit responds such that said address decoding circuitry responds only to AB followed immediately by BA, where A and B designate different tones and A and B designate the absence of the respective tone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a paging unit including means for receiving predetermined sequential tone address signals followed by message signals and for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry to present the message to the recipient in response to receipt of a decoded tone address sequence, the improvement in the address decoding circuitry comprising: tuned reed actuated tone detectors each generating a signal upon the presence of a predetermined tone; a first normally-off timing circuit actuated in response to the generation of a signal due to the detection of a first predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; a second normally-off timing circuit actuated in response to the generation of a signal due to the detection of a second predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; means for extending the duration of the output of the timing circuit associated with said first predetermined tone to overlap the output from the timing circuit associated with said second predetermined tone; means for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry in the simultaneous presence of the outputs from the timing circuits and, cross inhibiting shock protection means for inhibiting the output of one timing circuit only in the presence of a tone to which the other timing circuit responds such that said address decoding circuitry responds only to AB followed immediately by BA, where A and B designate different tones and A and B designate the absence of the respective tone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The paging unit of claim 1 and further including an additional timing circuit responsive to the presence of said first predetermined tone for a predetermined duration longer than the normal duration of the address tones for actuating the remainder of said pager circuitry whereby a group call function is effected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a paging unit, address decoding means including: first and second tone filters each tuned to a different audio frequency for passing first and second audio signals respectively having different audio frequencies; first and second tone detector means for generating first and second unidirectional signals respectively whenever an associated one of said first and second signals is present; first and second capacitative storage means connected respectively to said first and second tone detector means for storing the unidirectional signals therefrom; first and second normally-off timing means each for generating a pulse of a predetermined duration in response to the charge of an associated capacitative storage means exceeding a predetermined threshold, the pulse from one timing means extending into the expected time of arrival of the second tone; gating means for generating an activation signal in the presence of two pulses one each from each of said timing means and, cross inhibiting shock protection means for inhibiting the output of one timing means only in the presence of an audio signal to which the other timing means responds such that said address decoding means responds only to AB followed immediately by BA, where A and B designate different audio signals and A and B designate the absence of the respective audio signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a paging unit, address decoding means including: first and second tone filters each tuned to a different audio frequency for passing first and second audio signals respectively having different audio frequencies; first and second tone detector means for generating first and second unidirectional signals respectively whenever an associated one of said first and second signals is present; first and second capacitative storage means connected respectively to said first and second tone detector means for storing the unidirectional signals therefrom; first and second normally-off timing means each for generating a pulse of a predetermined duration in response to the charge of an associated capacitative storage means exceeding a predetermined threshold, the pulse from one timing means extending into the expected time of arrival of the second tone; gating means for generating an activation signal in the presence of two pulses one each from each of said timing means and, cross inhibiting shock protection means for inhibiting the output of one timing means only in the presence of an audio signal to which the other timing means responds such that said address decoding means responds only to AB followed immediately by BA, where A and B designate different audio signals and A and B designate the absence of the respective audio signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The paging unit of claim 3 and further including means responsive to the charge on said first capacitative storage means exceeding said predetermined threshold for a time longer than the expected time interval for a tone for generating said activation signal thereby to effect a group call function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
185 words
A paging unit including means for receiving predetermined sequential tone address signals followed by message signals and for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry to present the message to the recipient in response to receipt of a decoded tone address sequence, the improvement in the address decoding circuitry comprising: a number of tone detectors; normally-off timing circuits each actuated in response to the detection of a predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; means for extending the duration of the output of the timing circuit associated with a first predetermined tone to overlap the output from the timing circuit associated with a second predetermined tone; means for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry in the simultaneous presence of the outputs from the timing circuits and, cross inhibiting shock protection means for inhibiting the output of one timing circuit only in the presence of a toner to which another timing circuit responds, such that said address decoding circuitry responds only to AB followed immediately by BA, where A and B designate different tones and A and B designate the absence of the respective tone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
A paging unit including means for receiving predetermined sequential tone address signals followed by message signals and for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry to present the message to the recipient in response to receipt of a decoded tone address sequence, the improvement in the address decoding circuitry comprising: a number of tone detectors; normally-off timing circuits each actuated in response to the detection of a predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; means for extending the duration of the output of the timing circuit associated with a first predetermined tone to overlap the output from the timing circuit associated with a second predetermined tone; means for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry in the simultaneous presence of the outputs from the timing circuits and, cross inhibiting shock protection means for inhibiting the output of one timing circuit only in the presence of a toner to which another timing circuit responds, such that said address decoding circuitry responds only to AB followed immediately by BA, where A and B designate different tones and A and B designate the absence of the respective tone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A paging unit including means for receiving predetermined sequential tone address signals followed by message signals and for actuating the remainder of this pager circuitry to present the message to the recipient in response to receipt of a decoded tone address sequence, the improvement in the address decoding circuitry comprising: a number of tone detectors; normally-off timing circuits each actuated in response to the detection of a predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; means for extending the duration of the output of the timing circuit associated with a first predetermined tone to overlap the output from the timing circuit associated with a second predetermined tone; and means for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry in the simultaneous presence of the outputs from the timing circuits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
A paging unit including means for receiving predetermined sequential tone address signals followed by message signals and for actuating the remainder of this pager circuitry to present the message to the recipient in response to receipt of a decoded tone address sequence, the improvement in the address decoding circuitry comprising: a number of tone detectors; normally-off timing circuits each actuated in response to the detection of a predetermined tone by an associated tone detector; means for extending the duration of the output of the timing circuit associated with a first predetermined tone to overlap the output from the timing circuit associated with a second predetermined tone; and means for actuating the remainder of the pager circuitry in the simultaneous presence of the outputs from the timing circuits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A paging unit decoder comprising: first and second tone detector circuits responding respectively to A and B tones of different acoustic frequencies; and, means coupled to said detector circuits for detecting AB followed immediately by BA.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A paging unit decoder comprising: first and second tone detector circuits responding respectively to A and B tones of different acoustic frequencies; and, means coupled to said detector circuits for detecting AB followed immediately by BA.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-16 | 1981-07-18 | 1982-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-16 | 1985-07-18 | 1986-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-16 | 1989-07-18 | 1990-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |