US4115659A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electroacoustical telephone adapter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-06-16
•
Granted: 1978-09-19
•
Expires: 1997-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A telephone adapter for hands-free telephony, adapted for use with a telephone handset having structure including an earpiece, comprising: a transmit signal path comprising, in series, a microphone, amplification means, disabling means and a transducer; a receive signal path having means for amplifying sound energy from said earpiece, said receive path comprising, in series, a coupler, amplification means, disabling means and speaker means; bias means for maintaining said transmit path in an active state when no signals are present; and, means for interrupting said circuit paths in a complementary manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Abram N. Spanel
- 👤 Leonard F. Shepard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/21; H04M1/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A telephone adapter for hands-free telephony, adapted for use with a telephone handset having structure including an earpiece, comprising: a transmit signal path comprising, in series, a microphone, first amplification means, first disabling means and a transducer; a receive signal path having means for amplifying sound energy from said earpiece, said receive path comprising, in series, a coupler, second amplification means, second disabling means and speaker means; bias means for maintaining said transmit path in an active state when no signals are present; and, means for interrupting said circuit paths in a complementary manner, comprising: means for introducing a predetermined delay prior to disabling; means for shortening said delay in response to a louder sound received by said microphone; a comparator having at least two inputs, one of said comparator inputs connected to the output of said transmit path, and another of said at least comparator inputs connected to said receive path; and, third amplification means, having at least two inputs, the output of said comparator being connected to one of said inputs of said third amplification means, another of said inputs of said third amplification means connected to said transmit path, said second disabling means, and said delay means, the output of said third amplification means being connected to the first disabling means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A telephone adapter for hands-free telephony, adapted for use with a telephone handset having structure including an earpiece, comprising: a transmit signal path comprising, in series, a microphone, first amplification means, first disabling means and a transducer; a receive signal path having means for amplifying sound energy from said earpiece, said receive path comprising, in series, a coupler, second amplification means, second disabling means and speaker means; bias means for maintaining said transmit path in an active state when no signals are present; and, means for interrupting said circuit paths in a complementary manner, comprising: means for introducing a predetermined delay prior to disabling; means for shortening said delay in response to a louder sound received by said microphone; a comparator having at least two inputs, one of said comparator inputs connected to the output of said transmit path, and another of said at least comparator inputs connected to said receive path; and, third amplification means, having at least two inputs, the output of said comparator being connected to one of said inputs of said third amplification means, another of said inputs of said third amplification means connected to said transmit path, said second disabling means, and said delay means, the output of said third amplification means being connected to the first disabling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, wherein said transmit signal path further comprises a sound receiving horn, said microphone being operatively coupled to said horn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone adapter of claim 2, wherein the microphone is acoustically coupled to the horn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone adapter of claim 2, wherein said horn has acoustical directivity of sound reception.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The telephone adapter of claim 2 wherein said horn is an exponential horn.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The telephone adapter of claim 2 wherein said horn is a re-entrant horn.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The telephone adapter of claim 2 wherein said horn is an exponential, re-entrant horn.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1 further comprising a light emitting diode digital display means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The telephone adapter of claim 8 including switch means operable in response to a telephone call, timing means operable in response to said switch means, and light emitting diode driver means responsive to the output of said timing means, for providing an output for energization of the light emitting diode display means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, further comprising: switch means operable to a first condition in response to said telephone being connected, and operable to a second condition in response to said telephone being disconnected, said first, second, and third amplification means being operable in response to said switch means being in said first condition; and, light emitting diode display means operable in response to said last mentioned switch means being in said first condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A telephone adapter in accordance with claim 1 including a numerical display.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A telephone adapter in accordance with claim 11 wherein said numerical display is lighted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, wherein said third amplification means comprises an operational amplifier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, wherein said third amplification means means comprises first and second amplifiers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The telephone adapter of claim 14 wherein said first amplifier is an operational amplifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The telephone adapter of claim 14 wherein said second amplifier is an operational amplifier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone adapter of claim 14 wherein said first and second amplifiers are operational amplifiers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
The telephone adapter of claim 14, each of wherein said amplifiers has at least two inputs, the output of said comparator being connected to one of said inputs of each of said amplifiers, another of said inputs of said first amplifier connected to said transmit path, another of said inputs of said second amplifier connected to the output of said first amplifier, said second disabling means, and said delay means, the output of said second amplifier being connected to the first disabling means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, wherein said second amplification means comprises multiple amplifiers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The telephone adapter of claim 19 wherein one of said multiple amplifiers is a balanced amplifier.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The telephone adapter of claim 19 wherein one of said multiple amplifiers is a differential amplifier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1 wherein the first amplification means comprises multiple amplifiers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1 wherein at least two inputs of the comparator are driven from rectification means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telephone adapter of claim 14 wherein the first amplifier is driven from rectification means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1 further comprising manually operable means for controlling said first and second disabling means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The telephone adapter of claim 25 wherein the manually operable means generates at least three operating conditions, the first enabling operation of only the transmit path, the second enabling operation of only the receive path and the third enabling automatic operation of either path.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The telephone adapter of claim 26 wherein the manually operable means automatically returns from the first operation condition to the third operating condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, wherein said comparator is a differential amplifier.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The telephone adapter of claim 1, further comprising flashing numerical display means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-18 | 1982-03-20 | 1982-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-18 | 1986-03-20 | 1986-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-18 | 1990-03-20 | 1990-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |