US4140884A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic tone ringer
Assignee: TELEPHONE AND DATA PRODUCTS
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Filing: 1977-09-14
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Granted: 1979-02-20
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Expires: 1997-09-14
Abstract
Abstract An electronic tone ringer for a telephone set produces a tone in response to the presence of a conventional a.c. ring signal between the tip and ring leads of the telephone set. The electronic tone ringer rectifies the ring signal to produce a d.c. voltage. The resulting d.c. voltage is connected to a sounding device through a timing circuit which filters out short duration line transients.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J. Ouimet
- 👤 Richard D. Gilreath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M19/00; H04M19/02; H04M19/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In a telephone system having a telephone loop with a tip and a ring lead and a source of a.c. ring voltage connected across the tip and ring leads, an electronic tone ringer comprising a rectifier circuit connected across the tip and ring leads to provide a d.c. voltage, a sounding device having inputs connected to the rectifier circuit and responsive to the d.c. voltage to produce a tone, and a timing circuit interconnected between the rectifier circuit and the sounding device which timing circuit includes a timing network connected across the d.c. voltage for establishing a predetermined time delay, a first transistor connected to the timing network and activated by the timing network at the end of the predetermined time delay and a second transistor connected to and controlled by the first transistor, the second transistor further being connected across the inputs of the sounding device so that prior to the expiration of the predetermined time delay the second transistor shunts the inputs of the sounding device to assure that the sounding device is not erroneously activated by a short duration transient voltage across the tip and ring leads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a telephone system having a telephone loop with a tip and a ring lead and a source of a.c. ring voltage connected across the tip and ring leads, an electronic tone ringer comprising a rectifier circuit connected across the tip and ring leads to provide a d.c. voltage, a sounding device having inputs connected to the rectifier circuit and responsive to the d.c. voltage to produce a tone, and a timing circuit interconnected between the rectifier circuit and the sounding device which timing circuit includes a timing network connected across the d.c. voltage for establishing a predetermined time delay, a first transistor connected to the timing network and activated by the timing network at the end of the predetermined time delay and a second transistor connected to and controlled by the first transistor, the second transistor further being connected across the inputs of the sounding device so that prior to the expiration of the predetermined time delay the second transistor shunts the inputs of the sounding device to assure that the sounding device is not erroneously activated by a short duration transient voltage across the tip and ring leads.
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) | 1982-02-19 | 1982-08-21 | 1983-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-19 | 1986-08-21 | 1987-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-19 | 1990-08-21 | 1991-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |