Patent US4536624A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4536624A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Telephone answering machine interface circuit

Assignee: FORTEL Inc A CORP OF CA
•
Filing: 1983-01-13
•
Granted: 1985-08-20
•
Expires: 2003-01-13
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An interface circuit is provided for a telephone answering machine which does not require a transformer and which provides the proper direct current and alternating current terminating impedance for the telephone line. The direct current terminating impedance is provided by connecting a resistor of a selected resistance value across the telephone line, and the alternating current terminating impedance is achieved by multiplying the effective impedance of the resistor for alternating current audio signals by providing an amplifier for the outgoing audio signals with positive feedback of amounts sufficient to provide the desired impedance multiplication effect but which is insufficient to sustain oscillation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen V. Lyle

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 19:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65; H04M1/654

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A circuit for interfacing a telephone answering machine to a telephone line, including: a transmit amplifier circuit for audio signals to be introduced to the telephone line and including first and second differential amplifiers; circuitry for connecting the output of said amplifier circuit to the telephone line including an output circuit connected to said differential amplifiers to provide a balanced output between the outputs of said differential amplifiers; a resistor of a selected resistance value included in said circuitry adapted to be connected across said telephone line to provide a direct current terminating impedance for the telephone line; and a positive feedback circuit connected to said transmit amplifier circuit to enable said transmit amplifier circuit to increase the effective impedance of said resistor to an increased apparent alternating current impedance in the presence of audio signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 136 words
A circuit for interfacing a telephone answering machine to a telephone line, including: a transmit amplifier circuit for audio signals to be introduced to the telephone line and including first and second differential amplifiers; circuitry for connecting the output of said amplifier circuit to the telephone line including an output circuit connected to said differential amplifiers to provide a balanced output between the outputs of said differential amplifiers; a resistor of a selected resistance value included in said circuitry adapted to be connected across said telephone line to provide a direct current terminating impedance for the telephone line; and a positive feedback circuit connected to said transmit amplifier circuit to enable said transmit amplifier circuit to increase the effective impedance of said resistor to an increased apparent alternating current impedance in the presence of audio signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The interface circuit defined in claim 1, in which said first differential amplifier is a unity gain inverting amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
The interface circuit defined in claim 2, in which said amplifier circuit includes first and second resistors connected to the input of said second differential amplifier for setting the gain of said second differential amplifier and thereby establishing the set point of said balanced output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The interface circuit defined in claim 1, in which said positive feedback circuit provides differential positive feedback for said first and second differential amplifiers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The interface circuit defined in claim 4, and which includes circuit means connected to the output of one of said first and second differential amplifiers to derive amplified audio signals therefrom corresponding to audio signals received from the telephone line.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4214130A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-08-19 1989-02-18 1989-08-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-08-19 1993-02-18 1993-08-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-08-19 1997-02-18 1997-08-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag