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US5020100A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Telephone line loop current regulator

Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1989-07-07
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Granted: 1991-05-28
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Expires: 2009-07-07
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Abstract

Abstract A telephone line loop current regulator combines the functions of current regulation, current detection, loop disconnect signalling and speech switching. It comprises a gyrator circuit formed by resistor (R1), capacitor (C1), transistor (T1) and resistor (R3). Loop current is regulated by transistor (T1) and resistor (R3) while loop current detection is achieved by monitoring the voltage across resistor (R3) by an opto-diode which forms part of an opto-electronic coupler (OP2). Speech switching is performed by transistor (T3) which also monitors the voltage across resistor (R3) so that speech is switched onto the line via transformer (TR1) when d.c. loop current is present. Line seizure and loop disconnect signalling are carried out by switching the opto-coupler (OP1) to turn the transistor (T1) on and off.

Inventors

  • 👤 William H. Gardiner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 08:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M19/00; H04M7/00; H04M7/0096; H03; H03H; H03H11/00; H03H11/02; H03H11/40; H03H11/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim 69 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means responsive to current flow through the field effect transistor for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, and loop current detection means connected across the resistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 69 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means responsive to current flow through the field effect transistor for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, and loop current detection means connected across the resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 1, including a further switch which is operative to switch a speech signal onto the line when loop current is established.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the further switch comprises a further transistor whose control electrode is coupled to a source electrode of the field effect transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 91 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, loop current detection means connected across the resistor, and an electronic switch in the gate circuit of the field effect transistor which is effective when closed to turn on the field effect transistor to cause the line to be seized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 91 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, loop current detection means connected across the resistor, and an electronic switch in the gate circuit of the field effect transistor which is effective when closed to turn on the field effect transistor to cause the line to be seized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electronic switch is the output part of an opto-electronic coupler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electronic switch is controlled so as to cause the field effect transistor to produce loop disconnect signalling pulses on the telephone line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the loop current detection means comprise an opto-electronic coupling device connected in parallel with the resistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a voltage reference diode connected between the gate of the field effect transistor and the loop conductor to which the resistor is connected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 8 further comprising oscillation suppression means connected between the voltage reference diode and the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 58 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 4 further comprising, a resistive potential divider connected across the line via a switch, a capacitor connected between the gate of the field effect transistor and the loop conductor connected to the resistor, and means for coupling a point on the potential divider to the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the potential divider includes a further transistor which is controlled so as to be turned off when the field effect transistor is turned off.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 11, wherein a control electrode of the further transistor is coupled to a source electrode of the field effect transistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 83 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, loop current detection means connected across the resistor, and a voltage reference diode connected between the gate of the field effect transistor and a loop conductor to which the resistor is connected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 83 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, loop current detection means connected across the resistor, and a voltage reference diode connected between the gate of the field effect transistor and a loop conductor to which the resistor is connected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 13 further comprising oscillation suppression means connected between the voltage reference diode and the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the oscillation suppression means comprises a ferrite bead surrounding a conductor coupled between the voltage reference diode and the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 86 words
A telephone line loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit which includes a field effect transistor connected in a first series circuit with a first resistor across first and second wires of the telephone line and further comprising a capacitor and a second resistor connected in a second series circuit across said first and second wires of the telephone line, means coupled to the field effect transistor for regulating DC current through the field effect transistor, and loop current detection means coupled across the first resistor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 86 words
A telephone line loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit which includes a field effect transistor connected in a first series circuit with a first resistor across first and second wires of the telephone line and further comprising a capacitor and a second resistor connected in a second series circuit across said first and second wires of the telephone line, means coupled to the field effect transistor for regulating DC current through the field effect transistor, and loop current detection means coupled across the first resistor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 30 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 16 wherein the loop current detection means comprises an opto-electronic coupling device having an optical emitter connected in parallel with the first resistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 56 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 16 further comprising, a resistive potential divider connected across the telephone line, said capacitor being connected via a switch between the gate of the field effect transistor and the second wire, and means for coupling a point on the potential divider to the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 75 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 16, wherein said DC current regulating means comprises a further transistor connected in a third series circuit with the second resistor across said first and second wires of the telephone line and with a control electrode of the further transistor connected to said first resistor whereby said further transistor is switched off when loop current is absent thereby producing a high impedance between said first and second wires.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 34 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a switching transistor responsive to loop current for switching a speech signal to said first and second wires when a loop current is present.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 41 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 20, wherein said switching transistor has a base electrode connected to the first resistor so as to monitor the voltage developed across said first resistor thereby to determine the presence of said loop current.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 41 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an electronic switch coupled in the gate circuit of the field effect transistor and triggered on and off so as to control in turn on/off conduction in said field effect transistor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 75 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 22, wherein said DC current regulating means comprises a further transistor connected in a third series circuit with the second resistor across said first and second wires of the telephone line and with a control electrode of the further transistor connected to said first resistor whereby said further transistor is switched off when loop current is absent thereby producing a high impedance between said first and second wires.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 34 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 23, wherein said electronic switch is coupled between the gate of the field effect transistor and a junction point between the second resistor and the further transistor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 131 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, loop current detection means connected across the resistor, a resistive potential divider connected across the telephone line, said potential divider including a further transistor which is controlled so as to be turned off when the field effect transistor is turned off, a capacitor connected between the gate of the field effect transistor and a loop conductor which is connected to the resistor, and means for coupling a point on the potential divider to the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 131 words
A telephone line d.c. loop current regulator comprising: a gyrator circuit connected across the line, a field effect transistor connected in series with a resistor across the line, the field effect transistor forming the amplifying means of the gyrator circuit, means for regulating the d.c. current through the field effect transistor, loop current detection means connected across the resistor, a resistive potential divider connected across the telephone line, said potential divider including a further transistor which is controlled so as to be turned off when the field effect transistor is turned off, a capacitor connected between the gate of the field effect transistor and a loop conductor which is connected to the resistor, and means for coupling a point on the potential divider to the gate of the field effect transistor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 27 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 25, wherein a control electrode of the further transistor is coupled to a source electrode of the field effect transistor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 28 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 26 including a further switch which is operative to switch a speech signal onto the line when loop current is established.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 31 words
A current regulator as claimed in claim 27, wherein the further switch comprises a second further transistor whose control electrode is coupled to the source electrode of the field effect transistor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE2453094A1 Cited
US4190745A Cited
US4230912A Cited
US4535202A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-05-27 1994-11-26 1995-05-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-05-27 1998-11-26 1999-05-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-05-27 2002-11-26 2003-05-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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