Patent US5210791A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5210791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone headset on-line indicator
Assignee: Plantronics Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-13
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Granted: 1993-05-11
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Expires: 2010-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A telephone headset on-line indicator uses a light emitting diode located on a boom of a headset to indicate that the user is on-line with another telephone. Circuits are described for use with use with conventional telephones, electronic telephones and PBX telephone base units.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Krasik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/10; H04R1/1041; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/04; H04M1/05; H04M1/82; H04R1/1091; H04R2201/00; H04R2201/10; H04R2201/109
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A telephone headset on-line indicator for use with a telephone of the type having a base unit connected to the headset by two transmitting lines and two receiving lines, comprising: a boom having a mouthpiece for positioning the mouthpiece adjacent to the mouth of a user, and also having a light emitting device for visually indicating to others that the telephone base unit is in an on-line condition; an ear piece connected to the boom for positioning by the boom adjacent to one of the user's ears; support means, connected to the ear piece for supporting the boom and ear piece on the user's head; and electronic means, electrically associated with the light emitting device for sensing from the two transmitting lines only, when the base unit is in the on-line condition and for illuminating the light emitting device when the on-line condition is sensed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A telephone headset on-line indicator for use with a telephone of the type having a base unit connected to the headset by two transmitting lines and two receiving lines, comprising: a boom having a mouthpiece for positioning the mouthpiece adjacent to the mouth of a user, and also having a light emitting device for visually indicating to others that the telephone base unit is in an on-line condition; an ear piece connected to the boom for positioning by the boom adjacent to one of the user's ears; support means, connected to the ear piece for supporting the boom and ear piece on the user's head; and electronic means, electrically associated with the light emitting device for sensing from the two transmitting lines only, when the base unit is in the on-line condition and for illuminating the light emitting device when the on-line condition is sensed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The on-line indicator of claim 1, wherein the light emitting device is positioned near the mouthpiece of the boom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The on-line indicator of claim 1, wherein the boom is manufactured of a substantially translucent material and the light emitting device is positioned to illuminate substantially the entire boom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The on-line indicator of claim 1, wherein the boom has a fiber optical guide for transmitting light from the light emitting device to an end of the boom to be positioned adjacent to the user's mouth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The on-line indicator of claim 1, wherein the telephone is of a conventional type having a current at the two transmitting lines of approximately 40 mA and a voltage of approximately 3.1 V across a microphone in the headset, wherein the light emitting device is a diode, and wherein the electronic means includes a resistor in series with the light emitting diode to form a series circuit electrically connected in parallel with the microphone and across the two transmitting lines, wherein the resistor has a value selected so as to limit the current through the series circuit to a maximum of approximately 10 mA.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
The on-line indicator of claim 1, wherein the telephone is of a type having a short-circuit current at the two transmitting lines of less than approximately 40 mA, and wherein the electronic means includes a comparator connected to one of the transmitting lines which carriers a characteristic signal when the base unit is in the on-line condition for comparing the characteristic signal to a reference voltage at least equal to an off-line voltage appearing across the two transmitting lines when the base unit is in an off-line condition, means for generating the reference voltage, and driver means connected between the comparator and the light emitting device for driving the light emitting device when the comparator senses the characteristic signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The on-line indicator of claim 6 wherein the electronic means also includes a rectifier circuit having an input connected between the two transmitting lines for rectifying a characteristic signal which appears on the transmitting leads when the base unit is in the on-line condition to a rectified signal, the rectifier having an output connected to the comparator so that the comparator senses a characteristic signal of known polarity regardless of the polarity of the characteristic signal on the transmitting lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A telephone headset on-line indicator for use with a PBX telephone of the type having a base unit connected to the headset by electrical lines, comprising: a boom having a mouthpiece for positioning the mouthpiece adjacent to the mouth of a user, and also having a first light emitting device for visually indicating to others that the telephone base unit is in an on-line condition; an ear piece connected to the boom for positioning the ear piece adjacent to one of the user's ears; a support means connected to the ear piece for supporting the boom and ear piece on the user's head; and first electronic means, electrically associated with the light emitting device for sensing when the base unit is in the on-line condition and for illuminating the first light emitting device when the on-line condition is sensed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A telephone headset on-line indicator for use with a PBX telephone of the type having a base unit connected to the headset by electrical lines, comprising: a boom having a mouthpiece for positioning the mouthpiece adjacent to the mouth of a user, and also having a first light emitting device for visually indicating to others that the telephone base unit is in an on-line condition; an ear piece connected to the boom for positioning the ear piece adjacent to one of the user's ears; a support means connected to the ear piece for supporting the boom and ear piece on the user's head; and first electronic means, electrically associated with the light emitting device for sensing when the base unit is in the on-line condition and for illuminating the first light emitting device when the on-line condition is sensed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The on-line indicator of claim 8, including a second light emitting device of a different color than the first light emitting device and positioned adjacent to the first light emitting device, the on-line indicator also having second electronic means, electrically associated with the second light emitting device for sensing when the base unit is in a hold condition and for illuminating the second light emitting device when the hold condition is sensed.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for indicating when a telephone is in an on-line condition, comprising the steps of: providing a telephone headset with a light emitting device in the vicinity of a boom of the headset; electronically sensing when the telephone is in an on-line condition; and illuminating the light emitting device when the on-line condition is sensed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for indicating when a telephone is in an on-line condition, comprising the steps of: providing a telephone headset with a light emitting device in the vicinity of a boom of the headset; electronically sensing when the telephone is in an on-line condition; and illuminating the light emitting device when the on-line condition is sensed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the on-line condition is electronically sensed by monitoring a voltage across two transmission lines emanating from a base unit of the telephone to the headset.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
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) | 1996-05-10 | 1996-11-09 | 1997-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-10 | 2000-11-09 | 2001-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-10 | 2004-11-09 | 2005-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |