Switching device for controlling power to appliances and muting audio devices in response to a telephone call

Claim 1

A switching device for simultaneously controlling AC power to an electrical appliance and providing an infrared mute signal to an infrared-controlled device in response to initiation and termination of a telephone call, said switching device comprising: means for connecting said switching device to a telephone line, having tip-and-ring connectors, and a telephone; AC plug means for connecting said switching device to an AC outlet; AC power-controlled outlet means for receiving electrical appliance plugs; infrared circuit means for decoding an existing infrared emitting device and for emitting an infrared signal suitable for muting the infrared-controlled device, said infrared circuit means being configured for decoding a plurality of existing infrared-emitting devices and for emitting a plurality of infrared signals, each suitable for muting a different infrared-controlled device; and control means for simultaneously controlling power to said AC power-controlled outlet means and causing said infrared circuit means to emit the infrared signal, said control means being responsive to voltage across the tip-and-ring connectors and interconnected between said AC power plug means, said AC power-controlled outlet means, and said infrared circuit means, said control means comprising: Triac means, having a sensitive gate controlling ON and OFF states of the Triac means, for controlling power to said power-controlled outlet means, the ON state corresponding to providing power to said power-controlled outlet means and the OFF state corresponding to cutting power to said power-controlled outlet means; diode means, interconnected with said means for connecting said switching device to a telephone line, and said Triac means, for holding the Triac means in the OFF state in response to 90 V voltage applied across the tip-and-ring connectors and holding the Triac means in the ON state in response to 48 V voltage applied across the tip-and-ring connectors; and delay current means for delaying the emission of the infrared signal by the infrared current means after a voltage across the tip-and-ring connector corresponding to a hang-up of the telephone.