Data access arrangement

Claim 2

In a digital access arrangement coupled between a data terminal equipment and tip and ring lines of a network, a circuit, comprising: (a) a first controllable switch, the first controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the first controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state; (b) a second controllable switch, the second controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the second controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state; (c) a third controllable switch, the third controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the third controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, wherein the third controllable switch assumes its conducting state when the first controllable switch is in its conducting state and is conducting a current based on a voltage appearing on the tip line; (d) a fourth controllable switch, the fourth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the second terminal of the third controllable switch, a second terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, and a control terminal, the fourth controllable switching having a conducting state and a blocking state, wherein the fourth controllable switch assumes its conducting state when the first controllable switch is in its conducting state and is conducting a current based on the voltage appearing on the tip line; (e) a fifth controllable switch, the fifth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, a second terminal, and a control terminal, the fifth controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, wherein the fifth controllable switch assumes its conducting state when the second controllable switch is in its conducting state and is conducting a current based on a voltage appearing on the ring line; and (f) a sixth controllable switch, the sixth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the second terminal of the fifth controllable switch, a second terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, and a control terminal, the sixth controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, wherein the sixth controllable switch assumes its conducting state when the second controllable switch is in its conducting state and is conducting a current based on the voltage appearing on the ring line.

Claim 3

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable switches are transistors.

Claim 4

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth controllable switches are MOSFETs.

Claim 5

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the third controllable switch assumes its conducting state when both the first controllable switch is in its conducting state and conducting current based on a voltage appearing on the tip line and when a representation of a signal transmitted by the data terminal equipment is high, and wherein the fifth controllable switch assumes its conducting state when both the second controllable switch is in its conducting state and is conducting current based on a voltage appearing on the ring line and when a representation of a signal transmitted by the data terminal equipment is high.

Claim 6

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first controllable switch conducts a current when a switching signal is applied to its control input and a voltage is present on the tip line and the second controllable switch conducts a current when a switching signal is applied to its control input and a voltage is present on the ring line.

Claim 7

The circuit of claim 5, wherein the first controllable switch is a phototransistor and the switching signal applied to its control input is light emitted by a first light emitting diode and wherein the second controllable switch is a phototransistor and the switching signal applied to its control input is light emitted by a second light emitting diode.

Claim 8

The circuit of claim 6, wherein the first and second light emitting diodes emit light in response to at least one of a ring detected on one of the tip and ring lines, and a request to transmit data by the data terminal equipment.

Claim 9

The circuit of claim 5, wherein the first controllable switch is a phototransistor and the switching signal applied to its control input is light emitted by a light emitting diode and wherein the second controllable switch is a phototransistor and the switching signal applied to its control input is light emitted by the light emitting diode.

Claim 10

The circuit of claim 8, wherein the light emitting diode emits light in response to at least one of a ring detected on one of the tip and ring lines, and a request to transmit data by the data terminal equipment.

Claim 11

In a digital access arrangement coupled between a data terminal equipment having a transmit line and a receive line, and tip and ring lines of a network, a circuit, comprising: (a) a controller having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a third output terminal, a fourth output terminal, and a fifth output terminal, the controller providing switch close signals on the first and second output terminals when a voltage is applied to the first input terminal, the controller providing switch close signals on the third and fourth output terminals when a voltage is applied to the second input terminal, and the controller electrically coupling its third input terminal with its fifth output terminal; (b) a first controllable switch, the first controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the first input of the controller, and a control terminal, the first controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state; (c) a second controllable switch, the second controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the second input of the controller, and a control terminal, the second controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state; (d) a third controllable switch, the third controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the third input of the controller, and a control terminal coupled with the first output of the controller, the third controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal; (e) a fourth controllable switch, the fourth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the fifth output terminal of the controller, a second terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, and a control terminal coupled with the second output of the controller, the fourth controllable switching having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal; (f) a fifth controllable switch, the fifth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the third input of the controller, and a control terminal coupled with the third output of the controller, the fifth controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal; and (g) a sixth controllable switch, the sixth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the fifth output terminal of the controller, a second terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, and a control terminal coupled with the fourth output of the controller, the sixth controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal.

Claim 12

In a digital access arrangement coupled between a data terminal equipment having a transmit line and a receive line, and tip and ring lines of a network, a circuit, comprising: (a) a controller having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a third output terminal, a fourth output terminal, and a fifth output terminal, the controller providing switch close signals on the first and second output terminals when a voltage is applied to the first input terminal, the controller providing switch close signals on the third and fourth output terminals when a voltage is applied to the second input terminal, and the controller electrically coupling its third input terminal with its fifth output terminal; (b) a first controllable switch, the first controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the first input of the controller, and a control terminal, the first controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state; (c) a second controllable switch, the second controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the second input of the controller, and a control terminal, the second controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state; (d) a third controllable switch, the third controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the third input of the controller, and a control terminal coupled with the first output of the controller, the third controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal; (e) a fourth controllable switch, the fourth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the fifth output terminal of the controller, a second terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, and a control terminal coupled with the second output of the controller, the fourth controllable switching having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal; (f) a fifth controllable switch, the fifth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the ring line of the network, a second terminal coupled with the third input of the controller, and a control terminal coupled with the third output of the controller, the fifth controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal; and (g) a sixth controllable switch, the sixth controllable switch having a first terminal coupled with the fifth output terminal of the controller, a second terminal coupled with the tip line of the network, and a control terminal coupled with the fourth output of the controller, the sixth controllable switch having a conducting state and a blocking state, and assuming its conducting state when a switch close signal is applied to its control terminal.

Claim 13

The circuit of claim 10, wherein the third, fourth, fifth and sixth controllable switches are transistors.

Claim 14

The circuit of claim 10, wherein the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth controllable switches are MOSFETs.

Claim 15

The circuit of claim 10, eherein the third controllable switch assumes its conducting state when both a switch close signal is provided to its control terminal and a representation of a signal transmitted by the data terminal equipment is high, and wherein the fifth controllable switch assumes its conducting state when both a switch close signal is provided to its control terminal and a representation of a signal transmitted by the data terminal equipment is high.

Claim 16

The circuit of claim 10, wherein controller includes a conductor for electrically coupling the third input of the controller with the fifth output of the controller.

Claim 17

The circuit of claim 14, wherein the conductor is coupled, in an electrically isolated manner, with the receive and transmit lines of the data terminal equipment.

Claim 18

The circuit of claim 10, wherein the first controllable switch conducts, thereby supplying a voltage to the first input of the controller, when a signal is applied to its control input and a voltage is present on the tip line and the second controllable switch conducts, thereby supplying a voltage to the second input of the controller, when a signal is applied to its control input and a voltage is present on the ring line.

Claim 19

The circuit of claim 16, wherein the first controllable switch is a phototransistor and the signal applied to its control input is light emitted by a first light emitting diode and wherein the second controllable switch is a phototransistor and the signal applied to its control input is light emitted by a second light emitting diode.

Claim 20

The circuit of claim 17, wherein the first and second light emitting diodes emit light in response to at least one of a ring detected on one of the tip and ring lines, and a request to transmit data by the data terminal equipment.

Claim 21

The circuit of claim 16, wherein the first controllable switch is a phototransistor and the signal applied to its control input is light emitted by a light emitting diode and wherein the second controllable switch is a phototransistor and the signal applied to its control input is light emitted by the light emitting diode.

Claim 22

The circuit of claim 19, wherein the light emitting diode emits light in response to at least one of a ring detected on one of the tip and ring lines, and a request to transmit data by the data terminal equipment.