US5946392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone handset interface device
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1996-11-22
•
Granted: 1999-08-31
•
Expires: 2016-11-22
Abstract
Abstract An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets to a telephone, and particularly transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements comprises: a current source device for providing current flow through a transducer of the telephone handset; a device for detecting the current flow through the transducer present in the telephone handset and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, an adjusting device for adjusting the electrical characteristics of audio signals to be transmitted according to the generated handset type signal. The interface device further includes a control device responsive to the handset type signal for maintaining the current source device in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to the telephone handset, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to the telephone handset.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry L. Tague
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An interface circuit for a communications device capable of utilizing a variety of handset devices, each handset device having a different microphone transducer therein for converting audible sound into audio signals for transmission over a communications line, said interface circuit comprising: current source means for providing current flow through said microphone transducer; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said microphone transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, adjusting means for adjusting the electrical characteristics of the audio signals transmitted according to said generated handset type signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An interface circuit for a communications device capable of utilizing a variety of handset devices, each handset device having a different microphone transducer therein for converting audible sound into audio signals for transmission over a communications line, said interface circuit comprising: current source means for providing current flow through said microphone transducer; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said microphone transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, adjusting means for adjusting the electrical characteristics of the audio signals transmitted according to said generated handset type signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 1, further including control means responsive to said handset type signal for maintaining said current source means in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to said microphone transducer, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to said microphone transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said said microphone transducer is a carbon-based transducer, said current source means being maintained in said ON state when a carbon-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said microphone transducer is an electret-based transducer, said current source means being in said OFF state when an electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adjusting means includes an amplifier device for providing gain to said audio signals to be transmitted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means sets said amplifier gain to unity when said carbon-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means sets amplifier gain to greater than unity when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes means for frequency bandlimiting audio signals to be transmitted when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
An interface circuit for a communications device capable of utilizing a variety of handset devices, each handset device having a different microphone transducer utilized therein for converting audible sound into audio signals for transmission over a communications line, said interface circuit comprising: current source means for providing current flow through the microphone transducer; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said microphone transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, control means responsive to said handset type signal for maintaining said current source means in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to said microphone transducer, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to said microphone transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
An interface circuit for a communications device capable of utilizing a variety of handset devices, each handset device having a different microphone transducer utilized therein for converting audible sound into audio signals for transmission over a communications line, said interface circuit comprising: current source means for providing current flow through the microphone transducer; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said microphone transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, control means responsive to said handset type signal for maintaining said current source means in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to said microphone transducer, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to said microphone transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control means generates a control signal to according to said handset type signal received, said circuit further including adjusting means responsive to said control for adjusting the electrical characteristics of the audio signals transmitted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said microphone transducer is an electret-based transducer, said current source means being in said OFF state when an electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said adjusting means includes an amplifier device for providing gain to said audio signals to be transmitted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means sets said amplifier gain to unity when said carbon-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means sets amplifier gain to greater than unity when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means includes means for frequency bandlimiting audio signals to be transmitted when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The interface circuit for a communications device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said adjusting means includes switching means for enabling said amplifier gain to be set to unity when said carbon-based microphone transducer is detected, and enabling said amplifier gain to be set to greater than unity when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements to a telephone, said interface device comprising: a detecting device for detecting the type of transducer present in the telephone handset, and a means for modifying the electrical characteristics of audio signals output from said transducer to accommodate the telephone handset to be mated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements to a telephone, said interface device comprising: a detecting device for detecting the type of transducer present in the telephone handset, and a means for modifying the electrical characteristics of audio signals output from said transducer to accommodate the telephone handset to be mated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements to a telephone, said interface device comprising: a current source means for providing current flow through a transducer of said telephone handset; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, adjusting means for adjusting the electrical characteristics of audio signals to be transmitted according to said generated handset type signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements to a telephone, said interface device comprising: a current source means for providing current flow through a transducer of said telephone handset; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, adjusting means for adjusting the electrical characteristics of audio signals to be transmitted according to said generated handset type signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 18, further including control means responsive to said handset type signal for maintaining said current source means in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to said transducer, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to said transducer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said transducer is a carbon-based transducer, said current source means being maintained in said ON state when a carbon-based transducer is detected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said transducer is an electret-based transducer, said current source means being in said OFF state when an electret-based transducer is detected.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said adjusting means includes an amplifier device for providing gain to said audio signals to be transmitted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said adjusting means sets said amplifier gain to unity when said carbon-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said adjusting means sets amplifier gain to greater than unity when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said adjusting means includes means for frequency bandlimiting audio signals to be transmitted when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
105 words
An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements to a telephone, said interface device comprising: a current source means for providing current flow through the microphone transducer; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said microphone transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, control means responsive to said handset type signal for maintaining said current source means in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to said microphone transducer, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to said microphone transducer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
An interface device for mating transducer-based telephone handsets having different electrical input/output requirements to a telephone, said interface device comprising: a current source means for providing current flow through the microphone transducer; detecting means for detecting said current flow through said microphone transducer present in the handset device and generating a handset type signal according to the amount of current flow detected; and, control means responsive to said handset type signal for maintaining said current source means in an ON state to provide a predetermined amount of current flow to said microphone transducer, or an OFF state substantially reducing current flow to said microphone transducer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said control means generates a control signal to according to said handset type signal received, said device further including adjusting means responsive to said control signal for adjusting the electrical characteristics of audio signals to be transmitted by said telephone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said transducer is an electret-based transducer, said current source means being in said OFF state when an electret-based transducer is detected.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said adjusting means includes an amplifier device for providing gain to said audio signals to be transmitted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said adjusting means sets said amplifier gain to unity when said carbon-based transducer is detected.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said adjusting means sets amplifier gain to greater than unity when said electret-based transducer is detected.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said adjusting means includes switching means for enabling said amplifier gain to be set to unity when said carbon-based microphone transducer is detected, and enabling said amplifier gain to be set to greater than unity when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said adjusting means includes means for frequency bandlimiting audio signals to be transmitted when said electret-based microphone transducer is detected.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |