US4058679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone answering device without outgoing message tape
Assignee: Hashimoto Corp KK
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Filing: 1976-04-29
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Granted: 1977-11-15
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Expires: 1996-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A telephone answering device comprises an oscillator circuit for first producing a peculiar signal such as a small Morse code "K" twittering to notify a caller that he is calling a telephone answering device and thereafter intermittently producing "beep" tone signal to notify him that he can continue to send his message, the production of these signals being controlled by the combination of a multi-vibrator circuit and a buffer circuit connected between the oscillator circuit and the multi-vibrator circuit, thereby eliminating an outgoing message tape of a conventional telephone answering device.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuo Hashimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A telephone answering device with means for controlling an incoming message recorder automatically in response to a calling signal, comprising ringing circuit means for energizing switching means in response to a calling signal; timer means energized through said ringing circuit means for starting the operation of said device and to deenergize the ringing circuit means after a predetermined period of time; a line transformer comprising a plurality of windings with a first winding connected through said switching means to telephone lines of the telephone answering device, a second winding for transmitting an oscillating signal to the telephone lines, and a third winding for introducing a caller's message to an external incoming message recorder; oscillator means with means for energizing said oscillator means through said switching means; said oscillator means being energized at the same time as said timer means to produce a predetermined answering signal; auxiliary switching means with means for setting auxiliary switching means to be off for a substantially short period of time at every preset time interval; and switching gate means connected between said oscillator means and said auxiliary switching means and having means for setting said auxiliary switching means a nonoperative state for substantially a predetermined time interval after energization of the timer means, said auxiliary switching means being switched therafter to an operative state to control thereby the oscillation of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A telephone answering device with means for controlling an incoming message recorder automatically in response to a calling signal, comprising ringing circuit means for energizing switching means in response to a calling signal; timer means energized through said ringing circuit means for starting the operation of said device and to deenergize the ringing circuit means after a predetermined period of time; a line transformer comprising a plurality of windings with a first winding connected through said switching means to telephone lines of the telephone answering device, a second winding for transmitting an oscillating signal to the telephone lines, and a third winding for introducing a caller's message to an external incoming message recorder; oscillator means with means for energizing said oscillator means through said switching means; said oscillator means being energized at the same time as said timer means to produce a predetermined answering signal; auxiliary switching means with means for setting auxiliary switching means to be off for a substantially short period of time at every preset time interval; and switching gate means connected between said oscillator means and said auxiliary switching means and having means for setting said auxiliary switching means a nonoperative state for substantially a predetermined time interval after energization of the timer means, said auxiliary switching means being switched therafter to an operative state to control thereby the oscillation of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
A telephone answering device with means for controlling an incoming message recorder automatically in response to a calling signal, comprising ringing circuit means for energizing switching means in response to a calling signal; timer means energized through said ringing circuit means for starting the operation of said device and to deenergize the ringing circuit means after a predetermined period of time; a line transformer comprising a plurality of windings with a first winding connected through said switching means to telephone lines of the telephone answering device, a second winding for transmitting an oscillating signal to the telephone lines, and a third winding for introducing a caller's message to an external incoming message recorder; oscillator means with means for energizing said oscillator means through said switching means; said oscillator means being energized at the same time as said timer means to produce a predetermined answering signal; an astable multi-vibrator with means for setting said multi-vibrator to be off for a substantially short period of time at every preset time interval; and switching gate means connected between said oscillator means and said astable multi-vibrator and having means for setting said multivibrator non-conductive for substantially a predetermined time interval after energization of the timer means, said multivibrator becoming therafter conductive to control thereby the oscillation of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
216 words
A telephone answering device with means for controlling an incoming message recorder automatically in response to a calling signal, comprising ringing circuit means for energizing switching means in response to a calling signal; timer means energized through said ringing circuit means for starting the operation of said device and to deenergize the ringing circuit means after a predetermined period of time; a line transformer comprising a plurality of windings with a first winding connected through said switching means to telephone lines of the telephone answering device, a second winding for transmitting an oscillating signal to the telephone lines, and a third winding for introducing a caller's message to an external incoming message recorder; oscillator means with means for energizing said oscillator means through said switching means; said oscillator means being energized at the same time as said timer means to produce a predetermined answering signal; an astable multi-vibrator with means for setting said multi-vibrator to be off for a substantially short period of time at every preset time interval; and switching gate means connected between said oscillator means and said astable multi-vibrator and having means for setting said multivibrator non-conductive for substantially a predetermined time interval after energization of the timer means, said multivibrator becoming therafter conductive to control thereby the oscillation of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said predetermined answering signal comprises a Morse code "K" signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, including a power source, said ringing circuit having a pilot lamp between said switching means and said power source, the filament of the pilot lamp being relatively low in its initial resistance and, when upon energization of said switching means the lamp is turned on and the resistance of the filament is increased, the electrical current through said switching means is limited to a minimum current value necessary and thereby minimizing electric power consumed in said switching means, said lamp indicating that the telephone lines are maintained closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said oscillator means comprises semiconductor means, and feedback means of a transformer coupling and a C.R. coupling respectively between the collector and the base of the semi-conductor device and between the base and the emitter of said semiconductor means, the combination of the feedback means and the semiconductor means producing a predetermined tone signal for three seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said predetermined tone signal comprises a Morse code "K" signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said predetermined tone signal comprises a Morse code signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said astable multivibrator comprises first and second transistors with means for repeatedly turning on said multivibrator for substantially seven seconds and turning said multivibrator off for 0.2 second when said device is set to operate in absent condition, said multivibrator being turned on for substantially 15 seconds and off for 0.2 second by adjustment of values of a capacitor and a resistor thereof, and an operating switch for setting the device to operate under the condition that mutual telephone conversations are recorded in the incoming message recorder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said switching gate means comprises a transistor and integration means having an integration capacitor connected to the base of the transistor, the collector of the transistor being connected to the base of the semiconductor means in the oscillator means, the emitter of the transistor being connected to the collector of a first transistor of said astable multivibrator, said first transistor becoming conductive earlier than a second transistor of the astable multivibrator, the base of the first-mentioned transistor being grounded through the integration means, the firstmentioned transistor being not rendered conductive immediately after the energization of the switching gate means even if voltage is applied to the base thereof by the discharge of the integration capacitor, after charging the capacitor of the integration means in about three seconds from the energization, said first-mentioned transistor being rendered conductive thereby electrically connecting the astable multivibrator and said oscillator means, the operation of said oscillator means being controlled thereafter by on-off operation of the astable multi-vibrator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
186 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, including four operating switches each having three positions corresponding to "automatic recording", "stop" and "manual recording", the operating switches being set at the "automatic recording" position to carry out said operations of said device, and being set at the "manual recording" position to energize said oscillator means, said astable multi-vibrator and said switching gate means only without energizing said switching means and without delaying time by the switching gate means, whereby the operation of the oscillator is only controlled by said first transistor from beginning, said first transistor becoming non-conductive at every set time of the astable multi-vibrator, said operating switches being set at the "stop" position to de-energize said oscillator, multivibrator and switching gate means in such a manner that an incoming signal can go through said first and second windings to an amplifier of an external tape recorder, and an electric motor of an external tape recorder driven through an operating switch, the incoming signal being recorded free of beep-tones on the external tape recorder as long as the external tape recorder is in a recording mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said predetermined answering signal comprises a Morse code signal.
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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) | 1980-11-14 | 1981-05-16 | 1981-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-14 | 1985-05-16 | 1985-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-14 | 1989-05-16 | 1989-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |