Multiple phone line adaptor
US5590185A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/71
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a two line phone adaptor that allows two separate phone lines to be connected to and controlled by a single line DTMF phone. The two line phone adaptor has one ring detector for each line and one hold circuit for each line. The adaptor also has an electronic line selector circuit, a DTMF decoder and an off hook detector. All of the above circuits are connected to a micro controller that contains the software that defines the functions of the adaptor. The adaptor does not have any user accessible control buttons except for an on/off switch. The adaptor will automatically engage the `ringing line` and transfer the ring signal to the attached phone to generate an audible ringing sound. When the phone is taken off the hook, the adaptor will automatically seize a `free line` for use. The adaptor is controlled by the 3.times.4 keyboard of the attached DTMF single line phone and provides the functions such as music on hold, manual line select and three party conferences.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.