US3849603A - Remote banking intercom system - Google Patents
Remote banking intercom system Download PDFInfo
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- US3849603A US3849603A US00302253A US30225372A US3849603A US 3849603 A US3849603 A US 3849603A US 00302253 A US00302253 A US 00302253A US 30225372 A US30225372 A US 30225372A US 3849603 A US3849603 A US 3849603A
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M9/00—Arrangements for interconnection not involving centralised switching
- H04M9/001—Two-way communication systems between a limited number of parties
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- the system is additionally pro- 3,4231531 1/ I969 Doddingto" 179/1 VC vided with a muting signal which disconnects the teller 3,499,115 3/1970 Sontag 179/1 H speaker whenever the ambient noise level at the cus- 3,743,950 7/1973 S8118" 179/1 VC tomers location is due to mechanical movement Primary Examiner Ralph D Blakeslee ziggocrllrawer or pneumatic carrier at the customers Assistant Examiner-Bradford Leaheey 16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures L KI, PRE B- LEVEL AMP CONTROL i3 Z-WAY l ⁇ SPEAKER 5 a? 3? l/ MIC.
- This invention relates to intercom systems and more particularly to a remote banking system intercom for communicating between a bank teller location and a remote customer location.
- a form of remote banking the bank teller and customer are usually separated by a distance anywhere from 6 to 30 feet, with the customer being in his car and the teller in a fully-enclosed booth attached to the main bank building which has a window looking out on the customer terminal.
- Such drive-in systems whether multistation or not, permit the customer to conduct banking business from his car.
- a sidewalk window is provided where customers, albeit not in cars, conduct their business from the sidewalk without having to enter the bank.
- Remote banking systems of the types described require some method for transferring cash, checks, deposit slips and the like between the teller and the customer.
- a sliding drawer controlled by the teller, is provided.
- the drawer is opened proximate the customer to permit the customer to deposit a check or cash therein.
- the teller then closes the drawer and thereafter removes the articles from the drawer.
- the teller then performs certain operations for accounting purposes before placing a receipt, cash or the like in the drawer.
- the drawer is again opened to the customer to allow the customer to remove the item from the drawer.
- a sliding drawer is commonly used, a pneumatic carrier conveying system is also used, the pneumatic carrier system taking the place of the sliding drawer.
- An advantage of the pneumatic carrier approach is that it permits the teller to be located large distances from the customer.
- Pneumatic systems are particularly adaptable to drive-in or walk-up banking systems having many customer locations serviced by one or more tellers.
- An intercommunication system for a remote banking installation must also function in a manner-which accommodates varying conditions of use. For example,
- Another variable in a remote banking system is the volume of the customers voice as reproduced by a speaker at the tellers location. This sound will couple into the tellers microphone, but should not activate the intercom direction switching controls. While the system must reproduce the normal customers voice at a level loud enough for the teller to hear, means must be provided to prevent the customers voice from activating the communication direction switching controls should the customer suddenly speak loudly.
- a further variable in a remote banking system arises from noise caused by the mechanical movement of the drawers an/or pneumatic carriers or caused by other ambient noise at the customers location which occurs when the customer is talking. If these customer station noises, when reproduced at the teller station, are picked-up by the tellers microphone, the direction of communication will be reversed, cutting-off the customer.
- a remote banking intercom system which includes a two-way speaker at the customers location which is normally connected to the input of a power amplifier whose output is connected to a speaker at the tellers location,, permitting the customer under normal conditions to talk to the teller.
- a microphone at the tellers location is provided which is connected to an amplitude-sensing circuit for controlling the direction of communication.
- the intercom system of this invention further includes a microphone sensitivity control network for reducing the sensitivity of the microphone under certain conditions.
- the sensitivity reduction occurs whenever the system is connected to permit communication from the customer to the teller, and operates to prevent a customer, speaking in a loud tone of voice, from switching the communication direction via audible feedback from the teller speaker to the teller microphone.
- the microphone sensitivity is also reduced under conditions of high ambient noise at the tellers station to prevent ambient noise conditions at the tellers location from switching the direction of communication when a customer is talking.
- a muting circuit is provided for disconnecting the tellers speaker whenever an interconnected mechanical apparatus, such as a sliding drawer or pneumatic carrier, will produce a high noise level at the customers location which noise when reproduced at the teller speaker and coupled back to the teller microphone would switch the communication direction.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram, in block circuit format, of a preferred embodiment of this invention
- FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing signals at various points in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1;
- FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed circuit diagrams of one form of the system shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 shows schematically a remote banking intercom system with two teller and three customer locations
- FIG. 5 shows a switching network for a remote banking intercom system with more than one teller location and also more than one customer location.
- FIG. 1 a schematic diagram is shown of an intercommunication system particularly adapted for use in a remote banking system.
- a two-way speaker is provided at the customer location and operates as a microphone for communications from the customer to the teller, while operating as a speaker for communications from the teller to the customer.
- An electrical wire 11 is provided to electrically connect the customer two-way speaker 10 to the input terminal 12 of a single-pole, single-throw switch 13.
- the electrical wire 11 may be any type of electrical cable having a low d.c. resistance, although a shielded twisted pair or other form of shielded cable is advantageous in reducing stray coupling of spurious electrical signals which may be present in systems where the customer is located ata distance from the teller.
- the single-pole, double-throw switch 13 has in addition to the input terminal 12 two output terminals 14 and 15.
- the switch 13 may take the form of an electronic switch, or, in a preferred embodiment, may be a relay (Kl )activated contact, for electrically connecting the input 12 to one of the two outputs 14 and 15.
- a single-pole, single-throw switch 16 with an input terminal 17 and an output terminal 18 is also provided in the network and is switched at the same time as switch 13.
- the switch 16 may also comprise an electronic switch having the same control signal as switch 13, or may comprise a separate set of contacts controlled by the relay Kl. Because switches 13 and 16 operate together, the input 12 of switch 13 is connected to the output 14 at the same time as the input 17 of the switch 16 is disconnected from the output 18. When the switch 13 is changed, the switch 16 will also be changed so that the input 12 for switch 13 connects to the output 15 while the input 17 of switch 16 connects to the output 18.
- the switch 13 has the primary function of switching the electrical connection to the customer two-way speaker 10 to permit the customer to either talk or listen.
- switch 13 In the customer talk mode, switch 13 connects the input 12 to the output 14 permitting electrical signals from the two-way speaker 10 to be amplified by a preamplifier circuit 19.
- switch 13 In the customer listen mode, switch 13 connects the input terminal 12 to the output terminal 15 permitting the two-way speaker 10 to be connected to a power amplifier 38 and allow the customer to hear the tellers voice.
- the preamplifier 19 comprises two series-connected integrated circuit amplifiers. While an integrated circuit amplifier has been utilized, a discrete component amplifier circuit with similar gain characteristics may also be used without degrading system performance.
- the output of the preamplifier 19 is connected directly to the input of a level control means 20 which provides the teller with a volume control for the teller speaker 21.
- the level control 20 may take the form of a variable resistor or some other conventional means for varying the level of a signal.
- the level control means 20 has an output wire 22 for carrying a control signal whose amplitude depends upon the setting of the level control means 20. This level-indicating signal is utilized by feedback control logic to be described later.
- the level control means 20 includes circuitry for controlling the output level of the audio signal on the output wire 23.
- the level control means 20 advantageously comprises a voltage controlled amplifier that has a controllable variable gain characteristic responsive to a control voltage.
- the voltage-controlled amplififer 24 has an input lead 25 connecting to the control terminal of the voltage-controlled amplifier.
- the output terminal of voltage-controlled amplifier 24 is connected through a high pass filter to the output line 23.
- the control signal which is applied to the control terminal of the voltage control amplifier 24 is generated by varying the voltage at point 26.
- the varying voltage at point 26 is produced by controlling the current through transistor 27.
- This varying current is produced by the adjustable biasing network connected to the base of transistor 27 which includes a variable resistor 28, normally remotely located at the tellers location to permit volume adjustment.
- the current through transistor 27 can be varied, producing a varying voltage at the control input to the voltage control amplifier 24.
- the level-carrying wire 22 connects directly to the wire 29 and carries a voltage which is related to the output amplitude of the voltage-controlled amplifier 24.
- the output signal on line 23 connects to the input terminal 30 of a single-pole, single-throw switch means 31, the switch 31 being normally closed (K2 on) allowing the signal at the input 30 to be connected directly to the output terminal 32.
- Another switch means 33 of the single-pole, double-throw type having an input terminal 34 and two output terminals 35 and 36 is provided and is designed to switch at the same time as switch means 31. Normally switch means 33 will connect the input terminal 34 to the output terminal 36 and at the same time, switch means 31 will connect the input 30 to the input 32. When switch means 31 is changed, switch means 33 will also be changed so that the input terminal 30 is disconnected from the output terminal 32 of switch means 31 and the input terminal 34 of switch means 33 is connected to the output terminal 35.
- Switch means 31 and 33 may take the form of electronic switches with common control signals, or advantageously may take the form of contacts of a relay K2.
- the amplified signal of the customers voice is car-' ried by a wire from the output terminal 32 of switch means 31 to the input terminal 37 of the power amplifier 38.
- the power amplifier 38 shown in the preferred embodiment in FIG. 3A is an integrated circuit amplifier, although a discrete component amplifier circuit is equally acceptable.
- the amplifier output 39 connects directly to the input terminal 34 of switch means 33 and, when switch means 33 is in its normal position (FIG. 1), the amplifier output signal will be connected to the tellers speaker 21.
- the relays K1 and K2 are in the normal position shown in FIG. 1 (K1 off and K2 on)
- the two-way speaker is connected in a talk mode via switch means 13 to the preamplifier 19, the level control means 20, the power amplifier 38 and the speaker 21 permitting the customer to talk to a teller at a remote location.
- the teller microphone 40 and the teller speaker 21 are normally located close to each other at a location which is remote from the customer location.
- the teller microphone 40 is connected to a preamplifier circuit 41 which, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, comprises two series-connected integrated circuit amplifiers. While integrated circuit amplifiers are preferred, other discrete component amplifiers are equally acceptable as long as the amplifier gain is sufficient to provide adequate volume at the customer location to allow the teller to be heard by the customer.
- the output of the preamplifier 41 is connected by a wire to the input of a voltage control amplifier circuit 42.
- the voltage-controlled amplifier 42 controls the microphone gain to prevent feedback from the teller speaker 21 to the teller microphone 40, a feature which will be explained later in greater detail.
- the output of the voltage-controlled amplifier 42 appears on line 43 and is connected by a wire to the input terminal 17 of switch 16 and to the input terminal of the amplifier 44 which includes, in a preferred embodiment, an integrated circuit amplifier followed by a discrete component driver circuit to produce an amplified tellers signal on the output line 45.
- pause circuit 46 includes a resistor 47 connected at one end to the output line 45 and at its other end to a diode 48, the diode 48 providing a half-wave rectification of the amplified tellers voice.
- the output of the diode '48 is connected to a capacitor 49 which becomes charged whenever a signal from the tellers microphone is applied to the input of the pause circuit.
- a seriesconnected resistor 50 and a variable resistor 51 which provide a variable resistance discharge path for the capacitor 49.
- the diode, the positive lead for the capacitor 49 and the series-connected resistors all connect to the base lead 52 of a transistor 53 which forms an emitter-follower circuit producing an output for the pause circuit at line 54.
- the pause rectifies the teller speech signal received on line 45 from amplifier 44.
- the positive voltage peaks build up a positive charge on the capacitor 49.
- the capacitor will discharge gradually through resistors 50 and 51. Since the charge remains on the capacitor 49 after the teller stops talking, the retained charge is used by a level sensing circuit (described later) to maintain control over the direction of communication and permit the teller to pause without changing the communication direction.
- the output of the pause circuit 46 is on wire 54 which is connected to the input of a level-sensing circuit 55.
- the level-sensing circuit 55 is an adjustable though preset circuit which is designed to produce a signal at one level only when the input exceeds a first predetermined reference level and to produce an out put at a second level only when the input falls below a second predetermined level which is less than the first predetermined reference level.
- the output of the levelsensing circuit 55 appears at output point 56 and a typical output signal is shown in FIG. 2 for the input at line 54. With reference to FIG. 2, when the input level of the teller speech signal on wire 54 exceeds an arbitrarily selected reference level shown as zero db.
- the output of the level-sensing circuit 55 shifts from a first level shown at 56A to a second level shown at 56B.
- the speech input signal 57 on wire 54 can vary above or below the 0 db. reference level. If the speech signal level at input 54 falls to -6db., the sensing circuit 55 output 56 returns to its first level 56C.
- the level-sensing circuit 55 as shown in FIG. 3B for a preferred embodiment of the present system comprises a Schmitt trigger circuit. It is well known that a Schmitt trigger will produce an output at one level whenever the input signal exceeds a predetermined level which is adjustable by controlling the trigger bias. It is a further known characteristic of Schmitt triggers that the output is unchanged until the input level falls a predetermined amount below the input level required to produce the switched output. Consequently, a Schmitt trigger circuit is ideally suited for the application in the intercom system because it will permit the teller input signal to drop a predetermined amount without changing the output. While a Schmitt trigger circuit has been shown in FIG. 38 as a preferred embodiment for the level-sensing circuit 55, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that certain other circuit configurations may also be utilized to produce the same results achieved with a Schmitt trigger.
- the output signal from the level-sensing circuit 55 is a two-level signal having an up and a down level, this output signal is ideally suited for driving digital logic circuitry to control the switches l3, 16, 31 and 33.
- the signal at point 56 is applied to the input of a delay circuit 60, the delay output 61 being a signal identical to the input at point 56 delayed by a delay time T.
- the delay circuit 60 may take the form of a digital delay line or, as in a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 33, may take the form of two amplifier stages with a capacitor in the base circuit of the second amplifier stage whose charging and discharging charging through a resistor is utilized to delay the output on line 61 by, a time related to the RC time constant.
- the delayed signal on line 61 is applied to one input of an AND circuit 62 and one input of the NOR circuit 63.
- the second input to AND circuit 62 is the signal on line 56. This signal is also applied to a second input to the NOR circuit 63.
- the NOR circuit 63 has an output 64 which is approximately 2.5 volts for the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 33 when the input on line 56 is approximately zero volts, a condition which indicates that the volume at the teller microphone is below the arbitrary reference level designated db.
- the output 64 of the NOR circuit 63 falls to substantially 0 volts as shown generally at 65.
- the output 64 of the NOR circuit 63 will be substantially zero volts. If both inputs 66 and 67 have a zero or negative voltage applied thereto, the output 64 will be approximately +2.5 volts.
- the output 64 of NOR circuit 63 is coupled directly to the base of the K2 relay driving transistor 68. Whenever the output 64 of the NOR circuit 63 is positive, transistor 68 will be conducting and current will pass through the K2 relay coil 69 causing the relay contacts to be closed. Switches 31 and 33 are controlled by the K2 relay and are drawn in FIG. 1 with the electrical connections corresponding to the conditions when the K2 relay coil 69 has a current flowing therethrough, i.e., K2 is on. When the voltage at the NOR output 64 falls to zero, however, transistor 68 will no longer conduct and the K2 relay will be de-energized, thus changing the electrical connections for switches 31 and 33.
- the AND circuit 62 will produce a positive output signal on line 70 whenever both inputs are at a positive level, and will have a zero voltage if either input is zero. Since one of the inputs is the signal on line 56 and the other input is the signal on line 56 delayed by a time delay 7, the output of AND circuit 62 will rise to a level of approximately +2.5 volts only when both inputs have become positive. Consequently, as seen in FIG. 2, the
- the signal on line 70 is connected directly to the base circuit of the K1 relay driver transistor 71. Whenever the signal on line 70 is positive, the transistor 71 will conduct and cause a current to flow through the K1 relay coil 72. The switching of the K1 relay will cause switches 13 and 16 of FIG. 1 to be changed from the configuration there shown to the connection indicated in dotted lines.
- these relays operate in a predetermined sequence to switch the system configuration.
- the K1 and K2 relays are positioned as shown and permit a customer to speak into the two-way speaker 10 and talk to the teller.
- the K2 relay is energized and the K1 relay is not energized.
- the system configuration will be changed sequentially. This is best shown in FIG. 2 at the point 57A where the tellers voice is of a sufficient volume to begin system reconfiguration. Whenever the tellers voice exceeds the predetermined level indicated as 0 db., the signal at line 64 will fall to its down level as indicated at point to cause the K2 relay to turn off and change the switches 31 and 33.
- the output of the level control means 20 is disconnected from the switch output terminal 32, consequently removing the twoway speaker 10 from the input to the power amplifier 38 and preventing customer signals from reaching the input to the power amplifier 38.
- switch 33 is changed so that the output 39 from the power amplifier 38 is connected electrically to the output terminal 35 of the switch 33, disconnecting the speaker 21 from the power amplifier 38.
- the K1 relay is activated and the switch 13 is changed to connect the speaker 10 to the output of the power amplifier 38.
- the switch 16 is also activated which connects the microphone 40 to the input to the power amplifier 38 which completes the necessary system reconfiguration to permit the teller to speak into the microphone 40 and have the customer hear the tellers voice reproduced by the two-way speaker 10.
- the signal at point 56 will again change and initiate a sequential switching of the relays K1 and K2.
- the signal at point 56 falls to the level indicated generally at 56C
- the signal at point immediately falls to its substantially zero voltage level, causing the K1 relay to deenergize and change the switches 13 and 16 back to their original position as shown in FIG. 1
- the NOR input 67 will have fallen to its down level which causes the K2 relay to be energized by the rise of the signal on line 64 to its value of approximately +2.5 volts as indicated at point 73.
- the switching reconfiguration when the tellers voice ceases first operates to disconnect the microphone 40 from the input of the power amplifier 38 and connect the customer two-way speaker to the preamplifier 19. This early switching of the two-way speaker 10 to the preamplifier 19 is highly advantageous. Delayed by a time period T after the K1 relay has been switched, the K2 relay is energized causing switches 31 and 33 to change to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 again permitting the customer to speak into the two-way speaker 10 and the teller to hear the customer through the teller speaker 21.
- the sequential switching just described is highly advantageous to the operation of the system.
- the teller speaker 21 is disconnected from the power amplifier 38 at the same time as the customer signals are removed from the power amplifier input 37. This removing of the teller speaker 21 from the amplifier output 39 prevents the subsequent switching of switch 13 from causing a clicking sound to be heard by the teller.
- the removal of the customer two-way speaker 10 from the power amplifier output prior to the connecting of the teller speaker 21 to the power amplifier output and also prior to completing the connections required in the customer talk mode will prevent a blast of sound from being heard by the teller.
- the customer two-way speaker 10 will have stored energy therein when the teller stops talking.
- this stored energy would be amplified and reproduced by the teller speaker 21.
- the stored energy is dissipated which operates to eliminate any blast of sound in the teller speaker 21 when the system reconfigured from the teller talk to the customer talk mode.
- the intercom system of this invention is designed primarily for application in remote banking systems which characteristically have mechanical drawers or pneumatic carriers being moved to permit papers to be transmitted between the customer and the teller.
- the pneumatic carrier or drawer is typically located near the two-way speaker. Because these moving elements of the remote'banking system generally produce a great deal of noise, it becomes important to prevent this noise from being transmitted to the teller by the intercom system.
- a muting circuit is provided which includes an input wire 74 which is normally maintained at a substantially zero voltage level.
- a positive muting signal is applied to the muting input 74 which is shown at 75 in FIG. 2.
- the positive muting signal can be generated in many ways. For example, when a teller-actuated drawer is moved by the teller, a switch can be activated by the drawer mover mechanism to apply a positive signal on the muting signal input line 74 during the drawer movement. In pneumatic systems, the signal can be generated whenever the pneumatic switch associated with the customer location is set to permit a pneumatic carrier to arrive at or leave from a customer location.
- This'positi-ve muting signal at input 74 is transmitted to the input 67 to NOR circuit 63 and causes the output 64 to drop as shown at 76.
- the muting signal therefore, causes the K2 relay to turn off, a condition which disconnects the speaker 21 from the power amplifier 38 to prevent sounds at the customers location from being amplified and heard at the tellers location.
- the muting signal is also applied to the AND circuit 62 which permits the switching of the K1 relay whenever the output 56 of the level-sensing circuit 55 becomes positive. This permits the teller to speak to the customer if he so desires while the muting signal is present. Communications from the customer to the teller, however, are prevented until the muting signal is removed, a condition which will occur when the mechanical movement of the drawer or pneumatic carrier has been completed.
- a feedback control system is included in the intercom system shown in FIG. 1.
- the signal-carrying wire 22 has a voltage thereon which is proportional to the tellers setting of the variable resistor 28 which controls the volume of the customers voice as reproduced by the speaker 21. This signal is applied directly to the analog summing circuit 77.
- an automatic volume control amplifier 78 is electrically connected to the speaker 21 for receiving amplified electrical signals coming from the customers location.
- the automatic volume control amplifier 78 preferably comprises an integrated circuit amplifier with an output wired to a variable gain amplifier stage whose output 79 is electrically connected to one input of the analog summing circuit 77. As the volume of the customers voice increases, the voltage on the output becomes increasingly negative.
- the ambient noise control 81 as shown in FIG. 3A comprises a variable resistance between a negative voltage supply and the input to the summing circuit 7 7.
- the variable resistance is preset to apply a negative voltage to an input of summing circuit 77 which is sufficiently negative to prevent ambient noises of the teller location from causing the communication direction to change.
- the summing circuit 77 comprises an electrical connection between the three inputs noted in FIG. 1 which is electrically connected to the input of an integrated circuit amplifier in the connection as shown in FIG. 3A.
- the output of the summing circuit 77 is applied to the wire 82 and comprises a negative signal which is applied to the control input of the voltage control amplifier 42.
- the negative signal on the output line 82 has a magnitude which is proportional to the input signal to the summing circuit 77 having the greatest negative magnitude.
- the negative output signal from the summing circuit 77 is applied to the control voltage input of the voltage control amplifier 42.
- the gain of the voltage control amplifier is reduced. Consequently, the signals from the teller microphone 40 are not amplified as much by the voltage-controlled amplifier 42 when the output of summing circuit 77 becomes increasingly negative.
- the reduced gain will prevent the level-sensing circuit 55 from detecting a feedback signal loud enough at the teller microphone to cause the communication direction to change, thus insuring that the teller is in control of the communication direction.
- the feedback controls also operate to produce an automatic volume control for the tellers voice.
- the resistor 83 is coupled between the power amplifier output 39 and the input to the automatic volume control amplifier 78. This signal is fed back to the voltage control amplifier 42 and automatically adjusts the microphone gain while the teller is speaking and is operative to automatically prevent the teller from producing a very high volume signal at the two-way speaker by reducing the voltage-controlled amplifier gain 42 as the tellers voice level increases.
- FIG. 4 Such a network is shown in FIG. 4 where, for example, two teller locations and three customer locations are shown.
- This system includes a microphone and a speaker at each teller location and a two-way speaker at each customer location.
- the customer connection points 125 and 126 correspond to the input line 11 and serve to carry the electrical signals going to and coming from the customer location.
- the microphone inputs 127 and 128 for the teller locations correspond to the teller microphone 40 connection, with the preamplifier 41 and the teller speaker connections 129 and 130 corresponding to the speaker connection to point 36.
- a switching network 131 is provided for connecting the two-way customer speakers with the amplifier and associated control circuit 124 for the assisting teller.
- the switching network may take the form of a rotary stepping switch at each teller location. The teller simply sets the switch to a position corresponding to the customer location to which the teller desires to communicate and the desired customer two-way speaker is connected to the amplifier and associated controls 124. Once the communication path is established by setting the switching network as desired, the communication between the teller and the customer will proceed as described earlier for the system in FIG. 1.
- a simple switching network such as described above has a serious drawback because more than one teller could attempt to communicate with the same customer location, a condition which would cause confusion.
- a switching network like that in FIG. 5 may be provided which, for example, is for a system with three teller and six customer locations.
- the network shown in FIG. 5 is associated with the second of the three teller locations and identical networks must be provided for each of the other two teller locations.
- the network shown in FIG. 5 is operative to prevent more than one teller from attempting to communicate with the same customer location at the same time.
- Each teller location is provided with a plurality of customer selection switches 150, each switch comprising a plurality of single-pole, single-throw (SPST) switches ganged together and all ganged switches being simultaneously closed or opened.
- SPST single-pole, single-throw
- Each customer switch has as many SPST switches as there are teller locations in the system.
- Each of the switches has one contact grounded and the other contact connected to a wire labeled, for example, 23. This labeling represents the teller No. 2 and the customer number (B).
- each of the ganged SPST switches associated with a given customer and a 0 signal will be placed on each of the connected lines, such as line 28.
- teller No. 2 will close the switch 151 placing a ground or 0 level on the wire labeled 2B.
- the inverter 153 will produce a I level output when the input is a O.
- the wire 28 is also connected to the NAND circuit 154 which produces a I level output whenever any input becomes a 0.
- the output of NAND 154 is one input to NAND 155 and will remain at the 1 level as long as teller No. 2 has one of his customer selector switches closed.
- the select B signal appearing as a 1 level at the output ofinverter 153 is applied to one input of the NAND circuit 156 which serves as a driver circuit for the relay coil Kl.
- the select B signal is also applied to one input of NAND circuit 152.
- NAND circuit 152 produces a 0 output when teller No. 2 wishes to select customer B and the other two tellers are not selecting customer B, the latter condition is indicated by 1 level signals on lines 160 and 161 which connect to the B customer switches at the other two teller locations.
- NAND 152 The output of NAND 152 is applied to one input of NAND 157 which produces a I level output whenever any of the inputs is a 0.
- the output of NAND 157 is applied to an input of NAND 155 which combines with the I level signal from NAND 154 to produce a 0 level output as long as teller No. 2 has switch 151 closed.
- This 0 level signal from NAND 155 is applied to one of the inputs to NAND 157 and is operative to form a latch circuit which will remain set until switch is opened.
- This latch circuit is necessary because the 0 signal at the output of NAND 152 would become a l level signal if any of the other tellers subsequently attempts to communicate with customer B, causing the NAND 152 output to switch to the 1 level.
- NAND 157 The output of NAND 157 is also applied to a second input to NAND 156.
- both inputs to NAND circuit 156 are a l, the output will be the O which causes current to flow through the K1 relay coil.
- Activating the K1 relay causes the K1 relay contact to close which then connects the amplifier and associated controls for teller No. 2 with the two-way speaker at the customer B location. Consequently, when a teller attempts to assist a given customer location, the switching network first determines whether that customer location is being assisted by another teller. If this condition does not exist, then the teller selecting the specific customer location is connected to the selected customer two-way speaker. Communication between the teller and the selected customer location will continue until the teller changes his selector switch. For example, when teller No.
- An intercommunication system for a remote banking installation comprising:
- a microphone and a speaker located at a teller location, said microphone and speaker being separate electrical components
- aswitching means responsive to teller signals at a first nonzero level output from said microphone produced by speech input to said microphone at a first acoustic loudness to establish a first switching configuration and responsive to teller signals from said microphone at a second nonzero level less than said first level produced by speech input to said microphone at a second acoustic loudness less than said first acoustic loudness to establish a second switching configuration, said second nonzero signal level being sufficient in magnitude topermit, upon amplification by said amplifier means, audible reproduction thereof by said customer sound reproduction means, said first switching configuration providing an electrical connection from the output of said amplifier to said customer'sound reproduction means and an electrical connection from said microphone to the input of said amplifier to permit the teller to talk to the customer and said second switching configuration providing an electrical connection from the output of said amplifier to said teller speaker and an electrical connection from said customer speech transducing means to the input of said amplifier to permit the customer to talk to the teller, said switching means being unresponsive to a decrease in teller speech signals to a level below
- said switching means being operative normally in said second switching configuration to facilitate communication from said customer to said teller without the switching of said switch means.
- said switching means includes sequential switching means for disconnecting said speaker from said output and disconnecting said speech transducing and sound reproducing means from said input followed by the delayed connection of said speech transducing and sound reproducing means to said output and the connection of said microphone to said input when the electrical configuration is switched from said second to said first configuration and for disconnecting said speech transducing and sound reproducing means from said output and disconnecting said microphone from said input followed by the delayed connection of said speech transducing and sound reproducing means to said input and the delayed connection of said speaker to said amplifier output when the electrical configuration is switched from said first to said second configuration.
- intercommunication system of claim 1 additionally including:
- a microphone sensitivity control means connected between said microphone and said switching means for reducing said microphone signals when the output from said speaker increases said sensitivity control operative to prevent customer signals reproduced by said speaker from changing said switching configuration from said second to said first switching configuration.
- An intercommunication system for a remote banking installation comprising in combination:
- a microphone and a speaker at a teller location said microphone and speaker being separate electrical components
- an amplifier means with an input and an output for amplifying audio signals
- a customer preamplifier including a volume control means located at the teller location, an input and an output;
- a switching network means for electrically connecting in a first switching mode said two-way speaker to said customer preamplifier input, said customer preamplifier output to said amplifier input and said amplifier output to said speaker permitting a customer to speak to a teller, and for electrically connecting in a second switching mode said microphone to said amplifier input and said amplifier output to said two-way speaker permitting a teller to speak to a customer;
- a teller voice amplitude-sensing means for sensing the amplitude of signals produced by said microphone and producing a first output control signal whenever the signals produced by said microphone, in response to speech input thereto at a first acoustic loudness, exceed a first predetermined nonzero level and producing a second output control signal whenever the signals produced by said microphone, in response to speech input thereto at a second acoustic loudness less than said first acoustic loudness, fall below a second predetermined nonzero level, said second predetermined nonzero level being less than said first predetermined nonzero level, but sufficient in magnitude to permit, upon amplification, audible reproduction thereof by said customer two-way speaker, and
- control means responsive to said voice amplitudesensing means to connect said switching network to its second mode in response to said first output control signal and to connect said switching network to its first mode in response to said second output control signal, permitting the tellers voice level to fall to said second predetermined nonzero level, lower than said first predetermined nonzero level, without causing said switching mode to switch from said second to said first switching mode,
- control means being operative to normally connect said switching network to its first mode to facilitate communication from said customer to said teller without switching said switch network.
- said switching network includes a sequence switching control means producing a first switching signal for sequentially switching said speaker from said amplifier output and said customer preamplifier output from said amplifier input followed by a second switching signal to connect said two-way speaker to said amplifier output and said microphone to said amplifier input when said network switches from said first mode to said second mode and for producing a third switching signal for switching said microphone from said amplifier input and said two-way speaker from said amplifier output to said customer preamplifier input followed by a fourth switching signal switching said customer preamplifier output to said amplifier input and said amplifier output to said speaker when said network switches from its second mode to its first mode.
- control means includes a sequential switching network comprising means responsive to said output signal changing from said first to said second level for connecting said two-way speaker to said customer preamplifier input and disconnecting said microphone from said amplifier input followed by connecting said speaker to said amplifier output and connecting said preamplifier output to said amplifier input, said sequential switching means responsive to said output level changing from said second to said first level for disconnecting said speaker from said amplifier output and disconnecting said preamplifier output from said amplifier input followed by connecting said microphone to said amplifier input and connecting said twoway speaker to said amplifier output.
- An intercommunication system for a remote banking installation comprising in combination:
- a microphone and a speaker at a teller location said microphone and speaker being separate electrical components
- an amplifier means with an input and an output for amplifying audio signals
- a customer preamplifier including a volume control means located at the teller location, an input and an output; switching network means for electrically connecting in a first switching mode said two-way speaker to said customer preamplifier input, said customer preamplifier output to said amplifier input and said amplifier output to said speaker permitting a customer to speak to a teller, and for electrically connecting in a second switching mode said microphone to said amplifier input and said amplifier output to said two-way speaker permitting a teller to speak to a customer;
- a teller voice amplitude-sensing means for sensing the amplitude of signals produced by said microphone and producing a first output control signal whenever the signals produced by said microphone, in response to speech input thereto at a first acoustic loudness, exceed a first predetermined nonzero level and producing a second output control signal whenever the signals produced by said microphone, in response to speech input thereto at a second acoustic loudness less than said first acoustic loudness, fall below a second predetermined nonzero level, said second predetermined nonzero level being less than said first predetermined nonzero level, but sufficient in magnitude to permit, upon amplification, audible reproduction thereof by said customer two-way speaker,
- control means responsive to said voice amplitudesensing means to connect said switching network to its second mode in response to said first output control signal and to connect said switching network to its first mode in response to said second output control signal, permitting the tellers voice level to fall to said second predetermined nonzero level, lower than said first predetermined nonzero level, without causing said switching mode to 'switch from said second to said first switching mode, said control means comprising:
- a delay means connected to the output of said voice amplitude-sensing means for producing at its output delayed signals from said amplitude-sensing means;
- said NOR input being connected to said voice amplitude-sensing means output and said other NOR input being connected to said delay output, said NOR output producing a first switching signal when said voice amplitude-sensing means output or said delay output is at said first level and said NOR output producing a second switching signal when said voice amplitude-sensing means output and said delay output are at said second level;
- the intercommunication system of claim 6 additionally including:
- a muting means for disconnecting said speaker from said amplifier output when said switching network is in said first mode, said muting means being responsive to a mute signal generated by a system associated noise producing apparatus at the customer location.
- the intercommunication system of claim 6 addi- 'voice amplitude-sensing means output, said first tlonany mcludmg' Switching signal Operative to disconnect Said at least one other two-way speaker located at one speaker from said amplifier output and to disconother customer locatlon' and nect said preamplifier Output from Said amplifier a speaker switch means for electr cally connectmg input said second switching signal operative to cononly one twoway Speaker to Sam Swltchmg nect said microphone to said amplifier input and Work m Said twmway Speaker to Said amplifier Output, Said 15.
- the intercommunication system of claim 6 addithird switching signal operative to connect said "(many mcludmgi two-way speaker to said preamplifier input and disat least one Qther two'way Speaker at another connect said microphone from said amplifier input tome locatlon; and said fourth switching signal operative to conat least P Qther mtercommumcauon System as nect said speaker to said amplifier output and said fined l t and I lifi t t t id lifi input a second switching network means between each said 10.
- the intercommunication system in claim 6 addi- 40 two-Way Speaker and each Sald Switching network tionally including:
- a microphone gain control means for controlling the amplitude of the signals produced by said microphone and applied to the input of said voice amplioperative to connect only one two'way speaker to only one switching network, permitting each teller to communicate with one customer at a time.
- the intercommunication system of claim 15 additude-sensing means; and 5 means for reducing the gain of said microphone gain control means in response to increased amplitude tionally including at least one additional two-way speaker means connected to said second switching network.
Abstract
Description
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00302253A US3849603A (en) | 1972-10-30 | 1972-10-30 | Remote banking intercom system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00302253A US3849603A (en) | 1972-10-30 | 1972-10-30 | Remote banking intercom system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3849603A true US3849603A (en) | 1974-11-19 |
Family
ID=23166948
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00302253A Expired - Lifetime US3849603A (en) | 1972-10-30 | 1972-10-30 | Remote banking intercom system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3849603A (en) |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3896379A (en) * | 1974-06-10 | 1975-07-22 | Gen Electric | Intercom circuit for a radio transmitter and receiver |
US4049911A (en) * | 1976-01-06 | 1977-09-20 | Norcon Electronics Inc. | Talk-through unit with voice controlled switching with turn off delay variable from 250-500 milliseconds depending on voice amplitude |
US4101735A (en) * | 1975-06-30 | 1978-07-18 | International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation | Two-way loudspeaking device for telephone stations |
US4111282A (en) * | 1976-08-23 | 1978-09-05 | Vayda Jr Michael Mark | Single-stop shopping facility and method |
US4119797A (en) * | 1977-06-29 | 1978-10-10 | Technology Development Corporation | Voice operated switch having an activation level which is higher than its sustaining level |
US4123620A (en) * | 1976-06-08 | 1978-10-31 | Karlsson Lars P | Apparatus for controlling the sound generation in the loudspeakers of intercommunicating telephone sets in response to speech signals from the microphones of said telephone sets |
EP0030228A2 (en) * | 1979-09-04 | 1981-06-10 | Western Electric Company, Incorporated | Speech networks for telephone sets |
US4499335A (en) * | 1983-01-14 | 1985-02-12 | T.A.D. Avanti, Inc. | Announcement recording and message playback system for a telephone answering machine |
US4554411A (en) * | 1983-01-24 | 1985-11-19 | Scovill Inc. | Intercom system |
US4625083A (en) * | 1985-04-02 | 1986-11-25 | Poikela Timo J | Voice operated switch |
US4631365A (en) * | 1984-09-24 | 1986-12-23 | Clinton Potter | Intercom system |
US4975963A (en) * | 1983-08-01 | 1990-12-04 | Zvie Liberman | Muting circuit |
US20180253565A1 (en) * | 2015-09-22 | 2018-09-06 | Alibaba Group Holding Limited | Secure voice communication method and device based on instant communication |
-
1972
- 1972-10-30 US US00302253A patent/US3849603A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3896379A (en) * | 1974-06-10 | 1975-07-22 | Gen Electric | Intercom circuit for a radio transmitter and receiver |
US4101735A (en) * | 1975-06-30 | 1978-07-18 | International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation | Two-way loudspeaking device for telephone stations |
US4049911A (en) * | 1976-01-06 | 1977-09-20 | Norcon Electronics Inc. | Talk-through unit with voice controlled switching with turn off delay variable from 250-500 milliseconds depending on voice amplitude |
US4123620A (en) * | 1976-06-08 | 1978-10-31 | Karlsson Lars P | Apparatus for controlling the sound generation in the loudspeakers of intercommunicating telephone sets in response to speech signals from the microphones of said telephone sets |
US4111282A (en) * | 1976-08-23 | 1978-09-05 | Vayda Jr Michael Mark | Single-stop shopping facility and method |
US4119797A (en) * | 1977-06-29 | 1978-10-10 | Technology Development Corporation | Voice operated switch having an activation level which is higher than its sustaining level |
EP0030228A3 (en) * | 1979-09-04 | 1981-12-30 | Western Electric Company, Incorporated | Speech networks for telephone sets |
US4282409A (en) * | 1979-09-04 | 1981-08-04 | Western Electric Company, Inc. | Speech networks for telephone sets |
EP0030228A2 (en) * | 1979-09-04 | 1981-06-10 | Western Electric Company, Incorporated | Speech networks for telephone sets |
US4499335A (en) * | 1983-01-14 | 1985-02-12 | T.A.D. Avanti, Inc. | Announcement recording and message playback system for a telephone answering machine |
US4554411A (en) * | 1983-01-24 | 1985-11-19 | Scovill Inc. | Intercom system |
US4975963A (en) * | 1983-08-01 | 1990-12-04 | Zvie Liberman | Muting circuit |
US4631365A (en) * | 1984-09-24 | 1986-12-23 | Clinton Potter | Intercom system |
US4625083A (en) * | 1985-04-02 | 1986-11-25 | Poikela Timo J | Voice operated switch |
US20180253565A1 (en) * | 2015-09-22 | 2018-09-06 | Alibaba Group Holding Limited | Secure voice communication method and device based on instant communication |
US10867065B2 (en) * | 2015-09-22 | 2020-12-15 | Alibaba Group Holding Limited | Secure voice communication method and device based on instant communication |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MOSLER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005449/0239 Effective date: 19900518 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MOSLER, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005426/0111 Effective date: 19900518 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MOSLER INC., OHIO Free format text: RELEASE;ASSIGNOR:BANKERS TRUST COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:007662/0368 Effective date: 19950901 |