GB2046555A - Telephone instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

A read-out device incorporated in a subscriber's telephone instrument or forming a separate unit is electrically connected to the signal transmission circuit of the instrument so that a read-out of the dialled digits of a telephone number is obtained on a display panel, thereby enabling the dialling to be monitored visually.

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone instrument The invention relates to a telephone instrument.

Telephone equipment has been improved over the years to a stage where it is now claimed that by far the majority of wrong connections made from a caller's instrument is caused by mis-dialling rather than any mechanical or electrical defect or temporary fault in the instrument or at the telephone exchange.

Wrong connections are not only frustrating and time-consuming (especially with an ever increasing number of digits in each telephone number) but, with many self-dialled international calls per day becoming commonplace, can also prove costly.

Alternatively, if a wrong number is dialled from which there is no answer, time will be wasted in waiting for a reply.

Surprisingly, the problem of mis-dialled calls has received scarcely any attention other than to make it as easy as possible for a caller to select a number, such as by introducing push buttons to replace rotary dialling. The reason for this may be that one is apt to accept human error as inevitable. It should be mentioned that the problem of mis-dialling also arises in internal telephone systems.

The present invention aims to minimize the incidence of wrong telephone connections caused by an incorrect selection of the number, whether through human error or a fault in the dialling system of the caller's instrument. (The term dialling is herein intended to include selection by push button as well as with a rotary dial.) According to the invention, in combination with a telephone instrument having a housing and a manual number selector thereon for operating a signal transmission circuit in the housing, there is a readout device comprising a display panel on the instrument housing or on a separate unit and means for electrically connecting the display panel to the signal transmission circuit so that, as the digits of a telephone number are being manually selected and converted to pulses in the signal transmission circuit, a visual read-out of the selected digits also appears on the display panel.

By means of the invention, therefore, a read-out device incorporated in the subscriber's telephone instrument or forming a separate unit enables avis- ual read-out of the dialled digits to be obtained. The display panel may embody light-emitting diodes or a liquid crystal display. The actual circuitry that is required will be evident to a man skilled in the art, the principle being that a read-out of the selected number should be possible on the display panel after the receiver is lifted from the instrument to make a call and be cancelled when the receiver is replaced or the call is otherwise disconnected.

As a result of the invention, a caller is enabled to verify not only the entire selected number on the display panel after dialling but also the individual digits after each has been selected. Accordingly, if the caller is distracted during dialling, as so often happens with long telephone numbers, he can very easily check to see which digit he has already selected instead of hanging up and starting again.

Preferably, the read-out device also makes provision for a timing counter or clock which displays the number of units (or their monetary equivalent) that are being consumed by a call after a telephone connection has been made. Such a timing counter is known per se in the form of a separate automatic clock wired up to the instrument or manually actuated and manually stopped apparatus which is entirely unconnected from the telephone instrument. By including the timing counter in the read-out device, however, the provision of separate equipment for fulfilling the second function is made unnecessary. If desired, switch means may be provided for rendering the timing counter or its display operative or inoperative at will.

Although it is desirable for the read-out of the dialled digits to disappear after, say, the receiver has been replaced on the instrument, the reading of any timing counter that is incorporated is preferably not finally expunged from a memory of the device until the receiver is again picked up for the next telephone call so that a button may be operated to recall the very last read-out of the timing counter.

The display panel of the read-out device, our a separate display panel, may be employed to provide additional facilities. For example, it is envisaged that a digital clock can be included for providing the time of day and date, either as a continuous display or as a display that appears on manual actuation. Similarly, and this applies particularly to a read-out device in the form of a separate unit that is electrically wired to the telephone instrument, a calculator may be incorporated and the calculations displayed on the same display panel.

If the instrument is connected to a line having one or more extension phones, the circuitry may be such as to provide a repeat readout on the or each of the instruments not in use, to serve as an indication that a call is in progress on the line.

In another form of the invention, the aforementioned timing counter times a call in units of time, either automatically or whenever manually actuated and stopped, the diaplay preferably appearing in place of the time of day on the digital clock. When the call is finished, a button is pressed to obtain a read-out of the cost, it being desirable to make provision for punched cards or other means to introduce one of a selection of unit charges. However, if a calculator is included in the device, the cost of a call can readily be calculated whenever necessary.

1. In combination with a telephone instrument having a housing and a manual number selector thereon for operating a signal transmission circuit in the housing, a read-out device comprising a display panel on the instrument housing or on a separate unit and means for electrically connecting the dis play panel to the signal transmission circuit so that, as the digits of a telephone number are being manu ally selected and converted to pulses in the signal transmission circuit, a visual read-out of the selected digits also appears on the display panel.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the read-out device includes a timing counter which dis

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Telephone instrument The invention relates to a telephone instrument. Telephone equipment has been improved over the years to a stage where it is now claimed that by far the majority of wrong connections made from a caller's instrument is caused by mis-dialling rather than any mechanical or electrical defect or temporary fault in the instrument or at the telephone exchange. Wrong connections are not only frustrating and time-consuming (especially with an ever increasing number of digits in each telephone number) but, with many self-dialled international calls per day becoming commonplace, can also prove costly. Alternatively, if a wrong number is dialled from which there is no answer, time will be wasted in waiting for a reply. Surprisingly, the problem of mis-dialled calls has received scarcely any attention other than to make it as easy as possible for a caller to select a number, such as by introducing push buttons to replace rotary dialling. The reason for this may be that one is apt to accept human error as inevitable. It should be mentioned that the problem of mis-dialling also arises in internal telephone systems. The present invention aims to minimize the incidence of wrong telephone connections caused by an incorrect selection of the number, whether through human error or a fault in the dialling system of the caller's instrument. (The term dialling is herein intended to include selection by push button as well as with a rotary dial.) According to the invention, in combination with a telephone instrument having a housing and a manual number selector thereon for operating a signal transmission circuit in the housing, there is a readout device comprising a display panel on the instrument housing or on a separate unit and means for electrically connecting the display panel to the signal transmission circuit so that, as the digits of a telephone number are being manually selected and converted to pulses in the signal transmission circuit, a visual read-out of the selected digits also appears on the display panel. By means of the invention, therefore, a read-out device incorporated in the subscriber's telephone instrument or forming a separate unit enables avis- ual read-out of the dialled digits to be obtained. The display panel may embody light-emitting diodes or a liquid crystal display. The actual circuitry that is required will be evident to a man skilled in the art, the principle being that a read-out of the selected number should be possible on the display panel after the receiver is lifted from the instrument to make a call and be cancelled when the receiver is replaced or the call is otherwise disconnected. As a result of the invention, a caller is enabled to verify not only the entire selected number on the display panel after dialling but also the individual digits after each has been selected. Accordingly, if the caller is distracted during dialling, as so often happens with long telephone numbers, he can very easily check to see which digit he has already selected instead of hanging up and starting again. Preferably, the read-out device also makes provision for a timing counter or clock which displays the number of units (or their monetary equivalent) that are being consumed by a call after a telephone connection has been made. Such a timing counter is known per se in the form of a separate automatic clock wired up to the instrument or manually actuated and manually stopped apparatus which is entirely unconnected from the telephone instrument. By including the timing counter in the read-out device, however, the provision of separate equipment for fulfilling the second function is made unnecessary. If desired, switch means may be provided for rendering the timing counter or its display operative or inoperative at will. Although it is desirable for the read-out of the dialled digits to disappear after, say, the receiver has been replaced on the instrument, the reading of any timing counter that is incorporated is preferably not finally expunged from a memory of the device until the receiver is again picked up for the next telephone call so that a button may be operated to recall the very last read-out of the timing counter. The display panel of the read-out device, our a separate display panel, may be employed to provide additional facilities. For example, it is envisaged that a digital clock can be included for providing the time of day and date, either as a continuous display or as a display that appears on manual actuation. Similarly, and this applies particularly to a read-out device in the form of a separate unit that is electrically wired to the telephone instrument, a calculator may be incorporated and the calculations displayed on the same display panel. If the instrument is connected to a line having one or more extension phones, the circuitry may be such as to provide a repeat readout on the or each of the instruments not in use, to serve as an indication that a call is in progress on the line. In another form of the invention, the aforementioned timing counter times a call in units of time, either automatically or whenever manually actuated and stopped, the diaplay preferably appearing in place of the time of day on the digital clock. When the call is finished, a button is pressed to obtain a read-out of the cost, it being desirable to make provision for punched cards or other means to introduce one of a selection of unit charges. However, if a calculator is included in the device, the cost of a call can readily be calculated whenever necessary. CLAIMS

1. In combination with a telephone instrument having a housing and a manual number selector thereon for operating a signal transmission circuit in the housing, a read-out device comprising a display panel on the instrument housing or on a separate unit and means for electrically connecting the dis play panel to the signal transmission circuit so that, as the digits of a telephone number are being manu ally selected and converted to pulses in the signal transmission circuit, a visual read-out of the selected digits also appears on the display panel.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the read-out device includes a timing counter which dis playsthe numberoftelephone units, oftheir monetary equivalent, that are being consumed by a call after a telephone connection has been made.

3. The combination of claim 1, including switching means for rendering the timing counter or its display operative or inoperative at will.

4. The combination of claim 2 or claim 3, including a memory device for storing the read-out of the timing counter until a subsequent telephone call is selected and a button for recalling the last read-out of the timing counter.

5. The combination of any preceding claim, including a digital clock for displaying the time of day on the same or a different display panel.

6. In combination with a telephone instrument, a read-out device substantially as herein described.