GB2186153A - Illuminating telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

An illuminating telephone comprising a casing (1) of which a portion is transparent or translucent, containing a discharge tube (5) and an electronic voltage multiplier (6) connected for illuminating the discharge tube, together with telephone circuitry (2) which optionally includes means for switching the telephone between a first state, in which the discharge tube is normally not illuminated but illuminates in response to a bell signal, and a second state in which the discharge tube is normally illuminated but is darkened in response to a bell signal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Illuminating telephone This invention concerns illuminating telephone and lighting systems for telephones and similar appliances, that is to say stationary or mobile units, cabled or radiotelephones, etc..

In spite of the numerous technical improvements already made concerning this type of equipment, a number of problems remain as regards utilization due to the lack of illumination of luminous parts.

For example, a problem arises when the telephone is in a dark area of a room, or when one wishes to dial a number without turning on the light in a room so as not to disturb the occupants.

There is also a problem when the person receiving the call is hard of hearing or when the telephone is in a particularly noisy location such as a workshop, discotheque, restaurant, etc. ... and instead of, or as well as the usual ringing, it would be desirable to have a light indicating the call.

A third example can be illustrated by the telephone receiving a call being in a location where silence is required, such as a hospital, recording studio, etc. ... and where it would also be desirable to indicate the call with a lamp instead of the usual ringing at certain times of the day.

In addition, there has been a tendency for some time now to produce more original and attractive telephones from the artistic point of view, especially with the production of transparent plastic casings.

A solution to the first problem described has recently been proposed which takes into account this tendancy. It was proposed to add to the telephone a lighting system comprising a discharge tube housed inside the transparent plastic casing also containing the complete system electronics.

This solution does not however solve the other two problems. In addition, it neglects certain technical disadvantages not overcome until now.

A discharge tube requires supply from a voltage transformer multiplier and it is well known that a transformer generates electromagnetic waves causing interference rendering the telephone practically useless. Even if their shrouding is relatively efficient, these transformers have the considerable disadvantage of being hot, heavy, bulky and costly as well as unattractive.

It is true that electronic ballasts exist which do not have these disadvantages as they do not cause any interference and above all are much lighter and less bulky. Such a ballast is described in the French Patent No. 69 26353.

However, the applications of this ballast are oriented towards a completely different technical field to that concerned by this invention.

The present invention provides an illuminat ing telephone comprising a casing, of which at least a portion is transparent or translucent, containing a discharge tube and an electronic voltage multiplier connected for illuminating the discharge tube, together with telephone cir cuitry.

In preferred embodiments the invention con cerns then a new industrial product in the form of a telephone combined with a dis charge tube to provide illumination. This dis charge tube is integrated in as transparent casing which also contains the telephone elec tronics. The device also contains an electronic voltage multiplier, recognized in its own right, and of a size allowing it to be integrated into -the same casing without any modifications.

Such a combination has never been de scribed up until now. It has a large number of advantages such as the illumination of the telephone, the absence of interference with normal operation of the telephone, and in ad dition, the non-negligable attractiveness of an electronic circuit compared to a classical transformer.

The same combination can also be com pleted with additional electronics providing a lamp indicating the call instead of the usual ringing.

In this case, the telephone is fitted with two control positions for illumination of the dis charge tube by the bell.

position 1: For a telephone used simply as a telephone, the discharge tube lights up and flashes when the bell is tripped.

position 2: For a telephone also used as an ornament, the discharge tube is permanently lit but flashes when the bell is ripped.

The practical applications of these possibili ties are as follows: (a) This telephone allows people hard of hearing to see when a call is received. It therefore also enables anyone at a distance from the telephone and prevented from hear ing the bell to see when the call is received.

In addition, it can be used in all noisy loca tions such as factories, shops, offices, discotheques, restaurants, bars, etc. .

(b) The appliance is also fitted with a switch for cutting off the bell. It is therefore possible to see when a call is received where ver and whenever silence is required, for example in hospitals, recording and television studios, hotels, appartments, etc.

The appliance preferably incorporates a neon-argon type discharge tube for the follow ing technical reasons: (a) The luminosity obtained is strong and at the same time attractive.

(b) The discharge tube is an exceptional light source producing no heat. This removes any danger of heating the telephone electronic components and plastic casing.

(c) The discharge tube consumes very little energy, 5 Watts, and has an exceptional useful life of a minimum of 10,000 hours.

(d) The colours of the light emitted can be varied, e.g.: white, pink, yellow, blue, orange, green, or red, thus increasing the attractiveness of the telephone.

There now follows a description of the invention referring to the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone fitted out according to the invention; and Figure 2 represents the ballast electronic circuit supplying the discharge tube in the appliance as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring first of all to Fig. 1, we have the transparent plastic casing 1 in the conventional telephone form and comprising the conventional telephone circuit 2 controlled by keys 3 and connected to a receiver 4.

According to the invention, this casing 1 contains a discharge tube 5 of the required colour and supplied by an electronic circuit 6 which includes a ballast circuit such as represented in Fig. 2.

In such a circuit 6, the continuous component of the telephone signal from 7 is filtered by capacitor C1 in such a way that only the alternating voltage from the bell is rectified by the diode bridge (D1,D2,D3,D4,) and then filtered by the capacitor C2. With the circuit in this situation, the relay 8 is exited as shown and connects the network voltage from 9 to the tube 5.

As is well known, a discharge tube 5 is supplied initially with a high priming voltage much lower (approx. 1200 V) and then with a maintenance voltage much lower (approx. 300 V) but more powerful.

The primary voltage is achieved by associating two SCHENKEL type voltage multipliers comprising diodes D5, D6, D7 and D8 and capacitors C3, C4, C5 and C6. The power level is limited with the resistor R1. However, to avoid too high a resistance, which would lead to overheating, C4 is chosen such that only the energy necessary to prime the tube is supplied.

The switch S1 inverts the system reply to the bell system: -in position CA, it allows the relay, via the "working" contact T, to supply the tube supply circuit; -in position CB, the opposite is the case.

This invention therefore concerns a telephone illuminated by a neon-argon type discharge tube. This tube is integrated in a transparent plastic casing containing the telephone electronic circuit and a new electronic ballast system controlled by the telephone line. The appliance enables the reception of a call to be seen by flashing of the tube.

Such a combination incorporating an illumination system within a telephone has up until now never been described.

Claims (7)

1. An illuminating telephone comprising a casing, of which at least a portion is transparent or translucent, containing a discharge tube and an electronic voltage multiplier connected for illuminating the discharge tube, together with telephone circuitry.

2. A telephone as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the voltage multiplier and the telephone circuitry are connected such that the discharge tube will illuminate or darken briefly in response to a bell signal.

3. A telephone as claimed in Claim 2, further comprising switch means connected for switching the telephone between a state in which the discharge tube is normally not illuminated but illuminates in response to a bell signal and a state in which the discharge tube is normally illuminated but is darkened in response to a bell signal.

4. A telephone as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the casing is transparent.

5. An illuminating telephone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A luminous telephone, characterized in that it comprises a combination of a telephone and discharge tube for illumination. This discharge tube is integrated in a transparent casing containing the telephone electronic circuit and an electronic voltage multiplier, recognized in its own right and of a size allowing it to be integrated into the same casing without any modifications necessary.

7. A luminous telephone according to Claim 6, characterized in that it is connected to a set of electronics allowing the tube to flash on and off thus enabling the reception of a call to be seen instead of and/or in addition to the conventional bell.