GB2240239A

GB2240239A - Sound-signal device

Info

Publication number: GB2240239A
Application number: GB9001058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erik Hesslow; Peter Jungvid
Original assignee: CARL MIKAEL BELLMAN AB
Current assignee: CARL MIKAEL BELLMAN AB
Priority date: 1990-01-17
Filing date: 1990-01-17
Publication date: 1991-07-24
Also published as: GB9001058D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sound-signal device for varying the volume, frequency and/or tone-pulse intervals of an output sound e.g. of a telephone ringer whereby an integrated circuit input (8, 1), an output from said integrated circuit connected to a variable resistance circuit (4) and an output from said integrated circuit to a variable capacitance circuit (3), said resistance and capacitance circuits (4, 3) being arranged into a sound-producing unit (14) via a variable amplifying sub-circuit (9) for control of the volume of the emitted sound. <IMAGE>

Description

SOUND-SIGNAL DEVICE DESCRIPTION Technical field The present invention relates to a sound-signal device designed to vary the volume, the frequency, and/or the tone-putse interval of a generated output sound.

By volume is to be understood in this context the amplitude of a wave motion, by frequency the number of oscillations of a wave motion per time unit and by tone-pulse interval the time that passes between two similarly configured wave motions of a given signal.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sound-signal device in which a signal pulse may be received and then varied as to its volume, frequency and tone-pulse interval.

A further object is to provide a sound-signal device designed to be plugged into a telephone line. The aim is thereby to make it possible to vary the audible ringing signal that is emitted from the telephone set, in the following referred to simply as the ringing signal, for the purpose on one hand of individualizing the ringing signal and on the other hand of amplifying the ringing signal sufficiently to reinforce its attention-attract-ing function, whenever necessary.

Background of the invention It is common knowledge that individuals that are hard of hearing very often have difficulties in hearing the telephone ringing signal. In many cases this restricted perception of sounds may be due to the fact that the hearing organs in the ear are damaged precisely within the frequency range of the telephone ringing signal, sometimes in combination with a too low volume of the ringing signal.

In e.g., offices and similar premises another well-known problem is commonly found in that all telephones usually are of identical kind and consequently in principle their ringing signals are identical and limited as to their volume. For this reason it can be extremely difficult to hear the telephone signals at all and even more difficult to discern which telephone is actually ringing. In addition when several persons share the same office, it could be useful for each telephone set to have an individually identifiable ringing signal, allowing the persons working in the shared office habitually to disregard any other telephone signals than those emitted by the individual's own telephone.

Description of the present invention Surprisingly, it has been found that both requirements outlined above may be met by means of the device of the present invention which is illustrated in the enclosed Figure 1 and which device when connected to the ringing-signal line of the telephone network is arranged to emit a ringing signal which may be varied, stepwise or continuously, with regard to its volume, frequency, and/or tone-pulse interval. The device of the present invention is characterized by an integrated circuit input, an output from said circuit connected to a variable resistance circuit, and an output from said integrated circuit connected to a variable capacitance circuit, said resistance and capacitance circuits being arranged into a sound-producing unit via an available amplifying sub-circuit for control of the volume of the emitted sound.

Further characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying claims.

By means of the device of the present invention it thus becomes possible to vary the frequency of a ringing signal by means of the stepwise or continuously variable resistance circuit, to vary the tone-pulse interval of the ringing signal by means of the stepwise or continuously variable capacitance circuit and to vary the sound volume of the output signal generated and controlled by the first mentioned circuits which is delivered to a speaker via a stepwise or continuously controlled amplifying sub-circuit.

In practical terms this means that with the aid of the device of the present invention a hearing-handicapped person may adjust the frequency of the ringing signal to the frequency range where his sound perception still remains intact or is least damaged, which range often is limited to within a range of 1000-2000Hz, but additionally he may adjust the volume of the ringing signal in dependency on the extent to his damages to his organs of hearing. In addition by varying the tone-pulse interval he will also, when needed, be able to distinguish between the ringing tones of different telephone sets.

In a similar manner individuals in other surroundings and environments such as offices may adjust the ringing signal of their telephone sets as to be able to discern the signal emitted by a particular set, irrespective of e.g. surrounding noise, the layout of the premises or the presence of several other telephone sets.

The invention will now be described more in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing, Figure 2, which illustrates a circuit diagram concerning a preferred embodiment of the subject invention.

Electric current from a telephone network designed to generate a ringing signal is supplied from an input 1 and and input 8 and forwarded via a capacitance and a resistance (for the purpose of balancing the circuits a whole relatively to the external telephone network) to an integrated circuit (LS1240). The current is then supplied to a stepwise variable resistance 4 having a range of 6-230 kOhm, preferably 6.8-39 kOhm, allowing a frequency of the signal to be varied in four different steps. Thereafter, the current is supplied to a stepwi se variable capacitance having a range of 10-2200 nF, preferably 33-330 nF, allowing the tone pulse interval of the signal to be varied in four different steps. A capacitor 7 (0.01 nF) stabilizes the active voltage of the circuit. The IC circuit generates an output signal which is delivered between outputs 5 and 2.Via a resistance (12.0 kOhm) the output signal is supplied to an amplifying sub-circuit 9 the purpose of which is to amplify the generated signal before the latter reaches a speaker 14 which generates an audible sound.

The amplifying sub-circuit 9 consists of a transistor 10 which through the source of current 11 which is separate from the telephone network and preferably consists of four replaceable 1.5V batteries (type IEC R6, optionally rechargeable), which are coupled in series, and a stepwise or continuously variable resistance circuit 12 having a range of 0.75-6.2 kOhm amplifies the signal delivered between outputs 5 and 2. The sub-circuit is further provided with an on-off mechanism 13 which, when in offposition, closes off the ringing signal generating function.

The device is coupled to the telephone network with the aid of an intermediate plug which is inserted in a wall jack and which is designed in such a manner that a telephone may be connected to the same jack. The ordinary ringing bell which usually is of an electromagnetic type is not affected and therefore should be closed off or dampened as far as possible, a function which is available in most telephone sets.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown and illustrated herein but could be varied in several ways within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A sound-signal device for varying the volume, frequency and /or tone-pulse intervals of an output sound, characterized by an integrated circuit input (8,1), an output from said integrated circuit connected to a variable resistance circuit (4) and an output from said integrated circuit to a variable capacitance circuit (3), said resistance and capacitance circuits (4,3) being arranged int-o a sound-producing unit (14) via a variable amplifying sub-circuit (9) for control of the volume of the emitted sound.

2. A sound-signal device according to claim 1, characterized in that the capacitance circuit (3) is variable within the range of 10-2200 nF.

3. A sound-signal device according to claim 1, characterized in that the resistance circuit (4) is variable within the range of 6-230 k0hm.

4. A sound-signal device according to claim 1, characterized in that the variable amplifying sub-circuit (9) is powered by a source of current (11) which is separate from a telephone network.

5. A sound-signal device according to claim 4, characterized in that the amplifying sub-circuit (9) comprises a resistance circuit (12) which is variable within the range of 0.75-6.8 kOhm to control the output effect of the signal produced.

6. A sound-signal device according to claim 4, characterized in that the amplifying sub-circuit (9) contains a switch (13) to close off the sound produced.

7. A sound-signal device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound-producing unit (14) is a speaker, which is connected to the sound-generating circuit (5, 2) via a variable amplifying sub-circuit (9).

8. A sound-signaL device according to cLaim 1, characterized in that the device in its entirety is movable in a simple manner and independently of the signal source (8,1).

9. A sound-signal device cqnstructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.