GB2292499A - Telephone dialer having voice feedback - Google Patents

Abstract

A speech apparatus for audibly outputting a dialing signal in a telephone and adapted to be electrically connected to the telephone having therewith a keypad and a dialer 11 comprises a controller 13 electrically connected to the dialer 11 for detecting and outputting the dialing signal, and an audio output device 14 electrically connected to the controller 13 for immediately outputting an audible voice corresponding to every dialing signal. The apparatus provides the telephone user a function of audibly reporting each key the user dials on a keypad of a telephone. Especially useful as an aid to the blind. <IMAGE>

Description

SPEECH APPARATUS FOR AUDIBLY OUTPUTTING DIALING SIGNAL IN TELEPHONE This invention generally relates to a speech apparatus, and more specifically to a speech apparatus for audibly outputting a dialing signal in a telephone.

The invention of a telephone provides a remarkable contribution to the mankind. It makes possible the audible communication between two persons far away from each other. Even if an eye-disabled person or an eye-deficient person, e.g. a blind person, can still use a telephone to contact with another person at ease. The only question now left is, the eye-disabled person can hardly press a correct key on a telephone keypad. Therefore, he/she has to ask another person to dial a phone number for him/her. Otherwise, he/she has to memorize correct locations of all keys on the keypad. But, under this circumstance, he/she is still not so sure whether he/she did dial a correct phone number because no confirmation is made for him/her.

People should know that: no discrimination should be imposed to a person, especially to a disabled person. Everyone existing in the universe is equal and should enjoy the same right. The eye-disabled person should certainly not be stripped off the right of using a phone. The eye-disabled person has his/her pride and personality to be unwilling to receive any help from other person. People should not expect that the eye-disabled person will ask for somebody's help to dial a phone number for him/her, although people are really kind and considerate to give him/her a hand. Therefore, a telephone satisfactory for the eye-disabled person to use is required to be developed.

Furthermore, even a normal person without any deficiency on his/her eyes may possibly dial a wrong number carelessly, especially when the user is in a dark environment lacking of enough light. It is really required to invent a speech apparatus capable of outputting an audible voice corresponding to a dialing signal when a user gives the dialing signal to the telephone by pressing the keys on the keypad of the telephone. An audible voice outputted through a speaker is thereby generated to confirm each key pressed by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a speech apparatus for audibly outputting an audible voice for confirming each key a user has pressed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple speech apparatus for making possible an eye-deficient person to easily dial a phone number without a necessity to seek for someone's help.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a speech apparatus having a power-saving function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a speech apparatus capable of being easily connected and installed to a telephone.

In accordance with the present invention, a speech apparatus for audibly outputting a dialing signal in telephone and adapted to be electrically connected to the telephone having therewith a dialer and a keypad having thereon a plurality of keys by each of which the dialing signal is generated when depressed comprises a controller electrically connected to the dialer for detecting and outputting the dialing signal, and an audio output device electrically connected to the controller for immediately outputting an audible voice corresponding to every the dialing signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the controller is a microcontroller.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the controller further includes therein a memory for storing therein a data.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the data is a dialing data corresponding to the dialing signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the memory is a RAM.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the audio output device includes a speech IC for converting the dialing signal into an audio signal and a speaker for receiving the audio signal and outputting the audible voice corresponding to the audio signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the speech apparatus further comprises the telephone including therewith the keypad and the dialer.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the speech apparatus is externally installed to the telephone.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the speech apparatus is internally installed to the telephone.

The present invention may be best understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a speech apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing an operation process according to a preferred embodiment of a speech apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of a speech apparatus according to the present invention.

A speech apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a controller 13 electrically connected to a dialer 11 which is in electrical connection with a keypad 12, and an audio output device 14 including therein a speech IC 141 and a speaker 142 electrically connected to the controller 13. The controller 13 detects a dialing signal scanned by the dialer 11 from the status changes of keys on the keypad 12 and effected by a user and accordingly outputs the detected dialing signal to the audio output device 14 for audibly reporting a phone number dialed by the user. The controller 13 further includes therewith a memory 131 for storing therein a phone number provided by the user.When a redial key on a keypad 12 of a telephone is pressed, the phone number stored in the memory 131 will be outputted to the audio output device 14 for audibly reporting the phone number as well.

The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following preferred embodiments which are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.

The controller 13 detects a signal RKS given by the dialer 11. If the HKS signal is low, it shows an off-hook status of a telephone. On the contrary, if the HKS signal is high, it shows an on-hook status of the telephone. When the controller 13 detects the HKS signal as high, i.e. the telephone is in an on-hook status, the controller 13 will set itself into a stop mode and keep itself standing by for saving its power consumption, whereas if the telephone is in use, i.e. the telephone is in an off-hook status and the HKS signal is low, the controller 13 will set itself into a working mode.

A schematic flowchart showing an operation process of a speech apparatus according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is shown in Fig. 2. After the procedure is set to start, the controller 13 will decide if it is in a working mode. If not, the controller 13 will be standing by. If yes, i.e. when the telephone is in an off-hook status and after a key on the keypad 12 is pressed, the dialer 11 scans the status changes of keys on the keypad 12 for thereby receiving a dialing signal. The controller 13 detects the dialing signal from the dialer 11 to identify it as a numerical one or a functional one.

If the numerical dialing signal is received and detected, the controller 13 stores therein a numerical data, i.e. a phone number dialed by a user, corresponding to the numerical dialing signal in the memory 131 and transmits the numerical dialing signal to the speech IC 141. The speech IC 141 accordingly gives an audible signal corresponding to the numerical dialing signal to the speaker 142 for audibly reporting the dialing signal, i.e.

a number corresponding to a key a user has pressed on the keypad 12.

Therefore, when a set of numbers, which construct an effective phone number, are consequently pressed on the keypad 12 by the user, the above-mentioned procedure is continuously repeated.

However, if a functional dialing signal is received and detected, the controller 13 will take an action according to the functional dialing signal.

For example, if the functional dialing signal is a redial signal, i.e. when the user has pressed a redial key on the keypad 12, the controller 13 outputs the numerical data stored in the memory 131 to the dialer 11 for conducting a phone call and enables the speech IC 141 and the speaker 142 to audibly report the phone number to be redialed and connected to. Otherwise, the controller 13 will enable the speech IC 141 and the speaker 142 for audibly reporting the dialing signal. It is further shown in Fig. 3 a detailed circuit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The controller 13 utilized in the present invention is a microcontroller, and the memory 131 is a RAM existing in the microcontroller.

The utilization of the speech apparatus according to the invention for a telephone will not cause thereto any adverse influence such as spoiling the original functions of the dialer 13, interrupting the normal operation of the dialer 13, or imposing any additional burden to the dialer 13. It is unnecessary to modify the original circuit in the telephone for incorporating therein the speech apparatus. The only thing required to do is to make a connection between the speech apparatus and the dialer 13. The installation is very simple. This speech apparatus can be either externally or internally installed to the telephone.

It is concluded that the speech apparatus according to the present invention can simultaneously generate an audible voice each time when a key on the keypad 12 is pressed. The audible voice is corresponding to a phone number a user has pressed. Therefore, it is really convenient for a user, regardless of an eye-deficient person or a normal person, to identify and confirm the key the user has pressed when conducting a phone call. The speech apparatus can be widely applied for any telephone such as a phone used in a public place or at home.

While the invention has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS:

1. A speech apparatus for audibly outputting a dialing signal in telephone and adapted to be electrically connected to said telephone having therewith a dialer and a keypad having thereon a plurality of keys by each of which said dialing signal is generated when depressed comprising: a controller electrically connected to said dialer for detecting and outputting said dialing signal; and an audio output device electrically connected to said controller for immediately outputting an audible voice corresponding to every said dialing signal.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that said controller is a microcomioller.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said controller further includes therein a memory for storing therein a data.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 characterized in that said data is a dialing data corresponding to said dialing signal.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized in that said memory is a RAM.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5 characterized in that said audio output device includes: a speech IC for converting said dialing signal into an audio signal; and a speaker for receiving said audio signal and outputting said audible voice corresponding to said audio signal.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-6 further comprising said telephone.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 characterized in that said telephone includes said keypad and said dialer.

9. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 characterized in that said apparatus is externally installed to said telephone.

10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 characterized in that said apparatus is internally installed to said telephone.

11. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.