GB2293940A

GB2293940A - Detachable telephone ringer sound modulator

Info

Publication number: GB2293940A
Application number: GB9419879A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonna Berit Justinussen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-03
Filing date: 1994-10-03
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Also published as: GB9419879D0

Abstract

Self-contained electronic sounder 2 is releasably attached to the telephone body 1. The sounder responds to the acoustic signal from the telephone ringer by generating further sounds. Thus the overall sound of the telephone when ringing can be personalised. <IMAGE>

Description

Detachable sound modulator This invention relates to modulating the ring sound of a called telephone.

For individual users to distinguish the ring sound of one desk telephone (phone) from that of others in close proximity, some modem phones and phone systems offer the possibility to personalise ring sounds of individual phones. Absence of such a facility can be a cause of wasted time and worker fnustraffon.

The present invention proposes a detachable self contained ring sound modulator to selectively personalise ring sound of the telephone to which it is attached.

According to the present invention there is provided a detachable ring sound modulator unit comprising a switchable electric energy source, an electric energy temporary store, and an acoustic transducer associated with electronic selective sensing and sounding means, the self contained modulator unit being adaptable to be activated by the ringing telephone to which it is attached.

A specific embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1, shows detachable ring sound modulator 2 attached to an outer surface of telephone 1.

Figure 2, represents plan and section of a known constnrction referred to in the text as an electronic acoustic key-tag.

The invention will be better understood by considering working principles of a like construction such as that of figure 2. This is an electronic acoustic key-tag which emits a distinctive electronic tune when triggered by an external acoustic tone, such as that produced by lip whistling, for the user to more easily locate the tagged key ring. Similarly, the present ring sound modulator triggered by sound from its called telephone can be designated to emit electronic tones which add to the original ring sound to produce a distinctive, more individualistic, telephone ring sound.

Referring now to fig.2, electronic key tag 2 comprises acoustic transducer 3 connected to circuit board 4 and integrated circuit 5 powered by batteries 6 having a series connected battery switch 7, which may be a removable insulator strip between them. Peizo element 3, functions as a microphone in a first instance and, as a loudspeaker in a second instance after the unit has been selectively triggered by extemal sound.

It will be plain in the art how trigger selectivity and output tone sequence can be modified to detect and modulate an individual telephone ring sound. However, and in contrast to the key-tag having fixed trigger and output tone parameters, a preferred embodiment of the invention auto-selects such parameters to suit individual telephones and user preference. To this end and also to avoid costly selector switches, switch 7 of fig.2 in conjunction with a temporary energy storage capacitance (not shown) are employable to select described parameters, detailed thus: Energy states detected separately at switch 7 and the temporary energy store, define one of four possible binary combinations for processor 5 to step between functions or, to hold a required state. Selectability in accordance with user start-up instructions enable 5 to sequence through a frequency range and hold at an optimum detected trigger parameter of the called phone. Subsequent additional user switching of 7, steps processor 5 to the preferred output tone or, tone sequence.

As will be apparent, output sound will preferably terminate when ringing stops.

Therefore, the unit is required to employ short listening periods during the active sequence, to determine this occurrence.

Claims

1) A detachable ring sound modulator unit comprising a switchable electric energy source, an electric energy temporary store, and an acoustic transducer associated with electronic selective sensing and sounding means, the self contained modulator unit being adaptable to be activated by the ringing telephone to which it is attached.

2) A detachable ring sound modulator as claimed in claim 1 having selectable triggering means adaptable to be responsive to a broad range of different type telephone ring sounds.

3) A detachable ring sound modulator as claimed in claim 1 having selectable output sounds adaptable to distinctively modulate a broad range of different type telephone ring sounds.

4) A detachable ring sound modulator as claimed in claim 1 having switched output sounds adaptable to distinctively modulate pauses between a series of telephone ring sounds 5) A detachable ring sound modulator substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.