GB2315950A

GB2315950A - Multi-function telephone indicating device

Info

Publication number: GB2315950A
Application number: GB9615991A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng-Tsai Chang
Original assignee: Holtek Microelectronics Inc
Current assignee: Holtek Microelectronics Inc
Priority date: 1996-07-30
Filing date: 1996-07-30
Publication date: 1998-02-11
Also published as: GB9615991D0

Abstract

A multi-function telephone indicating device has a display 25 for indicating the status of a telephone. Data input on a dialler 21 is encoded 23 before being passed to a display driving device 44 so that the dialled number can be displayed. The encoding device is preferably an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Caller information received as a FSK signal from a central office line can also be displayed on the same display 25. When using an LCD display, an auto-lighting arrangement 27-29 is also provided to improve visibility in poor ambient light.

Description

WIULTI-FUNCTION TELEPHONE INDICATING DEVICE The present invention relates to a multi-function telephone indicating device, and more particularly to a telephone indicating device indicating information of dialing status and the caller.

An electronic telephone often provides many intelligent functions.

With the assistance of a display means such as an liquid crystal display (LCD), the electronic telephone can indicate many useful information such as the telephone number of the caller, date and time, and result of time counting of a call, ...etc.. A microprocessor is used in a conventional electronic telephone for processing these information. It is somewhat deluxe since an electronic telephone has its own independent chip having all the fundamental functions of a telephone, and there is no further arithmetic or logic operation for the microprocessor. Furthermore, the large amount of the pins increases the cost of package of a microprocessor.

On the other hand, for indicating the caller's identification in a conventional electronic telephone, an external display is necessary.

Referring to Fig. 1, the independent central processing unit (CPU) and display will raise the cost greatly. Furthermore, package and manufacture of the independent apparatus also increase the cost of the telephone.

In addition, the use of the conventional telephone display is troublesome in an dark environment. Thus, an auto-lighting means is designable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone display without microprocessor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a telephone display with low cost in package.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a callerinformation indicator built in a telephone and sharing a display with the dialing-status indicator of the telephone.

The present invention provides a multi-function telephone dialing status indicating device including: a displaying device for indicating a status of a telephone, an encoding device for detecting and encoding an inputted data to obtain a data signal and a clock signal accompanying with the data signal, and a display driving device electrically connected between the displaying device and the encoding device for outputting a control signal into the displaying device in response to the data signal and the clock signal outputted from the encoding device.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the encoding device is preferably an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a first pin for outputting the data signal and a second pin for outputting the clock signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention preferably further includes a caller-information line electrically connected to the display driving device for inputting a identifying signal representing the caller data into the displaying driving device in which the identifying signal is processed and transmitted to the displaying device by the displaying driving device for indicating a data of the caller.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the data signal preferably further includes a displaying status control signal for controlling the telephone status of the displaying device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the encoding device preferably includes: a detecting device for detecting and receiving the inputted data from a dialer in a first instance and a hook switch in a second instance, a buffer electrically connected to the detecting device for storing the inputted data, and an encoder for encoding the inputted data.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the encoding device preferably further includes a controller electrically connected to the detecting device, the buffer and the encoder for controlling the buffer and the encoder in response to the inputted data.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the displaying device is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD).

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display driving device preferably includes: a receiver for receiving the data signal, a decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into an LCD control signal, a multi-voltage generator for generating a plurality of voltages having respective levels and polarities, and a driver electrically among the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the LCD for generating an LCD driving signal in response to the LCD control signal and the plurality of voltages.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display driving device preferably further includes a controller electrically connected among the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the driver for controlling the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the driver.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention preferably further includes a circuit board for receiving the encoding device and the display driving device thereon, wherein the display driving device is mounted on the circuit board by a chip on board (COB) technique.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention preferably further includes: a sensing device for sensing light illuminated around the displaying device and outputting a sensing signal, and a lighting device electrically connected to the sensing device for providing a light to the displaying device in response to the sensing signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention preferably further includes a brightness control signal for adjusting a brightness of the light provided by the lighting device in response to the sensing signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the displaying device is preferably a light emitting diode (LED) display.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display driving device preferably includes: a receiver for receiving the data signal, a decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into an LED display control signal, and a driver electrically connected to the decoder for generating an LED display driving signal in response to the LED display control signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the encoding device preferably includes: a detecting device for detecting and receiving the inputted data from a dialer, a buffer electrically connected to the detecting device for storing the inputted data, and an encoder for encoding the inputted data.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the displaying device is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the display driving device preferably includes: a receiver for receiving the data signal, a decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into an LCD control signal, a hook-signal detecting device for detecting a multi-voltage generator for generating a plurality of voltages having respective levels and polarities, and a driver electrically among the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the LCD for generating an LCD driving signal in response to the LCD control signal and the a plurality of voltages.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention preferably further includes a caller-infonnation line electrically connected to the display driving device for inputting a callerinformation signal into the displaying driving device in which the callerinformation signal is processed and transmitted to the displaying device by the displaying driving device for indicating a data of the caller.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the caller-information line is preferably a communication line from a central office; and the caller-information signal is preferably modulated by a frequency shift keying (FSK) method.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the decoder preferably includes: a first decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into the LCD control signal; and a second decoder electrically connected to the caller-information line for receiving and converting the caller-infonnation signal into a second LCD control signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the driver is preferably electrically connected among the first decoder, the second decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the LCD for generating an LCD driving signal in response to the LCD control signal, the second LCD control signal and the plurality of voltages.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second decoder preferably includes: a FSK demodulator electrically connected to the caller-information line for demodulating the callerinformation signal into a digital signal, and a digital decoding unit electrically connected to the FSK demodulator for decoding the digital signal to obtain the second LCD control signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the second decoder preferably further includes a central office line interface electrically connected between the caller-information line and the FSK demodulator for filtering and adjusting the caller-information signal into a range suitable for an operation of the FSK demodulator.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the caller-information line is preferably a communication line from a central office, and the caller-information signal is preferably a digital signal demodulated from a FSK signal representing the caller's data in the central office.

The present invention may best be understood through the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an schematic illustration of an independent callerinformation indicator for a conventional electronic telephone; Fig. 2 is an schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the telephone display in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a preferred embodiment of an encoding table according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is an schematic illustration of another embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention; Fig. 7 illustrates a still further embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention; Fig. 8 shows an additional embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention; Fig. 9 illustrates another additional embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention; Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram indicating a structure of a second decoder according to the present invention; Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the frequency shift keying method; and Fig. 12 is a diagram indicating a further embodiment of the telephone display according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 2, a light emitting diode (LED) display is applied in the present invention. The multi-function telephone dialing status display includes an encoding device 13, a display driving device 14 and an LED display 15. Wherein the encoding device 13 includes a detecting device 131 electrically connected to a dialer (rotary or keyboard type) and a hook switch 12, for detecting the input data from the dialer 11 or the hook switch 12; a buffer 132 electrically connected to the detector 131 for storing the inputted data; an encoder 133 for encoding the inputted signal to generate an information signal and a controller 134 electrically connected among the detector 131, the buffer 132 and the encoder 133 for controlling the buffer 132 and the encoder 133 in response to the data inputted into the detector 131. The display driving device 14 includes a receiver 141 for receiving the information signal from the encoding device 13; a decoder 142 for receiving and converting the information signal into a format suitable for driving the LED display; and a driver 143 electrically connected to the decoder 142 for generating a driving signal for the LED display in response to the signal outputted by the decoder 142; and a controller 144 electrically connected between the decoder 142 and the driver 143 to control both of them.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention could be better understood by referring to the flow chart illustrated in Fig. 2 in the company of Fig. 1 and the follow descriptions. When the detector 131 detects an inputted signal, it may be one of the following cases: (a) when the handset is on hook, the hook signal is in a high-level voltage. The detector will send a signal to the controller 134, and the controller 134 will control the encoder to output a signal to the receiver 141, which is a buffer. The signal is then decoded by the decoder 142, and the controller 144 will control the driver 143 to drive the LED display to indicate the current time. (b) When the handset is off-hook, the hook signal is in a low-level voltage. If there is no signal transferred from the dialer, the telephone user is assumed to be a receiver. The controller 134 will control the encoder 133 to send a signal to the decoder 142 by means of the receiver 141 in response to the signal from the detector. The decoded signal enables the time-counting function of the controller 144, and the controller 144 will control the driver 143 to drive the LED display to indicate the time-counting result. (c) When the handset is off-hook with a dialing action, the telephone inputted will be stored in the buffer 132 and encoded by the encoder 133 under the control of the controller 134.

When the encoded number is decoded by the decoder 142, the controller 144 will begin the time-counting action and control the driver to indicate the inputted number on the LED display 15. If no further number is entered by the user for over than 10 second, the indication on the LED display 15 will be switched into the result of time-counting by the controller 144.

Fig. 4 illustrates an encoding example according to the present invention. A data signal may be represented by a 10 bits data code. The data code includes a 4 bits dialing code and a 6 bits assisting code. The assisting code includes a 3 bits identifying code and a 3 bits indicationcontrolling code, which may respectively in front of or behind the dialing code. The identifying code is presented for identifying types of the dialing code, for example, "000" for a numerical phone number input, "001" for representing dialing signal, the other character on the keyboard of the dialer such as , *, A, B, C, D,...etc., which are also acceptable by the central office. The present example indicated in Fig. 4 is obeyed to CCITT Q.23. "010" represents the specified functions, as shown if Fig. 3 (P: pause, ST: store, HF: handset free, SA: slash access, F: flash, Mute: mute and R: redial). The data code is assembled by the identifying code and the dialing code for various displaying or operating status. Of course, further specified functions can be represented by the identifying code.

For example, "011" for signal code, "100" for slash access dialing code, and 111 for indicating status code (such as indication clearing or the brightness degree), .... etc.. The indication controlling code includes one bit for controlling the slash of a character, and two bits for controlling the degree of brightness of the character. Furthermore, a transmission code may be added in front of or behind the data code for different transmission manners. For example, several bits of start bits may be added in front of each data code, as well as stop bits behind each data code.

The LED display has the advantage of emitting light itself so that is capable of being used in a dark environment. However, the high power exhausting and the low resolution may bother the user. Thus, using an LCD display to replace the LED display is designable.

Referring to Fig. 5, the LED display 15 in Fig. 2 is replaced by an LCD display 25. Due to the operation requirements of the LCD display, a multi-voltage generator 145 is electrically connected between the controller 144 and the driver 143 for generating several multi-voltage signal for the driver 143 to drive the LCD display 25 after being amplified by the driver 143. Besides, because the LCD display 25 cannot emit light itself, an auto-lighting device including a lighting device 27, a sensing device 26 and, preferably an intensity control device 28. When the intensity of the environment is lower than a threshold value, the sensing device will start up the lighting device which might be a low-power light emitting diode. The brightness of the lighting device 27 is controlled by the intensity control device 28.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Fig. 6, the hook switch 12 is directly electrically connected to a hooksignal detecting device 346 of the display driving device 34. The hook signal is directly detected and received by the hook-signal detecting device 346 instead of passing through the encoding device 13. This embodiment also includes the sensing device 26, the lighting device 27 and the intensity control device 28 for providing light in a dark surrounding.

Furthermore, if a delay device or a transmission converting apparatus is mounted between the encoding device and the display driving device, the clock signal accompanying with the data signal for displaying might be non-synchronous signal.

A conventional caller-information indicator, as shown in Fig. 1, has an central office line interface device 12, a FSK demodulator 13 and a central processing unit (CPU) 14. An identifying signal representing the caller's information is inputted into the central office line interface device 12 by a central office line 5. The identifying signal is a signal modulated by a frequency shift keying method. Referring to Fig. 11, the frequency shift keying modulation is to modulate a digital signal into an analog signal having waveforms with the same amplitude and different frequencies. For example, in Fig. 11, the waveforms having 1200Hz in frequency represent "1", while 2200Hz represent "0" of the digital signal.

The central office line interface device filters the noise and other unnecessary signal, and adjusts the level and the wave amplitude into the range suitable for the operation of the FSK demodulator 13. A digital signal from the demodulator 13 is obtained by demodulating the FSK signal. The CPU 14 decodes the digital and indicates the signal on the display device 15. Because a conventional caller-information indicator is an external apparatus of a telephone, the high-cost elements such as the CPU and the display device are duplicated and thus is uneconomic.

An LED display is applied in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 7. The multi-function telephone dialing status indicating device includes an encoding device 23, a display driving device 24 and an LED display 25. The encoding device 23 includes a detector 231 electrically connected to a rotary or keyboard type dialer 21 and a hook switch 22 for receiving an inputted data from the dialer 21 or the hook switch 22; a buffer 232 electrically connected to the detector 231 for storing the inputted data; an encoder 233 for encoding the inputted data to generate an information data; and a controller 234 electrically connected to the detector 231, the buffer 232 and the encoder 233 for controlling the buffer 232 and the encoder 233 in response to the inputted data from the detector 231. The display driving device 24 includes a receiver 241 for receiving the information signal from the encoder 23; a first decoder 242 for receiving and converting the information signal into signal having the format suitable for the operation of the LED display 25; a second decoder 245 for receiving a FSK signal representing the caller's information from a central office line 26; a driver 243 electrically connected to the first decoder 242 and the second decoder 245 for generating a driving signal to the LED display 25 in response to the output signals of the first decoder 242 and the second decoder 245; and a controller 244 electrically connected to the first decoder 242, the second decoder 245 and the driver 243 for controlling operations of them. The working principle of the second decoder, which enables the present invention to advantageously indicate the caller's information and identification, might be better understood by the following descriptions: Referring to Fig. 10, the second decoder 245 includes a central office line interface device 2451, a FSK demodulator 2452 and a digital decoding unit 2453. There are two types of data transmission protocol for transmitting the FSK signal:1) on-hook transmission: transferring signals between ringing signals while the handset is on hook; and 2) off-hook transmission: transferring signals during a normal conversation in the phone, that is, an interrupting transmission. The specifications about transmitting FSK signals can be found in Bell 202 or the CCITT V.23.

An on-hook transmission ,being an example, is described below. When the caller calls in, the FSK signal representing the caller's information is transmitted by the central office line. When the central office line interface device 2451 recognizes the FSK identifying signal between two ringing signals, its level and wave amplitude are adjusted by the central office line interface device 2451 and , after the noise and other unnecessary signals are filtered, the FSK signal is demodulated by the FSK demodulator 2452 to obtain a digital signal. The digital signal is then transferred by the digital decoding unit 2453 into a signal with a format suitable for driving the LED display 25, and processed by the driver 242 and the controller 244. Finally, the caller's information or identification is indicated in the LED display 25. Also, referring to Fig.

12, an LCD display 35 can take place of the LED display 25, and the auto-lighting device can also be included.

Also, the digital decoding unit can be combined into the first decoder, since both of them are used to process the digital signal. Referring to Fig.

12, the FSK signal from the central office line 26 is processed and demodulated by the central office line interface device 914 and the FSK demodulator 913 before being transmitted into the display driving device 34.

To sum up, the present invention provides a multi-function telephone dialing indication device without microprocessor, and avoids the double usage of the CPU and display device of an external caller-information indicator, thus greatly decreases the cost, and make the device become more convenient and flexible in usage.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A multi-function telephone dialing status indicating device comprising: a displaying device for indicating a status of a telephone; an encoding device for detecting and encoding an inputted data to obtain a data signal and a clock signal accompanying with the data signal; and a display driving device electrically connected between the displaying device and the encoding device for outputting a control signal into the displaying device in response to the data signal and the clock signal outputted from the encoding device.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the encoding device is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a first pin for outputting the data signal and a second pin for outputting the clock signal.

3. A device according to Claim 1, further comprising a caller-information line electrically connected to the display driving device for inputting an identifying signal representing the caller data into the displaying driving device in which the identifying signal is processed and transmitted to the displaying device by the displaying driving device for indicating a data of the caller.

4. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the data signal further includes a displaying status control signal for controlling the telephone status of the displaying device.

5. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the encoding device includes: a detecting device for detecting and receiving the inputted data from a dialer in a first instance and a hook switch in a second instance; a buffer electrically connected to the detecting device for storing the inputted data; and an encoder for encoding the inputted data.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the encoding device further includes a controller electrically connected to the detecting device, the buffer and the encoder for controlling the buffer and the encoder in response to the inputted data.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the displaying device is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein the display driving device includes: a receiver for receiving the data signal; a decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into an LCD control signal; a multi-voltage generator for generating a plurality of voltages having respective levels and polarities; and a driver electrically among the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the LCD for generating an LCD driving signal in response to the LCD control signal and the plurality of voltages.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the display driving device further includes a controller electrically connected among the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the driver for controlling the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the driver.

10. A device according to Claim 9, further comprising a circuit board for receiving the encoding device and the display driving device thereon, wherein the display driving device is mounted on the circuit board by a chip on board (COB) technique.

11. A device according to Claim 7, further comprising: a sensing device for sensing light illuminated around the displaying device and outputting a sensing signal; and a lighting device electrically connected to the sensing device for providing a light to the displaying device in response to the sensing signal.

12. A device according to Claim 11, further comprising a brightness control signal for adjusting a brightness of the light provided by the lighting device in response to the sensing signal.

13. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the displaying device is a light emitting diode (LED) display.

14. A device according to Claim 13, wherein the display driving device includes: a receiver for receiving the data signal; a decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into an LED display control signal; and a driver electrically connected to the decoder for generating an LED display driving signal in response to the LED display control signal.

15. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the encoding device includes: a detecting device for detecting and receiving the inputted data from a dialer; a buffer electrically connected to the detecting device for storing the inputted data; and an encoder for encoding the inputted data.

16. A device according to Claim 15, wherein the displaying device is a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the display driving device includes: a receiver for receiving the data signal; a decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into a LCD control signal; a hook-signal detecting device for detecting a multi-voltage generator for generating a plurality of voltages having respective level and polarity; and a driver electrically among the decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the LCD for generating an LCD driving signal in response to the LCD control signal and the a plurality of voltages.

17. A device according to any one of Claims 8-10 and 16 further comprising a caller-information line electrically connected to the display driving device for inputting a caller-information signal into the displaying driving device in which the caller-information signal is processed and transmitted to the displaying device by the displaying driving device for indicating a data of the caller.

18. A device according to Claim 17, wherein the caller-information line is a communication line from a central office; and the caller-information signal is modulated by a frequency shift keying (FSK) method.

19. A device according to Claim 18, wherein the decoder includes: a first decoder electrically connected to the receiver for converting the data signal into the LCD control signal; and a second decoder electrically connected to the caller-information line for receiving and converting the caller-information signal into a second LCD control signal.

20. A device according to Claim 19, wherein the driver is electrically connected among the first decoder, the second decoder, the multi-voltage generator and the LCD for generating an LCD driving signal in response to the LCD control signal, the second LCD control signal and the plurality of voltages.

21. A device according to Claim 19, wherein the second decoder includes: a FSK demodulator electrically connected to the caller-information line for demodulating the caller-information signal into a digital signal; and a digital decoding unit electrically connected to the FSK demodulator for decoding the digital signal to obtain the second LCD control signal.

22. A device according to Claim 21, wherein the second decoder further includes a central office line interface electrically connected between the caller-information line and the FSK demodulator for filtering and adjusting the caller-information signal into a range suitable for an operation of the FSK demodulator.

23. A device according to Claim 17, wherein the caller-information line is a communication line from a central office, and the caller-information signal is a digital signal demodulated from a FSK signal representing the caller's data in the central office.

24. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings as shown.