GB2340335A - Telephone call indicator - Google Patents

Description

2340335 TELEPHONE CALL IMICATOR This invention relates to telephones.

Most teleuhones announce an incoming call by means of an audible tone, traditionally a bell ringing- Where several telephones are together, identification of which is ringing can prove difficult.

Against this background the invention provides a telephone call indicator, comprising an acoustic or magnetic transducer responsive to ringing signals emitted from or applied to the telephone respectively, detector means responsive to the sensor for detecting ringing and indicator means resDonsive ta the detector means for indicatina that ringing is detected.

Preferably, the indicator is visual, mechanical or aural. Thus when oneof a group of telephones rings, which one can be identified from, for example, the visual indication.

In one example the indicator is remote and coupled to the detector by a radio or infra red link comprising an infra red transmitter at the detector and an infra red receiver at the indicator. That allows a person to know that the telephone is ringing even when remote from the telephone.

Examples of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying block 2:7 diagram.

Referring to the drawing, the telephone call indicator is placed on or close to a telephone so that a sensor 2 can respond to ringing. The sensor may be an acoustic or a magnetic pick up- In the former case the sensor responds to acoustic ringing signals emitted by the telephone. In the latter case the magnetic 'Dick up contains a coil which couples with circuitry in the telephone, acting as a transformer to respond to electrical ringing signals applied to the telephone. In this case the telephone's ringer may be switched off.

Signals from the sensor 2 are amplified in a preamplifier 4 where the sensitivity of the apparatus can be adjusted. The output of +the preamplifier is filtered in filter 6 so as to exclude frequencies outside the frequency spectrum of the acoustic ringing signals emitted by the telephone's ringer or of the electrical ringing signals applied to the telephone.

""he f"iltered siarnals are amplified by amplifier 8 and the amplified signals are output to a ringing detector 10 which is in the form of a trigger circuit. When the output signal from the amplifier 8 is of sufficient magnitude, the zrigger circuit gives an output signal to operate an indicator 12. The indicator 12 may be one or more LED's which when illuminated indicate that the telephone is ringing. Other visual indicators include lamps, mechanically actuated indicators etc. A mechanical 3 indi--ato-- may be provided, e.g. a vibrator. A speech announcement may be given by, for example, digitally recording a message and playing that when ringing is detected.

In any of those cases, but especially in the case of a vibrator, the indicator may be 2inked to the detector 10 by a radio or infra red link. In that example, the apparatus situated at the telephone contains a radic or infra red transmitter and the indicator is associated with a radic or infra red receiver. The indicator can then be carried around by the telephone's user who will receive an indication that the telephone is ringing even when s/he is remote from the telephone.

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Claims (3)

1. A telephone call indicator, comprising an acoustic or magnetic transducer responsive to ringing signals emitted from or applied to the telephone respectively, detector means responsive to the sensor for detecting ringing and indicator means responsive to the detector means for indicating that ringing is detected.

2. An indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicator is visual, mechanical or aural.

3. An indicator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the indicator is remote and coupled to the detector by a radio or infra red link comprising an infra red t"ransmitter at the detector and an infra red receiver at --he indicator.