U.S. patent application number 10/728377 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer.
Invention is credited to Hayley, Korn, Jonathan, Korn.
Application Number | 20040114749 10/728377 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32505748 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040114749 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hayley, Korn ; et
al. |
June 17, 2004 |
Apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer
Abstract
An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer includes a light
sensing device operable to produce a signal indicative of a level
of ambient light; and a controller operable to receive the signal
and disable the telephone ringer when the signal indicates that the
ambient light has reached a predetermined level.
Inventors: |
Hayley, Korn; (New York,
NY) ; Jonathan, Korn; (US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J. David Dainow, Esq.
Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP
90 Park Avenue
New York
NY
10016
US
|
Family ID: |
32505748 |
Appl. No.: |
10/728377 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10728377 |
Dec 4, 2003 |
|
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09248436 |
Feb 11, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/376.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/6505 20130101;
H04M 2250/12 20130101; H04M 1/663 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/376.02 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/00; H04M
003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer comprising: a
light sensing device operable to produce a signal indicative of a
level of ambient light; and a controller operable to receive the
signal and disable the telephone ringer when the signal indicates
that the ambient light has reached a predetermined level.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is
operable to disable the telephone ringer when the signal indicates
that the ambient light has fallen below a predetermined
threshold.
3. The apparatus according in claim 1, wherein the light sensing
device is taken from the group consisting of a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, and a photo-resistor.
4. The apparatus according in claim 1, wherein the light sensing
device and controller are external to the telephone and the
controller is operable to couple between a telephone line and an
input connection of the telephone.
5. The apparatus according in claim 1, wherein the light sensing
device and controller are integral with the telephone.
6. An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer comprising: a
light sensing device operable to produce a first signal indicative
of a level of ambient light; a timing device operable to produce a
second signal indicative of a timing condition; and a controller
operable to receive the first and second signals and disable the
telephone ringer when either (i) the first signal indicates that
the ambient light has reached a predetermined level, or (ii) the
second signal indicates that a predetermined timing condition has
been satisfied.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is
operable to disable the telephone ringer when the first signal
indicates that the ambient light has fallen below a predetermined
threshold
8. The apparatus according in claim 6, wherein the light sensing
device is taken from the group consisting of a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, and a photo-resistor.
9. The apparatus according in claim 6, wherein the light sensing
device, timing device and controller are external to the telephone
and the controller is operable to couple between a telephone line
and an input connection of the telephone.
10. The apparatus according in claim 6, wherein the light sensing
device, timing device and controller are integral with the
telephone.
11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the timing device
is operable to provide the second signal to the controller to
indicate that the telephone ringer is to be sequentially disabled
and enabled at periodic pre-set times.
12. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the timing device
is operable to provide the second signal to the controller to
indicate that the telephone ringer is to be sequentially disabled
and enabled at varying times on varying days.
13. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the timing device
is integral with the controller.
14. (Amended) An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer
comprising: a light sensing device operable to produce a signal
indicative of a predetermined level of ambient light; a controller
operable to receive [the] said signal and disable the telephone
ringer when [the] said signal indicates that the ambient light has
reached [a] said predetermined level; and a recording device
operable to communicate with the controller and play back a
recording to a calling party when said controller has disabled said
telephone ringer.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller is
operable to enable and disable the recording device such that the
recording device may play back a recording to a calling party only
when the signal indicates that the ambient light has reached the
predetermined level.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recording
device is operable to receive and retain a message from the calling
party.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller is
operable to disable the telephone ringer when the signal indicates
that the ambient light has fallen below a predetermined
threshold.
18. The apparatus according in claim 14, wherein the light sensing
device is taken from the group consisting of a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, and a photo-resistor.
19. The apparatus according in claim 14, wherein the light sensing
device, recording device and controller are external to the
telephone and the controller is operable to couple between a
telephone line and an input connection of the telephone.
20. The apparatus according in claim 14, wherein the light sensing
device and controller are integral with the telephone.
21. An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer comprising: a
light sensing device operable to produce a first signal indicative
of a level of ambient light; a timing device operable to produce a
second signal indicative of a timing condition; a controller
operable to receive the first and second signals and disable the
telephone ringer when either (i) the first signal indicates that
the ambient light has reached a predetermined level, or (ii) the
second signal indicates that a predetermined timing condition has
been satisfied; and a recording device operable to communicate with
the controller and play back a recording to a calling party.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the controller is
operable to enable and disable the recording device such that the
recording device may play back the recording to the calling part
only when either (i) the first signal indicates that the ambient
light has reached the predetermined level, or (ii) the second
signal indicates that the predetermined timing condition has been
satisfied.
23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the recording
device is operable to receive and retain a message from the calling
party.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the controller is
operable to disable the telephone ringer when the first signal
indicates that the ambient light has fallen below a predetermined
threshold.
25. The apparatus according in claim 21, wherein the light sensing
device is taken from the group consisting of a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, and a photo-resistor.
26. The apparatus according in claim 21, wherein the light sensing
device, timing device and controller are external to the telephone
and the controller is operable to couple between a telephone line
and an input connection of the telephone.
27. The apparatus according in claim 21, wherein the light sensing
device, timing device and controller are integral with the
telephone.
28. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the timing device
is operable to provide the second signal to the controller to
indicate that the telephone ringer is to the sequentially disabled
and enabled at periodic pre-set-times.
29. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the timing device
is operable to provide the second signal to the controller to
indicate that the telephone ringer is to be sequentially disabled
and enabled at varying times on varying days.
30. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the timing device
is integral with the controller.
31. An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer comprising: a
light sensing device operable to produce a signal indicative of a
level of ambient light; a recording device operable to play back a
recording to a calling party, the recording prompting the calling
party to provide indicia that the call is a priority call; and a
controller communicating with the light sensing device and the
recording device, the controller being operable to receive the
signal and both (I) to disable the telephone ringer, and (ii)
enable the recording device such that the recording device may play
back the recording to the calling party, when the signal indicates
that the ambient light has reached a predetermined level. the
controller being operable to initiate an emergency sequence when
the indicia indicates that the call is a priority call.
32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the emergency
sequence includes enabling the telephone ringer irrespective of
whether the signal indicates that the ambient light has reached the
predetermined level.
33. The apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising an
alert device in communication with the controller, the controller
activating the alert device when the indicia indicates that the
call is a priority call.
34. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the recording
prompts the calling party to press a telephone keypad button to
indicate that the call is a priority call, the controller being
operable to recognize the pressed telephone keypad button such that
the emergency sequence is initiated.
35. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the recording
device is operable to receive and retain a message from the calling
party.
36. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the controller is
operable to disable the telephone ringer and enable the recording
device when the signal indicates that the ambient light has fallen
below a predetermined threshold.
37. The apparatus according in claim 31, wherein the light sensing
device is taken from the group consisting of a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, and a photo-resistor.
38. The apparatus according in claim 31, wherein the light sensing
device, recording device and controller are external to the
telephone and the controller is operable to couple between a
telephone line and an input connection of the telephone.
39. The apparatus according in claim 31, wherein the light sensing
device and controller are integral with the telephone.
40. An apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer comprising: a
light sensing device operable to produce a first signal indicative
of a level of ambient light; a timing-device operable to produce a
second signal indicative of a timing condition; a recording device
operable to play back a recording to a calling party, the recording
prompting the calling party to provide indicia that the call is a
priority call; and a controller communicating with the light
sensing device, the timing device and the recording device, the
controller being operable to receive the first and second signals
and both (i) disable the telephone ringer, and (ii) enable the
recording device such that the recording device may play back the
recording to the calling party, when either (i) the first signal
indicates t that the ambient light has reached a predetermined
level, or (ii) the second signal indicates that a predetermined
timing condition has been satisfied, the controller being operable
to initiate an emergency sequence when the indicia indicates that
the call is a priority call.
41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the emergency
sequence includes enabling the telephone ringer irrespective of
whether either of the first and second signals indicates that the
telephone ringer should be disabled.
42. The apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising an
alert device in communication with the controller, the controller
activating the alert device when the indicia indicates that the
call is a priority call.
43. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the recording
prompts the calling party to press a telephone keypad button to
indicate that the call is a priority call, the controller being
operable to recognize the pressed telephone keypad button such that
the emergency sequence is initiated.
44. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the recording
device is operable to receive and retain a message from the calling
party.
45. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the controller is
operable to disable the telephone ringer and enable the recording
device when the signal indicates that the ambient light has fallen
below a predetermined threshold.
46. The apparatus according in claim 40, wherein the light sensing
device is taken from the group consisting of a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, and a photo-resistor.
47. The apparatus according in claim 40, wherein the light sensing
device, timing device, recording device and controller are external
to the telephone and the controller is operable to couple between a
telephone line and an input connection of the telephone.
48. The apparatus according in claim 40, wherein the light sensing
device, timing device and controller are integral with the
telephone.
49. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the timing device
is operable to provide the second signal to the controller to
indicate that the telephone ringer is to be sequentially disabled
and enabled at periodic pre-set times.
50. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the timing device
is operable to provide the second signal to the controller to
indicate that the telephone ringer is to be sequentially disabled
and enabled at varying times on varying days.
51. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the timing device
is integral with the controller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to an apparatus for
controlling a telephone and, more particularly, to an apparatus
that includes a device sensitive to light in communication with a
controller so that in response to ambient light below a
predetermined level, said device provides a signal to said
controller which then disables the telephone ringer.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Related Art
[0003] With ever expanding telephone usage, we are increasingly
inundated with unwanted telephone calls. Anyone who has been
startled awake at night by a "wrong number" knows that it is
desirable for telephone subscribers to be able to disable the
ringer mechanism of their telephones when they do not want to be
disturbed. Thus, one could elect to disable a telephone's ringer
while sleeping, eating, bathing, or simply while engaged in a quiet
activity. Prior to modern modular telephone connections, the only
method of silencing a telephone's ringer was to turn down the
ringer's volume, or leave the receiver off of the hook. Now, one
can simply disconnect the modular plug from the telephone itself or
from the wall jack. With the telephone disconnected, the caller
would hear a ring signal and assume the person called is not in,
while the person called hears nothing.
[0004] There are, however, numerous problems associated with
disconnecting a telephone's modular plug. First, this method
requires the user to remember to employ the remedy. In addition,
the user must also remember to reconnect the modular plug to
reinstate telephone service. Thus, disabling a telephone's ringer
via pulling its modular plug is subject to the same risks and
problems that are associated with turning the ringer's volume down
or leaving the receiver off the hook. People forget and, thus,
receive calls at unwanted times or miss calls they are willing to
receive. Over the years, people have attempted to solve the
problems addressed by this invention in numerous ways. For example,
timers have been used in combination with telephone silencers to
disable a telephone for time periods when the user does not wish to
be disturbed. Similarly, there are commercial devices available
that have on-off switches that allow a telephone ringer to be
enabled and disabled. However, these too require that the user
remember to employ the remedy in order to avoid phone calls, and
then remember to reactivate it when willing to receive calls.
Consequently, there is a need for an apparatus that selectively
enables and disables a telephone ringer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, the
present invention includes a light sensing device operable to
produce a signal indicative of a level of ambient light; and a
controller operable to receive the signal and disable the telephone
ringer when the signal indicates that the ambient light has reached
a predetermined level.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, an
apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer includes a light sensing
device operable to produce a first signal indicative of a level of
ambient light; a timing device operable to produce a second signal
indicative of a timing condition; and a controller operable to
receive the first and second signals and disable the telephone
ringer when either (i) the first signal indicates that the ambient
light has reached a predetermined level, or (ii) the second signal
indicates that a predetermined timing condition has been satisfied.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, an
apparatus for disabling a telephone ringer includes a light sensing
device operable to produce a first signal indicative of a level of
ambient light; a timing device operable to produce a second signal
indicative of a timing condition; a controller operable to receive
the first and second signals and disable the telephone ringer when
either (i) the first signal indicates that the ambient light has
reached a predetermined level, or (ii) the second signal indicates
that a predetermined timing condition has been satisfied; and a
recording device operable to communicate with the controller and
play back a recording to a calling party. According to still
another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for disabling
a telephone ringer includes a light sensing device operable to
produce a first signal indicative of a level of ambient light; a
timing device operable to produce a second signal indicative of a
timing condition; a recording device operable to play back a
recording to a calling party, the recording prompting the calling
party to provide indicia that the call is a priority call; and a
controller communicating with the light sensing device, the timing
device and the recording device, the controller being operable to
receive the first and second signals and both (i) disable the
telephone ringer, and (ii) enable the recording device such that
the recording device may play back the recording to the calling
party, when either (i) the first signal indicates that the ambient
light has reached a predetermined level, or (ii) the second signal
indicates that a predetermined timing condition has been satisfied,
the controller being operable to initiate an emergency sequence
when the indicia indicates that the call is a priority call.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description and
the appended claims, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are
shown in the drawing forms which are presently preferred, it being
understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the
precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for disabling a
telephone ringer in accordance with at least one aspect the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus for disabling a
telephone ringer in accordance with another aspect of the present
invention; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an apparatus for disabling a
telephone ringer in accordance with yet another aspect of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate
like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the
present invention. Apparatus 10 is a telephone controlling system
which includes light sensor 12, controller 14 and timer 16 as
shown. Both the light sensor 12 and timer 16 communicate with
controller 14 which in turn serves to enable and disable ringer 20
of telephone 18.
[0012] While timer 16 is shown in this embodiment, it will be
appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that timer 16
need not be included in apparatus 10. That is, apparatus 10 could
merely consist of light sensor 12 and controller 14 in
communication with telephone 18 and 15 ringer 20. Accordingly,
connection 17 between timer 16 and controller 14 is shown as a
dashed line.
[0013] Light sensor 12 may be a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor, a photo-resistor or other photosensitive
component known in the art. As the level of 20 ambient light
changes, light sensor 12 provides controller 14 with a first signal
which changes in accordance with the level of ambient light. When
the ambient light reaches a predetermined level (preferably falling
below a predetermined level), controller 14 will recognize that
light sensor 12 is sending a first signal indicating that the
ringer 20 should be disabled. The controller 14 will preferably
respond to the first signal by disabling ringer 20 of telephone
18.
[0014] Timer 16 may be a clock timer (such as a digital clock
circuit) that provides a second signal to controller 14 indicative
of a timing condition or set of conditions. For example, the second
signal may be representative of periodic pre-set times at which the
controller 14 should sequentially enable and disable ringer 20 of
telephone 18. Alternatively, timer 16 may be a multi-day clock
timer and provide a second signal to controller 14 indicating that
at varying times on varying days the ringer 20 of telephone 18
should be enabled and disabled.
[0015] In apparatus 10, controller 14 will enable and disable
ringer 20 of telephone 18 in response to a first signal from light
sensor 12 and/or a second signal from timer 16. Those of ordinary
skill in the art, however, will appreciate that controller 14 could
be adapted in such a manner to be responsive only to the first
signal from light sensor 12 or the second signal from timer 16.
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 and
includes light sensor 12 and timer 16 in communication with
controller 26. Light sensor 12 may be a photovoltaic cell, a
photo-transistor a photoresistor or other photo-sensitive component
as discussed above with respect to apparatus 10. Timer 16 is
[0016] preferably substantially the same as timer 16 of FIG. 1.
Unlike apparatus 10 in FIG. 1, apparatus 22 of FIG. 2 includes a
recording device 34. Recording device 34 may be in the form of an
answering machine, answering service or the like. In the embodiment
of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, controller 26 preferably
disables ringer 32 of telephone 30 and enables recording device 34
(via signal line 33) to answer any incoming phone calls in response
to a first signal from light sensor 12 and/or second signal from
timer 16.
[0017] Preferably, recording device 34 is capable of playing back a
recording to a calling party and is also capable of receiving and
retaining a message from the calling party. Reference is now made
to FIG. 3 which shows an alternative embodiment of the present
invention designated as apparatus 50. Apparatus 50 is a telephone
controlling system which includes light sensor 12, timer 16 and
recording device 54 in communication with controller 52. Timer 16
and light sensor 12 are substantially similar to timers and light
sensors, respectively, of the previous embodiments of the present
invention. As was the case with the previous embodiments of the
present invention, controller 52 operates to disable ringer 32 of
telephone 30 in response to first and/or second signals from light
sensor 12 and timer 16, respectively.
[0018] Recording device 54 is preferably operable to play back a
recording to a calling party which states, in pertinent part, "if
this is an emergency, press `*`." This recording is provided to
controller 52 via signal line 35 and, thereafter, to the calling
party over the telephone line (not shown). Therefore, the calling
party 20 can opt to press the `*` button on his or her telephone
handset to initiate an emergency sequence (or indicate that the
call is a priority call). It is noted that the recording provided
to the calling party may take on many forms as will be apparent to
one skilled in the art from the above teaching. Further, one
skilled in the art will recognize that it is not necessary to
utilize the `*` button of the telephone as indicia that the
emergency sequence should be initiated and that other means of
initiating the emergency sequence are available (such as using
other keypad buttons or sequences of keypad buttons).
[0019] Should the calling party choose to initiate the emergency
sequence by pressing the `*` button on his or her keypad, the
controller 52 may take one or more actions. In particular, the
controller 52 may reactivate ringer 32 of telephone 30 such that
telephone 30 rings and the user is alerted that an emergency
telephone call is being received. Alternatively, (assuming the
recording provided to the calling party also states that a message
should be left by the calling party) controller 52 may activate
recording device 54 to record the calling party's message and then
terminate the calling party's connection to telephone 30.
Thereafter, controller 52 may alert the user by other means, such
as subsequently enabling ringer 32 or enabling an alert device 56
which indicates that an emergency call has been received. Alert
device 56 may be a ringer, a light emitting device, or the
like.
[0020] One skilled in the art will appreciate from the teaching
herein that the controller 52 need not directly control recording
device 54 if the recording device 54 is designed to automatically
answer incoming calls irrespective of whether ringer 32 has been
disabled by controller 52. Indeed, known answering machines may be
coupled to a telephone line (not shown) which will answer incoming
calls without input from controller 52. Generally, such answering
machines (if used for recording device 54) may communicate with
telephone 30 via its input jack as shown by dashed signal line 36.
However, when controller 26 is in communication with telephone 30
via its input jack and recording device 30 is directly connected to
the telephone line, then recording device 34 may communicate with
controller 54 via signal line 35 such that telephone 30 may access
the telephone line.
[0021] While the invention as discussed above is generally directed
to an apparatus that may by inserted between an input of a
telephone (e.g., the input jack to the telephone) and the telephone
line (e.g. a modular plug coming from the ring/tip connections of
the telephone line), those of ordinary skill in the art will 5
appreciate that the present invention may be used in conjunction
with a number of appliances. Indeed, the invention can be
incorporated into a telephone answering machine, as well as alarm
clocks, and other devices. A complete telephone can even be
constructed that contains the invention internally (e.g.,
integrally). In addition, the invention could also be inserted
immediately after the interface of one's incoming phone service in
order to control all of the phones in a house or office. Further,
one skilled in the art will recognize that timers 16, 16 may be
integral to respective controllers 14, 26, 52.
[0022] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention have been provided for the purpose of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light
of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather
by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *