Abstract: A power supply for sequentially energizing segments of an EL display device to produce an animated graphic using an EPROM to store the excitation information for the respective segments to be illuminated. The EPROM may be replaced by another EPROM programmed with a different sequence for the same or a different EL graphic display device. An alternating voltage wave generator has an adjustable frequency and variable pulse width output to match the characteristics of the EL device being driven to obtain the best illumination and device life for the given EL device. An optional microphone senses background music or other audio signals to synchronize the movement of the animated graphic to the beat or rhythm of the sensed audio.

Abstract: An assembly for holding a battery and touch port is releasably engageable with a touch pen body in a battery operated touch pen. The battery is releasably held in compression by a spring between two wafer circuit boards which in turn are electrically and physically connected by conductors disposed opposite one another. The conductors respectively carry a voltage potential and data signals from the touch port to axially facing circuit paths. Compression pins carried by the touch pen body having axially extending contact heads are urged into contact with the respective axially facing circuit paths when the assembly is attached to the touch pen body to supply voltage and data signals to electronic circuitry and memory devices carried by the touch pen body.

Abstract: Communication apparatus using baseband, digitally formatted optical signals provides an infrared optical communication link between a terminal unit and station unit. Pulse width modulation or continuously variable slope delta modulation digital procotols are used to encode and decode the transmitted and received digital optical signals. A microprocessor senses the presence of a connection command signal to complete the optical communication link. In one embodiment of the invention, a station unit associated with a coin operated type pay telephone instrument communicates with a remotely located terminal unit to permit a user to access and be connected to the public telephone network via the terminal unit. The station unit senses the digitally formatted optical signal and decodes it to derive the supervisory and audio frequency signals and in response to the supervisory signals causes the telephone line to be connected to and disconnected from the station unit.

Abstract: Apparatus including a terminal unit is optically coupled to a station unit associated with a coin operated type pay telephone instrument permitting a user to access and be connected to the public telephone network via the terminal unit wherein electrical supervisory and audio baseband frequency signals are converted to an infrared energy beam for transmission to the station unit. The station unit senses the infrared energy beam and reconverts it to an electrical supervisory and audio baseband frequency signal and in response to the supervisory signal causes the telephone line to be coupled to the station unit. Electrical audio baseband frequency signals are converted to an infrared energy beam for transmission to the terminal unit where it is sensed and reconverted to an electrical audio baseband frequency signal which in turn is used to excite a transducer to produce an audible signal corresponding to the audio signal on the telephone line.

Abstract: An amplifier for controlling the volume in a telephone instrument of the general type including coin-operated and pay type telephone instruments is enclosed in the telephone housing and provides a number of discrete, predetermined amplification levels selectable by operating a push-button switch also located in the housing so that its plunger extends through an opening in the telephone instrument face. The amplification level is automatically restored to a volume associated with a normal hearing sensitivity at the start of a new call and a dial shunt circuit suppresses the DTMF tones heard by a user when tone dialing is used.