Abstract: A dial pulse restorer for receiving and restoring telephone dial pulses which may be distorted, and also for discriminating telephone-hang-up pulses which may be applied to a telephone line when a remote telephone coupled to the telephone line hangs up. A particular use for such a dial pulse restorer is to control the functions of dictation apparatus operatively coupled to one end of the telephone line in response to the operation of the dial mechanism at the remote telephone. The dial pulse restorer comprises a transition pulse generator for generating transition pulses in response to telephone pulse transitions that are received over the telephone line, such telephone pulse transitions being received either in response to telephone dial pulses or to a telephone hang-up pulse. A window generator is responsive to a transition pulse to generate a window pulse of predetermined duration and substantially centered on the expected time of occurrence of the next following transition pulse.

Abstract: Telephone answering apparatus adapted to be coupled to a telephone line and having a first storage medium, such as a first magnetic tape, for storing announcement information and remote telephone number information, and a second storage medium, such as a second magnetic tape, upon which are recorded messages which are received via the telephone line. In response to an incoming telephone call, the first tape is driven so as to transmit the prerecorded announcement, and at the conclusion of this announcement the first tape is stopped and the second tape is driven so as to record an incoming message. A timing circuit is actuated for the duration of the incoming message so as to determine whether it exceeds a minimum duration. At the conclusion of the incoming message, a calling circuit is actuated to resume driving the first tape so that the remote telephone number information is transmitted, thereby dialing a remote telephone station.

Abstract: Magnetic recording/playback apparatus for playing back pre-recorded messages and for recording replies to such messages, finding particular application as an unattended telephone message recording device. Successive ones of the pre-recorded messages are separated by detectable indicia. A playback transducer is provided to reproduce the pre-recorded messages and a recording transducer is provided to record the replies to such pre-recorded messages. A detector coupled to the playback transducer detects the indicia and a sensor in communication with the recording transducer senses when a reply to a pre-recorded message has terminated. Switching devices are provided to switch the apparatus from a playback mode to a recording mode when the indicia are detected and for switching the apparatus from the recording mode to the playback mode when the end of a reply is sensed.

Abstract: A hold circuit for telephones which includes a relay having a coil and normally open contacts. A normally open momentary contact switch is connected in series with the relay coil, the series combination being connected across the telephone lines. The contact switch is connected in parallel to the normally open contacts of the relay. The hold circuit captures or holds the telephone lines when the contact switch is closed and permits the telephone lines to be released upon removing the telephone handset "off the hook." In one embodiment, a parallel connection of a lamp and a capacitor is connected in series between the relay contacts and the relay coil to form a voltage divider when the relay contacts are closed.