Abstract: A conventional telephone answering device (hereinafter called TAD) commonly available in the market does not work if a child picks up the handset of a telephone set half in fun during the particular period when a call signal is received but the TAD is not started yet. The TAD also does return to a stand-by mode, on the other hand, if he or she picks up the handset while the TAD is in operation after receiving a call signal. In the present invention, however, it is so arranged that even if a child picks up the handset of a telephone set half in fun, the TAD will start transmitting an outgoing message to a calling party as long as the handset is hung up within a predetermined time period, and if the handset is picked up while the TAD is in operation but hung up within a predetermined time period, the TAD will continue the operation without being suspended.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus connected to a telephone line and incorporating an automatic telephone answering and recording device, which is able to be responsive to various inputs, for example, a calling tone (CNG) or similar signal sent from a calling party's apparatus, or a specified signal sent by a calling party by pushing a DTMF tone button. If a user picks up a handset of a telehpone set connected to the telephone line during the operation of the automatic telephone answering device, the facsimile apparatus is not energized and returns to the standby mode in response to the off-hook operation of the telephone set, so that he or she can talk directly with the calling party. And during the telephone conversation between calling and called parties, the facsimile apparatus can be energized in response to manual operation by either of the parties.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for providing a list of optimal television programs for each individual, it is possible to give a computer center a subscriber's complaints about the individual television program list (timing table), through a telephone line or the like, without sending back a subscriber's recording medium to the computer center. The subscriber himself can correct his television timing table to control a TV or VCR when there is any program which he must, or would like to, watch. The subscriber can also specify a priority order to programs recorded during his absence in order to play back the recorded programs within a given time. The program contents of each TV station at any hour specified by the subscriber can be displayed in one picture, so that the subscriber can select any one among all programs of the same kind.

Abstract: A telephone answering device with TV telephone for receiving and displaying a picture signal sent from a calling party through a telephone line, in the intermission of ringing signals, so that a called party can confirm who is calling by seeing the picture signal on the TV display. The picture signal as well as an incoming message from the calling party is recorded in a recording medium to be reproduced manually by the called party at home or remotely from a remote location. The TV telephone has a line which is common with or separate from the line of the telephone answering device.

Abstract: An automatic dialing and responding device, wherein it is possible for a user to make an international call through a toll telephone exchange office easily and surely by automating the whole operation until a desired called party answers the call. The specific number for calling the office and the telephone numbers of the user and the called party are previously stored in the device for the automatic dialing, so that the calling of the office, the response to the office's instructions and the calling of the desired called party can be automatically carried out. It is also possible to select one of called parties' telephone numbers previously stored.

Abstract: In an audio/video information recording/playback apparatus with repeating monitor function which includes an endless type recording medium T-1 of about twenty seconds for one cycle and a main recording medium T-2 with tape ends, while both media are driven simultaneously in a recording mode to record broadcasting or other external information, if a viewer wants to repeatedly monitor a part of this information, he can set the T-1 to a repeating playback mode by pushing a playback button of a remote control box and the desired part can be repeatedly played back for repeated monitoring by a TV set. During this playback of T-1, T-2 is continuously driven in the recording mode to continuously keep recording the information.

Abstract: When a user wants to reproduce a necessary scene once more again during the TV reviewing, a main picture is continuously displayed on a TV screen while a side picture and sound which are recorded without using a conventional endless tape. The size of the audio picture on the TV screen is adjustable. In comparison with prior art using the conventional tape or the like, it is not necessary to worry about mechanical wear and installation.

Abstract: A driving system for endless video tape controlled by a one-touch timer wherein when an endless video tape is loaded into a video tape recorder (VTR), a switch is changed over to an endless side to prevent tape operation beyond a predetermined period of time determines by a one-touch timer which is preset. If the VTR is being driven, for example, in a recording mode and the operation mode is changed to any other mode, for example, to the playback mode, the timer set time is automatically extended for the predetermined period of time. An indicator for distinguishing between different operation modes is provided, and an alarm is visually or audibly applied by the indicator for a short period of time, such as one minute, before the timer stops.

Abstract: A method of producing polyurethane foam slab by allowing a urethane foam stock solution in a tank to expand in a reduced pressure. The flatness of the top of the polyurethane foam is secured by providing a lifting jig or a plate within the tank, or by rotating the tank. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A telephone ringing adapter has a preset number of ringing tones of a calling signal applied from a telephone call diverting device or the like. When the incoming ringing number coincides with the preset number, a relay is energized so that the calling signal is applied to a conventional telephone answering device which is connected to the adapter to comprise a loop circuit and take a message from the calling party. After the hang-up of the calling party, the relay is released and it returns to standby mode for the next call. So, even when the final call diverted party doesn't answer the call, it is possible for a general telephone answering device to operate the automatic answering and recording function for the calling party after the preset number of calling signals.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus connected to a telephone line and incorporating an automatic telephone answering and recording device, which is able to be responsive to various inputs, for example, a calling tone (CNG) or similar signal sent from a calling party's apparatus, or a specified signal sent by a calling party by pushing a DTMF tone button. If a user picks up a handset of a telephone set connected to the telephone line during the operation of the automatic telephone answering device, the facsimile apparatus is not energized and returns to the standby mode in response to the off-hook operation of the telephone set, so that he or she can talk directly with the calling party. And during the telephone conversation between calling and called parties, the facsimile apparatus can be energized in response to manual operation, for instance, pushing of a button by either of the parties.

Abstract: A telephone answering device wherein an outgoing message translated from an original language into each of several different foreign languages is sent out in a predetermined order to a calling party of any foreign country when he pushes ten-keys on a push-button telephone in a predetermined order, so that the calling party can get the most understandable outgoing message. The outgoing messages translated into major foreign languages are previously stored depending on the country's language situation, or otherwise the prerecorded original outgoing message is translated into one of the foreign languages by a built-in translating device each time the calling party pushes a ten-key, to be delivered to the calling party.

Abstract: An additional piece of telephone equipment for protecting against nuisance calls as a substitute for a telephone answering device, wherein after the equipment is engaged upon reception of an incoming call, one or the other of a dummy busy tone or a dummy ringback tone is randomly sent out to a calling party, so that it is possible to inform the calling party in a natural way that a called party cannot answer the calling party now. At this time, according to an even or odd number of value of a counter in a microprocessor (CPU), the dummy busy tone or the dummy ringback tone is sent out, and for this purpose, a random-number command stored in the program is used to select the above even or odd number.

Abstract: If a call waiting signal is supplied to a telephone line during reception of a videotex information through a videotex center, a control unit responds to the calling signal to actuate call waiting equipment and an associated switching unit for transmitting the calling signal to a videotex line and displaying an alarm signal at the videotex receiver. When the user of the videotex changes over the switches of the switch box and places his telephone receiver off-hook, he can communicate with the incoming calling party.

Abstract: In a conventional telephone answering device with a remote retrieval function, the user sends a remote control signal during anytime of the playback of the outgoing message in order to retrieve the incoming message from the remote location, and so the security code for security is required. According to the present invention, in order to increase the accuracy of security and to make the remote control operation easier, one short word or long word of the outgoing message can be used as a timing mark for sending the remote control signal for not only experienced people but also unexperienced people. If the user feels that the recorded message was leaked to other people, it is possible to change easily the timing mark from the remote location. And further, the user can easily operate even if he uses plurality of timing marks for more security.

Abstract: A pushbutton telephone is used by a calling party to transmit both upper and lower case alphabetical characters on the telephone lines. Upper and lower case characters are selected for transmission by the caller by pressing combinations of keys, including a special key (#) or (*), of a telephone keypad. The combination of keys successively pressed is detected by a receiving terminal at the station of the called party, and a signal representing a corresponding upper case or lower case letter is decoded by the terminal and displayed.

Abstract: Since telephone answering systems have made great progress together with the telephone system and the market thereof has expanded, the calling party of any country all over the world does not always speak the same language as the outgoing message. Then the conventional telephone answering system wherein one foreign language is recorded on the incoming message tape cannot meet such a world-wide use. The present invention provides a telephone answering system, wherein a foreign language incoming message is recorded and then translated into the owner's own language by the translating device, so that the owner can get the translated message by the remote location. As it takes much time to translate the message correctly at the current technical level, simultaneous translation is not perfect.

Abstract: A remote control device using a telephone circuit of an electric apparatus to remote-control the electric apparatus from a remote location. The electric apparatus is held operative by a loop means for automatically engaging a telephone set with the telephone circuit and a means for enabling the electric apparatus (VTR) when a specific signal or a password is supplied thereto. A remote control signal is supplied to operate means (IC-2) for selecting a desired channel of channels (1CH-12CH) and means (IC-3, 8) for presetting an operation time interval of the electric apparatus, so that the desired channel of the electric apparatus can be selected and the operation time interval can be preset from the remote location. Furthermore, the start time of the electric apparatus can be preset by the remote control signal from the remote location.

Abstract: A cordless telephone having a base unit with automatic telephone answering function and a portable unit has an engaging means for forming an engaging circuit upon an incoming call from a calling party, when the portable unit is kept in the off-hook state over a preset period of time during sending of outgoing message from the base unit, and an outgoing message inhibiting circuit which activated by output of preset timer means and inhibit outgoing message then both parties' conversation can be recorded in recording means on base unit which is set in stand-by mode.

Abstract: An automatic switching circuit controls operation of a light. The circuit includes a voice recognizer and a manual switch. The switching circuit turns the illuminator on instantly in response to an "ON" command input via the manual switch or via the voice recognizer. The switching circuit turns the illuminator off a predetermined period of time after detecting an "OFF" command input via said manual switch or via the voice recognizer.