Abstract: A base unit antenna for a cordless telephone system where the cordless telephone system comprises a base unit coupled via wires contained in a telephone cord to a telephone distribution system and a handset coupled to the base unit by a duplex radio communication link. The base unit includes a base unit antenna for transmitting and receiving the duplex radio communication with the handset. The antenna is preferably integrally contained in the telephone cord, but spaced from the telephone wires therein distribution system.

Abstract: A cordless telephone and an answering machine of the remote-pickup type are provided as an integrated unit having the answering machine and telephone base unit integrated into a common housing. The remote handset contains circuitry for generating a command signal condition at the user's option which will operate the base unit to a "screening mode" wherein the activity on the telephone lines during the playback and record period is transmitted to the remote unit, but wherein audio pass-through from the base unit radio receiver is disabled. In the preferred form of the invention the command signal condition is in the form of a pilot tone of a given frequency, receipt of which by the base unit receiver disables audio pass-through. To enter two-way "talk" mode, a pilot tone of different frequency is also sent by the remote unit, loss of this tone being being to cause the base unit to cease transmitting to the remote unit.

Abstract: An antenna internally contained within a housing of a cordless telephone is configured generally as a plate disposed opposite the earphone transducer, and away from the user's face in position for normal use. The antenna is disposed to lie generally vertically, and is counterpoised against a generally vertically disposed circuit board. Configuring the antenna generally as a plate and placing it outboard away from the user's face minimizes detuning effects during normal handling in use. Optional side extensions to the plate increase the antenna capacitance. An optional counterpoising shield may be interposed between the receiver-transducer and the antenna plate to further minimize detuning effects. Mode switches are disposed in a position on the handset remote from the antenna to further minimize detuning effects during switching operations.

Abstract: A tester for telephones and telephone answering systems features a dialing test capability for high speed dialing systems by providing the dialed digits in a single display element serially in time at a delayed rate set by strobing the digits from a memory storage element. A two-level ringing signal is provided to test for marginal telephone bell sensitivity. Means are further provided for reversing the emulation of the central office battery polarity so as to test for diode failure in electronic telephones. A simple cord circuit test for open- and short-circuit in the wall and handset cords, and moreover provides for detection of connector wiring reversal. Precision long-duration ringing burst capability is provided, along with ringback, dial tone, cut-out, and two-way communication between a telephone answering system under tests and a supplemental telephone as to provide for complete testing of the various phases of actuation of automatic answering systems.

Abstract: An electrical controller, such as a controller timer for a home lighting circut, is connected so that a power switch like a triac controlled thereby replaces a conventional toggle switch operating in conjunction with another toggle switch in series therewith which can operate the controller. The timer is continuously coupled to the AC power system by permanent connections between the movable pole of the remaining toggle switch station and the load terminal of the triac of the controller and the power system. A stationary contact of the switch forms a control signal terminal which extends to a control input terminal of the controller. The controller may also include a depressible pushbutton or other on-off control switch which when successively operated generates pulses which toggle a control circuit to alternately render the triac conductive and non-conductive, and to program a controller-timer.

Abstract: A manually operable pulse generating apparatus comprises a dial knob assembly having a outer grippable knob member rotatably mounted around an inner knob member connected to an operating shaft carrying a ratchet wheel-forming cam having saw-toothed ratchet teeth-forming lobes. Each lobe has a gradually rising leading side and a sharply dropping trailing side. The outer knob member is connected to the inner knob member through a one-way clutch so that the outer knob member can be rotated in one direction without rotating the inner knob member, the inner knob member rotating with the outer knob member when rotated in the opposite direction. Where the outer knob member is opaque, it contains numbered markings for identifying the degree of rotation imparted thereto relative to a stationary index mark on a control panel over which the dial knob assembly is mounted. For some applications, the outer knob member may be transparent in which case the numbered markings referred to are on the inner knob member.

Abstract: The controller comprises a rear sub-assembly to be mounted in a conventional toggle wall switch opening, a conventional toggle switch cover plate with a vertical toggle switch operating arm-receiving slot, the plate to extend over the rear sub-assembly and being of a size to overlap the wall switch opening, and a front sub-assembly to be mounted over the cover plate. An anchoring screw-receiving opening in the rear of sub-assembly is accessible from the front of the front sub-assembly through the cover plate slot. A screw passing through an opening in the front sub-assembly and cover plate slot anchors at least partially the front sub-assembly and the cover plate to the rear sub-assembly. A rotatable and depressible shaft extends from the rear-sub-assembly and passes through the cover plate slot and the front sub-assembly. A timer and on-off switch operating knob removably fits over the shaft to expose the screw when the knob is removed from the shaft.

Abstract: An electrical timer automatically actuates an output electrical load device such as an electric light according to a program stored as markers in a memory unit over a 24-hour interval, whereupon the program is recycled. By actuating one or more electric lights within an empty dwelling, an illusion of occupancy is thus conveyed to an observer. In the preferred form of the invention the memory unit is a recirculating shift register. A daily variability of the timer output is provided to prevent precise daily replication of the load device duty profile. One version causes the program output to be delayed by 15 minutes on alternate days by alternately taking the output from the last or the next-to-last storage element of the shift register. The stored duty profile is in 15-minute blocks.

Abstract: A timer system includes a power switch operable to power circuit closing and opening conditions, timing means for identifying various timing segments over a 24-hour period and marker storage means having respective power turn on and off marker storage locations assigned to the time intervals encompassing a 24-hour period. An on-off push button or other on-off control operates the power switch and may act as an aid in setting the markers in the storage means. The timer system may also include a rotatable present time setting dial, also adjustable to different positions representing the different time intervals, and a manually operable timer on-off setting member. For real time programming, control means respond to normal operation of the on-off control during a first 24-hour period, initially to set said markers in the storage locations.

Abstract: One form of the timer is designed to be mounted over and behind a conventional wall switch cover plate and includes a two position timer condition-setting arm, a rotatable and depressible time setting dial knob and an indicator on the front of the cover plate. When the arm is moved to a timer-on position, the indicator flashes to indicate that timer programming is needed. This may be achieved in real time over the first twenty-four hours after a 30 minute play period by depressing the knob acting as an on and off power switch control push button to turn the light circuit on and off in a normal manner. Fast normal programming is achieved by rotating the knob to various time settings and depressing the knob to set ON or OFF markers in timer memory.

Abstract: A transistor test circuit provides for the selection of preferably three widely differing test frequencies for testing transistors normally having respectively relatively small, intermediate and large frequency gain-bandwidth product characteristics. These test frequencies are each much greater than the assumed normal cut-off frequency of the transistors to be tested thereby, and preferably only a fraction of the frequency at which the current gain of normal transistors would decrease to one. The test circuit is designed to form a linear amplifier circuit with the transistor under test and is provided with an automatic base drive control circuit which provides a substantially fixed predetermined DC collector current, despite wide variations in the current gain between different transistors being tested.

Abstract: In combination with a meter movement having a pointer movable over a variable value indicating scale having numbered variable value indicating marks forming respective scale segments having substantially different compression or expansion ratios and representing progressively increasing variable values over the entire extent of said segments, a meter control circuit comprising respective amplifiers for controlling the variation of pointer movement over said respective segments of said scale, each of the amplifiers being capable of producing an output which reaches a maximum possible output level when the signal fed to the input thereof is of a value which is to move the pointer of said meter movement to the uppermost point of the associated segment of the scale, means for summing the outputs of said respective amplifiers and feeding the same to said meter movement.

Abstract: The circuit includes sources of periodic, low duty cycle, load terminal energizing and control terminal driving pulse waveforms. During each cycle, the waveforms occur only during successive test intervals occupying only a small portion of each cycle. During each test interval a load terminal energizing pulse is generated to energize a transistor or FET device of a different conductivity type and a control terminal drive voltage is penetrated which initially is of a polarity which would render a transistor or FET device of the associated conductivity type non-conductive, and then switches to a voltage of opposite polarity to render such device fully conductive. There is provided means for selectively varying the control terminal driving current which flows in an operating device from a relatively high to a relatively low level. Signals are derived showing the transition in the conductive states of the devices under test during the polarity transition of the control terminal drive voltage waveform.

Abstract: A position detecting and control system for a vehicle includes a low frequency transmitter and associated antenna and a receiver and associated antenna, one of the antennas being mounted on the vehicle so the distance between the antenna carried by the vehicle and the other antenna is determined by the amplitude of the signal induced in the receiving antenna. The frequency of the transmitter is such that the distances to be monitored are a small fraction of the wavelength of the frequency involved, and any significant signal variations due to signal reflections which can reinforce or cancel the received signal are avoided. The system monitors at least two different spacings between the transmitting and receiving antennas where the signals received at the receiving antenna are of widely different orders of magnitude.

Abstract: A combination control knob and encoder drum unit, which has a number of indexing indentations corresponding to the number of desired stable positions thereof, is sized to pass through an opening in a control panel behind which is mounted a drum-receiving housing. The drum has groups of light-transparent areas each for providing a pattern of light identifying a different signal channel. The housing has a light source which passes within the drum when it is fully mounted within the housing, and a bearing adapted to receive a shaft extending from the combination knob and encoder unit. A spring loaded drum holding projection is urged toward and enters an adjacent encoder unit indentation. The housing has photocell means at a light pattern reading station to which the various groups of light-transmitting areas on the drum can be individually brought.

Abstract: The cathode material of a black and white or color cathode ray tube is rejuvenated by apparatus and a method which initially supplies heater voltage to the heater filament prior to the application of a source of positive voltage between the control grid and the cathode, to pre-heat the cathode to a rejuvenation temperature effective upon flow of appreciable cathode current to rejuvenate the cathode material. Then, upon operation of a depressible push-button a source of positive voltage is connected between the control grid and the cathode to effect said flow of appreciable cathode current and the simultaneous removal of the heater filament voltage from the heater filament, so that the time interval of large cathode current flow depends solely upon the thermal characteristics of the cathode structure.

Abstract: The overall response of a television receiver is displayed on the face of the cathode ray tube of the receiver involved by test apparatus which requires electrical connection only to the antenna terminals of the television receiver and the mounting of a small light sensor unit onto the face of the cathode ray tube. The test apparatus generates an amplitude modulated signal having a video carrier frequency corresponding to that of a selected television channel. The amplitude modulated video carrier frequency signal includes an envelope containing synchronizing pulses for operating the sweep circuits of the television receiver in a normal manner and which clamps the automatic gain control circuits of the receiver to a desired level and a video signal to produce a given brightness reference background on the tube face which is preferably gray or black. Periodically, the main video carrier is interrupted for the generation of a constant amplitude test carrier frequency signal.

Abstract: The emission of the various electron guns of a color cathode ray tube are measured and indicated by a time sharing multiplexing technique where emission generating voltages are fed to the electrodes of the various electron guns in rapidly repeated sequence and the degree of emission thereof is displayed simultaneously on the faces of current meters responsive to average current flow. Such a technique permits simultaneous display of emission current for in-line cathode ray tubes having commonly connected control and/or accelerator electrodes, where individually adjustable spot cut-off voltages are sequentially connected to the set of commonly connected electrodes involved in synchronism at any given instant with the connections of the cathode electrode thereto which is to be assigned to the adjustable voltage involved.

Abstract: The emission of the various electron guns of a color cathode ray tube are measured and indicated preferably by a time sharing multiplexing technique where bright intensity producing emission generating voltages are fed between th cathode and control or accelerator electrodes of the various electron guns preferably in rapidly repeated sequence. The switching rate is preferably many times per second so the emission current values are displayed as steady indications on the faces of current meters with meter movements which respond to the average emission curent of the associated electron gun.