Abstract: A control mechanism having particular, but not exclusive application to a cassette-type of telephone answering machine by which the movement of the record/playback head and pinch roller associated with each cassette of the machine, and the engagement of the drive for the take-up and rewind spindles of each cassette, are achieved by the rotational energy of the drive motor of the machine, rather than by high power electromagnetic solenoids; and in which only small, low power electromagnets are required for latching and unlatching the motor driven control mechanism.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine with remote control capabilities which responds to remote control signals received over the telephone line after the termination of an announcement interval (T.sub.1) to play back previously recorded messages over the telephone line to the calling party. The machine is susceptible to a number of controlled operations such as the playback of all previously recorded messages, playback of new messages only, remote changing of the announcement, remote backspacing control, selective erasure of the messages after playback, providing an indication to the calling party as to whether any new messages have been recorded since his last remote operation, and other controlled operations to be described.

Abstract: A non-destruct data storage system in a telephone answering machine, by which certain data is modulated on the beep tones which are recorded on the magnetic message tape and/or on the magnetic announcement tape so that the data may be maintained in the event of a power failure, or for other purposes.

Abstract: A telephone answering system which may be set to respond only after a predetermined number of rings have been received and which is automatically set to respond only after a greater number of rings are received in the event the message tape is full or broken. The system is controlled by a microcomputer, and includes circuitry such that the microcomputer responds to an indication that the message tape is not operational automatically to set the system to respond to a greater number of rings. This causes the casual caller to hang up, which is desired since the message tape is no longer capable of recording his message, but it still enables the owner to remote the system and have it read back the messages on the message tape.

Abstract: A telephone answering system which includes an announcement tape (T-1) on which an announcement is recorded to be transmitted over the telephone line to a calling party upon the receipt of an incoming telephone call, and which also includes a message tape (T-2) on which a message from the calling party may be recorded. The telephone answering system has the capability of storing one or more messages on the announcement tape (T-1) in addition to the announcement, which are intended to be forwarded to one or more persons. The additional messages may be recorded from a remote location at preselected positions on the announcement tape (T-1) when a person transmits the proper access code over the telephone line, and then records one or more messages at one or more positions on the announcement tape. Each of the various persons to whom the different messages are to be forwarded may recover his particular message from a remote location over the telephone line.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system in which the incoming ring signals and audio signals transmitted from the base station to the remote station are digitized and encoded in accordance with a pseudo random code, and the outgoing dial pulses and speech signals transmitted from the remote station to the base station are also digitized and encoded by a pseudo random code, so as to avoid unwanted operation of neighboring cordless telephone system and also to preclude eavesdropping of phone conversations. Multiple channels may be used between the base station and the remote station to avoid nulls in the communication.

Abstract: A message playback control system for a telephone answering machine of the type in which a user, in order to recover his messages, by operation of a manually operated local switch, causes the message tape in the machine to rewind to a particular position, and then causes the message tape to move in the forward direction and play back the messages recorded on the tape. The control system of the invention automatically causes the message tape to stop when all the messages have been played back, and then returns the machine to the automatic answer condition ready to answer the next telephone call.

Abstract: A telephone answering system with remote control capabilities which responds to a control signal received over the telephone line during an announcement interval (T.sub.1) or during a message recording interval (T.sub.2) to play back messages over the telephone line to the calling party. The system is susceptible to a number of controlled operations such as the playback of all previously recorded messages, playback of new messages only, remote changing of the announcement, remote backspacing control, selective erasure of the messages after playback, providing an indication to the calling party as to whether any new messages have been recorded since his last remote operation, and other controlled operations to be described.

Abstract: An interface circuit is provided for a telephone answering machine which does not require a transformer and which provides the proper direct current and alternating current terminating impedance for the telephone line. The direct current terminating impedance is provided by connecting a resistor of a selected resistance value across the telephone line, and the alternating current terminating impedance is achieved by multiplying the effective impedance of the resistor for alternating current audio signals by providing an amplifier for the outgoing audio signals with positive feedback of amounts sufficient to provide the desired impedance multiplication effect but which is insufficient to sustain oscillation.

Abstract: An ejector mechanism for unloading the cassette from a cassette-type magnetic tape recorder is provided. The mechanism includes a slide actuator which is mounted in an opening in the housing of the unit for reciprocal rectilinear movement in the plane of the housing, with both the housing and the actuator preferably being composed of a suitable plastic material. The slide actuator includes an integral portion which depends through the opening from the under side of the actuator in position to engage and move a spring-loaded slider on the chassis of the unit from a first to a second position against the bias of its spring. As the slider is moved from its first to its second position, a spring-biased ejector lever under the cassette is released and moves angularly upwardly from a lower position to an upper position to eject the cassette. As the ejector lever moves angularly to its upper position, it latches the slider in its second position.

Abstract: A circuit and system is provided in a telephone answering system and which responds to direct current voltage differentials on the telephone line, independent of the actual direct current voltage level, to cause the telephone answering system to return immediately to its automatic answer position in the event the called party picks up his telephone, during the announcement interval (T1), or during the message recording interval (T2). This feature permits the telephone answering system immediately to return to its original condition in the presence of either of the two foregoing events, without wasting magnetic tape on blank messages, and without the calling party having to wait until the system goes through its entire (T1) and/or (T2) cycles in the event the called party picks up after the telephone answering instrument has answered a call.

Abstract: A system for a telephone answering machine for recording new announcements on the announcement tape, for dictating notes or other material on the message tape, and for reproducing messages recorded on the message tape, all by means of a single transducer, so that the need for a separate microphone for dictation purposes and for recording new announcements on the announcement tape is obviated.

Abstract: A mechanical slide selector switch assembly for operating a series of pushbutton switches which includes an elongated support having a series of spaced parallel transverse members between which the switches are mounted, an elongated actuator slidably mounted on the support for reciprocal movement along the support, and a spring-loaded plunger mounted on the actuator to be moved across the transverse members from one switch to another to operate the switches as the actuator is moved to positions between successive pairs of the transverse members. When operating a switch the actuator is supported only by the switch and there is no contact between the actuator and the transverse members. However, when the actuator is moved off a switch it is supported by the transverse members until it engages the next switch.

Abstract: A telephone ring detector system which finds particular utility in a telephone answering unit, since it responds only to ring signals on the telephone line to activate the system, and it is unresponsive to dialing pulses which would otherwise cause a spurious activation of the telephone answering unit. The system of the invention differentiates the ring signals from dialing pulses by detecting whether or not the telephone line to which the telephone answering unit is connected is in an "on-hook" or "off-hook" hook condition, and by providing an output in response to an incoming signal only when the telephone is in the "on-hook" condition. This assures that the signal detected on the telephone line is not a series of dialing pulses, since the dialing pulses occur only when the telephone line is in the "off-hook" condition.

Abstract: A circuit and system is provided in a telephone answering system and which monitors direct current voltage levels on the telephone line to distinguish between valid ring signals and dial pulses so that the telephone answering system will not attempt to answer when a local telephone is being dialed for an outgoing call. The circuit and system of the invention also responds to direct current voltage differentials on the telephone line, independent of the actual direct current voltage level, to cause the telephone answering system to return immediately to its automatic answer position in the event the calling party hangs up, or in the event the called party picks up, during the announcement interval (T1), or during the message recording interval (T2).

Abstract: A remote repeat message control for a telephone answering system is provided, by which a person may cause his telephone answering system to repeat any message read to him over the telephone line by the system. In order for the user to gain access to and activate his telephone answering system from a remote point to receive the recorded messages, he dials the telephone number of his system and, after the system has answered, and after the announcement has been transmitted to the caller, he transmits a predetermined digital code over the telephone line from a remote control unit. At the end of each message transmitted to the user over the telephone line, a dual tone is transmitted by the telephone answering system to the user. The user can then cause the machine to repeat the previous message by again transmitting the digital code over the telephone line within a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A mechanical slide selector switch assembly, or the like, is provided which includes a plurality of multi-contact switches mounted in side-by-side relationship, and which also includes a slidable actuator mounted in transverse relationship with the switches for successively actuating the switches as the actuator is moved back and forth along a rectilinear path.

Abstract: Telephone answering apparatus is provided which is simple in its construction as compared with the usual prior art apparatus, but which is capable of performing all of the operations performed by the more complex prior art apparatus, and also of performing operations beyond the capabilities of the usual prior art apparatus. The apparatus of the invention utilizes a cassette-type tape unit on which announcement messages may be recorded, for transmission to a calling party during an initial time interval (T.sub.1). The apparatus also includes a cassette-type tape unit to record the messages from the calling party during a subsequent message recording interval (T.sub.2).