Abstract: An analog/digital telephone test set for telephone lines using dial pulse, DTMF, and digital signalling having a DTMF decoder for converting DTMF tones for application to a microprocessor which converts them, for example, to 16 bit digital commands transmitted as 8 kHz bursts.

Abstract: An acoustic touch position sensor is shown wherein a Lamb wave is imparted into a substrate by a transducer mounted on the substrate, the Lamb wave propagating along a first axis. Top and bottom reflecting arrays are disposed along the first axis to reflect portions of one mode of the Lamb wave along a plurality of parallel paths extending across a touch surface of the substrate to a second pair of top and bottom reflect arrays. The second pair of top and bottom reflecting arrays reflect the Lamb waves incident thereto along an axis parallel to the first axis to a receiving transducer that provides a signal representative of the received Lamb waves. A touch on the substrate results in a partial absorption of the energy in the Lamb wave propagating along a path intersection the touch position so as to produce a perturbation therein which is sensed to determine the axial position of the touch on the substrate.

Abstract: In an electro-magnetic, cordless digitizer system wherein a transducer emits an AC magnetic field which is detected by a first grid of scanned parallel first wires in a tablet to provide positional data for the transducer in a first axis of a coordinate system and which are detected by a second grid of scanned second wires in the tablet to provide positional data for the transducer in a second perpendicular axis of the coordinate system, a method and associated apparatus for obtaining a phase reference signal; to be used in a demodulator demodulating data signals from the first and second grids of scanned first and second wires.

Abstract: A touch sensor is disclosed that senses the two-dimensional position and pressure of an object 34, such as a stylus or finger, that is touching its surface. The sensor is comprised of two insulating substrates 28 and 29 which extend over the area to be sensed. A first fixed resistor 33 establishes a potential gradient over the first substrate 29 in a first, or X, position dimension. A second fixed resistor 32 establishes a potential gradient over the second substrate 28 in a second, or Y, position dimension. Between the substrates is a force variable resistor 42 that changes its local resistance under the touch point as a function of the touch pressure. Two touch controllers are also disclosed that comprise the touch sensor 50 and an electronic circuit that accurately measures the resistance values of the touch sensor. The touch controllers output three signals: the X position, the Y position, and the pressure of the touch point.

Abstract: A telecommunications system 10 is provided which comprises a PBX system 12 coupled to a call processing system 16 through plurality of trunks 14. SMDR data records are received from the PBX system 12 by the call processing system 16 through an SMDR data line 18. The call processing system 16 includes an SMDR translation system which retrieves call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16 and matches these call records to SMDR data records received from the PBX system 12. The matched records are used to generate a combined SMDR output record for a particular call which is then output through an output line 30 to a call accounting system 32. In this manner, the call processing system 16 can utilize the information received from the PBX system 12 with the accurate call duration information generated in its own systems to provide for accurate call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16.

Abstract: A handheld battery-powered telecommunications test instrument for monitoring the status of a pair of wires. A tone-generating circuit generates a tone signal in response to the user manually selecting operation in a tone-generating mode. The instrument monitors the pair of wires to determine whether an on-hook, off-hook or ringing signal is present on the wires, and if present, generates an interrupt control signal through a microprocessor. Logic circuitry connected to the microprocessor results in connecting and disconnecting the tone-generating circuit and the pair of wires to selectively apply the tone signal to the wires. In response to the control signal and the user selecting the tone-generating mode, the microprocessor connects the tone-generation circuit to the pair of wires if no control signal is generated, and disconnects the tone-generating circuit if the control signal is generated.

Abstract: A telephone holder and latching mechanism for use in conjunction with a hand-held, credit-card telephone in, for example, a commercial aircraft is disclosed. An integrally formed face plate, an integrally formed handset holder, and an integrally formed latching mechanism cooperate to firmly secure a hand-held telephone in a cavity of the holder while discouraging unnecessary tampering and permitting easy removal of the telephone when desired. A first end of the telephone includes a collar which fits into a collar opening at one end of the cavity. An opposing end of the cavity has a latching opening that permits a finger from the latching mechanism to extend therethrough. The latching mechanism is spring-loaded so that the finger is urged through the latching opening. A second end of the telephone incorporates a latching protrusion which the finger engages when the telephone is secured in the holder. A slot in the face plate is dimensioned to accommodate a credit card and prevent insertion of larger objects.

Abstract: A digitizer tablet exhibiting improved regional error correction comprises evaluation of two linear equations to correct the generated raw coordinates. The equations contain certain constants unique to tablet regions exhibiting similar error patterns. These constants are empirically determined and stored for use in the evaluations.

Abstract: Armor for a telephone paystation lower housing. Four elements welded in place. Three of the four elements are reversible and permit usage on different configurations of paystations.

Abstract: A predictive dialing system having a computer connected to a telephone switch stores a group of call records in its internal storage. Each call record contains a group of input parameters, including the date, the time, and one or more workload factors. Workload factors can indicate the number of pending calls, the number of available operators, the average idle time, the connection delay, the completion rate, and the nuisance call rate, among other things. In the preferred embodiment, each call record also contains a dial action, which indicates whether a call was initiated or not. These call records are analyzed by a neutral network to determine a relationship between the input parameters and the dial action stored in each call record. This analysis is done as part of the training process for the neutral network.

Abstract: A digitizer tablet is provided in which the working surface is illuminated by a light source which includes optical structure located over the grid or electrode array of the position determining structure of the digitizer to provide a surface-lit tablet, or beneath the grid or electrode array to provide a back-lit tablet. Preferably, a space is provided adjacent the working surface to reduce undesirable lighting effects. A fiber optics panel or an electroluminescent panel may be used as the optical structure placed above or beneath the grid to illuminate the working surface. The position determining structure and the optical structure may be integrated into a single unit to form a digitizer with an illuminated working surface, or the optical structure may be provided as a separate unit for use with a digitizer to provide an illuminated working surface for the digitizer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing enhanced call service and call routing functions from a centralized location on a telephone network line through gateway connections to service providers is disclosed. A multiple function interface located between a paystation and an originating central office includes a monitoring circuit for monitoring call signals from the paystation, circuits for obtaining coin or card billing information from the paystation and a control circuit for verifying the payment information and selectively directing the call to a service provider to bypass the originating central office. Calls are able to be routed by a signal generating circuit as direct (1+) calls from the interface to any service provider. Interface circuits permit the interface to interconnect analog and business lines on the paystation side of the interface with analog and business lines and digital links on the service provider side of the interface.

Abstract: The type of an outside line acquired at the time of placing an outside-line call is identified, and an idle outside line of this same type is acquired when a call is placed to a party in an auto-repeat mode, thereby establishing the call to the party. Further, types of outside lines acquired preferentially at the time of originating an outside-line call are registered in advance, and idle outside lines are selected and acquired in accordance with the order of preference.

Abstract: A key telephone system with a re-dialing feature has a memory with two memory areas. One of the two memory areas is provided for an outside-line call, and the other is provided for an internal-line call to a particular extension. Each memory area memorizes a dialed number therein and replaces a number of the last intended call, previously present in the memory area, with the most recently dialed number. A re-dialing push-button automatically retrieves the number of a last intended outside-line call, memorized in the outside-line memory area, when actuated following a selection of an outside-line call, or the number of a last intended inside-line call to a particular extension, memorized in the extension memory area, when actuated following a selection of an internal-line call to a particular extension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a key telephone apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, a port for connecting terminal devices comprises two pairs having four wires, one pair having two wires of which is connected to a digital terminal device and the other pair having two wires of which is simultaneously connected to an analog terminal device, and there is provided switching control means for automatically selecting either of an interface circuit for analog terminal device and an interface circuit for digital terminal device connected to this port in accordance with the state of use of terminal devices. Therefore, it is possible to connect a one-pair two-wire analog terminal device and a one-pair two-wire digital terminal device together to one port and select either the interface circuit for analog terminal device or the interface circuit for digital terminal device according to the state of use of terminal devices under surveillance of the switching control means.

Abstract: A coin fraud prevention system which includes a coin telephone having a voice transmitter, comprising a coin tone sensing arrangement for sensing coin tones, coupled to the voice transmitter of the telephone; and a coin telephone disabling arrangement in the coin telephone coupled to an output of the coin tone sensing arrangement for disabling the coin telephone in response to sensing of the coin tones from the transmitter; wherein further the coin tones include at least one or two coin tone frequencies, and the system has a bandpass filter having at least one pass band corresponding to the tone frequencies, and a tone detector coupled to the bandpass filter for generating a coin telephone disabling signal in response to receipt of the tone frequencies, wherein the disabling signal is connected to the coin telephone disabling arrangement, so as to prevent dialing of the call.

Abstract: An ISDN terminal adapter having a diagnostic function includes a terminal adapter section, an S/T pointer interface section, a D channel control section, a sub-address identifying section, and a remote monitor section. The terminal adapter section has a data rate converting function for communication with a terminal of a distant station connected to an ISDN. The S/T point interface section converts an output signal from the terminal adapter section into a protocol of the ISDN. The D channel control section receives D channel information from the distant station through the S/T point interface section and extracts a sub-address from the D channel information. The sub-address identifying section determines whether the sub-address of the D channel information input from the D channel control section coincides with a predetermined code.

Abstract: A volume control for a telephone having a receiver, a manual key for generating a volume increment for each operation of the key; a volume increment counter connected to the manual key for counting volume increments; a controlled gain amplifier connected ahead of the receiver; and a gain control network connected between the controlled gain amplifier and the counter for controlling the gain of the amplifier in response to the number of volume increments counted in the volume increment counter. A unique feature of the volume control is that it maintains the selected gain level when the central office collects or refunds coins or makes an initial rate or coin present test.

Abstract: An improved stylus detection system for use on the surface of a display device. An overlay having horizontal and vertical transparent conductors is coupled to other elements of the systems through a bus having a minimal number of bus wires. A control processor issues command signal which selectively couple transparent conductors to a radiative measuring device to determine stylus position accurately. The system includes a radiative pickup stylus having a spherical antenna which receive the overlay signal independent of the angle at which it is held. Further, a contact detecting mode has been added to eliminate spurious contact position measured between strokes, when the stylus is proximate to but not in contact with the overlay.

Abstract: A stylus switch is activated automatically when the tip of the stylus is pressed against a digitizer tablet with sufficent force. The pressure switch inlcudes a transducer in the form of an ink layer having electrical resistance which varies as a function of the pressure applied thereon. Electrodes of conductive ink contact the ink layer of the transducer, providing a circuit element including a variable resistance. The current which flows between the two conductive ink electrodes varies as a function of the force with which the stylus tip is pressed against the data tablet, thus providing an analog output which can be detected as a function of pressure or which can be detected to determine when the pressing force exceeds a predetermined value. Processing of the data representing the coordinates of the stylus tip is enabled only when the tip is being pressed with at least a predetermined force, i.e. the amount of force applied by a stylus user during writing.