Abstract: The control panel of a telephone set is detachable from a base station portion of the set. The control panel and base station can communicate mutually cordlessly, or the control panel can be connected for communication independent of the cordless facility. The control panel includes an interactive display panel with a touch screen and a graphic tablet, and control electronics for the display panel. Telephone numbers, spoken and written messages can be transmitted via the touch screen with a finger, or via the graphic tablet with a special pen.

Abstract: A fax and phone combination device. The combination device is coupled to an external phone. From a phone line, the combination device receives a call signal, a fax signal, and an information signal. The call signal precedes the fax signal and the information signal. The combination device comprises a fax, an internal phone, and a call signal processor. The call processor processes the call signal received by the combination device and produces a first ringing signal from the call signal. The first ringing signal is intended for the internal phone. The combination device further comprises a ringing signal generator for generating a second ringing signal that is intended for the external phone, and a switch coupled to the fax, the internal phone, and the call processor. A call pulse in the call signal causes the switch to switch the combination device in a simulated receiving mode. In the simulated receiving mode, the fax signal detector detects whether the fax signal is present.

Abstract: Telephone apparatus including a loudspeaker and a microphone, a speech transmission network that on the one side is coupled to the loudspeaker and the microphone and on the other side can be coupled to the telephone lines, and a modem having an input and an output, wherein the modem for AC-currents is directly coupled to the speech transmission network and for DC-currents is isolated from the speech transmission network. By these features it is possible to provide a telephone apparatus having the possibility of data-communication with as little as possible additional components, so that the telephone apparatus can be very low priced.