Abstract: A telephone system having a telephone network line for connection to an external phone line. The telephone system also includes a computer system and a telephone coupled to the telephone network line, and the telephone is taken off-hook to enter a voice command. A transmitter communicates the voice command from the telephone to the computer system without the telephone seizing the external phone line. A computer interface unit is connected to the computer system to receive the voice transmitted from the telephone and to transmit voice signals transmitted by the computer system to the telephone. A phone interface unit is connected between the telephone and telephone network line, and the phone interface unit is selectable between a first mode and a second mode. The phone interface unit connects the telephone to the telephone network line if it is in the first mode, and isolates the telephone from the telephone network line if it is in the second mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide communication in a telephone system connected to an external phone line, wherein the telephone system has a telephone line, a telephone, a phone interface unit coupled to the telephone and the telephone line, a computer system, and a computer interface unit coupled to the computer system and the telephone line. A bias voltage on the telephone line is detected to determine if the telephone is on-hook or off-hook, a ringing voltage on the telephone line is detected to determine if an external call is incoming, and a first carrier transmitted by the phone interface unit is detected. A second carrier is transmitted using the computer interface unit under control of the computer system. Detection of the bias voltage, ringing voltage, and/or first carrier is communicated to the computer system. An off-hook condition is indicated if the line bias voltage is less than an off-hook bias threshold voltage.

Abstract: A toy assembly 10 including a ray gun 12 capable of projecting a focused beam of light 25, and an electro-mechanically actuatable target figurine 14 including a body 46, a support 48 for supporting the body of the figurine in an upright position upon a surface, a light receiver 58, a toppling mechanism 60 for causing the figurine to topple over when operated, an energy source 82 within the figurine for powering the toppling mechanism, and a control circuit 78 for initiating the operation of the toppling mechanism when the light receiver is struck by a beam of light projected by the ray gun.

Abstract: A radio range finding system includes a radio frequency transmitter adapted to be located adjacent an area in which distance is to be monitored, a transmitting antenna, and a receiver unit. The receiver unit has a multiplicity of radio signal receivers each having a highly directional receiving antenna with the receiving antennae of the multiplicity of receivers having their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented in different directions, and an analyzer for determining a composite of the field strengths of the radio signals received by the receiving antennae, and providing an output indicative of the composite field strength. The receiver may detect when the composite field strength at the receiving antennae fails below predetermined values, and generate a signal at that time. The vector sum of the field strengths of the radio signals are derived from the square root of the sum of the squares of the field strengths of the several signals.

Abstract: An animal restraining system includes a radio frequency transmitter adapted to be located adjacent an area in which the animal is to be restrained, a transmitting antenna, and a collar unit worn by the animal. The collar unit has a multiplicity of radio signal receivers each having a highly directional receiving antenna with the receiving antennae of the multiplicity of receivers having their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented in different directions, and an analyzer for determining a composite of the field strengths of the radio signals received by the receiving antennae, and detecting when the composite field strength at the receiving antennae falls below predetermined values. When the detected composite field strength falls below a first predetermined value, a first warning signal is generated to the animal, and a second and different warning signal is generated when the composite field strength falls below a second predetermined value.