Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to telephone
apparatus and more particularly to a eompact telephone set.
The miniaturisation of electronic circuits
enables telephone sets with more or less complex Eunctional
possibilities to be made relatively eompaet.
It is possible to make a compact telephone eon-
taining in a single easing all the circuits and components
required for a telephone eonnection, and performing the
functions both of a handset and the base on whieh the hand-
set would normally be placed when the telephone set is not
in use. However, when the telephone set is to be used with
auxiliary devices, sueh as an automatic answering machine,
a musical hold generator, a memory and automatic number
ealling system for frequently ealled numbers, the telephone
set must be permanently eonnec-ted to the auxiliary devices,
and this makes the complete system relatively complex and
cumbersome.
An ob~eet of the invention is to alleviate the
above problem by providing a telephone handset of simple
and light construetion which may be used alone or in com-
bination with auxiliary apparatus while leaving a high
degree of freedom of movement to the user, compatible with
a cable connection from the handset to the telephone net-
work.
The present invention provides telephone apparatus
comprising a line make switch, and a handset including a
microphone and an earphone for conneetion to a telephone
network when said line switeh is made, and further apparatus
for use in eonjunction with said handset, wherein said hand-
set bears first eonneetor means including electrieal con-
tacts connected with electrical components in said handset,
sald first conneetor means providing electrical intereonnec-
tions within said handset when said handset is used alone,
and providing selective interruptions in said intereonnee-
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tions and connections to further apparatus when mated with
second connector means borne by said further apparatus.
Other features and advantages OI the invention
will appear from the following description, given by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
- Fig 1 is a perspective view of a telephone
apparatus in accordance with the invention, comprising a
telephone handset associated with a module containing
auxiliary apparatus, such as a telephone answering system
for example;
- Fig 2 is an outside plan view of the upper half
casing of the handset of Fig I;
-- Fig 3 is an outside plan view of the lower half
caslng of the handset of Fig l;
- Fig .is a schema-t:i.c diagram of electrical con-
nections in an embodiment of the telephone set of Fig l;
- Figs 5 to 7 are schematic diagrams showing
examples of the connections of auxiliary apparatus to the
telephone set in accordance with the invention by plugging
the handset into the module with which it is associated in
Fig l;
- Fig 8 is a partial sectional view of a telephone
handset in accordance with the invention associated with a
module comprising acous-tic coupling with the set;
- Fig 9 is a partial sectional view of a telephone
handset in accordance with the invention into which is
plugged an integra-ted circuit board bearing a complementary
circuit;
- Fig 10 is an overall perspective view of a tele-
phone handset comprising another embodiment of keyboard for
dialling numbers,
Fig 11 is an exploded view of the keyboard of
Fig 10;
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- Fig 12 is a section on the line III-III ox the
keyboard of Fig 10;
- Figs 13 and 14 are details from Fig 12 showing
a peripheral rib before and after ultrasonic welding;
- Fig 15 is a partial top view of a thermo-formed
flexible film; and
- Fig 16 is a section on the line VI-VI of Fiy 15.
The telephone apparatus shown in Fig I comprises
essentially a handset I having the general shape oE a wide
open V, and comprising an upper half casing 2 and a lower
half casing 3 assembled together by screws, and between
which is interposed a seal 4, which not only seals the
casing I but also protects the casing against lateral shocks.
The top face of the upper half casing 2 comprises
a window 5 of rec-tangular shape through which appears a
number dial or keyboard 6 for signalling numbers to be called.
In the embodiment shown, this dial is of the so-called touch
sensitive kind.
Adjacent to the window 5 and on the same side, the
half-casing presents an opening 7 for a switch 8 for making
or breaking the connection with the telephone line. An
indicator light 9 is associated with -the switch to indicate
the condition of the line connection.
It will bé seen that all the components on -the top
face of the upper halE casing 2 are grouped in one branch of
the V, the other branch serving as a hand grip for the hand-
set. Advantageously, the dial and line switch are disposed
in the part of the half casing furthest from the user, while
the handgrip area is in the part closest to the user.
As shown in Fig 3, the lower face of the lower
half casing 3 presents a first grill 10 formed facing the
position of a microphone II in the handset and, at the
opposite end of the casing, a second grill 12 formed facing
an ear-phone. In the central part of the lower face, shown
32
in Fig 3, a transverse slit 13 is provided which is designed
to rece.ive an external male plug 14 of a multi-pin connector,
the o-ther half of the connector comprising a corresponding
female socket (not shown in Fig 3) disposed within the
casing 1 behind the slit 13.
Advantageously, the complete se-t may include a
wall mounted support comprising a projection whose shape
corresponds with that of the slit 13; the handset is then
fixed to its support by engaging the projec-tion in the slit
13 so as to plug the handse-t onto the support.
In the embodiment shown in Fig 1, the telephone
handset is associated with a module 15 comprising a plurality
of auxiliary components of which examples are described
below, and presenting on its top face a recess 16 which
receives the handset.
The recess 16 compri.ses a base 17 of open V shape,
matching the shape o:E the handset 1, the plus 14 ox the
connector projecting from the apex of the base 17. The
recess 16 a]so comprises an elongate hook 18 extending along
one end of the recess, the rounded shape of the hook 18
matching a corresponding rounded end of the handset 1 so as
to receive and guide this end of the handset when it is
placed in the recess, positioning the slit 13 of the handset
opposite the plug 14 of the module 15. The recess 16 also
comprises two sides 19 which provide lateral guidance for
the handset and contribute to centering it on the plug 14.
It will be seen therefore that -the arrangement
shown in Fig 1 enables the handset 1 to be replaced in a
precise single movement ensuring automatically that the male
plug is opposite the slit 13 in the handset. Returning to
Fig 3, it will be seen that a flat recess 20 is formed round
the slit 13, and the recess 20 is adapted to receive an
integrated circuit card having a male plug which can cooper-
ate with the female socket in the handset and providing,
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for example, an amplifler for the partially deaf, a memory
for calling frequently used numbers automa-tically, or a
memory containing a key code which alone enables the use of
the telephone, for example.
As described below, ln accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the invention, the handset rnay include all the
circuit componen-ts necessary for its operation. It is
therefore an independen-t handset, usable withou-t any comple-
mentary active components in the support. This is the case
of the handset shown in Fig 1. However, since the handset
can be used with auxiliary equipment, such as an automa-tic
answering machine, a musical hold device, a memory for
numbers to be called, for example, this auxiliary equipment
can be grouped in the module 15 and can be connec-ted by
placing the handset 1 in the recess 16 so that the plug l
to which the equipment is connected, engages in the connector
socket behind the slit 13 of the handset 1 and establishes
the required connections.
In the embodiment illustrated, the handset 1 com-
prises the dial or keyboard, which makes the handset autono-
mous. However, it is possible to lighten the handset by
transferring the dial or keyboard to the module 15. It is
also possible to provide a telephone set without dial or
keyboard, in which case it is only autonomous for receiving
calls.
When the telephone handset is used with an inte-
grated circuit plugged into the recess 20 in the lower half
casing, it forms a complete free-standing table set by
itself, without any additional module. According to a par-
ticular feature of this embodiment of the invention, the
handset has the dial or keyboard 6 and the line switch 8 on
its top face, while the microphone and earphone are disposed
at the bottom face. This arrangement makes use of the hand-
set particularly practical, and especially enables it to be
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used when plugged in to -the module 15 since the dial or
keyboard 6 and line switch 8 are then still exposed for use.
In the plugged in position, the keyboard 6 can be
used as a keyboard for calculations, if it is provided with
a certain number of extra keys, the body of the calculator
being disposed in the module 15. The module may comprise a
display window 22 connected with the calculator circuits.
The seal 4 disposed between the two half casings
2 and 3 protec-ts the handset against shocks, bu-t also pro-
lo vides a degree of acoustic insulation which enables the
telephone handset of this embodiment of the invention to be
used with an acoustic receiver and transmitter provided in
the recess 16 of the module 15 as shown in Fig 8.
The circuit diagram is illustrated schematically
in E'ig 4. The circuit comprises mainly a line make connec-
tion 25 connected -to the conductor 26 linking the handset
with the telephone network. The l:ine make 25 :is also con-
nected with a bell circuit 27, which in a preferred embodi-ment of the invention actua-tes the earphone or loudspeaker
28 of the set, and a line rectifier 29. The rectifier 29 is
in turn connected to a matching circui-t 30 between the line
and the loudspeaker 28 and a buffer amplifier 31 between
the line and the microphone of the set. The line rectifier
29 is connected to a detector circuit 33 responsive to the
ready/ out of order condition of the set. The detector 33
is connected to a management circuit 34, which in turn is
connected to the dial or keyboard 6 by a firs-t line 35 for
sending instructions to the keyboard 6 and by a second line
36 for receiving data from the keyboard. The management
circuit 34 is also connected to a line switching circuit 37
for number signalling, connected with the line rectifier 29
and a supply circuit and oscillator 38. The dial or key-
board 6 is connected with an a-ttenuator circuit 39 for
attenuating audio frequency signals and which in turn is
connected to the matching circuit 30 between the line and
the loudspeaker 28. The circuit 30 is also connected to the
amplifier 31~
The chain dotted line in Fig 4 indicates the sepa
ration between the circuit components contained in the
casing of the handset 1 and those contained in any support
provided for this, if the handset is made in the simplified
version. In -this case, only the circuits associated with
the bell, the mouthpiece (microphone) and earphone are con-
tained in the handset itself, -the rest of the circuit
components being in its support, if it is desired to use it
with a keyboard.
The circuit shown in Fig 4 also comprises a multi-
polar connector socket 40 which is housed in the handset
casing 1 facing the slit 13 and which cooperates wi-th -the
male plug 14 on the module 15. Each contact of the connector
40 is connected to one or more conductors connected wi.th
junctions between two components in the handse-t circuit
shown in Fig 4, and whose operation can be modified by either
connecting and disconnecting the two components or by insert-
ing an auxiliary equipment between them.
In the present embodiment, the connector 40 com-
prises twelve contacts or contact sets which are connected
to twelve particular points in the circuit. The connector
contacts are identified by letters a to 1.
For the sake of clarity, the connections between
the components of the circuit are shown in heavy lines, while
the connections from the junctions of two circuits and the
plug contacts 40 are shown in Eine lines. The connec-tions
between components and -the connections with the plug are
shown by single lines; it will be understood however that,
it required, the connections may in fact be multiple conduc-
tors.
Due to the fact -that all -the points in -the circuits
of the handset of this embodimen-t of the invention which
may be used for the insertion of an auxiliary device are
connected to the plug 40, prac-tically all the circuit com-
ponents supplied by these points can be associated with
external circuit components contained for example in the
module 15 of Fig 1, by simply plugging the plug 14 into the
socket 40. On the other hand, the connections thus made
can be broken immediately when the handset is lifted and
the plug 14 and socker 40 separated. The differenc compo-
nents of the telephone handset circui-t can therefore be
reemployed in set ups which otherwise require the addition
of equivalent components specific to the particular set-up.
This factor can lead to a substantial cost saving in the
provision of auxiliary equipment for the telephone set.
In the embodiment shown in Fig,4, the con-tacts a
to 1 oE -the connec-tor 40 are connected to junctions in the
circuit according to the following lis-t:
a : bell circuit 27
b line connection 25
-
_ : line rectifier 29 - detector circuit 33
d : management circuit 34 - detector circuit 33
e and f : amplifier 31 - microphone 32
g and : matching circuit 30 - loudspeaker
(earphone 28)
1 : attenuator 39 - keyboard 6
: management circuit 34 - supply 38
k : keyboard 6 - management circuit 34
1 : management circuit 34 - switch circuit 37.
The schematic diagram in Fig 5 shows an example of
the insertion into the circuit of Fig 4 of a memory con-tain-
ing frequently called numbers. The line make 25 is perma-
nently connected to the switch circuit 37 through the line
rectifier 29. However, the switch circuit 37 is no-t
connected with the management circuit 34 (as i-t is in Fig 4),
but is connec-ted instead -through the supply circuit and
oscillator 38 to a memory 41, the connections between the
clrcuits 38 and 41 being established by the con-tacts of the
plug 14 and the socket ~0. The memory 41 is also connected
to the keyboard 6, again through the plug 14 and socket 40.
It will thexefore be seen that the memory 41 is substituted
in this case for the management circuit 34.
The circuit as shown in Fig 6 illustra-tes how the
handset may be plugged in-to a magnetic recorder. In this
case, the line make 25 is connected as usual to the circuit
30 matching the earphone (loudspeaker) 28 -to the line,
through the line rectifier 29, but the matching circuit 30
is also connected to a magnetic recorder 42 by inserting the
recorder into the circui-t when the plug 14 is plugged into
the socket 40.
The c:ircuit as shown in Fig 7 illus-trates the
insertion into the ci.rcuit of a sound generator which, like
the memory of Fig 5 and the magnetic recorder of Fig 6, may
be contained in the module 15 associated with the handset
(Fig 1). Irl this set-up, the line make 25 is connected to
the buffer amplifier 31 between the microphone 32 and the
line, through the line rectifier 29, and the amplifier 31 is
connected to a generator of sound signals 43, the insertion
of the generator 43 providing audible music during line hold
when the plug 14 is plugged into the socket 40.
The circuit of Fig 4 enables the earphone (loud-
speaker) 28 to be utilised not only to transmit conversation
from the caller, but also to emit bell sounds. In order to
obtain this function, -the junction between the matching
circuit 30 and the earphone 28 is broken by plugging the
plug 14 into the socket 40 while establishing a connection
between the earphone 28 and the bell circuit 27. The ear-
phone 28 is -then used to produce a ringing tone when the
handset is plugged in, and as a normal earphone whsn the
. g _
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handset is picked up. The indicator light 9 shown in Fig 1
is placed so as to be hidden by the buttom of the switch 8
when the swi-tch is closed, and is also used as a number
indicator when the touch sensitive keys of the keyboard 6
are operated. To this end, it is connected to flash at the
rhythm of the pulses transmitted to the l:ine by the keyboard.
The telephone circuit within the handset .L may also include
means for storing the last number called, and a silence key
which disables the microphone 32.
With the arrangemen-t described above, certain
number of circuit components in -the diagram of Fig 4 can
have multiple applications, either within the telephone set
itself, or in conjunction with external modules. Thus, in
the recess 20 of the bottom face of the handset lt can be
inserted an amplifier for the partially deaf, a number
ca].ling memory, or another sma].l peritelephone extra. also,
as i.ndicated above, the socket ~0 and plug 14 form a connec-
tor which can be used as an electronic code lock, and con-
sequently provide selective user access -to certain functions,
for example trunk calls, international calls, keyboard usage,
or other special handset functions.
Concerning the applications of transmission of
information between the telephone set and the module by means
of audio frequency signals, the presence of the toric seal 4,
which seals the handset to its support when the handset is
places thereon, improves sound transmission between the ear-
phone and microphone of the telephone handset and any extra
components which may be provided in the support. It is thus
possible for example to provide an answering machine which is
triggered by reception of the ringing sound and transmits by
the microphone 32 of the circult of Fig 4 the reception of
the reply being ensured through the earphone 28, without
any electrical connection between these components of the
handset and the associated elements of the module, apart from
-- 10 --
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the normal line make of -the telephone set.
The set-up illustrated in Fig 8 comprises a tele-
phone set similar to that of Fig 1, but with the module
having the feature of being coupled acoustically with the
handset.
To this end, the module 45 comprises a recess 46
for the handset casing, comprising a continuous rim 47 com-
pletely encircling the handset and bearing a lip seal 46
extending inwards. The toric seal 4 trapped between the
two half casings 2 and 3 of the handset 1 engage the lip
seal 48 to provide acoustic insulation of the inside of the
recess from the outside, when the handset is in position.
The rim 47 comprises an end 49 which projects in
a hook shape -to aid positioning and guide the handset into
the recess.
In the bottom oE the recess 46 in the module 45,
besides a passage accommodatiny the male plug 50, two
orifices 51 and 52 are provided opposite the positions of
the grills :l0 and 12 of -the microphone and earphone of the
handset respectively, and providing an acoustic coupling
with a loudspeaker 53 of an automatic answering machine and
a microphone 54 of a recorder (not shown) contained in the
module 45.
The cooperation of seals 4 and 48 avoids acoustic
losses to the outside and improves the acoustic coupling
thus provided.
The acous-tic coupling between the handset and
module is accompanied by an electrical connection through a
multiconnector cimilar to that shown and described above,
and whose male plug 50 is shown in Fig 8.
Fig 9 shows how a modular circuit 55, forming an
amplifier for the partially deaf for example, in the form
of an integrated circui-t plate provided with a male plug 56
is placed in the recess 20 of the telephone handset.
32
The circuit 55, in the case oE the amplifier, is
-to be inserted between the matching circuit 30 and the ear-
phone 28 of the circuit of Fig 4, the contacts 57 of the
p]ug 56 cooperating with corresponding contacts 58 of a
female socket 5g in the handset 1 connected suitably with
-the earphone 28 and microphone 30 so that plugging in -the
circuit 55 in-terposes it in the desired p]ace in the tele-
phone handset circuit.
In the preferred embodiments described above, the
female connectors are borne by the telephone handset and
the male connectors by the associated modules. It will be
appreciated that the opposite arrangement may be adopted.
In the embodiment shown in Fig 8, the telephone
set is associated with a module comprising an answering
machine and a recorder 8.
However, -the module reEerred -to may be a data
processing module if this is provided with a recess for
receiving the handset, similar to tha-t described above.
Fig 10 shows a telephone handset 101, comprising
a keyboard 102, in accordance with the present invention.
As shown in Fig 11, the keyboard is disposed in a recess
103 formed in the casing 104 of the telephone handset 101.
It will be seen, in particular from Figs 11 and 12,
that the keyboard of this embodiment of the invention com-
prises a set of contacts 105, covered with a flexible film106. The set of contacts 105, which are commercially
available, comprises essentially a rigid support 107 in
which are buried the connector wires whose ends 108 project
from the support 107 at its edge, and a flexible sheet 109
on which are fixed metal cups and their connections. The
set of contacts 105 therefore present a flat, thin member
with protrusions on its surface facing the cup con-tacts.
In accordance with this embodimen-t of the inven-
-tion, the bottom 110 of the recess 103 presents a closed
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peripheral rib 111 which projec-ts upwards and extends along
the side walls of the recess. The rigid support 107 of the
contact set 105 is sealed solidly to the rib 111 so as to
provide a thin closed gap 112 Eorming a resonance chest.
The rigid support 107 is fixed onto the peripheral rib by
ultrasonic welding; to this encl, the size of the recess is
slightly bigger than the size of the rigid support 107 so
as to leave a clearance between the support and the side
walls of the recess 103, this clearance being necessary to
enable the support 107 to vibrate during the ultrasonic
welding operation. jigs 13 and 14 show the peripheral rib
111 before and after the ultrasonic welding operation; it
will be seen that during this operation the rib 111 is
squashed and joins with the support 107. To ensure a good
seal for the annular zone 112, it is preferable to perform
the welding operation in such d way -that -the rib 11] is
substantially buried in the support 107 by the operation;
for example the ultrasonic welding may reduce the height of
the rib by three quarters. According to one embodiment of
the invention, the rib has an initial height of 0,4 mm which
is reduced by 0,3 mm to leave a gap 112 whose mean height
is 0,1 mm. In order that the ultrasonic weld be satisfac-
torily produced, the materials of the recess 103 and the
rigid support 107 should be of similar consistency.
The bottom 110 of the recess 103 also comprises
an elongate lateral opening 113 formed be-tween one of the
walls and the peripheral rib 1l1 and accommodating the
passage of the ends ]08 oE the connec-tor wires of the con-
tact set 105~
According to an important feature of this embodi-
ment of the invention, after the contact set 105 is fixed
in the recess 103, it is covered with a thermo-formed
flexible film 106 which mates with and adheres to the flex-
ible sheet supporting the metal contact cups, its edges
.a.wv~L~Oa~
being fixed to a shoulder 114 formed in -the side walls of
the recess 103. In this way, not only is the recess 103
closed sealingly, which is important for -the protection of
the circuits inside the casing, but also -the thermoformed
flexible film 106 reinforces the flexible sheet support of
the lamellas 109, and prevents them unsticking at the edges,
since the film adheres solidly to the shoulders 114.
Fixing the thermoformed flexible film 106 onto
the flexible sheet 109 supporting the contacts must be
performed carefully to avoid inclusion of air between -them,
since such an air inclusion can be a source of breakage of
the film 106 after a large number of manipulations. Advan-
tageously, the flexible thermoformed film 106 is fixed to
the sheet support of the cups 109 and -the shoulders 114 by
untrasonic welding.
Figs 15 and 16 illustrate the structure in a
preEerred embodiment of the thermoformed flexible Eilm 106.
It comprises essentially a first thin top layer 115 of
transparent material and a second protective layer 116 which
is considerably thicker than the first layer 115. The
markings of the different keys is obtained by printing on
the underneath surface of the layer 115, that is to say the
surface contacting -the layer 116, the printing being in
negative. The inscriptions and decorations are printed
first, that is to say the numbers and the circles round -them
in the example illustrated; a second print of a background
in a contrasting colour is then performed, still on the
underneath surface of the layer 115. The two layers 115
and 116 are then put together.
The two layers 115 and 116 are preferably assem-
bled with a layer of adhesive 118 between them.
When the two layers 115 and 116 are assembled, the
next step is thermoforming to produce the protrusions at the
contacts of the contact set 105, as shown in Fig 16.
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32
The fact that the keyboard marking is produced by
negative printing on the underside of the layer 115 gives
durable .inscriptions, since -the printing :ink of the markings
and background is not in contact with the fingers and is
also protected by the layer 116. This techinque is consid-
ered to offer considerably better results than the use of
silk screening to obtain inscriptions on the flexible film
106.
The composition and thickness of the different
layers 115, 116 and 113 are chosen to give a thin composite
having sufficient elasticity to actuate the cup contacts,
the ratio of the thicknesses of the layers 115 and 116 being
for example 1 to 3~ In one embodimen-t of the invention,
the top layer 115 comprises pol.ycarbonate 125 microns -thick
and -the pro-tective layer 116 comprises a double adhesive
layer such as an acrylic bond 0,3 Len thick, effective over
a temperature range of -20C to ~120C con-tinuously, and
temporarily up to 150C. The use of polycarbonate gives a
contact film 106 which is pleasant to touch.
This embodiment -therefore gives a thin keyboard,
a few millimetres thick for example, which combines the
advantages of mechanical keyboards and of -touch sensitive
keyboards. Thus users will find the feel and noises which
they are used to with ordinary mechanical keyboards, but
the size and agreeable appearance of the keyboard of this
embodiment are characteristic of a touch sensitive type of
keyboard.
Moreover, with this embodiment of the invention,
xisk of premature fatigue failure of a metal cup keyboard is
avoided.
The telephone set described above can be called a
compact teleph.one; it is extremely handy and allows the user
to move freely round the connection to the telephone line.
In addition extra functions can readily be provided simply
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by placing -the -telephone on a base containing one or more
corresponding rnodules. In addition it provides a progressive
telephone system, since the inltial handset can contain in
its multipolar connector the connections required for future
possible extensions by addition of furthe:r elements -to the
external module it plugs intoO
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