JPS6013541B2 - Automatic telephone answering device with remote listening function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in an automatic telephone answering device that enables a specified person, for example, the owner, to remotely listen to a message from a caller recorded while the caller is away from home.

In conventional devices of this type, after a remote control signal (hereinafter referred to as a remote control signal) is identified by a filter, it is recorded on the second channel of the message tape, and the tape is rewound using the signal. After switching and rewinding the tape by a predetermined amount, the tape is put into playback mode and can be listened to remotely.

Therefore, when the tape is played back up to the remote control point, the previously recorded or remote control signal is played back from the second channel of the tape, and this signal can be used to cancel the remote control operation.

However, when the first remote control is completed and the second remote control is performed, the remote control will naturally be restored at the first IJ control signal recording point in order to pass through the first IJ control signal recording point. , you will forever be unable to listen to the content you are trying to listen to with the second remote control (the received content recorded after the first 1" remote control signal is recorded). Therefore, in the conventional device, it must be configured in advance to always perform a "temporary rewind operation" in order to erase the recorded or mokoso signal when the remote control ends. Since it is impossible to control this "temporary rewinding operation" by the length of the tape to be rewound due to cost considerations, it is usually controlled by the rewinding time.

However, there is a considerable difference in the length of the tape being rewound near the beginning and end of the tape, resulting in inconveniences such as part of the message signal being erased. This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional system, and provides an automatic telephone answering device that eliminates the need for a "temporary rewind operation" and eliminates the drawbacks such as erasing part of the message signal. The purpose is to An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the accompanying drawings.

In other words, the attached drawings are block diagrams showing the entire automatic telephone answering device to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, when a calling signal (bell signal) arrives at connection terminal 1 to the telephone line, contacts y, . , coupling capacitor C, the signal is led to the starting circuit 2.

After 3 to 1 second from the time when the first ringing signal arrives, the starting circuit 2 is connected to the switching circuit 3 via the diode ○.
The input terminal of the terminal is approximately at ground potential. For example, a Schmitt trigger circuit is used as the switching circuit 3, and when its input becomes approximately ground potential, the Schmitt trigger circuit is reversed, current flows through its output, and relay Y is operated to switch its contacts. Contact point y, . The telephone line is connected to the transformer 4 by switching. Also, a time constant circuit consisting of a capacitor and a resistor is built in the time limit circuit 5, and the capacitor is gradually charged via the resistor simultaneously with the operation of the relay Y. Figure point,. As a result of the switching, the operation of the starting circuit 2 is stopped, but the switching circuit 3 continues to operate until the capacitor in the time limit circuit 5 is charged to an appropriately selected voltage, and the operation of the relay Y continues. On the other hand, the tape drive mechanism starts operating by a contact point (not shown) of relay Y, and the response words prerecorded on the response tape T are reproduced by the magnetic head 6 and amplified by the amplifier 7. It is sent to the caller via the telephone line 2, the converter 4, and the connection terminal 1 to the telephone line. The response tape T is endless, and when it goes around approximately once, the conductive foil 8 attached to the response tape short-circuits the electrodes 9.
The switching circuit 10 is operated. Due to the operation of this switching circuit 10, the relay Y2 is connected to the circuit or
also works. Note that when the electrode 9 is short-circuited by the conductive foil 8, the oscillation circuit 11 is activated at the same time, indicating that the response message has been completed and that the device switches to the recording mode to record the caller's message. A so-called peep tone signal is generated to notify the user.

Due to the operation of relay Y2, a contact (not shown) is switched, and the response tape T is stopped, and the message recording tape L is switched.
starts running.

The input device of the amplifier 12 is the contact y3 of relay Y3, which will be described later.
, , is connected to the transformer 4 via contacts , , . Note that at this time, the conductive foil 8 passes over the electrode 9 due to the flywheel effect and does not come into contact with the electrode 9 and stop. A message signal from the caller is sent to connection terminal 1, contacts y, . , transformer 4, contact y
2,, is amplified by the amplifier 12, and the contact point is equal to 2.
Then, the magnetic head 13 records the message on the first track t2 of the message recording tape T2.

When the time predetermined by the timer circuit 5 has elapsed, the switching circuit 3, and therefore the relay Y, ceases its operation and all functions of the device are restored to a standby state awaiting the next ringing signal. The above is the normal automatic response operation.

Next, the operation when performing remote listening will be explained. The operation from when the message recording tape L runs in response to the arrival of the calling signal to a state where message recording is possible is the same as that described above.

When the specified person (mainly the owner of the device) sends a specific remote control signal when message recording is enabled, the Ken signal is sent to the first part of the message recording tape T2 in the same way as a normal message signal.
It is recorded on track t2. At the same time, the signal passes through the Kashiwa circuit 14 which allows only the signal to pass through, passes through the contacts 33 of the relay Y3 and the amplifier 15, and then is sent to the second track 2 of the message recording tape T2 by the magnetic head 16 for remote control signal recording. will also be recorded. On the other hand, the control signal passing through the Kashiwa circuit 14 is also applied to the pulse generating circuit 17 to operate the circuit. The pulse generating circuit 17 sends one pulse to the switching circuit 18 in response to the input of the remote control signal, and the switching circuit 18 is operated by the pulse, thereby operating the relay Y3. The switching circuit 18 has operating characteristics such as a bistable multivibrator, and continues to operate the relay Y3 unless a pulse is input again. The relay Y3 is grounded by the twill mirror, and the switching circuit 3 continues to operate even after the time limit of the timer circuit 5 has elapsed, causing the relay Y to continue operating. The entire device is therefore kept in communication. When relay Y3 operates, the message recording tape L is rewound by switching contacts (not shown), and when the tape is rewound to the starting end or rewound for a specific time, the operation of the tape is reversed and the tape moves at a constant speed as shown by arrow B. It will be in a running replay state. The message signal from the caller recorded on the first track t2 of the message recording tape L is sequentially reproduced by the magnetic head 13, passed through the contact point, and amplified by the amplifier 12, and then transferred to the contact point y32, y2.
,,Transformer 4, Aya point, . is sent to the remote operator via. When all the recorded message signals have been reproduced and transmitted, the remote control signal recorded on the first track ta and the remote control signal are successively reproduced and transmitted, and the remote operator knows that he has finished listening to all the message signals. At the same time, the remote control signal recorded on the second track t22 is also transmitted to the magnetic head 19.
The signal is reproduced by the amplifier 20 and then applied to the pulse generating circuit 17 via the saddle point. Pulse generating circuit 17 sends out one pulse to switching circuit 18 in the same way as in the operation described above, inverting the switching circuit and stopping the operation of relay Y3. Due to the recovery operation of relay Y3, relay Y is released from holding the operation, and all functions of the device are restored to the standby state. Note that an erasing head 21 is arranged between the remote control signal playback head 19 and the IJ remote control signal recording head 16, with an interval T from the playback head 19, and in the direction of playback running of the tape T2 (arrow B). playback head 19
is arranged so that it is placed in the front.

An erasing signal generating circuit 22 is connected to the erasing head 21 via a contact y22, and the contact y22 is opened when the relay Y2 is switched, that is, when the message recording state is set, and the contact y22 is opened when the message recording state is set. 2 track t
It operates to erase the remote control signal recorded on 22. Therefore, the remote control signal left on the second track of tape T2 by remote control is erased at the beginning of the message recording mode from a new caller. By setting the interval T between the IJ control signal reproducing head 19 and the erasing head 21 to be about two inches, for example, when a so-called cassette tape (tape speed 4.75/sec) is used as the tape T2, the two heads can pass. The timing for this can be set to approximately 0.4 seconds.

If the design is such that the pulse generating circuit 17 can respond during this 0.4 seconds, the second track and other parts of the tape T2 can be
The recording length of the remote control signal recorded above can be kept within the above-mentioned dimension T. Therefore, the IJ control signal on the second track t22 left by the remote control can be completely erased without leaving any trace, and it is possible to prevent malfunctions during the remote control. Since the present invention is constructed as described above, there is no need to carry out the so-called temporary rewind operation as in the past in order to erase the IJ control signal left on the tape by remote control. Since a control circuit, mechanism, etc. for operation are not required, the configuration of the entire device can be simplified, and the incidence of failure of the device can be reduced accordingly. Furthermore, it is possible to completely prevent the occurrence of inconveniences such as erasing the end part of a message due to a timing lag, unlike conventional systems that require a temporary rewinding function, and is suitable for automatic telephone answering devices. It is possible to further improve the reliability of

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is a block diagram showing an automatic telephone answering device to which the present invention is applied. T. ...Response tape, T2...Tape for message recording, 16...Recording head for remote control signals, 19...Reproducing head for remote control signals, 2
1... Remote control signal erasing head.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In the case where a remote control signal issued by a remote operator is used to rewind the tape and play back the previously recorded message from the caller so that the remote operator can listen to it, the remote control signal issued by the remote operator a recording head for recording the operation signal on a track different from the track on the tape on which the message from the caller was recorded; a playback head for playing back the remote control signal during playback after the rewind; and the playback head. means for stopping the running of the tape and restoring the tape to a standby state by playing back the remote control signal; and an erasing head for erasing the previously recorded remote control signal in a recording mode for the next message from the caller; The playback head, the erase head, and the recording head for the remote control signal are arranged in order from the direction in which the tape travels, and the distance between the playback head and the erase head is set so that the playback head reproduces the remote control signal and the tape travels. What is claimed is: 1. An automatic telephone answering device having a remote listening function, characterized in that the automatic telephone answering device is arranged further apart than the distance that the tape travels until the tape stops.