Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired with telephone, text communication and answering, and automated voice carryover

A telecommunications device for providing voice and text telephone communication over a common telephone line comprising:

• means for sending and receiving voice and TTY messages over said telephone line;
• a microprocessor for performing programmed operations;
• a twelve key telephone-style keypad for entering data into said microprocessor;
• said programmed operations of said microprocessor selectively interpreting data entered from said keypad as dial signals in a telephone mode and TTY characters in a TTY mode;
• display means for displaying received TTY messages and data entered from said keypad;
• at least one data entry means for providing a control signal to said microprocessor to change the operation of said programmed operations between said telephone mode and said TTY mode;
• means for automatically making voice carryover calls;
• and
• means for automatically answering and recording text messages;
• and
• means for optimizing the coupling of a microphone signal produced by said microprocessor to said telephone line presenting a reflected impedance to said telecommunications device, and minimizing the coupling of said microphone signal to a receiver of said telecommunications device, comprising:
• a first resistor and a first capacitor connected in parallel with the reflected impedance of said telephone line to minimize the effect of said reflected impedance;
• a second resistor connected in series with the parallel connection of said first resistor, said first capacitor and said reflected impedance;
• an operational amplifier having a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal;
• a third resistor and a second capacitor connected in parallel with each other, a first side of said third resistor and second capacitor connected to said second resistor and to the positive input terminal of said amplifier;
• the microphone signal also being coupled to a second side of said third resistor and said second capacitor, the first side of said third resistor and second capacitor also being coupled to the positive input terminal of said amplifier;
• and
• a fourth resistor connected to supply said microphone signal to said negative input terminal of said amplifier.

A telecommunications device for providing voice and text telephone communication over a common telephone line comprising:

• means for sending and receiving voice and TTY messages over said telephone line;
• microprocessor means for performing programmed operations;
• data entering means for selectively entering data into said microprocessor means;
• said microprocessor means operative to selectively interpret data entered from said data entering means as dial signals in a telephone mode and TTY characters in a TTY mode in response to said programmed operations;
• means for providing a control signal to said microprocessor means to change the operation of said programmed operations between said telephone mode and said TTY mode;
• means for automatically answering and recording text messages, and
• memory means connected to said microprocessor means,
• said programmed operations performed by said microprocessor means automatically answer text telephone calls such that said telecommunications device can be connected to said telephone line with at least one of a voice telephone answering machine and a facsimile machine, said programmed operations comprising:
• a) monitoring said telephone line for ring signals;
• b) waiting for a first time period after detecting that ring signals on said telephone line have stopped;
• c) after said first time period, monitoring said telephone line for a second time period to determine if voice signals have been received on said telephone line;
• d) initiating the application of a text message to said telephone line in the absence of voice signals on said telephone line during said second time period;
• e) monitoring said telephone line for a third time period for a text reply message in response to said text message;
• and
• f) upon receiving a text reply message, coupling said telephone line to said microprocessor means and recording any incoming text message to said memory means.

A telecommunications device for providing voice and text telephone communication over a common telephone line comprising:

• transmission means for sending and receiving voice and TTY messages over said telephone line;
• a microprocessor for performing programmed operations to selectively interpret signals on said transmission means as dial signals in a telephone mode and TTY characters in a TTY mode;
• control means for providing a control signal to said microprocessor to change the operation of said programmed operations between said telephone mode and said TTY mode;
• and
• coupling means for optimizing the coupling of a microphone signal produced by said microprocessor to said telephone line and minimizing the coupling of said microphone signal to a receiver of said telecommunications device, comprising:
• a first resistor and a first capacitor connected in parallel and to said telephone line to minimize the effect of the reflected impedance of said telephone line;
• a second resistor connected in series with the parallel connection of said first resistor and said first capacitor;
• amplifier means having inverting and non-inverting input terminals;
• a third resistor and a second capacitor connected in parallel with each other;
• said third resistor and said second capacitor connected to said second resistor and to the non-inverting input terminal of said amplifier means;
• said third resistor and said second capacitor further connected to receive said microphone signal;
• and
• a fourth resistor connected to supply said microphone signal to said inverting input terminal of said amplifier means.

The method of operating a telecommunications device for providing voice and text telephone communication over a common telephone line such that said telecommunications device can be connected to said telephone line with at least one of a voice telephone answering machine and a facsimile machine, comprising the steps of:

• sending and receiving voice messages and TTY messages over said telephone line;
• monitoring said telephone line for a ring signal;
• after detecting that ring signals have stopped on said telephone line, waiting for a first predetermined duration of time;
• after said first predetermined duration of time, monitoring said telephone line through ac coupling for voice signals during a second predetermined duration of time;
• upon recognizing a silent period of predetermined duration in which no voice signals are received during said second predetermined duration of time, supplying a text message to said telephone line;
• monitoring said telephone line for a text reply message in response to said text message for a third predetermined duration;
• and
• upon receiving a text reply message, coupling said telephone line to a recording device for recording any incoming text message.

A telecommunications device for providing voice and text telephone communication over a common telephone line comprising:

• microphone means for sending voice and TTY messages over said telephone line;
• receiver means for receiving voice and TTY messages over said telephone line;
• a microprocessor for performing programmed operations for selectively interpreting messages on said telephone line as dial signals in a telephone mode and TTY characters in a TTY mode;
• data entry means for providing a control signal to said microprocessor to select the operation of said programmed operations between said telephone mode and said TTY mode;
• and
• circuit means for optimizing the coupling of said microphone means to said telephone line by reduciing the effect of the reflected impedance of said telephone line relative to said telecommunications device and minimizing feedback coupling of said microphone means to said receiver means of said telecommunications device,
• said circuit means comprising:
• first impedance network means connected in parallel with the reflected impedance of said telephone line to minimize the effect of said reflected impedance;
• first resistor means connected in series with said first impedance network means;
• amplifier means having first and second input terminals;
• second impedance network means connected to said first resistor and to said first input terminal of said amplifier means;
• said first input terminal of said amplifier means connected to said microphone means via said second impedance network means;
• and
• second resistor means connected to supply said microphone signal to said second input terminal of said amplifier means.