Cordless phone backup

Normally the base of a cordless phone has an adaptor and the handset has Ni-Cd cells for its operation. The base unit becomes inoperative in case of power failure. In such conditions, it is better to provide a backup using Ni-Cd cells externally. Here is a simple circuit which can be used with cordless phone SANYO CLT-420 or similar sets.
The working is simple. When AC mains is present, Ni-Cd cells are charged through IC LM317L, which is wired as a current source. Also, diode D3 is reverse-biased, which keeps Ni-Cd cells isolated from positive rail. When AC mains goes off, the Ni-Cd cells provide supply to the cordless phone base unit through diode D3. A green LED is used to indicate the presence of AC mains.
Each Ni-Cd cell costs around Rs 34, and the cost of the backup unit, including the box and cells, would not exceed Rs 300. Hence the circuit is well worth the investment

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Remote control using telephone

Here is a teleremote circuit which enables switching 'on' and 'off' of appliances through telephone lines. It can be used to switch appliances from any distance, overcoming the limited range of infrared and radio remote controls.
The circuit described here can be used to switch up to nine appliances (corresponding to the digits 1 through 9 of the telephone key-pad). The DTMF signals on telephone instrument are used as control signals. The digit '0' in DTMF mode is used to toggle between the appliance mode and normal telephone operation mode. Thus the telephone can be used to switch on or switch off the appliances also while being used for normal conversation.
The circuit uses IC KT3170 (DTMF-to-BCD converter), 74154 (4-to-16-line demult-iplexer), and five CD4013 (D flip-flop) ICs. The working of the circuit is as follows.

Once a call is established (after hearing ring-back tone), dial '0' in DTMF mode. IC1 decodes this as '1010', which is further demultiplexed by IC2 as output O10 (at pin 11) of IC2 (74154). The active low output of IC2, after inversion by an inverter gate of IC3 (CD4049), becomes logic 1. This is used to toggle flip-flop-1 (F/F-1) and relay RL1 is energised. Relay RL1 has two changeover contacts, RL1(a) and RL1(b). The energised RL1(a) contacts provide a 220-ohm loop across the telephone line while RL1(b) contacts inject a 10kHz tone on the line, which indicates to the caller that appliance mode has been selected. The 220-ohm loop on telephone line disconnects the ringer from the telephone line in the exchange. The line is now connected for appliance mode of operation.

If digit '0' is not dialed (in DTMF) after establishing the call, the ring continues and the telephone can be used for normal conversation. After selection of the appliance mode of operation, if digit '1' is dialed, it is decoded by IC1 and its output is '0001'. This BCD code is then demultiplexed by 4-to-16-line demultiplexer IC2 whose corresponding output, after inversion by a CD4049 inverter gate, goes to logic 1 state. This pulse toggles the corresponding flip-flop to alternate state. The flip-flop output is used to drive a relay (RL2) which can switch on or switch off the appliance connected through its contacts. By dialing other digits in a similar way, other appliances can also be switched 'on' or 'off'.

Once the switching operation is over, the 220-ohm loop resistance and 10kHz tone needs to be removed from the telephone line. To achieve this, digit '0' (in DTMF mode) is dialed again to toggle flip-flop-1 to de-energise relay RL1, which terminates the loop on line and the 10kHz tone is also disconnected. The telephone line is thus again set free to receive normal calls.This circuit is to be connected in parallel to the telephone instrument

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Conversation Recorder

This circuit enables automatic switching-on of the tape recorder when the handset is lifted. The tape recorder gets switched off when the handset is replaced. The signals are suitably attenuated to a level at which they can be recorded using the 'MIC-IN' socket of the tape recorder. 

Points X and Y in the circuit are connected to the telephone lines. Resistors R1 and R2 act as a voltage divider. The voltage appearing across R2 is fed to the 'MIC-IN' socket of the tape recorder. The values of R1 and R2 may be changed depending on the input impedance of the tape recorder's 'MIC-IN' terminals. Capacitor C1 is used for blocking the flow of DC.
The second part of the circuit controls relay RL1, which is used to switch on/off the tape recorder. A voltage of 48 volts appears across the telephone lines in on-hook condition. This voltage drops to about 9 volts when the handset is lifted. Diodes D1 through D4 constitute a bridge rectifier/polarity guard. This ensures that transistor T1 gets voltage of proper polarity, irrespective of the polarity of the telephone lines.

During on-hook condition, the output from the bridge (48V DC) passes through 12V zener D5 and is applied to the base of transistor T1 via the voltage divider comprising resistors R3 and R4. This switches on transistor T1 and its collector is pulled low. This, in turn, causes transistor T2 to cut off and relay RL1 is not energised.

When the telephone handset is lifted, the voltage across points X and Y falls below 12 volts and so zenor diode D5 does not conduct. As a result, base of transistor T1 is pulled to ground potential via resistor R4 and thus is cut off. Thus, base of transistor T2 gets forward biased via resistor R5, which results in the energisation of relay RL1. The tape recorder is switched 'on' and recording begins.

The tape recorder should be kept loaded with a cassette and the record button of the tape recorder should remain pressed to enable it to record the conversation as soon as the handset is lifted. Capacitor C2 ensures that the relay is not switched on-and-off repeatedly when a number is being dialled in pulse dialing mode.

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Phone Broadcaster

Here is a simple yet very useful circuit which can be used to eavesdrop on a telephone conversation. The circuit can also be used as a wireless telephone amplifier.
One important feature of this circuit is that the circuit derives its power directly from the active telephone lines, and thus avoids use of any external battery or other power supplies. This not only saves a lot of space but also money. It consumes very low current from telephone lines without disturbing its performance. The circuit is very tiny and can be built using a single-IC type veroboard that can be easily fitted inside a telephone connection box of 3.75 cm x 5 cm.
The circuit consists of two sections, namely, automatic switching section and FM transmitter section.

Automatic switching section comprises resistors R1 to R3, preset VR1, transistors T1 and T2, zener D2, and diode D1. Resistor R1, along with preset VR1, works as a voltage divider. When voltage across the telephone lines is 48V DC, the voltage available at wiper of preset VR1 ranges from 0 to 32V (adjustable). The switching voltage of the circuit depends on zener breakdown voltage (here 24V) and switching voltage of the transistor T1 (0.7V). Thus, if we adjust preset VR1 to get over 24.7 volts, it will cause the zener to breakdown and transistor T1 to conduct. As a result collector of transistor T1 will get pulled towards negative supply, to cut off transistor T2. At this stage, if you lift the handset of the telephone, the line voltage drops to about 11V and transistor T1 is cut off. As a result, transistor T2 gets forward biased through resistor R2, to provide a DC path for transistor T3 used in the following FM transmitter section.

The low-power FM transmitter section comprises oscillator transistor T3, coil L1, and a few other components. Transistor T3 works as a common-emitter RF oscillator, with transistor T2 serving as an electronic 'on'/'off' switch. The audio signal available across the telephone lines automatically modulates oscillator frequency via transistor T2 along with its series biasing resistor R3. The modulated RF signal is fed to the antenna. The telephone conversation can be heard on an FM receiver remotely when it is tuned to FM transmitter frequency.
Lab Note: During testing of the circuit it was observed that the telephone used was giving an engaged tone when dialed by any subscriber. Addition of resistor R5 and capacitor C6 was found necessary for rectification of the fault.

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Two line intercom plus a telephone changeover switch

The circuit presented here can be used for connecting two telephones in parallel and also as a 2-line intercom.
Usually a single telephone is connected to a telephone line. If another telephone is required at some distance, a parallel line is taken for connecting the other telephone. In this simple parallel line operation, the main problem is loss of privacy besides interference from the other phone. This problem is obviated in the circuit presented here.
Under normal condition, two telephones (telephone 1 and 2) can be used as intercom while telephone 3 is connected to the lines from exchange. In changeover mode, exchange line is disconnected from telephone 3 and gets connected to telephone 2.

For operation in intercom mode, one has to just lift the handset of phone 1 and then press switch S1. As a result, buzzer PZ2 sounds. Simultaneously, the side tone is heard in the speaker of handset of phone 1. The person at phone 2 could then lift the handset and start conversation. Similar procedure is to be followed for initiation of the conversation from phone 2 using switch S2. In this mode of operation, a 3-pole, 2-way slide-switch S3 is to be used as shown in the figure.

In the changeover mode of operation, switch S3 is used to changeover the telephone line for use by telephone 2. The switch is normally in the intercom mode and telephone 3 is connected to the exchange line. Before changing over the exchange line to telephone 2, the person at telephone 1 may inform the person at telephone 2 (in the intercom mode) that he is going to changeover the line for use by him (the person at telephone 2). As soon as changeover switch S3 is flipped to the other position, 12V supply is cut off and telephones 1 and 3 do not get any voltage or ring via the ring-tone-sensing unit.

Once switch S3 is flipped over for use of exchange line by the person at telephone 2, and the same (switch S3) is not flipped back to normal position after a telephone call is over, the next telephone call via exchange lines will go to telephone 2 only and the ring-tone-sensing circuit will still work. This enables the person at phone 3 to know that a call has gone through. If the handset of telephone 3 is lifted, it is found to be dead. To make telephone 3 again active, switch S3 should be changed over to its normal position.

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Smart Phone light

The circuit shown here is used to switch on a lamp when the tele- phone rings, if the ambient light is insufficient. The circuit uses only two ICs and it can be implemented very easily. A light dependent resistance (LDR), with about 5 kilo-ohms resistance in the ambient light and greather than 100 kilo-ohms in darkness, is at the heart of the circuit. The circuit is fully isolated from the phone lines and it draws current only when the phone rings. The circuit provides automatic switching on of a lamp during darkness when the phone is kept in a place such as the bedroom. The lamp can be battery powered to provide light during power failure or load shedding. This avoids delay in attending to a call. The light switches off automatically after a programmable time period and it needs no attention at all. If required, the lamp lighting period can be extended by simply pressing a pushbutton switch (S1). The first part of the circuit functions as a ring detector. When telephone is on-hook, around 48V DC is present across the TIP and RING terminals. The diode in the opto-coupler is �off� during this condition and it draws practically no current from he telephone lines. The opto-coupler also isolates the circuit from the telephone lines. Transistor in the opto-coupler is normally �off� and a voltage of +5V is present at the ring indicator line. When telephone rings, an AC voltage of around 70-80V AC, which is present across the telephone lines, is used to turn on the diode inside the opto-coupler (IC2) which in turn switches on transistor inside the opto-coupler. The voltage at its collector passes through 0-volt level during ringing to trigger IC3 74LS123(A) monostable flip-flop. The other opto-coupler (IC1) is used to detect the ambient light condition. When there is sufficient light, LDR has a low resistance of about 5 kilo-ohms and the transistor inside the opto-coupler is in �on� state. When there is insufficient light available, the resistance of LDR increases to a few mega-ohms and the transistor switches to �off� state. Thus the DC voltage present at the collector of transistor inside the opto-coupler is normally 0V and it jumps to 5V when there is no light or insufficient light. The 74LS123 retriggerable monostable multivibrator is used to generate a programmable pulse-width. The first monostable 74LS123(A) generates a pulse from the trigger input available during ringing, provided its pin 2 input (marked B) is logic high (i.e. during darkness). It remains high for the programmed duration and switches back to 0V at the end of the pulse period. This high-to-low transition (trailing edge) is used to trigger the second monostable flip-flop 74LS123(B) in the same package. Output of the second monostable is used to control a relay. The lamp being controlled via the N/O contacts of the relay gets switched �on.� The �on� period can be extended by simply pressing pushbutton switch S1. If nobody attends the phone, the light turns off automatically after the specific time period equal to the pulse-width of the second flip-flop. The light sensitivity of LDR can be changed by changing resistance R2 connected at collector of the transistor in light monitor circuit. Similarly, switch-on period of the lamp can be controlled by changing capacitor C3�s value in the second 74123(B) monostable circuit

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