The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1997
Masafumi Matsumoto, Takaichi-gun, JP;
Shigekazu Fujiwara, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Ryoji Kambara, Higashihiroshima, JP;
Koji Shimada, Higashihiroshima, JP;
Morihiro Katsurada, Shijonawate, JP;
Hiroshi Yamada, Higashihiroshima, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A telephone line interface section, which has a selector switch for selectively connecting two of a facsimile section, a telephone line and an information unit such as a personal computer, is provided. The telephone line interface section is provided with a telephone line monitor which detects an ON/OFF state of a start switch for directing the facsimile section to be operated and detects existence or non-existence of a DC loop current which is a connecting signal at the time when the facsimile section is connected to an external telephone switchboard via the telephone line. The selector switch connects the facsimile section to the information unit based upon the telephone line monitor when the start switch is in the ON state and the connecting signal is not detected. As a result, in the case where the facsimile section is used as a scanner and printer of the information unit, the facsimile section can be simply connected to the information unit.