JP2719850B2 - Home automation system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a home automation system, and in particular, does not require wiring work even for a controlled device newly registered in the system, and is similar to other existing controlled devices. Related to a controllable home automation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, home bus systems have been widely used in ordinary households. The home bus system (hereinafter, abbreviated as HBS) is a control communication type that is completed in a home where information communication equipment, housekeeping equipment, and AV equipment are connected to a common transmission line, and the equipment is organically coupled. It is a system that can freely select any information inside and outside the home from anywhere, anytime, and anyone. In the HBS, data transmission between devices is performed using wired, wireless, and infrared rays via a bus.

[0003] A general configuration of the HBS includes an HBC (Home Bus Controller) for centrally controlling and managing the system, and a control target connected to the HBC via a data transmission bus using a coaxial cable. And a plurality of controlled devices. The controlled device is connected to the transmission bus via an interface unit.

A conventional HBS employing the above-described configuration is systematized by a wired system, and all control signals are transmitted and received by wired communication via a transmission bus to control a controlled device. In addition, the above-described wireless communication and infrared communication enable remote control of a desired controlled device without the need for wired work.

[0005]

The above-mentioned conventional HBS
In the case where the control data is transmitted and received only via the transmission bus, if a new control device is to be connected, it cannot be added without wiring work, so the degree of freedom regarding the registration of the controlled device is extremely low. There was a problem.

[0006] Further, when the system is configured using the above-described wired system, there is another problem that when the HBS is employed, the controlled equipment already installed cannot be effectively used. That is, each controlled device is provided with an interface unit in advance, and is connected to the transmission bus via the interface unit. Therefore, it is necessary to replace an existing controlled device without an interface unit or to provide a special interface unit. there were.

Further, in the case of a wired system, the setting and transmission of control data for each controlled device are collectively operated and set and transmitted in the HBC. Was.

As an example of the above-mentioned HBS mode not using a wired system, there is a remote controller with a wireless mask disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 64-7433. As the operation device, a hand operation device having a telephone function that is wirelessly connected to the telephone body is prepared. The hand controller has a wireless communication function and an infrared remote control function. The wireless communication function allows a normal telephone call via a telephone line to be performed using a hand-held device by wirelessly communicating with the telephone body. In addition, the infrared remote control function allows a plurality of controlled devices to be remotely controlled using one hand-operated device by irradiating infrared light modulated to a predetermined code. The remote controller with a wireless microphone disclosed in the present invention has a function as an infrared remote controller and a function as a slave unit of a wireless telephone integrated with each other, so that a plurality of infrared devices prepared for each controlled device are provided. It was possible to eliminate the flood of remote control devices (remote controllers). However, since this hand-operated device cannot perform other data communication except for telephone conversation with the main body of the telephone, and further does not have a monitoring function for monitoring the operation of the controlled device, the remote controller with a wireless microphone is an HBC. However, there is a problem that the user cannot arbitrarily select a service to be registered in the system by operating the service and control the execution.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to be able to newly register a controlled device without performing wiring work, to control a newly registered controlled device, and to control an existing controlled device. An object of the present invention is to provide a home automation system in which a degree of freedom in setting a service provided by the system and setting an operation state of a controlled device is expanded.

A home automation system according to the present invention includes a telephone base unit connected to a telephone line, a first controlled device connected to the base unit by wire, and a second controlled device controlled only by infrared rays. And a portable and hand-operable telephone handset for making a telephone call and data communication with the base unit by wireless radio waves, wherein one of the first controlled devices is an infrared The main unit has a first unit based on a communication result of wireless communication with the child unit.
The slave unit emits infrared rays based on the result of wireless communication with the master unit, and controls the first unit.
Infrared remote control means for remotely controlling any one of the controlled equipment or the second controlled equipment, and storage means for storing a predetermined code in advance for remotely controlling the second controlled equipment by infrared rays .

[0011]

Since the home automation system according to the present invention is configured as described above, the user can make a normal call via the master unit and further via the telephone line by using the slave unit. Further, the user can remotely control the controlled device via infrared rays from the slave unit by using the infrared remote control means of the slave unit. Further, since the master unit controls the controlled device by the control unit, the user operates the slave unit to perform data communication with the master device, and controls the controlled device by controlling the master device via a wired system. It can also be controlled. In addition, the user can directly operate the master device to control the controlled device wired to the master device as desired. Therefore, the user can control the controlled device as desired through the control means or the infrared remote control means from either the master unit or the slave unit, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in registering the controlled device and setting control data. Is done.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a home automation system (hereinafter abbreviated as an HA system) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the HA system includes an information panel 1 for centrally controlling the system itself, a telephone handset 2 wirelessly connected to the information panel 1, and a wired connection to the information panel 1.
It includes a television receiver 4 including an infrared light receiving unit 41, an electric lock 6 for crime prevention, a television camera 7 for a door phone including a call button 71 pressed by a visitor, and a security sensor 8 for crime prevention and disaster prevention. Further, the HA system includes an air conditioner (hereinafter, referred to as an air conditioner) 9 including an infrared receiving unit 91, a power supply monitor 3 including an infrared receiving / emitting unit 31, and a video tape recorder 5 including an infrared receiving unit 51. The power monitor 3 and the video tape recorder 5 are electrically connected to the television receiver 4.

In the appearance of the information panel 1, the information panel 1 includes an antenna 10 for wireless communication with the telephone handset 2, monitors 11 and 12, a handset 13, a telephone function button 14, a cursor key 15, and a selection key 16. , Service key 17, speaker 18 and microphone 19,
Further, a telephone line is connected.

The information panel 1 is preliminarily FM
A modulated (frequency-modulated) voice signal and analog-modulated data are transmitted to and received from the telephone handset 2 using the radio wave F, and wireless communication is performed with the telephone handset 2. The monitor display 11 is a display using a liquid crystal for displaying a menu list of services provided by the HA system and the like. The display 12 is an outdoor or visitor photographed by the intercom TV camera 7. Is displayed on the screen based on the video signal.

The handset 13 is used for a conversation with a visitor standing in front of the intercom TV camera 7 and for a normal telephone call using a telephone line. Phone function button 14
Includes function buttons such as numeric keypad, #, and shortcut.

The service mode key 17 is depressed when designating an in-home service such as personal schedule, voice message, auto dial, control of control equipment, and external services such as home trading, home banking and home shopping. Is the key. A cursor key 15 and a selection key 16 are provided in association with the service mode key 17, and are pressed when setting a desired service and initial setting of the present system.

As shown in the figure, a television receiver 4 is connected to the information panel 1, and a video signal of an image displayed on the monitor display 11 is transmitted to an RF (Radio Free).
The signal can be given to the television receiver 4 as a signal or a video signal, and the same image displayed on the monitor display 11 can be displayed on the screen of the television receiver 4.

The telephone handset 2 emits infrared rays to remotely control the power monitor 3, the television receiver 4, the video tape recorder 5, and the air conditioner 9.
And a telephone handset function capable of making a telephone call and data communication via a radio wave F are integrated and incorporated.

As shown in the figure, in the appearance of the telephone handset 2, the telephone handset 2 has a speaker 20 and an antenna 2 having an infrared light receiving / emitting unit 21 for emitting and receiving infrared light I.
2. It has a telephone function button 23, a cursor key 24, a selection key 25, a service mode key 26 and a microphone 27, and realizes a telephone handset function, a computer function, and an infrared remote control function (remote controller).

With respect to the telephone handset function, the information panel 1 functions as a telephone handset that is communicatively connected to the information panel 1 via a radio wave F using the information panel 1 as a telephone master. When used as a telephone, a telephone number can be input by pressing the telephone function button 23, and a telephone call can be made with the other party via a speaker 20 and a microphone 27 by a normal telephone. At this time, the voice signal and the data signal such as the telephone number converted into the analog signal are FM
It is transmitted to the information panel 1 as a radio wave F multiplexed with a radio signal.

The computer function is a function for performing the above-mentioned in-home and out-of-home service setting and initialization setting using the telephone handset 2. More specifically, while monitoring a service menu displayed on the screen of the television receiver 4 under the control of the information panel 1, a desired service is designated and initial settings are made by operating the cursor key 24, the selection key 25 and the service mode key 26. Function.
The digital data obtained by this operation is analog-modulated, multiplexed into an FM radio signal, and transmitted to the information panel 1 as a radio wave F.

The infrared remote control function is an infrared remote control according to a maker code system or a learning system in a home appliance cooperative (abbreviation for Home Appliances Association) format. In response, an infrared ray I is output from the infrared ray receiving / emitting section 21 to control controlled equipment such as the television receiver 4, the video tape recorder 5, and the air conditioner 9. The power supply monitor 3 performs bidirectional transmission via infrared rays I, and transmits the transmission result to the information panel 1 via the radio wave F on the receiver 4 and the tape recorder 5.
Is transmitted as a data signal indicating whether the power supply is ON or OFF.

The power supply monitor 3 monitors whether or not a synchronizing signal included in a video signal is detected at a video signal output terminal of the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5. It is determined whether the power of the video tape recorder 5 is turned on. When detecting the synchronization signal, the power supply monitor 3 detects that the power of the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 is turned on, and if not, the power of the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 is not turned on. Detect that
This detection result is transmitted to the telephone handset 2 as infrared light I via the infrared light receiving / emitting unit 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, each controlled device of the television receiver 4 or the security sensor 8 is connected to the information panel 1.
, And transmits and receives signals to and from the information panel 1, and wirelessly connects to the information panel 1 via the telephone handset 2 to transmit and receive signals.

The operation of a control device, such as the air conditioner 9, which is later added to the system and is not connected to the information panel 1 by wire, is remotely controlled from the information panel 1 via the telephone handset 2 without wiring. You.

Next, the internal functions of the information panel 1, the telephone handset 2 and the power supply monitor 3 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal functional configuration of the information panel 1 shown in FIG. In the figure, an information panel 1 is a microcomputer 2 for centrally controlling the information panel 1 itself.
D, a modulation circuit 2A and a demodulation circuit 2B, which are provided for controlling wireless communication with the telephone handset 2 and are connected to the antenna 10; and a wireless modem 2K. The information panel 1 further includes a telephone control circuit 2C for connecting a telephone line, a door phone interface 2F connected to a door phone television camera, and a video signal processing circuit 2G for processing a video signal V given from the door phone interface 2F as a video signal. Including. The information panel 1 includes an image processing circuit 2E for controlling image display on the monitor displays 11 and 12, an RF modulation circuit 2I, a security circuit 2N for connecting the security sensor 8 and the microcomputer 2D, an electric lock 6 and a microcontroller. Electric lock interface 2M for connecting computer 2D, modem 2J for telephone
And an operation key interface 2L.

The modulation circuit 2A and the demodulation circuit 2B
A signal to be transmitted / received via the antenna 10 is modulated into a radio wave F, and on the contrary, the radio wave F is received and operated to demodulate it.

The wireless modem 2K operates so as to connect the microcomputer 2D to the modulation circuit 2A and the demodulation circuit 2B connected to the preceding stage. More specifically, after modulating the control signal given from the microcomputer 2D, the modulated signal is given to the modulation circuit 2A to be processed so as to be transmitted as the radio wave F via the antenna 10. Conversely, after demodulating a signal of the radio wave F given via the antenna 10 and the demodulation circuit 2B, the signal is given to the microcomputer 2D as a control signal.

The telephone modem 2J connects the microcomputer 2D and the telephone control circuit 2C. That is,
It operates to convert control data supplied from the microcomputer 2D into a voice signal and supply it to the telephone control circuit 2C, and conversely convert a voice signal supplied from the telephone control circuit 2C into data and supply it to the microcomputer 2D.

The telephone control circuit 2C controls connection and disconnection of a telephone line, and performs a call process via the telephone line. The call processing is roughly classified into a voice call and a data call. During the voice call, the circuit 2C connects the handset 13 to the telephone line, connects the handset 13 to the modems 2A and 2B, and connects the handset 1 to the modem.
3 controls the connection between the doorphone interface 2F and
Controls transmission and reception of audio signals.

At the time of the data communication, the telephone control circuit 2C inputs a data signal given from the microcomputer 2D as an audio signal via the telephone modem 2J, and outputs the audio signal to a circuit where the audio signal output is desired. Further, the telephone control circuit 2C converts the given voice signal into a telephone modem 2J.
To provide the demodulated data to the microcomputer 2D.

The image processing circuit 2E converts the image signal into an image signal which can be displayed as image data given from the microcomputer 2D, and then gives the image signal to the display 11 to display the image.

The intercom interface 2F connects the information panel 1 and the intercom TV camera 7, and separates a signal obtained by multiplexing an audio signal and a video signal supplied from the intercom TV camera 7 to generate an audio signal. The signal S and the video signal V are separated and output. The call between the visitor and the person at home is transmitted by transmitting a voice signal S via a path via the handset 13, the telephone control circuit 2C, the door phone interface 2F, and the door phone TV camera 7. The intercom interface 2F gives a signal to the microcomputer 2D when the call button 71 of the intercom TV camera 7 is pressed. Further, the video signal processing circuit 2G operates to supply the video signal V based on the visitor image captured by the door phone television camera 7 to the video signal processing circuit 2G.

The video signal processing circuit 2G receives a video signal V of a visitor or outside the home taken by the intercom TV camera 7 provided from the intercom interface 2F and processes the video signal V so as to be a video signal. To the RF modulation circuit 2I, the display 12, the television receiver 4 and the video tape recorder 5 connected to the next stage.

The RF modulation circuit 2F receives a video signal from the video signal processing circuit 2G, an audio signal S from the telephone control circuit 2C, and a data signal from the microcomputer 2D. The RF modulation circuit 2I operates to convert the applied signals to the same high-frequency signals as television broadcast radio waves so that the signals can be displayed on the screen of the television receiver 4 and output as audio. The RF signal output from the RF modulation circuit 2I is supplied to a UHF / VHF input terminal (not shown) of the television receiver 4. Also R
The F modulation circuit 2I supplies a video signal supplied from a video signal processing circuit 2C connected to the preceding stage to a video input terminal (not shown) of the television receiver 4.

The electric lock interface 2M connects the electric lock 6 and the microcomputer 2D to lock and unlock the electric lock 6 by the microcomputer 2D.
The security circuit 2N connects the security sensor 8 to the microcomputer 2D.

The operation key interface 2L includes a telephone function button 14, a cursor key 15, a selection key 16, and a service mode key 1 provided on the operation surface of the information panel 1.
7 is input to the microcomputer 2D by operating it.

Next, the internal functional configuration of the telephone handset 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the telephone handset 2 shown in FIG.

The telephone handset 2 includes a microcomputer 3C for centrally controlling the handset 2 itself, a wireless modem 3D connected to the microcomputer 3C, an operation key interface 3G, a transmission processing circuit 3I, and a light reception processing circuit 3J. including. Further, the telephone handset 2 includes the wireless modem 3
A transmission modulation circuit 3J and a reception demodulation circuit 3 connected to D
B, infrared light emitter 3 connected to the transmission processing circuit 3I
E and an infrared receiver 3F connected to the light receiving processing circuit 3J.

Voice communication with the information panel 1 in the telephone handset 2 is performed via the transmission modulation circuit 3A and the reception demodulation circuit 3B, the microphone 27 and the speaker 20. The audio signal input from the microphone 27 is modulated by the transmission modulation circuit 3A so that it can be transmitted to the information panel 1, and then transmitted to the information panel 1 as a radio wave F via the antenna 22. Further, the audio signal received from the information panel 1 as the radio wave F via the antenna 22 is demodulated in the reception demodulation circuit 3B, and then output as audio via the speaker 20.

Data communication with the information panel 1 is performed via the transmission modulation circuit 3A, the reception demodulation circuit 3B, and the radio modem 3D.

The microcomputer 3C includes a telephone function button 23, a cursor key 24, a selection key 25, and a service mode key 2 via an operation key interface 3G.
Data given by pressing the key 6 is input. The input data is subjected to a predetermined program processing in the microcomputer 3C, modulated through the wireless modem 3D and the transmission modulation circuit 3A,
Is transmitted from the antenna 22 to the information panel 1. Data from the microcomputer 2D of the information panel 1 is received as a radio wave F via the antenna 22. The received data is demodulated to the original data via the reception demodulation circuit 3B and the wireless modem 3D, and then the microcomputer 3C
Given to.

As described above, since the telephone handset 2 can make a voice call and a data call with the information panel 1, the user can make a telephone call via the speaker 20 and the microphone 27 while holding the telephone function button 23 and the cursor key. By performing key operations of the selection key 25, the selection key 25, and the mode key 26, instruction data relating to a desired operation can be given to the information panel 1, and the information panel 1 can be controlled via the radio wave F.

The telephone handset 2 includes a television receiver 4, a video tape recorder 5, a power monitor 3
And a function of remotely controlling the air conditioner 9. The infrared remote control function employs a maker code method or a learning method according to the Home Appliances Association format that determines the modulation method of the infrared light I.

As the maker code method, there is an infrared I modulation method uniquely determined by a maker of home appliances included in the system. The learning method is a method in which home appliances of all manufacturers can be remotely controlled by using one telephone handset 2 having a learning function. That is, in the case of the learning method, first, the service mode key 26 of the telephone handset 2 is pressed, and accordingly, the microcomputer 3C shifts to the learning state. At this time, the microcomputer 3C sets the light receiving processing circuit 3J to the learning input state, and then receives, via the infrared light receiver 3F, the infrared light I transmitted from another external infrared remote control device prepared in advance. The received infrared light I is further converted into a control signal via the light receiving processing circuit 3J and is provided to the microcomputer 3C. The microcomputer 3C is
The learning process is executed by converting the control signal into digital data and storing it in a memory. As a result, the microcomputer 3C can collectively store in the internal memory the control signals based on the infrared rays I, which are different among the respective manufacturers, so that the home electric appliances of the respective manufacturers registered in the system using one telephone slave unit 2 can be stored. The product can be controlled remotely.

When the control signal is stored as data in an internal memory (not shown) of the microcomputer 3C by the maker code method or the learning method described above,
An infrared ray I is transmitted to each controlled device.

At the time of infrared I transmission, the microcomputer 3C first reads data of a desired control signal from the internal memory based on a key input signal provided through the operation key interface 3G. The read data is converted by the microcomputer 3C into format data including the modulation method of the infrared light I.

The above is a case where the infrared handset I is transmitted from the telephone handset 2, and a case of bidirectional transmission in which the telephone handset 2 transmits and receives the infrared light I will be described below.

In the case of bidirectional transmission, the service mode key 2
In response to the operation of 6, the microcomputer 3C sets the light receiving processing circuit 3J to the communication state. As mentioned above,
When the infrared light I is transmitted via the transmission processing circuit 3I and the infrared light emitter 3E, the infrared light I as a response to the transmitted infrared light I is transmitted from the target controlled device via the infrared light receiver 3F and the light reception processing circuit 3J. Received. The light receiving processing circuit 3J supplies the received infrared ray I to the microcomputer 3C as a control signal, and the microcomputer 3C converts the data and inputs the data. By this two-way transmission, the microcomputer 3C can determine whether or not the response from the controlled device to the transmitted infrared light I is normal.

As described above, the telephone handset 2 has the antenna 22
Wireless communication with the information panel 1 via the wireless communication device F via the infrared light receiving / emitting unit 21 and infrared light I with the controlled device via the infrared light receiving / emitting unit 21 are possible. Therefore, the infrared remote control function of the telephone handset 2 can be operated by the control of the microcomputer 2D of the information panel 1, so that the data input from the information panel 1 can be controlled by the infrared rays I through the telephone handset 2. Remote control of the device becomes possible. Specifically, the device control data assembled by the microcomputer 2D is multiplexed from the antenna 10 to the radio wave F via the radio modem 2K and the modulation circuit 2A and transmitted.
It is received by the telephone handset 2 via its antenna 22.

The reception demodulation circuit 3B of the telephone handset 2 demodulates the received radio wave F and gives it to the radio modem 3D. The wireless modem 3D demodulates the received signal into digital data and supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 3C. The microcomputer 3C responds to the input data given,
This is converted into device control data. The microcomputer 3C generates data for determining the modulation method of the infrared light I based on the device control data, and supplies the data to the transmission processing circuit 3I. The transmission processing circuit 3I drives the infrared light emitter 3E based on the received data, and
Transmits the pulse-modulated infrared light I to the controlled device.

It is to be noted that the telephone handset 2 may be provided with a remote control key 3H so that the telephone handset 2 can be used as an infrared remote control device which can be operated at hand.

Next, the internal functional configuration of the power supply monitor 3 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the power supply monitor 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the device.

In the figure, a power supply monitor 3 has video output terminals V1 and V4, video input terminals V2 and V3, a synchronization signal detection circuit (I) 4A and a synchronization signal detection circuit (I
I) 4B, microcomputer 4C, infrared light emitter 4
D and an infrared receiver 4E.

The terminals V2 and V3 are connected to a television receiver 4 and a video tape recorder 5, and output a given video signal to a synchronization signal detecting circuit 4 connected to the next stage.
A and 4B respectively.

The synchronization signal detection circuits 4A and 4B detect the presence or absence of a video synchronization signal from the applied video signals. When a synchronization signal is detected, a high-level signal is supplied to the microcomputer 4C, and when a synchronization signal is not detected, a low-level signal is supplied to the microcomputer 4C.
Operate to give C.

The microcomputer 4C receives the detection signal of the synchronization signal, and determines whether or not the video synchronization signal has been input, that is, whether or not the video signal has been input to the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5, based on the detection signal level. By the determination, the power ON / OFF state of the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 is determined. The microcomputer 4C determines that the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 is in the power-off state when it determines that the detection signal is at the low level, and conversely, determines that the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 is at the high level when it determines that the detection signal is at the high level. The recorder 5 determines that the power is on.

For example, when a signal requesting monitoring of the power supply state of the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 is transmitted from the telephone handset 2 to the power supply monitor 3 via the infrared ray I, the infrared ray I is first transmitted to the infrared ray I. The light is received by the light receiver 4E. The infrared light receiver 4E photoelectrically converts the received infrared light I and supplies it to the microcomputer 4C as a control signal. The microcomputer 4C determines the power ON / OFF state of the television receiver 4 or the video tape recorder 5 based on the control signal as described above. Then, based on the determination result, the infrared light receiver 4D is driven to transmit the pulse-modulated infrared light I to the telephone handset 2.

As described above, the HA system shown in FIG. 1 can control the controlled equipment supplied to the system using the radio waves F and the infrared rays I.

Next, in the system shown in FIG.
An operation in the case where a person in the house operates the telephone handset 2 at hand and interacts with a visitor standing in front of the television camera 7 while watching the expression thereof will be described.

The visitor first presses the call button 71 of the intercom television camera 7 provided outside the house. In response to this button press, the door phone message signal (message indicating that the call button has been pressed), the image of the visitor imaged by the camera, and the voice of the visitor are F
It is M-multiplexed and provided to the information panel 1 via a wire.
The information panel 1 inputs the FM multiplexed signal via the intercom interface 2F.

The intercom interface 2F is connected to the FM
The multiplexed signal is separated into a door phone message signal, a video signal V, and an audio signal S. The intercom message signal is given to the microcomputer 2D.

The microcomputer 2D converts the door phone message signal into digital data and supplies the digital data to the radio modem 2K. Since the wireless modem 2K converts the digital data into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the transmission modulation circuit 2A, the circuit 2A modulates the digital data so that it can be transmitted via the antenna 10 and supplies the modulated signal to the antenna 10. The antenna 10 transmits a signal provided from the circuit 2A to the antenna 22 of the slave unit 2 as a radio wave F.

The radio wave F is first demodulated by the reception demodulation circuit 3B via the antenna 22 of the slave unit 2, is further converted into control data by the radio modem 3D, and is given to the microcomputer 3C. The microcomputer 3C, in response to the input of the control signal, sets the slave unit 2 in a state where it can communicate with the information panel 1. Then, the microcomputer 3C recognizes that the visitor is present and the call button 71 is pressed in response to the reception of the door phone message signal. Then, the power of the television receiver 4 is turned on, a control signal in a format for setting the receiving channel to, for example, CH1, is assembled, and the infrared light emitting device 3E is driven via the transmission processing circuit 3I, and the pulse-modulated infrared light I Emits light.

This infrared light I is received by the infrared light receiving section 41 of the television receiver 4 and
Is powered on and its receiving channel is CH
Set to 1. At this time, the doorphone interface 2
The video signal V separated and output at F is supplied to the RF input terminal of the television receiver 4 via the video signal processing circuit 2G and the RF modulation circuit 2I. Therefore, on the screen of the television receiver 4, an image photographed by the intercom television camera 7 is automatically displayed in real time. At the same time, a voice call can be made with a visitor standing in front of the door phone television camera 7 via the radio wave F.

At the end of the call, when the intercom end button (presses the TV intercom button again) provided on the service mode key 26 of the slave unit 2 is pressed, the infrared ray I is transmitted in the same manner and the television receiver 4 Is turned off by remote control, and at the same time, the call function via the information panel 1 is released.

As described above, the person in the house can talk with the visitor while viewing the visitor image by the FM radio communication with the information panel 1 using the telephone handset 2.

Next, the operation of setting the service function of the information panel 1 by operating a control key as a computer constituted by the cursor key 24 and the selection key 25 arranged on the telephone handset 2 will be described.

The selection of the service menu at this time is performed by specifying the key by operating the keys while monitoring the screen displayed on the television receiver 4.

When the service mode key 26 of the telephone handset 2 is pressed, the microcomputer 3C receives the key press via the operation key interface 3G. In response, the microcomputer 3C generates a service mode signal when the service mode key 26 is pressed, and supplies the signal to the wireless modem 3D. The wireless modem 3D supplies the reception signal to the transmission modulation circuit 3A. Transmission modulation circuit 3A
Transmits this as a radio wave F via the antenna 10. The radio wave F is transmitted to the information panel 1 by an antenna 22 thereof.
Is received via

The information panel 1 demodulates the radio wave F by the reception demodulation circuit 2B, and further demodulates the radio wave F into digital data by the radio modem 2K and supplies it to the microcomputer 2D. As a result, the microcomputer 2D recognizes that the service mode key 26 of the telephone handset 2 has been pressed. In response, the microcomputer 2D sets the information panel 1 and the handset 2 in a call-enabled state. At the same time, in order to display a menu of services provided by the system, image data of a service screen (initial setting, in-home service, out-of-home service, etc.) is output to the television receiver 4 as a video signal via the RF modulation circuit 2I. . At the same time as the transmission of the image data, the microcomputer 2D transmits the slave unit 2 via the radio wave F.
A command to set the television receiver 4 to a monitorable state is sent to the microcomputer 3C. In this command transmission procedure, commands are transmitted in the order of powering on the television receiver 4 and selecting the receiving channel CH1.

The microcomputer 3C receives the monitorable state setting command, converts it into a control signal based on the infrared light I, and transmits the control signal to the transmission processing circuit 3I and the infrared light emitting device 3C.
The signal is transmitted to the infrared receiving unit 41 of the television receiver 4 via E. Thereby, the same screen as the display 11 for displaying the service on the information panel 1 is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 4. In this state, the handset 2 and the information panel 1 are communicatively connected by the radio wave F, so that voice and data can be freely transmitted between the information panel 1 and the phone handset 2. .

The service menu displayed on the screen of the television receiver 4 is selected by operating the cursor keys 24 and the selection keys 25 of the telephone handset 2. This key press is performed by the microcomputer 3C via the operation key interface 3G.
Given to. The microcomputer 3C converts the key press data into command data and transmits it to the microcomputer 2D via the radio wave F.

Here, the state of voice and data transmission between information panel 1 and telephone handset 2 will be described.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining the transmission state of voice and data in wireless communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A shows an audio signal as analog information, FIG. 5B shows a data signal as digital information, and FIG. 5C shows the transmission of the audio signal and the data signal. It shows the state that it is. As shown in the figure, the horizontal axis direction of each signal indicates the elapsed time on the same scale, and the data signal is transmitted during a period in which the audio signal is not transmitted, so that either the audio or the data is transmitted. Is processed as follows.

As described above, the user designates an item on the service screen of the television receiver 4 with the cursor key 24, and sets the designated position with the selection key 25. At the end of the service function, the service mode key 26 of the telephone handset 2 is pressed again, and a command by the key press is sent to the microcomputer 2D. Information panel 1 which received this
Operates to end the selected service function and also release the wireless communication state with the telephone handset 2.

The above is the method of setting the service function performed by the user inputting data by pressing a key provided on the operation surface of the telephone handset 2.

Next, in the HA system, when the home is out of the office, the video and audio taken by the intercom TV camera 7 are transmitted to the information panel 1 using the video tape recorder 5.
The operation of the function of performing automatic recording under the control of is described.

When the user goes out and the house is in an absence state, the service mode key 17 of the information panel 1 is pressed in advance, and the information panel 1 is set to the absence mode. At this time, when the call button 71 of the door phone television camera 7 is pressed, a signal indicating that the call button 71 is pressed is given to the microcomputer 2D via the door phone interface 2F of the information panel 1. The microcomputer 2D starts answering machine recording using the video tape recorder 5 based on the signal input and the satisfaction of the condition that the answering mode is set. The details of the answering machine recording procedure will be described below.

When the call button 71 is pressed by the visitor during absence and the microcomputer 2D recognizes that the information panel 1 is set to the absence mode,
The microcomputer 2D establishes a connection between the telephone handset 2 and the FM radio line using the radio wave F. Thereafter, the microcomputer 2D turns on the power supply of the video tape recorder 5
A radio wave F including a command constituted in the order of N → reception channel CH1 setting (or setting to video mode) → recording start is given to the microcomputer 3C of the telephone handset 2. The microcomputer 3C of the telephone handset 2 generates a control signal based on the corresponding infrared ray I based on the received command, and transmits a power ON, mode setting, and recording command in a remote control format via the transmission processing circuit 3I and the infrared light emitter 3E. Video tape recorder 5 with infrared I
Irradiation is performed on the infrared receiving section 51.

The video tape recorder 5 uses the infrared I
In response to the light reception, recording is started on a video tape recorder that has been set in advance. At this time, the TV camera 7
Are converted into RF signals (or video signals) and input to the video tape recorder 5. Then, the video tape recorder 5 automatically performs recording for T seconds after the start of recording (the time can be set arbitrarily), and thereafter, the microcomputer 2D transmits a radio wave F including a stop → power-off command to the telephone handset 2. Given to. The microcomputer 3C of the telephone handset 2 processes the command by the radio wave F, and performs processing to transmit the corresponding infrared ray I to the video tape recorder 5 in response. As a result, the video tape recorder 5 stops the answering machine recording that has been performed. Thereafter, the microcomputer 2D operates to release the FM radio line between the information panel 1 and the telephone handset 2. Thus, in the HA system, the answering machine recording using the video tape recorder 5 ends.

In this embodiment, only the power supply monitor 3 can be bi-directionally transmitted. However, the television receiver 4, the video tape recorder 5, and the air conditioner 9 can also be bi-directionally transmitted, so that an HA with more excellent functions can be obtained. It is also possible to provide a system.

Next, in the HA system shown in FIG. 1, the operation of each control device linked in response to the call button 71 of the intercom television camera 7 being pressed by the visitor will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation procedure of the monitor screen display started by pressing the call button 71 of the intercom TV camera 7 in the HA system shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation procedure at the time of a telephone call with a visitor started by pressing the call button 71 of the intercom television camera 7 in the HA system shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the procedure in which A is shown at the left shoulder of each procedure indicates a procedure in which communication via infrared rays I is performed, and the procedure in which B is shown at the left shoulder is the procedure via radio wave F. 4 shows a procedure including a wireless communication process. Also,
It is assumed that the house is not out of the house. Procedure S1 in FIG.
When the call button 71 of the intercom TV camera 7 is pressed by the visitor (abbreviated to S1 in the drawing), the information panel 1 and the telephone handset 2 are set in a communicable state in step S2. That is, the input signal by pressing the call button 71 is transmitted to the door phone interface 2F of the information panel 1.
Through the microcomputer 2D. The microcomputer 2D transmits a signal to the effect that the call button 71 is pressed via the radio modem 2K, the modulation circuit 2A, and the antenna 10 to the telephone handset 2 via the radio wave F to establish a radio line.

When detecting that there is a visitor as described above, the telephone handset 2 determines whether or not the television receiver 4 is in the power-on state via the power monitor 3 in the following steps S3 to S5. Check. That is, the microcomputer 3C of the telephone handset 2 generates a power ON / OFF check request signal, drives the infrared light emitter 3E via the transmission processing circuit 3I based on the request signal, and outputs the pulse-modulated infrared light. I is transmitted to the infrared light receiving / emitting unit 31 of the power supply monitor 3. In response to this, the microcomputer 4C of the power monitor 3 receives the transmitted infrared light I as a request signal via the infrared light receiver 4E. Then, the detection result of the video synchronization signal is input via the synchronization signal detection circuit 4A, and it is determined whether or not the power of the television receiver 4 is ON. At this time, the television receiver 4 is powered off.
If it is determined that the vehicle is in the F state, the procedure from step S6 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the television receiver 4 is in the power-on state, the procedure from step S12 described below is performed.

In steps S6 to S9, the microcomputer 4C of the power supply monitor 3 sends a message to the telephone handset 2 via the infrared light emitter 4D to the telephone handset 2 in response to the detection of no synchronization signal. To send over.

Microcomputer 3C of telephone handset 2
Represents the infrared light I from the power monitor 3
F and the light receiving processing circuit 3J, and in response, a message indicating that the power of the television receiver 4 is OFF is transmitted to the information panel 1 by the wireless modem 3D, the transmission modulation circuit 3A, and the antenna 22.
Is transmitted as a radio wave F via

The microcomputer 2D of the information panel 1
The message from the telephone handset 2 is received via the antenna 10, the demodulation circuit 2B and the wireless modem 2K, and responds to the handset 2 accordingly. The response is a response including a command for setting the power of the television receiver 4 to the ON state with respect to the child device 2, and the command is given as command data to the telephone child device 2 via the radio wave F. The microcomputer 3C of the telephone handset 2 receives the command data via the antenna 22, the receiving / demodulating circuit 3B and the wireless modem 3D, and in response to the command data via the transmission processing circuit 3I and the infrared light emitter 3E. The infrared ray I is transmitted to the infrared ray receiving section 41.

The power ON state setting operation of the television receiver 4 by the information panel 1 and the telephone handset 2 performed based on the detection of the power OFF state of the television receiver 4 by the power supply monitor 3 is shown in step S10. Is repeated n times until the power is turned on. At this time, if the microcomputer 2D of the information panel 1 repeatedly detects that the television receiver 4 is not turned on even after repeatedly performing the operation of setting the power of the television receiver 4 to the n-th time, the procedure proceeds to step S11.
In, it is recognized that the main power of the television receiver 4 is in the OFF state, and thereafter, the operation of setting the television receiver 4 to the power ON state is stopped.

As described above, when the call button 71 is depressed by the visitor, the operation is performed so that the visitor image picked up by the intercom television camera 7 can be displayed on the television receiver 4 on the screen. If the power is off, the screen cannot be displayed on the receiver 4. Therefore, when the person in the house wants to see the visitor image on the receiver 4, it is necessary to manually set the main power of the receiver 4 to the ON state.

In step S5, when the synchronization signal is detected by the main power supply 3 and it is determined that the television receiver 4 is in the power ON state, the procedures in steps S12 to S18 are performed thereafter.
Is performed.

In steps S12 to S18, communication is performed between the information panel 1 and the television receiver 4 via the telephone handset 2, and the information panel 1 sets the channel for receiving the video signal of the television receiver 4 to the channel. Set to CH1. The television receiver 4 receives, via the channel CH1, a visitor's video signal obtained by imaging the television camera 7 provided from the RF modulation circuit 2I of the information panel 1 via a coaxial cable, and displays the video signal on the screen. Therefore, the television receiver 4 is turned on.
If it is in the state, the visitor image can be projected automatically in conjunction with the caller pressing the call button 71, so that the person at home can first identify the visitor by watching the TV screen and have a conversation. You can choose whether to do it.

As described above, when the procedure for displaying the visitor image on the screen of the television receiver 4 in response to the pressing of the call button 71 is performed, the call for establishing a conversation with the visitor is next performed. The procedure is performed as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 7, steps S30 to S3
2 is performed, and the telephone conversation state with the visitor is set on the telephone handset 2 side. That is, the information panel 1 has a call button 7
In response to the pressing of 1, the radio wave F is transmitted to the telephone handset 2, and a command is given to ring the bell indicating that the intercom has arrived. The telephone cordless handset 2 receives the radio wave F and rings the bell of the intercom in response to the call, so that the person at home responds to the ringing of the bell and the service mode key 26 of the cordless handset 2.
Press the intercom mode button. Thereby, the microcomputer 3C of the telephone handset 2 turns on the power of the speaker 20 and the microphone 27. As a result, a state in which telephone communication with the visitor via the information panel 1 is possible in the telephone handset 2 is set.

Next, step S33 is performed, and the person in the house talks with the visitor via the speaker 20 and the microphone 27 while watching the visitor image displayed on the television receiver 4. Thereafter, step S34 is performed, and the person at home depresses the intercom mode button of the telephone handset 2 to end the call. Microcomputer 3 of telephone handset 2
C detects via the operation key interface 3G that the doorphone mode button has been pressed, and responds to the next step S
At 35, a message indicating that the intercom mode has been canceled is transmitted to the information panel 1 via the radio wave F.

The microcomputer 2D of the information panel 1 is
The message of the doorphone mode release from the telephone handset 2 is received via the radio wave F, and the procedures in steps S36 and S37 are performed.
, A command to turn off the power of the television camera 7 and further to turn off the power of the television receiver 4 to the telephone handset 2 are transmitted via the radio wave F.

The telephone handset 2 receives the command signal from the information panel 1 for turning off the power of the television receiver 4, and in the next step S 38, sends a power-off command to the infrared receiving / emitting unit 41 of the television receiver 4. Is transmitted. Upon receiving the power-off command, the television receiver 4 turns off the power in the next step S39, and in step S40, the information panel 1 operates to open the wireless line with the slave unit 2.

As described above, the person at home can talk with the visitor while watching the visitor displayed on the television screen, and can end the call as desired. That is, the power of the television receiver 4 is turned off to end the image communication with the visitor, the wireless line between the information panel 1 and the telephone handset 2 is opened, and the visitor via the intercom television camera 7 is opened. The voice communication with is terminated.

[0105]

According to the home automation system of the present invention, it is possible to control the first controlled device among the controlled devices registered in the system via a wired system by the master unit. Further, it is possible to control the first controlled device having infrared light receiving means by the slave unit via infrared light. In addition, a new second
When trying to register a controlled device, the predetermined code of the second controlled device is stored in the storage means in advance so that control can be performed by infrared rays.
Wiring work with the controlled device is not particularly required. In addition, when this system is employed, wiring work with the master unit is not particularly necessary for the existing second controlled device, and the existing second controlled device can be directly incorporated into the system and used. Further, there is an effect that the degree of freedom of system installation is expanded.

Further, the master unit has control means, and the slave unit has infrared remote control means, so that the master unit and the slave unit perform data communication by wireless communication and respond to the communication result by the first unit. Since the controlled device or the second controlled device can be controlled, it is possible for the user to control the desired controlled device arbitrarily from the parent device or from the child device, thereby improving the convenience of the system. However, this system has the effect of providing a further comfortable life.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a home automation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the information panel shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the telephone handset shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the power supply monitor shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining a transmission state of voice and data in wireless communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of a monitor screen display started by pressing a call button of the intercom TV camera in the home automation system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation procedure at the time of a telephone call with a visitor started by pressing a call button of a door phone television camera in the home automation system shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information board 2 Telephone handset 3 Power monitor 4 Television receiver 5 Video tape recorder 7 Telephone camera for door phone 10 and 22 Antenna 11 and 12 Display for monitor 13 Handset 14 and 23 Telephone function buttons 15 and 24 Cursor keys 16 and 25 Selection Keys 17 and 26 Service mode keys 21 and 31 Infrared light receiving / emitting unit 41 and 51 Infrared light receiving unit F Radio wave I Infrared In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04M 11/00 301 H04M 11/00 301

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A telephone base unit to which a telephone line is connected, a first controlled device wired to the base unit, a second controlled device controlled only by infrared rays, and the base unit A home automation system including a portable and hand-operable telephone handset for performing telephone calls and data communication by wireless radio waves between the first controlled device and the remote control device by infrared rays The master unit has control means for controlling the first controlled device based on a communication result of wireless communication with the slave unit, and the slave unit includes: An infrared remote control unit that emits infrared light based on a communication result of the wireless communication with the master device and remotely controls one of the first controlled devices or the second controlled device; Of the controlled devices by infrared Storage means for storing a predetermined code in advance for remote control.