AU691280B2

AU691280B2 - Bell system and/or multiple door intercom system

Info

Publication number: AU691280B2
Application number: AU23027/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Manfred Trautvetter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-18
Filing date: 1995-04-28
Publication date: 1998-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-28
Also published as: ATE194740T1; EP0771502A1; CZ16497A3; CN1157680A; NO970213L; CA2195535A1; BR9508324A; HUT77233A; PL318314A1; EP0771502B1; JPH10505717A; DE4425309A1; DE59508570D1; AU2302795A; KR970705279A; NO970213D0; WO1996002998A1

Abstract

It is the aim of the invention to provide a door intercom and bell system making it possible to provide additional functions besides the bell and largely avoid additional wiring. This aim is achieved in that the keypad and the call system in the dwelling are connected via a bus system to a microcontroller and electronically controlled indicators are fitted as identification plates. The invention relates to a door intercom and bell system with a keypad having at least one identification plate.

Description

1 Bell System and/or Multiple Door Intercom System The invention relates to a door intercom and bell system with an array of keys and which is provided with at least one identification label plate.

Many forms of bell systems and multiple door intercom systems are known in the state of the art which have a common receptacle for individual functional elements such as name plates, bell keys, door loudspeakers and the like.

It is further known from DE 83 55 428 U1 that the keys can be provided with lights. Furthermore, an arrangement is described in DE 81 07 819 U1 in which an apartment bell is provided with a control device which makes it possible to differentiate whether the bell has been rung from outside the house door or outside the apartment door. This is achieved by the bell having two ringing devices with different acoustic signals which are integrated in a common phase which also contains the internal control diodes, while the external diodes are integral components of the apartment bell.

The arrangements known from the state of the art are disadvantageous in that they are only suitable for a relatively small number of apartments because they either only allow one connection of the bell with an apartment or, in the case of connections between a plurality of apartments with each other, they require very high expenditure on cabling and mechanical parts. In the latter case, it is also necessary to individually connect the cables in each apartment.

A house system for the transmission of information is described in EP-A-0032982 which has a plurality of interconnected individual user stations and one electric power supply, each user station being provided with substantially identically constructed, highly integrated circuits to which the desired individual functional units are connected. These highly integrated circuits are in communication with one another via a single transmission l:24779A 2 media through coupling elements interconnected therebetween.

Further, telephone systems are knowi: in the state of the art, in which components of a door intercom system are incorporated as additional components to the telephone system. The telephone is hereby connected to the telephone system through a special connecting socket which is connected both to the public telephone network as well as to the door intercom system. Additional cabling between the telephone and the system makes it possible to control the door intercom system.

Further telephone systems are known in which the door intercom station is connected via a two-wire interface to the telephone system.

These known arrangements have the disadvantage that additional cabling is required between the telephone and the system.

One object of the present invention is to create a door intercom and bell system which makes it possible to incorporate further, additional functions alongside the bell while substantially avoiding additional expenditure on cabling, and which can be constantly updated in a simple manner.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved in that electronically controlled displays provide the identification label plates and in that electronically controlled displays, which provide mail box label plates, are connected to the system.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are g -en in claims 1 to 9.

It is hereby possible, for example, that an electronically controlled display provides the identification plate and/or that the identification plates are connected via a bus system to microcontrollers. The connection can also be made without a bus system.

LCD displays, LED displays, fluorescent displays can 4 7 7 9 A A n L 2i I LPII~ ~CSC-- ls 3 be used for the electronic display or even displays based on mechanical or micro-mechanical working principles.

The connection between the connecting terminals can, for example, be made via a six-cored cable.

In addition, it is possible to connect additional intercom stations to the system.

The system according to the present invention distinguishes itself by a high degree of operational reliability and high stability over lengthy periods of time, which are a result of the small number of mechanical connection points.

A further substantial advantage of the system according to the present invention arises from the fact that the otherwise necessary costly manual labelling of bell and letter-box plates, especially in residential highrise buildings, can be performed electronically. As a result, when there is a change in occupancy in an apartment, a simple reprogramming can be performed which additionally ensures a uniform identification plate labelling pattern.

It is advantageous to design the electronic display with two lines.

Furthermore, it is possible to additionally connect to the bell system a letter-box plate which is provided with an electronic display, this connection being via the same bus.

An advantageous embodiment of the bell system in accordance with the present invention provides that additional sensors are installed in the bell system.

The system according to the present invention demonstrates a number of advantages in comparison with devices known from the state of the art.

With this system, any number of parties can be connected to a single system without great mechanical requirements. The system is especially suitable for highrise buildings.

The communication system is capable of self- 4 monitoring and signalling the appropriate faults.

Furthermore, it is possible to test the entire house system from a central location without having to gain access to any apartment. Another important advantage of the invention is that a series of additional functions can be integrated without any difficulty. For example, it is possible to include in the system sensors for detecting dampness, fire, theft, a key for medical emergencies, as well as signals for aurally handicapped people flashing signals and visual displays). With the bus system in accordance with the present invention it is possible to provide each connection with just one six-cored cable. It is especially advantageous that the system can be equipped with an automatic receiver circuit for information in case of fire. It is hereby even possible to control the flow of people by sending information to individual floors. This information can be given from a suitable location which is accessible in case of fire, for example the caretaker's room on the ground floor.

Additional advantageous embodiments of the system according to the present invention provide that the telephone existing in the apartment is connected to a house-telephone switching-in unit, a change-over switch being provided in the house-telephone switching-in unit which connects the telephone to the public telephone network in the default position and with the door intercom system in the working position, the change-over switch being controllable from the door intercom station and/or from the telephone.

An advantageous embodiment of the door system according to the present invention is provided in that the house-telephone switching-in unit comprises a swilching circuit for recognising key activations, a call generator and an interface circuit for input-coupling of signals by means of which the telephone is controlled.

It is particularly advantageous that commercially available telephone devices can be used for the telephones. Standard a-b-telephones, ISDN-telephones, cordless telephones or videophones can be used. It is also possible to use an answering machine instead of a telephone. It is additionally advantageous that no additional keys are required on the telephone. In the system according to the present invention, the communicator of the door intercom can easily be designed using telephone two-wire technique. In addition, it is advantageous that the door intercom system can be connected to the telephone in the same simple manner like a standard phone line terminal device that is, for example, like a modem or fax machine via the phone line socket installed in the apartment.

In known door intercom systems, it is only possible to incorporate the telephone with the door intercom system through a complete telephone system installed in the house. The door intercom system is connected as an additional component to the telephone system. In this case, the telephone is connected via a specific connecting socket to the telephone system. The telephone system is connected to the public telecom network as well as to the door intercom system. The &ransmission of control signals to the door intercom system is made possible by means of additionally provided cabling between the telephone and the intercom system. Such control signals can, for example, cause the door to be opened.

With the door intercom system according to the present invention, a conventional telephone is used as the house telephone for the door intercom system. The telephone is connected via a standard phone line socket to the public telecom network. The coupling is made possible in that the telephone is connected via a changeover switch to the telecom network. This change-over switch is a component of a house-telephone switching-in unit. When the change-over switch is in the default 6 position, the telephone is connected to the telecom network. When the change-over switch is in the working position, the telephone is disconnected from the telecom network and controlled by the door intercom system.

Either one of the house-telephone switching-in unit or the door intercom system is equipped with a special circuit for controlling the system, therefore making possible the recognition of key activations on the telephone, by means of which certain functions of the door intercom system, for example, "open door", "switchon door intercom station" and the like can be controlled.

In addition, the house-telephone switching-in unit or the door intercom system has a call generator, which can be used to make the telephone ring, and an interface circuit for input-coupling of voice and other signals by means of which the telephone can be controlled. The change-over switch, which is arranged in the house-telephone switching-in unit, consists of a relay which is either controlled by the door intercom system or by the telephone.

It is also possible for the telephones to be connected via bus system to the door station. The bus system can be designed as a two-wire system. To prevent unwanted cross-connections between individual telephones, the telephones are connected in a specially designed circuit via a switch to the bus system.

A further embodiment of the door intercom system according to the present invention provides for the door station to be connected to a public communication network via a switching-in unit, for example a voice-modem. The telephones installed in the apartments are then controlled via this public communication network. It is hereby also possible to provide for call forwarding.

The invention will be explained in more detail below by means of exemplifying embodiments. The accompanying drawings show in: Figure 1, a system consisting of a key, a bell and a

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/li24779A K''VT 0<" c- did 7 bus system; Figure 2, a system comprising a key, a bell, a microcontroller and a bus-system, Figure 3, a system in which the key and/or the bell are connected via a microcontroller to the bus system; Figure 4, name plates according to the present invention, with an electronically controlled display; Figure 5, a system with sensors connected thereto; Figure 6, a system with a card reader connected thereto; Figure 7, a system with a door opening system connected thereto; Figure 8, a system with a door intercom device and internal intercom stations; Figure 9, a system with loudspeakers; and Figure 10, a system which is connected to the telephone network.

Figure 1 shows the basic model of the bell system according to the present invention. Bell key 3 and bell 4 are connected to the bus 1. Bell key 3 and bell 4 are connected to the bus 1 via a connecting electronic circuit 2. In certain cases it is also useful to carry out entries by remote control.

In the arrangement shown in figure 2, a microcontroller 5 is connected additionally to the bus.

Another possible embodiment is shown in figure 3.

There the controlling electronic circuit which connects the bell key 3 and the bell 4 with the bus 1, is provided by a number of microcontrollers Figure 4 shows an embodiment of an identification plate. The identification plate is in this case a name plate and consists of an electronically controlled display. The electronically controlled display is connected to the connecting electronic circuit 2 by connecting cables 6.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the system according to the present invention with sensors 8 connected 9 2A7 %S:24779A -Al 4 Is C9 ~L-I 8thereto. With this embodiment it is possible to include in the system various sensors 8 for detecting emergency situations such as fire, water damage and the like. The input of the names in the electronic sign plate can be carried out with the help of a special keyboard or with a personal computer. Further possible extensions of the system are shown in figures 6 and 7. The system can be expanded with, for example, card readers 15 or with door openers 9. This also enables including closing functions in the system.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the system in which a telephone system has been integrated thereinto.

Heretofore, door intercom stations 10 are provided at the entry doors and internal intercom stations 11 in the apartments, cellars and other locations in the house.

This makes it possible to operate a combined bell system and door intercom system. Control is carried out via the bus 1.

In the embodiment shown in figure 9, one or a plurality of loudspeakers 12 are included in the system.

This makes it possible to use the system to transmit instructions in case of emergencies into the building or into individual parts of the building, such as apartments, cellar and the like, independently from actions performed by the occupants.

Figure 10 shows an embodiment, in wLich the bell system according to the present invention is connected to the telephone network 14. The bell system can hereby be connected to the telephone network via the bus 1, either directly with the help of a switching-in unit 13 or indirectly via further suitable systems, not shown here.

The telephone system can be used, for example, to change the electronic sign plates. This enables both updating of the names in the system and simple performance of maintenance work. It is also possible to connect the bell system to the telephone network 14 without a bus.

When using the system as an alarm system, accumulated -9 instructions can be transmitted to the occupants in case of emergency by telephone or cordless.

3:24779A -0 1'j lllea -sR ~pr 10 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS Bus Switching-in electronic circuit Bell key Bell Microcontroller Connecting cables Display module Sensor Door opener Door intercom station Interior intercom station Loudspeaker Switching-in unit Telephone network Card reader S:2j~A 9 A

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T 0 4

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Claims

1. Door intercom and bell system with an array of keys and which is provided with at least one identification label plate, wherein the array of keys and a calling device in an apartment are connected to a microcontroller via a bus system, characterised in that electronically controlled displays provide the identification label plates, and in that electronically controlled displays which provide mail-box label plates, are connected to the system.

2. System in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the electronic display includes two lines.

3. System in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a common electronic display (7) is arranged to provide multiple identification label plates.

4. System in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that loudspeakers (12) are arranged in the house and are connected via switching-in units to the door intercom device.

System in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the system is connected to at least one telephone which is connected to a public telephone network the existing telephone in the apartment being connected to a house-telephone switching-in unit, which includes a change-over switch, which in one position connects the telephone to the public telephone network (14) and in another position connects it to the door intercom system, the change-over switch being controlled from the door intercom station and/or from the telephone.

6. System in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the house-telephone switching-in unit comprises a switching arrangement for recognising key activations, a call generator and an interface circuit for coupling-in signals by means of which the telephone is controlled. S 247 79A