JP2001197212A - Video interphone device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress useless power for power saving by interrupting the ringing tone and the display of video in the case residents are out or asleep and to improve silence in making a call at midnight and crime prevention responding to a call from a dubious person. SOLUTION: An indoor master unit is provided with an absence/sleep mode changeover switch 24 that is operated in the case of being out or asleep and an absence/sleep detecting part 25 which keeps a video switch and a speech communication switch open and interrupts the video and ringer tone of the indoor master unit when the absence/sleep mode changeover switch is operated when the call detecting part 20 of the indoor master unit 2 installed indoors detects a call by the operation of the call switch 10 of an entrance slave unit 1 with a camera installed in the entrance, a master unit speech communication part 22 makes a call according to the ringer tone from a ringer tone outputting part 21 and the master unit speech communicating part performs speech communication with the slave unit speech communicating part 12 of the entrance slave unit with a camera through a closed speech communication switch 26 of the indoor master unit while a video display 23 is monitoring video from the camera 11 of the entrance slave unit with a camera through the closed video switching 27 of the indoor master unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television intercom apparatus, and more particularly to a television intercom apparatus capable of suppressing unnecessary power consumption and saving power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of TV intercom apparatus, a TV intercom apparatus having a configuration shown in a block diagram of FIG. 2 has been proposed.

In the television intercom apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a call switch 60, a camera unit 61, a slave unit communication unit 62, a multiplexing /
A separation unit 63 is provided, and the indoor master unit 52 installed indoors includes a call detection unit 70, a ringing sound output unit 71, a base unit communication unit 72, a video display unit 73, a call switching unit 74, and a video switching unit. A section 75 and a multiplexing / demultiplexing section 76 are provided. Also,
The camera-equipped entrance slave unit 51 and the indoor master unit 52 are connected by a transmission line L51.
Connected through.

In the television intercom apparatus configured as described above, a front door with camera 5 is operated by a visitor at the front door.
When the first call switch 60 is operated, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 6
3, the potential of the DC voltage superimposed on the transmission line L51 decreases. The call detection unit 70 of the indoor master unit 52
A drop in the potential of the transmission line L51 is detected via the separation unit 76, and a transition is made from the standby state to the call detection state. The call detection unit 70 in the call detection state activates the call sound output unit 71 to output a call sound signal, closes a switch (not shown) of the call switching unit 74, and outputs a call sound from the base unit communication unit 72. A signal transmission line from the video display unit 73 to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 76 is formed by closing a switch (not shown) of the video switching unit 75. Let it. The ringing tone signal output from the ringing tone output unit 71 is transmitted to the call switching unit 7 that is controlled to be closed.
4, a receiver (not shown) of the handset serving as the base unit communication unit 72 sounds a call from the visitor as a ringing tone for notifying the resident in the room, a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 76, and a transmission line. L51, multiplexing of camera-equipped entrance slave unit 51
A child unit speaker (not shown) forming the child unit communication unit 62 through the separation unit 63 is sounded as a ringing tone for notifying the visitor that the indoor master unit is normally called and the calling operation is completed. .

The camera unit 61 of the camera-equipped front door unit 51 activated by power supply (not described in detail) from the indoor master unit 52 in the call notification state sequentially captures images of the visitor frame by frame. And output a video signal. The video signal is transmitted to the video display unit 73 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 63, the transmission path L51, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 76 of the indoor master unit 52, and the video switching unit 75 that is controlled to be closed. The video display unit 73 displays the video of the visitor captured by the camera unit 61 of the camera-equipped entrance device 51 on a frame basis based on the input video signal.

Further, the resident confirms the ringing of the ringing sound and monitors the display of the image while picking up a handset (not shown) forming the base unit communication section 72 of the indoor base unit 52, and calling from the visitor. In response to the request, the handset and the handset, which are controlled to be closed, form the slave unit communication unit 62 via the call switching unit 74, the multiplexing / separating unit 76, the transmission line L51, and the multiplexing / separating unit 63 of the camera-equipped entrance device 51. A communication path between the device microphone and the child device speaker (not shown) is formed, and a call between the resident and the visitor is established.

[0007]

However, since the conventional television intercom apparatus is configured as described above, when a visitor at the entrance operates the call switch 60 of the entrance apparatus with camera 51, the apparatus is installed in the room. Indoor master unit 52
The ringing tone sounds and the visitor's image is displayed and displayed. Therefore, when the resident is out of the room or when the resident in the room goes to bed, wasteful power is consumed. In addition to the consumption, there is a drawback that when the call from the visitor is late at night (midnight call), etc., there is a drawback that the quietness may be impaired. There was a problem that the security in responding was reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned difficulties, and cuts off the ringing sound and the display of a video image when the user is away from home or at bedtime, thereby reducing wasteful power consumption and reducing power consumption. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a television intercom apparatus which has improved quietness at the time of a late-night call and improved security when responding to a call from a suspicious person.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a television intercom apparatus according to the present invention comprises an indoor main unit installed indoors by operating a call switch of a camera-equipped entrance unit installed at an entrance. The call detection unit detects the call, and the base unit talks by the ringing sound from the ringing sound output unit.
The video from the camera unit of the camera-equipped entrance slave unit is monitored on the image display unit via the closed image switching unit of the indoor master unit, and the child-speaker unit and the indoor master unit of the camera-equipped entrance slave unit are closed. Telephone intercom apparatus for making a call with the base unit calling unit via the set call switching unit, wherein the indoor base unit has an absence / sleep mode switching switch operated during absence or bedtime, and an absence / sleep mode switching switch. When operated, the video switching unit and the call switching unit are held in an open state, and an absence / sleep detection unit that shuts off a video and a ringing sound in the indoor master unit is provided.

[0010] According to such a television intercom apparatus, when the resident is out of the room or when the resident in the room goes to bed, the absence of the indoor master unit can be prevented.
The sleep mode changeover switch is operated to set the indoor master unit to the absence mode and the sleep mode so that the resident is in the room and can respond to a call from a visitor at the entrance as in the normal mode. Then, the display sound of the ringing tone sounded by the base unit communication unit and the image displayed by the image display unit is cut off. As a result, the ringing of the ringing tone and the display of the video are interrupted when the user is away or at bedtime, so that unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed and power consumption can be reduced. Security in responding to the call of the user is improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment to which a television intercom apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television intercom apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. A camera-equipped entrance slave unit 1 installed at an entrance and an indoor master unit 2 installed indoors include: It is connected and configured via a transmission line L1.

A call switch 10 operated by a visitor at the entrance to call a resident in the room is provided in the camera-equipped entrance device 1.
And a camera unit 11 for sequentially photographing the image of the visitor for each frame, and a sub-unit microphone and a sub-unit used for transmitting and receiving a voice (voice signal) for establishing a call with the resident called by the visitor. A slave unit communication unit 1 that includes a speaker (not shown) and sounds a ringing tone at the slave unit speaker to notify a visitor that the indoor master unit 2 has been normally called.
2, a video signal from the camera unit 11 is transmitted to the transmission line L1, a ringing tone signal from the indoor master unit 2 transmitted through the transmission line L1 is transmitted to the child unit communication unit 12,
And a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 13 having a function of transmitting and receiving an audio signal between the transmission line L1 and the transmission line L1.

The indoor master unit 2 receives the call from the visitor by operating the call switch 10 of the entrance slave unit 1 and lowers the potential of the DC voltage superimposed on the transmission line L1 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28 described later. Is controlled by the call detection unit 20 that detects (call detection) based on the call, and the call detection unit 20 in the call detection state, notifies the resident of the call from the visitor, and calls the indoor master unit normally when the call is made. A ringing tone output unit 21 that outputs a ringing tone signal for notifying the visitor of the completion of the operation, and is used for transmitting and receiving a sound (voice signal) for the resident to establish a call with the visitor. A handset (not shown), a ringer output unit 2
A base unit communication unit 22 that sounds a ringing sound at a receiver (not shown) of the handset in response to a ringing sound signal from the camera 1 and a frame of a visitor image captured by the camera unit 11 of the camera-equipped entrance terminal 1. The image display unit 23 that displays images every time is operated when the resident is out of the room or when the resident in the room goes to bed, and the resident sets the setting state of the indoor master unit. The absence mode for switching from the normal mode in which a call from a visitor can be answered to the absence / sleep mode in which the above-described call notification function and image display function of the master unit communication unit 22 and the image display unit 23 are inactive. Sleeping mode changeover switch 24 and absence / sleeping mode changeover switch 2
The absence / sleep detection unit 25 that detects the operation of Step 4 and the setting of the indoor master unit in the normal mode are closed by the control of the call detection unit 20 that detects the call from the visitor,
A signal transmission line (hereinafter referred to as a voice transmission line) from the base unit communication unit 22 to the ringing tone output unit 21 and the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28 is formed, while the setting of the indoor base unit is in the absence mode and the sleep mode. Is controlled by the absence / sleep detection unit 25, regardless of whether the call detection unit 20 is controlled or not, a call switching unit 26 including a switch for interrupting and holding the above-described voice transmission line, and setting of the indoor master unit. Is in the normal mode, the call detection unit 20 that detects a call from a visitor
To form a signal line (hereinafter referred to as a video transmission line) from the video display unit 23 to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28. On the other hand, when the setting of the indoor master unit is in the absence / sleep mode, Under the control of the absence / sleep detection section 25, the video switching section 27 composed of a switch for blocking and holding the above-mentioned video transmission line and the transmission path L1 are transmitted irrespective of the control of the call detection section 20. A video signal from the camera-equipped entrance device 1 is transmitted to the video switching unit 27, a ringing signal from the ringing output unit 21 is transmitted to the transmission line L1, and the transmission switching unit 26 is controlled to be closed with the transmission line L1. And a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28 having a function of transmitting / receiving an audio signal to / from the base unit communication unit 22 through the communication unit 22.

The operation of the thus configured television intercom apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When the indoor master unit 2 set to the normal mode, in which a resident is present in the room and can respond to a call from a visitor at the entrance, is in a standby state, the call switching unit 2
6. Each switch constituting the video switching unit 27 is open.

Here, when a caller 10 of the camera-equipped entrance device 1 is operated by a visitor at the entrance, the potential of the DC voltage superimposed on the transmission line L1 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 13 decreases. . The call detection unit 20 of the indoor master unit 2 detects a drop in the potential of the transmission line L1 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28, and shifts from the standby state to the call detection state. The call detection section 20 in the call detection state activates the ring tone output section 21 to output a ring tone signal, closes a switch constituting the call switching section 26, and switches the base station talk section 22 to the ring tone output section 21 and the multiplexing section. Forming an audio transmission line up to the separation unit 28,
At the same time, the switch forming the video switching unit 27 is closed to form a video transmission line from the video display unit 23 to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28. In addition, a ringing tone signal output from the ringing tone output unit 21 is transmitted from a visitor to a receiver (not shown) of a handset constituting the base unit talking unit 22 through a closed switch of the call switching unit 26. In addition to being sounded as a ringing tone for notifying a resident in the room of the call, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28
A handset speaker (not shown) forming a handset communication unit 12 via the transmission line L1 and the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 13 of the camera-equipped entrance handset 1
Is sounded as a ringing tone that informs the visitor that the indoor master unit has been normally called and the calling operation has been completed.

The camera unit 11 of the camera-equipped entrance terminal 1 activated by power supply (not described in detail) from the indoor master unit 2 in the call notification state sequentially captures images of the visitor frame by frame. And output a video signal. This video signal is multiplexed
Demultiplexing unit 13, transmission line L1, multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 2 of indoor master unit 2
8. It is transmitted to the video display unit 23 via a closed switch forming the video switching unit 27. The video display unit 23 displays a video of the visitor captured by the camera unit 11 of the camera-equipped entrance device 1 on a frame basis based on the input video signal.

Further, the resident confirms the ringing of the ringing tone and monitors the display of the image while picking up a handset (not shown) forming the base unit communication section 22 of the indoor base unit 2 and calling from the visitor. , The closed switch and the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 2 forming the call switching unit 26 with the handset.
8. Transmission line L1, multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 1 of camera-equipped entrance device 1
A communication path is formed between the sub-unit microphone and the sub-unit speaker (not shown) forming the sub-unit communication unit 12 via 3, and a call between the resident and the visitor is established.

On the other hand, when the resident is absent in the room, or when the occupant in the room goes to bed, the resident operates the absence / sleep mode switch 24 of the indoor master unit 2 when the resident is sleeping. When the operation is detected, the setting of the indoor master unit is shifted from the normal mode to the absence / sleep mode under the control of the absence / sleep detection unit 25 that detects this operation, and the switches constituting the call switching unit 26 and the video switching unit 27 are switched. The open state is maintained irrespective of whether or not the call detection unit 20 is controlled.

Here, when the call switch 10 of the camera-equipped entrance device 1 is operated by a visitor at the entrance, the potential of the DC voltage superimposed on the transmission line L1 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 13 decreases. . The call detection unit 20 of the indoor master unit 2 detects a drop in the potential of the transmission line L1 via the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28, and shifts from the standby state to the call detection state. The call detector 20 in the call detection state activates the ringer output unit 21 and outputs a ringer signal in the same manner as in the case where the indoor master unit is set to the normal mode. Even when control is performed to close each switch constituting the switching unit 27, the open state of each switch is maintained by the control of the absence / sleep detection unit 25, so that the base unit communication unit 22 outputs a ringing tone output unit. The audio transmission line to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 21 and the video transmission line from the video display unit 23 to the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit 28 remain interrupted. As a result, the ringing tone signal output from the ringing tone output unit 21 is transmitted only to the slave unit communication unit 12 via the multiplexing / separating unit 28, the transmission line L1, and the multiplexing / separating unit 13 of the camera-equipped entrance slave unit 1. The sub-unit speaker (not shown) constituting the sub-unit communication unit is sounded as a ringing tone for notifying the visitor that the indoor main unit is normally called and the calling operation is completed.
On the other hand, since the ringing tone is not sounded at the receiver (not shown) of the handset constituting the base unit communication unit 22,
When a call from a visitor is late at night or the like, silence can be improved, and wasteful power consumed for sounding a ringing tone can be suppressed, thereby saving power.

The image signals of the visitors sequentially photographed by the camera unit 11 of the camera-equipped entrance terminal 1 activated by the power supply (not described in detail) from the indoor master unit 2 in the call notification state are , The video switching unit 2 of the indoor master unit 2 via the same route as when the indoor master unit is set to the normal mode.
7, the video of the visitor captured by the camera unit 11 of the camera-equipped entrance device 1 is displayed on the video display unit 23 by maintaining the open state of the switch forming the video switching unit. Will not be displayed. This allows
It is possible to suppress wasteful power consumed for displaying and displaying images, thereby achieving power saving.

Further, in the indoor master unit 2 set to the absence / sleep mode, the ringing sound and the display of the image are cut off when a call is made by a visitor at the entrance, so that the indoor base unit 2 is shut off. Crime prevention when the resident responds to a call from a suspicious person with a small child or the like is also improved.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the television intercom apparatus of the present invention, the ringing of the ringing sound and the display of the image are cut off when the user is away from home or at bedtime, thereby wasting power. The power consumption can be reduced by suppressing the power consumption, and the quietness at the time of a late-night call and the crime prevention when responding to a call from a suspicious person are improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television intercom apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional television intercom apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ··············································································································· ··· Call detection section 21 ················································································· ..Absent / sleep detector 26..Call switch 27 ........ Video switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] An entrance slave with a camera installed at an entrance (1)
The call detection unit (20) of the indoor master unit (2) installed indoors by operating the call switch (10) of the main unit detects a call and uses the ring tone from the ring tone output unit (21) to call the master unit communication unit (22). )
And the image from the camera unit (11) of the camera-equipped entrance slave unit is switched to the closed image switching unit (2) of the indoor master unit.
7), while monitoring on the video display unit (23) via the handset communication unit (12) of the camera-equipped entrance slave unit and the closed call switching unit (26) of the indoor master unit. A video intercom apparatus for making a call using a telephone conversation unit, wherein the indoor parent device is operated when an absence or sleeping state is operated, and when the absence / sleep mode switching switch is operated. An intercom / sleep detection unit (25) for keeping the video switching unit and the call switching unit in an open state and blocking the video and the ringing sound in the indoor master unit (25) apparatus.