JP2001339522A - Remote operation device with interphone function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote operation device with an interphone function having less speech noise by which the control configuration of controlled devices is less complicated. SOLUTION: This remote operation devices is provided with a control data transmission means 22 sending/receiving control data of a hot water supplier 1 and with a voice transmission means 23 sending/receiving coded voice data for speech between remote operation devices 2a, 2b, transmit the control data and the coded voice data by a frequency division multiplex transmission method through a 2-core cable 4. In this case, the coded voice data are transmitted by a packet method and when received data have an error, a substituted sound is outputted in place of the data packet including the error to avoid the reproduction of a noise during a speech.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device having an intercom function configured to enable communication between remote control devices, and more particularly, to a technology for transmitting a call signal in the intercom function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of hot water heaters, for example, remote control devices are installed in bathrooms, kitchens, and the like, and remote control of the hot water heaters (operated devices) is enabled by these remote control devices. An operation system is adopted. In this type of remote control system, each remote control device is provided with a call function of the partner station and a call function, so that a remote control device with an intercom function configured to enable a call between the remote control devices is provided. Proposed.

[0003] As such a remote control device with an intercom function, a system in which voice during a call is converted into an analog voice signal and the voice signal is transmitted by a carrier has been widely used. However, in such a method of transmitting an analog voice signal by a carrier wave, when trying to transmit control data of a water heater during a call, the call is temporarily interrupted and the control data is transmitted, or the voice signal and the control data are transmitted. Need to be provided separately.

Therefore, recently, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 243101, there has been proposed a system in which a voice signal is obtained from voice during a call, encoded, and the encoded voice data is transmitted by a carrier wave. That is, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-24310
The remote control device described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-2004-074911 multiplexes voice data and control data of a water heater by time-division multiplexing by encoding voice during a call, thereby substantially controlling the control data and the voice data. Simultaneous transmission is possible.

[0005]

However, the system for transmitting the audio data and the control data by the time-division multiplex system has the following problems, and its improvement is desired.

That is, in the case of the time-division multiplexing method, since the control data and the voice data are transmitted by the carrier having the same frequency, the water heater having no telephone call function also receives both the control data and the voice data. . Therefore, when such a time-division multiplexing method is adopted, processing such as discarding unnecessary voice data on the water heater side is required, and as a result, a data separating means is required and the control structure of the water heater becomes complicated. There was a problem of becoming.

[0007] In such a conventional system, a data error may occur due to a distortion of a communication waveform during transmission of the data. In such a case, if the voice data containing the error is decoded as it is, the data error portion appears as noise, so that the noise makes it difficult for the caller to hear the call.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has as its object to reduce the noise during a call without complicating the control configuration of a controlled device. Provided is a remote control device with an intercom function.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control apparatus with an intercom function for remotely controlling an operated device by transmitting control data. A remote control device used in a remote control system provided with a plurality of
The voice is converted into a voice signal, the voice signal is coded to obtain coded voice data, and the coded voice data is transmitted from another transmitting device to another remote control device and received from another remote control device. Receiving means for decoding the encoded audio data into an audio signal and converting the audio signal into audio, wherein the control data and the encoded audio data are transmitted by carrier waves having different frequencies. I do.

In other words, the first aspect of the present invention employs a frequency division system in which control data for remote operation and coded voice data for communication are transmitted by carrier waves having different frequencies. Data and encoded voice data can be transmitted simultaneously. Moreover, by providing a demodulation device corresponding to the carrier frequency of the control data on the operated device side that does not have a call function, only the control data can be easily extracted, and the control process can be simplified.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote operation device with an intercom function, wherein the operated device and the remote operation device are connected to each other by connection means, and the control data is transmitted through the connection means. And coded audio data is transmitted.

That is, in the invention according to claim 2,
As the connection means, for example, remote control devices are interconnected by two-core connection means, so that the control data and the encoded audio data cannot be transmitted simultaneously via the two-core connection means. By using the core connection means also as the power supply line, the number of wires between the controlled device and the remote control device can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote control device with an intercom function, the transmitting means has an error detecting code adding means for adding an error detecting code to the encoded voice data. The encoded speech data to which the error detection code is added is transmitted in a packet format.

That is, in the invention according to claim 3,
By adopting a packet method for transmitting coded voice data, the coded voice data is divided into data packets of a predetermined data length, and an error detection code for detecting a data error during transmission in each data packet is provided. Since it is added, the receiving side of the encoded voice data can detect a data error during transmission based on the error detection code.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote control device with an intercom function, the receiving means has an error detecting means for detecting a data error of the received encoded voice data. When a data error is detected in the packet received by the error detecting means, the data detecting unit is configured to output a substitute sound to the outside in place of the encoded voice data of the packet in which the data error is detected. In a preferred embodiment, the sound output is silence as the substitute sound.

That is, in the invention according to claim 4,
When a data error is detected in the received encoded voice data, a packet of the data in which the error is detected is replaced with a substitute sound,
For example, since the sound is reproduced as silence, the caller can talk without hearing noise caused by a data error.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a remote control device with an intercom function according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control device).
Is applied to a remote control system of a water heater with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the remote control system. The remote control system shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of remote control devices
In this case, the remote control devices 2a and 2b are attached to different installation places such as a bathroom and a kitchen. And these remote control devices 2a,
2b and the water heater 1 are connected to each other by a two-core cable (connection means using a two-core electric wire) 4.

The water heater 1 is a water heater having a hot water supply function for supplying hot water to a kitchen or a bathtub, a bath reheating function for circulating and heating the hot water in the bathtub, and the like.
It is configured such that remote operation from 2b is possible. Specifically, the water heater 1 includes the above-described hot water supply control unit 11,
The control data transmission means 12, the power supply superimposition means 13, and the interface 14 are mainly constituted.

The hot water supply control means 11 includes a remote control device 2a,
A control device that controls the operation of each unit of the water heater 1 based on the control data transmitted from 2b and the detection data of various sensors provided in each unit of the water heater 1, and monitors the operation state of the water heater 1. In addition, a microcomputer (not shown) is configured as a main part.

The control data transmission means 12 is a modem (modem) for modulating and demodulating control data, and receives control data transmitted from the remote control devices 2a and 2b via the interface 14 (that is, control data). The control data for transmitting the content of the remote operation performed by the remote control devices 2a and 2b to the water heater 1 is demodulated and output to the hot water control means 11, while the control data output from the hot water control means 11 (that is, the water heater) 1 is transmitted to the remote control devices 2a and 2b.

The power supply superimposing means 13 is connected to a power supply device (not shown), and the remote control device 2a,
DC power is supplied to 2b. The interface 14 constitutes a line interface between the control data transmission means 12 and the two-core cable 4. That is, the carrier wave of the control data output from the control data transmitting means 12 is superimposed on the power supply from the power supply superimposing means 13 and the remote control devices 2a, 2
b.

The remote control devices 2a and 2b are remote controllers for remotely controlling the water heater 1, and in this embodiment, those which are installed in the bathroom as described above (hereinafter, in particular, remote controllers installed in the bathroom). When the operation device 2a is shown, it is referred to as a bathroom remote control), and when the remote control device 2b is installed in a kitchen or the like, it is hereinafter referred to as a kitchen remote control. You. These remote control devices 2a and 2b have different appearances as shown in FIG. 2 due to their different installation locations. However, these remote control devices 2a, 2
Since b has the same basic functions as a remote controller (having a remote control function and a call function), the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the remote control devices 2a and 2b includes a control unit 21, a control data transmission unit 22, a voice transmission unit 23, a power supply separation unit 24,
It comprises an interface 25, a call instruction means 26, a call display means 27, a remote control operation input means 28, and a remote control display means 29 as main parts.

As shown in FIG. 2, a call switch 261 for making a call start request and a call stop request to the control unit 21 is provided on the surface of each of the remote control devices 2a and 2b. , The call display means 27
An indicator light 271 for lighting and indicating that a call is in progress;
Various operation switches 281 to 286 for inputting remote control contents for the water heater 1 to the control unit 21 as the remote control operation input means 28, and operation contents of the operation switches 281 to 286 and the water supply for the water heater 1 as the remote control display means 29. Various display devices 291 to 294 for displaying operation status and the like are provided. Note that reference numeral 30 in the figure indicates a ventilation hole that accompanies a speaker 240 described below.
Reference numeral 31 denotes a ventilation hole associated with a built-in microphone described later.

Therefore, the internal configuration of the remote control devices 2a and 2b will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In the present embodiment, these remote control devices 2a, 2
b is driven by a power supply supplied from the water heater 1 via the two-core cable 4. Specifically, the power supplied via the two-core cable 4 is separated from the data by the power supply separating means 28, and is supplied as the drive power for each part of the remote control devices 2a and 2b.

The control unit 21 is a control device that controls the operation of each unit of the remote control devices 2a and 2b based on an input operation of the remote control operation input unit 28, a call request operation of the call instruction unit 26, and the like. Microcomputer 211
(See FIG. 3).

The control data transmission means 22 is composed of the same modulation and demodulation device as the control data transmission means 21 of the water heater 1 described above. That is, the control data transmission unit 22 modulates the control data output from the control unit 21 (that is, the control data indicating the content of the remote operation performed by the remote operation devices 2a and 2b) and outputs the modulated data to the interface 25. On the other hand, control data received from water heater 1 via interface 25 (that is, control data indicating the operating state of water heater 1) is demodulated and output to control unit 21.

The voice transmission means 23 is provided with the remote control device 2a,
2b is a circuit for realizing a call function between 2b, which converts voice into a voice signal, encodes the voice signal to obtain coded voice data, and converts the coded voice data into another remote control device. 2b (or 2a), and receiving means for decoding encoded voice data received from another remote operation device 2b (or 2a) into a voice signal and converting the voice signal into voice. It is composed.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the audio transmission means 23 includes a microphone 231, a first audio amplifier 232, an audio conversion unit 233, an error detection code addition unit 234, a protocol sequencer Unit 235, modem 236, error detection unit 237, data selection unit 23
8, a second audio amplifier 239, and a speaker 240 as main components, and the audio input through the ventilation hole 31 is transmitted through the microphone 231 and the first audio amplifier 2.
32, a voice conversion unit 233, an error detection code addition unit 234,
The data is transmitted from the interface 25 to the other remote control device 2b (or 2a) as coded voice data modulated by passing through a transmitting means including the protocol sequencer unit 235 and the modulation / demodulation device 236, and the other remote control device 2b (Or 2a), the modulated coded audio data received via interface 25 is
The signal is output to the outside through the ventilation hole 30 through the receiving means including the modem 236, the protocol sequencer 235, the error detector 237, the data selector 238, the second audio amplifier 239, and the speaker 240. .

More specifically, in the voice transmission means 23, voice during a call is converted into an analog electric voice signal by the microphone 23, and the first voice amplifier 232
Is amplified to a predetermined level and input to the audio conversion unit 233. The audio converter 233 converts an analog audio signal into a digital signal. In the present embodiment, a PCM codec is used as the audio converter 233. Therefore, the analog audio signal input to the audio conversion unit 233 is converted into encoded audio data encoded by the PCM method, and
4 is output. Note that the coded voice data output from the voice conversion unit 233 is divided into a predetermined data length in cooperation with the protocol sequencer unit 235 to perform packet communication described later,
4 is input.

The error detection code addition section (error detection code addition means) 234 is a circuit for adding a code (error check code) for data error check during data transmission to the coded voice data. In the present embodiment, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is performed as a data error check. Therefore, in the error detection code adding section 234, a cyclic code for cyclic redundancy check is added to the coded audio data. The error check code added by the error detection code adder 234 can be changed as appropriate depending on the type of error check performed (for example, redundancy check).

When the error check code is added to the coded voice data in this way, the coded voice data is converted into packet format data in accordance with a predetermined protocol by the protocol sequencer unit 235, and the modem 23
6 is output. The modulation / demodulation device 236 is a modem for transmitting the data of the packet, and more specifically, is composed of, for example, a π / 4 shift QPSK type modem.
Note that the modulation method of the modulation / demodulation device 236 is also the same as that of π /
The present invention is not limited to the 4-shift QPSK method and can be changed as appropriate.

In this embodiment, in particular, the frequency of the carrier used for modulation in the modulation / demodulation device 236 is set to a frequency different from the frequency of the carrier used for modulation of control data in the control data transmission means 12 and 22. Is set. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the frequency of the carrier used by the control data transmission means 12 and 22 is 250 KHz, the modem 2
The frequency of the carrier used at 36 is set to 150 KHz. In other words, in the present embodiment, by transmitting the control data and the encoded voice data using carrier waves having different frequencies (frequency division multiplex transmission), it is possible to simultaneously transmit both of the data with one single-core cable 4. Have been.

In assigning the carrier frequency, in the present embodiment, the carrier frequency of the encoded voice data is set lower than the carrier frequency of the control data, and the frequency of the second harmonic of the carrier of the encoded voice data is changed. It is set to be higher than the carrier frequency of the control data. This is to avoid a situation in which the carrier wave of the coded voice data and the second harmonic wave impinge on the carrier wave of the control data and hinder the transmission of the control data.

The coded audio data modulated by the modem 236 in this manner is output to the interface 25 and is transmitted via the two-core cable 4 to another remote controller 2.
b (or 2a).

On the other hand, another remote controller 2b (or 2)
The signal transmitted from a) and input via the interface 25 is, firstly,
Is demodulated into encoded voice data. Then, an error detection unit (error detection means) passes through the protocol sequencer unit 235.
237, and the error detection unit 237 determines whether there is an error in the received data.

If it is determined that there is no error in the received encoded audio data, the encoded audio data is converted into an analog audio signal by the audio The signal is amplified by the sound amplifier 239 and output from the speaker 240 as sound.

On the other hand, when an error is detected in the coded voice data received by the error detection section 237, the voice conversion section 233 replaces the coded voice data contained in the packet in which the error is detected with the coded voice data. The other dummy data is decoded, and a substitute sound is output from the speaker 240 instead of the voice. That is, in the present embodiment, when there is an error in the received encoded audio data, a process of masking the audio output from the speaker 240 with the substitute sound is performed at least during one data packet time when the error is detected. .

Therefore, the mask processing will be described specifically. That is, in the present embodiment, the error detection unit 237 and the speech conversion unit 2
33, a data selection unit 238 composed of a logic circuit (or circuit) is interposed.
As a codec 33, a codec is used that outputs an audio signal of "+0" when input data of one data packet time is "all 1", that is, an audio signal indicating silence.

When detecting an error in the data, the error detecting section 237 outputs an error interrupt signal (see the pulse signal in the figure) shown in FIG.
11 is set to be output. Further, when the microcomputer 211 receives the error interrupt signal, the microcomputer 211 instructs the data selection unit 238 to transmit predetermined dummy data (in the illustrated example, the data continues for one data packet after receiving the error interrupt signal). (Data indicating output “1”).

Thus, in this embodiment, when a data error is detected by the error detection section 237, an error interrupt signal is output to the microcomputer 211, and the microcomputer which has received the error interrupt signal outputs one data packet time. The output “1” as dummy data is input to the data selection unit 238. Since the data selection unit 238 is configured by an OR circuit, data indicating “1” (see “All 1” in the figure) is input to the voice conversion unit 233 continuously during one data packet time. As a result, during this time, the audio output of the speaker 240 is in a silent state.

That is, in the present embodiment, for example, when an error occurs in data due to signal distortion during transmission of coded voice data, the speaker 240 is output during reproduction (decoding) of the data packet containing the error. Is muted, so that the caller can make a call without hearing noise generated due to a data error. Since the time during which the audio output is muted at this time is extremely short, ie, one data packet time, the mute does not hinder the call.

As described above, in the remote control device of the present invention,
Since the control data and the encoded voice data are frequency-divided and transmitted by different carrier frequencies, both data can be transmitted at the same time. Therefore, even if the remote control of the water heater 1 is performed during the call, the call may be interrupted. Absent. In addition, since both data are transmitted by the two-core cable 4, the number of wires between the water heater 1 and the remote control devices 2a and 2b can be reduced.

In addition, the encoded voice data is transmitted and received in a packet format, and if there is an error during transmission, dummy data is decoded in the data packet. Therefore, silent data is adopted as the dummy data. As a result, the user can talk without feeling noise, and the caller can talk without feeling discomfort.

The above-described embodiment merely shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the carrier frequency of the coded voice data is set lower than the carrier frequency of the control data has been described, but the carrier frequency of the coded voice data is higher than the carrier frequency of the control data. It is also possible to set. Also, the specific numerical values of the carrier frequency are not limited to those illustrated in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described where the audio output of the speaker 240 is muted when a data error occurs during the transmission of the encoded audio data. The sound is not limited to the silence described above, and another sound may be output as long as it does not disturb the call. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the data of the substitute sound is given as a digital signal is shown. However, the output of the sound conversion unit 233 is stopped, or the analog sound constituting the substitute sound is supplied to the second amplifier 239. You may comprise so that a signal may be directly input.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG.
6. IC2 in which the protocol sequencer unit 235, the error detection code adding unit 234, and the error detection unit 237 are integrated.
The IC 200 may be configured to perform the above-described mask processing.

[0050]

As described above in detail, according to the remote control device of the present invention, since the control data and the encoded voice data are multiplexed and transmitted by frequency division using carrier waves of different frequencies, two-core connection is possible. By connecting by means, both control data and encoded audio data can be transmitted simultaneously.
Moreover, by providing a demodulator corresponding to the carrier frequency allocated for transmission of control data on the water heater side, only the control data can be easily taken out and the control configuration of the water heater can be simplified. .

Further, in the remote control device according to the present invention,
The coded voice data is transmitted in the form of a data packet including an error detection code, data error detection is performed, and if a data error is detected, the code included in the data packet in which the error was detected. Since the alternative sound is configured to be output to the outside in place of the converted voice data, the caller can hear the noise due to the data error and can talk without feeling discomfort due to the noise.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a remote control system of a water heater using a remote control device with an intercom function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an external configuration of the remote control device. FIG. 2 (a) shows a kitchen remote controller, and FIG. 2 (b) shows a bathroom remote controller.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of a voice transmission unit of the remote control device.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a signal waveform of each part of the audio transmission means at the time of audio output mask processing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a carrier frequency and a signal strength of control data and encoded voice data in the remote control device with an intercom function according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot-water supply device 2a, 2b Remote control device 4 Two-core cable (two-core connection means) 11 Hot-water supply control means 12, 22 Control data transmission means 13 Power supply superimposing means 14, 25 Interface 23 Voice transmission means 24 Power supply separation means 26 Call instruction Means 27 Call display means 28 Remote control operation input means 29 Remote control display means 211 Microcomputer 231 Microphone 233 Voice conversion unit 234 Error detection code addition unit (Error detection code addition unit) 235 Protocol sequencer unit 236 Modulator / demodulator 237 Error detection unit (Error detection unit) Means) 240 speaker

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Nishijima 93, Edo-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo F-term in Noritz Co., Ltd. 5K038 AA02 AA08 CC09 CC11 EE03 EE08 EE13 EE17 GG06 5K048 AA01 AA09 AA14 BA14 CB02 DA05 DC04 EB02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device used in a remote control system having a plurality of remote control devices for remotely controlling an operated device by transmitting control data, wherein the remote control device converts a voice into a voice signal, and Speech means for encoding an audio signal to obtain encoded audio data, transmitting the encoded audio data to another remote operation device, and decoding encoded audio data received from another remote operation device into an audio signal A remote control device with an intercom function, wherein the control data and the encoded voice data are transmitted by carrier waves having different frequencies. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operated device and the remote operation device are connected to each other by a connection means, and the control data and the encoded voice data are transmitted through the connection means. A remote control device with an intercom according to item 1. 3. The transmission means includes an error detection code adding means for adding an error detection code to the coded voice data, and transmits the coded voice data to which the error detection code is added in a packet format. The remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the remote control device has an intercom function. 4. The receiving means has error detecting means for detecting a data error in the received coded voice data, and when the error detecting means detects a data error in the received packet, 4. The remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 3, wherein an alternative sound is output to the outside in place of the encoded voice data of the packet in which the data error is detected. 5. The remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 4, wherein the sound output is silence as the substitute sound.