JP2006041855A - Intercom device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve expandability and achieve cost reduction in an intercom device enabling a user to make a conversation with a person at a slave set or recognizing a video image and being installed in outdoors as a master set or a sub-master set. <P>SOLUTION: In the intercom device to be installed in the inside of building as a master station U1 or sub-master stations U2-U4, a circuit configuring the intercom device is separated into user interfaces IF1-IF4 and the other circuits C1-C4. The interfaces IF1-IF4 are installed in rooms M1-M4 so as to be exposed, respectively. The circuits C1-C4 are installed in a space 14 which does not become obstacle such as the inside of a wall or underpart of the roof, and the interfaces IF1-IF4 are connected with the circuits C1-C4 through cables V1-V4 inserting through small dimension holes H1-H4 formed on a wall surface 15, thereby realizing expected functions. Accordingly, since wanted functions can be added/updated as necessary, and the expandability can be improved. The interfaces IF1-IF4 can be reduced in cost by miniaturization and common utilization. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an intercom apparatus that is preferably implemented as an intercom apparatus that transmits an image together with sound.

  In recent years, intercom devices have been equipped with cameras on slave units installed outdoors or in entrance halls, and display devices on master units installed indoors. In addition to the voice of, you can check the appearance. In addition, a resident who notices a suspicious noise can check the appearance of the outside. Therefore, there are many components and a large size compared with the configuration of only voice call. In such a large intercom device, the wall-embedded type is clean in appearance, but installation work takes much time. For this reason, unless the owner, the construction company, etc. are designated, the actual situation is that the electrical contractor who is the actual purchaser of the intercom apparatus selects the type that is exposed indoors.

  On the other hand, interphone devices installed in kitchens and living rooms are also installed indoors, called sub-master units, in addition to the master unit, in order to be able to respond to the visitors from other rooms. Can be expanded. The secondary master unit can communicate with the slave unit and check images by relaying the master unit. An interphone system including such a sub-master is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the external shape of the intercom system extracted from a part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of such an intercom system. As described above, the handset u0 that is installed outdoors or in the entrance hall and includes the camera 1, the microphone 2, and the speaker 3 is routed through the back of the wall, the back of the ceiling, etc. It is connected to a master unit u1 installed in the room m1, and an image and sound are transmitted by a modulation signal. The parent device u1 includes a display device 4, a microphone 5, and a speaker 6, and can make a call with the child device u0 while confirming an image from the camera 1. Secondary master units installed in the other rooms m2, m3, and m4 via, for example, two-core signal lines l1, l2, and l3 routed from the master unit u1 through the wall and ceiling. u2, u3, and u4 are connected in cascade, and these sub-master units u2 to u4 can also relay the master unit u1 and confirm a call and image with the slave unit u0.
JP 2000-101730 A

  In the intercom system configured as described above, as can be understood from FIG. 3, the main unit u1 and the sub-main units u2 to u4 are shared by a large number of components such as a housing, and are low in power. Costs are being reduced. Therefore, since the exposure type is required to be downsized, the base unit u1 stores parts without any gaps, and even if it tries to expand the function by a slight model change, it cannot secure the storage space for additional parts and boards. In some cases. Also, heat dissipation and interference between circuits must be considered. Similarly, it may be difficult to add parts for function expansion or to add trouble countermeasure parts to an already installed apparatus. Furthermore, due to the difference in the internal space between the main unit u1 and the sub-base units u2 to u4 with relatively few components, the burden of acoustic design, structural design, circuit arrangement, etc. is large. There is also a problem that the cost reduction effect due to the shared use is not sufficient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an intercom device which is rich in expandability and can be reduced in cost.

  The interphone device of the present invention is an interphone device installed indoors as a parent device or a sub-master device, wherein a circuit constituting the interphone device is separated into a user interface and a remaining circuit, and the user interface is placed indoors. Installed exposed, installed the remaining circuit behind the wall, behind the ceiling or under the floor, and connected between the user interface and the remaining circuit with a cable passing through a hole formed in the wall surface. It is characterized by.

  According to the above configuration, the interphone device installed indoors as a parent device or a sub-main device can be used to make a call or check images with a child device installed outdoors or in the entrance hall. A circuit constituting the interphone device is separated into input operation means such as buttons and switches, a microphone, a speaker, a display device, and a user interface (human interface) such as a peripheral circuit associated therewith, and a remaining circuit. . Then, the user interface is installed exposed in the room, and the remaining circuit is installed in a place that does not interfere with the back of the wall, the back of the ceiling, or under the floor, and a hole formed in the wall is inserted between them. By connecting with a cable, the function as the master unit or the sub-master unit is realized.

  Therefore, the remaining circuits installed behind the wall, ceiling, or under the floor are not subject to unnecessary space, heat dissipation, interference between circuits, etc. Because it is installed in a place that does not attach, it is not necessary to consider the design surface or texture, etc., and using a general-purpose large casing), necessary functions can be added and updated as appropriate, and it is highly expandable An intercom device can be realized.

  On the other hand, the user interface can be significantly reduced in size as compared with a conventional indoor exposure type intercom apparatus in which all circuits are integrated. In addition, the same parts such as the input operation means, the microphone, the speaker, and the display device are mounted on the user interface, so that there is no distinction between the parent device and the sub-parent device, and they are shared. In addition, the burden of acoustic design, structural design, circuit arrangement, etc. can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the interphone device of the present invention, the user interface includes a circuit related to the microphone and a transmission circuit, a circuit related to the speaker and a reception circuit, and a circuit related to the display device and a drive circuit. An input operation circuit; a communication interface to the remaining circuits; a control circuit for controlling the operation of each part in the user interface; and a power supply circuit for supplying power to each part in the user interface. In the case of the secondary master unit, the remaining circuit is an audio communication circuit, a video communication circuit, an audio processing circuit, a video processing circuit, a communication interface to the user interface, and another master unit. Or control the operation of each unit in the remaining circuit, the indoor unit connection interface to the secondary master unit, the memory for storing programs and data And a power supply circuit for supplying power to each part in the remaining circuit and the user interface. The power supply circuit also supplies power to the slave unit.

  As described above, the intercom device of the present invention can be used for telephone conversation and video confirmation with a child device installed outdoors or in an entrance hall, and is installed indoors as a parent device or a sub-master device. In the interphone device, the circuit constituting the interphone device is separated into input operation means such as buttons and switches, a user interface such as a microphone, a speaker, and a display device, and a remaining circuit, and the user interface is Installed exposed in the room, the remaining circuit is installed in a place that does not interfere with the back of the wall, behind the ceiling or under the floor, and by connecting them with a cable that passes through a hole formed in the wall surface, The function as the master or secondary master is realized.

  Therefore, for the remaining circuits installed behind the wall, the ceiling, or under the floor, use an appropriate case without worrying about vacant space in the case, heat dissipation, interference between circuits, etc. Thus, necessary functions can be added / updated as appropriate, and an intercom apparatus with high expandability can be realized. On the other hand, the user interface can be significantly reduced in size and cost can be reduced as compared with a conventional indoor exposure type intercom apparatus in which all circuits are integrated.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an intercom system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Also in this intercom system, the slave unit U0 is installed outdoors or in a front hall or the like, and includes a call button 10, a camera 11, a microphone 12, and a speaker 13, and is routed around a wall or a ceiling, for example, a 2-core signal It is connected to a parent device U1 installed on the room M1 side via a line L0, and an image and sound are transmitted by a modulation signal. The parent device U1 includes a display device, a microphone, and a speaker, and can make a call with the child device U0 while confirming an image from the camera 11. Sub-master units installed on the other rooms M2, M3, M4 side via, for example, two-core signal lines L1, L2, and L3 routed from the master unit U1 through the wall and ceiling U2, U3, and U4 are connected in cascade, and these secondary master units U2 to U4 can relay the master unit U1 and confirm a call and image with the slave unit U0.

  It should be noted that in the intercom system according to the present invention, the intercom device is an interphone device, and the circuits constituting the master unit U1 and the sub master units U2 to U4 installed indoors are configured as user interfaces IF1 to IF4, and others. And the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 are exposed and installed in the rooms M1 to M4, and the circuits C1 to C4 are placed behind the walls, the ceiling, or under the floor. In a space 14 that does not become necessary, it is preferably installed in a place where an operator can reach for maintenance such as around the inspection port and near the ceiling of the closet, and between the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 and the circuits C1 to C4, For example, three-core cables V1 to V4 are connected through the small-diameter holes H1 to H4 formed in the wall surface 15.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of base unit U1 and sub base unit U2 according to the present invention. Parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The remaining secondary master units U3 and U4 are configured in the same manner as the secondary master unit U2, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. The circuit C1 of the parent device U1 includes a slave unit connection interface 21, an audio demodulation modulation circuit 22 that is an audio communication circuit, a video demodulation circuit 23 that is an image communication circuit, an audio processing circuit 24, and an image processing circuit 25. A communication interface 26 to the user interface IF1, an indoor unit connection interface 27 to the secondary master unit U2, a memory 28 for program storage such as ROM, a memory 29 for data storage such as RAM, A CPU 30 for controlling the operation of each part in the circuit C1, an expansion interface 31 to which a board for function expansion can be connected, a power source for supplying power to each part in the circuit C1, the user interface IF1, and the slave unit U0 And a circuit 32.

  On the other hand, the user interface IF1 includes a microphone 41, a receiving circuit 42, a speaker 43, a transmitting circuit 44, a liquid crystal module 45 including a liquid crystal panel including a backlight, a display circuit 46 and a driving circuit 47 thereof, A display circuit 48 including a light emitting diode, an input operation circuit 49 including a touch panel and a switch, a dip switch and the like, a setting interface 50 for setting an address and an ID, and a communication interface to the circuit C1 The interface 51 is configured to include a CPU 53 that controls the operation of each unit in the user interface IF1, and a power supply circuit 54 that supplies power to each unit in the user interface IF1.

  The circuit C2 of the secondary master unit U2 basically has a configuration in which the slave unit connection interface 21 and the expansion interface 31 are not provided in the circuit C1 of the master unit U1. Corresponding parts are shown with the same reference sign with the suffix a. That is, the circuit C2 includes an audio demodulation modulation circuit 22a, a video demodulation circuit 23a, an audio processing circuit 24a, a video processing circuit 25a, a communication interface 26a, an indoor unit connection interface 27a, a memory 28a, A memory 29a, a CPU 30a, and a power supply circuit 32a are provided.

  However, in the circuit C2 of the secondary master unit U2, the load of the telephone line switching process is different because the slave unit U0 is not connected. The memories 28a, 29a and the CPU 30a have a capacity larger than that of the memories 28, 29 and CPU 30, respectively. The capacity may be small, or the same parts may be used at a lower cost. Further, the power supply circuit 32a may be reduced in size because the circuit configuration in the circuit C2 is small and power supply to the slave unit U0 is not necessary. It may be made like.

  On the other hand, the user interface IF2 is configured in the same way as the user interface IF1, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals with the suffix “a”, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the intercom system configured as described above, when the CPU 30 detects that the call button 10 on the slave unit U0 side is operated via the slave unit connection interface 21, or the input operation circuit 49 on the master unit U1 side. When the CPU 30 detects that the call button has been operated from the CPU 53 via the communication interfaces 51 and 26, the slave unit connection interface 21, the audio demodulation / modulation circuit 22, the audio processing circuit 24, the communication interfaces 26 and 51, and the CPU 53. Through the receiving circuit 42 and the transmitting circuit 44, the microphone 12 and the speaker 13 on the side of the handset U0 and the microphone 41 and the speaker 43 on the side of the base U1 can be used, and a handset connection interface 21, video demodulation circuit 23, video processing circuit 25, communication interfaces 26, 51 CPU 53, via the display circuit 46 and the drive circuit 47, an image captured by the camera 11 is displayed on the LCD module 45. Further, even if the monitor button of the input operation circuit 49 is operated on the base unit U1, the image taken by the camera 11 is displayed on the LCD module 45, and the resident notices a suspicious noise, etc. It is also possible to monitor the situation.

  When the call button is used to answer a call on the slave unit U0 or the monitor button is operated in the input operation circuit 49a on the secondary master unit U2 to U4 side, the slave unit connection interface 21 on the master unit U1 side, The audio demodulating / modulating circuit 22, the video demodulating circuit 23, and the indoor unit connecting interface 27 are relayed, and the sub unit U2-U4 side indoor unit connecting interface 27a, audio demodulating / modulating circuit 22a, audio processing circuit 24a, communication It is possible to talk using the microphone 41a and the speaker 43a via the interfaces 26a and 51a, the CPU 53a, the receiving circuit 42a and the transmitting circuit 44a, and the indoor unit connection interface 27a, the video demodulating circuit 23a, the video Further through the processing circuit 25a, communication interfaces 26a and 51a, CPU 53a, display circuit 46a and drive circuit 47a. Te, image taken by the camera 11 is displayed on the LCD module 45a.

  Furthermore, when the call button of the input operation circuits 49 and 49a is operated on the base unit U1 or the sub base unit U2 to U4 side, the microphones 41 and 41a and the speakers 43 and 43a are used to connect the base unit U1 and the sub base unit U1. An extension call between the parent devices U2 to U4 becomes possible.

  As described above, in the intercom system according to the present invention, the circuits constituting the main unit U1 and the sub-base units U2 to U4 installed indoors are the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 and the remaining circuits C1 to C1. The user interfaces IF1 to IF4 are installed so as to be exposed in the rooms M1 to M4, and the circuits C1 to C4 are installed in an unobstructed space 14 under the wall, behind the ceiling, or under the floor. These are connected by cables V1 to V4 that pass through small-diameter holes H1 to H4 formed in the wall surface 15 to realize the intended function.

  Therefore, the circuits C1 to C4 have an appropriate housing (designed surface because it is installed in an invisible place without worrying about empty space in the housing, heat dissipation, interference between circuits, etc. It is possible to add and update necessary functions as needed from the extended interface 31 using a general-purpose large casing), and realize an intercom device with high expandability. be able to.

  In addition, the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 can be significantly reduced in size and thickness as compared with the conventional indoor exposure type intercom device in which all the circuits are integrated, thereby realizing a product with high design. Can do. Furthermore, the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 have no distinction between the master unit U1 and the sub master units U2 to U4, and the same parts are mounted. Further, the burden of structural design, circuit arrangement, etc. is reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Further, the operation is unified between the parent device U1 and the sub-parent devices U2 to U4, and an easy-to-understand user interface can be realized.

  In the above description, the CPUs 53 and 53a are provided in the user interfaces IF1 to IF4, and video signals are provided to the display circuits 46 and 46a and the drive circuits 47 and 47a via the CPUs 53 and 53a (decoded). Signals from the input operation circuits 49 and 49a and the setting interfaces 50 and 50a are processed into packet data by the CPUs 53 and 53a together with audio signals, and serially communicated with the CPUs 30 and 30a. Therefore, the cables V1 to V4 are the three cores of the video signal line, the packet data line that can be supplied with power, and the GND line. However, data signals and scanning signals suitable for the display circuits 46 and 46a and the drive circuits 47 and 47a are respectively created from the CPUs 30 and 30a, and these signals are transmitted through the communication interfaces 26 and 51; 26a and 51a. The CPUs 53 and 53a may be omitted as long as the input operation circuits 49 and 49a can be simply configured to transmit switch contact signals and voltage level signals.

  In the intercom apparatus according to the present invention, the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 and the remaining circuits C1 to C4 are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 described above, and other configurations are added in accordance with the functions such as providing a camera. Alternatively, some of the display circuits 48 and 48a may be omitted from the configuration of FIG. The user interfaces IF1 to IF4 basically only need to be provided with an interface with the user (human), and need to be exposed and installed in the rooms M1 to M4. The user interface IF1 -Other elements than the user interface are provided unless they are elements that do not greatly affect the shape and size of IF4 and cannot be shared by the master unit U1 and the sub-master units U2-U4. It may be done.

  Furthermore, instead of separating all of the master unit U1 and the sub-master units U2 to U4 into the user interfaces IF1 to IF4 and the remaining circuits C1 to C4, the signals flowing through the signal lines L1 to L3 are conventional. Therefore, only some of the devices that have been updated or added may be configured as such.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the intercom system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of the main | base station of the intercom system in FIG. 1, and a submaster. It is a figure which shows the external appearance shape of the intercom system of a prior art. It is a figure which shows the internal circuit structure of the intercom system of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

10 Call button 11 Camera 12, 41, 41a Microphone 13, 43, 43a Speaker 14 Space 15 Wall surface 21 Slave unit connection interface 22, 22a Audio demodulation modulation circuit 23, 23a Video demodulation circuit 24, 24a Audio processing circuit 25, 25a Video Processing circuit 26, 26a Communication interface 27, 27a Indoor unit connection interface 28, 28a, 29, 29a Memory 30, 30a, 53, 53a CPU
31 Extended interface 32, 32a, 54, 54a Power supply circuit 42, 42a Reception circuit 44, 44a Transmission circuit 45, 45a Liquid crystal module 46, 46a Display circuit 47, 47a Drive circuit 48, 48a Display circuit 49, 49a Input operation circuit 50, 50a Setting interface 51, 51a Communication interface C1-C4 Residual circuits H1-H4 Holes IF1-IF4 User interface L0-L3 Signal lines M1-M4 Room U0 Slave unit U1 Master unit U2-U4 Sub master unit V1-V4 cable

Claims (2)

In an intercom device installed indoors as a master or secondary master,
Separating the circuit constituting the intercom device into a user interface and a remaining circuit;
The user interface is exposed and installed indoors,
Install the remaining circuit behind the wall, behind the ceiling or under the floor,
An intercom apparatus comprising: the user interface and a remaining circuit connected by a cable inserted through a hole formed in a wall surface. The user interface includes a microphone and related circuits, a speaker and related circuits, a display device and related circuits, an input operation circuit, a communication interface to the remaining circuits, and the user interface. A control circuit that controls the operation of each part in the face; and a power supply circuit that supplies power to each part in the user interface.
In the case of a secondary master unit, the remaining circuits are an audio communication circuit, a video communication circuit, an audio processing circuit, a video processing circuit, a communication interface to a user interface, and another master unit or sub-master unit. An indoor unit connection interface, a memory for storing programs and data, a control circuit for controlling the operation of each part in the remaining circuit, and power supply to each part in the remaining circuit and the user interface In the case of a master unit, the base unit further includes a slave unit connection interface and an extension interface to which a board for function expansion can be connected. The power source circuit is connected to the slave unit. The intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power is also supplied.

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