JP2009159002A - Speech apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a speech with volume optimal for a distance to a called partner in a speech apparatus configured to measure the distance to the called partner and to allow a hands-free speech when the called partner gets closer within a predetermined start distance. <P>SOLUTION: A speech apparatus includes a range-finding unit 16 including a sensor for measuring a distance between the speech apparatus 1 and a called partner; and a control unit 17 which allows a hands-free speech when the called partner gets closer within a predetermined start distance after ring-back sounds are output to start calling the called partner, and changes playback volume of received voices thereafter in accordance with the distance between the speech apparatus 1 and the called partner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a communication device such as an interphone that receives a call signal requesting to start a call and outputs a ringing tone to call a receiver and start a hands-free call with a communication partner.

In a dwelling unit intercom with the above configuration, for example, when a call is made from a door phone slave unit, a specification in which a receiver starts a hands-free call by operating a call button provided on the dwelling unit intercom is common. In recent years, for example, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose a configuration in which a distance from a listener is measured and a hands-free call is automatically started when the listener approaches a predetermined distance. .
JP 2007-208991 A JP 2002-290579 A

  However, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the volume of the received voice in a hands-free call is fixed, the volume is too high or low depending on the distance between the dwelling intercom and the receiver. As a result, there was a problem that the telephone call could not always be continued at the optimum playback volume. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and automatically start a hands-free call, and thereafter, a call apparatus having a novel configuration capable of a hands-free call at an optimum volume with respect to the distance to the listener. It is intended to provide.

  The present invention is a communication device that outputs a ringing tone when a call signal for requesting the start of a call is received, calls a receiver, and performs a hands-free call with a communication partner device. The distance between the communication device and the receiver is determined. A distance measuring unit provided with a sensor for measurement, and the hands-free call is permitted when the receiver approaches a predetermined start distance in a state where the receiver is called, and thereafter the communication device And a control unit that changes the playback volume of the received voice according to the distance from the receiver.

  Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to block the hands-free call when the listener has moved away to a predetermined end distance after starting the hands-free call.

  In addition, when the hands-free call is started, the control unit sets a playback volume of the received voice to a preset value, and thereafter, when the caller approaches the start distance, the playback volume It is good also as a structure which changes the reproduction | regeneration sound volume of the said received voice so that may be made smaller.

  The communication device of the present invention may further include a direction adjusting mechanism that sets a detection direction of the sensor of the distance measuring unit to a desired direction.

  In the present invention, the hands-free call is allowed when the listener approaches a predetermined start distance, and thereafter, the playback volume of the received voice is changed according to the distance to the receiver. Even if the listener moves and the distance changes, the hands-free call can be continued with the optimum volume.

  In a configuration in which a hands-free call is interrupted when the listener moves away to a predetermined end distance after starting a hands-free call, the start distance for starting a hands-free call may differ from this end distance. Yes, it is not only convenient because the hands-free call is automatically cut off when the receiver is away to the end distance, but also prevents the inconvenience of the hands-free call being cut off suddenly when the receiver moves slightly. it can.

  In particular, when the listener gets closer after the start of a hands-free call, in the configuration where the playback volume is made smaller than a preset value, the received voice feels loud when the receiver gets closer to the device. Can be prevented.

  Further, in the configuration in which the direction adjustment mechanism is provided in the sensor of the distance measuring unit, it is possible to detect a human body while avoiding an obstacle.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, the intercom system for collective housing is used. However, the present invention also outputs a ringing tone when a call signal requesting the start of a call is received, such as an intercom for a detached house, a telephone, etc. It can be applied to a general communication device that performs a hands-free call with a call partner.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a dwelling unit interphone to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an external view of the dwelling unit interphone viewed from the front, and FIG. 3 is an apartment house constructed by connecting a plurality of the dwelling unit intercoms. It is a schematic system diagram of the intercom system for use.

  1 includes a call control unit 11 having a microphone 11a and a speaker 11b, a display unit 12 formed of a small liquid crystal panel, an operation unit 13 formed of a call button, and the like. 2 is controlled, a transmission control unit 15 that controls signal transmission via a control signal line and an audio signal line, a distance measuring unit 16 that includes a sensor that detects a human body, and controls each of these units. And a control unit 17 composed of a microcontroller.

  The call control unit 11 includes a voice switch circuit that adds adjustment loss to the transmission signal and the reception signal, an echo cancellation circuit, an amplifier circuit that drives the speaker 11b, and the like in order to realize a hands-free call using the microphone 11a and the speaker 11b. It is configured.

  The distance measuring unit 16 may be constituted by an ultrasonic sensor, for example, but may be constituted by a radio wave sensor or an image sensor.

  As a feature of the present invention, the control unit 17 has a function of calculating the distance between the dwelling interphone 1 and the listener based on the detection signal of the distance measuring unit 16, and the doorphone slave unit 2 or the control device 3. When the call signal is received, the ringing tone is output to call the listener, and thereafter, the distance measurement unit 16 is repeatedly operated to measure the distance to the receiver, so that the receiver can reach a predetermined start distance (for example, 1 m). When approaching, the call control unit 11 is operated to allow a hands-free call. Thereafter, the reproduction volume of the received voice is changed in accordance with the distance between the dwelling intercom 1 and the listener by adjusting the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit that drives the speaker 11b. The hands-free call is cut off when a predetermined end operation is received by the operation unit 13, but may be cut off when the receiver moves away to a predetermined end distance (for example, 2 m) as another configuration.

  As described above, in the present invention, a hands-free call is permitted when the listener approaches a predetermined start distance, and thereafter, the playback volume of the received voice is changed according to the distance to the receiver. Therefore, even when the listener moves during a hands-free call and the distance changes, it is possible to make a call at an optimal playback volume.

  Moreover, the dwelling unit intercom 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes a direction adjusting mechanism that sets the detection direction of the sensor of the distance measuring unit 16 to a desired direction. In this example, the direction adjusting mechanism 18 is composed of a rotation shaft provided in the sensor unit and a bearing provided in the upper part of the housing, and the detection direction can be adjusted by rotating the sensor left and right. It becomes possible to detect a human body.

  3 includes a plurality of dwelling unit intercoms 1 having doorphone handsets 2, a control device 3, and a lobby intercom 4, which are connected to each other by a control signal line and an audio signal line. Yes. The basic function of this collective housing intercom system is the same as in the past. That is, when a dwelling unit is designated with the lobby intercom 4 and a call operation is performed, a call signal is transmitted from the control device 3 to the dwelling unit intercom 1 of the designated dwelling unit. Communication with the dwelling unit intercom 1 becomes possible. Further, when a call operation is performed on the doorphone sub-unit 2, a call signal is transmitted from the doorphone sub-unit 2 to the dwelling unit intercom 1. You can talk on the phone.

  When the control device 3 receives a connection request signal designating a dwelling unit from the lobby intercom 4, the control device 3 has a call control function for forming a call path between the lobby intercom 4 and the dwelling unit intercom 1 of the designated dwelling unit. A management room intercom may be connected to control the call between the management room intercom and the dwelling unit intercom 1.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the characteristic operation of the present invention.

  In this basic operation, when the dwelling intercom 1 receives a call signal for requesting the start of a call from the doorphone slave unit 2 or the control device 3, it outputs a chime sound or the like to start calling the listener, and the distance measuring unit 16 To start distance measurement with the listener (steps 101 and 102). If it is determined that the distance to the receiver is equal to or less than the predetermined distance for starting the hands-free call, the call is stopped and a hands-free call with the doorphone cordless handset 2 or the lobby intercom 4 is allowed (step 104, 105). During a hands-free call, the distance to the receiver is continuously measured, and the playback volume of the received voice is changed according to the measured distance (step 106). Thereafter, when the operation unit 13 performs an end operation or the distance to the receiver is equal to or greater than the end distance, the hands-free call is interrupted, the distance measurement is stopped, and the basic operation is ended (steps 107 to 107). 109). If the call signal disappears during the call, the call and the distance measurement are stopped and the basic operation is terminated (steps 111, 112, 110).

FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining an example of hands-free call permission, block (on / off) control, and playback volume control according to the distance to the listener in the basic operation.
This example is characterized in that it has hysteresis in on / off control of hands-free call and control of playback volume. That is, after starting the call of the listener, the hands-free call is allowed when the distance to the receiver is equal to or less than the start distance of the hands-free call, and then the hands-free call is performed when the distance to the receiver is the end distance. However, hysteresis can be provided by setting the end distance larger than the start distance. In this case, the hands-free call is automatically interrupted when the receiver is away from the end distance, which is convenient, and the inconvenience that the hands-free call is suddenly interrupted only by a slight movement of the receiver can be prevented. .

  The playback volume is controlled at a preset value (+10 dB) when a hands-free call is started. Thereafter, when the caller gets closer, the playback volume is decreased (up to +0 dB). When the caller is further away from the start distance, the playback volume is returned to a preset value (+10 dB). As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the received voice feels loud when the receiver further approaches after the hands-free call is started. In addition, when the listener is far from the start distance, the reproduction volume is kept at a preset value, so that it is possible to prevent a situation in which a person other than the receiver feels the received voice loudly. When the hands-free call is interrupted because the distance to the receiver is longer than the end distance, the playback of the received voice is also ended.

It is a block diagram explaining the schematic structure of the dwelling unit intercom to which this invention is applied. It is the external view which looked at the dwelling unit intercom to which this invention was applied from the front. It is a schematic system diagram of the intercom system for apartment houses constituted by connecting a plurality of dwelling unit intercoms to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart explaining the characteristic operation | movement of this invention. It is a graph explaining an example of on / off control of a hands-free call according to the distance to the listener and control of playback volume.

Explanation of symbols

1 dwelling unit intercom (calling device)
16 Distance measuring unit 17 Control unit 18 Direction adjustment mechanism

Claims (4)

When a call signal for requesting the start of a call is received, a ringing sound is output to call the receiver, and in a call device for performing a hands-free call with a call partner machine,
A distance measuring unit provided with a sensor for measuring a distance between the communication device and the listener;
While the caller is ringing, the hands-free call is allowed when the caller approaches a predetermined start distance, and then the received voice is set according to the distance between the call device and the caller. And a control unit for changing the playback volume of the telephone. In claim 1,
The said control part is a call apparatus which interrupts | blocks the said hands-free call, when the said listener goes away to the predetermined end distance after starting the said hands-free call. In claim 1 or 2,
The control unit sets the playback volume of the received voice to a preset value when the hands-free call is started, and then increases the playback volume when the caller approaches the start distance. A call device that changes the playback volume of the received voice so as to reduce the volume. In any one of Claims 1-3,
A communication device further comprising a direction adjusting mechanism for setting a detection direction of the sensor of the distance measuring unit to a desired direction.

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