JP2520192Y2 - Video intercom - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video communication device which can monitor through a plurality of slave devices equipped with a television camera and can communicate with these slave devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a television communication device which can be monitored through a plurality of slaves equipped with a television camera and which can communicate with these slaves has been used in houses, buildings and the like. . FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional video call device.

In FIG. 3, n TV camera-equipped slave units 101 _{1 to} 101 _n, each having a built-in TV camera C, are arranged at the entrance or the like. Each of the child devices 101 _{1 to} 101 _n is connected to a parent device 302, which is a video communication device, via a signal line L and an adapter 301. The adapter 301 includes a DC power source 303, a resistor 304, and n short-circuiting switches 305 for short-circuiting the resistors 304, respectively.
_{1 to} 305 _n are provided. One point of the resistor 304 is
It is connected to one input terminal of a control circuit 306 in the master device 302 via a signal line L. The other input terminal of the control circuit 306 is connected to the operation switch 309. The control circuit 306 operates so as to switch the connection of the changeover switch 308 in response to the input signals of both control terminals. The slave units 101 _{1 to} 101 _n are connected to the terminals 307 _{1 to} 307 _n of the changeover switch 308 via the signal line L and the adapter 301, respectively. The common terminal of the changeover switch 308 is connected to the monitor television 106 via the master device circuit 105. In the base unit circuit 105,
It has a function of displaying video signals from the _respective slaves 101 _{1 to} 101 _n on the monitor television 106 and a function of making a call with the slaves 101 _{1 to} 101 _n .

The operation of the video call device configured as described above will be described below. In FIG. 3, three slaves 10
1 ₁ to state 101 ₃ is connected, namely be described as being in a state of 3 camera mode. In this case, the switches 305 _{1 to} 305 ₃ are set to the short circuit at the stage of installing the video communication device of FIG. 3, and therefore, the three switches 305 are connected from the resistor 304 to the control circuit 306.
A DC voltage signal of a level in which _{1 to} 305 ₃ are short-circuited is output. The control circuit 306 detects the signal level of the input signal to detect the three slave units 101 _{1 to} 10 _1.
Recognizing that 1 ₃ is connected, operation switch 30
The operation corresponding to the operation of 9 is performed. That is, in the initial state in which the operation switch 309 is not operated, the changeover switch 3
When the operation switch 309 is operated once, the terminal 307 _{1 of} 08 is connected to the common terminal, the terminal 307 ₂ of the changeover switch 308 is connected to the common terminal, and when the operation switch 309 is operated once more, the changeover switch 308 is changed. Terminal 30
7 ₃ is connected to the common terminal and the operation switch 309 is operated once more, the terminal 307 _{1 of the} changeover switch 308
Is connected to the common terminal and returns to the initial state.

Thereafter, the above operation is repeated. That is, when the operation switch 309 is operated 3N (N is an integer including zero) times, the terminal 307 ₁ of the changeover switch 308 is connected to the common terminal, so that the child device 101 ₁ and the parent device circuit 10 are connected.
5, a call is made with the camera 5 and the camera C of the handset 101 ₁
The video signal from is displayed on the monitor television 106 as an image. When the operation switch 309 is operated (3N + 1) times for the terminal 307 ₂ of the changeover switch 308 is connected to the common terminal, handset 101 ₂ and base unit circuitry 105
Call is performed also with the video signal from the camera C of the child machine 101 ₂ is displayed as an image by the monitor television 106. Similarly, the operation switch 309 is set to (3N +
2) When operated twice, the terminal 307 _{3 of the} changeover switch 308
Is connected to the common terminal, a call is made between the slave 101 ₃ and the master circuit 105, and the video signal from the camera C of the slave 101 ₃ is displayed as a video on the monitor television 106.

When there are K slave units 101 (K camera mode), each time the operation switch 309 is operated, the slave units to be imaged and talked with are sequentially switched and repeated every K units. Perform the same operation.

[0007]

In the above-mentioned video call device, it is possible to monitor through a plurality of TV camera-equipped slave units by setting a mode, and a call can be made between these slave units and the master unit. It is possible to do. However, since the mode setting is performed using the mechanical changeover switches 305 _{1 to} 305 _n provided in the attached adapter 301, the changeover switches 305 _{1 to} 30 30 are set at the time of construction.
It was necessary to set 5 _n . In addition, since it is necessary to set the switch suitable for each mode, there are problems that it becomes complicated when a large number of TV camera-equipped slave units are installed, and that incorrect settings are made.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and automatically detects a mode according to the number of installed slave units with a camera, thereby eliminating the need for the mode setting and preventing the wrong mode setting. It is an object to provide a video call device that can be prevented.

[0009]

The video call device of the present invention is connected to a plurality of television camera attachments through a changeover switch which is controlled to change in response to an operation of an operation switch. A video communication device having a master unit circuit for displaying a video signal from the device on a monitor TV and for communicating with the slave unit with the TV camera, wherein the slave unit with the TV camera connected to the master circuit is provided. And a control circuit for controlling the changeover switch in response to the detection signal and the operation of the operation switch.

[0010]

The detecting circuit detects that the slave unit with the television camera is connected and outputs a detection signal. The control circuit recognizes the operation mode based on the detection signal and switches the changeover switch in response to the operation of the operation switch.

[0011]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 1, the slaves 101 _{1 to} 101 _n having the television camera C are arranged at the entrance or the like. Handset 101 _{1 to} 1
01 _n are each connected to the terminals 103 ₁ through 103 _n of the change-over switch 104 provided in the master unit 102 is a television telephone device through the signal line L. In addition, cordless handset 1
01 _{2 to} 101 _n are connected to the detection circuit 113 through the signal line L, respectively, and the DC power supply voltage + Vcc for driving the light emitting diode or the like indicating that the light emitting diode is in the operating state is detected through the detection circuit 113. Is being supplied. Since the child device 101 ₁ is always connected to the parent device 102, the DC power supply of the child device 101 ₁ is always supplied from the parent device 102 through a route not shown. The detection circuit 113 has a P
NP type transistor 107, bias resistors 108, 1
09, bleeder resistors 110 and 111, and a noise prevention capacitor 112. A demodulation circuit for demodulating video signals from the slave units 101 _{1 to} 101 _n ,
It includes audio circuit or the like for transmitting and receiving audio signals to and from the handset 101 ₁ to 101 _n, the slave unit 101 ₁ to 101 _n
A master unit circuit 105, which has a function of displaying an image on the monitor television 106 in response to a video signal from the device and communicating with the slaves 101 _{1 to} 101 _n , is provided between the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 and the monitor television 106. It is connected to the.

On the other hand, the connection point between the resistors 110 and 111, which is the output terminal of the detection circuit 113, is connected to the operation switch 115 via the control circuit 114. Control circuit 114
Incorporates K reference voltage signal generation circuits, recognizes the operation mode by checking the signal level of the detection signal from the detection circuit 113, and responds to the signal from the operation switch 115 in response to the changeover switch 104. Switch control. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart showing the function of the control circuit 114.

The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. First, in a state in which only the slave unit 101 ₁ is connected to the master unit 102, that is, in the 1-camera mode, a direct current does not flow from the detection circuit 113 to the slave units 101 _{2 to} 101 _n, so that the transistor 107 is turned off. Is in a state.
Therefore, the detection signal which is the output signal of the detection circuit 113 is at a low level. The control circuit 114 compares the signal level of the detection signal with each reference voltage of the internal reference voltage generating circuit from the lower side, performs the comparison operation until they match, and when they match, recognizes the operation mode. When the detection signal is at a low level, the one-camera mode is recognized by performing the comparison operation. As a result, the control circuit 11
4 performs control operation in the 1-camera mode. In the 1-camera mode, the monitor television 106 displays an image corresponding to the image signal from the handset 101 ₁ regardless of the pressing operation of the operation switch 115, and only between the handset 101 ₁ and the base 102. You can make a call.

Next, a state in which one child device 101 ₂ is additionally connected, that is, a state of the two camera mode will be described. Cordless handset 1
When 01 ₂ is connected to the master unit 102 as shown in FIG. 1, the slave unit 101 ₂ is connected from the power source + Vcc through the resistor 109.
Current flows through. Therefore, transistor 107 is biased and current flows from resistors + Vcc to resistors 110 and 111. As a result, the detection signal of the first DC level (for example, 1V) is output from the connection point of the resistors 110 and 111. The control circuit 114 receives the detection signal of the first DC level and shifts to the control operation of the two camera mode.

In the two-camera mode, the control circuit 11
4 operates as shown in FIG. That is, when the operation switch 115 is not pressed, the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 is controlled to be connected to the terminal 103 ₁ . In this state, an image is displayed on the monitor television 106 based on the image signal from the child device 101 ₁ , and the child device 1 1
A call can be made between 01 ₁ and the base unit 102.

In this state, when the operation switch 115 is pressed only once, the control circuit 114 controls so that the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 is connected to the terminal 103 ₂ . In this state, an image is displayed on the monitor television 106 on the basis of the video signal from the slave unit 101 ₂ , and the slave unit 1
A call can be made between 01 ₂ and the base unit 102. When the operation switch 115 is pressed once more from this state, the control circuit 114 controls so that the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 is connected to the terminal 103 ₁ . This displays the image on the TV monitor 106 based on the video signals from the slave unit 101 ₁ also handset 101 ₁ and base unit 1
A call can be made with 02.

Thereafter, each time the operation switch 115 is pressed, the above-mentioned operation is repeated. By operating the operation switch, it becomes possible to display an image from the selected child device 101 and to make a call. Two handset 101 _2, 103 ₃ state is additionally connected, i.e. the three camera mode, handset 101 ₂ from a power source + Vcc through a resistor 109, 103 ₃
Current flows through. Therefore, the transistor 107 is 1
It is biased deeper than in the camera mode, and a large current flows from the power source + Vcc to the resistors 110 and 111. As a result, the detection signal of the second DC level (for example, 2V) larger than the first DC level (for example, 1V) is output from the connection point of the resistors 110 and 111. Control circuit 114
Receives the detection signal of the second DC level and shifts to the control operation of the three camera mode.

The control circuit 114 also in the three camera mode.
Performs the same operation as in the two-camera mode as shown in FIG. That is, when the operation switch 115 is not pressed, the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 is controlled to be connected to the terminal 103 ₁ , and when the operation switch 115 is pressed once, the control circuit 114 causes the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 to be connected. Is controlled to be connected to the terminal 103 ₂ , and when the operation switch 115 is pressed once again, the control circuit 1
14 controls so that the common terminal of the changeover switch 104 is connected to the terminal 103 ₃ , and the operation switch 115 is further turned on.
When it is pressed twice, the control circuit 114 causes the changeover switch 10
The common terminal 4 is controlled to be connected to the terminal 103 ₁ . As a result, the operation described above is repeated each time the operation switch 115 is pressed, and by operating the operation switch 115, it is possible to display images from the selected slave units 101 _{1 to} 101 _{3 and} to make a call.

When n slave units 101 are connected (n camera mode), each time the operation switch 115 is operated, the slave units to be imaged and talked with are sequentially switched, and the same operation as described above is performed. Be done. In the present embodiment, the image from any one of the slave units 101 _{1 to} 101 _n is displayed according to the operation of the operation switch 115, but the changeover switch 104 is provided with the terminal 103 _{n + 1} not connected to the slave unit. A function of not displaying an image may be provided by a method such as provision.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the detection circuit 113 is provided inside the base unit 102, there is an effect that an adapter or the like is not necessary, but in consideration of the ease of system configuration and the like, these are separated from each other. It can also be stored in the body. As described above, according to the present embodiment, since it has the function of automatically detecting the mode according to the number of installed camera slaves, the complexity of mode setting is eliminated and erroneous mode setting is prevented. Is possible.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect the mode according to the number of installed slaves, which eliminates the complexity of mode setting and prevents erroneous mode setting. It will be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the control circuit used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional video call device.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 _{1 to} 101 _n ... Slave device with TV camera 102 ... Master device as a video communication device 104 ... Changeover switch 105 ... Master device circuit 106 ... Monitor TV 113 ... Detection circuit 114 ... Control circuit 115 ... Operation switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A plurality of television camera-equipped slave units are connected via a changeover switch which is controlled to switch in response to an operation of an operation switch, and video signals from the television camera-equipped slave units are displayed on a monitor television. In a video call device including a master unit circuit for communicating with the slave unit with the TV camera, a detection circuit for outputting a detection signal according to the number of slave units with the TV camera connected to the master circuit. And a control circuit for switching and controlling the changeover switch in response to the detection signal and the operation of the operation switch.