JP3045390B1 - Teleconferencing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A teleconference device excellent in human interface that transmits a voice uttered by a speaker to a listener at an optimum volume by actively engaging a speaker and a listener in setting the volume of the voice. provide. SOLUTION: A sound collecting means for collecting a voice of a speaker, a setting means for setting a threshold value by an operation of a listener based on a volume of the voice collected by the sound collecting means, and storing the threshold value Storage means for performing, and comparing means for comparing the voice emitted by the speaker with the stored threshold value,
A light emitting unit that lights or blinks when the sound is loud as a result of the comparison.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone conference device, and more particularly, to a telephone conference device for transmitting an appropriate transmission volume.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a telephone conference apparatus of a hands-free type, a video telephone system or the like has a transmission volume or a reception volume in order to transmit a voice uttered by a speaker at an optimal volume to a telephone conference apparatus on a listener side. In some cases, a display unit for displaying the size is provided. The speaker looks at the volume of the transmission volume displayed on the display unit and adjusts the volume of the voice to an optimal volume.

[0003] Further, in order to transmit the voice uttered by the speaker at an optimum volume to the telephone conference device on the listener side, the volume of the voice uttered by the speaker is compared with a predetermined reference volume. In some cases, means for correcting the volume of the voice so as to reduce the difference between them is provided. When a speaker utters a voice, the volume is corrected to an optimum volume by the above-described correction means and then transmitted to the telephone conference apparatus on the listener side.

[0004]

However, by merely displaying the volume of the transmission volume on the display unit, it is possible to confirm how much volume of the voice is being transmitted to the telephone conference apparatus on the listener's side. Can not. Further, it is not possible to confirm whether or not the volume of the sound transmitted to the telephone conference apparatus on the listener side is sufficient for the listener.

[0005] In particular, whether or not the volume is sufficient for the listener depends on the loudness of noise around the listener, the distance between the listener and the speaker of the telephone conference apparatus, the hearing ability of the listener, and the like. Therefore, it is difficult to confirm whether or not the volume of the sound transmitted to the listener's telephone conference device is sufficient only by the display on the display unit of the speaker's telephone conference device.

[0006] Further, in a telephone conference apparatus for correcting the transmission volume by comparing the reference volume and the voice volume, the range of the volume that can be corrected is limited. Therefore, when the speaker's voice is very low or when the speaker and the microphone of the telephone conference device are far apart, there is a limit in correcting the volume of the transmitted voice to be large.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a telephone excellent in human interface, in which a speaker and a listener are actively involved in setting the volume of a voice, thereby transmitting the voice generated by the speaker to the listener at an optimum volume. A conference device is provided.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a sound collecting means for collecting a speaker's voice,
Setting means for setting a threshold value by a listener's operation based on the volume of the sound collected by the sound collecting means; storage means for storing the threshold value; A comparison means for comparing a threshold value; and a light emitting means for lighting or blinking when the sound is loud as a result of the comparison.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a top view of a telephone conference apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows main bodies 1A and 1B of two telephone conference devices. The main bodies 1A and 1B are connected via a telephone line 200. In the present embodiment, the main unit 1A will be described as a speaker's telephone conference device, and the main body 1B will be described as a listener's telephone conference device.

The main body 1A includes a microphone 2A, a speaker 3A, an operation panel 100A, and a telephone 201A. The operation panel 100A includes a conference start button 5A, an end button 4A, a setting button 6A for setting a volume, a level meter 7A for displaying a volume of a sound collected by the microphone 2A, and a microphone 2A.
And a warning lamp 9A that is turned on when the volume of the sound collected by the device is smaller than a predetermined volume, and a warning lamp 9A that is turned on or blinks when the volume of the sound is low.

The conference start button 5A and the end button 4A are usually the same as those provided in the telephone conference device. The level meter 7A is of a digital type and of an LED bar graph type. In addition,
The main body 1B has the same configuration as the main body 1A.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the telephone conference device. In FIG. 2, 12A is a microphone amplifier that amplifies an audio signal output from the microphone 2A, 14A is an echo canceller that prevents howling, 15A is a coder that digitally encodes an analog audio signal, and 17A is an audio signal. Is a modem that modulates and transmits via the telephone line 200 or demodulates an audio signal received via the telephone line 200.

A decoder 16A decodes a digital code demodulated by the modem 17A, a control signal demultiplexer 18A multiplexes a control signal with a voice signal or separates a control signal from a voice signal, and 13A a speaker 3a. A speaker amplifier that amplifies an audio signal to be output, 19A is a switch for switching the connection destination of the telephone line 200 between the telephone 201A and the main unit 1A, and 20A is a CP that controls the main unit 1A.
U.

Further, 21A and 22A are microphone amplifiers 1
This is a rectifying integrator that integrates the output of 2A and then integrates the output to output the average of the volume. The time constant of the integrator is set longer in 22A than in 21A. Reference numeral 23A denotes a rectifier / integrator that rectifies the output of the speaker amplifier 13A and then integrates the output to output the average of the volume, and has the same time constant as 22A.

Reference numeral 24A denotes an A / D converter for driving the level meter 7A by the output of the rectifying integrator 21A, and 25A.
Is an A / D converter for driving the level meter 7A by the output of the rectifying integrator 22A or for digitally converting the volume data stored in the storage unit 29A.

Further, 30A is an A / D converter 24A.
Is a comparator for comparing the sound volume of the sound output from the storage unit with the threshold value stored in the storage unit 29A. The comparator 30 is A
When the output of the / D converter 24A is larger than the threshold value, an instruction signal is output to the level meter 7A and the display lamp 8A. 26A and 27A are switching devices. Each of the switches 26A and 27A switches to the T side when transmitting an audio signal according to an instruction of the CPU 20A, and switches to the R side when receiving an audio signal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a part of the telephone conference apparatus shown in FIG. 2, which blinks or lights the warning lamp 9A. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 40A denotes a converter for reducing the threshold value stored in the storage unit 29A. The converter 40A is connected to the storage unit 29A. Then, converter 40A reduces the threshold value output from storage unit 29A to, for example, １ ／ and outputs the value to comparator 42A.

Reference numeral 41A denotes a setting unit for setting the volume of noise around the microphone 2A, and reference numeral 42A denotes a comparator for comparing the output of the converter 40A, the output of the setting unit 41A, and the output of the A / D converter 24A. . The volume of the noise may be set in advance as a threshold value, or may be set by a conference participant according to the loudness of surrounding noise. The setting values of the converter 40A are examples, and can be changed by user settings.

The comparator 42A compares the output of the converter 40A with the output of the setting unit 41A and the output of the converter 40A. When the output of the A / D converter 24A is equal to or higher than the output of the setting unit 41A and equal to or lower than the output of the converter 40A, that is, the volume of the voice emitted by the speaker is higher than the volume of the surrounding noise, but the storage unit 29 Is smaller than half of the threshold value stored in the comparator 42A, when the state continues for a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), an instruction signal is output from the comparator 42A to the warning lamp 9A, and the warning lamp 9A is turned on or off. Flash.

In the above comparison, when the speaker does not emit a voice, the warning lamp 9A can be prevented from lighting or blinking. Further, even when the speaker is making a sound, if the volume is less than half of the threshold, the warning lamp 9A is turned on when the state continues for a certain period of time.

The above-mentioned fixed time is set in the CPU 20A. A timer (not shown) is provided inside the CPU 20A, and counts time. Also,
By turning on or flashing the warning lamp 9A, it is possible to not only notify the speaker that the volume of the sound being emitted is low, but also, for example, "Please speak louder."
Such a synthesized voice may notify the speaker that the volume of the voice uttered is low.

Next, the operation of the telephone conference apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described. First, the telephone 201A calls the telephone 201B. Conversely, telephone 201B may call telephone 201A. Telephone 201A and 2
01B is connected by the telephone line 200. Subsequently, the conference start buttons 5A and 5B of the main bodies 1A and 1B are pressed.

Then, the switch 19A is connected to the telephone line 2
00 is switched from the telephone 201A to the main unit 1A. Similarly, on the main body 1B side, the switch 19B switches the connection of the telephone line 200 from the telephone 201B to the main body 1B side. As a result, a state in which a telephone conference can be performed between the main body 1A and the main body 1B is established.

Thereafter, the listener presses the setting button 6B. Then ask the speaker to speak. This sound may be, for example, a repetition of “hear or hear?”. The voice emitted by the speaker is collected by the microphone 2A and amplified by the microphone amplifier 12A. Then, it is output to the coder 15A through the echo canceller 14A and digitally encoded. The digitally encoded voice signal is transmitted to the modem 17A.
And transmitted to the main unit 1B via the telephone line 200.

On the main unit 1B side, the voice signal received via the telephone line 200 is demodulated by the modem 17B. The demodulated audio signal is decoded by the decoder 16B to convert the digital signal into an analog signal. This analog audio signal is supplied to the speaker amplifier 1 through the echo canceller 14B.
The signal is amplified by the speaker 3B and output to the speaker 3B.

During the above series of operations, the switches 26B and 27B are switched to the R side. The output of the speaker amplifier 13B is also input to the rectifier / integrator 23B. The rectifying integrator 23B integrates (smooths) the audio signal after rectifying it.

FIG. 4 shows the rectifier / integrator 2 of the main body 1B.
It is a figure which shows a mode that a voice signal is rectified and integrated in 3B.
In FIG. 4, b1 indicates a waveform obtained by rectifying the output of the speaker amplifier 13B (internal waveform of 23B), and b2 indicates a waveform obtained by integrating (smoothing) the rectified waveform (output waveform of 23B). The time T ₀ indicates a time when the setting button 52B is pressed again as described later.

The output of the rectifier / integrator 23B is
The signal is digitized by the A / D converter 25B through 6B. Then, the level meter 7 is switched through the switch 27B.
Drive B. When the listener feels that the volume of the sound output from the speaker 3B is appropriate, the listener presses the setting button 6B again. When the setting button 6B is pressed, the CPU 20
B outputs an instruction signal to the switches 26B and 27B to switch the connection to the T side.

The CPU 20B has a setting button 52B
Is output to the demultiplexer 18B. The demultiplexer 18B multiplexes the control signal with the voice signal and outputs the multiplexed signal to the telephone line 200 through the modem 17B.
The multiplex signal is transmitted to the main unit 1A via the telephone line 200.

When receiving the multiplexed signal, the main unit 1A inputs the multiplexed signal to the demultiplexer 18A through the modem 17A. The demultiplexer 18A separates the multiplex signal into a voice signal and a control signal. The control signal is output to CPU 20A. CPU
20A stores the average of the volume from time T ₀ to, for example, three seconds before, as a threshold value in storage unit 29A.

More specifically, an audio signal relating to the audio generated by the speaker is output from the microphone amplifier 12A to the rectifier / integrator 22A. The rectifying integrator 22A rectifies and integrates the audio waveform. The output signal of the rectifier / integrator 22A is output to the A / D converter 25A through the switch 26A. A / D converter 25A digitizes the signal and outputs it to storage unit 29A. That is, the stored value of the storage unit 29A is constantly updated with the average value of the volume signal from a certain point in time to three seconds before. CPU20A, to the storage unit 29A in the time T _0, so as not to update the subsequent stored value.

With the above operation, the average value of the volume signal from the time T ₀ to three seconds before is stored in the storage unit 29A.

Here, FIG. 5 shows the rectifier / integrator 2 of the main body 1A.
It is a figure showing signs that an audio signal is rectified and integrated by 1A and 22A. In FIG. 5, a1 is a waveform (internal waveform of 22A) obtained by rectifying the output of the microphone amplifier 12A, a
2 is a waveform obtained by integrating (smoothing) the rectified waveform (output waveform of 22A), and a3 is a waveform (2) obtained by integrating (smoothing) the rectified waveform.
1A), and a4 indicates the threshold value stored in the storage unit 29A.

As described above, the time constant of the integrator inside the rectifying integrator 21A is smaller than the time constant of the integrator inside the rectifying integrator 22A. Therefore, a3 is not smoothed as much as a2, and has a shape close to the original speech waveform.

The threshold value is stored in the storage unit 29B for the main body 1B by the above-described series of operations.

After setting the thresholds for the main units 1A and 1B in this way, the telephone conference is started. When the speaker emits a voice signal during the conference call, the voice signal is collected by the microphone 2A. Then, the signal is amplified by the microphone amplifier 12A and output to the rectifying integrator 21A and the rectifying integrator 22A. The output signal of the rectifying integrator 21A is digitized by the A / D converter 24A,
0A is input.

The comparator 30A compares the volume of the input audio signal with the threshold value stored in the storage unit 29A. If the volume of the audio signal is higher, a signal is output to the display lamp 31A to light it.

When the speaker emits a sound having a volume higher than the stored threshold value, the display lamp 31A
Keeps lighting. Therefore, when the display lamp 31A is not turned on, it means that sound of sufficient volume has not been transmitted to the main body 1B side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the level meter 7A. The level meter 7A includes a plurality of LEDs. The LED is an LED that emits red or green light.
The threshold value stored in the storage unit 29A is set to emit red light. Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the volume of the speaker's voice is smaller than the stored threshold, the LED is caused to emit green light.

On the other hand, if it is larger than the threshold,
As shown in (b), the LED emits red light. Therefore, the speaker can visually confirm that the sound volume is not sufficient while the level meter 7A displays green, and that the sound volume becomes appropriate when displayed in red. Note that the warning lamp 9A blinks or the like in a case where the light emission of the LED of the level meter 7A is less than 1/4 from the bottom.

The light emission of the LED is realized by controlling the level meter 7A by the output of the comparator 30A. This control is performed by the CPU 20A. As a result, not only can the display lamp 8A be turned on, but also the speaker can be notified that the volume of the sound being emitted is not appropriate.

When the telephone conference is ended, the end button 51A or 5 provided on the main unit 1A or 1B side is used.
Press 1B. Thereby, the switch 19A or 1
9B is switched to the telephone 201A or 201B, and the telephone conference ends.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a top view showing a telephone conference apparatus according to a second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, four microphones 2A and operation panels 101 to 104 are provided on all sides so that a plurality of people can easily participate in the conference. The setting of the threshold value is performed on each of the operation panels 101 to 10.
Repeat up to 4.

In this embodiment, for example, when the setting button 63 provided on the operation panel 103 on the listener side is pressed, a threshold value is calculated from the volume of the sound collected by the microphone 23 on the speaker side and stored. It is configured as follows.
In order to set the threshold value, four sets of circuits configured as shown in FIG. 2 are required. In addition, each operation panel 10
There are four types so that control signals generated by 1 to 104 and those of other operation panels can be identified.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The voice of the speaker is collected, and the threshold is set by the operation of the listener based on the volume of the voice. The threshold value is stored in the storage means, and the sound emitted by the speaker is compared with the stored threshold value. As a result, when the sound emitted by the speaker is loud, the light emitting means is turned on or blinked.

Therefore, the speaker and the listener actively participate in the setting of the volume of the voice, and provide a telephone conference apparatus excellent in the human interface that transmits the voice of the optimum volume to the listener. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a telephone conference device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the telephone conference device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a part of the telephone conference device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a rectifier and integrator provided in a telephone conference apparatus on the listener side rectifies and integrates an audio signal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where a rectifier and integrator provided in a telephone conference device on the speaker side rectifies and integrates a voice signal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a level meter 7A.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the telephone conference device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B 1 Main unit 2A, 2B 21, 22, 23, 24 Microphone 3A, 3B, 3 Speakers 4A, 4B, 4 End button 5A, 5B, 5 Meeting start button 6A, 6B, 61, 62, 63, 64 Setting button 7A, 7B, 71, 72, 73, 74 Level meter 8A, 8B, 81, 82, 83, 84 Indicator lamp 9A, 9B, 91, 92, 93, 94 Warning lamp 12A, 12B Microphone amplifier 13A, 13B Speaker amplifier 14A , 15B Echo canceller 15A, 15B Coder 16A, 16B Decoder 17A, 17B Modem 18A, 18B Demultiplexer 19A, 19B Switcher 20A, 20B CPU 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B Rectifier / integrator 23A, 23B Rectifier / integrator 24A , 24B, 25A, 25B A / D converter 26A, 26B, 27A, 27B Switch 29A, 29B Transmission level storage unit 30A, 30B Comparator 40A Converter 41A Setting unit 42A Comparator 100A, 100B, 101, 102, 103, 104
Operation panel 200 Telephone line 201A, 201B Telephone

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 1/00 H04M 1/60 H04M 3/56 H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sound collecting means for collecting a voice of a speaker, a setting means for setting a threshold value by an operation of a listener based on a volume of the sound collected by the sound collecting means, Storage means for storing, and comparing means for comparing the voice emitted by the speaker with the stored threshold value,
And a light emitting unit that lights or blinks when the voice is loud as a result of the comparison. 2. The telephone conference apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary light emitting unit that lights or flashes when the volume of the voice is substantially half or less of the threshold for a predetermined time. 3. The attached light emitting means compares the sound volume of the sound with a predetermined set value and a value substantially half of the threshold value, and determines that the sound volume of the sound is equal to or higher than the set value. 3. The telephone conference device according to claim 2, wherein the device emits light when the threshold value is substantially half or less. 4. The telephone according to claim 3, wherein said set value is set based on a volume of said surrounding sound by collecting sounds around said speaker by said sound collecting means. Conference equipment. 5. The telephone conference apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of said sound collecting means and said setting means. 6. The telephone conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit includes a setting button, and calculates the threshold value when the setting button is pressed.