JP3201250B2 - Remote control device with intercom function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a plurality of remote controllers for remotely controlling a device to be operated by transmitting control data to the device to be operated. It relates to a remote control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a remote control device with an intercom function, which is provided with a plurality of remote controllers for remotely controlling a controlled device by transmitting control data to the controlled device, and capable of talking between the remote controllers. For example, a bath kettle equipped with a water heater can be remotely controlled from the bathroom and the kitchen, respectively, installed in the bathroom and the kitchen, and a remote controller installed in the bathroom and a remote controller installed in the kitchen can communicate with each other. A remote control device with an intercom function is conceivable.

[0003] Such a conventional remote control device with an intercom function has a configuration in which an analog voice signal is transmitted and received by a carrier wave during a call.

[0004]

However, since the conventional remote control device with an intercom function transmits and receives an analog voice signal using a carrier wave, it is necessary to transmit and receive control data to and from the operated device during a call. In such a case, it was necessary to interrupt the call and switch to the control data transmission mode, or to separately install a transmission path for the audio signal and a transmission path for the control data.

[0005] That is, when the talk time is relatively long, it may happen that the operated device is desired to be operated during the call, and the current operation state of the operated device is displayed on the remote controller. Since control data is periodically transmitted from the operation device to the remote controller, it is necessary to transmit and receive the control data even during a call.

However, the method of interrupting a call for transmission and reception of control data not only hinders the call, but also requires control for mode switching, which complicates the control.

[0007] Further, in a system in which the transmission path for the audio signal and the transmission path for the control data are separately installed, the number of wirings increases, so that the material cost and the cost of the wiring increase, and the construction period becomes longer. The chance of miswiring also increases.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a remote control device with an intercom function capable of transmitting and receiving control data during a call without increasing the number of wires. And

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

That is, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present application, two cores are connected to each other by two cores connecting means.
A remote control device with an intercom function, comprising a plurality of remote controllers for remotely controlling the controlled device by transmitting control data to the controlled device via connection means, and enabling communication between the remote controllers. , Each remote controller converts the audio to an audio signal, encodes the audio signal to obtain encoded audio data,
And transmission means for transmitting the encoded voice data to other remote controllers through the connecting means of two-core, two-core connection
Receiving means for decoding encoded voice data received from another remote controller through the means into a voice signal and converting the obtained voice signal into voice ;
When transmitting control data to the operated device during
Combine the data with the coded audio data and use the two-core connection means
It is characterized in that it is configured to transmit .

In the remote control device with the intercom function, the transmitting means converts the voice into a voice signal, encodes the voice signal to obtain coded voice data, and transmits the coded voice data to another remote controller. Send to Also, the receiving means decodes the encoded audio data received from another remote controller into an audio signal, and converts the obtained audio signal into audio.

As described above, according to the remote control device with the intercom function, the encoded audio data obtained by encoding the audio signal is transmitted and received between the remote controllers, so that the encoded audio data and the control data are transmitted through the common transmission path. Can transmit and receive at substantially the same time, so that control data can be transmitted and received during a call without increasing the number of wires. Therefore, there are no problems such as an increase in the material cost and the cost of the wiring due to an increase in the number of wirings, an increase in the time required for the wiring, and an increase in opportunities for erroneous wiring.

As the operated device, for example, a hot water supply device having a function of supplying hot water to a bathtub or a kitchen, a function of reheating a bath, or the like can be considered, but is not limited to this.

As the remote controller, for example, a remote controller that is installed in a bathroom or a kitchen to remotely control a water heater can be considered, but is not limited to this. The number of remote controllers having an intercom function may be three or more, but in this case, it is necessary to transmit address data for specifying the remote controller of the transmission destination prior to the call. Further, it is not necessary for all remote controllers that remotely operate the operated device to have an intercom function, and the system may include a remote controller without an intercom function.

The transmitting means may be, for example, a combination of a microphone, a voice codec, and a modem, but is not limited to this.

The receiving means may be a combination of a modem, a voice codec and a speaker, but is not limited to this.

As a method for encoding and combining audio signals, for example, PCM or ADPCM can be considered, but from the viewpoint of improving transmission efficiency by compressing transmission data, ADPCM is preferable. Of course, other methods may be adopted.

The intercom provided with the transmitting means and the receiving means is installed, for example, at the entrance, and the interphone is connected to the remote control device with the intercom function. Becomes possible.

A relay device in which the microphone and speaker of the transmitting means and the receiving means are replaced by a modem and an NCU is connected to the remote control device with an intercom function, and a telephone line is connected to the relay device. By adding a dial function to
The remote controller can be used as a telephone device.

Further, if the remote controller is provided with a function of compressing and encoding an analog video signal such as a television signal, or adding a function of decoding the same, video information can be transmitted. Therefore, even when a television receiver is installed in a bathroom remote controller, it is not necessary to draw a coaxial cable from an antenna into the bathroom.For example, if a coaxial cable from an antenna is drawn into a remote controller installed in a kitchen or a living room. Good.

Further, if the modem of the remote controller is a wireless system, it can be used as a transceiver.

[0022]

In transmitting control data to the operated device during a call, the control data is combined with the encoded voice data and transmitted to the two- core connecting means. , Control data, and power supply can all be transmitted, and the number of wirings can be minimized.

As the connection means, for example, a two-core cable is conceivable, but is not limited to this.
The method of combining the control data with the encoded audio data is arbitrary. The method of transmitting and receiving the coded audio data may be a frequency multiplexing method or a time division multiplexing method.

The invention described in claim 2 of the present application is
A plurality of remote controllers are connected to each other by two-core connecting means, and remotely control the operated device by transmitting control data to the operated device via the two-core connecting means. A remote control device with an intercom function configured to be capable of talking,
Each remote controller converts the sound to an audio signal,
The voice signal is coded to obtain coded voice data, and the coded voice data is transmitted to another remote controller via the two-core connection means, and another transmission means is provided via the two-core connection means. Receiving means for decoding the coded voice data received from the remote controller into a voice signal and converting the obtained voice signal into voice, and transmitting the control data to the operated device during the telephone call. And encoded audio data are transmitted to the two-core connecting means by a time division multiplexing method.

According to the remote control device with the intercom function, when transmitting control data to the operated device during a call, the control data and the encoded voice data are transmitted to the two-core connecting means by the time division multiplex system. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 1, all of the encoded voice data, control data, and power can be transmitted by the two-core connection means, and the number of wirings is reduced to the minimum. can do.

Further, the invention described in claim 3 of the present application is:
A interphone function with remote control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, provided with protocol conversion means between the the operated equipment and a plurality of remote controllers, different from each other in the the operated equipment and a plurality of remote controllers The transmission and reception of control data is performed using a communication protocol.

According to the remote control device with the intercom function, the control data is transmitted and received between the operated device and the plurality of remote controllers using mutually different communication protocols, so that the intercom according to claim 1 or 2 is provided. In addition to the effect of the remote control device with a function, a conventional operated device that is not assumed to be connected to the remote controller with an intercom function can be used as it is.

Further, the invention described in claim 4 of the present application is:
3. The remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 2 , wherein the control data transmitted from the operated device and the plurality of remote controllers to the two-core connection means, and the control data transmitted from the plurality of remote controllers to the two-core connection means. The communication method of the encoded voice data is a contention method during non-communication and a polling method during communication.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control system of a hot water supply system including a remote control device with an intercom function according to the present invention. The hot water supply system includes a water heater 1 as an example of a device to be operated and a remote control device. A bathroom remote controller 2 as an example of a controller, a bathroom remote controller 3 as an example of a remote controller,
A two-core cable 4 is provided as an example of a connecting means for interconnecting the water heater 1, the bathroom remote controller 2, and the bathroom remote controller 3.

The water heater 1 has a hot water supply function of supplying hot water to a kitchen or a bathtub, a bath reheating function of circulating hot water in the bathtub and heating. The bathroom remote controller 2 is installed in the bathroom and has a function of remotely operating the water heater 1 and a function of making a call with the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. The remote controller 3 outside the bathroom is provided, for example, in a kitchen and has a function of remotely controlling the water heater 1 and a function of making a call with the remote controller 2 in the bathroom.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the water heater 1. The water heater 1 includes a power supply superimposing means 11, a line interface driver 12, a modem 13, a data processing means 14, and a hot water control means 15. Have.

The power supply superimposing means 11 supplies power to the remote controller 2 in the bathroom and the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom via the cable 4. The line interface driver 12 functions as an input / output interface of the water heater 1. The modem 13 demodulates control data input via the line interface driver 12 and modulates control data input via the data processing means 14. That is, the carrier wave of the control data output from the line interface driver 12 is superimposed on the power supply on the cable 4. Data processing means 14
Processes a signal indicating the current operating state of the water heater 1 from the hot water supply control means 15 and outputs the processed signal to the modem 13 as control data. The remote controller 2 and the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom are demodulated by the modem 13. And outputs it to the hot water supply control means 15 as a control instruction signal. Hot water supply control means 15 controls various controlled elements of water heater 1 based on a control instruction signal from data processing means 14 and the like.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the bathroom remote controller 2. The bathroom remote controller 2 includes a power supply separating unit 21, a line interface driver 22, a modem 23, a control unit 24, and a voice codec 25. , Equalizer amplifier 26, microphone 2
7, audio amplifier 28, speaker 29, buzzer signal generating means 30, call switch 31, call display means 3
2, remote control operation means 33, and remote control display means 3
4 is provided.

The power supply separation means 21 separates the power supply superimposed and transmitted via the cable 4 and supplies a DC voltage to each circuit of the remote controller 2 in the bathroom. The line interface driver 22 functions as an input / output interface of the bathroom remote controller 2. The modem 23 includes a line interface driver 22
The control data and encoded audio data from the water heater 1 and the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom input through the control unit 24 are demodulated, and the control data and encoded audio data input through the control unit 24 are modulated. The control unit 24 includes, for example, a one-chip microcomputer, and controls the entire remote controller 2 in the bathroom. The audio codec 25 encodes the audio signal input via the equalizer / amplifier 26 by the ADPCM method, and decodes and synthesizes the encoded audio data from the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom input via the control unit 24. Convert. The equalizer amplifier 26 performs amplitude control and band correction on the audio signal from the microphone 27 to minimize distortion. The microphone 27 converts a user's voice into a voice signal. The audio amplifier 28 amplifies the audio signal input from the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom via the audio codec 25. The speaker 29 converts the audio signal amplified by the audio amplifier 28 into a voice, and converts the buzzer signal from the buzzer signal generation unit 30 into a buzzer sound. The buzzer signal generation means 30 generates a buzzer signal under the control of the control unit 24. The call switch 31 is operated by the user to instruct the start of a call or the like. The call display means 32 includes the call switch 3
The LED 1 has a built-in LED, and displays a call of the intercom or a call state by blinking or lighting.
The remote control operation means 33 outputs an operation signal for remotely controlling the water heater 1 operated by the user to the control unit 24. The remote control display means 34 is driven and controlled by the control unit 24 and displays the current operation state of the water heater 1 and the like.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. The remote controller 3 outside the bathroom includes a power supply separating unit 41, a line interface driver 42, a modem 43, a control unit 44, and a voice codec 45. , Equalizer amplifier 46, microphone 4
7, audio amplifier 48, speaker 49, buzzer signal generation means 50, call switch 51, call display means 5
2. Remote control operation means 53 and remote control display means 5
4 is provided.

The power supply separation means 41 separates the power supply superimposed and transmitted via the cable 4 and supplies a DC voltage to each circuit section of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. The line interface driver 42 functions as an input / output interface of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. The modem 43 includes a line interface driver 42
, And demodulates the control data and the encoded audio data from the water heater 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 input through the control unit 44, and modulates the control data and the encoded audio data input through the control unit 44. The control unit 44 includes, for example, a one-chip microcomputer and controls the entire remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. The audio codec 45 encodes the audio signal input through the equalizer amplifier 46 by the ADPCM method, and decodes and synthesizes the encoded audio data from the bathroom remote controller 2 input through the control unit 44. Convert. The equalizer amplifier 46 performs amplitude control and band correction of the audio signal from the microphone 47 to minimize distortion. The microphone 47 converts a user's voice into a voice signal. The audio amplifier 48 amplifies the audio signal input from the bathroom remote controller 2 via the audio codec 45. The speaker 49 converts the audio signal amplified by the audio amplifier 48 into a voice, and converts the buzzer signal from the buzzer signal generation unit 50 into a buzzer sound. The buzzer signal generation unit 50 is controlled by the control unit 44 to generate a buzzer signal. The call switch 51 is operated by the user to instruct a start of a call or the like. The call display means 52 includes the call switch 5
The LED 1 has a built-in LED, and displays a call of the intercom or a call state by blinking or lighting.
The remote control operation means 53 outputs an operation signal for remotely controlling the water heater 1 operated by the user to the control unit 44. The remote control display means 54 is driven and controlled by the control unit 44 and displays the current operation state of the water heater 1 and the like.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the remote controller 2 in the bathroom. A microphone 27, a speaker 29, a call switch 31, and the like are installed in front of the remote controller 2 in the bathroom. Call display means 32
Is built in the telephone call switch 31 so that lighting or blinking can be visually recognized from outside. Also,
Remote control operation means 33 is constituted by various switches such as operation on / off and bath automatic operation, and remote control display by various display lamps and fluorescent display tubes for displaying a current operation state of the water heater 1 such as an operation state of bath automatic operation. Means 34 are constituted.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. In front of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, a microphone 47, a speaker 49, a call switch 51 and the like are installed. Call display means 52
Is built in the telephone call switch 51 so that lighting or blinking can be visually recognized from outside. Also,
The remote control operation means 53 is constituted by various switches such as operation on / off and bath automatic, and the remote control display means 54 is constituted by various display lamps and a fluorescent display tube for displaying the current operation state of the water heater 1 such as hot water temperature. Have been.

Next, the operation of the remote control device with an intercom function will be described. When the user operates the remote control operation means 33 of the bathroom remote controller 2, the remote control operation means 33 outputs an operation signal according to the operation of the user to the control unit 24. Thereby, the control unit 24 outputs control data corresponding to the operation signal from the remote control operation unit 33 to the modem 23. As a result, the modem 23 modulates the carrier with the control data from the control unit 24 and transmits the signal to the cable 4 via the line interface driver 22.
To send to.

When the user operates the remote controller 53 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the remote controller 53 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the user's operation to the controller 44. Thereby, the control unit 44 outputs control data corresponding to the operation signal from the remote control operation unit 53 to the modem 43. As a result, the modem 43 modulates the carrier with the control data from the control unit 44 and transmits the
To send to.

The carrier wave of the control data from the bathroom remote controller 2 or the bathroom remote controller 3 superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is transmitted to the modem 13 via the line interface driver 12 of the water heater 1.
And demodulated by the modem 13 to extract control data. The control data is transmitted to the data processing unit 14.
Is output to Thereby, the data processing means 14 generates a control instruction signal based on the control data input via the modem 13 and transmits the control instruction signal to the hot water supply control means 15.
Output to Thereby, hot water supply control means 15 controls each controlled element of water heater 1 in accordance with a control instruction signal from data processing means 14. As a result, the water heater 1 is remotely controlled by the bathroom remote controller 2 or the bathroom remote controller 3.

On the other hand, the data processing means 14 of the water heater 1
A signal corresponding to the current operation state of the water heater 1 is read from the water heater control means 15 at predetermined time intervals, control data is generated based on the signal, and output to the modem 13. As a result, the modem 13 modulates the carrier with the control data from the data processing means 14 and transmits the modulated carrier to the cable 4 via the line interface driver 12.

Water heater 1 superimposed and transmitted by cable 4
Is input to the modem 23 via the line interface driver 22 of the bathroom remote controller 2, demodulated by the modem 23, the control data is extracted, and output to the control unit 24.
Thereby, the control unit 24 controls the driving of the remote control display means 34 based on the control data input via the modem 23, and causes the remote control display means 34 to display the current operation state of the water heater 1.

Further, the carrier wave of the control data from the water heater 1 superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is input to the modem 43 via the line interface driver 42 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, and demodulated by the modem 43. The control data is extracted and output to the control unit 44. As a result, the control unit 44 controls the remote control display unit 54 based on the control data input through the modem 43.
Is driven, and the current operation state of the water heater 1 is displayed on the remote control display means 54.

Here, a communication procedure from the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom to the remote controller 2 in the bathroom will be described with reference to a command transmission / reception explanatory diagram shown in FIG. First, when the kitchen user presses the call switch 51 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the call switch 51
Outputs an operation signal to the control unit 44. As a result, the control unit 44 switches to a state of processing the encoded voice data from the modem 43 and the voice codec 45, turns on the LED constituting the call display means 52, and further controls the call control corresponding to the call start request command. The data is generated and output to the modem 43. This call display means 5
By lighting of the LED constituting 2, the user of the kitchen is notified that the pressing operation of the call switch 51 has been accepted by the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. As a result, the modem 43 modulates the carrier with the call control data from the control unit 44, and the line interface driver 4
2 to the cable 4.

The carrier wave of the call control data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is demodulated by the modem 23 of the bathroom remote controller 2, the call control data is taken out, and output to the control unit 24. Thereby, the control unit 24
Switches to a state of processing the encoded voice data from the modem 23 and the voice codec 25, and controls the drive of the buzzer signal generating means 30 and the voice displaying means 32 based on the voice control data. That is, the LED constituting the call display means 32 is turned on, and the buzzer signal generation means 30 generates a buzzer signal and makes the speaker 29 emit a buzzer sound for one second. The intercom call is notified to the user of the bathroom by the lighting of the LED and the buzzer sound that constitute the call display means 32.

In this state, a telephone call can be made between the bathroom user and the kitchen user. That is, when the user of the bathroom utters a sound toward the microphone 27 of the remote controller 2 in the bathroom, the sound signal from the microphone 27 is amplitude-controlled and band-corrected by the equalizer amplifier 26 and input to the sound codec 25. This audio signal is compression-encoded by the audio codec 25 according to the ADPCM method, and output to the control unit 24 as encoded audio data. The encoded voice data is subjected to error correction processing by the control unit 24 and output to the modem 23. As a result, the modem 23 modulates the carrier with the encoded voice data input via the control unit 24 and sends the modulated carrier to the cable 4 via the line interface driver 22.

At this time, when the user of the bathroom operates the remote controller operating means 33, control data corresponding to the operation content is generated by the control unit 24, and the control unit 24 transmits the control data from the audio codec 25. , And output to the modem 23 after performing error correction processing.

The carrier of the encoded voice data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is input to the modem 13 via the line interface driver 12 of the water heater 1, demodulated by the modem 13 and output to the data processing means 14. You. As a result, if the control data is combined with the encoded voice data, the data processing unit 14 extracts only the control data and outputs the control data to the hot water supply control unit 15. That is, if the control data is not combined with the encoded audio data,
All of the encoded audio data is discarded.

Further, the carrier wave of the encoded voice data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is input to the modem 43 via the line interface driver 42 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, and is demodulated by the modem 43 to be demodulated by the control unit 44. Is output to Thereby, the control unit 44
The coded voice data is subjected to error correction processing. If the coded voice data is combined with control data, only the coded voice data is extracted and output to the voice codec 45. Thus, the audio codec 45 decodes the encoded audio data input via the control unit 44 and outputs an audio signal to the audio amplifier 48. This audio signal is amplified by an audio amplifier 48 and a speaker 49
Is converted to voice.

Conversely, when the user of the kitchen utters a sound toward the microphone 47 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the sound signal from the microphone 47 is subjected to amplitude control and band correction by the equalizer amplifier 46, and is sent to the sound codec 45. Is entered. This audio signal is compression-coded by the ADPCM method by the audio codec 45,
The encoded audio data is output to the control unit 44. The encoded voice data is subjected to error correction processing by the control unit 44 and output to the modem 43. This allows modem 4
3 modulates the carrier with the encoded voice data input via the control unit 44 and sends the modulated carrier to the cable 4 via the line interface driver 42.

At this time, when the remote controller operating means 53 is operated by the kitchen user, control data corresponding to the operation content is generated by the control unit 44, and the control unit 44 transmits the control data from the audio codec 45. , And output to the modem 23 after performing error correction processing.

The carrier of the encoded voice data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is input to the modem 13 via the line interface driver 12 of the water heater 1, demodulated by the modem 13 and output to the data processing means 14. You. Thereby, if the control data is combined with the encoded voice data, the data processing means 14 extracts only the control data and outputs it to the hot water supply control means 15. That is,
If the control data is not combined with the encoded audio data, all the encoded audio data is discarded.

Further, the carrier of the encoded voice data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is input to the modem 23 via the line interface driver 22 of the bathroom remote controller 2, demodulated by the modem 23, and demodulated by the modem 23. Is output to Thereby, the control unit 24
The encoded audio data is subjected to error correction processing. If the encoded audio data is combined with control data, only the encoded audio data is extracted and output to the audio codec 25. Thus, the audio codec 25 decodes the encoded audio data input via the control unit 24 and outputs an audio signal to the audio amplifier 28. This audio signal is amplified by the audio amplifier 28 and the speaker 29
Is converted to voice.

Here, when the user of the kitchen presses the call switch 51 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, or when the user of the bathroom presses the call switch 31 of the remote controller 2 of the bathroom, the talking state ends.

For example, when the kitchen user presses the call switch 51 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the call switch 51 outputs an operation signal to the control unit 44. Thereby, the control unit 44 controls the modem 43 and the voice codec 4
5 is switched to a state in which the encoded voice data is not processed, the LED constituting the call display means 52 is turned off, and call control data corresponding to the call end request command is generated and output to the modem 43. By turning off the LED constituting the call display means 52, the user of the kitchen is notified that the pressing operation of the call switch 51 has been received by the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. As a result, the modem 43 modulates the carrier with the call control data from the control unit 44 and sends it out to the cable 4 via the line interface driver 42.

The carrier of the call control data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is demodulated by the modem 23 of the bathroom remote controller 2, the call control data is taken out, and output to the control unit 24. Thereby, the control unit 24
Is switched to a state in which the encoded voice data from the modem 23 and the voice codec 25 is not processed, and the LED constituting the call display means 32 is turned off. By turning off the LED constituting the call display means 32, the end of the call is notified to the user in the bathroom.

Conversely, when the user of the bathroom presses the talk switch 31 of the bathroom remote controller 2, the talk switch 31 outputs an operation signal to the control unit 24. As a result, the control unit 24 switches to a state in which the encoded voice data from the modem 23 and the voice codec 25 is not processed, turns off the LED constituting the call display means 32, and further controls the call control corresponding to the call end request command. The data is generated and output to the modem 23. By turning off the LED constituting the call display means 32, the user of the bathroom is notified that the pressing operation of the call switch 31 has been accepted by the bathroom remote controller 2. As a result, the modem 23 modulates the carrier with the call control data from the control unit 24 and sends the modulated carrier to the cable 4 via the line interface driver 22.

The carrier of the call control data superimposed and transmitted by the cable 4 is demodulated by the modem 43 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the call control data is taken out, and output to the control unit 44. Thereby, the control unit 44
Is switched to a state in which the encoded voice data from the modem 43 and the voice codec 45 are not processed, and the LED constituting the call display means 52 is turned off. By turning off the LED constituting the call display means 52, the end of the call is notified to the kitchen user.

Next, a communication procedure from the bathroom remote controller 2 to the bathroom remote controller 3 will be described.
This will be described with reference to the command transmission / reception explanatory diagram shown in FIG. Since the details of the operation of each unit due to the transmission and reception of various data have already been described, they will not be described below.

First, when the user of the bathroom presses the call switch 31 of the remote controller 2 in the bathroom, the LED constituting the call display means 32 flashes, and the speaker 49 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom sounds a buzzer. The LED constituting the call display means 52 blinks. That is, the blinking of the LED constituting the call display means 32 informs the user of the bathroom that a call is being made, and the buzzer sound by the speaker 49 and the blinking of the LED constituting the call display means 52 allow the user of the kitchen Is notified of the call start request.

When the kitchen user presses the call switch 51 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the buzzer sound from the speaker 49 stops, and the LED constituting the call display means 52
Flashes on and off. Further, the blinking of the LED constituting the call display means 32 of the bathroom remote controller 2 is switched to lighting. In other words, it informs the user of both the bathroom and the kitchen that a telephone call is possible. This is because it is not clear from the bathroom user whether or not there is a user in the kitchen. Therefore, when the kitchen user presses the call switch 51 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, the presence of the user is determined. After being confirmed,
This is for shifting to a call state.

In such a call state, the user of the kitchen operates the call switch 51 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom.
Is pressed, or when the user of the bathroom presses the call switch 31 of the remote controller 2 in the bathroom, both the LED constituting the call display means 32 and the LED constituting the call display means 52 are turned off, and the call state ends. I do.

As shown in FIG. 9, the protocol converter 61 is built in the water heater 1 or the protocol converter 61 is inserted between the water heater 1 and the cable 4 to reduce the data transmission speed. The conventional water heater 1 having the slow modem 13 can be used as it is. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the protocol converter 61 includes a line interface driver 71, a modem 72, a control unit 73,
The control unit 73 includes a modem 74 and a line interface driver 75. The control unit 73 compresses control data input via the modem 72 and outputs the compressed control data to the modem 74. The data is decompressed and output to the modem 72. Communication between the water heater 1 and the protocol converter 61 is performed using a conventional protocol, and the communication speed between the protocol converter 61 and the remote controller 2 in the bathroom and the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom is controlled by increasing the communication speed. Communication is performed using a protocol different from that of the conventional water heater 1 in which data and coded voice data are multiplexed and transmitted by a time division multiplexing method.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the protocol may be switched between non-call and call. That is, communication is performed by a contention method during non-call, and communication is performed by polling during a call.

At the time of non-call, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, at time t ₁ , the kitchen user operates the remote control operating means 53 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom, and the control data is output from the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom. Te, control data corresponding to the reply command from the water heater 1 is returned to the bath outside the remote controller 3, the user of the bathroom in time t ₂ operates the remote control unit 33 of the bathroom remote controller 2, bathroom remote controller 2 outputs control data, and the water heater 1 returns control data corresponding to the response command to the remote controller 2 in the bathroom.

At the time of a telephone call, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the remote controller 2 in the bathroom on the transmitting side serves as a master and performs communication by a polling method. That is, audio A is encoded audio data transmitted from the bathroom remote controller 2 to the cable 4, and audio B is encoded audio data transmitted from the bathroom remote controller 3 to the cable 4 at time t ₃ . When the remote controller operating means 33 of the bathroom remote controller 2 or the remote controller operating means 53 of the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom is operated,
Control data is transmitted from the remote controller 2 in the bathroom or the remote controller 3 outside the bathroom to the cable 4 in the next time slot for control data, and responds to the response command from the water heater 1 in the time slot for control data in the next frame. Control data is transmitted to the cable 4.
Note that T indicates a frame period. When there is no control data, the time slot for control data is blank, that is, a non-communication section.

[0070]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the encoded audio data obtained by encoding the audio signal is transmitted and received between the remote controllers, the encoded audio data and the control data are transmitted in common. Since transmission / reception can be performed substantially simultaneously using a path, transmission / reception of control data can be performed during a call without increasing the number of wires. Therefore, there are no problems such as an increase in the material cost and the cost of the wiring due to an increase in the number of wirings, an increase in the time required for the wiring, and an increase in opportunities for erroneous wiring. Also, send control data to the operated device during a call
At this time, the control data is combined with the encoded
Since it is sent out to the core connection means, the code is
All encrypted audio data, control data and power
And the number of wires can be reduced to the limit.
Wear.

[0071]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when transmitting control data to the operated device during a call, the control data and the encoded voice data are transmitted to the two-core connecting means by a time-division multiplexing method. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 1, all of the encoded voice data, control data, and power can be transmitted by the two-core connection means, and the number of wirings is reduced to the minimum. can do.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the control data is transmitted and received between the operated device and the plurality of remote controllers using different communication protocols, the interphone according to the first or second aspect is provided. In addition to the effect of the remote control device with a function, a conventional operated device that is not assumed to be connected to the remote controller with an intercom function can be used as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the water heater shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the bathroom remote controller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of the remote controller outside the bathroom shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bathroom remote controller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the remote controller outside the bathroom shown in FIG. 1;

7 is an explanatory diagram of a call procedure in a call from the remote controller outside the bathroom shown in FIG. 1 to the remote controller in the bathroom.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a call procedure in a call from the bathroom remote controller shown in FIG. 1 to the bathroom remote controller.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of a water heater according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a circuit block diagram of the protocol converter shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of data transmission in still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 hot water heater 2 remote controller in bathroom 3 remote controller outside bathroom 4 cable 22 line interface driver 23 modem 24 control unit 25 audio codec 27 microphone 29 speaker 31 call switch 33 remote control operating means 42 line interface driver 43 modem 44 control Part 45 voice codec 47 microphone 49 speaker 51 call switch 53 remote control operation means 61 protocol converter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Yoshida 93, Edo-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Noritsu Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-6-153272 (JP, A) JP-A-3-112255 (JP, A) JP-A-4-260242 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24H 1/00 H04M 9/00 H04Q 9/00 311

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of remote controllers which are mutually connected by two-core connecting means and which remotely control the operated device by transmitting control data to the operated device via the two-core connecting means. A remote control device with an intercom function, configured to enable communication between these remote controllers, wherein each remote controller converts a voice into a voice signal and encodes the voice signal to obtain coded voice data. Transmitting means for transmitting the encoded audio data to another remote controller via the two-core connection means, and transmitting the encoded audio data received from the other remote controller via the two-core connection means as audio. Decoding into a signal,
Receiving means for converting the obtained voice signal into voice, and transmitting the control data to the operated device during a telephone call, combining the control data with the coded voice data to form the two-core A remote control device with an intercom function. 2. A plurality of remote controllers which are mutually connected by two-core connecting means and which remotely control the operated device by transmitting control data to the operated device via the two-core connecting means. A remote control device with an intercom function, configured to enable communication between these remote controllers, wherein each remote controller converts a voice into a voice signal and encodes the voice signal to obtain coded voice data. Transmitting means for transmitting the encoded audio data to another remote controller via the two-core connection means, and transmitting the encoded audio data received from the other remote controller via the two-core connection means as audio. Decoding into a signal,
Receiving means for converting the voice signal obtained thereby into voice, and when transmitting the control data to the operated device during a call, the control data and the coded voice data are time-division multiplexed. A remote control device with an intercom function, wherein the remote control device is configured to transmit the signal to the two-core connection means. 3. A protocol conversion means is provided between the operated device and the plurality of remote controllers, and control data is transmitted and received between the operated device and the plurality of remote controllers using different communication protocols. wherein the structure and the claim 1 or claim 2
A remote control device with an intercom function according to item 1. 4. The control data transmitted from the operated device and the plurality of remote controllers to the two-core connection means, and the encoded voice transmitted from the plurality of remote controllers to the two-core connection means. The data communication method is a contention method when not in a call,
3. The remote control device with an intercom function according to claim 2 , wherein a polling method is used during a call.