JP3889291B2 - Remote control system with intercom function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote control system with an interphone function provided with first and second remote controls for remotely controlling a hot water heater in a bath, and the first and second remote controls are provided, for example, in a kitchen and a bathroom. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
A hot water heater is used as a device for automatically pouring hot water into the bathtub and, in some cases, boiling water accumulated in the bathtub, and the first and second remote controllers for remotely operating the hot water heater as needed are respectively provided in the kitchen and bathroom. Is provided.
Recently, a system in which an interphone function is provided between the first and second remote controls has been developed, and the volume of the microphone provided in each of the first and second intercoms is detected to exceed a certain level. A remote control system with an intercom function is also available on the market.
In such a remote control system with an intercom function, a call lamp that is always lit during a call is provided.
Furthermore, some models have a voice message (for example, “hot water comes out”) informing of any change in the water heater.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a conventional remote control system with an intercom function, the call lamp is lit during a call, but it may not be known whether the call is in a transmission state or a reception state, and the conversation may not flow smoothly.
Furthermore, when the other party is speaking, it is impossible to make a call from here, so it was necessary to wait for the other party to finish talking. In particular, when the other party's intercom device is operating with shower sound or the like, there is an inconvenience that it is necessary to wait until it is finished.
Furthermore, the message when there is a change in the water heater has a problem that when the interphone is in use, it is mixed with the voice of the interphone and the receiver cannot hear the message.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the direction of the call is automatically switched upon detection of sound pressure. Further, the lighting state of the call lamp in the call state is changed, and the transmission state and the reception state are clearly defined. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a remote control system with an intercom function that can be used.
A second object is to provide a remote control system with an intercom function that can forcibly change the call state even when the other party is speaking.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide a remote control system with an intercom function that can clearly hear a message uttered from a system change or the like.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The remote control system with an intercom function according to the first invention according to the first and second objects is provided with a first and a second remote controller that are provided in different locations and remotely control a water heater. A remote control system with an interphone function comprising an interphone device that detects sound input from the first and second microphones respectively provided in the second remote controller and automatically switches the call direction from one to the other, said first, second remote control provided with a call switch to start the interphone function, the first, call lamp indicating a call state to the second remote control provided, further, the first, second remote control The call lamp of the remote control in one of the transmission states is continuously lit, the call lamp of the other remote control in the reception state is blinked , and the first and second When the call switch of the remote controller on the receiving side among the remote controllers is pressed and held, the remote controller on the receiving side is forcibly switched to the remote controller on the transmitting side.
[0006]
The intercom function remote control system according to a second invention also has an third object, in the intercom function remote control system according to the first invention, comprising a first, respectively voice guidance unit to the second remote control When the voice guidance unit is activated, the volume of the voice guidance on the receiving side of the first and second remote controllers remains normal, the volume of the call is lower than normal, and the call sound and the voice The voice from the guidance unit is mixed and uttered from the speaker.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an operation flow diagram of the main part of the remote control system with an intercom function according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the remote control of the system, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic blocks of the system. FIG.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 3, a remote control system 10 with an intercom function according to an embodiment of the present invention is built in first and second remote controls 12 and 13 that remotely control a water heater 11 that is usually placed outdoors. It is a device. The first remote control 12 (shown as “remote control 1” in the figure) is placed in the kitchen, and the second remote control 13 (shown as “remote control 2” in the figure) is placed in the bathroom. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 12 and the second remote controller 13 are provided with a “bath automatic” switch 14, a lamp 15 for displaying it, a hot water temperature adjustment switch 16, 17, and an operation switch 18. In addition, a display unit 19 is provided for displaying a hot water supply temperature, a bath temperature, an operation state, and the like using a liquid crystal, a fluorescent display tube, a light emitting diode, and the like. The second remote controller 13 on the bathroom side is further provided with a hot water level setting switch for controlling the hot water level in the bathtub. Since the hot water heater 11 and the internal mechanisms of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 that control the hot water heater 11 are well known, a description of the control device for the hot water heater system is omitted.
[0009]
Each of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 is provided with an interphone device 20 as shown in FIG. 4, and has control circuits 21 and 21a each having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an I / O. Yes. The control circuit 21 of the first remote controller 12 and the control circuit 21a of the second remote controller 13 are linked to each other by a carrier wave that propagates through the control line 22 of the water heater system. That is, the propagation of the control signal from the control circuit 21 of the first remote control 12 to the control circuit 21a of the second remote control 13 is performed by modulating the control signal from the control circuit 21 into a high frequency signal by the modulation circuit 23. In the reception of the signal from the control circuit 21 a to the control circuit 21, the detected high frequency signal is demodulated by the detection circuit 24 and input to the control circuit 21. As a result, the same information is input to the CPUs in the control circuits 21 and 21a, and both operate as one unit.
Hereinafter, this operation will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The basic operation in which the interphone device 20 is a one-way call and the call direction (that is, the transmission direction and the reception direction) is switched and used. Is well known, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0010]
The interphone device 20 provided in each of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 includes a microphone (corresponding to the first or second microphone) 25 for inputting sound, and a speaker 26 for outputting sound. Is provided. The signal of the microphone 25 is amplified by an amplifier 27, modulated to a predetermined frequency by a modulation circuit 28, and sent to the control line 22.
On the other hand, the signal from the control line 22 is demodulated through the detection circuit 29, amplified by the amplifier 30, and converted into sound by the speaker 26. The control circuit 21 (21a) is provided with a switching circuit so that the modulation circuit 28 and the detection circuit 29 do not operate at the same time. The modulation circuit 28 and the amplifier 27 of the remote controller 12 are in the activated state, and the detection circuit 29 and the amplifier 30 of the second remote controller 13 are in the activated state. When sending a sound to the remote controller 13, control is performed so that the modulation circuit 28 and the amplifier 27 of the second remote controller 13 are in the operating state, and the detection circuit 29 and the amplifier 30 of the first remote controller 12 are in the operating state. ing. As a result, the communication state between the remote controllers 12 and 13 is switched by the control circuits 21 and 21a that operate together through the communication line. Note that the frequencies of the carrier waves of the control circuits 21 and 21a and the sound carrier waves are changed.
[0011]
Each interphone device 20 is provided with a microphone level detection circuit 31 that receives the signal of the microphone 25 amplified by the amplifier 27, and detects whether or not there is a signal higher than a predetermined sound pressure from the microphone 25, and the control circuit 21. (21a).
The intercom device 20 has a call switch 32 that activates the interphone function, and a signal that is turned on by pressing the call switch 32 is input to the control circuit 21 (21a).
The intercom device 20 includes a call lamp 33 indicating a call state, and performs continuous lighting or intermittent lighting (flashing lighting) according to a predetermined signal from the control circuit 21 (21a). A voice guidance unit 34 that records one or more specific voice messages is provided, and a voice signal based on a predetermined signal from the control circuit on the water heater 11 side is input to the amplifier 30. As described above, the amplifier 30 also receives the audio signal demodulated by the detection circuit 29. However, when there is a signal from the audio guidance unit 34, the input signal level of the audio signal from the detection circuit 29 decreases. . As a result, the voice from the voice guidance unit 34 is uttered from the speaker 26 at a normal voice level, but the voice signal passing through the detection circuit 29 is uttered from the speaker 26 at a slightly lower level (that is, by reducing the volume). It has become so. That is, the speech sound and the voice from the voice guidance unit 34 are mixed and uttered.
When using this intercom device 20, one of the first and second remote controls 12 and 13 is pressed to turn it on. As a result, the intercom device 20 is activated. The intercom device 20 can be used by the above operation regardless of whether the operation switch 18 is on or off.
[0012]
Next, the operation of the intercom device 20 that is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, first, the intercom apparatus 20 starts operating by pressing one of the call switches 32 of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 (step S1). In this embodiment, a case where the call switch 32 of the second remote controller 13 is pressed will be described. Thereby, the call direction of the second remote control 13 is switched to transmission (step S2), and the call direction of the first remote control 12 is switched to reception (step S3). Then, the call lamp 33 of the second remote controller 13 is lit continuously (step S4), and the call lamp 33 of the first remote controller 12 is lit (intermittently) lit (step S5). As a result, the remote control system 10 with the intercom function can be used.
In this state, it is detected whether or not the call switch 32 of the first remote controller 12 that is receiving a call has been pressed for a long time (that is, continuously pressed, for example, 2 seconds or longer) (step S6). If it is not pressed for a long time, it is confirmed that the call switch 32 is turned on (step S7), and the sound pressure level from the microphone 25 of the first remote control 12 in the receiving state is higher than the switching level. It is determined whether it is larger (step S8). This detects whether or not there is sound from the microphone 25 of the first remote controller 12 on the receiver side, and if there is, the call state of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 is automatically set in the following steps. To change.
[0013]
Thereafter, it is confirmed that the first remote controller 12 is transmitting (step S9). Although this step is considered unnecessary, it is to prevent malfunction caused by an instantaneous sound input close to noise. As a result of the confirmation in step S9, when the transmission state is established, the call direction of the first remote control 12 is switched to transmission (step S10), the call direction of the second remote control 13 is switched to reception (step S11), The call lamp 33 of the first remote control 12 is turned on continuously (step S12), and the call lamp 33 of the second remote control 13 is turned on (flashing) (step S13). As a result, the call directions of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 are switched.
In this state, the first remote controller 12 is in the transmitting state and the second remote controller 13 is in the receiving state, but if the first remote controller 12 is not in the transmitting state in step S9, step S15 is performed. Then, it is detected whether the sound pressure level from the microphone 25 of the second remote controller 13 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. If the sound pressure level is equal to or higher than the switching level, the first step is performed through steps S2 to S5. The call state of the second remote controllers 12 and 13 is not switched.
[0014]
When it is detected that the call switch 32 of the first remote controller 12 is pressed for a long time in step S6, the process proceeds from step S6 to steps S10 to S13 to change the call state of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13. When it is detected in step S14 that the call switch 32 of the second remote controller 13 is long pressed, the process proceeds from step S14 to step S2, and the call states of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 are switched.
The call switch 32 is self-holding in terms of circuit, and is turned on when pressed once, and turned off when pressed once again in a short time. In this case, the process proceeds from step S7 to step S16. At the end of the call, the call lamps 33 of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 are turned off. However, if the call switch 32 is pressed for, for example, 2 seconds or longer during a call, the call switch 32 is not turned off, and step S6 or step S14 will be recognized.
In this embodiment, when the call switch 32 is first pressed, the second remote controller 13 transmits and the first remote controller 12 receives, but the call switches 32 of the first and second remote controllers 12 and 13 are used. Can be recognized separately, and the remote controller on the side pressed first can be preferentially placed in the transmission state, and the present invention is applied also in this case.
[0015]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention is also applied to modifications within a range that does not change the gist of the present invention. For example, including three or more remote controllers is also included. In the above-described embodiment, the long press time of the call switch 32 is arbitrary, but it is more preferably set to about 1.5 to 5 seconds.
In the above embodiment, the intercom apparatus 20 as a pair uses a carrier wave for mutual communication, but it is also possible to make a call using a dedicated wiring. Furthermore, although the control circuit provided with CPU is arrange | positioned in both the intercom apparatuses 20 used as a pair, it can also be set as the structure which arrange | positions CPU only in one side.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the lighting state of the call lamp 33 is distinguished by continuous lighting and intermittent lighting. However, the state of transmission and reception can be displayed by changing the emission color of the calling lamp.
It is also possible to input a voice signal from the control circuit 21 (21a) side (for example, “end call”) to the voice guidance unit 34.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the remote control system with an intercom function according to claims 1 and 2 is provided with a call switch for activating the intercom function in the first and second remote controls, and the first and second remote controls. Since the remote control is provided with a call lamp indicating the call status, and the lighting status of the call lamp is changed between the transmission status and the reception status, whether the current remote control is in the transmission status or the reception status It can be confirmed visually.
In addition , since the call lamp of the remote controller in the transmission state of either the first or second remote controller is continuously lit, the call lamp of the other remote controller in the reception state is lit in a flashing manner. Easy to see.
Furthermore , if you press and hold the call switch on the receiving remote control among the first and second remote controls, the receiving remote control is forcibly switched to the sending remote control. You can send a message.
In the remote control system with an intercom function according to claim 2 , each of the first and second remote controllers includes a voice guidance unit, and when the voice guidance unit is activated, the first and second remote controllers receive a call. The voice guidance volume on the other side remains normal, the call volume is lower than normal, and the voice and voice from the voice guidance section are mixed and uttered from the speaker, so the voice guidance can be heard clearly .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart of a main part of a remote control system with an intercom function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the remote controller of the system.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the system.
FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Remote control system with intercom function, 11: Water heater, 12: First remote controller, 13: Second remote controller, 14: Switch, 15: Lamp, 16, 17: Adjustment switch, 18: Operation switch, 19: Display , 20: Interphone device, 21, 21a: Control circuit: 22: Control line, 23: Modulation circuit, 24: Detection circuit, 25: Microphone, 26: Speaker, 27: Amplifier, 28: Modulation circuit, 29: Detection circuit , 30: amplifier, 31: microphone level detection circuit, 32: call switch, 33: call lamp, 34: voice guidance unit

Claims (2)

The first and second remote controllers are provided at different locations to remotely operate the water heater, and sound inputs from the first and second microphones provided in the first and second remote controllers are detected. A remote control system with an intercom function equipped with an intercom device that automatically switches the call direction from one to the other,
The first and second remote controls are provided with a call switch that activates an intercom function, the first and second remote controls are provided with a call lamp that indicates a call state, and the first and second remote controls Continuously lighting the call lamp of the remote control in one of the transmission states, flashing the call lamp of the other remote control in the reception state,
A remote control system with an interphone function , wherein, when the call switch of the remote controller on the receiving side among the first and second remote controllers is pressed and held, the remote controller on the receiving side is forcibly switched to the remote controller on the transmitting side . 2. The remote control system with an intercom function according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second remote controllers includes a voice guidance unit, and when the voice guidance unit is activated, A remote control with an intercom function, wherein the volume of the voice guidance on the receiving side remains normal, the volume of the call is lower than normal, and the call sound and the voice from the voice guidance unit are mixed and uttered from a speaker system.

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