JP4042700B2 - Intercom base unit and intercom system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an interphone master unit that is installed in a house and communicates with an interphone slave unit outside the house, and an interphone system that includes the interphone master unit and the interphone slave unit.

  Conventionally, an interphone parent that has a communication path formed between the intercom handset installed outside the house (such as the entrance) and the intercom handset installed in the house and responding to a call from the intercom handset. There is provided an interphone system that is capable of making a call with an interphone handset, an interphone master unit, or a sub-master unit even with a call terminal such as a telephone connected to the interphone master unit. , See Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 9 shows a conventional configuration of this type of interphone master unit and interphone system. The intercom handset (hereinafter abbreviated as a handset) C is connected to an interphone base unit (hereinafter abbreviated as a base unit) A ′ via two signal lines L 1, and the microphone 1, the speaker 2, and the microphone 1 collect the sound. A microphone amplifier 3 for amplifying the received call signal (transmission signal), a speaker amplifier 4 for amplifying the call signal (received signal) input to the speaker 2, and a 2-wire to 4-wire conversion unit for performing 2-wire to 4-wire conversion 5 and a call switch unit 6 that has a call button (not shown) that is manually operated and outputs an operation signal when the call button is operated. A signal processing unit 7 for transmitting a control signal (calling signal) from the control signal transmitting unit 8 to the base unit A when an operation signal is input, and a control signal transmitting unit for transmitting the calling signal via the signal line L1 8 and.

  On the other hand, the base unit A ′ includes a handset switching unit 12 that switches a communication path between the microphone 10 and the speaker 11 and the plurality of handset C, a handset switching unit 12 and an interphone sub-master unit (hereinafter referred to as sub-master). A communication path switching unit 13 for switching a communication path with B ′, a control signal receiving unit 14 for receiving a control signal transmitted from the sub unit C, and a control unit 15 having a CPU as a main component. And a first two-wire / four-wire converter 16 provided at the subsequent stage of the communication path switching unit 13 and an operation button (not shown) that is manually operated, and is controlled when the operation button is operated. Control signals are transmitted / received between the plurality of operation switches 17a, 17b, and 17c that output operation signals to the unit 15 and the sub-master unit B ′ via the two signal lines L2 under the control of the control unit 15. The first two-wire / four-wire change from the first control signal transmitting / receiving unit 18 and the microphone 10. Between a call signal path (hereinafter referred to as a transmission signal path) to the section 16 and a call signal path (hereinafter referred to as a reception signal path) from the first 2-wire / four-wire conversion section 16 to the speaker 11. A voice switch 19 provided for comparing the levels of the transmission signal and the reception signal and switching the communication mode (transmission mode and reception mode) by inserting a loss in the signal path having the lower level; A second two-wire / four-wire converter 20 provided in a call signal path branched from the signal path (sending signal path and receiving signal path) without going through the voice switch 19, and a call terminal such as a telephone (not shown) Control signal between the call terminal connection interface unit 21 that connects the second 2-wire to 4-wire conversion unit 20 and the call terminal via the call terminal connection interface unit 21 under the control of the control unit 15. Send and receive ; And a second control signal transceiver 22 that. Since the secondary master unit B 'has substantially the same configuration as the master unit A' except that it does not include the slave unit switching unit 12 and the speech path switching unit 13, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  The operation of the conventional system configured as described above will be briefly described.

  For example, when a visitor operates the call button of the child device C, the signal processing unit 7 of the child device C controls the control signal transmission unit 8 to transmit the call signal to the parent device A ′. In the main unit A ′, the control signal receiving unit 14 receives the call signal transmitted from the child device C, and outputs information (call information) indicating that the call has been received from the child device C to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 detects a call from the child unit C based on the call information, transmits control signals from the first and second control signal transmission / reception units 18 and 20, respectively, and transmits the call information to the sub-master unit B ′ and The sound is transmitted to the call terminal, and a ringing tone is generated from the speaker 11 by a ringing tone generating means (not shown), and the attenuation amount of the attenuator 23 provided in the reception signal path and the transmission signal path in preparation for a call with the child unit C The gain of the amplifier 24 provided in is set to a value suitable for the slave unit C.

  When the householder who hears the ringing tone presses the call button of the main unit A ′, turns on an operation switch (not shown) and inputs an operation signal to the control unit 15, the control unit 15 switches the handset. The communication signal processing is started by switching the unit 12 and the communication path switching unit 13 to form a communication path with the child unit C and activating the voice switch 19, the attenuator 23, the amplifier 24, etc. A two-way call can be made between the parent device A ′ and the child device C through L1. At this time, since the attenuation amount of the attenuator 23 and the gain of the amplifier 24 are set to values suitable for the child device C, the reception signal from the child device C and the transmission signal to the child device C are adjusted to appropriate levels. Thus, the operation accuracy of the voice switch 19 is improved, and the call voice ringing from the speaker 11 can be adjusted to an appropriate volume.

Further, the same processing as that of the master unit A ′ is performed in the sub master unit B ′, and when the call button is pressed in the sub master unit B ′, the sub master unit B ′ and the slave unit C In this case, since the attenuation amount of the attenuator and the gain of the amplifier are set to values suitable for the child device C, the reception signal from the child device C and the transmission to the child device C are also established. The signal will be adjusted to an appropriate level. When a householder who hears the ringing tone responds at the call terminal, for example, if the call terminal is a telephone, the handset (handset) is taken off-hook, and the call terminal (telephone) and the child are connected via the main unit A ′. Two-way communication with the device C is possible. Here, attenuators 25 and 26 are respectively provided in the call signal paths between the first 2-wire / four-wire conversion section 16 and the second 2-wire / four-wire conversion section 20 in the base unit A ′. When the second control signal transmission / reception unit 22 detects the response (off-hook) of the call terminal, the control unit 15 sets the attenuation amounts of the attenuators 25 and 26 to values suitable for the call terminal and the child unit C, respectively.
JP-A-6-237306

  By the way, as a call terminal that can be connected to the main unit A ′, not only a general telephone, but also a device main unit connected to the main unit A ′ through a signal line to convert a call signal into a wireless signal, and the main unit There is a wireless communication device including a wireless communication device that communicates with the parent device A ′, the child device C, and the like through the device main body by transmitting and receiving wireless signals, and the number of types may increase in the future.

  However, since call terminals have different call signal characteristics for each type of call terminal, call signal processing necessary for realizing a two-way call in the main unit A ′ (call mode switching processing by the voice switch 19 or call The set value (attenuation amount, gain, etc.) of the signal attenuation / amplification processing etc. also needs to be changed according to the type of the telephone terminal. Therefore, in the above conventional example, as the number of call terminals that can be connected increases, the number of parts of circuit parts (attenuators, amplifiers, etc.) for call signal processing increases, leading to an increase in the size and cost of the main unit A ′. It will end up. In addition, it is conceivable to use a semiconductor relay or the like to switch the call signal path for each type of call terminal and to share the above circuit components. However, the circuit configuration becomes complicated, noise mixing or deterioration in the call signal, etc. There may be a disadvantage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an interphone master unit and an interphone system to which various types of call terminals can be connected without increasing the number of circuit components for call signal processing. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a telephone call that is installed in a house and is appropriately formed between an intercom handset installed outside the house and a telephone terminal used in the house. An interphone master unit for performing interconversion between a call signal and voice, and a slave unit connection unit for connecting a caller interphone by a signal line and for transmitting and receiving a call signal to and from the interphone slave through the signal line A call terminal connection means for connecting a call terminal by a signal line and exchanging a call signal with the call terminal through the signal line, a first call signal path for connecting the call means and the handset connection means, a call means, Call signal path switching means for selectively switching a second call signal path for connecting the call terminal connection means, a third call signal path for connecting the handset connection means and the call terminal connection means, and call signal path switching Call signal processing means for performing a two-way call by signal processing a call signal passing through one of the call signal paths switched at the stage, and the call signal path switching means and the call signal processing means are operated by software. Ri Do general-purpose integrated circuits, the call signal processing means includes a voice switch for switching the call direction by inserting a loss on one side of the pair of speech signal path, speech signals are provided on both sides of the voice switch in the speech signal path And an amplifying means for amplifying the speech signal, and a voice switch corresponding to the first, second or third speech signal path switched by the speech signal path switching means In addition to changing the operating characteristics of the echo canceller and amplification means, the call terminal connected to the call terminal connection means switches the call direction. A voice switch of a call signal processing means having a voice switch function and an echo canceller function for removing an echo component contained in the call signal, and being switched to the second or third call signal path by the call signal path switching means In addition, the echo canceller is not operated .

According to the present invention, the call signal processing means for processing the call signal by selectively switching the call signal path by the call signal path switching means is shared, and the call signal path switching means and the call signal processing means are configured by software. due to the realized by a general-purpose integrated circuits that operate, an increase in complexity and number of parts of the circuit configuration, or various types of call terminal while preventing such contamination of noise due to the switching of the call signal path can be connected, In addition, voice signal processing by voice switches, echo cancellers, and amplification means can improve call quality, and these operating characteristics can be changed according to the call signal path that can be switched alternatively, making it ideal for individual call signal paths. The voice quality can be further improved by operating with the proper operating characteristics, and the voice switch of the call signal processing means can be improved. Eliminate the switch and echo canceller operates overlap with voice switch function or echo canceller functions in call terminal, interphone parent device call quality degradation due to deterioration of the speech signal can be prevented can be provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a handset selection means for selecting any interphone handset from a plurality of types of intercom handset connected by a signal line, and one selected intercom Based on the determination result of the communication path forming means for forming a communication path with the slave unit, the slave unit type discrimination means for discriminating the type of the interphone slave unit selected by the slave unit selection means, and the slave unit type discrimination means Level adjustment means for adjusting the level of the call signal according to the type of the intercom handset is provided.

  According to the present invention, the level adjusting means adjusts the level of the call signal according to the type of the intercom handset based on the discrimination result of the handset type discriminating means. Differences in signal level are less likely to occur.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the handset selection means receives the call signal transmitted from each interphone handset and selects the interphone handset that has transmitted the call signal, and the handset type discriminating means. Is characterized in that the type is determined based on the individual information of the intercom handset included in the calling signal.

  According to the present invention, the call signal can be adjusted to a level suitable for the type of intercom handset that transmitted the call signal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the interphone main unit according to any one of the first to third aspects and the intercom main unit which is installed outside a house and connected to the interphone main unit by a signal line. It is composed of a plurality of intercom slave units, one or more interphone sub-master units installed in a house and connected to the interphone master unit by signal lines, and one or more call terminals used in the house, In an interphone system in which an interphone master unit, an interphone slave unit, an interphone submaster unit, and a call terminal individually communicate, the interphone master unit communicates with a communication path between the interphone slave unit and the interphone submaster unit. A communication path switching means for selectively switching the path and connecting to the handset connection means, and the interphone sub-master unit includes a call means for performing mutual conversion between a call signal and a voice, a signal line A base unit connection means for connecting to the interphone base unit and transmitting / receiving a call signal to / from the interphone base unit through the signal line; The call signal processing means of the interphone secondary master unit is composed of a general-purpose integrated circuit operated by software, and a loss is inserted into one side of a pair of call signal paths. It has a voice switch for switching the call direction, an echo canceller provided on both sides of the voice switch in the call signal path, for removing an echo component contained in the call signal, and an amplifying means for amplifying the call signal.

  According to the present invention, the call signal processing means for processing the call signal by selectively switching the call signal path by the call signal path switching means of the interphone base unit is shared, and the call signal path switching means and the call signal processing are shared. Since the means is realized by a general-purpose integrated circuit that operates by software, various types of call terminals can be interphones while preventing complicated circuit configuration, increased number of parts, and noise contamination due to switching of call signal paths. An intercom system that can be connected to the base unit can be provided. In addition, since the interphone secondary master unit includes a speech signal processing means composed of a general-purpose integrated circuit that operates by software in the same manner as the interphone master unit, the interphone secondary master unit can be used without using the speech signal processing means of the interphone master unit. A call equivalent to a call between the interphone master unit and the interphone slave unit can be performed between the master unit and the interphone slave unit.

According to the present invention, the call signal processing means for processing the call signal by alternately switching the call signal path by the call signal path switching means is shared, and the call signal path switching means and the call signal processing means are configured by software. due to the realized by a general-purpose integrated circuits that operate, an increase in complexity and number of parts of the circuit configuration, or various types of call terminal while preventing such contamination of noise due to the switching of the call signal path can be connected, In addition, voice signal processing by voice switches, echo cancellers, and amplification means can improve call quality, and these operating characteristics can be changed according to the call signal path that can be switched alternatively, making it ideal for individual call signal paths. Call quality can be further improved by operating with the proper operating characteristics, and the voice switch of the call signal processing means can be used. Eliminated that and echo canceller operates overlap with voice switch function or echo canceller functions in call terminal, there is an effect that intercom master unit and intercom system call quality degradation due to deterioration of the speech signal can be prevented can be provided .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an interphone master and an interphone system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the interphone slave unit C is common to the conventional example, and the basic configuration of the interphone master unit A is also common to the conventional example. Description is omitted.

  An interphone master unit (hereinafter abbreviated as a master unit) A according to the present embodiment includes a DSP (digital signal processor) 30 which is a general-purpose integrated circuit equipped with software, and an analog call signal (sound collected by a microphone 10) ( A / D converter 27a that converts a transmission signal) into a digital transmission signal and a D / A converter that converts a digital call signal (a reception signal) output from the DSP 30 into an analog reception signal and outputs it to the speaker 11 An A / D converter 28a that converts an analog call signal (received signal) sent from the first codec unit 27 including the terminal 27b and the slave units C1, C2,. And a D / A converter 28b for converting a digital speech signal (transmission signal) output from the DSP 30 into an analog transmission signal. A second codec section 28, an A / D converter 29a for converting an analog call signal (received signal) sent from a call terminal (not shown) via a call terminal connection interface section 21 into a digital received signal, and a DSP 30 And a third codec section 29 having a D / A converter 29b for converting a digital speech signal (transmission signal) output from the digital speech signal into an analog transmission signal. In addition, a display unit 36 that includes a display device such as a light emitting element or a liquid crystal display and displays the operating state of the master unit A is also provided. In this embodiment, the microphone 10 and the speaker 11 are call means, the handset switching unit 12 is a handset connection means, and the call terminal connection interface section 21 is a call terminal connection means. Further, a slave unit selecting means for receiving the call signal transmitted from each of the slave units C1, C2,... And selecting the slave units C1, C2,. ,..., A communication path forming means for forming a speech path, and a slave unit type determining means for determining the type of the selected slave units C1, C2,. It is realized by executing.

  The DSP 30 includes a DSP control unit 31 that implements functions such as data transmission to and from the control unit 15 and software control for selecting and executing a plurality of software stored in the program storage unit 34, and a plurality of as described later. A call signal path switching unit 32 that selectively switches a call signal path, a call signal processing unit 33 that processes a call signal to realize a two-way call, a program storage unit 34, and various operations described later And a data storage unit 35 in which data for setting characteristics is stored. However, the DSP control unit 31, the call signal path switching unit 32, and the call signal processing unit 33 are realized by executing dedicated software on the DSP 30.

  The call signal processing unit 33 includes a voice switch 33a and first and second echo cancellers 33b and 33c in order to realize a two-way voice call. The voice switch 33a is well known in the art, and in the same manner as in the conventional example, the levels of the transmission signal and the reception signal are compared, and a loss is inserted in the signal path having the lower level to thereby change the communication mode (transmission mode and transmission mode). (Receiving mode) is switched. The first echo canceller 33b has a conventionally known configuration including an adaptive filter and a subtracter. For example, the first echo canceller 33b adapts an impulse response of a feedback path (acoustic echo path) formed by acoustic coupling between the speaker 11 and the microphone 10. An echo component (acoustic echo) that is adaptively identified by a filter and estimated from a reference signal (output signal to the D / A converter 27b of the first codec unit 27) is subtracted from the A / C of the first codec unit 27 by a subtractor. By subtracting from the input signal from the D converter 27a, the echo component is canceled and eliminated. The second echo canceller 33c also has a conventionally known configuration including an adaptive filter and a subtracter. For example, reflection due to impedance mismatch between the first two-wire / four-wire converter 16 and the signal line L1. And the impulse response of the feedback path (line echo path) formed by the acoustic coupling between the speaker and the microphone in the slave units C1,... Is adaptively identified by the adaptive filter, and the reference signal (D of the second codec unit 28) is identified. The echo component (line echo) estimated from the output signal to the / A converter 28b, that is, the transmission signal) is subtracted from the reception signal by the subtractor to cancel and cancel the echo component. It should be noted that amplifiers 33e to 33h are provided in each call signal path between the voice switch 33a and the first and second echo cancellers 33b and 33c.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the slave unit switching unit 12 includes a plurality of switching contacts 12a, 12b, and 12c to which the signal lines L1 of the plurality of slave units C1, C2, and C3 are respectively connected, and a speech path switching unit 13. And a common contact 12d connected to the first two-wire / four-wire conversion unit 16 via the switch, and one of the switching contacts 12a, 12b, 12c and the common contact 12d is alternatively switched by the control unit 15. It will be closed. The speech path switching unit 13 includes two switches SW2 and SW3 inserted in parallel in the speech signal path connecting the slave unit switching unit 12 and the first 2-wire / four-line conversion unit 16, and a slave unit switching unit. 12 and two switches SW1 and SW4 inserted in series in the call signal path connecting the signal line L2 and the four switches SW1 to SW4 are turned on / off by the control unit 15 to turn on the child unit C1. A communication path is formed between the master unit A and the master unit A and the master unit A and the sub master unit B or the slave units C1 to C3 and the sub master unit B. That is, as shown in the list of FIG. 2B, when a call is made between any of the slave units C1 to C3 and the master unit A, only the switch SW2 is turned on and all the other switches SW1, SW3, and SW4 are turned on. Turn it off. Alternatively, when a call is made between any of the slave units C1 to C3 and the secondary master unit B, the switches SW1 and SW4 are turned on and the other switches SW2 and SW3 are turned off, and further, between any of the slave units C1 to C3 and the call terminal When making a call, it is only necessary to turn on only the switch SW2 and turn off all the other switches SW1, SW3 and SW4. In addition, two switches are inserted into the call signal path connecting the handset switching section 12 and the first 2-wire / four-wire conversion section 16 as the call path switching section, and branch from the connection point of the two switches. One switch may be inserted into the call signal path connecting the switching unit 12 and the signal line L2, but in this case, the call signal path cannot be formed unless two switches are always turned on. On the other hand, in the speech path switching unit 13 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, a speech signal circuit may be possible only by turning on only one switch SW1,... Therefore, there is an advantage that the call signal is hardly deteriorated by the switch.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the call signal path switching unit 32 includes a first call signal path that connects the microphone 10 and the speaker 11 serving as call means and the handset switching unit 12 serving as handset connection means, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 3C, the second call signal path connecting the microphone 10 and the speaker 11 to the call terminal connection interface unit 21 serving as a call terminal connection means, and a call with the handset switching unit 12 as shown in FIG. The third call signal path connecting the terminal connection interface unit 21 is selectively switched, and the sub-master unit B and the slave units C1 to C3 among the plurality of call modes shown in FIG. One of the first to third call signal paths is selected in accordance with all other call modes except the call mode. However, the call signal processing unit 33 is inserted into any of the first to third call signal paths.

  By the way, the operation characteristics of the call signal in the call signal processing unit 33, such as the gain of the amplifiers 33e to 33h, the operation / non-operation of the voice switch 33a, or the parameters of the adaptive filter constituting the echo cancellers 33b and 33c (for example, the number of taps, etc.) ) And operation / non-operation, the optimum values are generally different for each of the above-described plural communication modes. Further, the child devices C1,... Are exposed and installed in an exposed state on a construction surface such as a wall surface, and an embedded installation type that is installed so as to be at least partially embedded in an embedding hole provided in the construction surface. Since there is a frequency characteristic in the sound collection characteristic of the microphone due to the difference in the mounting structure, if the gains of the amplifiers 33e to 33h are not set to the optimum values according to the types of the slaves C1,. Depending on the type, the level of the call signal may vary. Further, with regard to a telephone terminal, the optimum values such as the gains of the amplifiers 33e to 33h and the parameters of the adaptive filters of the echo cancellers 33b and 33c are different between a general telephone and the wireless communication apparatus described in the prior art.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the parameters of the adaptive filters of the echo cancellers 33b and 33c and the amplifiers 33e to 33c for all types of communication including the types of the slave units C1,. The optimum value of the gain of 33h and the operation / non-operation data of the voice switch 33a and the echo cancellers 33b and 33c are stored in advance in the data storage unit 35 of the DSP 30 in the format of the data table DT as shown in FIG. The operation characteristics of the call signal processing unit 33 with reference to the data table DT stored in the data storage unit 35 when starting a call in each call mode, that is, the parameters of the adaptive filters of the echo cancellers 33b and 33c, and The gain values of the amplifiers 33e to 33h, as well as the voice switch 33a and the echo cancellers 33b and 33c The work-dead are to be set to the optimum value and the state in the call mode.

  Here, the contents of the data table DT will be briefly described. In this data table DT, one row corresponds to each of the above-described call modes, and a plurality of columns included in each row include numbers assigned to the call modes (hereinafter referred to as data numbers), Contents, operation characteristics of the second echo canceller 33c (a pattern in which optimum values of a plurality of parameters of the adaptive filter are combined), operation characteristics of the amplifiers 33e to 33h (a pattern in which optimum values of gains for the amplifiers 33e to 33h are combined) The operation characteristics (operation / non-operation (through)) of the voice switch 33a and the operation characteristics of the first echo canceller 33b (a pattern combining optimum values of a plurality of parameters of the adaptive filter) are stored. For example, data number 1 corresponds to the communication mode between the embedded type slave unit C1 and the base unit A, and the operation characteristics of the second echo canceller 33c are “pattern a” and amplifiers 33e to 33h. The data of “pattern a”, “operation” of the voice switch 33a, and “pattern a” of the first echo canceller 33b are registered. Alternatively, the data number 3 corresponds to the communication mode between the secondary master unit B and the master unit A, and the operation characteristic of the second echo canceller 33c is “through (non-operation)”, and the amplifiers 33e to 33h Each data of “pattern c” is registered as the operation characteristic, “operation” as the operation characteristic of the voice switch 33a, and “pattern a” as the operation characteristic of the first echo canceller 33b.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, the secondary master unit B in the present embodiment does not include the slave unit switching unit 12, the speech path switching unit 13, the speech signal path switching unit 32, and the like and connects the telephone terminal. Since the configuration is almost the same as that of the base unit A except that the base unit A cannot be used, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as the base unit A, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the intercom system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on the operation of the main unit A. However, in order to distinguish each part of the sub-master unit B from each part of the master unit A, description will be given with reference numerals in parentheses.

  First, an operation when a call is made between the child device C1 and the parent device A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the occurrence of an event in the slave unit C1, the master unit A, and the sub master unit B and the contents of the processing associated therewith. The type of the child device C1 is an embedded installation type.

  When the call button is operated on the slave unit C1, the signal processing unit 7 controls the control signal transmission unit 8 to transmit the call signal to the main unit A. In the main unit A, the control signal receiving unit 14 receives the call signal transmitted from the child device C1, and outputs information (call information) indicating that the call has been made from the child device C1 to the control unit 15. The control unit 15 detects a call from the child unit C1 based on the call information and acquires information about the type of the child unit C1 stored in advance in a memory (not shown) to obtain the type of the child unit C1, that is, The exposed installation type or the embedded installation type is discriminated, and based on the call information and the type discrimination result, it is determined that the communication mode is a communication mode between the embedded installation type slave unit C1 and the base unit A, and the information ( Call information and call form information) is transmitted to the DSP control unit 31 of the DSP 30, and further, a control signal is transmitted from the first control signal transmitting / receiving unit 18 to transmit the call information to the sub-master unit B. Further, the control unit 15 gives a call display command for displaying that the call is being made to the display unit 36, and the display unit 36 displays that the call is being made in response to the call display command. When the DSP control unit 31 receives the call information, the DSP control unit 31 generates a ringing tone and outputs the ringing tone to the D / A converter 27 b of the first codec unit 27 to play the ringing tone from the speaker 11. Further, in the sub-master unit B that has received the call information, the control unit (15) gives a call display command to display that the call is being performed on the display unit (36), and the DSP control unit (30) of the DSP (30) ( 31), a ringing tone is generated and a ringing tone is emitted from the speaker (11).

  When the householder who has heard the ring tone presses the call button on the base unit A, an operation switch (not shown) is turned on and an operation signal is input to the control unit 15, the control unit 15 of the base unit A Switch control of the slave unit switching unit 12 and the speech path switching unit 13 to form a speech path with the slave unit C1, and output a command to instruct the DSP control unit 31 of the DSP 30 to start the speech processing, Further, a call display command is given to the display unit 36 to display that the call is in progress on the display unit 36, and the command is also transmitted from the first control signal transmitting / receiving unit 18 to the sub-master unit B by a control signal. . In the sub-master unit B that has received this command, the control unit (15) gives the display unit (36) an in-use display command indicating that the communication path with the child unit C1 is in use, and displays it. The part (36) indicates that it is in use.

  On the other hand, in the DSP control unit 31 that has received a call processing start command from the control unit 15, the call signal path switching unit 32 is switched to the first call signal path in accordance with the communication mode between the slave unit C1 and the base unit A. At the same time, based on the call form information, each data of data number 1 corresponding to the call form between the embedded unit C1 and the base unit A is read from the data table DT of the data storage unit 35, and the voice switch 33a, The operation characteristics of the first and second echo cancellers 33b and 33c and the amplifiers 33e to 33h are “pattern a” for the data of data number 1, that is, the operation characteristics of the second echo canceller 33c, and the operations of the amplifiers 33e to 33h. “Pattern a” for the characteristics, “Operation” for the operating characteristics of the voice switch 33a, and “Pattern a” for the operating characteristics of the first echo canceller 33b. After each setting, the speech signal processing of the speech signal processing unit 33 is started by activating the voice switch 33a, the first and second echo cancellers 33b and 33c, and the amplifiers 33e to 33h, and the master unit A and the slave unit C1. Calls can be made with However, even if the call button is operated on the secondary master unit B during a call between the master unit A and the slave unit C1, the control unit (15) of the secondary master unit B invalidates the call button operation signal.

  Next, an operation when a call is made between the slave unit C1 and the secondary master unit B will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 7 also shows the occurrence of events in the slave unit C1, the master unit A, and the secondary master unit B, and the contents of the processing associated therewith, as in FIG.

  When the call information by the slave unit C1 is transmitted from the master unit A to the sub master unit B by the control signal in the above procedure, the sub master unit B controls the control signal from the control signal transmission / reception unit (18) that has received the control signal. The call information is sent to the section (15), and the control section (15) transmits the call information to the DSP control section (31) of the DSP (30) and confirms that the call is being made to the display section (36). A call display command for display is given, and in response to the call display command, the display unit (36) displays that the call is being performed. When the DSP control unit (31) receives the call information, the DSP control unit (31) generates a ringing tone and outputs the ringing tone to the D / A converter (27b) of the first codec unit (27) to generate the ringing tone from the speaker (11).

  When the householder who hears the ringing tone operates the call button of the sub-master unit B to turn on an operation switch (not shown) and an operation signal is input to the control unit (15), the control unit (15) Causes the control signal transmission / reception unit (18) to transmit a control signal for requesting the start of a call to the master device A to the master device A. The base unit A that has received the control signal for the call start request selects the sub base unit B as a communication partner with the handset C1 under the condition that its own call button is not operated, and the control unit 15 selects the sub base unit B. The communication switching unit 12 and the communication path switching unit 13 are controlled to form a communication path between the sub unit C1 and the sub master unit B, and the communication path between the sub unit C1 and the display unit 36 is in use. The first control signal transmission / reception unit 18 sends a control signal for allowing the secondary master unit B to start a call while giving an in-use display command indicating that the second main unit B is in use. Send it.

  On the other hand, in the sub master unit B, when the control signal transmitted from the master unit A is received by the control signal transmitting / receiving unit (18) and the call start permission information is transmitted to the control unit (15), the control unit (15 ) Outputs a command for instructing the DSP control unit (31) of the DSP (30) to start the call processing, and further gives a call display command to the display unit (36) to call the display unit (36). Display that it is inside. In addition, the DSP control unit (31) that has received the call processing start command from the control unit (15) performs a communication between the embedded child unit C1 and the sub-master unit B from the data table (DT) of the data storage unit (35). Each data of the data number n corresponding to the call form is read, and the operation characteristics of the voice switch (33a), the first and second echo cancellers (33b) and (33c), and the amplifiers (33e) to (33h) are represented by the data number. After setting each data of n, the voice signal processing unit (33a), the first and second echo cancellers (33b) and (33c), and the amplifiers (33e) to (33h) are started up. The call signal processing of 33) is started, and a call can be made between the sub master unit B and the sub unit C1.

  Finally, the operation when a call is made between the call terminal and the child device C1 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 8 also shows the occurrence of an event in the child device C1, the parent device A, and the call terminal and the contents of the processing accompanying it as in FIG. 6 and FIG. The call terminal is a control signal transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives a control signal through the signal line to / from the second control signal transmission / reception unit 22 of the base unit A, a call circuit including a microphone and a speaker, and a response for answering a call. It has a conventionally well-known configuration including a display unit that performs various displays using buttons and a display device, a CPU that performs overall control, and the illustration and description of the detailed configuration are omitted.

  When the call button is operated on the child device C1 as described above, the control unit 15 of the parent device A detects the call from the child device C1, discriminates the type of the child device C1, and further displays the call information as a control signal. Is transmitted from the second control signal transmitting / receiving unit 22 to the call terminal. In the communication terminal, call information is sent to the CPU from the control signal transmission / reception unit that has received the control signal, and when the CPU detects a call from the handset C1, the display unit displays that the call is in progress and generates a ringing tone. Generate a ringing tone from the speaker of the call circuit.

  Then, when the householder who heard the ring tone presses the response button of the call terminal and the CPU detects the operation of the response button, the CPU sends a control signal notifying the base unit A of the start of the call from the control signal transmitting / receiving unit. A transmission circuit is activated and a call circuit is activated. In the base unit A that has received the control signal for informing the start of the call, the control unit 15 detects the operation of the response button on the call terminal, selects the call terminal as a call partner with the handset C1, and selects the handset switching section 12 and The communication path switching unit 13 is switch-controlled to form a communication path with the child unit C1, and a command for instructing the DSP control unit 31 of the DSP 30 to start a call process is output, and further to the display unit 36 Then, a call display command is given, and the display unit 36 displays that the call is in progress.

  Further, in the base unit A, the DSP control unit 31 that has received the call processing start command from the control unit 15 sets the third call signal to the call signal path switching unit 32 in accordance with the call mode between the child device C1 and the call terminal. In addition to switching to the route, each data of the data number k corresponding to the call form between the embedded child unit C1 and the call terminal is read from the data table DT of the data storage unit 35 based on the call form information, and the voice switch 33a After the operation characteristics of the first and second echo cancellers 33b and 33c and the amplifiers 33e to 33h are set for the data of data number 1, respectively, the voice switch 33a, the first and second echo cancellers 33b and 33c, and the amplifier are set. The call signal processing of the call signal processing unit 33 is started by activating 33e to 33h, and the call terminal and the child device C1 are connected. In it it is possible to call.

  As described above, in the base unit A or the sub base unit B or the interphone system of the present embodiment, the call signal path switching unit 32 selectively processes the call signals by switching the first to third call signal paths. The call signal processing unit 33 is shared, and the call signal path switching unit 32 and the call signal processing unit 33 are realized by a DSP 30 that is a general-purpose integrated circuit that is operated by software, so that the circuit configuration is complicated and the number of parts is increased. Many kinds of call terminals can be connected while preventing the increase in the number of calls or the mixing of noise associated with the switching of the call signal path. Moreover, the call quality can be improved by the call signal processing by the voice switch 33a, the echo cancellers 33b and 33c and the amplifiers 33e to 33h constituting the call signal processing unit 33, and the operation signal can be switched selectively. There is an advantage that the call quality can be further improved by changing according to the route and operating with the optimum operation characteristic for each call signal route. Further, since the gains of the amplifiers 33e to 33h are set to values suitable for the types of the sub-units C1 to C3 (embedded installation type or exposed installation type), the received signals from the sub-units C1 to C3 serve as level adjustment means. It can be adjusted to an appropriate level by the DSP control unit 31. In this embodiment, since the level adjusting means is constituted by the DSP 30, there is an advantage that the design and specification change of the level adjusting means can be easily performed as compared with the case where the level adjusting means is constituted only by hardware.

  By the way, when the call terminal is a wireless communication device as described in the prior art, the wireless communication device constituting the wireless communication device is usually provided with a voice switch and an echo canceller. By stopping (through) the operation of the voice switch 33a and the echo cancellers 33b and 33c in the call signal processing unit 33 of the machine A, it is possible to eliminate the redundant operation of the voice switch function and the echo canceller function in the call terminal. It is possible to prevent a decrease in call quality due to deterioration of the phone.

It is a block diagram of the intercom master and the intercom slave of this embodiment. (A) is a schematic block diagram of the subunit | mobile_unit switching part and speech path switching part in the same as the above, (b) is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a subunit | mobile_unit switching part and a speech path switching part. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the call signal path | route switching part in the same as the above. It is a figure which shows the data table in the same as the above. It is a block diagram of the intercom sub-master unit in the same as above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in the case of carrying out a telephone call with an interphone cordless handset and an interphone main unit in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in the case of carrying out a telephone call with an interphone cordless handset and an interphone sub-master in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in the case of carrying out a telephone call with an intercom cordless handset and a call terminal in the same as the above. It is a block diagram of a conventional interphone master unit and interphone slave unit.

Explanation of symbols

A Interphone master unit B Interphone submaster unit C1 to C3 Interphone slave unit 10 Microphone 11 Speaker 15 Control unit 30 DSP
31 DSP control unit 32 Call signal path switching unit 33 Call signal processing unit

Claims (4)

An intercom master unit that communicates with an intercom handset installed outside a house and a telephone terminal used outside the house, as well as an interphone base station that is formed outside the house. A communication means for performing communication, a handset connection means for connecting a call signal to and from the interphone slave via the signal line, and a call terminal connected to the call terminal via the signal line. Call terminal connection means for transmitting / receiving a call signal to / from a terminal, a first call signal path for connecting the call means and the handset connection means, a second call signal path for connecting the call means and the call terminal connection means, and a handset The call signal path switching means for selectively switching the third call signal path connecting the connection means and the call terminal connection means, and any one of the call signal paths switched by the call signal path switching means. And signal processing of speech signal and a speech signal processing means for performing two-way call, the call signal path switching means and the call signal processing means, Ri Do a general-purpose integrated circuits which operate by the software, the call signal processing means A voice switch that switches a call direction by inserting a loss on one side of a pair of call signal paths, an echo canceller that is provided on both sides of the voice switch in the call signal path and removes an echo component included in the call signal, Amplifying means for amplifying the signal, and changing the operating characteristics of the voice switch, echo canceller and amplifying means in accordance with the first, second or third call signal path switched by the call signal path switching means The voice switch function for switching the call direction of the call terminal connected to the call terminal connection means and the ecology included in the call signal And characterized by having an echo canceller function to remove components not operated voice switch and an echo canceller of the speech signal processing means when being switched to the second or third speech signal path by calling signal path switching means Interphone master unit to do.   Speech path formation for forming a speech path between a handset selection means for selecting any interphone handset from a plurality of types of interphone handsets connected by a signal line and the selected one intercom handset Means for determining the type of the intercom handset selected by the handset selection means, and adjusting the level of the call signal according to the type of the intercom handset based on the discrimination result of the handset type discriminating means 2. The intercom base unit according to claim 1, further comprising level adjusting means for performing the above.   The handset selection means receives the call signal transmitted from each interphone handset and selects the interphone handset that has transmitted the call signal, and the handset type determination means stores the individual information of the interphone handset included in the call signal. The intercom master unit according to claim 2, wherein the type is discriminated based on the type. 4. The interphone master unit according to claim 1, one or more interphone slave units installed outside the house and connected to the interphone master unit by a signal line, and a signal line installed in the house 1 to a plurality of interphone sub-master devices connected to the interphone master device, and one to a plurality of call terminals used in the house, the interphone master device, the interphone slave unit, the interphone sub-master device and the call terminal In the interphone system for making individual calls, the interphone master unit selectively switches the call path between the interphone slave unit and the interphone sub-master unit and connects to the slave unit connection means. The interphone sub-base unit is provided with a communication path switching unit, and the interphone sub-base unit is connected to the interphone base unit via a signal line and a communication unit that performs inter-conversion between a call signal and a voice and passes through the signal line. A base unit connection means for transmitting / receiving a call signal to / from the interphone base unit, and a call signal processing unit for performing a two-way call by processing a call signal passing through a call signal path connecting the call unit and the base unit connection unit; The communication signal processing means of the interphone sub-master unit comprises a general-purpose integrated circuit that is operated by software, and a voice switch that switches a call direction by inserting a loss on one side of a pair of call signal paths, and a call signal path An intercom system comprising: an echo canceller provided on both sides of the voice switch of FIG. 2 for removing an echo component contained in the call signal; and an amplifying means for amplifying the call signal .

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