JPH01296885A - Video telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exchange voice data and to secure speaking with the other party of a video telephone by supplying a power source from a backup power source unit when an external supply voltage decreases, and separating a picture unit from the power source. CONSTITUTION:When the voltage of an external power source line 13 decreases, a voltage detecting unit 14 detects it, sends a signal to a power source switching unit 15, and the unit 15 switches connection from the external power source line 13 to a backup power source unit 18. Simultaneously, the voltage detecting unit 14 sends a signal to a picture system disconnecting unit 17, and the unit 17 disconnects a picture unit 9. For this reason, the picture unit 9, a television camera 4 and a television monitor 6 are disconnected from a unit supplying power source line 16, and they are stopped. Thus, the voice data can be exchanged, and the speaking with the party of the picture telephone can be secures.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a videophone system, and particularly to a videophone system that can be used without any problem even if the external power supply voltage decreases.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a system similar to a video telephone system, a video conference system disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-226783 has been known. In the figure, (1) is a microphone that is an audio human-powered device, and (2) is a speaker that is an audio output device, both of which are audio units (
3) is connected to. Also, a television camera for people (4) as an image human-powered device, a television camera for documents (5), a television camera (6) as an image output device, a facsimile device (7), and a hard copy device (8) are aligned. It is connected to an image unit (9) that converts images into images.

The control unit (10) is connected to an operation unit (11) for manually giving instructions to the control unit (10), and also has an image unit (9) and a transmission unit (12) for transmitting and receiving data. and is connected to. Further, the transmission unit (12) is connected to the audio unit (3) and the image unit (9) for bidirectional signal transmission.

Among the above systems, the videophone system uses a microphone (
1), speaker (2), audio unit (3), television camera for people (4), television monitor (6), image unit (9), control unit (10), operation unit (11)
This is a system whose basic configuration is a transmission unit (12). That is, in the case of a video telephone system, the other configuration is the same as that of the video conference system except that it does not include a document television camera (5), a facsimile device (7), and a hard copy device (8).

Therefore, in explaining the operation of the system shown in FIG. 2, the operation will be explained considering this as a video telephone system.

Human-powered voice is taken in by a microphone (1), and output voice is generated from a speaker (2). These audio data are A/D, D/
A is converted. Similarly, an image of a person is taken in by a television camera (4) serving as an image-powered device, and an output image is displayed on a television monitor (6). These image data are A/D and D/A converted by the image unit (9).

The digital signals obtained by the audio unit (3) and the image unit (9) are multiplexed and separated in the transmission unit (12), communication between the videophone systems of the opposing stations is carried out, and the own voice of the microphone (1) is transmitted. and TV camera (4)
A self-portrait is displayed on the speaker (2) and TV monitor (6)
, and conversely, the audio and images from the opposing side are output to the own station.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional videophone systems have been configured as described above, so even if there is no particular problem during normal times, - once the external power supply voltage drops due to a power outage, etc. However, there was a problem in that no countermeasures were taken and the entire system became completely unusable. In this respect, the videophone system is functionally inferior to a regular telephone, which allows calls to be made using the power supplied from the central office even during a power outage in the home, and the challenge is to resolve this problem. It is.

This invention was made to solve the above problems,
To provide a videophone system capable of continuing the transmission and reception of voice data without interruption even when an external power supply voltage drops, and ensuring a conversation with a videophone partner.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The videophone system according to the present invention has an audio processing system that inputs and outputs audible sound data, an image processing system that inputs and outputs image data, and a videophone system that transmits these data between remote points. It includes a transmission system that performs transmission control, and a control system that controls the audio processing system, image processing system, and transmission system, and the image processing system includes an input/output device consisting of a television camera and a television monitor, and the input/output device. It consists of an image unit that processes input and output data.

Furthermore, a backup power supply unit, a voltage detection unit that is connected to an external power supply and detects the voltage of the external power supply, and a signal from the voltage detection unit that appropriately controls the external power supply and the backup power supply unit when the external power supply voltage drops and recovers. comprising a power supply switching unit for switching, and an image system disconnection unit for disconnecting the image processing system when the external power supply voltage decreases according to a signal from the voltage detection unit, and supplies power from the backup power supply unit when the external power supply voltage decreases; The image unit is separated.

[Function] Since the videophone system according to the present invention has the above-mentioned means, when the external power supply voltage decreases, the voltage detection unit detects it and switches the power supply from the external power supply to the backup power supply, and the image system disconnection unit With the help of
It is possible to disconnect the image processing system, which has a relatively high power consumption and consists of a television camera, a television monitor, and an image unit, and to continue communication using only voice without interruption.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a block diagram of a video telephone system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, (1) is a microphone, which is an audio input device, and (2)
) is a speaker which is an audio output device, both of which are connected to the audio unit (3) to be combined and constitute an audio processing system. In addition, a television camera for people (4) is used as a human-powered image device, and a television monitor (4) is used as an image output device.
6) is connected to the image unit (9) to be combined,
It constitutes an image processing system. The image processing system can handle still image data or moving image data.

The control unit (10) is connected to an operation unit (11) for inputting instructions to the control unit (10), and is also connected to an image unit (9) and a transmission unit (12) for transmitting and receiving data. ) and are connected to. Further, the transmission unit (12) is connected to the audio unit (3) and the image unit (9) for bidirectional signal transmission.

(13) is an external power supply line, and voltage detection unit (14)
) is connected to the power switching unit (15), and further connected to the audio unit (3) via the unit supply power line (16).
), a control unit (1o), and a transmission unit (12), and is also connected to an image unit (9) via an image system disconnection unit (17).

(18) is a backup power supply unit, which is connected to the power supply switching unit (15). The power supply switching unit (15) functions to switch the power supply to either the external power line (13) or the backup power supply unit (18) based on a signal from the voltage detection unit (14). Similarly, the image system disconnection unit (17) functions to disconnect or connect the image processing system based on the signal from the voltage detection unit (14).

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be explained.

When the voltage of the external power supply line (13) is at the specified value, the operation is the same as the conventional example shown in Fig. 2, but when the voltage drops, the voltage detection unit (14) detects this and the power supply switching unit (15) ) and sends a signal to the power supply switching unit (15).
switches the power supply source from the external power line (13) to the backup power supply unit (18). At the same time, the voltage detection unit (14) sends a signal to the image system cutting unit (17), and the image system cutting input (17) is sent to the image system cutting unit (9).
Separate. As a result, the image unit (9), television camera (3), and television monitor (6) are disconnected from the unit supply power line (16) and stopped.

When the voltage on the external power supply line (13) is restored, the voltage detection unit (14) sends a signal to the power supply switching unit (15) and the image system disconnection unit (17) so that each uses the external power supply and the image Connect unit (9).

In the above embodiment, the image system processing system is disconnected and connected using the image system disconnection unit (17), but the power supply switching unit (17) is used to disconnect and connect the power supply.
15), and the control unit (1
o) may be realized by dividing the functions respectively.

Further, the backup power supply unit may not be provided internally, but may be an external device.

Furthermore, by inserting a fuse, breaker, etc. between the power supply detection unit and the external power supply, it is possible to deal with not only a drop in the power supply voltage but also an abnormality in the external power supply.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, this invention has a structure that switches the power supply to a backup power supply when the external power supply voltage drops due to a power outage, etc., and stops the operation of the image processing system, which consumes relatively large amount of power. It enables the transmission and reception of audio data using a small-capacity backup power supply, allowing you to continue a conversation with the person on the other end of a videophone call for a long time.

Therefore, even if a voltage drop occurs during a conversation, the conversation can be continued with only the image not being displayed, and when the external power supply voltage is restored, the image can be restored while maintaining the conversation state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a video conference system similar to a conventional video telephone system. In the figure, (1) is a microphone, (2) is a speaker, (3) is an audio unit, (4) is a TV camera, (6) is a TV monitor, (9) is an image input, (10) is a control unit, (
11) is the operation unit, (12) is the transmission unit, (1
3) is the external power line, (14) is the voltage detection unit, (1
5) is a power supply switching unit, (16) is a unit supply power line, (17) is an image system cutting unit, and (18) is a backup power supply unit. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Patent attorney Masuo Oiwa (and 2 others) 16. Unit supply power line Block diagram of video telephone system Block diagram of conventional video conferencing system Figure 2 Procedural amendment (self-motivated), Indication of case Patent application 1986 -127303 No. 2,
Title of the Invention: Telephone 1 Tongue System], Relationship with the Amendment Case Patent Applicant Address: 2-3 Jishige-chome, Maruno, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Name (601) Representative Moriya Shiki 7, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Address: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, 2-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Name (7375) Masuo Oiwa, Patent Attorney -°゛・(Contact) No. 03 (213) 3421 Patent Department) ゛5. Detailed description of the invention in the specification to be amended. 6. Details of amendments and above

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An audio processing system that inputs and outputs audible sound data, an image processing system that inputs and outputs image data, a transmission system that controls transmission of these data between remote points, and the audio processing system. , an image processing system, and a control system that controls a transmission system, and the image processing system includes an input/output device consisting of a television camera and a television monitor, and an image unit that processes input/output data of the input/output device. In a telephone system, a backup power supply unit, a voltage detection unit connected to an external power supply and detecting the voltage of the external power supply, and a signal from the voltage detection unit are used to connect the external power supply and the backup power supply unit when the external power supply voltage drops and recovers. and an image system disconnection unit that disconnects the image processing system when the external power supply voltage drops based on a signal from the voltage detection unit, and supplies power from the backup power supply unit when the external power supply voltage drops. Also, a videophone system characterized in that the image processing system is separated.