JPH035899A - Warning issuance recognition supporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize the visit of a visitor even at the time to listen to stereophony, etc., by a headphone by attenuating a signal level in a signal transmission route or cutting off signal transmission in the same signal transmission route in response to the warning issuance starting signal of a warning issuing means operated by the visitor, etc., or the signal equivalent to it. CONSTITUTION:When the visitor operates the warning issuing means 2a such as the calling button, etc., of a doorbell or a door horn device while an inmate is listening to the stereophony from an audio device 5 by using the headphone 6, the signal level in the signal transmission route from the sound signal source of the audio device 5, etc., to the sound vibration generating transducer part of the headphone 6, etc., is attenuated or the signal transmission is cut off by the warning issuance starting signal to be generated in response to it. Thus, even if the inmate is listening to stereo music etc., by large sound volume, he can recognize the visit of the visitor.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is an alarm recognition assisting device, more specifically, an alarm recognition assisting device that can recognize the arrival of a visitor even when listening to stereo etc. through headphones. Regarding.

[Conventional technology] Traditionally, each home has a doorbell or intercom installed at its front door or back door, so a visitor visiting another home must first press the call button on the doorbell or intercom. It is common for families to be informed of a person's visit.

However, with the recent development of home automation systems and home security systems,
2. Description of the Related Art Visitor monitoring devices such as video door phone devices that combine a video camera with a door phone or intercom are becoming popular. As an example of this kind of visitor monitoring device, for example, the monitoring device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-36284 is
As shown in Figure 1.2 of the same bulletin, the entrance of the house (11)
This monitors the front door (11) and the back door (21).
First and second video intercoms (12) and (22) are attached to the back door (21), respectively.

the first and second video intercoms (12);

(22) is a video camera (12a), (22a)
and speaker (12b), (22b), call switch (12c), (22c), microphone (12d), (
22d) and infrared signal receiving section (12e), (22e
), as shown in Figure 2, a video camera (L2a),
(22a) and a microphone (12d).

(22d) and the audio signal from the voice picked up by the modulator (22d).
12f), (22f) to modulate the VHF wave of the so-called vacant channel where broadcasting is not performed, and output it to the output terminal (12f).
g), (22g) to coaxial cable (17).

Output to (27).

Therefore, when there is a visitor at the entrance (11) of this house, the visitor can press the call switch (12C) of the video intercom (12), and the intercom (
12) from the controller 1. A control signal is sent to the coaxial cable (17), and this control signal turns on the monitor televisions (52) (62) installed in the living room, etc., and turns on the camera (12a) of the video intercom (12).
)'s photo of the entrance (11) is displayed on the monitor televisions (52) and (62). and,
It is possible to talk to the visitor using an intercom base unit (54) or (64) installed near the monitor television (52) or (82).

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, even if a visitor to another home presses a warning means such as a doorbell or a call button on an intercom installed at the front door or back door of that home, the If a family member is listening to a stereo set at high volume using headphones, for example, they may hear the announcement of a visitor. In particular, when listening to stereo music through headphones, the volume can be turned up higher than usual, so there is a risk of missing the visitor's announcement sound. In particular, this tendency is exacerbated when closed-air headphones are used as they block out external sounds, and even when using oven-air headphones, if the headphones are played at a high volume in the ear, the visitor's announcement sound can be heard. I will miss it.

In addition, as in the monitoring device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-36284, when a visitor presses the call switch (12c) of a video intercom installed at the entrance, etc., the call switch (12c) is pressed. The image of the entrance (11) taken by the camera (12a) is displayed on the monitor televisions (52) and (82) installed in the living room etc., which allows you to see who the visitor is. Even if it is possible to identify the monitor, it is of no use unless the householder focuses on the monitor television (52) or (62).

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when a visitor operates an alarm means such as a doorbell or a call button on an intercom, even if the family member is listening to stereo music etc. at high volume, the visitor will be alerted. An object of the present invention is to provide an alarm recognition auxiliary device that can recognize the arrival of a person.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The alarm recognition auxiliary device of the present invention is capable of being inserted at an appropriate location in a signal transmission path from an audio signal source to a transducer for generating audio vibrations, and Attenuate the signal level in the signal transmission path or cut off the signal transmission in the signal transmission path in response to an alarm activation signal or an equivalent signal of the alarm means to be operated by, etc. It is characterized by the fact that

[Example] The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

First, before explaining the present invention in detail, the basic concept of the present invention and the outline of the home bus system will be explained.

The alarm recognition auxiliary device of the present invention is a call switch of a video door phone device placed at a doorway or the like.

When a visitor operates a warning means such as a doorbell or an intercom notification button, the bird sends a signal from the warning means in response. Then, this trigger signal significantly increases the amount of attenuation in the signal transmission path from the audio signal source such as a stereo to the transducer section for generating audio vibrations such as earphones or speakers, thereby reducing the volume at the transducer section. Refine. This allows family members to recognize that a visitor has arrived even if they are listening to an audio device such as a stereo at high volume.

To reduce the volume in the transducer section of headphones, speakers, etc., there are two ways to reduce the volume, regardless of how loud you are currently listening to it: to lower it to a predetermined value or lower, for example, by 20 db from the audio level you are currently listening to. However, the point is that it is only necessary to recognize that there is a visitor due to the volume being lowered, so a method that mixes both of these methods may be used. Further, reducing the volume to a predetermined level or less includes reducing the sound to zero, and may also switch to another sound signal source, such as the visitor's sound from an intercom device.

Next, when the volume of the audio device is reduced to below a predetermined value or by a predetermined amount, there is a steady mode in which the volume continues to be reduced until a separate reset operation is performed, and an automatic recovery mode in which the volume is automatically restored after a certain period of time. It may be. It is also possible to enable the user to switch between the normal mode and the automatic return mode.

Furthermore, it is also possible to allow the user to freely set the amount by which the volume is to be reduced and the time period for which the volume is to be reduced.

Next, the outline of the home bus system will be explained. This home bus system is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-36284, which was explained in the conventional example above.
A method called home automation, in which information such as images and sounds from various devices used in the home is transferred to signal lines such as commercial power lines and coaxial cables that are wired indoors. The idea is to build an integrated transmission system and use this to remotely control various devices used in the home.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alarm recognition assisting device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a doorbell 2 is disposed above the outdoor side 1a of the door 1, and a necessary wiring 2b is connected from a push button 2a of the doorbell 2 to, for example, a wall-mounted chime 3 disposed on an indoor wall. There is. This chime 3 is configured to emit a normal chime sound "ping pong" when a make signal is supplied from the push button 2a, and also output an alarm activation signal for triggering an audio attenuator 4, which will be described later. The signal is supplied to the control terminal 4C of the audio attenuator 4, which is shaded in FIG. The attenuator 4 has a built-in buffer circuit (not shown), and the headphone output terminal 5a of the audio device 5 is connected to the input terminal 4a of the buffer circuit, and the audio signal input terminal of the headphones 6 is connected to the output terminal 4b of the buffer circuit. It is connected.

In this first embodiment configured in this way, when a visitor presses the push button 2a of the doorbell 2, the chime 3 in the room sounds "
A chime sound "ping pong" is emitted, and the chime 3 connects the control terminal 4C of the audio attenuator 4.
The signal for starting the alarm sent out increases the amount of attenuation in the buffer circuit (not shown) of the audio attenuator 4, so the volume of the headphones 6 is controlled to a predetermined level or less. You will be able to recognize that it is true.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alarm recognition assisting device showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that instead of the doorbell 2 disposed on the upper part of the outdoor side 1a of the door 1, a wireless video doorphone device is used, and among these, a doorphone camera is usually used. 7 was used. This door phone camera 7
is already well known, and its power is supplied from a commercial power source (not shown), and a monitor television camera device and a microphone device (not shown) are built into the casing. Then, the video signal output from the camera device and the audio signal output from the microphone device are broadcast by a modulation device built into the door phone camera 7 along with an alarm start signal as a trigger signal. It modulates VHF or UHF waves on so-called vacant channels and transmits them wirelessly from an antenna.

When a visitor presses the call button 7a of the door phone camera 7, an alarm activation signal, a video signal and an audio signal capturing the visitor are transmitted. This transmitted radio wave is received by the receiving section 8 of the door phone camera 7. This receiving section 8 has a liquid crystal monitor display section 8a in its lower part and an audio attenuator 8b in the diagonally shaded area at the top, and inside thereof is the same as that described in the first embodiment. It has a built-in buffer circuit.

Therefore, when this receiving section 8 receives the alarm activation signal from the door phone camera 7, the power of this receiving section 8 is turned on, and the video and audio signals transmitted from the camera 7 are transmitted to the LCD screen. It is displayed on the monitor display section 8a. At the same time, the headphone output terminal 5 of the audio device 5
The audio signal supplied to the headphones 6 from the audio attenuator 8b is attenuated by a predetermined amount or below a predetermined level. Therefore, the householder who is listening to the stereo sound through the headphones 6 can recognize that a visitor has arrived.

By the way, in this second embodiment, when the alarm activation signal is sent out, in addition to attenuating the audio signal from the audio device 5 as described above, the audio signal from the audio device 5 is attenuated, for example, from the door phone camera 7. It is also possible to switch to the audio signal and supply it to the headphones 6. With such a configuration, the arrival of the visitor can be more reliably communicated to family members who are listening to stereo through the headphones 6.

Such switching of the audio signal source is possible even if the wireless system according to the second embodiment is not used, and of course it can also be applied to a normal intercom without a television camera.

Above 1. In the second embodiment, an audio attenuator is inserted in a signal transmission path from an audio device 5 as an audio signal generation source to headphones 6 as a transducer section for generating audio vibrations to press the button 2a of the doorbell 2 or the doorphone camera. The signal level in the signal transmission path is attenuated or the signal transmission is cut off in response to the alarm activation signal from the alarm means such as the call button 7a. but,
FIGS. 3 and 4, which will be described next, show a transducer section for generating sound vibrations that controls not only headphones 6 but also a speaker.

Figures 3 and 4 are based on the above-mentioned section 1. It is a schematic block diagram of the principal part of the alarm recognition auxiliary device which shows the modification of 2nd Example. This third. In the modification shown in FIG. 4, a speaker is used in addition to headphones as a transducer section for generating sound vibrations, so the headphone output of the audio device 5 cannot be used as a g-voice signal generation source. Therefore, in the modified example shown in FIG. 3, it is effective to use a configuration in which a means 5Ab having an attenuation function like the audio attenuator 4 is built into the audio device main body 5A, that is, a configuration like a radio-cassette player or a mini-component. .

On the other hand, in a component stereo system where each block is independent and interconnected, the signal level is attenuated during the signal transmission path from the preamplifier 10 to the main amplifier 11, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it is preferable to insert means 12 having an attenuator function to cut off signal transmission. Then, by connecting the speakers 9a and 9b to the output terminal of the main amplifier 11, the alarm recognition auxiliary device as described above can be obtained. At this time, if you also want to use headphones, preamplifier 10 or main amplifier 1.1
Needless to say, it is sufficient to connect to, etc.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the audio attenuator indicated by diagonal lines in each of the above embodiments and modifications.

This circuit operates for a certain period of time once the alarm activation signal is input.
It is designed to narrow down the audio signal by a certain amount. In the figure, when the headphone output of an audio device or the output of a preamplifier is applied to an input terminal T1, this audio signal is applied to both ends of a resistor R1 via a coupling capacitor C. The audio signal at both ends of this resistor R1 is connected to an audio differential amplifier OP1, a low resistor R2, R3°R variable resistor VR, and an analog switch AS.

It is amplified by an amplifier consisting of 4° 1 and outputted from the output terminal T3.

By the way, the gain of the above amplifier is determined by the variable resistance V when the analog switch A S t is on.
If R1 is turned to CCW-cup and set to 0Ω, R/VR1
-0, so the gain of the amplifier is Odb.

In other words, by switching the analog switch A S t, it is possible to create a variable gain amplifier.

The alarm activation signal applied to the trigger input terminal T2 is input to a one-shot multivibrator (hereinafter abbreviated as one-shot) MMl.

If the time constant of this one-shot MM is vR2, C2, the on-time of the analog switch A Si can be set by 53 by adjusting the variable resistor vR2. Note that the resistor R5 is a pull-up resistor.

Therefore, according to the circuit shown in FIG. 5, the amount of attenuation at which the audio signal should be reduced when the alarm activation signal is input is the variable resistor VR1, and the time width at which the audio signal should be reduced is the variable resistor VR2. You can set each. In other words, the user can freely set the attenuation amount and attenuation time of the audio signal when a visitor arrives by adjusting these variable resistors VR and VR2.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an audio attenuator in the second embodiment that switches the audio signal sources shown in FIG. 2. In the figure, when an audio signal from the headphone output end 5a (see FIG. 2) of the audio device 5 is supplied to the input terminal T4, it is passed through the coupling capacitor C3, the resistor R6, and the analog multiplexer AMt that selects the input signal to the operational amplifier. After being amplified by the audio amplifier formed by OP2, the signal is output from the output terminal T5 and supplied to the headphones 6 (see FIG. 2).

The audio signal of the visitor picked up by the audio unit such as an intercom of the door phone camera 7 (see FIG. 2) is as follows:
The signal is applied to the terminal NO of the analog multiplexer A M r via the coupling capacitor C4 and the resistor R7, but is not output because the analog multiplexer A M t is on the NC side.

When a visitor operates the call button 7a of the door phone camera 7, an alarm activation signal output from the trigger section of the camera 7 is supplied to the trigger input end of the latch circuit LA1.

Then, the output terminal Q of the latch circuit LA becomes active, so the analog multiplexer AM1 switches to the NO side, thereby switching the audio signal source to the audio device 5.
The headphone output end 5a of the camera (see FIG. 2) is switched to the audio section of the door phone camera 7 (see FIG. 2).

So, the family member who was listening to the stereo with headphones 6,
Instead of the audio signal from the audio device 5, the visitor's voice is heard from the audio section of the door phone camera, thereby making it possible to reliably catch the visitor's visit. Note that the resistors R8R9 are pull-up resistors, and the switch SW1 is for resetting.

Since the latch circuit LA1 is constituted by a bistable circuit such as a flip-flop, when the call button 7a of the door phone camera 7 is operated by a visitor and latched, this state is maintained. In other words, there is no automatic recovery after a certain period of time as shown in FIG. 5 above. When the conversation between the visitor and the family member ends and the family member turns on the reset switch SW1, the reset terminal R of the latch circuit L A i becomes active "L", thereby putting the latch circuit L A t in the reset state. Then, since the output terminal Q of the latch circuit LA1 becomes non-active, the analog multiplexer AM1 returns to the NC side, so that the family can listen to the stereo sound from the audio device 5 again.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alarm recognition assisting device showing a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. Second
The difference from the embodiment is that an audio attenuator is inserted to attenuate the signal level in the signal transmission path from the audio device 5 to the headphones 6, which occurs when a visitor operates an alarm means such as a call button. Rather, this is done by varying the volume control provided on the audio device itself.

FIG. 7(A) is a perspective view of an audio device 5B used in this third embodiment, with speakers 9 provided on both sides.
Audio signals are listened to through headphones 6, which are inserted into the headphones 6a, 9b, or a jack provided near the center. The volume of the audio signal is controlled remotely using, for example, an infrared remote control like a commercially available mini component. That is, the audio device 5B
Infrared remote control receiver 58 provided near the center of the front surface of the
At step a, the infrared light emitted from the infrared remote control transmitter 13A having the sound mga function shown in FIG. 7(B) is received.

When the present invention is used in such a system, a so-called learning remote control means 138a shown in FIG. 7(C) may be used instead of the infrared remote control transmitter 13A shown in FIG. 7(B). It is preferable to remotely control the volume adjustment of the audio device 5B using the built-in attenuator device 13B. By informing this and actually transmitting the luminous code, the luminous code can be read and stored internally, and if necessary, the code can be transmitted by pressing the specified button. Therefore, if the volume control function of the attenuation device 13B with built-in learning remote control function is replaced with the variable gain amplifier shown in Fig. 5, the trigger input from the door phone device can be applied. Learning remote control means 138a built in this attenuator device 13B operated by
The light emitted from the light emitting means 13Bb is transmitted to the audio device 5B.
By receiving the light with the infrared remote control light receiving section 58g, it becomes possible to adjust the volume of the audio device 5B using this infrared remote control function.

That is, since the system of the present invention already includes, or is capable of including, an imaging function and an intercom function, and is also provided with a control function, it is possible to incorporate these systems into the home bus system. It becomes possible to automatically adjust the volume of the audio device.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, even if a family member is listening to stereo from an audio device using headphones, for example, a visitor can use the doorbell or the call button on the doorphone device to ring the doorbell. When the means is operated, an alarm activation signal issued in response to this attenuates the signal level in a signal transmission path from an audio signal source such as an audio device to a transducer section for generating audio vibrations such as headphones. , or the signal transmission is cut off, thereby achieving the remarkable effect that even if the volume is high, the alarm from the alarm means operated by the visitor can be reliably recognized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alarm recognition auxiliary device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an alarm recognition auxiliary device showing a second embodiment of the invention. Figures 1 and 4 above are shown in Section 1 above. A modification of the second embodiment,
Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the case where an audio attenuator is built into the audio device main body, Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the case where the audio attenuator is inserted between each component making up the audio device, and Fig. 5. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an audio attenuator used in each of the above embodiments and modifications;
The figure shows a case where the audio signal is reduced by a certain amount for a certain period of time in response to the alarm activation signal, and Figure 6 shows the case where the audio signal is suppressed by a certain amount in response to the alarm activation signal, and then it is muted until the reset operation is performed. 7A, 7B, and 7C are schematic configuration diagrams of an alarm recognition auxiliary device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure (A) shows the main body of the audio device, Figure 7 (13) shows the attached remote control transmitter, and Figure 7 (C) shows the learning remote control transmitter. 2a...Press the doorbell button (alarm means) 5...
...Audio device (audio signal source) 6...
・・・・・・・・・Headphones (transducer section for generating sound vibrations) 7a・・・・・・・・・Call button of door phone gamer (
Alarm means) 9a, 9b... Speaker (transducer section for generating sound vibrations)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An alarm activation signal or an equivalent signal for an alarm means that can be inserted at an appropriate place in the signal transmission path from the audio signal source to the audio vibration generating transducer and operated by a visitor, etc. An alarm recognition auxiliary device characterized in that the signal level in the signal transmission path is attenuated or the signal transmission in the signal transmission path is cut off in response to a signal. (2) A signal transmission path from the audio signal source to the audio vibration generation transducer section, a signal transmission path for the alarm activation signal of the alarm means or an equivalent signal, or for communication with the visitor, etc. 2. The alarm recognition auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein a bus line of a home bus system is used as at least one of the signal transmission paths.