JPH0419876Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention relates to a hands-free telephone for automobiles that can be remotely operated near the driver's seat.

(Conventional technology) Conventionally, the handset (transceiver) of a car phone
is stored, for example, in a console box in the center of the front seat, and passengers take it out to communicate with other stations. However, when a driver uses a handset to communicate with a partner station while driving a car, there are problems with driving safety if the driver operates the phone while driving the car at the same time, and it is difficult for the driver to operate the phone without picking up the handset. It is desirable to be able to do so. Therefore, instead of a handset, I installed a speaker and microphone on the instrument panel in front of the driver's seat.
A hands-free telephone has been proposed in which the selection of a partner station, calling (making a call), and ending a call are performed by operating a group of switches on a remote control panel located near the driver's seat.

(Problem that the invention attempts to solve) In such a hands-free telephone, press (turn on) the dialing switch on the remote control panel.
After the telephone sets to make a call, there is no need to operate any switch other than the call-end switch during the call until the call-end switch is turned on to end the call. However, if a switch other than the end switch is operated by mistake during a call, the call may be interrupted or abnormal sounds may be mixed in.

Furthermore, since hands-free telephones do not allow calls to be ended by turning the handset on, there is a risk of forgetting to operate the end-of-call switch after the end of a call. For example, if you switch from telephone mode to another electronic device mode, such as a radio, without ending the call, the telephone will be left on a call; A tone will be emitted as a warning.

This invention was developed to solve these inconveniences, and it prevents calls from being interrupted or abnormal sounds from being mixed in due to incorrect operation of the switch on the remote control panel. To provide a hands-free telephone set for a car, which is designed so that a telephone is not left in a talking state.

(Means for solving the problem) According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose,
a first switch that generates a switching control command signal for switching to an operation control mode of either a telephone mode or another electronic device mode other than the telephone mode; and a second switch that generates a call command signal in the telephone mode. and a third switch that generates a call termination command signal in the telephone mode, the operation control circuit comprising:
After receiving the call command signal in the telephone mode and causing the telephone to make a call, only one of the call termination command signal for terminating the telephone call and the switching control command signal is accepted, and in the telephone mode the telephone other than the telephone When a switching control command signal for switching to another electronic device mode is received, the switching control signal is switched to another electronic device mode other than the telephone and the telephone is terminated only when this switching control signal continues for a predetermined period of time. A hands-free telephone for automobiles is provided.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of a car telephone will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Reference numeral 10 denotes a conventionally known handset telephone for transmitting and receiving calls using a handset (H/S) 11, and this telephone 10 is mounted, for example, on an armrest 13 provided in the center of the rear seat 12.
(Fig. 4). This phone 10
is a hands-free adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as "adapter")
) 15 and is connected to a radio 18 stored in a trunk room or the like via a changeover switch 16. The telephone 10 is the antenna 1 of the radio 18
8a to communicate with a land-based subscriber station or other mobile phone subscriber station.

As will be described in detail later, the adapter 15 has functions such as switching control from the handset telephone 10 to a hands-free telephone consisting of a speaker 20 and a microphone 22, and has a central processing unit (CPU) 24,
It is composed of an H/F board 26, a steering wheel remote control IC 28, and a voice synthesis IC 30. The speaker 2
0 is console box 4 installed in the center of the front seat
The H/
It is electrically connected to the output terminal 26a of the F board 26. Two microphones 22 are provided on the instrument panel 41 in front of the driver's seat, with two microphones 22 protruding toward the driver's seat on both sides of the steering wheel 32 (FIG. 2). electrically connected to. H/F
A terminal 26c of the board 26 is connected to the changeover switch 16.

A steering wheel remote controller (operation panel section of the operation control circuit) 33 is attached to the support part (spoke) of the steering wheel 32, and the steering wheel remote controller 33 is connected to an electric/optical converter (not shown) attached near the upper end of the steering column. and a light-to-electrical converter (optical sensor) 34 electrically connected to the input side of the steering wheel remote control IC 28 in a known manner.
Connected to IC28. Various command signals generated by operating a switch group (FIG. 6) to be described later on the steering wheel remote controller 33 are supplied to the steering wheel remote controller IC 28 via the optical sensor 34 and the like.
On the output side of the steering wheel remote control IC 28, there is an electronic tuning radio 3 attached to the center console 42.
6 is connected. Speaker 3 of this radio 36
6a is 2 on both sides of the dart board in front of the front seat.
pcs installed. Handle remote control IC2
8 includes a code conversion circuit for the various command signals mentioned above, a switching circuit for directly connecting the steering wheel remote control 33 and the radio 36, and the like.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a display device attached to the overhead console 43, including a dial lock lamp 38a that displays a dial lock, and an out-of-range indicator that lights up when the mobile station, a car, moves out of the radio range where communication with the ground station is impossible. The display device 38 is composed of a lamp 38b and a 7-segment liquid crystal display panel 38c for identifying the dialed partner station, and is connected to the CPU 24 via a bus cable 19a. Furthermore, the CPU 24 includes the aforementioned handle remote controller IC 28, voice synthesis IC 30, and H/F board 26.
and radio device 18 and bus cables 19b and 19, respectively.
c, 19d, and 19e. Note that the display device 38 may be attached to the upper center of the front window or the instrument panel 41 instead of the overhead console.

FIG. 6 shows a group of switches of the handle remote control 33, these switches are push button type switches, hereinafter referred to as "keys".

First, the "AUDIO/PHONE" key (first switch) 50 is used to select whether the switches on the steering wheel remote controller 33 are used to control the operation of the radio 36 or the telephone. The operation control mode switches alternately. When switched to the telephone control mode (PHONE mode), the liquid crystal display plate 38c of the display device 38
The selected mode can be confirmed by whether or not the liquid crystal display panel 38c is lit. Note that key 50 is in radio control mode (AUDIO
mode), the CPU 24 forcibly terminates the hands-free telephone call, and controls the handle remote controller IC 28 so that the command signal from the handle remote controller 33 is directly supplied to the radio 36.
The switching circuit is switched, and radio control (AUDIO control) is executed.

The "POWER" key 51 is the "AUDIO/
When the PHONE key 50 is switched to AUDIO mode, it functions as a power on/off switch for the radio 36. Note that the power supply on the telephone side is turned on and off by an on/off switch (not shown) provided on the handset 11, but is normally kept in the on state at all times.

Each time the "VOL+/UP" key 52 is pressed
In the AUDIO mode, it functions as a switch that increases the radio volume by a predetermined amount, and in the PHONE mode, it functions as a switch that increments the speed dial of the called station by one. The speed dial of the called party station is displayed on the liquid crystal display board 38c of the display device 38.

The "VOL-/DOWN" key 53 is the opposite of the key 52, in the AUDIO mode it is a switch that reduces the volume by a predetermined amount, and in the PHONE mode it is a switch that decrements the speed dial of the called party by 1. function as respectively. Note that when the display board 38c is displaying the number 9, when this display is incremented by 1, the display is returned to 0. Further, when the number 0 is displayed, if this display is decremented by 1, the display becomes the number 9.

The "CHANGE/CALL" key (second switch) 54 is the radio 36 in the AUDIO mode.
It functions as a channel changeover switch, and each press switches to another station. In the case of PHONE mode, it has a function of generating a calling command signal to call the short dial number of the calling destination station selected using the above-mentioned "VOL+/UP" key 52 and "VOL-/DOWN" key 53. When this transmission command signal is supplied to the CPU 24, the CPU 24 causes the radio 18 to generate a predetermined signal, and calls (transmits) the other party via the exchange.

The "AUTO M/CHECK" key 55 functions as an auto memory switch in AUDIO mode, and "VOL+/UP" in PHONE mode.
It has a function to generate a command signal to notify by voice the telephone number stored in correspondence with the speed dial number of the partner station selected by the key 52 and the "VOL-/DOWN" key 53, and this command signal is supplied to the CPU 24, the CPU 24 reads out the telephone number of the calling party stored in correspondence with the selected speed dial number from the storage device of the CPU 24, and synthesizes a speech synthesis signal corresponding to the read number. Read from IC30 and send it to H/
When supplied to the F board 26, the speaker 20 outputs the stored telephone number corresponding to the selected speed dial number as a synthesized voice. This makes it possible to confirm whether the selected speed dial number corresponds to the correct telephone number of the destination station to which the user wishes to call.

"FM/AM/END" key (third switch)
56 is the radio AM in AUDIO mode.
Functions as a station / FM station switching switch, PHONE
mode, it functions as a call end switch, and pressing this key 56 during a call ends the call (END).
It can be put into a state.

Note that during a call using the handset (H/S) 11 (handset call), the handsfree (H/F)
If you want to switch to a phone call (hands-free call), switch to PHONE mode using the "AUDIO/PHONE" key 50, press (turn on) the CALL key 54, and then the handset 11 will switch to the phone 10.
Press down on the switch to switch to hands-free calling. That is, the CPU 24 energizes the relay coil of the changeover switch 16 via the line 17, and connects the radio device 18 to the speaker 20 and microphone 22 via the H/F board 26. Conversely, if the handset 11 is picked up during a hands-free call, the call is switched to a handset call.

Next, the control procedure of the hands-free telephone will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8.

First, in step 101 of FIG.
It is determined whether the AUDIO/PHONE key 50 has already been switched to PHONE mode. If the answer is negative (No), it is determined whether or not to switch to PHONE mode by pressing (on) the PHONE key 50 (step 102), and if not to switch to PHONE mode, proceed to step 103, and switch to radio 3.
Execute control 8 (AUDIO control). Since the method of controlling the volume, channel selection, etc. of an electronically tuned radio is well known, a detailed explanation of the AUDIO control will be omitted.
AUDIO control is performed when PHONE key 50 is turned on.
It will be executed repeatedly until it is switched to AUDIO mode.

Next, in the determination at step 102, if the mode is to be switched to PHONE mode, the process advances to step 104.
PHONE key 50 is pressed for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds)
It is determined whether it has been pressed (turned on) or not. This determination may be made using the PHONE key 50 due to incorrect signals such as noise.
This is provided to avoid determining that the mode has been switched to PHONE mode even though the button is not pressed (turned on). If the PHONE key 50 is not turned on for a predetermined period of time, nothing is done and the execution of the current loop program ends. on the other hand,
When the PHONE key 50 is turned on for more than a predetermined time
The CPU 24 identifies that the mode has been switched to PHONE mode and stores this (step 105).

Step 101 when switched to PHONE mode
The determination result is positive (Yes), and the process proceeds to step 108.
After determining whether to switch to the AUDIO mode as will be described later, the process proceeds to step 114 in FIG. 8 via entry point A. In step 114, if there is no telephone, steps 118 to 125 are executed.
Steps 118, 120, 122, and 124 are performed by pressing the CALL key 54, CHECK key 55, and CHECK key 55, respectively.
UP key 52 and DOWN key 53 are pressed (on)
When the UP key 52 is turned on, the determination result in step 122 becomes affirmative (Yes), the speed dial number is incremented by 1 (step 123), and the current loop program is Terminates execution. DOWN key 53
When the CHECK key 55 is turned on, the determination result at step 124 becomes affirmative (Yes), the speed dial number is decremented by 1 (step 125), and when the CHECK key 55 is turned on, the determination result at step 120 becomes affirmative (Yes). The aforementioned voice notification is executed to notify by voice the telephone number stored corresponding to the speed dial number selected by executing steps 120 to 125 (step 121). When the user turns on the CALL key 54 after selecting the desired station to call, the result of the determination at step 118 becomes affirmative (Yes), and the telephone sets to make a call (step 119). still,
CALL key 54, CHECK key 55, UP key 5
If none of the keys 2 and DOWN key 53 are on, the determination results in steps 118, 120, 122, and 124 are negative (No), and after executing step 126, which will be described later, the program of this loop is executed. end.

When the telephone makes a call, the determination result in step 114 becomes affirmative (Yes), and the process proceeds to step 116.
In step 116, it is determined whether the partner station has responded to the call and entered a talking state. If the call is not yet active, execute the steps after step 118,
If the call is in progress, the process proceeds to step 126 without executing steps 118 to 125. As a result, if the telephone is in a call state after making an outgoing call, the CALL key 54, the CHECK key 55, and the UP
Regardless of whether the key 52 or the DOWN key 53 is pressed, that key operation is ignored.

At step 126, END key 56 is pressed (on)
Determine whether or not it has been done. If the result of this determination is negative (No) and the call is continued, steps 101, 108, 114, 116 and 126 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when the END key 56 is turned on, the CPU
24 ends the hands-free (H/F) call (step 127), and ends the execution of the current loop program.

Next, press (turn on) the END key 56 during the call.
If you turn on AUDIO key 50 without
The determination result at step 108 in the figure is affirmative (Yes), in which case the process proceeds to step 110 and the step
For the same reason as 104, it is determined whether the AUDIO key 50 has been pressed (on) for a predetermined period of time (for example, 0.5 seconds) or more. If the AUDIO key 50 is not turned on once for a predetermined period of time, execution of the current loop program ends without doing anything. On the other hand, AUDIO
If the key 50 is turned on for more than a predetermined time, the CPU 2
4 identifies that the mode has been switched to AUDIO mode and stores this (step 111). Then, the process advances to step 112, where the hands-free (H/F) call is ended and the execution of the current loop program is ended. In this way, even if the AUDIO key 50 is turned on, the telephone will end the call, so press the END key 56.
Even if you forget to press the button and switch to AUDIO mode, you will not have the inconvenience of leaving the phone in a talking state.

In the above embodiment, the steps in FIG.
The determination in step 116 may be deleted; in this case, if the determination result in step 114 is affirmative (Yes), that is,
Once the telephone has begun making a call, it will proceed directly to step 126 above.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, according to the hands-free telephone for automobiles of the present invention, the switching control command signal is used to switch to the operation control mode of either the telephone mode or another electronic device mode other than the telephone mode. an operation control circuit having a first switch that generates a call command signal, a second switch that generates a call command signal in telephone mode, and a third switch that generates a call termination command signal in telephone mode; After receiving a call command signal in telephone mode and causing the telephone to make a call, the circuit receives only one of a call termination command signal for ending the call and a switching control command signal, and in telephone mode, it When a switching control command signal to switch to the electronic device mode is received, only when this switching control command signal continues for a predetermined period of time, the mode is switched to another electronic device mode other than the telephone and the telephone is terminated. This feature prevents re-calls, interruptions in calls, errors, etc. due to incorrect operation of the internal switch, and also prevents the user from switching to another electronic device mode other than the telephone without operating the third switch, which is the end-of-call switch. , it is possible to avoid the inconvenience caused when the telephone is left in a talking state.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a hands-free telephone for automobiles according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a layout diagram of the vicinity of the dashboard in the front part of the vehicle interior, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the center console, and Fig. 4 is FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the display device attached to the overhead console in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rear seat including a partial view of the armrest. FIG. The layout diagram of the switch group of the steering wheel remote control shown in FIG. 10...Handset telephone, 11...Handset, 15...Hand-free adapter (operation control circuit), 18...Radio device, 20...Speaker,
22...Microphone, 24...Central processing unit (CPU), 26...Hand free (H/F) board, 28...Handle remote control IC, 30...Speech synthesis IC, 33...Handle remote control (operation control) circuit), 36...Electronic tuning radio, 38...Display device, 50...AUDIO/PHONE key (1st
switch), 52...VOL+/UP key, 54
...CHANG/CALL key (second switch),
55...AUTO M/CHECK key, 56...
FM/AM/END key (third switch).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a first switch that generates a switching control command signal for switching to an operation control mode of either a telephone mode or another electronic device mode other than the telephone mode; and a second switch that generates a call command signal in the telephone mode. and a third switch that generates a call termination command signal in the telephone mode, and the operation control circuit is configured to cause the telephone to make a call in response to the call command signal in the telephone mode. When only one of the call termination command signal and the switching control command signal for ending a call is received, and a switching control command signal for switching from the telephone mode to another electronic device mode other than the telephone, this switching control is performed. 1. A hands-free telephone for an automobile, characterized in that only when a command signal continues for a predetermined period of time, the telephone switches to an electronic device mode other than the telephone and terminates the call.