JPH05316512A - Doorphone camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a master set and a slave set to send both a voice signal and a video signal in two-way and to use a monitor television receiver of the slave set as a display device. CONSTITUTION:A slave set 1 is provided with an image pickup lens 3, transmission reception means 4,5 and a monitor television receiver 17, and a master set 8 is provided with an image pickup lens 13, a transmission reception means 11 and a monitor television receiver 12. Thus, both a voice signal and a video signal are sent in two-way between the slave set 1 and the master set 8. Moreover, the master set 8 is provided with a video image storage device storing optional video information and a changeover switch 14 of the master set 8 selects the video image picked up by the image pickup lens 13 or the video information stored in the video storage device and sends the selected information to the slave set 1, then the video information from the storage device is displayed on the monitor television receiver 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intercom camera system, and more particularly to a display device thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of home automation, door-to-door camera systems capable of confirming the appearance of visitors at each home are becoming popular.

A conventional intercom camera system will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, a doorphone camera system slave unit (hereinafter referred to as slave unit) 1 installed outdoors includes an illumination element 2 for illuminating a subject (visitor or the like), and an imaging lens 3 for capturing an image of the subject. A microphone 4 for collecting a visitor's voice, a speaker 5 for outputting a voice from the room, and a call switch 6 operated by an alien when visiting.

On the other hand, a door phone camera system master unit (hereinafter referred to as master unit) 8 installed indoors has a speaker 9 for outputting a voice from a visitor and a microphone for making a call between the visitors. Handset 11 consisting of 10 and
A monitor television receiver 12 for monitoring an image taken through the imaging lens 3 of the child device 1 is provided.

The slave unit 1 and the master unit 8 are connected by a cable 7 such as a feeder line, and a video signal is transmitted from the slave unit 1 to the master unit 8.
In addition, the voice signal is bidirectionally transmitted between the child device 1 and the parent device 8.

Next, the operation of the conventional intercom camera system will be described. When a visitor presses the call switch 6 of the child device 1, the entire intercom camera system starts operating. When the call switch 6 is pressed, a ringing sound is emitted from the speaker 9 of the parent device 8 which is indoors, to notify that there is a visitor.

At the same time, the image pickup device of the child device 1 operates,
The image of the visitor captured through the imaging lens 3 is displayed on the monitor television receiver 12 of the base unit 8.

Therefore, in the room, that is, on the side of the base unit 8, the transmitter / receiver 11 is used to hear the voice of the visitor transmitted from the microphone 4 of the handset 1 through the speaker 9, and the microphone 10 is used.
By transmitting the voice to the speaker 5 of the handset 1 through the telephone, the call can be made indoors or outdoors while seeing the visitors.

When the illuminance of the subject is low, such as at night, by illuminating the subject with the illuminating element 2, a good image can be taken.

[0010]

By the way, when an attempt is made to communicate with a visitor from the inside by using the conventional intercom camera system, the call can be made from the inside of the room while seeing the appearance of the visitor. Can't see what's going on inside the room and must avoid the conversation without looking at the face of the person in the room.

Further, in the conventional door-phone camera system, there is an inconvenience that when it is desired to send some image information from the indoor side to the outside, it is necessary to directly go from the indoor to the outdoor.

The present invention provides an intercom camera system that solves such a conventional problem.

[0013]

According to the present invention, an image pickup device and a monitor television receiver are provided in both a slave unit and a master unit,
The video signal and the audio signal are bidirectionally transmitted between the slave unit and the master unit.

Further, according to the present invention, the base unit is provided with a video storage device for storing arbitrary video information, and the video signal from the imaging device and the video signal from the video storage device are switched to be sent to the slave unit. It was done.

[0015]

In this way, both the base unit and the handset can talk while seeing the other person. If the video information from the video storage device is sent from the base unit to the handset and displayed on the monitor television receiver of the handset, the handset can be used as a display device.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the intercom camera system of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a child device 1 installed outside the door includes an illumination element 2 for illuminating a subject (a visitor or the like), an imaging lens 3 for capturing an image of the subject, and a voice of the visitor. A microphone 4 for collecting sound, a speaker 5 for outputting a sound from the room, and a call switch 6 operated by a visitor when visiting.

Further, the slave unit 1 is provided with a monitor television receiver 17 for displaying a video signal sent from the master unit 8 which will be described later.

A base unit 8 installed indoors includes a handset 1 including a speaker 9 for outputting a voice from a visitor and a microphone 10 for making a call with the visitor.
1 and a monitor television receiver 12 for monitoring an image taken through the imaging lens 3 of the child device 1.

Further, the main unit 8 has an image pickup device including the image pickup lens 13 built therein. Further, the master unit 8 has a built-in video storage device (not shown) for storing arbitrary video information, and the changeover switch 14 allows the indoor video taken through the imaging lens 13 and the video storage in advance. It is configured so that predetermined video information stored in the device can be switched and displayed on the monitor television receiver 17 of the handset 1. An illumination element 16 for illuminating the subject is also provided near the imaging lens 13 of the parent device 8.

The slave unit 1 and the master unit 8 are connected by a cable 15 such as a feeder line, and both video signals and audio signals are bidirectionally transmitted between the slave unit 1 and the master unit 8.

Next, the operation of the intercom camera system of this embodiment will be described. When a visitor presses the call switch 6 of the child device 1, the entire intercom camera system starts operating. When the call switch 6 is pushed, a ringing sound is emitted from the receiving speaker 9 of the parent device 8 which is indoors, to notify that there is a visitor.

At the same time, the image pickup device of the child device 1 operates,
The image of the visitor captured through the imaging lens 3 is displayed on the monitor television receiver 12 of the base unit 8.

Therefore, in the room, that is, on the side of the base unit 8, the handset 11 is used to listen to the voice of the visitor transmitted from the microphone 4 of the handset 1 through the speaker 9, and the microphone 10 is used.
By transmitting the voice to the speaker 5 of the handset 1 through the telephone, the call can be made indoors or outdoors while seeing the visitors.

At this time, when it is better for the visitor to know the state of the room, the image pickup device of the base unit 8 is activated and the image of the room taken by the image pickup lens 13 is transmitted to the handset unit 1 via the cable 15. Then, the image in the room is displayed on the monitor television receiver 17 of the child device 1. In this way, the visitor can also talk while seeing the person inside the room. Even when it is desired to send some image information from the indoor side to the outside, it is not necessary to directly go from the indoor to the outdoor, and the necessary image information may be sent to the child device 1 through the imaging lens 13 of the parent device 8.

On the contrary, when it is desired not to show the inside of the room to the visitor, the changeover switch 14 replaces the image of the room taken by the image pickup lens 13 with the information stored in the image storage device. You can switch to the state of sending to the side.

In this state, the monitor television receiver 17 of the slave unit 1 can be used as a display device. For example, if the name data is stored in the video storage device and the name is displayed on the monitor television receiver 17 of the child device 1, it can be used as a nameplate. Also, in a store or the like, the monitor television receiver 12 of the child device 1 can be used for advertisement or guidance on regular holidays.

When the illuminance of the subject is low at night, indoors, etc., by illuminating the subject with the illumination elements 2 and 16, good image pickup is possible on either side of the slave unit 1 and the master unit 8. Become.

In the above embodiment, the slave unit 1 and the master unit 8 are connected by the cable 15, but it goes without saying that they may be connected by radio waves or the like.

Furthermore, the video storage device does not have to be built in the master unit 8, and a so-called external storage device prepared may be connected to the external input terminal of the master unit 8.

[0031]

According to the present invention, an image pickup device and a monitor television receiver are provided in both a slave unit and a master unit, and both a video signal and an audio signal are bidirectionally transmitted between the slave unit and the master unit. Therefore, both the base unit and the handset can talk while watching the partner's appearance.

Further, according to the present invention, the base unit is provided with a video storage device for storing arbitrary video information, and the video signal from the imaging device and the video signal from the video storage device are switched and sent to the slave unit. Therefore, by transmitting the video information from the video storage device from the base unit to the handset and displaying it on the monitor television receiver of the handset, the handset can be used as a display device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a doorphone camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a conventional intercom camera system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Doorphone camera system slave unit 2 Lighting element 3 Imaging lens 4 Microphone 5 Speaker 6 Call switch 7 Cable 8 Doorphone camera system master unit 9 Speaker 10 Microphone 11 Handset 12 Monitor television receiver 13 Imaging lens 14 Changeover switch 15 Cable 16 Lighting Element 17 monitor television receiver

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device, a monitor television receiver,
An intercom camera system slave unit having a transmitting / receiving unit, an imaging device, a monitor television receiver, a doorphone camera system master unit having a transmitting / receiving unit, and a video signal between the doorphone camera system slave unit and the intercom camera system master unit. Door phone camera system equipped with means for bidirectionally transmitting both audio and audio signals. 2. A doorphone camera system slave unit having a first image pickup device, a monitor television receiver, and a transmitter / receiver; and a second image pickup device, a monitor television receiver, a transmitter / receiver, and arbitrary image information. A video storage device for storing, a doorphone camera system master unit having means for switching the video signal from the second imaging device and the video signal from the video storage device, and the intercom camera system slave unit and the intercom camera system master unit. An intercom camera system equipped with means for bidirectionally transmitting both video and audio signals between the two.