JPH0646413A - Cordless video telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply many functions of a video telephone set main body even at a position remote from the telephone main body by using the main body, a TV broadcast receiver, a cordless telephone handset, a compact video camera, etc., to construct a cordless video telephone set. CONSTITUTION:The start signal of a handset 3 is received by a voice radio part 65 and transmitted to a control part 60. Thus each part of the main body and a camcorder 4 are started. The images of the camcorder 4 are sent to a TV radio part 64 via an image coding part 66 and received by a compact liquid crystal TV receiver 2 by means of the idle channel of the TV broadcast. Meanwhile a motor-driven universal head 5 is remotely controlled by the hand set 3 via the parts 65 and 60 so that an optical system is controlled. Then the opposite party number is transmitted through the handset 3 and a communication interface 61 works via the parts 65 and 60. Thus the connection is secured to the TV telephone of the opposite party side via a communication channel like an ISDN, etc. In such conditions, the image data and the voice data are coded and decoded at an image coding part 66 and a voice coding part 67 respectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cordless type television (T.
V) Regarding telephones.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, color moving picture TV telephones have become compact, and desk-top TV telephones in which an image input / output unit and an image encoding unit are integrated have been put into practical use. Further, in addition to the TV phone function, a multifunctional TV phone capable of receiving a TV broadcast image and also serving as a facsimile has been proposed. As an example, FIG. 5 shows an outline of a multifunctional TV telephone disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-39693.

This multi-function TV telephone is equipped with a TV camera 7
1, CRT 72, VTR (video tape recorder)
A handset 77, a keyboard 78, and a mouse 79 are connected to a main body 70 in which 73, a video floppy drive 74, a facsimile device 75, a speaker 76, etc. are integrated. In addition to the general telephone line 81,
This is performed by inputting various TV antennas 82, 83, CATV 84, and external camera 85. The main body 70 has a still image TV
A plurality of functions such as a telephone function, a TV broadcast image receiving function, a facsimile function, an external camera monitor function, and a recording / playback function are provided, and the user can use each function properly according to the situation.

[0004]

In such a conventional technique, all the parts are integrated in the main body in order to properly use a plurality of functions in one unit, and different functions are simultaneously provided at locations separate from the main body. It is impossible to use. In addition, even if the present organic device can be used for a certain function, it is not possible to effectively utilize the present organic device by introducing a device in which the function is duplicated and integrated.
This will force the user to spend extra.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cordless type TV, which enables multi-functional use even in a place away from the main body of the TV telephone, improves usability, and can effectively use the current organic device to reduce user expenses. To provide a telephone.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a TV is provided in a main body of a color moving picture TV telephone.
A means for wirelessly transmitting an image and a sound by using a broadcasting system, a means for realizing a cordless telephone by using a wireless communication system, and an imaging means such as a small video camera or a camera-integrated VTR are fixed, and the main body and the electric And a small video camera or a VTR with a built-in camera.
And so on to configure a cordless type TV telephone.

[0007]

The means for wirelessly transmitting the image and the sound provided in the main body of the color moving image TV telephone converts the image and the sound of the other party of the TV telephone, the image of the own camera and the like into the TV broadcasting system and uses the vacant channel and the like. Then, it is sent to the TV broadcast receiver.
A means for realizing a cordless telephone transmits and receives videophone transmissions and receptions to and from a cordless telephone handset and the like in a wireless manner. The means for fixedly connecting a small video camera or a camera-integrated VTR functions to take a self-portrait of a TV phone with these cameras and send it to the TV phone body. By these actions, even in a place away from the TV phone body,
The TV phone can be used by using a TV broadcast receiver or a cordless phone handset.

[0008]

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cordless TV telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example
Cordless TV phone body (main unit) 1 and small LCD TV
Receiver 2, conversation handset 3, camera-integrated V
It is configured to be used in combination with TR4.

The TV phone body 1 has a function of digitally encoding a color moving image and voice and communicating with the other party through a communication line such as ISDN. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 1, the main body 1 generally has a function of converting an image and sound of a TV phone into a TV broadcast system and transmitting the weak or low power radio wave, and a conversation sound of the TV phone in general. It also has the function of sending and receiving by the same wireless communication method as the cordless telephones. On the upper part of the main body 1, a small electric platform 5 is provided as a means for fixing a small video camera or a camera-integrated VTR. It should be noted that in the embodiment shown in FIG.
Although the small camera 11, the display screen 12, the operation buttons 13 and the like are provided so as to be used as a telephone, these may be omitted.

The small liquid crystal TV receiver 2 is a portable type that receives TV broadcast and displays it on the screen 21 of the liquid crystal display element. When the TV receiver 2 is used as a TV phone, the image and sound of the TV phone sent from the TV phone body 1 by using an empty channel of TV broadcasting are received. Since it is possible to carry and use it anywhere as an advantage of the portable type, it can be freely moved and used even in a place away from the TV phone body 1 within a range where radio waves can reach.

The conversation handset 3 has a receiver 31, a transmitter 32, an operation button 33 and the like, and transmits and receives voice to and from the TV phone body 1 by radio waves. Similar to a general cordless telephone, it can be used for a videophone voice conversation even at a place away from the TV telephone body 1. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the handset 3 also has a function of wirelessly remotely controlling the image, voice, and other operations of the cordless videophone.

The camera-integrated VTR 4 is a video camera 4
1, a cassette type VTR 42, a sound collecting microphone 43, etc. are integrated and equipped with an auto focus, an auto iris, a zoom function and the like. This camera-integrated VTR 4 is fixed to the electric platform 5 and used by being electrically connected to the TV phone body 1. For connection, it is common to use dedicated signal lines for image, voice, and other controls, but a dedicated connector is provided at each of the joint portions of the camera-integrated VTR 4 and the electric platform 5 to provide physical control. The electrical connection may be made simultaneously with the physical connection. After the connection, the camera-integrated VTR 4 can be tilted vertically and horizontally by the movement of the electric platform 5 to change the image pickup direction of the camera. Further, even if the image capturing direction changes, the auto focus and auto iris functions work on the subject to obtain an appropriate image.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. In the figure, solid lines with arrows show the flow of data such as images and sounds, and dotted lines with arrows show the control peculiar to the present invention.
The TV phone body 1 includes a communication interface 61, a TV
A wireless unit 64, an audio wireless unit 65, an image encoding unit 66, an audio encoding unit 67, and a control unit 60 for controlling them are provided. Small LCD TV receiver 2 and conversation handset 3
Via the antennas 62 and 63, respectively.
Is wirelessly connected.

Here, the usage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the operation of each functional block will be briefly described.

First, the handset 3 is operated to emit a start signal. When the voice wireless unit 65 set in the standby state receives the signal, the signal is transmitted to the control unit 60, and each unit of the main body and the camera-integrated VTR 4 are activated. At this time, the image captured by the camera-integrated VTR 4 is sent to the TV wireless unit 64 via the image encoding unit 66, and the small liquid crystal TV receiver 2 is used by utilizing an empty TV broadcast channel or the like.
Can be received at. Further, the electric camera platform 5 can be remotely operated from the handset 3 via the audio wireless unit 65 and the control unit 60, and the imaging direction of the camera and the optical system such as focus and zoom can be adjusted. As a result, even if the location is far from the TV phone body 1, if the radio wave can reach and the shooting range of the camera exists, the imaging direction and the optical system can be optimally adjusted while watching the display image on the TV receiver 2. can do.

Next, when the other party's number is transmitted from the handset 3, the communication interface 61 operates via the voice radio section 65 and the control section 60 to connect to the other party's TV telephone through a communication line such as ISDN. At this time, the image data is encoded and decoded by the image encoding unit 66 and the audio data by the audio encoding unit 67, respectively, and communication with the other party becomes possible via the communication interface 61. For example, the partner image is decoded by the image coding unit 66 and sent to the TV wireless unit 64, and the small liquid crystal TV receiver 2 rides on the radio waves of the TV broadcasting system.
To be received. On the other hand, the self-portrait is encoded by the image encoder 66 and transmitted from the communication interface 61 together with the transmission voice code encoded by the voice encoder 67.

In the present embodiment, remote control from the handset 3 makes it possible to select two methods for the conversation mode with the other party.

The first method is a method in which the handset 3 wirelessly transmits and receives the transmitted and received voice to talk with the other party. In this case, the audio data flows between the audio wireless unit 65 and the audio encoding unit 67. Since the handset 3 is used, there is an advantage that conversation can be performed without worrying about acoustic echo and howling.

The second method is to use the sound pickup microphone 43 of the VTR 4 with a built-in camera to transmit the own voice, and the other party's voice to the TV.
This is a method in which a small liquid crystal TV receiver 2 receives a voice on the radio waves of a broadcasting system. In this case, the transmission voice data is transmitted from the camera-integrated VTR 4 to the voice encoding unit 67, and the reception voice data is transmitted from the voice encoding unit 67 to the TV wireless unit 64. This method has the advantage that freehand conversation is possible and the other party's voice can be heard from almost the same place as the other party's image so that a more natural conversation is possible. Acoustic echo and howling may occur depending on the device arrangement and volume, but this can be avoided by a method of receiving from the small liquid crystal TV receiver 2 using earphones.

As described above, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the TV telephone function can be used even from a place remote from the TV telephone body 1, and the image, voice, and other operations can be remotely controlled by a wireless system. Therefore, the usability is significantly improved. When not used as a TV phone, the small liquid crystal TV receiver 2 and the camera-integrated VTR 4 can be used individually, and a plurality of functions can be used at the same time in a place apart from the main body 1. Also, when a cordless videophone is newly introduced, it is possible to effectively use the current organic device, so it is sufficient to purchase only the TVphone body 1.
There is an advantage that the user's expenses can be reduced.

When the camera-integrated VTR 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 has a built-in infrared remote control function, the handset 3 is provided with an infrared remote control means, as shown in FIG. In addition, the present invention can be implemented such that the infrared ray 44 directly controls the camera-integrated VTR 4. As an alternative, the infrared remote control means may be provided in the TV phone body 1 instead of being provided in the handset 3, and the remote control signal sent from the handset 3 by a wireless method is converted into an infrared signal by the TV phone body 1 to be used by the camera. It may be configured to control the body type VTR4.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a cordless TV telephone handset which is an embodiment of the present invention. The handset 3 is provided with a handset 31, a transmitter 32, a means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voices, and a means for remotely controlling a cordless TV telephone by a wireless system. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the mode switching button 34 switches between the conversation mode and the control mode.

FIG. 3A shows a typical arrangement of the operation buttons 33 in the conversation mode. In the conversation mode, buttons are arranged so that it is easy to operate a telephone number and the like, and when connected to the other party's TV telephone, it becomes possible to have a conversation through the handset 31 and the transmitter 32. After the conversation starts, for example, by operating the number buttons, it is possible to adjust the imaging direction of the camera and the zoom. On the other hand, FIG. 3 (b) shows a typical example of button arrangement in the control mode.
Used for remote control of other operations. In the control mode, in addition to adjusting the imaging direction of the camera and the optical system such as focus and zoom, the reception channel of the TV receiver and V
Playback of TR etc. can be controlled remotely. Further, depending on the setting of the user, it is possible to switch to a method of talking with the other party without using the handset 3 by interlocking with the mode switching button 34.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, a power source start-up and other control buttons may be provided separately, and the operation buttons 33 do not necessarily have to be arranged as shown.
Further, in both the conversation mode and the control mode, the image pickup direction of the camera and the optical system can always be automatically adjusted by the radio wave or infrared signal transmitted from the handset 3. As a result, even if the user is not particularly aware, it is possible to follow the location of the handset 3 and always maintain an optimal use environment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a cordless TV phone according to another embodiment of the present invention. This example
Cordless TV telephone main body (base unit) 1, stationary TV receiver 20, conversation handset 3, and video camera 4
It is configured to use 0 in combination.

The functions and operations of the cordless TV telephone of this embodiment are almost the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. The feature of this embodiment is that a cordless TV telephone can be used by using the conventional stationary TV receiver 20. Since it can be connected to the TV phone main body 1 by the radio wave of the TV broadcasting system, there is an advantage that it does not require wiring and the like and can be arranged apart from each other as shown in the figure. Video camera 40 is T
Although it is installed on the V receiver 20, it may be placed anywhere as long as it can take a self-portrait, and the imaging direction can be changed by using a commercially available electric camera platform.

The ISDN of the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
Although an example of connecting to a digital line such as the above has been shown, the same applies to a video telephone using an analog line regardless of public network or private network. Further, when the camera-integrated VTR is used as the image pickup means, there is an advantage that, for example, the self-portrait can be transmitted and the reproduced video of the VTR can be easily transmitted. Note that it is possible to easily infer that voice remote control can be performed by using voice recognition technology instead of the remote control by the control button.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the TV telephone function can be used by using a TV broadcast receiver, a cordless type handset, a camera-incorporated VTR, etc. even in a place away from the TV telephone body, and each of these devices can be used. Since they can be used in multiple functions by using them separately, the usability is improved and the current organic devices can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cordless TV phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a cordless TV telephone handset that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the arrangement of a cordless TV phone that is another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional multifunctional TV phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... TV phone main body, 2 ... small liquid crystal TV receiver, 3 ... conversation handset, 4 ... camera integrated VTR, 5 ... electric platform.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display area H04N 5/232 A

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A means for wirelessly transmitting an image and a sound using a television broadcasting system to a videophone body having a function of transmitting and receiving an image and a sound through a communication line, and a cordless telephone using a wireless communication system. And a means for fixing an image pickup means such as a small video camera or a VTR with a built-in camera, respectively. 2. The cordless video phone according to claim 1, wherein the other party's image, self-portrait, other party's voice, etc. are transmitted by utilizing an empty channel of the television broadcast and are received by a television receiver separate from the main body of the television phone. . 3. A cordless television as set forth in claim 1, which uses a handset or a cordless telephone handset equipped with a handset and a means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voices to wirelessly transmit and receive the partner voice and own voice. Telephone. 4. The cordless video telephone according to claim 1, wherein an image pickup means such as a small video camera or a camera-integrated VTR, which is separate from the video telephone main body, is fixed to the video telephone main body and electrically connected to each other. . 5. The cordless video telephone according to claim 2, wherein the television receiver includes a liquid crystal display element. 6. A cordless video telephone, characterized in that an image pickup means fixed or integrated with the main body of the video telephone is constructed so that the image pickup direction can be changed vertically and horizontally by remote control. 7. A cordless television telephone set according to claim 6, wherein said image pickup means is constructed so that an optical system for focusing and zooming can be adjusted by remote control. 8. A cordless video telephone, wherein the video telephone main body is provided with a function of remotely controlling image, voice and other operations of the video telephone by a wireless system. 9. A cordless video phone according to claim 6, 7 or 8, which receives a signal transmitted from a handset of a video phone and optimally adjusts an imaging direction of the imaging means and an optical system according to the location of the handset. . 10. A cordless device, wherein a handset including a handset and means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving voice is provided with a function of remotely controlling image, voice, and other operations of a videophone by a wireless system. Handset for videophone.