JPH0758862A - Hand-free interphone - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent talking from being suddenly interrupted during communication by allowing a speech detection means to periodically monitor the presence of a speech voice at the talking with a slave set and allowing a signal processing section to release the speech state when the voice is not confirmed for a predetermined time. CONSTITUTION:When a call button 24 of a slave set 2 is operated, a call circuit 13 of a master set 1 outputs a call tone from a speaker 14. When the master set 1 hears the call tone and operates a speech button 16, the master set 1 and the slave set 2 reach the talking state. Thus, a speaker 11 of the master set 1 and a microphone 12 and a speaker 21 and a microphone 22 of the slave set 2 are made communicated via speech control circuits 10, 20. Then a signal processing section 18 of the master set 1 activates periodically a speech detection means 17 to monitor the presence of a speech voice signal set in the speech control circuit 10. When the speech is finished and the speech button 16 is operate again, the talking state is released. On the other hand, when it is forgotten that the 2nd operation of the speech button 16 is depressed and the means 17 does not detects a speech tone signal consecutively twice, the processing section 18 discriminates that the talking is over and the speech state is released.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improvement of measures for forgetting to hang up a call in a hands-free intercom capable of making a call without having a handset.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a hands-free telephone, which allows a user to talk by operating a call button without using a handset, has come to be used in an intercom system. I came. In such an intercom system, when there is a call from a child device, if the call button is operated on the base unit side, a call state becomes possible,
After the call is finished, the call state is released by operating the call button again. Then, as a measure for forgetting to hang up the call after forgetting to operate the call button again after the call ends, when a certain time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed from the first call button operation, the call is automatically It is designed to release the state.

[0003]

However, if a certain period of time elapses from the first operation of the call button, the call may be suddenly interrupted during a call if the call state is automatically released. Yes, and the improvement was desired. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free intercom that does not suddenly interrupt a call during a call.

[0004]

The hands-free intercom according to the present invention, which is proposed to achieve the above object, comprises:
In a hands-free intercom that allows you to talk without a handset, a call detection unit that monitors the presence or absence of a call voice periodically when the base unit is in a call state with the slave unit, and this call detection unit is predetermined. It is configured to include a signal processing unit that releases the call state when the call voice is not confirmed for a certain period of time.

[0005]

In the hands-free intercom according to the present invention,
When the base unit does not confirm the call voice for a predetermined period of time, and the call detection unit that periodically monitors the presence or absence of the call voice when in the call state with the slave unit,
With a signal processing unit for canceling this call state, the call detection means periodically monitors the presence or absence of the call voice during the call state with the slave, and does not confirm the call voice for a predetermined time. Then, the signal processing unit automatically releases the call state.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of an embodiment of a hands-free intercom according to the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a call control circuit of the master unit 1 including a voice generation circuit for communicating with the slave unit 2, 11 is a speaker of the master unit 1 for communicating with the slave unit 2, and 12 is a slave unit 2.
The microphone of the base unit 1 for making a call with the user, 13 is a calling circuit that detects a calling signal from the handset 2 and generates a calling sound such as a chime sound, 14 is a speaker for outputting the calling sound, and 15 is a speaker. Base unit 1 for transmitting / receiving call signals and control signals to / from handset 2.
, A call control button 16 for setting / releasing the call status with the slave unit 2, a call detection means 17 for periodically monitoring the presence or absence of a call voice in the call status, and a call detection means 17 Is a signal processing unit of the base unit 1 that cancels the call state when the call voice is not confirmed for a certain period of time.

Reference numeral 20 is a call control circuit of the slave unit 2 including a voice generation circuit for communicating with the master unit 1, 21 is a speaker of the slave unit 2 for communicating with the master unit 1, and 22 is a master unit. A microphone of the child device 2 for communicating with the device 1, 23 is a transmission control unit of the child device 2 for transmitting and receiving a call signal and a control signal to and from the parent device 1,
Reference numeral 24 is a call button of the slave unit 2 for calling the master unit 1, 25 is a signal processing unit of the slave unit 2, and 26 is a transmission line including a communication line and a control line connecting the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2. FIG. 2 shows an appearance example of such a hands-free intercom.

The operation of the hands-free intercom having such a configuration will be described below. When the call button 24 of the child device 2 is operated (pressed down), the call circuit 13 of the parent device 1 outputs a call sound such as a chime sound through the speaker 14. Base unit 1
The side hears this ringing tone and operates the call button 16 (presses down)
Then, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 are in a call state. In the call state, the speaker 11 and the microphone 12 of the master device 1 and the speaker 21 and the microphone 22 of the slave device 2 can talk via the call control circuits 10 and 20, respectively.

When the base unit 1 and the handset unit 2 are in a call state, the signal processing unit 18 of the base unit 1 activates the call detection means 17 at regular intervals (for example, every 10 seconds) to make a call flowing through the call control circuit 10. Check (monitor) the presence or absence of a voice signal (perform a detection operation of a call voice signal). In this case, in order to distinguish the noise (environmental sound) from the surroundings from the call voice, an appropriate threshold value for the voice signal (the one that exceeds the threshold value is determined as the call voice signal, and the one that does not exceed the threshold value is the ambient sound signal) Set it.

When the call is finished and the call button 16 is operated (pressed down) again, the call state is released. On the other hand, even if the call ends, if the call button 16 is not operated again due to forgetting to cut it off, the following operation is performed. The call detecting means 17 periodically performs a call voice signal detection operation from the time when the first call button 16 is operated, and continuously outputs the call voice signal (voice signal exceeding the threshold value) twice. When the signal is not detected, the signal processing unit 18 of the parent device 1 determines that the call is finished and cancels the call state. 3A, 3B, and 3C are time charts showing such an operation.

[0012] Here, the reason why two consecutive calls are made is that it is not possible to judge that there was no voice signal for a predetermined period of time when one non-detection was made, but at least the detection operation was made when two consecutive non-detections were made. This is because it can be determined that there is no voice signal during the cycle time (predetermined fixed time = cycle time of detection operation, see FIG. 3). Of course, there may be a case where there is no call voice signal at the above-mentioned fixed time intervals, which happens to be overlapped with the detection operation performed twice, and the call state is canceled even during the call, but it is extremely rare. And ignore it here.

In the above embodiment, if the call voice signal is not detected twice in succession, it is determined that there is no call voice signal for a predetermined period of time. Shorten the cycle time of detection operation (for example, 5 seconds)
By setting three consecutive times or three or more consecutive times, it is possible to further reduce the situation in which the call state is canceled even during a call.

Further, in the above embodiment, the operation of detecting the voice signal of the call is periodically performed in the call state. However, the call detecting means for continuously detecting the voice signal and the threshold value of the voice signal are set. It may be provided with timer means for starting time measurement when the time falls and resetting when the voice signal exceeds the threshold value, and the signal processing unit may cancel the call state when the time measurement time exceeds a predetermined fixed time. . By doing this, a state in which there is no call voice signal occurs at regular intervals, and it does not happen that the call state is canceled even if the call is accidentally overlapped with the detection operation twice. .

[0014]

According to the hands-free intercom according to the present invention, the call detection means periodically monitors the presence or absence of a call voice during a call state with the child device, and confirms the call voice for a predetermined time. When the call ends, the signal processing unit cancels the call state, so it is not necessary to bother to press the call button after the call ends, and the call is not interrupted during the call.

Further, since it can be realized by changing the programs of the call detecting means and the signal processing section, the manufacturing cost does not increase as compared with the conventional products.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of an embodiment of a hands-free intercom according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance example of an embodiment of a hands-free intercom according to the present invention.

3 (a), (b) and (c) are time charts showing the operation of one embodiment of the hands-free intercom according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Parent device 2 ... Child device 10, 20 ... Call control circuit 16 ... Call button 17 ... Call detection means 18, 25 ... Signal processing unit 24 ... Call button

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshiro Tabushi 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Eiichi Fukui, 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hands-free intercom capable of making a call without having a handset, and a call detecting means for periodically monitoring the presence or absence of a call voice when a base unit is in a call state with a handset, and the call detecting means. When the call voice was not confirmed for a predetermined time,
A hands-free intercom, which is provided with a signal processing unit for canceling the call state.