JPH10224757A - Information communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a video telephone system suitable for both of the dot images of a person and a document/picture by displaying a received picture signal outputted from a received picture processing part on the 1st area of a picture display means and displaying an input picture signal outputted from an input picture processing part on the 2nd area of the picture display means as a mirror image. SOLUTION: A display processing circuit 22d outputs a video signal outputted from a video input circuit 22e to a video output circuit 22c and selects the sort of picture conversion while being controlled by a microprocessor 24c. The circuit 22c inputs a video signal outputted from an image decoding circuit 22f, outputs the video signal to a character multiplexing circuit 22a, and while being controlled by the microprocessor 24c, selects and outputs a slave picture and normal all picture display. The circuit 22a inputs a video signal outputted from the circuit 22c and outputs and displays the video signal on a display part 21b. In addition a registered graphic or the like is superposed to the video output signal inputted to the video input circuit 22c and the superposed signal is displayed under the control of the microprocessor 24c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication terminal that uses a high-speed digital communication network to simultaneously perform two-way simultaneous communication of voice and image data in real time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional color moving picture video telephone apparatus comprises:
The image CODEC section is large, and is separately provided from the videophone main body, and both are connected by cable. Also,
Generally, the camera and the display are fixed to the main body.

The camera section is fixed to the main body,
It is oriented only in a certain direction, and the direction can not be freely adjusted.

[0004] In addition, the camera is not adapted to a special application such as transmission of a document, and the camera is usually applied to photograph a person. When photographing a person other than a person, the camera is detachable by itself, but is not structured to support the camera such as a stand. In addition, there is a structure in which a plane mirror is mounted in front of a camera for photographing a document and a document can be set on a base (bottom portion). However, the camera has an integral structure with a display.

[0005] It should be noted that related devices of this type include, for example, Fujitsu Technical Report 41.3, PP. 243-247
(May 1990 version), JP-A-2-39790 and JP-A-2-22989.

[0006]

In the prior art described above, when transferring document information such as a document or a photograph, the user shakes the document by lifting the document in front of the camera in the setting state of the camera direction during the conversation. The characters cannot be sent stably with high definition. In addition, in the case of a videophone having a tiltable structure in the camera section, the document must be set upside down with respect to the sender's viewing direction in order to simply point the camera section downward. At the same time, there is a problem that it is not possible to naturally check the calligraphy and the image of oneself.

Further, no consideration is given to mobility and portability, the installation location of the device is limited, and it is difficult to move the device. Is difficult to use.

In addition, the mechanism for adjusting the height and angle of the camera / display section of the main body has a problem that there is only one movable point between the main body and the camera / display section, and any height and angle cannot be set. There is.

In addition, the camera section is always facing the user, and even if the user does not want to send an image (for example, used as a digital telephone), the camera is conscious of the camera, and the monitored image cannot be excluded. There is such a problem.

In the multiplex image / audio transmission system,
The transfer rate of each source signal is fixed, and only data of a fixed voice or image quality can be transferred.

In addition, there is no external input / output function as a multimedia terminal including all signals of voice, image, and data, and only a function as a video phone terminal is lacking in expandability. . In addition, it is not a communication control that can be used as a mere digital telephone terminal, but simply realizes a function as a video telephone terminal accompanied by image transmission, and lacks the function selection for multiple functions.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a videophone device suitable for both a person and a point image of a document.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an integrated video telephone which has improved convenience, mobility and usability by integrating the video telephone.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an integrated video telephone in which the wiring in the device is simplified and the external connection wiring is reduced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an integrated videophone which is suitable for both the transfer of a person and a picture, and which is suitable for multi-function as a multimedia terminal.

[0016]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input image processing section for processing an image signal input from an image input means, and an image processing section for processing an image signal received via a communication line. A receiving image processing unit for performing processing, a receiving image signal output from the receiving image processing unit is displayed in a first area of the image display unit, and an input image signal output from the input image processing unit is displayed on the first area of the image display unit. And a screen display processing unit for performing a screen display process so as to display a mirror image in the second area.

Also, a communication control unit for controlling demultiplexing of voice, image and digital data and communication control of a digital communication line, a key panel unit for inputting a dial or other function selection, a transmission / reception function and the key panel A telephone control section for controlling the section, a camera section for inputting an image, a display section for outputting an image, an image encoding circuit for encoding an image input signal, and an image decoding circuit for decoding a received image signal. And an image CODEC unit. The communication control unit, the key panel unit, the telephone control unit, the camera unit, the display unit, and the image CODEC unit are integrated, and the components are integrated within the integrated device. And the connection wiring outside the integrated device is reduced to a digital communication line cord.

For example, the image encoding circuit, the image decoding circuit, and the analog video signal processing circuit in the image CODEC unit are each formed into an LSI, and the circuit board on which they are mounted is mainly composed of A4 size 1 1 chip LS for communication and device control circuit
The communication control and the telephone control are implemented on a single A4 size circuit board mainly composed of surface mount components. A small switching power supply including these circuit boards, a small color camera to which a 1/2 inch CCD is applied, and a general-purpose small (5 inch) liquid crystal display panel are integrally mounted in one device. It is like that. Also, the device is L-shaped, a circuit board on which a power supply unit, a communication control unit and a telephone control unit are mounted on the bottom of the L-shape, and a circuit board on which an image CODEC unit is mounted on the vertical side of the L-shape. A camera unit and a display unit including a liquid crystal panel are mounted on the upper part. All connection connections between the units are accommodated in the device, and two cords for commercial power supply and digital communication line are connected to the outside. And only.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera unit accommodating a small color camera is tilted forward independently of a display unit so that the camera can be set vertically downward, and a switch is provided on a sliding unit. The switch is closed when the camera unit starts to fall forward by itself.
Normally, the data output (readout) of the frame memory in the C-part image encoding circuit is performed in the scanning direction from upper left to lower right.
The scanning direction is reversed from the lower right to the upper left, that is, the transmission signal is controlled so as to be 180 ° point symmetric, and the image processing circuit reverses the scanning direction by the switch state change signal. The output signal is distributed, input to the small screen processing circuit, and a monitor screen is superimposed on a part of the reception screen and output to the display unit.

Further, by returning the camera unit to the original position, the above-mentioned control is stopped by receiving a switch state change signal,
A control program was set to return to the state before the camera section was defeated.

In order to achieve the above and other objects, the apparatus has an L-shaped structure, a camera section and a display section are mounted on the upper part of the L-shape, the joint section is movable, and the bottom of the L-shaped apparatus is provided. The section and the vertical side were made movable, and a flexible cable was applied for the connection between the units mounted in each section.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned other object, 6
Divide the 4 kbps band into 8 channels each of 8 kbps,
Which of the eight channels the audio, image, and data signals are assigned to is assigned arbitrarily by program control.

To achieve the above and other objects, a general-purpose connector is used as an external input / output terminal, and audio input, audio output, video input, video output, serial data input / output, and parallel data input / output terminals are provided on the back of the main body. , Input a voice input signal and a voice signal from a transmitter to a two-input analog switch, output it to a telephone control unit voice input circuit, input a video input signal to a two-input video switch, and perform image coding. The circuit is input to the circuit, each path switching is selected by a key panel unit control key, the key signal is received, the path is controlled by a microprocessor, and a device having a serial signal transfer capability is applied to the microprocessor. Connect the serial signal input / output terminal to the external serial data input / output connector via the input / output drive circuit, and Connected to an external parallel data input and output connectors through the input-output drive circuit input and output signal terminals,
Also, the audio output terminal was connected by distributing the received audio signal to the receiver, and the video output terminal was connected by distributing the received video signal to the display unit.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned other object, an image CODEC unit, a camera unit, and a display unit are integrated, and a communication control unit, a telephone control unit, and a main unit including a power supply unit are detachably connected to a cable. And both were structurally detachable.

[0025]

The image CODEC is located between the camera, the display unit, and the communication control unit as a system system, and is configured to be mounted on, for example, the vertical side of an L-shaped structure as described above. Thereby, the wiring between the substrates can be simplified and integrated.

Further, in order to integrate the image CODEC into the apparatus, and to efficiently radiate the heat generated by the power consumption of the image CODEC, the image CODEC is mounted on the vertical side of the L-shaped structure, so that the board mounted in the vertical direction can be mounted. Air is allowed to flow in the surface direction from the lower side to the upper side, and the heat radiation effect can be enhanced.

For example, in the image CODEC section, each of the image encoding circuit and the image decoding circuit is a one-chip LSI.
By converting the image processing function to a circuit board (for example, A4
The size is accommodated in one card, and the communication control unit is an LSI for the digital line interface control circuit and the telephone control circuit, and the data demultiplexing circuit and the microprocessor interface control circuit are combined into one chip LS.
The communication control unit and the telephone control unit are accommodated in one circuit board (for example, A4 size).
A power supply unit, two circuit boards, a key panel, a camera, and a display, and a cable connecting them are accommodated, and an integrated small TV phone is configured without providing a unit outside.

When the camera unit is tilted forward with the position of the main unit and the display unit kept constant and the camera unit is set to the joint portion with the main unit as an axis, and the camera direction is set downward, the document transmission mode is automatically set. The sending screen and the monitor screen are set as screens that are rotated 180 ° point symmetrically, so that the document can be set and checked by the sender naturally without turning the document upside down under the camera section on the main body. Also, the other party can see the screen in a natural direction that is not upside down. In addition, since the sender's document screen is displayed in the sub-screen area superimposed on a part of the other party's image, the user's own screen can be simultaneously monitored while viewing the received image from the other party.

Further, the positions of the camera unit and the display unit can be adjusted to the near side or the back side by the two rotating mechanisms in the apparatus. It also moves to adjust the height up and down. Also, when the communication control unit demultiplexes voice, image, and data, a combination of transfer signals such as a combination of two signals of voice and video is controlled by a microprocessor within the range of the transmission capacity of the digital line. The setting or the transfer speed of each transfer signal is performed, and the transfer conditions of the three signals are arbitrarily set, so that the voice, image, and data can be communicated simultaneously.

Further, the image CODEC unit, the camera unit, and the display unit are integrally removed independently from the main body, and the communication control unit is controlled by a microprocessor so as to transmit and receive voice and data signals, excluding transmission and reception of image signals, using only the main body. , And operates with the function of the digital telephone alone to enable simultaneous voice communication.

When an audio signal is input to the audio input terminal, an analog switch cuts off the input of the audio signal from the transmitter by the audio path selection key via the microprocessor, and outputs the audio signal from the external audio input terminal. An input signal is output to the telephone control circuit, and an external audio signal is sent to the other terminal. When a video signal is input to the video input terminal,
A video switch disconnects the video signal input from the camera via the microprocessor by the video path selection key, connects the video input signal from the external audio input terminal to the image encoding circuit, and sends the external video signal to the partner terminal I do. Also,
The signals output to the receiver and the display are distributed to the audio and video output terminals to output the respective signals. As a result, scalable audio-video communication by connection with the audio-video equipment can be realized.

When a device having an external serial data input / output function is connected to the serial data input / output terminal, for example, a device such as a personal computer, the serial data input / output function of the microprocessor causes a fixed serial data transfer method. Serial data can be transmitted and received with the outside.

When the parallel data input / output terminal is connected to a peripheral device having an external parallel data input / output function, the data input / output terminal of the communication control circuit is connected to the serial / parallel conversion circuit and the input / output terminal of the parallel data input / output terminal. It is connected via an output drive circuit and can transmit and receive data signals to and from the partner terminal.

Further, in the image CODEC section, after the camera input signal is quantized into a digital signal, the digital signal is sequentially written into the frame memory at a constant period,
Reading is performed, while the reading method is scanning from the upper left to the lower right of the normal screen, while reading is performed from the lower right to the lower left by an external control signal, the image is made 180 ° point symmetric,
Further, the read image is read from the upper right to the lower left by another control signal, and the image is output as a mirror image. As described above, the frame memory read circuit operates variably in the read direction by the control signal.

Further, the writing operation of the frame memory is stopped by the operation of the dedicated key on the key panel, and the operation is performed so as to maintain the image at the moment when the key is operated on the screen.

Further, after decoding the received video signal via the communication control unit, the decoded signal is sequentially written into the frame memory at a constant period, read out, converted into an analog signal, and output to the display. In this frame memory, data at a designated position in the entire area can be rewritten, and characters and graphics registered in advance can be written at an arbitrary position by output control by a microprocessor.

Further, the information in the camera side video signal frame memory is thinned out at regular intervals so as to reduce the screen size, and is transferred to an arbitrary area on the receiving side frame memory and rewritten.

As described above, by operating the dedicated keys on the key panel, it is possible to display a screen, display a small screen, superimpose a character, or display a 180 ° point symmetric screen and transmit an image during mirror image monitor and document transmission.

As described above, according to the paired videophone of the present invention, two-way simultaneous communication using voice, video, and data can be performed using a digital communication line.

[0040]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of an integrated video telephone according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 11 is a display unit, and 12 is a camera unit. The supporting portion, that is, the L-shaped vertical side portion 13 is an image CODEC portion including an image encoding / decoding circuit, and 14 is an image CDEC portion.
An ODEC substrate. Further, the bottom (pedestal), ie, L
15 is a communication device control board including a communication control circuit and a telephone control circuit, 16 is a key panel portion including a telephone function key, a videophone control key, and an indicator light.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a power supply unit, 18 denotes a main body having external input / output terminals including 15, 16 and 17, and 19 denotes a handset.

Next, the overall structure of the integrated videophone of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 21a denotes a camera unit, 21b denotes a display unit, 21 denotes a camera display unit including 21a and 21b, and 22 denotes an image CODEC unit.
It consists of 22g. 22a is a character superimposing circuit, 22b
Is a video switch circuit 22c is a video output circuit, 22d is a display processing circuit for controlling a display method of a display unit display screen, 22e is a video input circuit, 22f is an image decoding circuit for reproducing a received digital image signal as a video signal, Reference numeral 22g denotes an image encoding circuit for converting the video signal output from the signal 22e into a digital signal for the communication control unit.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a key panel unit, which has the following 23a to 2a.
3c. 23a is an LED display control circuit, 2
3b is a videophone function key control circuit, and 23c is a dial key control circuit.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a communication control unit which includes the following 24a to 24
i. 24a is a signal demultiplexing control circuit, 2
4b is an ISDN user network interface control circuit, 24
c is a microprocessor for controlling each part in the apparatus, 24d
Is a transmission / reception control circuit 24e, a hold function control circuit, 24f is a clock circuit, 24g is a speaker, 24h is a sounder for generating a signal tone, and 24i is an analog switch circuit.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a power supply unit, which inputs commercial power from the commercial power plug 20 from the outside, and supplies a constant voltage to 21, 22, and 24. Reference numeral 26 denotes a handset for connecting a cable to the main body. 27 is an ISDN user network interface line connection unit, 28 is a parallel data input / output terminal, and 29 is a serial data input / output terminal, which is mounted on the main unit as an input / output connector.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

The color video signal obtained from 21a is 22
b. 22b is controlled by 24c to select an external video input signal or a 22a video signal and output it to 22e. 22e distributes and outputs the 22b output signal to 22d and 22g, respectively. The video signal input to 22g is 2
2 g at CCITT Recommendation H. 261 is encoded into a digital image signal compressed to a data transfer rate suitable for the transmission band of the communication line, and is output to 24a.

As a result, a camera video signal or an external video input signal is selected, and IS
It is possible to transmit to the DN user network interface.

The digital image signal output from the image signal system output terminal 24a is input to 22f.
Contrary to CCITT Recommendation H. g. 261 is decoded to an analog video signal and output to 22c.

Reference numeral 22d converts the video signal (transmitted video signal) output from 22e into a mirror image or a point-symmetrical screen inverted by 180 ° and outputs it to 22c. 22d is 24c
And selects the type of screen conversion.

Reference numeral 22c inputs the video signal output from 22f, outputs the video signal to 22a, and is controlled by 24c to select and output a small-screen display or a normal full-screen display.

The image output to the child screen area is 22d
Is the output signal.

Reference numeral 22a inputs the video signal output from 22c and outputs it to 21b to display the screen.
Under the control of 4c, the registered graphics, characters, and the like are superimposed on the output video signal of 22c and displayed on the screen.

As a result, the received digital image signal can be decoded, reproduced as an analog video signal, and a moving image can be displayed on the display unit. Further, in the screen display, it is possible to display a monitor or a figure / character on a small screen.

Further, reference numeral 24a has a digital signal input / output function of three systems of audio, video and data, multiplexes these three systems of digital signals and transmits them as digital signals equivalent to 2B (2 × 64 kbps), and also equivalent to 2B. The digital signal is received and separated into the three digital signals. In addition, since the signal transfer speed of each system can be arbitrarily set within a range corresponding to a total of 2B, that is, 128 kbps or less, for example, a combination of an audio signal 56 kbps transfer, an image signal 64 kbps transfer, and a data signal 8 kbps transfer is included. Variable-speed two-way multiplex communication control is enabled. The transfer method is CCITT Recommendation H.264. 221, and H.221.
Communication control is performed by a method conforming to H.242.

Further, under the control of 24c, the function control of 22 and the lighting control of 23a and the switch control of 22b and 24i are performed.

24b has input / output signal terminals for input / output terminals corresponding to 2B of 24a and input / output terminals for an ISDN user network interface, and is equivalent to 2B including audio, video and data signals multiplexed at 24a. Digital signal is input to the D channel (1) which is a line control signal.
6 kbps) signal, outputs a signal corresponding to the ISDN basic interface 2B + D to the network,
A signal equivalent to B + D is input, a signal equivalent to 2B is separated and 24
output to a. A call to a terminal on the other end connected via a network,
Communication control such as connection and disconnection uses the D channel signal.
b controls.

Reference numeral 24c denotes a microprocessor having a microprogram on a memory. The microprocessor 24 has a function control 22 through a 24a, an input / output control 23, a setting and confirmation of a multiplex / demultiplex control of three signals of sound and image data by the 24a. In addition to performing hardware control, it also performs man-machine interface control such as message output on the screen.

24d receives an audio signal from 24a, decodes an analog audio signal and outputs it to 24i.
This is an audio signal processing circuit that encodes an analog audio signal input from 4i and outputs a digital audio signal to 24a.

Reference numeral 24e denotes a hold tone generation circuit for outputting a hold tone to the own terminal receiver and the partner terminal receiver when the hold state is set during communication.

Reference numeral 24f is a circuit for outputting the current month, day and hour and minute data as a clock. The circuit 24f notifies the parameter indicating the time to 24c, and displays the current time and the communication time. Reference numeral 24g denotes a speaker. When a speaker key provided on the key panel is pressed, 24d receives the control of 24c, sets the audio signal output path to the speaker output, and outputs the reception sound to the speaker.

Reference numeral 24h denotes a sounder for generating a ringing tone.

In 24i, by pressing a voice switch key provided on the key panel, control of 24c switches between a transmission signal and an external voice input signal, and selects a signal source.
Output to 4d.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, a description will be given of a communication procedure and each functional operation for performing audio / video communication by applying two integrated videophones of the present invention.

The videophone A is the transmitting end and the videophone B is the receiving terminal. The videophone A is connected to the ISDN user network interface and communicates with each other via the network. A thin arrow indicates communication control by a D-channel signal, and a thick arrow indicates communication control by a B-channel signal.

First, in videophone A, the user picks up the handset, goes off-hook, dials videophone B, and starts a connection between the two via a network. IS
The call setup control is performed by the D channel signal in the DN user network interface, the call control of the video telephone B is performed from the network, and a ring tone for the video telephone A is output to the receiver. The user picks up the handset at the B side, and sends a response signal from the B side to the network and from the network to the A side by going off-hook, connecting the first B channel,
Control to enable voice communication.

Then, in order to perform image communication, the camera key provided on the key panel is depressed on the A side, and after the procedure using the D channel signal similar to the above first B channel connection, the second B channel is set. Connecting. In this state, on the second B channel, the image coding of each of the A and B terminals,
Set and confirm the terminal capabilities such as decryption capability,
The image signal is transferred from the A side to the B side, and the received image signal is decoded on the B side and displayed on the display unit. By pressing the camera key on the B side in the same way,
The image signal obtained by encoding the camera video signal on the B side is
Transfer by channel. As a result, audio-video communication using moving images is realized simultaneously between the videophones A and B.

It is to be noted that, by registering and setting by a microprogram so that image transmission can be automatically connected to the second B channel without using a key operation in each video telephone, no control key operation is performed until the audio / video communication state. Then you can start up.

When the camera key is pressed again during the audio / video communication, the transmission of the camera video signal is stopped from that point, and the operation is performed so that the screen is not displayed on the display unit of the other party's videophone.

When the hold key provided on the key panel is depressed during the audio / video communication, the hold sound is provided by the first B channel, and the hold screen (the stop image when the hold key is turned on) is provided by the second B channel. Each of the videophones that send the call to the other videophone and perform the hold operation outputs a hold sound to the receiver and outputs and displays a hold screen on the display unit.

By depressing the hold key again in the hold state, the state returns to the audio / video communication state before the hold operation.

During the audio / video communication, when the high-speed mode key provided on the key panel is pressed, the image COD is
It is possible to select two types of pre-registered image quality (coarse-quality high-speed moving image, high-quality low-speed moving image, etc.) and switch the image quality to be transmitted, using the screen definition and the coding conversion speed as parameters in the EC unit coding circuit. it can.

When the freeze key provided on the key panel is pressed during the audio / video communication, the transmission image is stopped when the freeze key is operated, and the image in that state is transmitted as a still image (still image). I do.

Further, when the freeze key is pressed again, the still image transmission state is released, and the state returns to the audio / video communication state of the previous moving image.

During the audio / video communication, the videophone A
Alternatively, when B returns the handset to the main body and goes on-hook, the communication channel is disconnected and released in the D channel, and the communication is terminated. At the end of the communication, a screen is displayed on the A-side and B-side displays to indicate the end, and the display returns to the initial state.

Note that the communication termination procedure is automatically performed by on-hook to either the A side or the B side.

FIG. 4 shows the document transfer mode.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram. FIG. 6 shows an operation sequence.

When the camera unit 51 is moved down to the front of the apparatus and the camera orientation is set vertically downward, the switch mounted on the camera unit support unit is turned on, and the fact that the camera position has been set to the document transmission mode is determined by the microprocessor on the main unit side. Notify 53,
The readout (data transmission) direction of the frame memory in the image CODEC encoding circuit 56c is set so as to be 180 ° point symmetrical with the normal on the screen and transmitted, and the child screen display is automatically displayed on the display. The sub-screen display is controlled to be 180 ° point symmetric and the display 5
7 is output.

FIG. 7 shows the normal read direction of the frame memory and the read direction of the frame memory at the time of 180 ° point symmetric transmission of the image at the time of image transfer. 621 is a camera image 622
Indicates the start point of the video signal, and 623 indicates the end point. A frame memory 624 stores a digital signal obtained by A / D converting a video signal. The camera image 621 is the starting point 62
Scanning is performed in the order from the end point 623 to the frame memory 62.
4 are sequentially written.

According to the present embodiment, the camera applied can be shared as a document camera for normal conversation, and the inverted image obtained by moving the camera forward is automatically displayed on the image C.
Since the correction is performed by the ODEC unit, there is an effect that the sender can naturally check the document without having to turn the document upside down and install the document.

Further, a holder is mounted under the camera so that a user can set a symbol or a message arbitrarily selected even when no document is placed. Thus, when the user uses the present videophone simply with the telephone function, there is an effect that the user can use the videophone without being conscious of the camera and being anxious about being monitored. In addition, with the simple operation of simply changing the card, not only can a fixed message be transmitted to the other party, but also the test pattern card can be set and the image quality can be easily tested by the image signal via the image CODEC section. There is.

Further, since the camera section has a camera section mounting mechanism that can be tilted to the rear side alone, the display is turned downward so that irregular display reflection due to extraneous light is prevented to make the screen display easier to see.

Next, FIG. 8 is an external view of the back of the integrated video telephone according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The TV telephone receives AC 100V commercial power from the outside as a power supply for driving the apparatus, and turns on and off the power supply with the power switch 71.

Reference numeral 79 denotes a communication interface for connecting to a dedicated code, which is in a state where a normal code is connected. An audio signal (for example, an audio signal of a tape recorder) can be input to 73 via a dedicated code. 74 is connected to an external speaker or the like via a dedicated cord, so that the received sound can be output and monitored in parallel. A video signal (for example, a TV video signal and an external camera video signal) can be input to the device 75 via a dedicated code. 76 is connected to a television receiver or the like via a dedicated cord, and a received image can be output and monitored in parallel. 77 has RS-232C
By connecting a cable with an interface connector, serial digital data transfer with a personal computer or the like can be performed. A cable with a connector of a dedicated digital interface is connected to the cable 78 so that dedicated peripheral devices can be controlled and linked.

As shown in FIG. 8, since all external input / output interfaces are mounted on the back of the main body, when connection with an external device is made, various wiring codes are collected on the back of the main body.
The system can be expanded by simple wiring without becoming complicated.

Next, FIG. 9 is an external view of an integrated video telephone key panel portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to facilitate functional division, various keys are classified and arranged into three types: telephone function keys, videophone control function keys, and dial keys.

In the videophone control function key,
Display LED at the top of the key section so that the setting state of each function can be recognized for the five function keys of audio switching (A-SW), video switching (V-SW), image quality switching (high image quality), freeze, and camera. Has been implemented so that the user can easily check the status of each function.

Reference numeral 84 turns on when the power switch 71 is turned on, and turns off when the power switch 71 is turned off or when power supply is stopped. Also, at the time of an incoming call, 85 flashes simultaneously with the output of a ringing tone.

FIG. 10 shows the connection structure of the main unit of the present videophone, the camera unit, the display unit, and the image CODEC unit.

The base 92 located at the rear of the main body (bottom / pedestal) 91 is integrated with the main body, and the image CODEC 7
It is a base member that supports 5 or more.

The parallelogram-shaped support member 94 mounted on the image CODEC is mounted with the lower two points provided with movable control at two places on the base, and the angles of the camera section and the display section adjusting member 97 are fixed. So that it can move. As a result, when the image CODEC portion is tilted forward, the support member 98 moves so as to close the long sides, and the upper side moves at a constant angle. Thus, the camera unit and the display unit support member fixed to the upper side move while maintaining a constant angle, and thus the height of the camera unit and the display unit surface can be adjusted while maintaining the angle at a constant value.

FIG. 11 shows an integrated video telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which an ISDN basic interface 2B +
A data demultiplexing control circuit for demultiplexing the 2B signal of D into three types of audio, video, and data signals is formed into an LSI, and n number of these LSIs are arranged in parallel to provide a line input / output buffer in the ISDN interface unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a high-speed and wide-bandwidth videophone that is provided with signal input / output buffers in various types of data input / output interface units and that can be controlled by a microprocessor MPU, and can be applied to an n × 2B communication line capacity. .

Reference numeral 101 denotes a line input / output buffer; 102, a data demultiplexing LSI; 103, a signal input / output buffer;
04 is a microprocessor, 105 is a data port, 1
06a is an image encoding circuit, 106b is an image decoding circuit,
106c is a camera, 106d is a display, 107 is a telephone control unit, 108 is a handset, and 109 is a data input / output circuit. The line input / output buffer controls n × 2B signal input / output to the ISDN user network interface, controls demultiplexing of n data in 2B units, and further corrects the phase difference of each B channel signal. And is bonded to the LSI in 2B units. The LSIs 1 to n separate and output three types of audio, video, and data signals from the 2B signal, and input three types of audio, video, and data signals to perform data multiplexing on the 2B signal. The signal input / output buffer is used for audio / voice output from n LSIs connected in parallel.
N types of image / data signals are input, and these n data are converted into one serial signal for each of audio / image / data, output to three ports, and output to three ports. The speed of one serial signal of each of the input audio, video, and data is converted and output as n parallel signals to n LSIs connected in parallel. This allows
The sum of the transfer rates of the audio signal, image signal, and data signal is n × 2B. For example, if n = 5, the audio signal
Simultaneous two-way communication at each transfer rate of 128kbps, image signal 384kbps, data signal 128kbps becomes possible.

FIG. 12 is a system configuration diagram in which the integrated video telephone of one embodiment of the present invention is used as a base unit, and audio and video input / output terminals are applied, and the system is applied as a parent-child video telephone system. 110 is the videophone of the present invention, 111
Is a camera, 112 is a speaker, 113 is a monitor, 114
Is a telephone, 115 is a user A, 116 is a user B, 11
7, a user C; and 118, an ISDN network.

For reception of the video / audio signal, a monitor with a speaker having a general audio / video input function is applied, and the audio and video output terminals of the video telephone are connected with a dedicated cord. Video being received,
The user B can also simultaneously confirm the audio signal in parallel with the monitor and the speaker.

For transmission of video and audio signals, a video camera output signal is connected to a video input terminal with a dedicated cable,
Also, a microphone or a telephone with an audio output terminal is connected to the audio input terminal.

By switching the external video and audio input system by the user A, the audio and video signals of either the user A or the user B are transferred to the communication partner user C via the ISDN network. As a result, communication by three parties (one to two) can be realized.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a separate type videophone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The video telephone is divided into an image equipment section and a communication control section, and each is connected by a dedicated connection cable.

In the image equipment section, the camera video signal is converted into a digital signal by an encoding circuit, connected to the connector section, and the received image signal is fetched by the same connector, connected to the decoding circuit, and connected to the decoding circuit. The digital signal is converted into an analog video signal, output to the display unit, and displayed on the display unit.

The power supply voltage was supplied from the communication control unit to the image equipment unit from the same connector, and the interfaces between the two units were all integrated into the same connector. In the communication control unit, the communication control circuit controls the multiplexing and demultiplexing of the image signal and the audio signal, and also controls the ISDN user network interface.

The transmission / reception control circuit performs conversion between a voice digital signal and an analog voice signal, thereby realizing a telephone function using the handset. Further, the power supply circuit supplies a power supply voltage to the image device unit via the communication control unit and the connector.

FIG. 14 is a connection diagram of the image equipment unit and the communication control unit.

An image equipment section comprising a camera, a display section 131 and an image CODEC section 132 is mounted on an image equipment section joining section 135 which forms a concave structure provided on a rear upper surface of a main body 133 including a communication control section. Then, both the image device unit and the main unit are connected by the connection cable 134.

As a result, the image equipment units 131 and 1 can be easily adjusted.
32 is formed as an integrated videophone that can be attached to and detached from the main body 133.

When the image equipment section is removed and the apparatus is simply applied as a digital telephone, the communication control section controls only the transmission and reception of the audio signal, and the transmission and reception of the image signal does not perform the demultiplexing control. Controlled by an internal microprocessor. Here, 136 is a handset.

When the present invention is applied to a digital telephone, a display unit 137 for a digital telephone is attached to the main body 133 instead of the image equipment section, and both are connected by a connecting cable, so that information necessary for telephone functions can be obtained. Display in characters and figures.

FIG. 15 is an external view of each application as a digital telephone and a video telephone.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are explanatory diagrams of three types of still image transmission systems in the image CODEC of one embodiment of the present invention. The camera image is input to the image CODEC image coding circuit, and is input to the frame memory as an image signal having 256 × 352 pixels. 256 is the number of dots in the vertical direction of the screen, and 352 is the number of dots in the horizontal direction. In the transmission mode A, an image signal having 256 × 352 pixels is encoded, image data is transferred and decoded on the receiving side, and the number of pixels is reduced to 2 × 352.
Play back to a 56 × 352 image. The pixel size is (1/2
56) × (1/352). In the transmission mode B, an image signal having 256 × 352 pixels is encoded with a pixel size four times as large as that of the mode A, that is, a pixel size of (1/128) × (1/176), and image data is transferred. The image is decoded on the receiving side and reproduced as an image having 128 × 176 pixels. According to the still image transmission method of both modes, user-friendly still image transmission that can cope with two cases, that is, a case where a fine image is faithfully transmitted and a case where a high definition is transmitted to the other party even if the definition is reduced, can be realized. . Further, in the transmission mode C, the screen is divided into four equal parts vertically and horizontally, and the areas 1 to 4 are each made into one image, and the number of pixels is 128 × 17 in the sequential transmission mode B.
After the image signal is encoded into 6 image signals and decoded on the receiving side, one still image with 256 × 352 pixels is reproduced by transmitting image signals 4 times consecutively from region 1 to region 4. As a result, a fine image can be transmitted faithfully and quickly, and the usability in still image transmission is improved.

FIG. 18 is a component mounting layout diagram of a communication control board of an integrated videophone as one embodiment of the present invention.

The circuit arrangement includes the ISDN user network interface control circuit 1601, the signal demultiplexing control circuit 16
02, microprocessor section 1603, transmission / reception control circuit section 1604, analog and digital input / output circuit section 16
06 and 1607, and further divided into peripheral circuit sections 1605 such as a clock circuit and a battery circuit, and each section is arranged so that the signal system is simple and the wiring length is short as indicated by the arrow in the figure.
Also, on one side around the substrate 1600, input / output terminals for audio, video, serial and parallel data, and an ISD
An N-user network interface terminal is mounted, and the external input / output terminals are arranged on the back of the videophone so as to be gathered.

The switches are arranged in one upper right corner. The switch mounted on the right side of the substrate is a switch 1617 for adjusting the sound volume and tone of the sounder, and is mounted on the side of the videophone so that the user can switch the setting. DIP switch 1616
Is a switch for turning on and off the memory backup circuit, which is not normally used, and is mounted so as to be arranged on the back side of the videophone.

The board 1600 is provided with a communication board, a man-machine interface controller, and a digital telephone function mounted on a single board by double-sided mounting. Further, in order to mount the handset on the left side of the device, a handset terminal 1615 (modular jack) was mounted on the left side of the board.

[0118]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to provide a videophone device suitable for transmitting a person and a picture.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional block configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an application example of an embodiment when transferring document information in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a document transmission function block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation sequence at the time of transmitting a document according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a reading direction of a frame memory during normal and image transfer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a rear appearance structure of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an appearance of a key panel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the internal structure of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a high-speed broadband videophone in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an application example of three-party communication in combination with an external audio device and an external video device in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a separated type videophone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an external side view of a separated type videophone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an external view of an application example of the separated type videophone of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a still image transmission method in the image CODEC of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of another still image transmission system in the image CODEC of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a component mounting layout of the communication control board according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Display part 12 ... Camera part 13 ... Image CODEC part 14 ... Image CODEC board 15 ... Communication / control board 16 ... Key panel part 17 ... Power supply part 18 ...・ Body
19 ... handset 21 ... camera, display unit 21a ... camera unit 21b ... display unit 22 ... image CODEC unit 22a ... character superimposition circuit 22b ... video switch 22c ... Image output circuit 22d Display processing circuit 22e Image input circuit 22f Image decoding circuit 22g Image encoding circuit 23 Key panel unit 23a LED display control circuit 23b ..Video telephone function key control circuit 23c ... Dial key control circuit 24 ... Communication control unit 24a ... Signal demultiplexing control circuit 24b ... ISDN user network interface control circuit 24c ... Microprocessor 24d ..Send / receive control circuit 24e: hold function control circuit 24f: clock circuit 24g: speaker 24h ..Sounder 24i Analog switch circuit 25 Power supply unit 26 Handset 20 Commercial power plug 27 ISDN user network interface circuit connection unit 28 Parallel data input / output terminal 29 ... Serial data input / output terminal.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 23, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Takahashi 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Prototype Development Center (72) Inventor Masaaki Takizawa 1-280, Higashi-Koigabo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Hitachi, Ltd. Inside the Central Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Kenji Yokoi 1-280, Higashi Koigabo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Design Research Laboratories (72) Katsumi Mikamo 1410 Inada, Katsuta-shi, Ibaraki Pref. Inside the factory (72) Inventor Yoshinobu Matsubayashi 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information communication terminal, comprising: an image input unit for inputting an image signal; and an image display unit for displaying an image signal, wherein the information communication terminal transmits and receives an image signal via a communication line. An input image processing unit that performs processing of an image signal input from, a reception image processing unit that performs processing of an image signal received via the communication line, and a reception image signal that is output from the reception image processing unit. A screen display processing unit for displaying in a first area of the image display means, and performing a screen display processing to display an input image signal output from the input image processing unit in a mirror image on a second area of the image display means. An information communication terminal, comprising: 2. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mirror image is an image obtained by horizontally inverting each frame of an image signal input from the image input unit. 3. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information communication terminal controls transmission of an input image signal processed by the input image processing unit, reception control of a received image signal received via the communication line, and the screen of the received image signal. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a communication control unit that supplies the information to the display processing unit. 4. A frame memory for storing an input image signal supplied from the input image processing unit, and a frame memory read / write control circuit for controlling reading and writing of the image signal in the frame memory. And reading the frame memory so that an input image signal read from the frame memory and output to the image display means is an image horizontally inverted from an image signal input from the camera. 2. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the write control circuit performs read / write control. 5. An information communication terminal having image input means for inputting an image signal, and image display means for displaying an image signal, wherein the information communication terminal transmits and receives an image signal via a communication line. An input image processing unit that performs processing of an image signal input from, a reception image processing unit that performs processing of an image signal received via the communication line, and a reception image signal that is output from the reception image processing unit. A screen display process is performed so that the image is displayed in the first area of the image display means and the input image signal output from the input image processing section is displayed in the second area of the image display means by 180-degree point-symmetric conversion. An information communication terminal, comprising: a screen display processing unit. 6. The information communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein said 180-degree point symmetric conversion display is an image obtained by inverting an image signal input from said image input means in a horizontal and vertical direction. . 7. The information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information communication terminal controls transmission of an input image signal processed by the input image processing unit, reception control of a reception image signal received via the communication line, and displays the reception image signal on the screen. 6. The communication device according to claim 5, further comprising a communication control unit that performs a process of supplying the data to the display processing unit.
Information communication terminal described. 8. A frame memory for storing an input image signal supplied from the input image processing unit, and a frame memory read / write control circuit for controlling reading and writing of the image signal from the frame memory. The frame signal so that an input image signal read from the frame memory and output to the image display means is an image that is 180-degree point-symmetrically converted from an image signal input from the camera. 6. The information communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein the memory read / write control circuit performs read / write control.