JP2005223737A - Interphone system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to operate both hands-free communication and camera operation without installing operation buttons for them. <P>SOLUTION: A touch panel 25 is installed in a front face of a monitor 21, and a sitting-room master unit 2 is provided with the monitor 21, and a touch panel control circuit 28a which controls the touch panel 25. When a slave unit 1 at door calls, if touch operation of the monitor 21 is made by the touch panel control circuit 28a, it transfers to a communication mode, and conversation is made possible. If touch operation of the monitor 21 is performed again, it transfers to a standby mode and conversation is made impossible. Moreover, during standby, touch operation of the monitor 21 is made, it transfers to a monitor mode, and outputs an imaging picture of a camera 11 on the monitor 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an intercom system that enables a call between a visitor and a resident, and more particularly to an intercom system that enables a hands-free call by operating a touch panel.

An intercom system with a camera that captures visitors on the front door unit and a monitor that displays the captured image on the main unit in the room can be confirmed while staying indoors, and is widely used because it has excellent crime prevention. Is progressing. In such an intercom system, a monitor button that allows the visitor to check the state of the entrance by operating the camera from inside the room without having to operate the entrance cordless handset is provided, and hands-free calling is possible In that case, a call button is further provided. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
Furthermore, such an operation button has been used in a large size so that it can be easily operated. (For example, see Patent Document 2)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-209626 JP-A-2002-64606

As described above, in the conventional intercom system, since a plurality of operation buttons are provided on the living room parent machine, the number of parts of the living room parent machine is large, and these buttons occupy many parts of the living room parent machine. Therefore, the design was also limited.
Therefore, in view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an intercom system that enables both operations without providing a button for camera operation or a button for hands-free call.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is installed at the entrance, and a call button for a visitor to call a resident, a microphone and a speaker for talking with the resident, and a visitor image. Transmission between the entrance cordless handset with a camera, the telephone unit installed in the dwelling unit for a resident to make a hands-free call with a visitor, and the monitor with a monitor for displaying the image captured by the camera In the intercom system connected by lines, the living room master unit has a touch panel on the front of the monitor and a touch panel control circuit for controlling the monitor and the touch panel. The touch panel control circuit touches the monitor when calling from the entrance unit. Control is performed to shift to a call mode when operated, and to shift to a standby mode when the monitor is touched again.
According to the present invention, even if a hands-free call is possible, it is not necessary to separately provide a call button and a call end button, the number of parts can be reduced, and the device configuration of the room base unit can be simplified. It becomes. Further, since there is no need for conventional operation buttons, the degree of freedom in designing the living room master unit is increased, and it becomes easier to create a more unique shape.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the monitor is touch-operated in the standby mode, the touch panel control circuit shifts to the monitor mode for outputting the captured image of the camera, Control is performed to shift to a standby mode when the monitor is touched.
According to the present invention, it is not necessary to separately provide a monitor button, the number of parts can be further reduced, and the degree of freedom in designing the living room base unit is further increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the touch panel control circuit shifts to a monitor button for shifting to the monitor mode or a call mode when the monitor is touch-operated in the standby mode. The screen is switched to the menu mode for displaying the call button on the monitor, and when the displayed button is further touched, the monitor mode or the call mode is controlled. After the transition to each mode, the monitor is touched again. Then, control for shifting to the standby mode is performed.
According to the present invention, since the call button and the end button are displayed, the operation is easy for the user (resident) to understand and can operate with peace of mind.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the third aspect, the touch panel control circuit displays a call button on the monitor when calling from the entrance unit, and displays an end button after the call button is touch-operated. The control operation is performed only when the portion where the call button and the call end button are displayed is operated.
According to the present invention, since the operation buttons are also displayed on the monitor screen on which the visitor video is displayed, the user can operate the buttons while watching the visitor, and can easily operate the user and can sufficiently observe the visitor.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the living room base unit includes a handset for talking with a visitor, and the touch panel control circuit is in a state where the handset is hooked up. The operation of the touch panel is invalidated.
According to the present invention, even if a handset is provided, only one of a handset call and a hands-free call by touch panel operation is effective, and an erroneous operation can be prevented.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the touch panel control circuit separates the area for displaying the captured image of the camera from the display area for the call button and the end button, and displays the divided display on the monitor. It is characterized by making it.
According to the present invention, the video of the visitor and the operation buttons are displayed separately, so that the visitor does not become difficult to see and the touch panel can be small.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the touch panel control circuit according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the touch panel control circuit performs control to change a display at a predetermined position of the monitor when a call is made from the entrance cordless handset. It is characterized in that the resident can visually recognize from the monitor.
According to the present invention, the resident can know from the monitor screen that the call has been made.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the touch panel control circuit performs control to change the display of a predetermined portion of the monitor when the call mode is entered, and is in the call mode. It is characterized in that the resident can visually recognize from the monitor.
According to the present invention, the resident can recognize from the monitor screen that the call mode is set.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth aspect, the touch panel control circuit is configured such that the state of the call mode is a transmission state in which the transmission from the resident to the visitor is possible, or the visitor is It is characterized in that the resident can visually recognize the state of the call mode from the monitor by controlling the display to change the display at a predetermined position on the monitor to determine whether or not the user can receive a call.
According to the present invention, the resident can recognize from the monitor screen whether the call mode is the transmission state or the reception state.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the change in display at a predetermined monitor location during calling or in call mode is a change in lighting or blinking. And
According to the present invention, the display is changed by a simple operation that is simply turned on or blinked.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the predetermined position of the monitor to be changed when the mode is changed is a peripheral edge of the monitor.
According to the present invention, since the display operation such as blinking and lighting is performed around the monitor, there is almost no influence on the displayed image.

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing operation buttons such as a call button and an end button for performing a hands-free call on the touch panel provided on the front of the monitor, the number of parts of the living room base unit can be reduced. It is possible to simplify the configuration of the parent unit.
Further, since there is no need for conventional operation buttons, the degree of freedom in designing the living room master unit is increased, and it becomes easier to create a more unique shape.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an intercom system according to the present invention. 1 is an entrance cordless handset installed at the entrance, 2 is a room base set installed in the dwelling unit, and both are connected via a transmission line 3. ing. The front door 1 includes a camera 11 that captures a visitor, a call button 12 that calls a resident, a microphone 13 and a speaker 14 that are used to talk to the resident. A call 21 comprising a microphone 22 and a speaker 23 for making a hands-free call with a visitor, a handset 24 for making a call without using the call, and a touch panel 25. The touch panel 25 is provided on the entire front surface of the monitor 21.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the living room master unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the living room master unit 2 includes a demodulation circuit 26 that demodulates the video signal sent from the entrance unit 1, a hook switch 27 that operates by the handset 24, a CPU 28 that controls each circuit of the system, and transmission. An IF circuit (interface circuit) 29 for connecting the line 3 and a call circuit 30 that enables a hands-free call by the microphone 22 and the speaker 23 or a call by the handset 24 are incorporated. The CPU 28 includes a touch panel control circuit 28 a that controls the monitor 21 and the touch panel 25.

  The intercom system configured as described above operates as follows. First, the system is in a standby state (standby mode) when the entrance cordless handset 1 and the living room base phone 2 are not operated, and nothing is displayed on the monitor 21 and a call cannot be made. Then, when the visitor presses the call button 12 of the entrance cordless handset 1, a call signal is transmitted to the living room base phone 2 via the transmission line 3, and at the same time, the camera 11 of the entrance cordless handset 1 starts imaging. Then, the CPU 28 of the living room base unit 2 receives this calling signal, sounds the ringing sound from the speaker 23, and monitors the video signal of the camera 11 transmitted from the front door unit 1 via the demodulation circuit 26. 21. Thus, the calling state is established.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the screen of the monitor 21 in the calling state. A visitor video is displayed, and the peripheral edge 21a of the monitor 21 capable of making a call blinks, indicating that the resident is in the calling state. To inform. Further, a call button 21b for entering the call mode is displayed. Such blinking display of the peripheral edge 21a and display of the call button 21b are implemented by programming in advance in the touch panel control circuit 28a.
Note that the display of the calling state is not limited to the blinking of the edge portion 21a, but “calling” may be displayed on the monitor 21, or the entire monitor 21 may be blinked. Various control operations by the touch panel operation are performed by the touch panel control circuit 28a.

When the resident responds in such a calling state, the call button 21b displayed at a predetermined location on the monitor 21 is touch-operated. Then, the touch operation is detected by the touch panel control circuit 28a of the CPU 28, the mode is changed to the call mode, the peripheral edge portion 21a of the monitor 21 is changed from the blinking to the lighting state, and the resident visually recognizes that the call mode is entered. it can.
In this way, a hands-free call can be made between the entrance cordless handset 1 and the room base phone 2, and a call can be made between the entrance cordless handset 1 and the microphone 22 and the speaker 23 of the room base phone 2. Then, when ending the call, the touch panel 25 is touched again. That is, when the end button (not shown) displayed on the monitor 21 is pressed, the standby mode is entered.

It should be noted that the call mode may be entered by touching the video (somewhere on the entire monitor) displayed by the visitor without displaying the call button 21b. Instead of displaying the talk button, it is possible to make a transition to the standby mode by touching somewhere on the monitor 21 displaying the visitor video.
Further, in this embodiment, since the handset 24 is provided, it is possible to make a call using the handset 24 without performing a hands-free call. In this case, it is only necessary to hook up the handset 24 and respond, and when the hook switch 27 is hooked off, the CPU 28 performs control so that the touch panel operation and the microphone 22 and speaker 23 cannot respond. Thereby, malfunction can be prevented.

Next, an operation for shifting from the standby mode to the monitor mode for operating the camera 11 will be described. When an arbitrary part of the monitor 21 is touched in the standby mode, a menu screen is displayed on the monitor 21 (not shown). On this menu screen, a monitor button for shifting to the monitor mode, a call button for shifting to the call mode, and the like are displayed. By touching the displayed monitor button, the camera 11 starts imaging, and the image is displayed on the monitor 21. To be displayed. In this way, an image around the entrance is displayed on the monitor 21.
When the monitor 21 is touched again (touching the screen or touching the monitor button again), the standby mode is restored.
Note that here, the menu screen is displayed when the touch operation is performed in the erased state, and the monitor button is selected from the screen. However, when the touch operation is performed in the erased state, the monitor mode is suddenly shifted. May be.

In this way, a touch panel is provided on the monitor, and operation buttons such as a call button, an end button, and a monitor button are set on the touch panel. Therefore, even if a hands-free call is possible, It is not necessary to provide a separate component, the number of parts can be reduced, and the device configuration of the living room master can be simplified. Further, since there is no need for conventional operation buttons, the degree of freedom in designing the living room master unit is increased, and it becomes easier to create a more unique shape.
In addition, if the operation buttons are displayed on the monitor, the touch position is easy to understand when the touch operation is performed, the user can operate with peace of mind, and the operation switch is provided in the monitor, so it is placed close to the visitor image. The buttons can be operated while observing the visitors.
Furthermore, since the display state of the peripheral edge of the monitor changes in the call mode during a call, it can be recognized simply by looking at the monitor, the user can easily grasp the current mode state, and the monitor periphery only changes. It has little effect on the video that is displayed. Since the display is changed by a simple operation of lighting or blinking, simple control is sufficient.

In addition, although the said embodiment demonstrated the structure installed in a detached house, it is not limited to this, It can also be used for an apartment housing intercom system. In this case, the entrance slave unit 1 in FIG. 1 becomes a collective entrance unit, and the room master unit 2 is installed in each room.
The fact that the mode has been switched to the call mode is indicated by lighting of the peripheral edge of the monitor 21. The call mode includes a transmission state and a reception state so that the call mode can be identified. The display on the monitor 21 may be changed. For example, it is preferable to identify the monitor by changing the color of the peripheral edge of the monitor.
In addition, the area for displaying the visitor and the display area for the operation buttons may be completely divided on the monitor screen, so that the visitor video does not become difficult to see on the operation button display.

It is a block diagram of the intercom system which shows an example of embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the room master unit of FIG. 1. It is screen explanatory drawing which shows an example of the monitor screen of a calling state.

Explanation of symbols

  1 .. Entrance cordless handset, 2 .... Living room master, 3 .... Transmission line, 11 .... Camera, 12 .... Call button, 13 .... Microphone, 14 .... Speaker, 21 ... Monitor, 22 .... Microphone 23 .. Speaker, 24 .. Handset, 25 .. Touch panel, 27 .. Hook switch, 28a .. Touch panel control circuit.

Claims (11)

Installed at the entrance, a call button for a visitor to call a resident, a microphone and a speaker for talking to the resident, a front door unit having a camera for imaging the visitor, and installed in the dwelling unit, In an intercom system in which a communication unit for a resident to make a hands-free call with a visitor, and a parent unit having a monitor for displaying an image captured by the camera, are connected by a transmission line.
The living room master unit includes a touch panel on the front surface of the monitor and a touch panel control circuit for controlling the monitor and the touch panel. The touch panel control circuit is touch-operated when the call is made from the entrance unit. The intercom system is controlled to shift to the call mode and to shift to the standby mode when the monitor is touched again. When the monitor is touch-operated in the standby mode, the touch panel control circuit shifts to a monitor mode for outputting a captured image of the camera, and when the monitor in the monitor mode is touch-operated, the standby control circuit 2. The intercom system according to claim 1, wherein control for shifting to a mode is performed. The touch panel control circuit is configured to display a monitor button for shifting to the monitor mode or a call button for shifting to the call mode on the monitor when the monitor is touch-operated in the standby mode. When the displayed button is further touched, control is performed to shift to the monitor mode or the call mode, and when the monitor is touched again after shifting to each mode, the standby mode is set. The intercom system according to claim 1, wherein control for shifting to a mode is performed. The touch panel control circuit displays the call button on the monitor when calling from the entrance cordless handset, displays an end button after the call button is touch-operated, and further includes the call button and the end button. The intercom system according to claim 3, wherein the control operation is performed only when the displayed portion is operated. 5. The interphone according to claim 4, wherein the touch panel control circuit separates an area for displaying a captured image of the camera and a display area for the call button and the end button, and displays them separately on the monitor. system. 6. The living room master device includes a handset for making a call with a visitor, and the touch panel control circuit disables the operation of the touch panel when the handset is hooked up. An intercom system according to any one of the above. The touch panel control circuit performs control to change a display of a predetermined portion of the monitor when a call is made from the entrance cordless handset, and a resident can visually recognize from the monitor that the call is being performed. The intercom system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The touch panel control circuit controls to change a display of a predetermined part of the monitor after shifting to the call mode, so that a resident can visually recognize from the monitor that the call mode is set. The intercom system according to any one of 1 to 7. In the touch panel control circuit, whether the state of the call mode is a transmission state in which a resident can transmit to a visitor, a reception state in which a visitor can receive a call, 9. The intercom system according to claim 8, wherein control is performed to change the display of a predetermined part of the monitor so that a resident can visually recognize the state of the call mode from the monitor. The intercom system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a change in display at a predetermined monitor location during the call or in the call mode is a change in lighting or blinking. The interphone system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the predetermined portion of the monitor to be changed when the mode is changed is a peripheral edge portion of the monitor.

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