JP2009239707A - Intercom system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intercom system which attains further improvement in crime prevention property by carrying out a separate operation different from a warning operation or a normal imaging operation in a case where a camera is covered with a hand or the like. <P>SOLUTION: An intercom master unit 3 comprises a luminosity measuring section 21 for measuring the luminosity of a video image captured by a camera 4 and a state where the camera 4 is covered with a hand or the like can be detected in accordance with a state where the luminosity of the video image becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold. In a case where such a state is detected, a warning message that "Do not place any object in front of camera" or the like is issued via a speaker 6 of an intercom slave unit 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an interphone device in which an interphone slave unit having a camera and an interphone master unit are connected so as to be able to talk, and in particular, an interphone that performs a separate operation different from a normal operation when the camera is covered. It relates to the device.

  Conventionally, in an interphone device in which an interphone slave unit and an interphone master unit are connected so as to be able to talk, in order to improve crime prevention, a camera capable of imaging the surroundings is provided in the interphone slave unit, and the camera captures images in the interphone master unit There has been devised one provided with a monitor capable of displaying such a video (for example, Patent Document 1). Further, in order to further improve the crime prevention property, an interphone master unit has been devised in which when a call operation on an interphone slave unit is detected, an image for a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) from the detection is stored in a memory. Yes.

JP 7-38884 A

  However, in the above conventional interphone device, when the suspicious person calls the interphone handset to confirm the presence / absence of the resident, the suspicious person cannot be imaged if the camera is covered by a hand or the like. There are problems such as being unable to record the video that the person has shown.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when a camera is obscured by a hand or the like, a security operation is performed by performing a separate operation different from a warning operation or a normal imaging operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an intercom device that further improves the performance.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a calling means for a visitor to call a resident, and takes an image over a predetermined time when the calling means is operated. An interphone device comprising: an interphone slave device including an operating camera; and an interphone master device including a display unit that is connected to the interphone slave device so as to be able to communicate and displays an image captured by the camera. Are provided with warning means for warning the visitor, and a lightness measuring unit for measuring the brightness of the video in the interphone slave unit or interphone master unit, and a warning means when the brightness of the video is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. And a control unit to be operated.
According to the above configuration, the intercom slave unit or interphone master unit includes the brightness measurement unit that measures the brightness of the video and the control unit that operates the warning unit when the brightness of the video is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Therefore, for example, when the suspicious person operates the calling means with the camera covered with his hand, the situation can be detected by the brightness of the video and the warning means can warn the situation. The crime prevention property of the intercom device can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the interphone slave unit is provided with a storage unit storing a warning message, the warning means is a speaker, and the brightness of the video is less than a predetermined threshold value. In some cases, the control unit reads a warning message from the storage unit, and sounds the warning message from a speaker.
According to the above configuration, when the warning means is a speaker and the brightness of the video is below a predetermined threshold value, a warning message is reported from the speaker. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and the configuration of the intercom handset.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is provided with calling means for a visitor to call a resident, and when the calling means is operated for a predetermined time. An interphone slave unit including a camera that performs imaging operation, an interphone master unit that is connected to the interphone slave unit so as to be able to communicate, and that includes a display unit that displays an image captured by the camera and a recording unit that records the image. An intercom device or interphone main unit, a brightness measuring unit for measuring the brightness of the video, and if the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold during the imaging operation for a predetermined time, the brightness of the video becomes a threshold The camera is continuously operated until a specific time elapses after the time is exceeded, and a controller for recording the video of the specific time on the recording unit is provided. And butterflies.
According to the above configuration, the interphone slave unit or the interphone base unit has a brightness measurement unit that measures the brightness of the video, and when the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold during the imaging operation for a predetermined time, the brightness of the video is set to the threshold. Control means for continuing the imaging operation by the camera until a specific time elapses after the time is exceeded, so that, for example, when the suspicious person operates the calling means with the camera covered by hand While detecting based on the brightness of the video, it is possible to record the video over a specific time after returning until the brightness exceeds a predetermined threshold in the recording unit. Therefore, for example, it is possible to capture and record a video or the like that reflects the appearance of a suspicious person leaving, and an interphone device with high crime prevention can be obtained.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 4 of the present invention is provided with a calling means for a visitor to call a resident and a camera for always imaging the surroundings. An interphone device including an interphone slave unit and an interphone master unit that is connected to the interphone slave unit so as to be able to communicate and has a display unit that displays an image captured by a camera. A temporary storage unit for temporarily storing and a recording unit for recording video, a brightness measuring unit for measuring the brightness of the video on the interphone slave unit or the interphone master unit, and when the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold, And a control unit that records the video stored in the temporary storage unit until the brightness falls below a predetermined threshold.
According to the above configuration, the interphone base unit is provided with the temporary storage unit that temporarily stores the video for a predetermined time and the recording unit that records the video, and the brightness of the video is measured on the interphone slave unit or the interphone base unit. Since the brightness measurement unit and the control unit that records the video stored in the temporary storage unit until the brightness becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold when the video brightness is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold, For example, when a suspicious person covers the camera with his / her hand, the situation is detected based on the brightness of the video, and the video until the brightness temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit falls below a predetermined threshold, that is, the camera is covered. The video until it is shown can be recorded in the recording unit. Therefore, for example, it is possible to record a video or the like in which a suspicious person is approaching, so that an interphone device with high crime prevention can be obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, the lightness measurement unit measures the lightness of the video and the control unit measures the lightness and the threshold value as a result of the operation of the calling means in the interphone slave unit. It is characterized by comparing with.
According to the above configuration, the brightness measurement unit measures the brightness of the video after receiving the operation of the calling means in the interphone slave unit, and the control unit compares the measured brightness with the threshold value. There is no need to constantly compare with the threshold value, and the load on the lightness measurement unit and the control unit can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the camera has a lens capable of super wide-angle imaging, and the interphone master unit has an electronic zoom / electronic pan / tilt for an image. The intercom apparatus is provided with video control means for performing control, and the brightness measurement unit measures the brightness of the entire image captured by the camera even when electronic zoom / electronic pan / tilt control is executed, The control unit operates based on the brightness of the entire video.
According to the above configuration, the brightness measurement unit measures the brightness of the entire image captured by the camera even when the electronic zoom / electronic pan / tilt control is executed, and the control unit is based on the brightness of the entire image. Therefore, for example, when a dark place is zoomed up, a warning operation or the like is not executed, and usability can be improved.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the interphone master unit has notification means for notifying the operation by receiving the operation of the calling means, and the calling means is operated by the calling means. In this case, the notification means is operated only when the brightness of the video is equal to or higher than a threshold value.
According to the above configuration, when the calling unit is operated, the notification unit is operated only when the brightness of the video is equal to or greater than the threshold value. For example, a suspicious person for the purpose of door-to-door sales covers the camera, When trying to call a resident in a state where it cannot be seen, the resident is not prompted to respond. Therefore, the usability of the intercom device can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the intercom handset or the interphone base unit is provided with a lightness measuring unit that measures the lightness of the video and a control unit that operates the warning means when the lightness of the video is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Therefore, for example, when the suspicious person operates the calling means with the camera covered with his hand, the situation can be detected by the brightness of the video and the warning means can warn the situation. The crime prevention property of the intercom device can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an intercom apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the intercom apparatus 1, and FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the intercom apparatus 1.
The intercom device 1 is installed at a front door or the like, and includes an interphone slave unit 2 for a visitor to call a resident, and an interphone master unit 3 installed in a living room and responding to a call from the interphone slave unit 2. Connected to be able to talk.

  The intercom handset 2 includes a camera 4 for capturing an image of a visitor, a call button 5 that the visitor operates to call the interphone base unit 3, a speaker 6 and a microphone 7 for the visitor to talk to a resident. And an audio processing unit 8, a video processing unit 9 for transmitting video captured by the camera 4 to the interphone master unit 3, and a speaker when it is determined that the camera 4 is covered as will be described later. 6, a storage unit 10 that stores a warning message reported from 6, a slave unit CPU 11 that controls various operations of the interphone slave unit 2, and various signals such as video signals, audio signals, and control signals from the interphone master unit 3. And an interface 12 for transmitting and receiving data.

  On the other hand, the interphone base unit 3 includes a display 15 for displaying video captured by the camera 4, operation buttons 16, 16... Including a call button for responding to a call from the interphone handset 2, and a resident Speaker 17, microphone 18, and voice processing unit 19 for making a call with a visitor, video processing unit 20 for enabling the video signal received from the intercom handset 2 to be displayed on the display 15, and the brightness of the video. A brightness measuring unit 21 for measuring, a recording unit 22 for recording video, a base unit CPU 23 for controlling various operations of the interphone base unit 3, and various signals such as video signals, audio signals, control signals, etc. And an interface 24 for transmitting / receiving to / from the slave unit 2. The display 15 also functions as a touch panel type operation screen. For example, when a predetermined display area is selected when an image is displayed on the display 15, the display area is enlarged. The electronic zoom / electronic pan / tilt control to be displayed is executed.

Here, the operation when the call button 5 in the intercom device 1 is operated will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the intercom device 1 at the time of calling.
First, when the call button 5 is operated by a visitor (S1), the camera 4 is turned on and imaging by the camera 4 is started (S2), and an image is transmitted to the intercom base unit 3. On the other hand, in the intercom base unit 3, in response to the operation of the call button 5, a notification sound is reported from the speaker 17 and the like, and the video received from the intercom handset 2 is displayed on the display 15, and the call button 5 is operated. It is determined whether or not a predetermined response time (for example, 20 seconds) has elapsed (S3).

  Since the initial operation of the call button 5 is naturally within the response time (NO as a result of the determination in S3), the interphone master unit 3 measures the brightness of the video following S3, and the brightness is a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not the following is true (S4). When measuring the brightness, not the image displayed on the display 15 (for example, the image enlarged and displayed by the electronic zoom or the like), but the entire image captured by the camera 4, that is, the image received from the interphone slave unit 2. Measure the overall brightness.

  If the brightness exceeds a predetermined threshold, the video is temporarily stored in a temporary storage unit such as a RAM in the master CPU 23 (S7), and the response time elapses (the result of the determination in S3 is The control is continuously executed until it becomes YES). Also, once the response time has passed without the brightness being below the predetermined threshold, it is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit after determining whether or not a warning flag described later is ON (NO in S8). A part of the video (for example, video for 10 seconds after the start of imaging) is recorded in the recording unit 22 (S9), the camera 4 is turned off, and the imaging operation is terminated (S14).

  On the other hand, when the camera 4 is covered with a hand within the response time, the brightness of the video is below a predetermined threshold. Therefore, the intercom base unit 3 transmits a warning signal to the intercom handset 2 when detecting the situation (the determination result in S4 is YES). When the intercom handset 2 receives the warning signal, it reads out a warning message (for example, “Please do not place an object in front of the camera”) from the storage unit 10, and the warning message read through the speaker 6 is reported. (S5). In the interphone base unit 3, when a situation occurs in which the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold, the warning flag is turned on in the base unit CPU 23 (S6). Note that the warning message in the intercom handset 2 is continued until the response time elapses or the brightness of the video exceeds a predetermined threshold value within the response time. Even after the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold, the video is temporarily stored (S7).

  As described above, even when the lightness is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, that is, when the response time elapses with the warning flag set to ON, after determining whether the warning flag is ON / OFF (YES in S8), It is determined whether or not the brightness of the video has already returned before exceeding a predetermined threshold (S10). Then, if the brightness of the video is still below the predetermined threshold, the image capturing by the camera 4 is continued until the brightness of the video exceeds the predetermined threshold. Imaging is continued for a specific time (for example, 5 seconds) (S11). Note that the video imaged in S11 is also temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit. In addition, when the brightness has returned to the predetermined threshold value within the response time, and the response time has passed and the brightness of the video exceeds the predetermined threshold value at the first determination in S10, the identification in S11 is also performed. Perform time imaging.

  After that, among the videos temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit, the video including the video for a specific time whose brightness exceeds a predetermined threshold is recorded on the recording unit 22 (S12), and the warning flag is turned off (S13). ) After that, the camera 4 is turned off to end the imaging operation (S14). The video temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit is cleared by recording the video on the video recording unit 22 (S9 or S12).

According to the interphone device 1 configured as described above, the interphone master unit 3 is provided with the lightness measuring unit 21 for measuring the lightness of the image captured by the camera 4, and the camera 4 is covered with a hand. When the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold, detection is possible, and when such a situation is detected, "Please do not place any objects in front of the camera" via the speaker 6 of the intercom slave unit 2. Warning messages such as are reported. Therefore, when a suspicious person covers the camera 4 and performs a call operation, the suspicious person can be warned, and the crime prevention can be improved.
Further, since the warning is performed using the speaker 6 provided for a call, it is not necessary to separately provide a warning member for the speaker 6, and the interphone slave unit 2 can be downsized and the configuration can be rationalized. .

Further, when the brightness of the video is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold even once within the predetermined response time, particularly when the brightness of the video is still below the predetermined threshold when the response time elapses, the brightness of the video The image capturing operation by the camera 4 is continued until the specific time elapses after the threshold value exceeds the threshold, and the video of the specific time is recorded in the recording unit 22. Therefore, for example, the appearance of the suspicious person leaving can be recorded, and the crime prevention can be further improved.
In addition, according to the intercom apparatus 1, the brightness measurement unit 21 measures the brightness of the entire video received from the interphone slave unit 2, not the video displayed on the display 15. Therefore, when an electronic zoom / pan / tilt function is used to zoom up in a dark place, it does not perform operations such as warning operation or continuation of imaging operation exceeding the response time. 1 can be used.

  The interphone device according to the present invention is not limited to the mode described in the above embodiment, and the configuration of the interphone slave unit 2 and the interphone master unit 3 and the brightness when the brightness is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value. The configuration related to the operation of the interphone slave unit 2 and the interphone master unit 3 can be appropriately changed as necessary without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the intercom device 1 is configured to turn on the camera 4 in response to a call operation on the interphone slave unit 2 and normally perform an imaging operation only for a predetermined response time. In response to a call operation on the intercom handset 2, the temporary storage in the temporary storage unit and the brightness of the video are measured, and the video stored in the temporary storage unit according to the change in the brightness of the video It is also possible to configure to record in the recording unit 22 in a mode (for example, a mode similar to the interphone device 1 of the above embodiment).

  Further, in the interphone device that is always imaged by the camera 4, the temporary storage unit always updates and stores the video for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) in real time and is triggered by a call operation in the interphone handset 2. In lightness measurement, when the lightness falls below a predetermined threshold, video for a certain time (for example, 10 seconds) until the lightness falls below the predetermined threshold is read from the temporary storage unit and recorded in the recording unit 22. You may comprise. By adopting this configuration, for example, even when a suspicious person covers the camera 4 and performs a call operation, a video before the call operation, that is, a video in which the suspicious person is reflected can be recorded. Is very expensive. As described above, the brightness measurement may be performed in response to a call operation in the interphone slave unit, or the brightness measurement is always performed in the same manner as imaging, and if the brightness falls below a predetermined threshold even if the call operation is not performed, It is also possible to configure so as to record the video.

  Further, when the call operation is performed in a state where the camera 4 is obscured and the brightness of the video is already equal to or less than a predetermined threshold at the time of the call operation, only the recording to the recording unit 22 as described in the embodiment is performed. The notification operation by the interphone master unit 3, that is, the operation for notifying the resident that the calling operation has been performed in the interphone slave unit 2 (for example, the notification sound of the notification sound or the operation of turning on the speaker 17) is not executed. It is also possible to configure as described above. By adopting this configuration, when a suspicious person for the purpose of door-to-door sales tries to call a resident in a state where he / she cannot see himself / herself, the resident is not prompted to respond. Therefore, the usability of the intercom device 1 can be improved.

In addition, when the brightness falls below a predetermined threshold, when recording a video related to a specific time or a video up to a threshold below the recording unit 22, such as “the camera was covered” A message may be added by superimposing or the like.
Furthermore, a first recording unit that records video in normal operation and a second recording unit when the brightness is equal to or less than a threshold value may be provided separately. When the recording unit is provided separately as described above, it is preferable that the second recording unit has a larger capacity than the first recording unit.
Furthermore, the intercom device 1 of the above embodiment is configured to continue the imaging operation until the lightness exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, if the predetermined threshold is not exceeded for 1 minute or more, the imaging operation is performed. May be terminated. Furthermore, in the intercom device 1 of the above embodiment, the warning message sounding is terminated when the response time elapses. However, even if the response time is exceeded, the lightness does not return until the brightness exceeds a predetermined threshold. In some cases, it may be configured to continue sounding the warning message.
In addition, the intercom device 1 of the above embodiment is configured to perform both the warning message sounding and the continuation of the imaging operation for a specific time when the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold. However, there is no problem even if only one of them is configured, and it is naturally possible to provide the brightness measuring unit 21 in the interphone slave unit 2 instead of the interphone master unit 3.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the intercom apparatus. It is a block block diagram of an intercom apparatus. It is the flowchart figure which showed the operation of the intercom device at the time of calling.

Explanation of symbols

  1 .. Interphone device, 2 .... Interphone slave unit, 3 .... Interphone master unit, 4 .... Camera, 5 .... Call button (calling means), 6 .. Speaker (warning means), 11 .... Slave unit CPU , 15 .. display (display unit), 17 .. speaker (notification means), 21 .. brightness measurement unit, 22 .. recording unit, 23 .. master CPU (control unit, temporary storage unit, video control unit) .

Claims (7)

An intercom handset provided with a calling means for a visitor to call a resident and having a camera that performs an image pickup operation for a predetermined time when the calling means is operated, and can communicate with the interphone handset. An interphone device comprising an interphone master unit connected and provided with a display unit for displaying a video imaged by the camera,
The intercom handset is provided with warning means for warning the visitor,
The intercom slave unit or the interphone master unit includes a brightness measurement unit that measures the brightness of the video, and a control unit that operates the warning unit when the brightness of the video is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. A featured intercom device.   When the interphone handset is provided with a storage unit storing a warning message, and when the warning unit is a speaker and the brightness of the video is a predetermined threshold value or less, the control unit receives the warning message from the storage unit. The intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning message is reported from the speaker. An intercom handset provided with a calling means for a visitor to call a resident and having a camera that performs an image pickup operation for a predetermined time when the calling means is operated, and can communicate with the interphone handset. An interphone device comprising: a display unit that is connected and includes a display unit that displays an image captured by the camera; and an interphone master unit that includes a recording unit that records the video;
A brightness measuring unit that measures the brightness of the video on the intercom handset or the interphone master, and when the brightness of the video falls below a predetermined threshold during the imaging operation for the predetermined time, the brightness of the video becomes the threshold An intercom apparatus comprising: a control unit that continues the imaging operation by the camera until a specific time elapses after the time is exceeded, and that records video of the specific time in the recording unit. An intercom handset provided with a calling means for a visitor to call a resident, and a camera that constantly images the surroundings, and an image captured by the camera connected to the intercom handset so that a call can be made. An intercom device comprising an interphone master unit equipped with a display unit for displaying,
The intercom base unit is provided with a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the video over a predetermined time, and a recording unit for recording the video,
In the interphone slave unit or the interphone master unit, a brightness measuring unit that measures the brightness of the video, and when the brightness of the video is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold, the temporary storage unit until the brightness is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold An intercom apparatus comprising: a control unit that records a stored video on the recording unit.   The lightness measurement unit measures the lightness of the video in response to an operation of the calling unit in the intercom handset, and the control unit compares the measured lightness with the threshold value. Item 5. The intercom device according to Item 4. The camera has a lens capable of super-wide-angle imaging, and the interphone master unit is provided with video control means for executing electronic zoom / electronic pan / tilt control on the video,
The brightness measuring unit measures the brightness of the entire image captured by the camera even when the electronic zoom / electronic pan / tilt control is executed, and the control unit operates based on the brightness of the entire image. An intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein   The intercom base unit has notification means for notifying the operation through the operation of the calling means, and when the calling means is operated, the notification means only when the brightness of the video is not less than the threshold value. The intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intercom apparatus is operated.

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