JP2005012364A - Telephone device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a telephone device which can certainly silence an impact sound generated when a handset is brought into contact with a cradle. <P>SOLUTION: The telephone device includes an optical sensor 202 which is provided near a position from which the handset 100 is suspended to detect the handset 100 tending to be suspended before an off-hook switch 201 is pressed by the handset 100. A muting circuit 203 attenuates the level of an input sound signal from a microphone 102 in response to the level of the detection signal of the optical sensor 202, and outputs as a transmission sound signal. Since the optical sensor 202 detects the handset 100 which tends to be suspended by the cradle 200 and the attenuation amount of a transmission voice by the muting circuit 203 is increased in response to this approach, the impact sound in which the hand set 100 is brought into contact with the cradle 200 is silenced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telephone that performs at least voice communication, and is particularly useful when a transmission voice is loudly output without the other party having a handset, such as an interphone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a conventional telephone hangs a handset on a cradle at the end of a call, and at this time, an impact sound that the handset and the cradle come into contact with is reproduced on the other party side.
In particular, in the case of a type of communication device in which the other party does not have a handset, such as an interphone, the sound is output loudly, the above-described impact sound is loudly output to the surroundings, which is very harsh to the user.
[0003]
In a hospital, a nurse center waiting for a nurse and a hospital room can talk with a nurse call intercom, but the above-mentioned impact sound is very uncomfortable for the patient.
On the other hand, the conventional intercom apparatus is provided with a press talk switch, and the muting circuit is operated by the operation of this switch to mute (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
However, such a conventional intercom device requires a user's switch operation, and when used in a hospital, the nurse is very busy, so forgetting to perform the switch operation and returning the handset to the cradle However, there is a problem that it tends to be violent and does not always exhibit the effect effectively.
In addition, there is a level detection method that detects the level of the audio signal and cuts the noise signal corresponding to the impact sound, but this method partially reproduces the beginning of the noise signal and is completely annoying. It was difficult to prevent sound reproduction.
[0005]
In addition, when a user needs to temporarily interrupt a conversation and talk to a person around him, he / she talked while holding the microphone with his hand, but the voice input could not be completely blocked. There was a problem that the conversation could leak to the other party. On the other hand, conventionally, a melody is sent by performing a hold or the like, but there is a problem that a hold operation is troublesome in a short interruption or busy situation.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-39157 (page 3-4, FIG. 1).
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional telephone has a problem in that it cannot always mute the impact sound between the handset and the cradle because the user relies on the operation.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a telephone that can surely mute the impact sound between the handset and the cradle.
[0008]
Also, with conventional telephones, when a user needs to talk to a nearby person temporarily, for example, it is necessary to perform a hold operation, which is troublesome for short interruptions or busy situations. There was a problem that there was.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a telephone that can easily interrupt a conversation with the other party by interrupting the conversation with the other party. The purpose is to do.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is directed to a telephone for making a call by removing a handset equipped with a microphone from the cradle, and detecting means for detecting the proximity of the handset and the cradle. According to the detection result of the detection means, an output control means for stopping transmission of the audio signal output from the microphone to the other party is provided.
[0010]
In the telephone configured as described above, the handset and the cradle are close to each other, and the transmission of the audio signal output from the microphone to the other party is stopped.
Therefore, according to the telephone having the above-described configuration, it is possible to reliably stop sending the audio signal output from the microphone before the impact sound generated by the contact between the handset and the cradle is generated.
[0011]
Further, in the present invention according to claim 5, in a telephone set in which a user has a handset equipped with a microphone and makes a call, a detecting means for detecting the proximity of the handset and the user, According to the detection result, an output control means for stopping transmission of the audio signal output from the microphone to the other party is provided.
[0012]
In the telephone having the above-described configuration, transmission of the audio signal output from the microphone to the other party is stopped depending on whether the handset and the user are close to each other.
Therefore, according to the telephone having the above configuration, when the user moves the handset away from the face or the like, the transmission of the audio signal is stopped, so the conversation with the other party is interrupted and the other party wants to hear You can easily have conversations with people around you.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a telephone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The telephone shown in FIG. 1 includes a handset 100 that allows a user to input and output voice for a hand, and a cradle 200 that performs outgoing / incoming control and voice communication control through a telephone line L. In addition, about the cradle 200, the description regarding the structure similar to the past is abbreviate | omitted for the sake of simplicity. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the telephone.
[0014]
The handset 100 includes a speaker 101 for outputting a received voice and a microphone 102 for inputting a user's voice. A signal line connected to the speaker 101 is connected to the cradle 200 by a curl cord or the like.
The cradle 200 includes an off-hook switch 201, an optical sensor 202, and a mute circuit 203 in addition to a dial button and a communication control circuit (not shown).
[0015]
The off-hook switch 201 is pressed when the handset 100 is suspended from the cradle 200. As is well known, when this switch is pressed, the communication link is disconnected.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 202 is provided in the vicinity of a position where the handset 100 is suspended, and detects the handset 100 to be suspended before the off-hook switch 201 is pressed by the handset 100. is there. The detection sensitivity can detect the presence of the handset 100 from a position several centimeters away, and the level of the detection signal output by the detection is set to increase as the handset 100 approaches the cradle 200. Yes.
[0017]
The mute circuit 203 attenuates the level of the input audio signal from the microphone 102 in accordance with the detection signal level of the optical sensor 202, and uses the attenuated audio signal as a transmission audio signal in a subsequent communication control circuit (not shown). ).
[0018]
Next, the operation of the telephone having the above configuration will be described.
When the user picks up the handset 100 from the cradle 200, the off-hook switch 201 is released from the pressed state and is ready to make a call. Subsequently, the user dials a desired dial number. Then, the exchange receives the call and sends a call signal to the other party to enter a calling state. The exchange establishes a communication link in response to the other party's response, enabling a call. In the case of an interphone, it does not go through a central office switch, and the other party's response operation is not necessarily required. In addition, the communication link establishment procedure has various forms, and is not particularly limited when the present invention is applied, including the case of using / not using an exchange.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the audio signal output from the microphone 102, the transmitted audio signal actually transmitted from the mute circuit 203 to the other party, and the detection signal level of the optical sensor 202.
[0020]
The user picks up the handset 100 from the cradle 200, puts the speaker 101 on his ear, and talks with the microphone 102 close to his / her mouth. In this state, as shown in the period T1, the optical sensor 202 has the lowest detection signal level because the handset 100 is several centimeters away, and the mute circuit 203 performs an attenuation operation. Therefore, the audio signal output from the microphone 102 and the transmitted audio signal transmitted from the mute circuit 203 have substantially the same waveform.
[0021]
Eventually, during the period T2 from when the call ends to when the voice is no longer input and is on-hooked, the audio signal output from the microphone 102 has a waveform indicating silence and is similarly transmitted by the mute circuit 203. The sound signal also has a waveform indicating silence. When the user approaches the cradle 200 to suspend the handset 100 on the cradle 200, the detection signal level of the optical sensor 202 increases from the time t0 when the user approaches the position of several centimeters.
[0022]
The detection signal level continues to increase as the handset 100 approaches the cradle 200, and accordingly, the mute circuit 203 starts an attenuation operation for the audio signal output from the microphone 102, and is completely at the time t1. The sound signal is attenuated and the mute circuit 203 stops outputting the transmitted sound signal.
[0023]
Thereafter, at time t <b> 2 when the user suspends the handset 100 from the cradle 200, an impact sound is generated in which the handset 100 and the cradle 200 come into contact with each other. The impact sound is collected by the microphone 102 and input to the mute circuit 203 as an audio signal. However, at this time, the mute circuit 203 maximizes the attenuation in accordance with the detection signal level of the optical sensor 202, and the impact sound is muted.
[0024]
As described above, in the telephone configured as described above, the optical sensor 202 detects the handset 100 that is to be suspended from the cradle 200, and the attenuation amount of the transmitted voice by the mute circuit 203 is increased in accordance with this approach. Yes.
[0025]
Therefore, according to the telephone having the above-described configuration, when the handset 100 is suspended from the cradle 200, the sound signal output from the microphone 102 is silenced, so that the impact sound contacting the handset 100 and the cradle 200 can be surely silenced. Can do.
[0026]
Next explained is a telephone set according to the second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a telephone according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The telephone shown in this figure includes a handset 300 that allows a user to input and output voice for the hand, and a cradle 400 that performs outgoing and incoming call control and voice communication control through a telephone line L. Note that the configuration of the cradle 400 is the same as that of the prior art, so the description of the configuration and operation is omitted. FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the telephone.
[0027]
The handset 300 includes a speaker 301 for amplifying a received voice, a microphone 302 for inputting a user's voice, an optical sensor 303, and a mute circuit 304, and is connected to the cradle 400 by a curl cord or the like. The
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensor 303 is provided in the handset 300 so that it can detect that the user's face is in the vicinity when the user puts the speaker 301 on the ear. Further, the detection sensitivity can detect the presence of the face from a position several centimeters away, and the level of the detection signal output by the detection is set to increase as the face approaches the optical sensor 303, This detection signal is inverted and output.
[0029]
The mute circuit 304 attenuates the level of the input audio signal from the microphone 302 according to the detection signal level of the optical sensor 303, and outputs the attenuated audio signal to the cradle 400 as a transmission audio signal.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the telephone having the above configuration will be described.
When the user picks up the handset 300 from the cradle 400, the cradle 400 is released from the state in which the off-hook switch is pressed and is ready to make a call. Subsequently, the user dials a desired dial number. Then, the exchange receives the call and sends a call signal to the other party to enter a calling state. The exchange establishes a communication link in response to the other party's response, enabling a call. In the case of an interphone, it does not go through a central office switch, and the other party's response operation is not necessarily required. In addition, the communication link establishment procedure has various forms, and is not particularly limited when the present invention is applied, including the case of using / not using an exchange.
[0031]
FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the audio signal output from the microphone 302, the transmission audio signal sent from the mute circuit 304 to the cradle 400, and the detection signal level of the optical sensor 303.
[0032]
The user picks up the handset 300 from the cradle 400, puts the speaker 301 on the ear, and talks with the microphone 302 close to the mouth. In the state of making a call in this way, as shown in the period T1, the optical sensor 303 has the lowest detection signal level because the user's face exists within several centimeters of the handset 300, and the mute circuit 304. Does not perform a damping operation. For this reason, the audio signal output from the microphone 302 and the transmitted audio signal transmitted from the mute circuit 304 have substantially the same waveform.
[0033]
Eventually, when it becomes necessary for the user to speak with surrounding people, for example, the handset 300 is separated from the face by several centimeters or more (time t0). Then, as shown in the period T2, although the level of the audio signal output from the microphone 302 decreases, an audio signal of a certain level is output to the mute circuit 304. On the other hand, in the optical sensor 303, since the user's face does not exist within several centimeters of the handset 300, the detection signal level rises to the highest level, and accordingly, the mute circuit 304 outputs the audio signal output from the microphone 302. Attenuation operation is started, and at time t1, the sound signal is completely attenuated, and the output of the transmitted sound signal is stopped.
[0034]
Thereafter, the user starts to bring the handset 300 closer to the face again (time t2), and the distance is within several centimeters (time t3). Then, as shown in the period T3, the optical sensor 303 has a user signal face within a few centimeters of the handset 300, so that the detection signal level becomes the lowest, and the mute circuit 304 does not perform the attenuation operation. For this reason, the audio signal output from the microphone 302 and the transmitted audio signal transmitted from the mute circuit 304 have substantially the same waveform.
[0035]
As described above, in the telephone having the above-described configuration, when the handset 300 is separated from the face by several centimeters or more, the mute circuit 304 functions in response to the optical sensor 303 that has detected the handset 300 to mute the transmitted voice. .
[0036]
Therefore, according to the telephone having the above-described configuration, when the user needs to temporarily talk with the surrounding people, for example, the transmitted voice is muted by moving the handset 300 away from the face by several centimeters or more. Therefore, it is possible to easily carry out a conversation that the other party does not want to hear.
[0037]
In the above-described embodiment, the optical sensor 303 is provided inside the handset 300 to detect the user's face. However, the optical sensor 303 is provided on the back surface of the handset 300 to detect the user's hand. You may make it act. According to such a configuration, when the handset 300 is suspended from the cradle 400 after the call is finished, the user avoids detection of the optical sensor 303 by changing the handset 300 or the like so that the handset 300 and the cradle 400 can be connected. The impact sound that touches can be silenced.
[0038]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. Further, for example, a configuration in which some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment is also conceivable. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component described in different embodiment.
[0039]
For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, it is detected that the ambient light input to the optical sensors 202 and 303 is blocked. A similar effect can be obtained by providing light emitting means such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits light, detecting this light by the optical sensors 202 and 303, and performing a silencing operation in response to the detection result.
[0040]
In such a configuration, the light emitted from the light emitting means may be subjected to specific modulation in order to prevent malfunction. FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration.
The light emitting means 500 includes a carrier wave source 501 for generating a carrier wave signal, a modulation signal source 502 for generating a modulation signal, a modulation circuit 503 for modulating the carrier wave with the modulation signal, and an LED (Light) driven by the signal obtained by the modulation A light emitting unit 504 such as Emitting Diode) is provided. The configuration of the optical sensor 600 in phase with the optical sensor 202 or 303 includes a light receiving unit 601 as shown in FIG. 1 or 4, a demodulation circuit 602 that demodulates a received light signal (detection signal) obtained thereby, and a demodulated circuit 602. A filter 603 for filtering the received signal, and a detection circuit 604 for detecting the presence or absence of a modulation component from the signal that has passed through the filter.
[0041]
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.
The modulation circuit 503 modulates the carrier wave signal generated by the carrier wave source 501 with the modulation signal generated by the modulation signal source 502, and the light emitting unit 504 is driven by the signal obtained thereby to emit the light emission signal. This light emission signal has a modulation component.
[0042]
For this reason, even if the light receiving unit 601 receives external noise, the signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 602 does not have a predetermined modulation component, so the detection circuit 604 does not output a detection signal. On the other hand, when a predetermined modulation component is produced, a detection signal is output to the mute circuit 203 or 304, and the mute operation is performed.
According to such a configuration, malfunction due to ambient light can be prevented.
[0043]
In the above embodiment, an optical sensor is used. However, a sensor that detects an electromagnetic wave other than light, an ultrasonic wave, a magnetic field, or the like can be used instead.
In the above-described embodiment, only the voice communication has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a video phone including an electronic camera and a display unit.
Further, although the handset 100 or 300 is suspended from the cradle 200 or 400, the handset 100 or 300 may be mounted on the cradle 200 or 400.
[0044]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the audio signal is attenuated by the mute circuit 203 or 304 using a transistor, but the sound is silenced by using other electronic elements such as stopping the output of the audio signal by a switch or the like. You may do it.
[0045]
In the second embodiment, instead of the optical sensor 303, it is also possible to use an infrared sensor that detects infrared rays emitted from the human body or a tactile sensor that detects contact / non-contact with the user. . A tactile sensor may be configured using a physical switch, an electrical switch that detects a change in flow rate of a weak current, or a sensor switch that detects a change in electrical resistance between two electrodes. It is possible to apply.
In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly implemented even if various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the handset and the cradle are close to each other, and the transmission of the audio signal output from the microphone to the other party is stopped.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a telephone that can reliably stop sending an audio signal output from a microphone before an impact sound is generated by contact between the handset and the cradle.
[0047]
Further, according to the present invention, the transmission of the audio signal output from the microphone to the other party is stopped depending on whether or not the handset and the user are close to each other.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the user moves the handset away from the face or the like, the transmission of the audio signal is stopped, so that the conversation with the call partner is interrupted and the call partner does not want to be heard. A telephone capable of easily carrying out a simple conversation with surrounding people can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a telephone according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the telephone set shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the telephone set shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of a telephone according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the telephone set shown in FIG.
6 is a view for explaining the operation of the telephone set shown in FIG. 4;
7 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the optical sensor shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an operation when the optical sensor shown in FIG. 7 is used.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Handset, 101 ... Speaker, 102 ... Microphone, 200 ... Cradle, 201 ... Off-hook switch, 202 ... Optical sensor, 203 ... Mute circuit, 300 ... Handset, 301 ... Speaker, 302 ... Microphone, 303 ... Optical sensor, 304 ... Mute circuit, 400 ... Cradle, 500 ... Light emitting means, 501 ... Carrier wave source, 502 ... Modulation signal source, 503 ... Modulation circuit, 504 ... Light emitting unit, 600 ... Optical sensor, 601 ... Light receiving unit, 602 ... Demodulation circuit, 603 ... Filter, 604 ... detection circuit, L ... telephone line.

Claims (7)

In a phone that makes a call by removing the handset with a microphone from the cradle,
Detecting means for detecting the proximity of the handset and the cradle;
A telephone set comprising: output control means for stopping transmission of an audio signal output from the microphone to a communication partner in accordance with a detection result of the detection means. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is provided in the cradle, and detects that the handset has approached before contacting the cradle. The detecting means detects a degree of proximity between the handset and the cradle;
3. The output control unit according to claim 1, wherein the output control unit attenuates a voice signal output from the microphone in accordance with the proximity degree detected by the detection unit and transmits the attenuated audio signal to the other party. Phone. 4. The output control unit according to claim 3, wherein the output control unit stops transmission of an audio signal output from the microphone when approaching a predetermined degree or more based on a detection result of the detection unit. Phone. In a telephone where a user has a handset equipped with a microphone and makes a call,
Detecting means for detecting the proximity of the handset and the user;
A telephone set comprising: output control means for stopping transmission of an audio signal output from the microphone to a communication partner in accordance with a detection result of the detection means. The detecting means detects a degree of proximity between the handset and a user;
6. The telephone according to claim 5, wherein the output control unit attenuates a voice signal output from the microphone and sends the signal to the other party according to the proximity degree detected by the detection unit. The output control unit stops transmission of an audio signal output from the microphone when the handset and the user are separated by a predetermined degree or more based on a detection result of the detection unit. The telephone set according to claim 6.

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