JPH1098536A - Intercom equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To respond to an incoming call from a handset, a hands-free call function cannot be activated unless an input operation is performed. SOLUTION: An intercom master unit 10 has a call control unit 11 having a hands-free call function, a microphone 13 for picking up a response voice, an entrance terminal interface 15 for detecting a call signal from an entrance terminal 20, When a call signal is detected by the sound pressure detection unit 16 that determines whether or not the sound pressure of the collected sound has been detected for a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more, the microphone 13 , And a sound pickup sound is detected within a predetermined time after the detection of the call signal, and the sound pressure detection unit 12
When the sound pressure of the collected sound is detected at a predetermined level or more for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 17 transmits the collected sound to the entrance terminal 20 via the call control unit 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intercom apparatus for making an extension call between a master unit installed in a house and a slave unit installed in an entrance or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure inside a conventional intercom apparatus.

[0003] In FIG.
For example, an intercom master unit 110 installed in a house,
And an entrance slave unit 120 installed at an entrance or the like.

The intercom base unit 110 includes a call control unit 111 having a hands-free call function, a speaker 112 for outputting a ringtone and a call sound, and a microphone 11 for picking up sounds near the intercom base unit 110.
3, a response switch 114 for responding to a call from the entrance terminal 120, an entrance terminal interface 115 for controlling an interface with the entrance terminal 120, and a control unit 116 for controlling the entire intercom master 110. doing. It should be noted that the hands-free calling function means that if the user on the base unit side is near the intercom base unit 110,
This is a function capable of transmitting voice to the entrance terminal 120 via the call control unit 111 without using a handset (not shown).

[0005] The entrance device 120 includes a call switch 121 for transmitting a call signal to the base device 110, a speaker 122 for outputting a speech sound, a microphone 123 for picking up sound near the entrance device 120, It has a base unit interface 124 that manages an interface with the intercom base unit 110.

[0006] The entrance device interface 115 comprises:
The presence / absence of a call signal transmitted by the call switch 121 of the entrance terminal 120 is detected, and a call voice signal is transmitted / received through the parent device interface 124 of the entrance terminal 120.

Next, the operation of the conventional intercom apparatus will be described.

[0008] When the call switch 121 is input, the base unit interface 124 of the entrance unit 120 transmits this call signal to the entrance unit interface 115 of the intercom unit 110.

The entrance terminal interface 115 is
In response to the call signal, the control unit 116 is notified that the call switch 121 of the entrance terminal 120 has been input. In response to the notification, the control unit 116 causes the speaker 122 to output a ringtone as sound.

The user of the intercom master unit 110 recognizes that a call is currently being received according to the ring tone output from the speaker 122, and operates the answer switch 114 to respond to the call. By doing so, it is possible to respond to an incoming call from the entrance terminal 120.

[0011]

However, according to the above-described conventional intercom apparatus, despite the fact that the intercom base unit 110 has a hands-free call function, the user cannot receive an incoming call from the entrance unit 120. When answering, there is a problem that the hands-free call function cannot be activated unless the user moves to the intercom master unit 110 and performs an input operation on the answer switch 114.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a hands-free communication function without performing an input operation when answering an incoming call from an entrance cordless handset. It is to provide an intercom device that can be activated.

[0013]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an intercom apparatus for performing an extension call between a master unit and a slave unit.
Call control means having a hands-free call function, call signal detection means for detecting a call signal from the slave, sound pickup means for picking up sound near the base unit, and sound picked up by the sound pickup means The sound pressure of the picked-up sound is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, and a sound pressure judging unit that judges whether or not the sound pressure is detected for a certain period of time or more. When sound collection is started, a sound pickup sound is detected within a predetermined time from the detection of the call signal, and when the sound pressure of the sound pickup sound is detected by the sound pressure determination means at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more, And control means for transmitting the collected voice to the slave via the call control means.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus of the present invention, when a calling signal from the slave unit is detected, sound pickup by the sound pickup means is started, and the sound pickup sound is generated within a predetermined time from the detection of the calling signal. When the sound pressure of the collected sound is detected by the sound pressure determination means at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more, the collected sound is transmitted to the slave through the call control means. When responding to an incoming call from the handset, the hands-free call function can be activated without performing the input operation related to the incoming call response, and the user of the base unit can contact the base unit from a remote location without touching it. It can respond to the incoming call from the slave unit.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An intercom apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an intercom apparatus for performing an extension call between a base unit and a child unit, wherein the base unit has a hands-free call function. Control means, calling signal detecting means for detecting a calling signal from the slave, sound collecting means for picking up sound in the vicinity of the base unit, and sound pressure of sound collected by the sound collecting means. A sound pressure determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined level or more is detected for a predetermined time or more, and when a call signal is detected by the call signal detection means, sound collection by the sound collection means is started, and When the sound pickup voice is detected within a predetermined time from the detection of the call signal, and the sound pressure of the sound pickup sound is detected at a predetermined level or more by the sound pressure determination means and for a predetermined time or more,
Control means for transmitting the picked-up voice to the slave through the call control means.

The calling signal detected by the calling signal detecting means is output in response to an input operation from a slave unit.

The sound pickup means corresponds to, for example, a microphone, and voices from the vicinity of the base unit and a certain distance from the base unit, for example, a user's reply to an incoming call to the intercom base unit, for example, " Hi "
Such a response voice can be collected.
The sound collecting operation by the sound collecting means starts when the calling signal is detected by the calling signal detecting means.

The sound pressure judging means corresponds to, for example, a sound pressure detecting section. The sound pressure judging means detects whether the sound pressure of the sound picked up by the sound collecting means is detected at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more. It is to determine whether or not.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when a calling signal from the slave unit is detected, sound pickup by the sound pickup means is started, and within a predetermined time from the detection of the calling signal. When the sound pressure of the collected sound is detected by the sound pressure determination means at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more, the collected sound is transmitted to the slave unit via the call control means. Therefore, when responding to an incoming call from the slave unit, the hands-free call function can be activated without performing an input operation related to the incoming call response, so that the user of the master unit side can touch the master unit without touching the master unit. It is possible to respond to an incoming call from a remote unit from a remote place.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the master unit has voice output means for voice output of a ring tone, and the control means includes a calling unit. When a call signal is detected by the signal detection means, a ringtone is output as voice by the voice output means, and after the output of the ringtone, sound collection by the sound collection means is started.
The collected voice is detected within a predetermined time after the output of the ringtone, and when the sound pressure of the collected voice is detected at a predetermined level or more for a predetermined time or more by the sound pressure determination means, the sound is collected via the call control means. It is characterized in that voice is transmitted to the slave unit.

The voice output means corresponds to, for example, a speaker, and outputs a ringtone as voice.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, after the output of the ringtone by the audio output means, the sound collection by the sound collection means is started. When the sound pickup sound is detected within a predetermined time after the output of the ringtone and the sound pressure of the sound pickup sound is detected by the sound pressure judgment means at a predetermined level or more and for a certain time or more, the sound is collected through the call control means. Since the sound is transmitted to the slave unit, even when the sound output by the sound output unit of the master unit, that is, during the output of the ringtone, the sound pressure determination unit is determined by the acoustic coupling between the ringtone and the collected sound. Can be surely resolved as a false recognition of a ringtone as a picked-up voice.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the intercom apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the master unit outputs a ringtone according to a call signal from the slave unit. And sound pressure comparing means for comparing the sound pressure of the collected sound collected by the sound collecting means with the sound pressure of the ringtone sound output by the sound output means, and the control means includes: Only when the sound pressure comparing means has a higher sound pressure of the collected sound than the sound pressure of the ringtone, the collected sound is transmitted to the sound pressure determining means.

The voice output means corresponds to, for example, a speaker, and outputs a ringtone as voice.

The sound pressure comparing means corresponds to, for example, a comparator. The sound pressure comparing means compares the sound pressure of the sound collected by the sound collecting means such as a microphone and the sound pressure of the ringtone. The result is notified to the control means.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the sound pressure of the collected sound is higher than the sound pressure of the ring tone by the sound pressure comparing means. Only in this case, the picked-up sound is sent to the sound pressure determining means, so that even while the ringing sound is being output by the sound output means of the master unit, the acoustic coupling between the ringing sound and the picked-up sound causes A situation in which the sound pressure determination unit incorrectly recognizes a ringtone as a picked-up voice can be reliably eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the intercom apparatus further comprises:
Display means, and the control means, when the sound pressure of the picked-up sound is detected by the sound pressure determination means at a predetermined level or more and for a certain period of time or more, talk state information indicating a talk state is displayed on the display means. It is displayed.

The call state is a state in which at least the sound pickup sound of the master unit is reliably transmitted to the slave unit via the hands-free call function of the master unit.

The display means is constituted by, for example, an LED or the like, and illuminates and displays in a call state. still,
It goes without saying that this display means may be constituted by a display or the like.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect,
When the sound pressure of the collected sound is higher than a predetermined level by the sound pressure determination means,
In addition, when a certain period of time or more is detected, call state information indicating a call state is displayed on the display means. By notifying the user of the base unit that the output is being performed, for example, when the sound of the base unit user is low or when the sound from the base unit is not transmitted to the slave unit when the user is too far from the base unit Even so, it is possible to give the user a sense of relief by allowing the user to recognize the current call state based on the call state information displayed on the display device.

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an intercom apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the intercom apparatus 1 has, for example, an intercom master unit 10 installed in a house, and an entrance slave unit 20 installed at an entrance or the like.

The intercom base unit 10 includes a call control unit 11 having a hands-free call function, a speaker 12 for outputting a ringtone and a call sound, and a microphone 13 for picking up sound near the intercom base unit 10. And a response switch 14 for responding to a call by the entrance cordless handset 20
An interface 15 for controlling the interface with the entrance device 20; and a sound for detecting whether or not the sound pressure of the sound picked up by the microphone 13 is detected at a predetermined level or more for a predetermined time or more. A pressure detector 16,
A control unit 17 for controlling the entire intercom master unit 10;

The entrance slave unit 20 is the intercom master unit 1
0, a call switch 21 for transmitting a call signal, a speaker 22 for outputting a call voice, a microphone 23 for picking up a call voice near the entrance cordless handset 20, and a master unit for controlling an interface with the intercom master unit 10. Interface 24.

The entrance terminal interface 15 detects the presence / absence of transmission of a call signal by the call switch 21 of the entrance terminal 20 and transmits / receives a voice signal via the parent device interface 24 of the entrance terminal 20. Things.

Next, the operation of the intercom apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

The parent device interface 24 of the entrance child device 20
When the call switch 21 of the entrance cordless handset 20 is input,
A call signal is transmitted to the entrance terminal interface 15 of the intercom master device 10.

In response to the call signal, the entrance terminal interface 15 operates the call switch 21 of the entrance terminal 20.
Is notified to the control unit 17.

The control unit 17 enters an incoming call state in response to this notification, and notifies the user that there is an incoming call by making the speaker 12 output a ring tone, for example, "ping pawn". After the output of the ringtone, the mode shifts to the monitoring mode by the sound pressure detection unit 16.
In the monitoring mode, the sound collection operation by the microphone 13 is started, the collected sound is transmitted to the sound pressure detection unit 16, and the sound collection sound is generated by the sound pressure detection unit 16. This is for determining whether or not there is a response voice from the parent device side user.

When the control unit 17 shifts to the monitoring mode, the microphone 13 collects a response voice of the master-side user, for example, a reply such as “high”, and the collected voice response is generated by the microphone 13. It is sent to the pressure detecting unit 16.

The sound pressure detecting section 16 determines whether or not the sound pressure of the response voice has been detected at a certain level or higher for a certain period of time, and notifies the control section 17 of the determination result.

Based on the result of this determination, the control unit 17 determines that the response voice is a true response voice, for example, when it is determined that the sound pressure of the response voice is equal to or higher than a certain level and is continuously detected for a certain period of time. Then, the call control unit 11 is activated to shift to a state of talking with the entrance slave unit 20 by the hands-free call function.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment, the intercom apparatus 20 receives a call from the entrance apparatus 20 and, after the intercom master apparatus 10 sounds a ringing tone, does not perform an input operation without performing an input operation. When the user on the phone side emits a response voice with a sound pressure equal to or higher than a certain level and for a certain time, the hands-free call function by the call control unit 11 is automatically activated, and the user on the base unit side receives the intercom base unit. It is possible to make a response call to the incoming call of the entrance cordless handset 20 from a remote place without touching the terminal 10.

According to the intercom apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment, the mode is shifted to the monitoring mode only after the ring tone is output by the intercom master 10. The transition to the monitoring mode after the output of the ringing tone is performed because the sound pressure detection unit 16 outputs the ringing tone from the speaker 12 to the master unit by the acoustic coupling between the speaker 12 and the microphone 13 during the output of the ringing tone. This is because there is a possibility that the response voice may be erroneously recognized as the response voice.

Therefore, in order to cope with such erroneous recognition by the sound pressure detecting section 16, an intercom apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment described below is considered.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the intercom apparatus 1 shown in the embodiment.

The feature of the intercom apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 lies in the internal configuration of the intercom base unit 10,
It has a comparator 18 for comparing the sound pressure of the collected sound picked up by the microphone 13 with the sound pressure of the ringtone sound output by the speaker 12.

Further, in the intercom apparatus 1, the mode shifts to the monitoring mode in response to a calling signal from the entrance terminal 20.

The comparator 18 notifies the control unit 17 of the result of the comparison.
For example, upon receiving a comparison result indicating that the sound pressure of the collected sound is higher than the sound pressure of the ringtone, the collected sound is transmitted to the sound pressure detector 16. Since other configurations are substantially the same as those of the intercom apparatus 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be repeated. Is omitted.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus shown in the second embodiment, the collected sound is detected by the comparator 18 only when the sound pressure of the collected sound is higher than the sound pressure of the ringing sound. Since the sound is transmitted to the unit 16, even while the ring tone is being output by the speaker 12 of the intercom master device 10, the acoustic coupling between the ring tone and the picked-up sound enables
A situation in which the sound pressure detector 16 incorrectly recognizes a ringtone as a picked-up voice can be reliably eliminated.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure inside the intercom apparatus 1 which shows Embodiment.

A feature of the intercom apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 is that the display apparatus 19 for lighting and displaying an LED or the like is provided in the configuration of the intercom master apparatus 10 shown in FIG. When the sound pressure of the picked-up sound is detected at 16 or more for a predetermined time or more at 16, it is lit on the display device 19 so as to show the call state between the intercom master device 10 and the entrance slave device 20. Things.
The other configuration is substantially the same as that of the intercom apparatus 1 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and therefore, the same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be repeated. Is omitted.

Therefore, according to the intercom apparatus 1 shown in the third embodiment, when the sound pressure of the collected sound is detected by the sound pressure detecting section 16 at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more,
Since the display device 19 is illuminated to indicate that it is in a call state, the voice pickup sound of the user of the master unit, that is, the response sound, is output as sound from the entrance unit 20 of the partner unit. Is notified to the user of the base unit, for example, when the sound of the base unit side user is low or when the user is too far from the intercom base unit 10, the sound from the intercom base unit 10 is not transmitted to the entrance slave unit 20. Even at this time, it is possible to give the user a sense of relief by making the user recognize the current call state based on the call state information being displayed on the display device 19.

[0055]

According to the intercom apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, when a calling signal from the slave unit is detected, sound pickup by the sound pickup means is started, and a predetermined time starts from the detection of the calling signal. When the sound pickup voice is detected within the time, and the sound pressure of the sound pickup sound is detected by the sound pressure determination means at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more, the sound pickup sound is transmitted to the slave through the call control means. Since the transmission is performed, when responding to an incoming call from the slave unit, the hands-free call function can be activated without performing an input operation related to the incoming call response, and the user of the master unit touches the master unit. It is possible to respond to an incoming call from a child device from a remote place without any trouble.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside an intercom apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an intercom apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an intercom apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an intercom apparatus in a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 intercom apparatus 10 intercom master unit (master unit) 11 call control unit (call control unit) 12 speaker (voice output unit) 13 microphone (sound collection unit) 16 sound pressure detection unit (sound pressure determination unit) 17 control unit (control) Means) 18 Comparator (Sound pressure comparing means) 19 Display device (Display means) 20 Entrance cordless handset (Slave unit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An intercom apparatus for making an extension call between a master unit and a slave unit, wherein the master unit has a call control means having a hands-free call function, and a call for detecting a call signal from the slave unit. Signal detection means, sound pickup means for picking up sound in the vicinity of the base unit, and whether or not the sound pressure of the sound pickup sound picked up by the sound pickup means is detected at a predetermined level or more for a predetermined time or more. When a call signal is detected by the call signal detection means, sound pickup by the sound pickup means is started, and a sound pickup sound is detected within a predetermined time from the detection of the call signal. And control means for transmitting the collected sound to the slave through the call control means when the sound pressure of the collected sound is detected by the sound pressure determining means at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more. An intercom device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The base unit has voice output means for outputting a ringtone by voice. When the call signal is detected by the call signal detection means, the control means outputs the ringtone by the voice output means. , After the output of the ringtone, the sound pickup by the sound pickup means is started,
The collected voice is detected within a predetermined time after the output of the ringtone, and when the sound pressure of the collected voice is detected at a predetermined level or more for a predetermined time or more by the sound pressure determination means, the sound is collected via the call control means. 2. The intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voice is transmitted to the slave unit. 3. The base unit includes: a sound output unit that outputs a ringtone in response to a call signal from the slave unit; a sound pressure of the collected sound collected by the sound collection unit; And a sound pressure comparing means for comparing the sound pressure of the ring tone output as a voice with the sound pressure of the picked-up sound which is higher than the sound pressure of the ring tone by the sound pressure comparing means. 2. The intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collected sound is transmitted to the sound pressure determining means only when the sound is collected. 4. The master unit has display means, and the control means, when the sound pressure of the collected sound is detected by the sound pressure determination means at a predetermined level or more and for a predetermined time or more, determines that the telephone is in a call state. 2. The intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the indicated call status information on the display means.