JP2009239708A - Hand-free intercom device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hand-free intercom device that easily establishes a bidirectional communication path between an intercom master unit located in a living room and a sub unit located at a front entrance door and can preferentially set such a transmission mode as to inform a voice from the master unit in the living room to sub unit of the front door in an emergency such as fire breakout. <P>SOLUTION: A master unit 2 located in a living room that responds to a call from a sub unit 1 located at a front entrance door in a hand-free manner, is connected with a fire sensor 3. When the fire sensor 3 issues a fire detection signal, the living room master unit 2 performs its emergency mode operation, a calling operation from the front door master unit 1 or an operation of a speech button 25 of the living room master unit 2 causes establishment of a bidirectional speech path between the sub unit 1 of the front door and the master unit 2 of the living room. So long as a level of receive voice sent from the sub unit 1 fails to reach a predetermined level, the transmission path is continuously established to transmit the voice from the master unit 2 to the sub unit 1. When the receive voice level becomes not smaller than the predetermined value, the transmit voice level is compared to the receive voice level and a voice signal having the higher level of voice is transmitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hands-free intercom apparatus, and more particularly to a hands-free intercom apparatus having a function for confirming the safety of a resident in an emergency such as a fire.

  Conventionally, there is an intercom device that enables a hands-free response that does not require a handset operation when responding to a call from an entrance cordless handset. In such a hands-free intercom, in order to avoid confusion caused by the simultaneous visitor and resident, the reception state for transmitting the voice from the visitor on the communication path and the transmission state for transmitting the resident voice are used. An operation to switch to one of the two is performed, and the volume from the entrance cordless handset by the voice of the visitor is compared with the volume from the room base phone by the voice of the resident, and the higher voice is given priority. Switching between talking and receiving (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, there is a hands-free intercom device that is configured to issue a warning when a fire detector is connected (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-64444 A JP-A-8-70361

  However, even if the hands-free intercom device to which the fire detector is connected has a function of notifying the occurrence of a fire, a call operation is performed from the front door unit in order to grasp the status of the resident of the unit that has issued the alarm. However, I couldn't hear the state of the room unless it was responded. Even if a response operation is performed, since the listening path is prioritized as described above, the speaking path is not formed if the resident's voice is low, and there is still a problem that it is difficult to grasp the situation.

  Therefore, in view of such problems, the present invention makes it easy to form a two-way communication path between the living room main unit and the front door unit in the event of a fire or the like, and further, the voice from the living room main unit is transmitted to the front door unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hands-free intercom device that can prioritize a transmission state for reporting sound.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is provided with an entrance handset for a visitor to call a resident, and an in-home base station capable of hands-free response to a call from the entrance handset. The master unit is a hands-free intercom device to which emergency detection means for detecting the occurrence of an emergency such as a fire in the living room is connected. In the emergency state when the emergency detection means generates an emergency signal, And a communication path control means for forming a two-way communication path between the entrance slave unit and the living room master unit when a call operation from the entrance slave unit or a predetermined operation in the living room master unit is performed. .
According to this configuration, a bidirectional communication path is formed between the living room parent machine and the entrance child machine by operating either the entrance child machine or the living room parent machine in the event of a fire. Therefore, it is easy to form a two-way communication path in an emergency, and even if the resident cannot operate the room master unit, it can respond when a call is made from the entrance unit, and the room base unit is operated. If it is possible, the rescue voice from the resident can be reported from the entrance cordless handset, which helps the resident in the emergency.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the room base unit has a base unit acoustic unit for switching between transmission / reception, and the master unit acoustic unit has a volume for transmission and reception. In addition, a comparison circuit for comparing the transmission / reception volume with a predetermined value is provided, and the communication path control means shifts to the emergency mode for the bidirectional communication path formed in the emergency state and In emergency mode, the comparison circuit compares the received sound volume with a predetermined value, and if the received sound volume does not reach the predetermined value, a transmission path is formed. It is characterized by the fact that it is reported from the slave unit.
Note that “send” refers to the voice of the resident transmitted from the living room main unit to the entrance slave unit, and “speech” refers to the voice of the visitor transmitted from the entrance unit to the parent unit.
According to this configuration, the two-way communication path formed in an emergency has priority even if the volume of sound generated in the dwelling unit is low, and transmission from the master unit is prioritized. Even if the voice is from a place away from the home base unit, the sound can be reported from the entrance unit. Therefore, even if the resident is in a state where the resident is not close to the living room base unit, the voice can be reported from the entrance unit, and the state of the resident can be easily understood from the entrance unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the second aspect, the speech path control means, when the received sound volume is equal to or higher than a predetermined value in the emergency mode, transmits the received sound volume and the received sound from the room base unit by the comparison circuit. The volume control is performed, and transmission / reception switching control of the communication path is performed so that an audio signal in a direction with a higher volume level is transmitted.
According to this configuration, the communication path formed in an emergency has a larger volume compared to the volume level of both the transmission / reception when there is a reception volume, that is, when a call is made from a visitor. Since voice is transmitted, a smooth call can be made when calling.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one of a living room base unit and an emergency detection means, a reporting means for issuing a warning sound in an emergency state,
The speech path control means is characterized by performing control to reduce the volume of the alarm sound when the bidirectional speech path is formed.
According to this invention, it becomes easy to hear the voice of the call between the entrance cordless handset and the room base phone, and it is easy to talk.

According to the present invention, a bidirectional communication path is formed between a living room parent machine and an entrance child machine by operating either the entrance child machine or the living room parent machine in the event of a fire. Therefore, it is easy to form a two-way communication path in an emergency, and even if the resident cannot operate the room master unit, it can respond when a call is made from the entrance unit, and the room base unit is operated. If it is possible, the rescue voice from the resident can be reported from the entrance cordless handset, which helps the resident in the emergency.
In addition, since sending from the parent unit is given priority, in a quiet state, the sound in the room is reported from the main unit, and even if the resident is away from the main unit, audio can be easily transmitted from the main unit. It is easy to grasp the resident's condition from the entrance cordless handset.

  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 showing an example of a hands-free intercom device according to the present invention. 1 is an entrance cordless handset installed at a front door or the like for a visitor to call a resident, and 2 is a call from the entrance cordless handset 1. In the room, a resident responds to the hands-free response, 3 is a fire detector installed on the ceiling of the room. The entrance cordless handset 1 and the room base unit 2 are connected by a transmission line L1, and the fire detector 3 is connected to the room base unit 2 by a signal line L2.

  The entrance cordless handset 1 includes a microphone 11 and a speaker 12 for making a call with the living room base unit 2, a handset sound unit 13 for controlling the microphone 11 and the speaker 12, a call button 14 for calling a resident, and the room base unit 2. And an interface (slave unit IF) 15 for communicating with the terminal.

  The living room master unit 2 controls the microphone 21 and the speaker 22 for hands-free communication with the front door unit 1, controls the microphone 21 and the speaker 22, and the received sound transmitted from the front door unit 1 and the living room base unit 2. The main unit acoustic unit 24 having a comparison circuit 23 for comparing the volume of the transmitted sound transmitted from the main unit 1 to the front unit 1, the call button 25 for responding to a call from the front unit 1, and the main unit 2 A base unit control unit 26 for controlling the interface, an interface (base unit IF) 27 for communicating with the front door unit 1, an interface (sensor IF) 28 for connecting emergency detection means such as a fire detector, and the like. .

The operation of the hands-free intercom apparatus configured as described above is as follows.
First, the operation in the normal mode in which the fire detector does not operate will be described. When the call button 14 of the entrance cordless handset 1 is pressed in the normal mode, a call signal is generated and transmitted to the living room base phone 2 via the handset IF 15 and the transmission line L1.

  The call signal transmitted to the room master unit 2 is transmitted to the base unit control unit 26 via the base unit IF 27, and the base unit control unit 26 receives the call signal and controls the base unit acoustic unit 24 from the speaker 22. Ring the ringer. At the same time, the parent device control unit 26 forms a receiving path from the microphone 11 of the front door child device 1 to the speaker 22 of the living room parent device 2 via the child device IF 15 and the parent device IF 27, and receives the voice from the visitor. The sound can be reported from the machine 2. With this control, the voice of the visitor is reported from the speaker 22 of the living room master unit 2 at the point of call operation.

  When the resident who has recognized the ringing tone presses the call button 25 of the room master unit 2, the base unit control unit 26 receives the base unit acoustic unit 24, the base unit IF 27, and the child from the microphone 21 of the room base unit 2. A transmission path that reaches the speaker 12 of the front cordless handset 1 through the machine IF 15 and the handset sound unit 13 is formed, and two-way communication is possible. In this way, the voice input from the microphone 21 of the living room master unit 2 can be reported from the speaker 12 of the entrance cordless handset 1.

At this time, the threshold value set in advance by the control of the parent device control unit 26 is used to switch the call state of the transmission from the living room parent device 2 to the front door child device 1 and the reception from the front door child device 1 to the living room parent device 2. Comparison is made with (predetermined value), or both are compared.
Specifically, the comparison circuit 23 compares the transmission volume with a predetermined threshold value, and if the transmission volume is lower than the threshold value, the base unit acoustic unit 24 sets the communication path to the reception state (forms the reception path), and sets the entrance. The sound from the child device 1 is reported from the living room parent device 2, but the sound from the living room parent device 2 is not transmitted to the entrance child device 1. When the transmission volume is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the comparison circuit 23 compares the transmission volume and the reception volume, and controls the switching of the communication path so that the larger voice is passed. That is, if the transmission volume is higher than the reception volume, the transmission state is set, and if the reception volume is higher than the transmission volume, the reception state is set.

  2 and 3 are time charts showing the transmission / reception switching operation. (A) shows normal mode operation, (b) shows emergency mode operation, P1 shows change in transmission volume, and P2 shows reception volume. It shows a change. Each transmission / reception area divided by time axis indicates that transmission is being formed and reception path is being formed. By the above switching control, switching as shown in FIG. 2 (a) and FIG. 3 (a) is performed in the normal mode, and when the transmission volume is lower than the threshold value, by controlling not to form the transmission path, We try to protect the privacy of residents.

  Next, the operation when the fire detector 3 performs a detection operation will be described. When a fire occurs and the fire detector 3 is activated, a fire occurrence signal is transmitted to the parent room 2. When receiving the fire occurrence signal via the sensor IF 28, the parent device control unit 26 of the living room parent device 2 controls the parent device acoustic unit 24 to issue a fire alarm from the speaker 22 of the living room parent device 2. At the same time, a transmission path is formed with respect to the entrance slave unit 1, a fire alarm sound generated by the main unit acoustic unit 23 is transmitted, and a fire alarm is issued from the speaker 12 of the entrance slave unit 1.

  When receiving the fire occurrence signal, base unit control unit 26 switches the communication path formation control from the normal mode operation to the emergency mode operation. When the call button 14 of the front door 1 is operated in this emergency mode and the call is made, the master control unit 26 controls the master sound unit 24 to reduce the volume of the fire alarm, and at the same time, the two-way call Form a path. As a result, it is possible to make a two-way call between the entrance cordless handset 1 and the room master unit 2 without waiting for the operation of the call button 25 by the room master unit 2.

The switching operation of the two-way call between the front door unit 1 and the living room base unit 2 in the emergency mode is switched as shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 3 (b). That is, when the comparison circuit 23 determines that the received sound volume is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold, the parent device control unit 26 places the parent device acoustic unit 24 in the transmission state. When the transmission volume exceeds a predetermined threshold, the comparison circuit 23 compares the transmission volume and the reception volume, and switches between transmission / reception so that the larger voice is transmitted.
Therefore, if the transmission volume is higher than the reception volume, the transmission state is set, and if the reception volume is higher than the transmission volume, the reception state is established.

  In the emergency mode state, when the call button 25 of the room base unit 2 is pressed during standby, the base unit control unit 26 controls the base unit acoustic unit 24 to reduce the volume of the fire alarm, so that the base unit acoustic unit 24 forms a two-way communication path. In this case, the transmission / reception switching is the same as the control in the case where the entrance device 1 is called.

As described above, when one of the entrance handset and the room base unit is operated in the event of a fire or the like, a two-way communication path is formed between the room base unit and the entrance handset. Therefore, it is easy to form a two-way communication path in an emergency, and even if the resident cannot operate the room master unit, it can respond when a call is made from the entrance unit, and the room base unit is operated. If it is possible, the rescue voice from the resident can be reported from the entrance cordless handset, which helps the resident in the emergency.
In an emergency, the two-way communication path formed in an emergency gives priority to the transmission from the master unit even if the volume generated in the dwelling is low. Even the sound from a location away from the main unit can be reported from the entrance unit. Therefore, even if the resident is in a state where the resident is not close to the living room base unit, the voice can be reported from the entrance unit, and the state of the resident can be easily understood from the entrance unit.
Furthermore, when there is an incoming call volume, i.e., when a call is made from a visitor, the communication path formed in the event of an emergency causes the louder voice to be transmitted by comparing the volume levels of both the outgoing and incoming calls. So you can talk smoothly when you call.
In addition, since the alarm sound generated by the living room base unit or the like is reduced when the communication path is formed, it becomes easier to hear the call voice between the entrance handset and the living room base unit, making it easier to make a call.

In the above embodiment, the case where the fire detector 3 is connected as emergency detection means has been described. However, the emergency detection means may be a gas detector, or a water leak sensor or a window for detecting the intrusion of a suspicious person. It may be a sensor or the like. In addition, when a fire occurs, a fire alarm is issued in the room master unit 2 and the entrance unit 1 and then the volume is reduced when a call operation is performed. When the device itself has a notification function, the living room master unit 2 may be provided with a volume control function.
Furthermore, in the emergency mode state, a two-way communication path is formed by pressing the call button 25 of the room master unit 2, but in the emergency mode state, the operation is not limited to the operation of the call button 25 and is provided in the room base unit 2. If any one of the buttons of the operated unit is operated, a two-way communication path may be formed.
Moreover, although the hands-free intercom apparatus for detached houses was demonstrated, the structure of the said hands-free intercom apparatus is applicable to the structure of the dwelling unit entrance machine installed in each dwelling unit of an apartment house, and a living room main | base station.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hands-free intercom apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a time chart which shows the timing of switching operation | movement of transmission / reception, (a) shows normal mode operation | movement, (b) has shown emergency mode operation | movement. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing another example of the timing of the switching operation in FIG. 2, where (a) shows a normal mode operation and (b) shows an emergency mode operation.

Explanation of symbols

  1 .... Entrance cordless handset, 2 .... Living room master, 3 .... Fire detector, 12 .... Speaker (reporting means), 14 .... Call button, 22 .... Speaker (reporting means) 23 ... Comparison Circuit, 24 .. Base unit sound unit, 25 .. Call button, 26 .. Base unit control unit (speech path control means).

Claims (4)

Provided with a cordless handset for a visitor to call a resident and a living room master capable of hands-free response to a call from the entrance cordless handset. A hands-free intercom device to which emergency detection means for detecting the occurrence of
When the emergency detection means emits an emergency signal and the calling operation from the entrance child device or a predetermined operation in the room parent device is performed, the living room parent device and the living room parent device A hands-free intercom apparatus comprising speech path control means for forming a bidirectional speech path between machines. The living room master unit has a master unit acoustic unit for switching between transmission / reception, and the master unit acoustic unit compares the volume of transmission and reception, and compares the volume of transmission / reception with a predetermined value. A comparison circuit is provided,
The communication path control means, for the two-way communication path formed in the emergency state, switches to the emergency mode and performs transmission / reception switching control of the communication path,
In the emergency mode, the comparison circuit compares the received sound volume with a predetermined value, forms a transmission path unless the received sound volume reaches a predetermined value, and the voice from the living room master unit is reported from the entrance unit. The hands-free intercom apparatus according to claim 1. The speech path control means, when the reception volume in the emergency mode is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, compares the transmission volume transmitted from the room master by the comparison circuit with the reception volume, and increases the volume level. The hands-free intercom apparatus according to claim 2, wherein switching control of transmission / reception of a speech path is performed so that an audio signal is transmitted. At least one of the living room master unit and the emergency detection unit includes a notification unit that issues an alarm sound in an emergency state,
The hands-free intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication path control means controls to reduce a volume of the alarm sound when a bidirectional communication path is formed.

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