JP7653144B2 - Wall-mounted handset and device status determination device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wall-mounted handset and a device status determination device, and is particularly suitable for use in a nurse call system that allows a patient to call a nurse by pressing a call button.

Conventionally, there is known a nurse call system that can distinguish the type of connected device (button type pager, special pager, external device, etc.) even when multiple connected devices are connected to a wall-embedded handset (plate handset), and can detect the disconnection status for each type of connected device if it becomes disconnected (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the nurse call system described in Patent Document 1, when a connected device becomes disconnected, it detects which connected device has become disconnected from the inherent resistance value of the connected device.

On the other hand, there are also nurse call systems that use a call line, which is one of several signal lines on the connector (connection terminal) that connects the wall-mounted handset and the button pager, to communicate the call signal sent when the call button is pressed, and detect whether a call operation has been performed or whether the button pager has been disconnected by comparing the voltage generated on the call line with a threshold value using a comparator. In nurse call systems with this type of detection function, the three states of the button pager (calling/standby/disconnected) are determined by comparing the voltage generated on the call line with a threshold value.

However, when multiple devices are connected to a wall-mounted handset with multiple connectors, or when a distributor is connected to a wall-mounted handset and multiple devices are connected, if you try to use voltage thresholds to determine the three states (ringing/standby/disconnected) for each connected device, the number of thresholds to be used for the determination becomes large, making it difficult to accurately identify each state of each connected device.

For example, when two types of connection devices are connected to a wall-embedded handset, a total of nine states must be identified using eight thresholds, combining the three states of the first connection device (ringing/waiting/disconnection) with the three states of the second connection device (ringing/waiting/disconnection). When three types of connection devices are connected to a wall-embedded handset, a total of 27 states must be identified using 26 thresholds. It is difficult to accurately identify these many states by comparing the voltage generated on the call line with the thresholds.

JP 2014-168570 A

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and aims to make it easier to accurately determine the operation and connection status of each connected device by comparing the voltage with a threshold value, even when multiple connected devices are connected via the connector of a wall-mounted handset.

In order to solve the above problems, in this invention, the operation and connection states of some of the connected devices connected via the connector are determined by comparing the voltage generated on a call line used for communicating call signals, among the multiple signal lines connected to the connector of the wall-embedded handset, with a threshold value. In addition, a weak current is supplied to an LED line, among the multiple signal lines, used for controlling the light emission of an LED provided in the connected device, so that the LED does not light up, and the connection states of the other connected devices are determined by comparing the voltage generated on the LED line in response to the supply of the weak current with a threshold value.

According to the present invention configured as described above, unlike the conventional technology that detects the operation and connection status of all of a plurality of connected devices by comparing the voltage generated on the call line with a threshold value, the connection status of other connected devices other than some of the connected devices is determined using the voltage generated on an LED line different from the call line, so it is possible to reduce the number of threshold values used for determination on each of the call line and LED line. As a result, even when multiple connected devices are connected via the connector of the wall-embedded handset, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the operation and connection status of each connected device by comparing the voltage with a threshold value.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a nurse call system including a wall-embedded handset according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example of the configuration of connection pins of a connector of a wall-embedded handset according to the present embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wall-embedded slave unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with the configurations of a distribution outlet, a hand-held slave unit, and a sensor slave unit. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of the contents of determinations made by a first determination unit and a second determination unit; 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of a voltage output to an LED line when a light emission control unit controls light emission of an LED. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of a voltage appearing on an LED line EL when a second determination unit determines whether or not a sensor slave has fallen off. FIG. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating other examples of the determination contents by the first determination unit and the second determination unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example in which two sensor slave units are connected. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating other examples of the determination contents by the first determination unit and the second determination unit. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating other examples of the determination contents by the first determination unit and the second determination unit.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a nurse call system including a wall-embedded handset according to this embodiment. Note that, although a nurse call system installed in a hospital will be described as an example here, the nurse call system of this embodiment is not limited to being installed in a hospital. For example, it can also be applied to a system installed in a care facility, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the nurse call system of this embodiment is composed of a nurse call master unit 1, a control unit 2, a corridor light 3, a wall-embedded slave unit 4, a distribution outlet 5, a hand-held slave unit 6, and a sensor slave unit 7. In the following description, the hand-held slave unit 6 and the sensor slave unit 7 are collectively referred to as the nurse call slave units 6, 7.

The nurse call master unit 1 performs a predetermined notification process in response to a call from the nurse call sub-units 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the nurse call master unit 1 includes a stationary nurse call master unit installed in a nurse center and a portable nurse call master unit carried by a nurse. The predetermined notification process includes a process of displaying patient information (e.g., name, room number, bed number, etc.) about the called patient on a display and a process of outputting a ring tone from a speaker. When a nurse responds to a call from the hand-held sub-unit 6 using the nurse call master unit 1, a communication path is formed between the hand-held sub-unit 6 and the nurse call master unit 1, allowing the patient and nurse to talk.

The control unit 2 is placed between the nurse call master unit 1 and the corridor light 3, and controls the sending and receiving of various data including calls and call signals. The corridor light 3 is installed outside near the entrance of each hospital room, and displays the name of the patient in the room on a display device, and when a call is made using the nurse call handsets 6 and 7, displays on the display device that a call has been made. The corridor light 3 also transfers the call signal sent from the nurse call handsets 6 and 7 to the nurse call master unit 1 via the control unit 2.

The wall-embedded handset 4 is embedded in the wall of each bedside in the patient's room, and communicates various data including calls and call signals between the corridor light 3 and the nurse call handset 6, 7. The wall-embedded handset 4 also controls the light emission of the LED in the handset 6 so that it functions as a call confirmation light or a night light. That is, when the wall-embedded handset 4 receives a call signal from the handset 6, it turns on the LED at high brightness to inform the patient that a call is being made. When the clock (not shown) indicates nighttime, the wall-embedded handset 4 turns on the LED at low brightness to inform the patient of the location of the handset 6. The wall-embedded handset 4 may also turn on the LED at low brightness to inform the patient of the location of the handset 6 when the illuminance in the patient's room falls below a certain level.

The wall-embedded handset 4 has a connector 40 that is connected to multiple signal lines, and is configured to be able to connect connection devices via the connector 40. A connection device that can be connected to the connector 40 of the wall-embedded handset 4 is, for example, a hand-held handset 6. A distribution outlet 5 can also be connected to the connector 40, and multiple connection devices can also be indirectly connected to the wall-embedded handset 4 via the distribution outlet 5. Figure 1 shows a state in which the distribution outlet 5 is connected to the connector 40 of the wall-embedded handset 4, and the hand-held handset 6 and the sensor handset 7 are connected to the distribution outlet 5.

The distribution outlet 5 has two connectors 51, 52 and is configured to be able to connect one or two connection devices via the connectors 51, 52. Connection devices that can be connected to the distribution outlet 5 are, for example, a hand-shaped sub-unit 6 and a sensor sub-unit 7. The first connector 51 is a connector having a pin structure for connecting the hand-shaped sub-unit 6, and has the same pin structure as the connector 40 of the wall-embedded sub-unit 4. The second connector 52 is a connector having a pin structure for connecting the sensor sub-unit 7.

In this way, the wall-embedded handset 4 of this embodiment can be connected to a distribution outlet 5 via the connector 40, and can further be connected to multiple connection devices via the distribution outlet 5. The hand-held handset 6 and the sensor handset 7 are examples of multiple connection devices that are indirectly connected via the connector 40 of the wall-embedded handset 4.

The connector 40 of the wall-mounted handset 4 (as well as the first connector 51 of the distribution outlet 5) is connected to multiple signal lines as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the connector 40 has six connection pins P1 to P6, and six signal lines are connected to these six connection pins P1 to P6.

The first signal line is a speaker line used for communication to output audio to the hand-type handset 6. The second signal line is a microphone line used for communication to input audio from the hand-type handset 6. The third signal line is a ground line, and the sixth signal line is a power line. The fourth signal line is a call line used for communication of call signals, and call signals from the nurse call handsets 6 and 7 are input. The fifth signal line is an LED line used to control the illumination of the LED provided in the hand-type handset 6.

The hand-held handset 6 is equipped with a call button that allows the patient to call a nurse, and a microphone and speaker that the patient uses to talk to the nurse. The hand-held handset 6 outputs a call signal in response to pressing the call button. The hand-held handset 6 is also equipped with an LED (not shown) that functions as a call confirmation light and a night light as described above, and turns the LED on and off in response to a control signal supplied from the wall-mounted handset 4. Note that the configuration of the hand-held handset 6 is not limited to this. For example, it may be one that does not have a microphone and speaker (for example, a grip push button).

The sensor slave unit 7 is, for example, any one of various sensors such as a bed exit sensor installed on the bed, a mat sensor installed under the bed, or a breath sensor, voice sensor, or contact sensor installed at the bedside. When the sensor detects a predetermined state, the sensor slave unit 7 outputs a call signal. For example, the bed exit sensor outputs a call signal when it detects that the patient has left the bed. Also, the mat sensor outputs a call signal when it detects that the patient has stepped on the mat under the bed. Also, the breath sensor and voice sensor output a call signal when it detects the breath or voice of the patient. Also, the contact sensor outputs a call signal when it detects that the patient has touched a predetermined position.

In this embodiment, the wall-embedded handset 4 functions as an equipment status determination device and determines the operation status (presence or absence of a call operation) and connection status (presence or absence of disconnection) of the nurse call handset 6, 7. For example, the wall-embedded handset 4 determines three types of states of the hand-held handset 6: call/standby/disconnection, and three types of states of the sensor handset 7: call/standby/disconnection. The wall-embedded handset 4 makes this determination by comparing the voltage generated on the call line with a threshold value and the voltage generated on the LED line with a threshold value.

Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of the wall-embedded handset 4 for performing this determination, along with the configurations of the distribution outlet 5, hand-held handset 6, and sensor handset 7. As shown in Figure 3, the wall-embedded handset 4 of this embodiment is equipped with a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as the microcomputer) 41 that includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, an A/D converter, a D/A converter, etc. The microcomputer 41 and the fourth pin P4 of the connector 40 are connected by a call line NC4, and the microcomputer 41 and the fifth pin P5 of the connector 40 are connected by an LED line EL4. Note that the connections between the microcomputer 41 and the other connection pins P1 to P3 and P6 are not shown in the figure.

The distribution outlet 5 has two connectors 51, 52 for connecting the hand-held handset 6 and the sensor handset 7, as well as a plug 53 for connecting to the connector 40 of the wall-embedded handset 4. A call line NC5 connects the 4th pin P4' of the plug 53 to the 4th pin P4 of the first connector 51, and an LED line EL5 connects the 5th pin P5' of the plug 53 to the 5th pin P5 of the first connector 51. Both the call line NC5 and the LED line EL5 have a branch midway, and the second connector 52 is connected to the branch point. Resistors R1 and R2 are present between the call line NC5 and the LED line EL5 and the second connector 52, respectively.

The handheld handset 6 has a plug 61 that connects to the first connector 51 of the distribution outlet 5. A call line NC6 is connected to the fourth pin P4' of the plug 61, and an LED line EL6 is connected to the fifth pin P5' of the plug 61. A resistor R3 and a switch SW1 are connected in parallel to the call line NC6. When the call button of the handheld handset 6 is pressed, the switch SW1 turns on and a call signal is issued. The issued call signal is sent to the microcomputer 41 via the call lines NC6, NC5, and NC4. A resistor R4 and an LED 62 are directly connected to the LED line EL6.

The sensor slave unit 7 has a plug 71 that connects to the second connector 52 of the distribution outlet 5. The plug 71 has multiple connection pins, one of which is connected to a switch SW2. When a predetermined state is detected by the sensor of the sensor slave unit 7, the switch SW2 turns on and a call signal is issued. The issued call signal is sent to the microcomputer 41 via call lines NC5 and NC4.

With the above configuration, different voltage values appear on the call line NC4 and LED line EL4 of the wall-embedded handset 4 depending on the combination of states, such as whether the hand-held handset 6 is connected via the distribution outlet 5, whether the sensor handset 7 is connected via the distribution outlet 5, whether the switch SW1 of the hand-held handset 6 is on and a call is being made, and whether the switch SW2 of the sensor handset 7 is on and a call is being made. The microcomputer 41 determines the operation and connection states of the nurse call handsets 6 and 7 based on the voltage values that appear on the call line NC4 and LED line EL4.

The microcomputer 41 has a first judgment unit 41A, a second judgment unit 41B, a call control unit 41C, and a light emission control unit 41D as its functional configuration. The first judgment unit 41A compares the voltage generated on the call line NC4 with a threshold value to judge the operation state and connection state of the hand-type sub-unit 6 (corresponding to one of the multiple connected devices) connected via the connector 40, and the operation state of the sensor sub-unit 7 (corresponding to the other connected devices other than the one of the connected devices). Regarding the connection state of the hand-type sub-unit 6, a current of a predetermined magnitude is supplied to the call line NC4, and the voltage generated on the call line NC4 is compared with the threshold value at a predetermined period to judge whether the hand-type sub-unit 6 has fallen off.

The second determination unit 41B also repeatedly supplies a weak current to the LED line EL4 at a predetermined cycle, so that the LED 62 of the hand-shaped sub-unit 6 does not light up, and determines the connection state of the sensor sub-unit 7 by comparing the voltage generated on the LED line EL4 in response to the supply of the weak current with a threshold value.

For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the first determination unit 41A compares the voltage occurring on the call line NC4 with five threshold values _Th11 to _Th15 to determine which of six states is present with respect to a combination of the operation state (standby or call) and connection state (disconnected) of the hand-type slave unit 6 and the operation state (standby or call) of the sensor slave unit 7. In this example, the first determination unit 41A distinguishes between a call operation of the hand-type slave unit 6 and a call operation of the sensor slave unit 7 with respect to the operation state of the connected device. The second determination unit 41B compares the voltage occurring on the LED line EL4 with one threshold value _Th21 to determine the connection state (presence or absence of disconnection) of the sensor slave unit 7.

When the hand-held handset 6 is not disconnected and is connected to the wall-embedded handset 4 via the connector 40 and the distribution outlet 5, the voltage generated in the call line NC4 varies under the influence of the resistor R3 and the on/off of the switch SW1 of the hand-held handset 6. When the hand-held handset 6 is disconnected, the voltage generated in the call line NC4 varies because it is no longer influenced by the resistor R3. Similarly, when the sensor handset 7 is not disconnected and is connected to the wall-embedded handset 4 via the connector 40 and the distribution outlet 5, the voltage generated in the call line NC4 varies under the influence of the resistor R1 of the distribution outlet _{5 and the on/off of the switch SW2 of the sensor handset 7. The first determination unit 41A can determine which of the six states shown in FIG. 4 it is in by comparing the voltage value of the call line NC4, which varies in this way, with five threshold values Th 11} to Th ₁₅ .

In addition, when comparing the case where the sensor slave unit 7 is not dropped and is connected to the wall-embedded slave unit 4 via the connector 40 and the distribution outlet 5 with the case where the sensor slave unit 7 is dropped, the voltage generated in the LED line EL4 when a weak current flows through the LED line EL4 varies depending on whether it is affected by the resistor R2 of the distribution outlet 5. Note that the weak current output from the second determination unit 41B to the LED line EL4 is a weak current that does not cause the LED 62 to emit light, so that even when the hand-type slave unit 6 is connected, the resistor R4 and the LED 62 of the hand-type slave unit 6 are equivalent to an open circuit. Therefore, the influence of the resistor R4 can be almost ignored. The second determination unit 41B can determine which of the two states shown in FIG. 4 is in by comparing the voltage value of the LED line EL4, which varies under the influence of the resistor R2 in this way, with one threshold value Th ₂₁ .

In the case of the conventional technology in which judgment is made only by comparing the voltage generated on the calling line NC4 with a threshold value, it was necessary to distinguish a total of nine types of states by eight threshold values, which are a combination of the three types of states of the hand-type slave unit 6, calling/standby/dropped out, and the three types of states of the sensor slave unit 7, calling/standby/dropped out. In contrast, according to this embodiment, even the first judgment unit 41A, which has more than one, can judge the operation state and connection state of each of the hand-type slave unit 6 and the sensor slave unit 7 by only using five threshold values _Th11 to _Th15 .

The call control unit 41C transmits different types of call signals to the corridor light 3 based on the results of the judgments made by the first judgment unit 41A and the second judgment unit 41B. That is, the call control unit 41C transmits different types of call signals to the corridor light 3 in each of the following cases: when it is determined that a call has been made by the hand-held sub-unit 6 (the sensor sub-unit 7 is on standby), when it is determined that a call has been made by the sensor sub-unit 7 (the hand-held sub-unit 6 is on standby), when it is determined that the hand-held sub-unit 6 has fallen off, and when it is determined that the sensor sub-unit 7 has fallen off.

The operation to be performed when it is determined that a call has been made by both the hand-shaped sub-unit 6 and the sensor sub-unit 7 may be set arbitrarily. For example, the first call may be given priority, and the second call may wait until the first process is completed. Similarly, the operation to be performed when it is determined that a call has been made by the sensor sub-unit 7 when the hand-shaped sub-unit 6 has fallen off may also be set arbitrarily. For example, it may be set arbitrarily as to whether the hand-shaped sub-unit 6's falling off call or the sensor call from the sensor sub-unit 7's sensor call should be given priority.

Based on the result of the judgment by the first judgment unit 41A, the light emission control unit 41D controls the light emission of the LED 62 of the hand-shaped sub-unit 6 so that the LED 62 functions as a call confirmation light. That is, when the light emission control unit 41D judges that a call has been made by the hand-shaped sub-unit 6 (the sensor sub-unit 7 is on standby), it turns on the LED at high brightness to inform the patient that a call is being made. Furthermore, regardless of the result of the judgment by the first judgment unit 41A, when the light emission control unit 41D detects that it is nighttime on a clock (not shown), it turns on the LED 62 at low brightness so that the LED 62 functions as a night light.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing a schematic of the voltage that the light emission control unit 41D outputs to the LED line EL4 to control the light emission of the LED 62. Figure 5(a) shows the voltage that the light emission control unit 41D outputs when the LED 62 of the hand-held handset 6 is caused to emit light as a call confirmation light. As shown in Figure 5(a), when the LED 62 is caused to emit light as a call confirmation light, the light emission control unit 41D applies a voltage V1 to the LED line EL4 for a certain period T1, the voltage V1 being large enough to cause a current sufficient to cause the LED 62 to emit light.

Figure 5(b) shows the voltage output by the light emission control unit 41D when the LED 62 of the handheld handset 6 is illuminated as a night light. As shown in Figure 5(b), when the LED 62 is illuminated as a night light, the light emission control unit 41D applies a voltage V1 of a magnitude that causes a current sufficient for the LED 62 to emit light to the LED line EL4 intermittently in a pulse of a period T2 that is shorter than the fixed period T1.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing a schematic of the voltage appearing on the LED line EL4 when the second determination unit 41B determines whether the sensor child unit 7 has fallen off. Figure 6(a) shows the voltage output to the LED line EL4 by the second determination unit 41B. As shown in Figure 6(a), the second determination unit 41B applies to the LED line EL4 a voltage V2 (V2<V1) that causes a current so weak that the LED 62 does not emit light, for a certain period T3 (T3<T1).

Fig. 6(b) shows how the voltage actually changes in the LED line EL4 when the second determination unit 41B applies the voltage shown in Fig. 6(a) to the LED line EL4. As shown in Fig. 6(b), the voltage value is not stable immediately after the second determination unit 41B applies a voltage to the LED line EL4. Therefore, the second determination unit 41B detects the voltage value generated in the LED line EL4 after a certain output stabilization time T4 has elapsed since the second determination unit 41B outputted a voltage to the LED line EL4, and compares it with a threshold value _Th21 .

The second determination unit 41B constantly monitors the connection state of the sensor slave unit 7 by repeatedly executing the process of outputting a weak current to the LED line EL4 at a predetermined cycle and detecting the voltage generated on the LED line EL4. The first determination unit 41A also constantly monitors the operation state and connection state of the hand-type slave unit 6 and the operation state of the sensor slave unit 7 by repeatedly detecting the voltage generated on the call line NC4 at a predetermined cycle.

When the second determination unit 41B outputs a weak current to the LED line EL4 at a predetermined cycle as described above, it is possible that the light emission control unit 41D is controlling the light emission of the LED 62 at the timing of this output. Therefore, the second determination unit 41B determines whether the LED 62 is on or not under the control of the light emission control unit 41D, and if it is determined that the LED 62 is on, it issues an instruction to the light emission control unit 41D to turn off the LED 62, and then supplies a weak current to the LED line EL4 to determine the connection state of the sensor child unit 7. Then, after this determination, it issues an instruction to the light emission control unit 41D to turn the LED 62 on again.

In this way, even when the LED 62 is turned on by the light emission control unit 41D, it is possible to determine the connection state of the sensor child unit 7 using the LED line EL4. This process causes the LED 62 to momentarily go into an off state, but the period T3 during which the second determination unit 41B passes a weak current (i.e., the period during which the LED 62 is off) can be made short, and it can be said that the patient will hardly notice that the LED 62 has gone off for a moment.

As explained in detail above, in this embodiment, the operation state and connection state of the hand-type handset 6 and the operation state of the sensor handset 7 are determined by comparing the voltage generated on the call line NC4, one of the multiple signal lines connected to the connector 40 of the wall-embedded handset 4, with a threshold value. In addition, a weak current is supplied to the LED line EL4 so that the LED 62 of the hand-type handset 6 does not light up, and the connection state of the sensor handset 7 is determined by comparing the voltage generated on the LED line EL4 in response to the supply of the weak current with a threshold value.

In this embodiment, which is configured in this manner, unlike the conventional technology that detects all of the operation and connection states of the hand-type sub-unit 6 and the sensor sub-unit 7 by comparing the voltage generated on the call line with a threshold value, the connection state of the sensor sub-unit 7 is determined using the voltage generated on the LED line EL4, which is different from the call line NC4, so it is possible to reduce the number of threshold values used for determination on each of the call line NC4 and the LED line EL4. As a result, even if multiple connection devices are connected via the connector 40 of the wall-embedded sub-unit 4, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the operation and connection state of each connection device by comparing the voltage with a threshold value.

In the above embodiment, the first and second judgment units 41A and 41B judge eight states as shown in FIG. 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, eight states as shown in FIG. 7 may be judged. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the hand-held handset 6 has three call buttons, and can make a general call, a toilet assistance call, or an IV end call depending on which call button is pressed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the first judgment unit 41A judges the connection state of the hand-held handset 6 by comparing the voltage generated on the call line NC4 with two threshold values _Th11 to _Th12 . In addition, the first judgment unit 41A judges whether the operation state of the connected device is a calling operation of the hand-type sub-unit 6 or a calling operation of the sensor sub-unit 7 by comparing the voltage generated on the call line NC4 with three threshold values _Th13 to _Th15 , and further identifies the type of the calling operation if it is a calling operation of the hand-type sub-unit 6.

In the above embodiment, a configuration in which one sensor sub-unit 7 can be connected to the distribution outlet 5 has been described, but a configuration in which two or more sensor sub-units can be connected to the distribution outlet 5 may also be used. Figure 8 shows a configuration in which two sensor sub-units 7A and 7B can be connected to the distribution outlet 5, and shows a state in which two sensor sub-units 7A and 7B are actually connected. In this case, some of the multiple connection devices connected via the connector 40 are the hand-shaped sub-unit 6, and the other connection devices are the two sensor sub-units 7A and 7B.

9, the first determination unit 41A compares the voltage generated on the call line NC4 with eleven threshold values _Th11 to _Th111 to determine which of the twelve states corresponds to the combination of the operation state (standby or call) and connection state (disconnection) of the hand-type slave unit 6, the operation state (standby or call) of the first sensor slave unit 7A, and the operation state (standby or call) of the second sensor slave unit 7B. In this example, the first determination unit 41A identifies which of the hand-type slave unit 6, the first sensor slave unit 7A, and the second sensor slave unit 7B is the call operation, with respect to the operation states of the connected devices.

The second determination unit 41B also compares the voltage generated in the LED line EL4 with three threshold values Th _{to Th} to determine which of four states corresponds to the combination of the connection state (disconnected or not) of the first sensor slave unit 7A and the connection state (disconnected or not) of the second sensor slave unit 7B. In this example, the second determination unit 41B identifies which of the two sensor slave units 7A, 7B is in the disconnected state.

In addition, even when a plurality of sensor slave units 7A, 7B are configured to be connectable, the type of the call operation of the hand-type slave unit 6 may be further identified, for example, as shown in Fig. 10. In the example shown in Fig. 10, the first determination unit 41A compares the voltage generated on the call line NC4 with six threshold values _Th11 to _Th16 to determine which of seven states corresponds to the combination of the operation state (standby or three types of calls) and connection state (disconnection) of the hand-type slave unit 6, the operation state (standby or call) of the first sensor slave unit 7A, and the operation state (standby or call) of the second sensor slave unit 7B.

In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which multiple connection devices are indirectly connected to the connector 40 of the wall-embedded handset 4 via the distribution outlet 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the wall-embedded handset 4 may be configured to have multiple connectors 40, and multiple connection devices may be directly connected to the multiple connectors 40. In such a configuration, when the call line and the LED line are branched and connected to the multiple connectors 40 from the microcomputer 41, the microcomputer 41 compares the composite voltage generated on the call line and the composite voltage generated on the LED line with a threshold value, as in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, a configuration example was described in which one of the multiple connected devices connected via the connector 40 is a hand-shaped sub-unit 6, and the other connected devices are one sensor sub-unit 7 or two sensor sub-units 7A and 7B, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, there may be multiple connected devices. As an example, the configuration may be such that the hand-shaped sub-unit 6 and the grip push button can be directly or indirectly connected to the wall-embedded sub-unit 4 as some of the connected devices.

In addition, the above embodiments are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limiting manner. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit or main characteristics.

4 Wall-mounted handset 5 Distribution outlet 6 Hand-held handset (connected device)
7, 7A, 7B Sensor child unit (connected device)
40 Connector 41 Microcomputer 41A First determination unit 41B Second determination unit 41C Call control unit 41D Light emission control unit 62 LED
NC4 Call Line EL4 LED Line

Claims (7)

A wall-embedded handset having a connector connected to a plurality of signal lines, the handset being capable of connecting a connection device via the connector,
the plurality of signal lines include a call line used for communication of a call signal and an LED line used for controlling light emission of an LED included in the connected device,
a first determination unit that determines an operation state and a connection state of some of the multiple connected devices directly or indirectly connected via the connector, and an operation state of other connected devices other than the some of the connected devices, by comparing a voltage generated on the call line with a threshold value;
and a second determination unit that determines the connection state of the other connected device by supplying a weak current to the LED line such that the LED does not light up, and comparing the voltage generated on the LED line in response to the supply of the weak current with a threshold value. The wall-embedded handset according to claim 1, characterized in that the second determination unit determines whether the LED is on or not, and if it is determined that the LED is on, turns off the LED and then supplies the weak current to determine the connection state of the other connected device, and turns on the LED again after the determination. The wall-embedded handset according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first determination unit distinguishes whether the operation of the connected device is an operation of one of the connected devices or an operation of the other connected device by comparing the voltage generated on the calling line with a threshold value with respect to the operation state of the connected device. The wall-embedded handset according to claim 3, characterized in that the first determination unit further identifies the type of operation of the connected devices when the operation is of one of the connected devices by comparing the voltage generated on the calling line with a threshold value with respect to the operation state of the connected devices. The wall-embedded handset according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, when a plurality of the other connected devices are connected, the first determination unit further identifies which of the plurality of other connected devices is being operated by comparing the voltage generated on the calling line with a threshold value with respect to the operating state of the connected device. The wall-embedded handset according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, when multiple other connected devices are connected, the second determination unit identifies which of the multiple other connected devices is in a disconnected state by comparing the voltage generated on the LED line with a threshold value. a first determination unit that determines the operation and connection states of some of the multiple connected devices directly or indirectly connected via the connector, and the operation states of other connected devices other than the some of the connected devices, by comparing a voltage generated in a call line used for communication of a call signal among a plurality of signal lines connected to the connector of the wall-embedded handset with a threshold value;
and a second determination unit that supplies a weak current to an LED line among the plurality of signal lines that is used for controlling the light emission of an LED provided in the connected device, the weak current not causing the LED to light up, and determines the connection state of the other connected device by comparing a voltage generated in the LED line in response to the supply of the weak current with a threshold value.