JPH0750710A - Automatic volume controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically control and lower the volume of an external audiovisual device by detecting the incoming of a telephone call concerning the automatic volume controller suitable for a telephone set. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a detector 3 connected to a telephone line 1 so as to output a call incoming detect signal by detecting that a telephone set 2 connected to the telephone line 1 is called, light receiver 15 for receiving a volume control signal from a remote controller 6 to generate the volume control signal of a television 7, central processing circuit 11 for storing the volume control signal from the light receiver 15 into an internal memory in advance, inputting the call incoming detect signal through a cable 4 and reading the volume control signal corresponding to the call incoming detect signal, and light emitter 17 for transmitting the read volume control signal to the remote control reception part of the television 7. Thus, when the telephone set 2 is called, the volume generated by the television 7 is automatically controlled and lowered.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic volume control device, and more particularly to an automatic volume control device suitable for use in a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, telephones capable of adjusting the listening volume have been developed and used. Such a telephone is applied to, for example, a public telephone installed on a street, and the reception volume can be appropriately adjusted so that noise of the installation location does not hinder a smooth call.

By the way, even at home, a phone call is often made while watching music on a stereo set or watching a television program. Noise from the outside during a telephone call is very annoying, and depending on the angle between the sound source and the mouthpiece, the other party can also hear an unexpectedly large noise. In such a case, it is necessary to prevent the voices emitted by the audio visual devices such as the stereo set and the television from interfering with the call.

Therefore, conventionally, when a telephone call is received, the volume of the sound produced by the audiovisual apparatus is artificially adjusted to a level not disturbing the call, or the call is made after completely muting the call. Was there.

[0005]

However, it has been a troublesome work to adjust the volume each time a call is received, or to adjust the volume again when the call ends, as described above. Therefore, there is a demand for a technique that detects an incoming call from the outside and automatically adjusts the volume of the sound emitted by the audiovisual device to a level that does not interfere with the call.

In view of the above points, in the present invention, it is possible to detect an incoming call and automatically adjust the volume emitted by the audiovisual apparatus in use to a level that does not interfere with the call and lower the volume. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic volume control device capable of performing.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problems described above include a detection device which is connected to a telephone line, and which detects that a telephone connected to the telephone line is called and outputs a called detection signal. Receiving means for receiving a volume adjusting signal from a remote control device for emitting a volume adjusting signal of an external audio visual device, and storing the volume adjusting signal from the receiving means in an internal memory in advance and inputting a called detection signal via the transmitting means. The telephone is called by the central processing circuit for reading the volume control signal according to the call detection signal and the transmitting means for transmitting the read volume control signal to the remote control receiver of the external audiovisual device. It is solved by automatically adjusting and lowering the volume emitted by the external audio-visual device when the sound is emitted.

[0008]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the fact that the telephone has been called is detected by the detecting device, and the called detection signal is output and input to the central processing circuit. On the other hand, the volume control signal from the remote control device is stored in advance in the memory of the central processing circuit. Then, the central processing circuit reads out the volume control signal in response to the call detection signal, and the volume control signal acts so as to be transmitted to the remote control receiver of the external audiovisual device. Therefore, when the telephone is called, the volume emitted by the external audiovisual device can be automatically adjusted and lowered.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a detection device 3 is connected to a telephone line 1 together with a telephone 2. The detection device 3 is configured separately from the telephone 2 and is arranged near the telephone 2.

Further, the detection device 3 is connected to the control device 5 via a transmission cable 4 which is a transmission means. The control device 5 is installed at a position where infrared rays can be communicated with a television set 7 having an infrared remote control device 6 attached thereto.

To explain each block in detail, the detection device 3 is composed of a called signal detection circuit 8, a mute switch 9 and a DC power supply 10. The DC power supply 10 is a secondary battery that obtains a DC voltage of a predetermined voltage from an external AC power supply and supplies the operating power of the called signal detection circuit 8. DC power supply 1
0 can be repeatedly charged and used. The DC power supply 10 may be composed of a primary battery. Called signal detection circuit 8
Is connected to the telephone line 1 and the transmission cable 4.

By the way, a voltage of, for example, about -48 V is usually applied to the telephone line 1, but when the telephone 2 is called, the polarity is inverted to about +48 in order to ring the bell.
It has been confirmed by experiments by the applicant that a voltage of volt is applied. The called signal detection circuit 8 detects the voltage rise of the telephone line 1 at this time and outputs a called detection signal from the transmission cable 4. In addition, about +5 volt is applied during a call.

Also, when the mute switch 9 is pressed once, a signal similar to this called detection signal is output. When the mute switch 9 is pressed one more time after the call detection signal is output, the mute release signal is output. The operation power of the control device 5 is also supplied from the DC power supply 10 from the transmission cable 4 via the called signal detection circuit 8.

The control device 5 comprises a central processing circuit 11, a mute switch 12, a memory switch 13, a detection circuit 14, a light receiver 15, a drive circuit 16, a light emitter 17, and a memory holding battery 18. The central processing circuit 11 has a CP inside.
U, has a memory. The memory holding battery 18 is used for backing up the memory.

The light receiver 15 is an infrared light receiving diode,
When the user presses the mute button of the infrared remote controller 6 only once in advance and irradiates the photodetector 15 with an infrared mute signal, the detection circuit 14 causes the output current of the photodetector 15 to detect the output current.
Is detected by and input to the central processing circuit 11. At this time, when the memory switch 13 is pressed simultaneously with the operation of the infrared remote control device 6, the silencing code obtained by the detection according to the infrared silencing signal is stored in the internal memory.

Similarly, when the user presses the mute release button of the infrared remote controller 6 only once in advance and irradiates the infrared mute release signal to the photodetector 15, the detection circuit 14 detects the output current of the photodetector 15 and outputs it to the center. It is input to the processing circuit 11. At this time, if the memory switch 13 is pressed simultaneously with the operation of the infrared remote control device 6, the mute cancellation code obtained by detection according to the infrared mute cancellation signal is stored in the internal memory.

After the mute code and the mute cancellation code are stored in the internal memory once, when the telephone 2 is called and the called detection signal is input from the called signal detection circuit 8 to the central processing circuit 11, the internal CPU Reads out the silence code from the memory and outputs it to the drive circuit 16. The drive circuit 16 current-amplifies the muffling code to a level sufficient to drive the light emitter 17.

The light emitter 17 is an infrared light emitting diode,
It drives based on the muffling code and emits an infrared muffling signal. When this is received by the remote control light receiving section of the television set 7, the sound emitted by the television set 7 is muted.

As described above, when the telephone 2 is called, the television set 7 is automatically muted and a smooth call can be performed. When the mute switch 9 is pressed at the end of the call, a mute release signal is input to the central processing circuit 11 via the cable 4. This allows the internal CPU
Reads the muffling cancellation code from the memory and outputs it to the drive circuit 16. The drive circuit 16 current-amplifies the muffling cancellation code sufficiently to drive the light emitter 17.

The light emitter 17 is driven on the basis of the mute cancellation code and emits an infrared mute cancellation signal. By receiving this with the remote control light-receiving part of the television set 7, the television set 7 emits the sound of the volume before the muffling.

Therefore, even if a telephone call is received from the outside while watching the television set 7, the sound of the television is automatically transmitted without operating the infrared remote control device 6 attached to the television set 7. Can be muted to make a smooth call, and when the call ends, the original predetermined volume can be easily restored by operating the switch near the telephone.

The central processing circuit 11 is constructed so that the mute switch 12 connected to the central processing circuit 11 can perform the mute and the mute release in the same manner as the operation of the mute switch 9. There is.

Further, when the detecting device 3 is integrated with the telephone 2, it may be possible to switch the muffler switch 9 in conjunction with the hook of the handset of the telephone 2. In this way, the television set 7 is muted when the receiver is picked up, and returns to the original volume when the receiver is placed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 2, the detection device 20
The signal transmission from the control device 25 to the notification device 30 is performed wirelessly. That is, the detection device 20 has a transmission circuit 23, the control device 25 has a reception circuit 27, and the alarm device 30 has a reception circuit 32.

The call detection signal from the call signal detection circuit 8 is converted into a digital code by the code generator 22. As the digital code, an arbitrary code is selected by the code setting switch 21 which is a DIP switch. This is freely selectable from a plurality of codes for the purpose of preventing interference with radio waves from other wireless telephones, televisions, and other devices. The selected and set digital code is transmitted as a radio wave from the transmission circuit 23 via the transmission antenna 24.

The transmitted radio wave arrives at the receiving antenna 26 of the control device 25, is received by the receiving circuit 27, and the digital code is input to the central processing circuit 11. The control device 25 is installed at a position where it can communicate with the television set 7 by infrared rays. However, by the setting of the code setting switch 28, which is a DIP switch, only when the digital code selected and set by the code setting switch 21 comes in, the muffling code or the mute canceling code stored in advance in the internal memory is read out. It has become.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the control device 25 is made wireless by wireless transmission, the degree of freedom of the installation place increases. Further, since measures against interference are taken, it is possible to surely mute and cancel mute without malfunction due to radio waves from other devices.

Further, in this embodiment, an alarm 30 is provided. The alarm 30 includes a receiving antenna 31, a receiving circuit 32, a central processing circuit 33, a driving circuit 34, and a visible LED 3.
4, a buzzer 35, a cord setting switch 36, and a DC power supply 37. The DC power supply 37 may be a battery that obtains a DC power supply from an AC power supply or a battery. Alarm 30
Is configured to be portable, and the user can take it to a place where the ringing sound of the telephone 2 cannot be heard, such as a bathroom or a garden.

Radio waves transmitted from the transmission antenna 24 of the detection device 20 arrive at the reception antenna 31 of the alarm device 30, are received by the reception circuit 32, and the digital code is input to the central processing circuit 33. However, by setting the code setting switch 36, which is a DIP switch, the central processing circuit 33 outputs a notification signal in response to the called detection signal only when the digital code selected and set by the code setting switch 21 comes in. Has become
Countermeasures against interference with other equipment are taken.

The notification signal is power-amplified by the drive circuit 34. Then, the visible LED is driven by the drive circuit 34.
(Light emitting diode) 34 emits light and buzzer 35
Is pronounced by the telephone 2
The user who is away from can be notified.
A liquid crystal display may be used instead of the visible LED 34, and an electronic sound generated by a voice oscillation circuit may be used instead of the buzzer 35. Moreover, at least one of these notification means may be used.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, when it is detected by the detection device that the telephone is called, the volume control signal stored in advance is read from the memory of the central processing circuit and the external sound is transmitted. Since it is sent to the remote control receiver of the video device, there is no need to artificially adjust the volume when the telephone is called, and the volume emitted by the external audiovisual device can be automatically adjusted and lowered. The feature is that you can make smooth calls without being disturbed by external voice.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Telephone line 2 Telephone 3,20 Detection device 4 Transmission cable 6 Infrared remote control device 7 Television set 11 Central processing circuit, 15 Light receiver 17 Light emitter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detection device which is connected to a telephone line and which outputs a called detection signal by detecting that a telephone connected to the telephone line is called, and a volume control signal of an external audiovisual device. Receiving means for receiving the volume control signal from the remote control device for transmitting the call control signal, the volume control signal from the receiving means being stored in the internal memory in advance, and the called detection signal being inputted via the transmitting means. The telephone includes a central processing circuit that reads out the volume control signal according to a detection signal, and a transmission unit that transmits the read out volume control signal to a remote control receiver of the external audiovisual device. An automatic volume control device, which automatically adjusts and reduces the volume emitted by the external audio-visual device when the sound is emitted.