JP5914893B2 - Intercom system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an intercom system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an interphone system including an interphone master unit installed in a dwelling unit and an interphone slave unit with a camera installed at an exterior entrance of the dwelling unit has been provided. In this intercom system, the interphone master unit and interphone slave unit are connected via a signal line, and audio signals are exchanged between the two units via the signal line and camera video (video signal) is transmitted from the interphone slave unit to the interphone master unit doing. The camera video transmitted from the intercom slave unit is displayed on the display device (liquid crystal display, etc.) of the intercom master unit, so the resident of the dwelling unit can see the visitor on the display device and see the visitor. Intercom calls can be made.

  Here, in the interphone system as described above, it is necessary to confirm that the interphone master unit and the interphone slave unit are correctly wired after the completion of construction. For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to check the wiring state with the slave unit, the master unit controls the slave unit to a talking state, detects a voltage change of the signal line at that time, and confirms a voltage drop above a certain level. There is described an intercom system (nurse call intercom system) in which when it is not possible, it is determined that there is a defect in the wiring of the signal line and a notification is made.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-261953

  In the conventional example described in Patent Document 1, since the wiring state is confirmed based on the voltage drop of the signal line, for example, the state where the signal line is not connected to the intercom slave (unconnected state) It is possible to detect a state (incorrect connection) connected to an incorrect terminal. However, the conventional example described in Patent Document 1 cannot detect signal attenuation due to incomplete connection of signal lines.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the wiring state other than unconnected or erroneous connection, i.e., even if the connection of the signal line seems to be firmly connected at first glance, The purpose is to enable confirmation even in the case of incomplete connection such as conduction or non-conduction due to poor contact.

The interphone system of the present invention is an interphone system in which audio and video are transmitted between a master unit and a slave unit connected by a signal line, and one of the master unit or the slave unit is connected via the signal line. A test signal transmission means for transmitting the test signal, and the other of the master unit or the slave unit is obtained when the test signal is received and the attenuation of the received signal obtained when the test signal is received. A determination unit configured to determine a wiring state of the signal line based on at least one of the presence / absence of a transmission error and the frequency of occurrence of the transmission error, and the test signal transmission unit includes a transmission frequency band used for audio transmission The test signal is transmitted at each frequency of a transmission frequency band used for video transmission .

  In this intercom system, it is preferable that at least one of the parent device or the child device includes a notification unit that notifies the determination result by the determination unit by at least one of sound and light.

  In this intercom system, it is preferable that the determination unit estimates a cause of a defect in the wiring state of the signal line based on the determination result and informs the notification unit of the estimation result.

  The intercom system of the present invention has an effect that it is possible to check a wiring state other than unconnected or erroneous connection.

It is a system configuration figure showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the time division multiplex transmission in the same as the above. It is a sequence diagram at the time of the intercom call. It is a sequence diagram at the time of testing the wiring state of the signal line same as the above.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the technical idea of the present invention is applied to an intercom system for a detached house will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the intercom system to which the technical idea of the present invention can be applied is not limited to that for a detached house, and can be applied to, for example, an intercom system for an apartment house.

  In the interphone system of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an interphone master unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “master unit”) 1 and an interphone slave unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “slave unit”) 3 are connected by a signal line 4. Configured. The master unit 1 is installed in the dwelling unit, and the slave unit 3 is installed outside the dwelling unit (for example, outside the entrance).

  The subunit | mobile_unit 3 is provided with the subunit | mobile_unit control part 30, the transmission process part 31, the microphone 32, the speaker 33, the A / D converter 34, the D / A converter 35, the imaging part 36, the operation input reception part 37, etc. The sound collected by the microphone 32 is converted into an electrical signal (audio signal), and the analog audio signal (speech audio signal) output from the microphone 32 is converted to a digital audio signal (transmission by the A / D converter 34). Audio data) and output to the transmission processing unit 31. Further, the digital voice signal (received voice data) output from the transmission processing unit 31 is converted into an analog voice signal (received voice signal) by the D / A converter 35. The analog received voice signal output from the D / A converter 35 is input to the speaker 33, and the voice (received voice) is sounded from the speaker 33.

  The imaging unit 36 includes a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor, a lens, a video signal processing circuit, and the like. For example, the video signal processing circuit generates a digital video signal in YUV format from the output signal of the solid-state imaging device and outputs the digital video signal to the transmission processing unit 31.

  The slave unit control unit 30 includes hardware such as a CPU and a memory, and various programs (software) executed by the CPU. The operation input accepting unit 37 has a plurality of push button switches (not shown), and accepts an operation input corresponding to each push button switch when each push button switch is pushed, and an operation corresponding to each operation input. The signal is output to handset controller 30. For example, a call button (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the housing of the handset 3, and when this call button is pushed by a visitor, the call push button switch of the operation input receiving unit 37 is pushed. A call operation signal is output from the operation input receiving unit 37. When the operation signal is input from the operation input receiving unit 37, the slave unit control unit 30 executes processing (described later) according to each operation signal.

  The transmission processing unit 31 performs time division multiplex transmission of audio signals and video signals with the transmission processing unit 11 of the base unit 1. That is, the transmission processing unit 31 generates an audio transmission signal obtained by modulating the audio data and a video transmission signal obtained by modulating the video data from the synchronization signal of the fixed cycle Tc transmitted from the transmission processing unit 11 of the base unit 1 ( (Synchronization beacon) Stored in separate time slots defined by SB (see FIG. 2). Note that the operating power of each unit constituting the slave unit 3 is supplied from the master unit 1 so as to be superimposed on the signal line 4.

  On the other hand, the base unit 1 includes a base unit control unit 10, a transmission processing unit 11, a call processing unit 12, a video processing unit 13, a microphone 14, a speaker 15, an A / D converter 16, a D / A converter 17, and a display unit. 18. An operation input receiving unit 19 is provided. The sound collected by the microphone 14 is converted into an electrical signal (voice signal), and the analog voice signal (speech voice signal) output from the microphone 14 is converted to a digital voice signal (speech) by the A / D converter 16. Voice data) and input to the call processing unit 12. Further, the digital voice signal (received voice data) output from the call processing unit 12 is converted into an analog voice signal (received voice signal) by the D / A converter 17. The analog received voice signal output from the D / A converter 17 is input to the speaker 15, and voice (received voice) is generated from the speaker 15.

  The call processing unit 12 includes a voice switch, an echo canceller, and the like, and performs signal processing on the reception voice signal input from the transmission processing unit 11 and the transmission voice signal input from the A / D converter 16, thereby performing howling and The echo is suppressed to realize a good hands-free call. The transmitted voice signal processed by the call processing unit 12 is output to the transmission processing unit 11.

  The display unit 18 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and a drive circuit that drives the display device to display an image (none is shown). The video processing unit 13 reconstructs the original video from the video signal (video data) output from the transmission processing unit 11 and causes the display unit 18 to display the reconstructed video.

  The base unit control unit 10 includes hardware such as a CPU and a memory, and various programs (software) executed by the CPU. The operation input accepting unit 19 has an input device such as a touch panel and a push button switch, accepts various operation inputs by operating the input device, and sends an operation signal corresponding to each operation input to the parent device control unit 10 Output to. For example, a response button (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the housing of the base unit 1, and when the response button is pressed, an operation input is received by the operation input receiving unit 19 and a response operation signal is output. Is done. When the operation signal is input from the operation input receiving unit 19, the base unit control unit 10 executes processing (described later) according to each operation signal.

  The transmission processing unit 11 performs time-division multiplexing transmission of audio signals with the transmission processing unit 31 of the slave unit 3 and receives video signals that are time-division multiplexed transmission from the transmission processing unit 31 of the slave unit 3. is there. That is, the transmission processing unit 11 transmits a synchronization signal via the signal line 4 and transmits an audio transmission signal obtained by modulating audio data (transmission audio data) in a time slot. Further, the transmission processing unit 11 receives the audio transmission signal and the video transmission signal that are respectively stored in the time slot and transmitted from the handset 3, and demodulates the received audio data and the video data, respectively. Output to the processing unit 13.

  Here, the transmission processing unit 11 supplies operating power to the slave unit 3 by superimposing a DC voltage on the signal line 4. However, the transmission processing unit 11 supplies only a low voltage that allows only the slave unit control unit 30 and the transmission processing unit 31 to operate in a non-calling state (standby state), and after receiving a call signal (described later) The high voltage | pressure which can operate | move the whole subunit | mobile_unit 3 is supplied.

  Next, with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. 3, the operation of the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3 during intercom call will be described.

  First, when a call button of the handset 3 is pressed by a visitor in a standby state, the operation input receiving unit 37 receives a call operation input and outputs an operation signal to the handset control unit 30. Receiving the operation signal, the handset controller 30 causes the transmission processor 31 to transmit a call signal via the signal line 4. Note that the call signal is transmitted from the parent device 1 when the transmission processing unit 31 changes the DC voltage superimposed on the signal line 4.

  When the transmission signal is received by the transmission processing unit 11, the base unit control unit 10 causes the speaker 15 to ring through the call processing unit 12. Furthermore, the base unit control unit 10 instructs the transmission processing unit 11 to transmit a synchronization signal and starts supplying an operating power supply (a high voltage at which the entire handset 3 can operate).

  In the slave unit 3, when operating power is supplied from the master unit 1, the imaging unit 36 starts imaging, and a video signal output from the imaging unit 36 is time-division multiplexed and transmitted from the transmission processing unit 31.

  In the base unit 1, the video signal that is time-division multiplexed transmitted from the handset 3 is received by the transmission processing unit 11, and the video reconstructed from the video signal by the video processing unit 13 is displayed on the display device of the display unit 18. The Then, when the resident pushes the response button of base unit 1, operation input receiving unit 19 receives a response operation input and outputs an operation signal to base unit control unit 10. The master control unit 10 that has received the operation signal activates the call processing unit 12, and the audio signal (transmitted audio signal) output from the microphone 14 is time-division multiplexed from the transmission processing unit 11.

  On the other hand, in handset 3, a voice signal (received voice signal) that is time-division multiplexed transmitted from base unit 1 is ringed as received voice from speaker 33 via transmission processor 31 through D / A converter 35. Further, also in the slave unit 3, the audio signal (transmitted audio signal) output from the microphone 32 and the video signal output from the imaging unit 36 are time-division multiplexed and transmitted from the transmission processing unit 31. In this way, audio is transmitted between the parent device 1 and the child device 3 and video is transmitted from the child device 3 to the parent device 1, and a resident and a visitor use the parent device 1 and the child device 3, respectively. You can make intercom calls.

  When the response button of the base unit 1 is pressed during an interphone call and an operation signal is output from the operation input receiving unit 19 to the base unit control unit 10, the base unit control unit 10 instructs the transmission processing unit 11. The transmission of the synchronization signal and the supply of operating power are stopped. As a result, the handset 3 returns to the standby state and the intercom call ends. However, even when the response button is not pressed, when a predetermined time (for example, several minutes) has elapsed since the start of the call, the base unit control unit 10 instructs the transmission processing unit 11 to transmit the synchronization signal. Stop supplying operating power.

  Next, an operation (wiring confirmation test) for confirming the wiring state of the signal line 4 after construction will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  After the wiring of the signal line 4 (connection between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3 and the signal line 4) is completed, when the operator operates a test button (not shown) of the master unit 1, the operation input receiving unit 19 Receives an operation input for starting the test and outputs an operation signal to the base unit control unit 10. Receiving the operation signal, base unit control unit 10 instructs transmission processing unit 11 to transmit a synchronization signal and starts supplying operation power. However, the operating power supply voltage supplied from the transmission processing unit 11 is higher than the operating power supply voltage in the standby state and lower than the operating power supply voltage during the intercom call (hereinafter referred to as “test power supply voltage”). .) Is set.

  In the slave unit 3, when the operating power supply voltage superimposed on the signal line 4 changes to the test power supply voltage, the slave unit control unit 30 shifts to the test mode and instructs the transmission processing unit 31 to time-divide the test signal. Make multiple transmissions.

  In base unit 1, base unit control unit 10 determines the wiring state of signal line 4 based on the reception status of the test signal received by transmission processing unit 11. For example, if the transmission processing unit 11 does not receive a test signal within a predetermined time from the start of supply of the test power supply voltage, the base unit control unit 10 determines that the signal line 4 is not normally connected (unconnected state). And Further, the base unit control unit 10 detects the reception level (signal voltage) of the test signal received by the transmission processing unit 11 to estimate the degree of attenuation (attenuation amount) of the signal, and the signal based on the estimation result of the attenuation amount The wiring state of the line 4 is determined. Alternatively, the base unit control unit 10 detects the presence / absence and frequency (so-called bit error rate) of a transmission error (transmission error) using an error detection code included in the test signal (test data), and the wiring state of the signal line 4 Determine. For example, if the frequency of occurrence of transmission errors is high, even if the connection of the signal line 4 appears to be firmly connected at first glance, it is determined to be incomplete due to poor contact or the like. Here, the method for estimating the attenuation degree (attenuation amount) described above, the method for determining only the presence or absence of the transmission error (transmission error) described above, and the occurrence frequency of the transmission error (transmission error) described above as a predetermined threshold value. Of the three methods of determining that it is abnormal if the threshold is higher than the threshold, two or more methods may be appropriately combined in any order.

  In base unit 1, base unit control unit 10 determines the wiring state of signal line 4 based on the reception status of the test signal received by transmission processing unit 11. For example, if the transmission processing unit 11 does not receive a test signal within a predetermined time from the start of supply of the test power supply voltage, the base unit control unit 10 determines that the signal line 4 is not normally connected (unconnected state). And Further, the base unit control unit 10 detects the reception level (signal voltage) of the test signal received by the transmission processing unit 11 to estimate the degree of attenuation (attenuation amount) of the signal, and the signal based on the estimation result of the attenuation amount The wiring state of the line 4 is determined. Further, the master control unit 10 determines the wiring state of the signal line 4 by detecting the presence / absence and frequency of a transmission error (transmission error) using an error detection code included in the test signal (test data). For example, if the frequency of occurrence of transmission errors is high, it is determined that the connection of the signal line 4 is incomplete.

  The base unit control unit 10 notifies the determination result of the wiring state from the speaker 15 with sound (buzzer sound or voice message) and displays it on the display device of the display unit 18. Furthermore, base unit control unit 10 generates a sound (for example, a voice message) for notifying the determination result, and causes transmission processing unit 11 to perform time division multiplexing transmission. And also in the subunit | mobile_unit 3, when the audio | voice signal received with the transmission process part 31 is sounded from the speaker 33, the determination result of the wiring state of the signal wire | line 4 by the main | base station 1 is alert | reported.

  By the way, the transmission processing units 11 and 31 transmit the video transmission signal in a transmission frequency band (frequency channel) higher than the transmission frequency band (frequency channel) of the audio transmission signal. On the other hand, the attenuation amount of the transmission signal on the signal line 4 differs for each frequency channel. For example, even if it is determined that the transmission error of the test signal of the lowest frequency channel is normal, the transmission error of the test signal of the highest frequency channel may not be determined to be normal. Therefore, in this embodiment, the test signal of each frequency channel of the frequency channel (minimum frequency) of the audio transmission signal and the frequency channel (maximum frequency) of the video transmission signal is time-division multiplexed and transmitted to each frequency channel. The wiring state of the line 4 is determined.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the test signal is transmitted at the highest and lowest frequencies of the frequency channel (transmission frequency band) used for audio and video transmission from the test signal transmission means (the slave control unit 30 and the transmission processing unit 31). Therefore, it is possible to check the wiring state other than unconnected or erroneous connection.

  However, in this embodiment, the test signal is transmitted from the slave unit 3 and the determination of the wiring state is performed by the master unit control unit 10. However, the test signal is transmitted from the master unit 1 and the slave unit control unit 30 performs the wiring state. It is also possible to make a determination. The criteria used by the base unit control unit 10 to determine the wiring state, for example, the threshold value of the attenuation amount of the transmission signal and the threshold level of the signal level of the transmission signal are stored in the memory of the base unit control unit 10. Has been. Therefore, the base unit control unit 10 may rewrite the determination criteria stored in the memory by the operation input received by the operation input reception unit 19 of the base unit 1. Alternatively, the base unit control unit 10 may read out the determination criteria recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card and rewrite the memory.

  Further, the transmission processing unit 31 of the slave unit 3 individually transmits test signals having different signal levels (voltage waveform value or current value of the transmission signal), and the master unit control unit 10 determines the wiring state for each signal level. You may make it perform determination of. At this time, if the lowest signal level among the signal levels determined to be normal is found, the signal level obtained by adding a margin to the signal level is the audio transmission signal and video transmission during the operation of the interphone system. Set to the signal level of the signal.

  By the way, when there is a defect in the wiring state of the signal line 4, it is preferable that the parent device control unit 10 estimates the cause of the defect in the wiring state and displays the estimation result on the display unit 18 for notification. For example, when the signal level of the test signal is less than the threshold value, or the frequency of occurrence of transmission errors is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the wiring length of the signal line 4 is too long or the connection of the signal line 4 is incomplete. This is presumed to be the cause. Specifically, the correspondence relationship between the signal level of the test signal and the occurrence frequency of the transmission error and the estimated cause is stored in the memory of the parent device control unit 10, and the parent device control unit 10 determines the correspondence relationship. By referring to it, the cause of the defect in the wiring state of the signal line 4 is estimated.

1 Master unit 3 Slave unit 4 Signal line
10 Master unit control section (judgment means)
30 Remote control unit (Test signal transmission means)
31 Transmission processing unit (test signal transmission means)

Claims (3)

An interphone system configured to transmit audio and video between a master unit and a slave unit connected by a signal line, wherein one of the master unit and the slave unit transmits a test signal via the signal line. Signal transmission means, the other of the base unit or the slave unit, the attenuation of the received signal obtained when receiving the test signal, the presence or absence of transmission error obtained when receiving the test signal, Determining means for determining a wiring state of the signal line based on at least one of occurrence frequency of transmission errors, and the test signal transmission means is used for transmission frequency band used for audio transmission and video transmission; An intercom system, wherein the test signal is transmitted at each frequency of a transmission frequency band to be transmitted .   The intercom system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the parent device or the child device includes a notification unit that notifies a determination result by the determination unit by at least one of sound and light.   3. The interphone system according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit estimates a cause of a defect in the wiring state of the signal line based on the determination result, and causes the notification unit to notify the estimation result.

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