JP3227898B2 - Television intercom device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television intercom apparatus for controlling the amount of light emitted from an infrared light emitting element that is illuminated when a child device photographs a subject in the dark from a parent device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional two-wire transmission type television intercom apparatus. In FIG. 4, this device includes a child device 1 that performs imaging and voice response, a parent device 2 that performs voice response together with projected imaging, and a two-wire connecting the child device 1 and the parent device 2. And the signal line 3 of FIG.

The base unit 2 is provided with a power supply circuit 4, a call signal detection circuit 5, a call sound output circuit 6, a speaker 7, a power supply circuit 8, and a demodulation circuit 9. Further, the base unit 2 includes a cathode ray tube (CRT) 10 and a communication circuit 11.
, A handset 12, a speaker 13 provided in the handset 12, and a microphone 14. The slave unit 1 includes a power receiving circuit 19, a communication circuit 20,
A speaker 21, a microphone 22, a call signal output circuit 23, a call switch 24, a modulation circuit 25, a camera unit 26, and an infrared LED 27 arranged on the front of the camera unit 26 for illuminating a subject. Is provided.

[0004] Next, the operation of this conventional example will be described. In FIG. 4, when the call switch 24 of the handset 1 is pressed, a call signal is output from the call signal output circuit 23. This signal is detected by the ringing signal detection circuit 5 of the base unit 2, a ringing tone signal is output from the ringing tone output circuit 6, and a ringing tone is sounded through the speaker 7. In the power supply circuit 4, the standby voltage is raised to the operating voltage, and this power supply voltage is supplied to the CRT 10 and the camera unit 26 of the child device 1. The video signal output from the camera unit 26 is modulated by the modulation circuit 25 and transmitted to the master unit 2 through the signal line 3. In the base unit 2, the modulated video signal is demodulated by the demodulation circuit 9, and a video is displayed on the CRT 10.

The audio signal collected by the microphone 22 of the slave 1 is transmitted to the master 2 via the signal line 3 through the communication circuit 20 while keeping the baseband. In Master 2,
Speaker 13 in handset 12 from call circuit 11
Sent to Further, the audio signal collected by the microphone 14 in the handset 12 is also transmitted to the slave 1 through the signal line 3 from the communication circuit 11 of the master 2 while keeping the baseband. In the child device 1, the audio signal from the parent device 2 is transmitted from the speaker 21 through the communication circuit 20. Also,
In the dark, such as at night, the subject is illuminated and photographed by the infrared LED 27 attached to the camera unit 26,
A video signal is output. This video signal is supplied to the modulation circuit 25
Are transmitted to the master unit 2 via the signal line 3, demodulated by the demodulation circuit 9 of the master unit 2, and the image of the subject is displayed on the CRT 10.

As described above, even in the above-described conventional television intercom apparatus, the subject is illuminated by the infrared LED 27 attached to the camera unit 26 in darkness such as at night, and the image of the subject is projected on the CRT 10 in the base unit 2. I can do it.

[0007]

However, in the conventional television intercom apparatus, the infrared LED 27
Since the light emission amount of the camera unit 26 is set to be constant, the subject photographed in the dark depends on the adjustment state of the camera unit 26 and the characteristics of the imaging device (CCD) and the infrared LED 27 in the camera unit 26. C
It is hard to see on RT10. Also, since the center of the imaging range from the infrared LED 27 is illuminated,
When a wide-angle lens is used for the child device 1, the periphery of the image becomes dark, and the image is hardly seen on the CRT 10 of the parent device 2.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and adjusts the amount of light emitted from a light emitting element to be illuminated when a child device takes an image of a subject in the dark under the control of a master device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent television intercom device that can optimize the illumination of the video camera and can easily project the subject photographed by the child device on the parent device.

[0009]

To achieve SUMMARY OF to the above objects, a television interphone apparatus of the present invention, a slave unit for photographing the surrounding illuminated and photographed before Noriko machine is connected by way of the slave unit and the line A main unit that displays images, and a sub-unit is provided with an infrared light-emitting element that illuminates a subject by emitting light for shooting, and an instruction for the main unit to adjust the light emission amount of the infrared light-emitting element in multiple stages. and instruction means for performing, by the adjustment instruction <br/> hand stage has a configuration and a control means for delivering to the child device via the line control signals for controlling the light emission amount of the infrared light emitting element.

[0010] Further , the television intercom device of the present invention.
The infrared light emitting element illuminates the center of the
The center infrared light emitting element to be illuminated and the periphery of the shooting range of the slave unit
And a peripheral infrared light emitting element for illuminating the
It has a configuration.

[0011] The television intercom apparatus of the present invention.
The configuration is such that the slave unit has a wide-angle lens.

[0012]

With such a configuration, in the television intercom apparatus of the present invention, a control signal for controlling the light emission amount of the infrared light emitting element of the slave unit is transmitted to the slave unit through a line in response to a switching instruction at the master unit. The amount of light emission is adjusted by controlling the current flowing through the infrared light emitting element based on the control signal. Further, the number of light emission of the plurality of infrared light emitting elements is changed under the control of the master unit, and shooting is performed by the slave unit using the wide-angle lens. Therefore, the illumination of the subject when photographing with the slave unit is optimized, and the subject photographed with the slave unit is projected on the master unit so as to be easily seen.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a television intercom apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television intercom apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following text and drawings, the same components as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 1, this apparatus includes a slave unit 1 for taking a picture and giving a voice response, and a base unit 2 for giving a voice response together with a captured image.
And two signal lines 3 connecting the slave unit 1 and the master unit 2.

The base unit 2 has a power supply circuit 4, a call signal detection circuit 5, a call sound output circuit 6, a speaker 7, a power supply circuit 8, and a demodulation circuit 9. Furthermore, this master unit 2
Has a CRT (CRT) 10, a communication circuit 11,
A handset 12, a speaker 13 provided in the handset 12, a microphone 14, a CPU 15
And a D / A conversion circuit 16 for converting a digital signal transmitted from the CPU 15 into an analog signal and transmitting the analog signal. The base unit 2 includes a center infrared LED 27 and a peripheral infrared light L in the slave unit 1 described below.
There is a light / dark adjustment switch 17 for performing a switching setting for adjusting the light emission amount of the ED 28, and a peripheral on switch 18 for changing the light emission number of the peripheral infrared LED 28 that illuminates the peripheral part of the imaging range of the camera unit 26. are doing.

The slave 1 includes a power receiving circuit 19 and a communication circuit 20.
A speaker 21, a microphone 22, a call signal output circuit 23, a call switch 24, a modulation circuit 25,
And a camera unit 26. The handset 1 further includes a center infrared LED 27 that illuminates the center of the imaging range of the camera unit 26, a peripheral infrared LED 28 that illuminates the periphery of the imaging range of the camera unit 26, and a CPU 29 that controls each unit. Is provided. further,
Handset 1 includes an A / D conversion circuit 30 that converts an analog signal from D / A conversion circuit 16 into a digital signal and sends the digital signal.
The CPU 29 controls the current supplied to the center infrared LED 27 with the CPU 29 to control the amount of light emission, and the CP supplies the current supplied to the peripheral infrared LED 28 with CP.
Peripheral infrared light LE that controls the amount of light emission by controlling with U29
It has a D control circuit 32.

FIG. 2 shows the center infrared LED in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit 31 and a peripheral infrared LED control circuit 32. 2, the ports P0, P1, P2, and P3 of the CPU 29 are the center infrared LEDs 27.
Ports P4, P5, P6, P7
Is a control port for the peripheral infrared LED 28.

The port P2 is a standard control signal port of the center infrared LED 27. When the power supply circuit 8 of the base unit 2 is stepped up to an operating voltage and is in an operating state, the port P2 is turned on (ON), and light / dark. When the adjustment switch 17 is set to the bright side, the ON state is switched from the port P1 to the port P0. When the light / dark investigation switch 17 is set to the dark side, the port P3 switches to the ON state.

The port P6 is a standard control signal port for the peripheral infrared LED 27. When the peripheral on SW 18 is pressed, the port P6 is turned on (ON), and the light / dark adjustment SW
When 17 is set to the bright side, the ON state is switched from port P5 to port P4. When the light / dark adjustment switch 17 is set to the dark side, the port P7 is turned on. Also, when each port is turned on (ON),
It becomes low (L) level and the resistor R (R
1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8) and the current I (I1, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6, I6
7, I8) are the center infrared LED 27 and the peripheral infrared L
The light flows through the ED 28 to emit light.

The resistors R1 to R1 for the center infrared LED 27
R4 has a resistance value of R1 <R2 <R3 <R4,
The current flowing through the center infrared LED 27 is I1>I2>
I3> I4. In this case, the larger the current, the brighter the center infrared LED 27 emits light. Resistors R5, R6
In R7 and R8, the resistance value is R5 <R6 <R7 <R8
And the current flowing through the peripheral infrared LED 28 is I5>
I6>I7> I8. Also in this case, the peripheral infrared LED 28 emits light brighter as the current increases. Port P6
Is a standard control signal port near infrared LED2 8, turned on and the port P6 is turned on and presses the peripheral on SW18 (ON), and the light / dark adjustment SW17 from the port P5 is set to the bright side to the port P4 The (ON) state switches. When the light / dark investigation switch 17 is set to the dark side, the port P3 switches to the ON state. In other words, medium
The infrared LED 27 for heart and the infrared LED 28 for peripheral
Each stage emits light in different stages, and the amount of light is varied to illuminate the subject.
Can be explained.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing an infrared LED control signal. In FIG. 3, when the light / dark adjustment switch 17 and the peripheral on switch 18 are pressed, as shown in FIG.
The signal S1 is set in the CPU 15 while the button T is pressed. In this case, the signal S shown in FIG.
2 is output to the D / A conversion circuit 16. The frequency f1 / f2 / f3 / f4 (f1 {f2}) is obtained from the D / A conversion circuit 16.
f3ｃf4), the analog signal S3 shown in FIG. 3C is output, and the A / D conversion circuit 3 in the slave unit 1 through the signal line 3.
Input to 0. The A / D conversion circuit 30 performs A / D conversion and outputs a digital signal S4 shown in FIG.
Signals S5, S6, and S7 are output from each output port of the CPU 29. When the light / dark adjustment switch 17 is set to the light side, the signal S3 of the frequency f1 is output, and when the light / dark adjustment switch 17 is set to the dark side, the frequency f2 is output. Peripheral on S
When W18 is pressed, a signal S3 of frequency f3 is output,
When the peripheral ON SW 18 is pressed again, the signal S3 having the frequency f4 is output. At each output port of the CPU 29, a signal S5 shown in FIG. 3E is output from the ports P2 and P6 as a standard control signal of the center infrared LED 27. For example, when the light / dark adjustment switch 17 is set to the light side, the signal S6 shown in FIG.
Is output, and a signal S7 shown in FIG. 3G is output from the port P0 after T1.

Next, the overall operation will be described. In FIG. 1, when the call switch 24 of the handset 1 is depressed, a call signal is output from the call signal output circuit 23, and the call signal detection circuit 5 of the base unit 2 detects the signal. Then, a ringing tone is output from the ringing tone output circuit 6 and a ringing tone sounds from the speaker 7. In the power supply circuit 4, the standby voltage is raised to the operating voltage, and this power supply voltage is supplied to the CRT 10 and the camera unit 26 of the child device 1. Camera unit 26
The video signal output from is modulated by the modulation circuit 25 and sent out to the master unit 2 through the signal line 3, demodulated by the demodulation circuit 9 and displayed on the CRT 10.

The audio signal collected by the microphone 22 of the handset 1 is transmitted to the master unit 2 through the signal line 3 through the communication circuit 20 as it is in the baseband, and is transmitted from the communication circuit 11 to the speaker 13 of the handset 12. Sent out. In addition, the voice signal collected by the microphone 14 of the handset 12 is also transmitted to the communication circuit 11
Is sent to the slave unit 1 through the signal line 3 from the
To the speaker 21 through the Also, the CPU 29
, The port P2 for the control signal of the center infrared LED 27 is always on (ON) in the operating state, and the center infrared LED 27 attached to the camera unit 26 emits light to illuminate the subject in darkness such as at night. , And outputs a video signal from the camera unit 26.

The video signal from the camera unit 26 is modulated by the modulation circuit 25 and transmitted to the master unit 2 through the signal line 3. This video signal is demodulated by the demodulation circuit 9 in the master unit 2, and an image of the subject is displayed on the CRT 10.

In this case, when the light is emitted from the center infrared LED 27 in a central portion immediately in front of the camera unit 26, if the amount of light emitted from the center infrared LED 27 is too large, the image of the face of the person projected on the CRT 10 may be crushed white. When the light / dark adjustment switch 17 of the master unit 2 is set to the dark side, a control signal is transmitted while the CPU 15 sets the light / dark adjustment switch 17 (T in FIG. 3A), and the D / A conversion circuit 16 Converts the control signal into an analog signal (frequency f2) and sends it out. This control signal is sent to the slave unit 1 through the signal line 3 and the A / D
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the conversion circuit 30 and transmitted. C
In the PU 29, the control signal port of the center infrared LED 27 is switched to the dark side, the current flowing to the center infrared LED 27 is reduced by the center infrared LED control circuit 31, and the light emission amount of the center infrared LED 27 is reduced. As a result, the brightness at the center of the imaging range of the camera unit 26 becomes dark, and the subject (person's face) is
When the image is projected on the CRT 10 of the camera.

When the subject is a person's face and is located slightly behind the camera unit 26, the center infrared LED 27 alone is too dark, so it may be difficult to confirm the person's face. In this case, the peripheral on SW 18 of the base unit 2
When is pressed, the CPU 15 sends out a control signal for several seconds (during T in FIG. 3A), and the D / A conversion circuit 16 converts the control signal into an analog signal (frequency f3) and sends it out. This control signal is sent to the slave unit 1 through the signal line 3, and is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 30 and sent out. The port P6 for the control signal of the peripheral infrared LED 28 in the CPU 29 is turned on (ON), and the peripheral infrared LED control circuit 32 controls the peripheral infrared LED.
Electric current flows through the LED 28 and the peripheral infrared LED 28 emits light. With this light emission, the brightness of the peripheral portion of the imaging range of the camera unit 26 becomes brighter, and the subject (human face) is easily recognized when projected on the CRT 10 of the parent device 2.

When the peripheral subject is dark, the master unit 2
When the CPU 15 sets the light / dark adjustment switch 17 to the light side, the CPU 15 sends a control signal while the light / dark adjustment switch 17 is set (during T in FIG. 3A), and the D / A conversion circuit 1
6 converts the control signal into an analog signal (frequency f1) and sends it out.

This analog signal (frequency f1) is sent to the slave unit 1 through the signal line 3, and is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 30 and sent out. The control signal ports of the central infrared LED 27 and the peripheral infrared LED 28 of the CPU 29 are switched to the light side, and the central infrared LED 27 and the peripheral infrared LED 28 are controlled by the central infrared LED control circuit 31 and the peripheral infrared LED control circuit 32.
The current flowing through increases. Therefore, the center infrared ray L
The light emission amounts of the ED 27 and the peripheral infrared LED 28 increase, and the imaging range of the camera unit 26 increases. For this reason, when the subject (person's face) is projected on the CRT 10 of the parent device 2, it becomes easier to find out.

Further, the peripheral ON SW 18 of the base unit 2 is again turned on.
When depressed, the CPU 15 sends out a control signal for several seconds (during T in FIG. 3A), and the D / A conversion circuit 16 converts this control signal into an analog signal (frequency f4) and sends it out. This analog signal (frequency f4) is sent to the slave 1 through the signal line 3. In the slave 1, the A / D conversion circuit 3
At 0, it is converted to a digital signal and transmitted. The digital signal turns off (OFF) the control signal port P 6 of the peripheral infrared LED 28 of the CPU 29, and no current flows through the peripheral infrared LED 28 under the control of the peripheral infrared LED control circuit 32. That is, the brightness around the imaging range of the camera unit 26 becomes dark.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the infrared LED control signal is sent from the master unit 2 to the slave unit 1 via the signal line 3, and the center infrared LED 27 and the peripheral infrared LED L of the slave unit 1 are sent.
The light emission amount of the ED 28 is adjusted. Further, by changing the number of light emission of the center infrared LED 27 and the peripheral infrared LED 28 of the child device 1, the brightness of the subject in the dark can be adjusted optimally, and the subject is photographed and projected on the CRT 10 of the parent device 2. It becomes easier to find out.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, in the television intercom apparatus of the present invention, the control signal for controlling the light emission amount of the infrared light emitting element of the slave unit is transmitted through the line by the switching instruction at the master unit. And controls the current flowing through the infrared light emitting element based on the control signal to adjust the amount of light emission. In addition, since the number of light emission of the plurality of infrared light emitting elements is changed under the control of the master unit and shooting is performed using the wide-angle lens in the slave unit, illumination of the subject when shooting with the slave unit can be optimized, This has the effect that the subject photographed by the slave unit can be projected on the master unit so as to be easily seen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a television intercom apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a detailed configuration of a center infrared LED control circuit and a peripheral infrared LED control circuit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a waveform chart showing an infrared LED control signal in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional television intercom apparatus using two-wire transmission.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 slave unit 2 master unit 3 signal line 10 cathode ray tube (CRT) 17 light / dark adjustment switch 18 peripheral on SW 26 camera unit 27 center infrared LED 28 peripheral infrared LED 31 center infrared LED control circuit 32 peripheral infrared LED control circuit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] It has a 1. A slave unit for photographing the surrounding illuminated, the front Noriko machine and connected by a line displaying an image taken in front Noriko machine base unit, before Noriko machine, emitting for photographing And an infrared light emitting element for illuminating the subject is provided,
Before Symbol parent machine, adjust the amount of light emitted before Symbol infrared light-emitting element in a multi-stage
And instruction means for performing an instruction to integer, adjustment of the previous Symbol indication hand stage
Integer by, before Symbol television interphone device characterized by a control means for delivering before Noriko machine through before Symbol line control signals for controlling the light emission amount of the infrared light emitting element. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light emitting element is used for photographing the slave unit.
Center infrared light-emitting element for illuminating the center of the area and said child
Peripheral infrared light emitting device that illuminates the periphery of the shooting range of the machine
Television interphone apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises and. 3. The television intercom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wide-angle lens is used for the slave unit.