JPH0142182B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to an answering machine that automatically answers a telephone call, records a message from the caller, and records the time of arrival.

Configuration of conventional examples and their problems Conventionally, answering machines that have the function of recording the time of incoming calls on a receiving tape have a method of making the time measured by the clock section uttered by voice synthesis or other means. , and is configured to record this on a receiving tape. In such known examples,
Devices that do not have a power outage compensation battery in the clock section may lose accurate time in the event of a power outage.
Furthermore, even in a device equipped with a battery for power failure compensation, if the battery is exhausted, the time on the clock section will no longer be accurate during a power failure. Therefore, when the machine operates as an answering machine after a power outage returns, the wrong time is recorded on the receiving tape, so when the answering machine user later plays back the receiving tape, it is difficult to record the correct time. It has the disadvantage of causing erroneous recognition and confusion.

Means for Solving the Problem In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a constant voltage detection means for detecting a drop in the power supply voltage of the time counting means, and a signal when the detection means detects a drop in the power supply voltage. warning data generating means for generating data indicating that the time counted by the time counting means is incorrect;
After generating a response signal by the response signal generation means, if the signal generation means does not generate a signal, the audio recording means records the time data from the time counting means, and the signal generation means generates a signal. If so, the audio recording means is configured to record the warning data from the warning data generating means.

Effect: With this configuration, even if the time by the time counting means becomes incorrect due to a drop in the power supply voltage, data to warn about this will be recorded in place of the erroneous time data.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a telephone line, and 2 is a response means, which detects a calling signal from the telephone line and outputs it to the control means 10, and also sends a response message to the telephone line under the control of the control means 10.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a message recording means for recording a message from a caller. Reference numeral 4 denotes a voice recording means, which utters and records the time, a caution message, etc. under the control of the control means 10.

A time counting means 5 counts the time and provides time data to the audio recording means 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes initialization means, which initializes the time counting means 5 with an output signal when the low voltage detection means 7, which monitors the power supply voltage of the time counting means 5, detects a drop in the power supply voltage. . 8 is a time setting means, which sets the time counting means 5 to a desired time and cancels the initialization means 6. A time display section 9 displays the time in the time counting means 5, and when the time counting means 5 has been initialized, displays a power outage, etc.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a control means, which, when receiving a call detection signal from the response means 2, controls the response means 2 to send a response message to the telephone line, and then controls the business message recording means 3 to record a message from the caller. The message is recorded, and then the voice recording means 4 is controlled to record the time, a warning message, etc. Whether to record the time or a warning message is determined by determining the output signal of the initialization means 6.

FIG. 2 shows a more specific configuration of this embodiment. 11 is a telephone line, 12 is a line transformer, 13 is a bell detection circuit, and 14 is a response means, which is composed of a response message tape 14a, a reproduction magnetic head 14b, and an amplifier 14c. Reference numeral 15 denotes a message recording means, which is composed of an amplifier 15a, a recording magnetic head 15b, and a message tape 15c.
16 is a switching relay, and when the relay is in contact with the 16a side, the message from the line is input to the message recording means 15, and the relay 16
If it is in contact with the b side, the output from the voice recording means 17 is input to the business message recording means 15.
Reference numeral 17 is a voice recording means, which has an internal voice synthesis circuit and records the time and, for example, ``There has been a power outage. Please reset the time.'' ” Say a warning like “

Reference numeral 18 denotes a slave microcomputer, which has a second control section 18a, a time counting section 18b, and an initialization circuit 18c as functions. A time display means 19 displays the time under the control of the second control section 18a. Further, the second control section 18a controls the voice recording means 17 according to instructions from the main microcomputer 26.
to output the time and warning message audio. Further, the second control section 18a includes a time setting means 20.
The operation sets the time of the time counter 18b and cancels the initialization circuit. The initialization circuit 18b initializes the time counter 18b using the output signal of the low voltage detection means 21.

Further, the low voltage detection circuit 21 monitors the power supply voltage of the slave microcomputer 18, and if the voltage drops to a level that causes an abnormality in the timekeeping operation, the initialization circuit 21
Outputs a signal to 8c. 27 is a commercial power supply,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a constant voltage section that rectifies the commercial power source 27 to make it constant voltage. Reference numerals 23 and 24 each indicate a backflow prevention diode for preventing backflow of the power supply current.

26 is a main microcomputer, which includes an output section 26a, an input section 26b, and a first control section 26.
c, storage unit 26 for storing programs and data;
d. From the output section 26a to the relay 16
A control signal for instructing the second control unit 18a to issue the time or a warning message, and other control signals for each magnetic tape deck (not shown) are output. Input section 26b
The output of the bell detection circuit, the output signal from the initialization circuit 18c, and the like are input to the input terminal.

Next, the operation of the main microcomputer 26 will be explained. Figure 3 shows the main microcomputer 2.
6 shows the main part of the operation flowchart of No. 6.

In step 28, the output signal of the bell detection circuit is monitored, and if the bell is detected, in step 29,
The response means 14 is controlled to send a response message. When the sending of the response message is completed, in step 30, the relay 16 is controlled and switched to the contact 16a side.

Next, in step 31, the message recording means 15 is controlled to record the message. When you finish recording the message, the step
32 controls the relay 16 and switches to the 16b side.

Next, in step 33, the signal from the initialization circuit 18c is determined, and if the time counter has not been initialized, the process moves to step 34, and if it has been initialized, the process moves to step 36. In step 34, the second
The controller 18a is instructed to utter the time. Since the second control section 18a controls the voice recording means 17 to make the time sound, in step 35 it controls the message recording means 15 to record the time of incoming call. In step 36, since the time counting section 18b has been initialized, the second control section 18a is instructed to generate a warning message, and in step 37, the warning message is recorded.

Next, the operation of the slave microcomputer 18 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 2, power for the slave microcomputer 18 is supplied from a constant voltage section 22 via a diode 23 and from a power failure compensation battery 25 via a diode 24. Normally, when the commercial power supply 26 is connected, the voltage output from the constant voltage section 22 is set higher than the voltage of the power outage compensation battery 25, so the power outage compensation battery 25 is not consumed. .
During a power outage or when the commercial power supply is cut off, power for the slave microcomputer 18 is supplied by the power outage compensation battery 25, so time counting continues and accurate time counting is guaranteed. Can be done. However, if this battery 25 becomes exhausted, accurate operation of the slave microcomputer 18 cannot be guaranteed. Here, the low voltage detection means 21
The detection voltage of this slave microcomputer 18 is
Since the voltage is set to be as low as possible within a range that can guarantee accurate operation, when the battery 25 becomes exhausted and becomes lower than this voltage, a signal is sent to the initialization circuit 18c. Upon receiving the signal, the initialization circuit 18c initializes the time counter 18b.
Furthermore, this initialization circuit 18c once
When 8b is initialized, commercial power is connected again,
Even when the power supply voltage is restored, the initialized state is maintained and is not released until the time is set. Therefore, if the power supply voltage is restored and an incoming call is received while in this initialization state, the main microcomputer 26 will
Step 36 is always entered from step 33, so that there is no chance of recording the wrong time. Also, the second control section 18a
While the timer is being initialized, a power outage display is displayed on the time display means 19 to visually prompt the user to set the correct time.

As described above, there is provided a bell detection circuit for detecting a ringing signal generated on a telephone line, a response means including a response message tape, a reproduction magnetic head, and an amplifier, a message recording tape and a recording magnetic head. a relay for switching the recording of the message and the time or the caution message; a slave microcomputer including a second control section, a time counting section, and an initialization circuit; and a time display means. , a time setting means, a low voltage detection means, a constant voltage section that makes the commercial power supply constant voltage, a power failure compensation battery for the time counting section, and a main microcomputer that controls the overall operation of the answering machine. By being prepared, in the event of a power outage or when commercial power is cut off, if the power outage compensation battery is completely exhausted, or if the power outage continues for a long time and the battery is not fully depleted, the time By initializing the counter, when the power is restored and the next time a call arrives, a warning message will be recorded instead of recording the wrong time, preventing the user from misrecognizing the time of the call or causing confusion. do not have.

Furthermore, when the user plays back the business message tape and if a warning message is recorded, the user can recognize that it is necessary to re-set the time and replace the power failure compensation battery. The user can also recognize the same thing by looking at the power outage display on the time display means.

In this embodiment, magnetic tape is used for the response means 14 and the message recording means 15, but a voice synthesizer, a digital recording/playback device, etc. may be used instead.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a constant voltage detection means for detecting a drop in the power supply voltage of the time counting means, a signal generation means for outputting a signal when the detection means detects a drop in the power supply voltage, and a time counting means. Warning data generation means for generating data indicating that the time counted by the means is incorrect; and after the response signal generation means generates a response signal, no signal is generated from the signal generation means. In this case, the audio recording means records the time data from the time counting means, and when the signal generation means generates a signal, the audio recording means records the warning data from the warning data generation means. If the power outage compensation battery is completely exhausted during a power outage or when the commercial power is cut off, the time counting means can be initialized to ensure that the incorrect time will be corrected when the power is restored and the next incoming call is received. Since there is no recording, and caution messages etc. are recorded, when the user plays back the message tape later, there is no possibility of misrecognizing the incoming time or causing confusion, and the time can be reset. To provide an answering machine that allows you to know when the battery is needed or when the battery needs to be replaced, and its effects are great.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the specific configuration of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a main part for explaining the operation of the main microcomputer. This is a flowchart. 2... Response means, 3... Business message recording means, 4... Voice recording means, 5... Time counting means,
6... Initialization means, 7... Low voltage detection means, 8...
...Time setting means, 9...Time display means, 10...
Control means, 11... Telephone line, 12... Line transformer, 14... Response means, 15... Message recording means, 16... Switching relay, 18... Slave microcomputer, 23, 24... Backflow prevention. Diode, 25...Battery for power outage compensation, 27...
Commercial power supply.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A response signal generating means for sending a response signal to an incoming call; a voice recording means for recording a voice from a caller; a time counting means for counting time; and a time counting means for counting the time. constant voltage detection means for detecting a drop in power supply voltage; signal generation means for outputting a signal when the detection means detects a drop in power supply voltage; and the time counted by the time counting means is incorrect. warning data generation means for generating data indicating that the response signal is generated; and after the response signal generation means generates a response signal, if the signal generation means does not generate a signal, the time counting means is sent to the audio recording means. control means for recording time data from the warning data generating means, and controlling means for causing the voice recording means to record warning data from the warning data generating means when a signal is generated from the signal generating means. Telephone device.