JPH02108385A - telephone terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by providing the sending means of the signal of a light and the like and a sensing part to correspond to it, and constituting so that a video input part may follow a transmitter and receiver through the said sending means. CONSTITUTION:When a calling person and a called person are connected through a telephone circuit 5, it is detected by a line connection detection part 28, this detection signal is sent out to the infrared sending cut means 18 of a transmitter and receiver 19, and an infrared ray is radiated. This infrared ray is sensed by the infrared sensing means 20 of equipment main body 16, the sensing signal is sent to a transmitter and receiver position discrimination part 21, and the position of the transmitter and receiver 19 is recognized. When a video signal input and output part turning button 25 is operated, a turning switch 26 is turned on, and a signal to instruct turning quantity from a discrimi nation part 21 to a turning device is sent through a turning quantity control part 24. Consequently, a video signal input and output part 17 exactly follows the transmitter and receiver 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone terminal device, such as a video telephone, which transmits and receives video and audio via a telephone line.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, there have been videophones that transmit and receive audio and video via telephone lines, but in recent years this type of device has been attracting attention as the amount of information has increased.

A video telephone, which is an example of this type of telephone terminal device, will be described below.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional video telephone, and Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing its circuit configuration.
2 is an image display section consisting of a CRT (cathode ray tube), a liquid crystal display panel, etc.; This is an image sending button that is operated when sending an image to the other party via a telephone line. 4 is a video display selection button for selecting whether the video displayed on the video display unit 2 is that of the operator or the other party; 5 is a telephone line; 6 is a line interface unit; 7 is an incoming telephone line. An audio signal that switches the signal flow between the audio side (A) and the video side (B).
A video signal changeover switch 8 determines whether or not there is a video signal in the signal sent from the other party via the telephone line 5 when the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7 is connected to the audio side (A). It is a video signal discriminator that detects a video signal, and when a video signal is present, it sends a signal indicating that to the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7.

9 is an audio output section such as a speaker, 10 is an audio input section such as a microphone, 11 is a video signal modulation section that modulates the video signal output from the video input section 1 into a signal that can be transmitted over a telephone line, and 12 is an audio input section such as a microphone. A video signal demodulation section demodulates a modulated video signal sent via a telephone line; 13 and 14 are a first video memory and a second video memory, respectively; 15 is displayed on the video display section 2; The flow of the video signal is transferred between the video input section 1, that is, the (C) side and the video signal demodulator 12, that is, the (D) side.
This is a video display changeover switch that switches to the o) side. Note that 16 indicates the main body of the device.

The operation of the conventional video telephone configured as described above will be explained below.

First, in the initial state, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7 is in the audio side (A), and the video display changeover switch 15 is in the (A) position.
C) is connected to the side. When a call is made or received in this state, the calling party and the called party are connected via the telephone line 5, and then normal voice communication is possible with each other through the audio output section 9 and the audio input section 10. becomes. In this state, the video display unit 2 displays the operator's video captured by the video input unit 1. When the operator wants to send a video, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7 is operated by pressing the video sending button 3 after checking the video captured by the video input section 1 on the video display section 2. , the signal flow is switched from the audio side (A) to the video side (B), and the video information taken into the first video memory 13 by the video input section 1 can be sent out via the telephone line by the video signal modulation section 11. modulated into a signal. Thereafter, the modulated video signal has a signal for audio/video switching added to its head and is sent from the line interface section 6 to the other party via the telephone line 5. After sending out the video signal for one screen, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7 automatically returns to the audio side (A). On the other hand, the video signal discrimination unit 8 of the telephone terminal device of the other party detects the audio/video switching signal, and the detection signal is transmitted to the audio signal/video signal switching switch 7 and the video display switching switch 15.
sent to. Thereafter, the audio signal/video signal switching switch 7 switches from the audio side (A) to the video side (B,), and the video display switching switch 15 switches from the (C) side to the (D) side.
The video signal is demodulated by the video signal demodulation section 12, stored in the second video memory 14, and displayed on the video display section 2.

When the video signal for one screen has been received, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7 is automatically set to the audio side (A).
will be replaced.

On the other hand, when a video is sent from the other party, the same process as described above is performed, and the received video is displayed on the video display unit 2 on the user's side.

After that, if you want to display the video from your own side, by operating the video display selection button 4, the video display changeover switch 15 is switched to the (C) side, and the video display section 2 again receives the first video from the video input section 1. The video captured in the memory 13 will be displayed.

Furthermore, if you want to send out the video signal sent via the telephone line and stored in the second video memory 14, operate the video display selection button 4 and switch the video display changeover switch 15 to the (D) side. The video signal stored in the second video memory 14 is displayed on the video display section 2. Thereafter, by operating the image sending button 3, the video signal is modulated by the video signal modulation section 11 as described above and sent to the telephone line 5 via the line interface section 6.

After the video transmission ends, the audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7 automatically returns to the audio side (A).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the telephone terminal device having the above-mentioned configuration, the following problems occur when there are multiple operators. That is, a plurality of operators must take turns in moving to the front of the video input section, adjust the framing, and then operate the video feed button. As described above, when attempting to sequentially send images of a plurality of operators, the problem is that the operators must perform troublesome tasks such as moving from one location to another.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides means for outputting light, etc. to a handset consisting of an audio input section and an audio output section,
The main body of the apparatus is provided with means for detecting signals such as light and means for causing the video input section to follow the handset using the output from the detection means.

Further, the means for outputting the light or the like is provided near the transmitter of the handset.

Operation According to the above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, the video input section follows the handset even if the subject to be sent does not move, so the operator holding the handset is captured by the video input section.

Furthermore, since the transmitting section of the handset is usually located near the operator's mouth, the video input section must follow the means for transmitting signals, such as light, provided near the transmitting section. , the operator's mouth will be captured as the center of the image.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a telephone terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof. Moreover, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration.

In this embodiment, the same components as those in the conventional configuration described above are given the same numbers, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, 16 is the main body of the device, which includes an image input section 1 and a C
A video input/output unit 17 consisting of a video display unit 2 configured with an RT (cathode ray tube), a liquid crystal panel, etc., and a video feed button 3
, a video display selection button 4, a line interface section 6, an audio signal/video signal changeover switch 7, a video signal discrimination section 8, a video signal modulation section 11, and a video signal demodulation section 12 that demodulates the video signal. , a first video memory 13, a second video memory 14, an infrared sensing means 20 for sensing infrared rays from the infrared transmitting means, and a signal taken out from the infrared sensing means 20 to determine the position of the handset. a turning amount control section 24 consisting of an input signal superimposing section 22 and a turning signal output section 23; It includes an output section rotation button 25, a rotation switch 26, a rotation device 27 such as a motor, and a line connection detection section 28 that detects that the line between the calling party and the called party is connected. Reference numeral 19 denotes a handset, which is composed of an audio output section 9 such as a speaker, an audio input section 10 such as a microphone, and an infrared transmitting means 18 provided near the audio input section.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, in the initial state, the swing switch 26 is open. Here, when the calling party and the called party are connected via the telephone line 5, this is detected by the line connection detection section 28, and the detection signal is sent to the infrared transmitting means 18, which emits infrared rays. . This infrared rays are sensed by the infrared sensing means 20, and the sensing signal is sent to the handset position determining section 21 to recognize the position of the handset. The area of the video signal displayed on the video display unit 2 in this state is no different from the area captured by the video input unit 1 in the initial state. If the operator making the call in this state wants to send a video to the other party, the same process as in the conventional example can be used.

In addition, if the operator is not located in front of the video input unit 1, or if you want to display the video by following the subject, or if there are multiple operators, each operator may take turns and communicate with the other party. When having a conversation, first operate the video signal human output section rotation button 25. As a result, the swing switch 26 is turned on, and the handset position determination section 21 sends a signal specifying the swing amount to the swing device via the swing amount control section 24. At that time, this signal is successively corrected and output. In other words, the turning signal output section 2
A part of the signal outputted from the turning signal outputting section 23 is returned to the input signal superimposing section 22, and a signal in which the error between the input signal and the output signal to the turning signal outputting section 23 is reduced is outputted from the turning signal outputting section 23 again.

As a result, the video input/output section will accurately follow the handset.

As a result, the user has to take the trouble to bring the image he or she wants to send in front of the video input section 1, or move the telephone terminal itself to face the operator, or the operator has to go out of his way to move to the front of the video input section. There is no need to do this, which greatly improves operability.

In addition, since the infrared transmitting means is attached to the handset, the video input unit 1 automatically follows the operator, making it possible to transmit images with various framings without tedious work. Become.

Furthermore, by providing the infrared transmitting means near the transmitter, the following effects can be achieved.

That is, since the transmitting section is usually located near the mouth of the operator, if the transmitting section is followed, the face of the operator will be automatically framed approximately in the center by the video input section.

In this embodiment, the video input/output section can only be rotated in the horizontal direction, but the operability will be even better if the video input/output section is also provided with a function to rotate in the vertical direction as well.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a means for transmitting light or the like and a sensitive section therefor, and configures the video input section to follow the handset by means of the transmitting means, thereby eliminating the need for troublesome work. A telephone terminal device that can send images of any space and has extremely good operability can be realized.

Furthermore, by providing the transmitting means near the transmitter,
If the video input section follows this transmitting section, the operator's face will be automatically framed approximately in the center by the video input section.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded view of a telephone terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the telephone terminal device of the same embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a video phone that is an example of a conventional telephone terminal device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the video phone shown in FIG. l...Video input section 2...Video display section 3...Picture sending button 4...Video display selection button 5...Telephone line 6...Line interface section 7...
Audio signal/video signal changeover switch 8...Video signal discrimination section 9...Audio output section 0...Audio input section 1...Video signal modulation section 2 ...Video signal demodulation section 3...First video memory 4...Second video memory 5...Video display changeover switch 6...・
・Device body 7...Video signal input/output section 8...Infrared transmitting means 9...Telephone receiver 0...Infrared sensing means 1... - Handset/receiver 2... Input signal superimposing section 3... Rotation signal output section 4... Rotation amount control section 5... Video signal input/output section rotation button 6...
... Swivel switch 7 ... Swivel device 8 ... Line connection detection section

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A line interface section connected to a telephone line, a video input section, a video memory that stores the video signal taken in from the video input section, and modulates the video signal into a signal that can be transmitted over the telephone line. a video signal modulation section that demodulates a modulated video signal sent via a telephone line, and a video signal demodulation section that demodulates the signal output from the video signal demodulation section and the video signal from the video input section. A device body comprising a video display section for displaying a visible image, a handset having an audio input section and an audio output section, a means for transmitting a signal such as light to the handset, and a means for sending a signal such as light to the device body. A telephone terminal device comprising: a detection means for detecting this signal such as light; and a video input section shifting means for causing the video input section to follow the handset based on the output from the detection means. (2) The telephone terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the signal such as light is provided near a transmitter of a handset.