The present invention is directed to a home automation system, wherein a coaxial cable or other home bus path for data transmission is placed inside a home to connect an intercom unit and monitor camera, which comprise a hardware interface for communication with visitors, and a conventional home television to this bus, thereby to make it possible to output the audio and video signals from the intercom unit and monitor camera on a conventional broadcast reception television.
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10. A remote control device for use in a home automation system, which reproduces on a television receiver in a tv receiver block inside the residence the voices from a microphone and the video images from a television camera provided in an entrance unit, and which comprises the entrance unit and the tv receiver block being connected with the entrance unit via a home bus laid throughout the residence, comprising a remote control means for controlling other system components, and a communication means for communicating with visitors who have come to the entrance.
15. An entrance unit of in an audio-visual entrance for use in a home automation system, which reproduces on a television receiver in a tv receiver block inside the residence the voices from a microphone and the video images from a television camera provided in an entrance unit, and which comprises the entrance unit and the tv receiver block being connected with the entrance unit via a home bus laid throughout the residence, by comprising a controller connected to the home bus, to modulate the signal from the tv camera at a predefined time interval using a tv modulator and to send the modulated signal to the home bus.
1. A home automation system which reproduces on a television receiver in a tv receiver block inside the residence the voices from a voice collection circuit and the video images from a telephone camera provided in an entrance unit, and which comprises the entrance unit and the tv receiver block being connected with the entrance unit via a home bus laid throughout the residence in this system,
said entrance unit including a tv modulator which modulates the video signal from a tv camera and the audio signal from a voice collection circuit, an audio signal receiver which receives the audio signal transmitted over the home bus, a speaker to project the output signal from the audio signal receiver, an interface unit which communicates with other components in the system over the home bus to control said components, and a detection circuit which detects visitors; and said television receiver block including a tv set with an external control terminal, an interface unit which is connected to the tv set and controls the tv set and communications between the tv set and other components via the home bus, a voice collection circuit, and an audio transmissions circuit which sends the output signal from the voice collection circuit over the home bus.
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The present invention relates to a data transmission system for an entrance intercom and security monitoring system in a home automation (HA) system using a data transfer bus inside the home.
Conventional entrance intercom and security systems are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
In FIG. 1, the output of camera 51 installed in the entrance is connected to the input of inside unit 52 by a dedicated line. A TV modulator 53 is provided in inside unit 52 to modulate the camera output (television signal) for output to the specified television channel, channel 1 (CH1) or channel 2 (CH2). Either the broadcast signal from the antenna or the output signal from TV modulator 53 is then input to television set 55 via a switch (SW) 54.
With the construction shown in FIG. 1, the switch 54 is normally switched to the antenna so that normal television broadcasts can be viewed on the television set. When a call is received from either intercom 56 or 57, the user switches switch 54 to the TV modulator 53 side, resets the television set 55 channel selector to either CH1 or CH2 depending on the modulator connection, and is then able to view a visitor picked up by camera 51 on the screen of television set 55 while taking with the visitor through intercom 56, 57.
An alternative conventional system is shown in FIG. 2. This system differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that the output signal of TV modulator 53 in inside unit 52a is converted to a signal on an unused channel in the UHF or VHF band and carried with the other TV signals from the antenna by a mixer 58.
With this system, the channel selector of television set 55 is set to a normal broadcast channel for program viewing. When a visitor comes, the user simply selects the preset UHF channel to monitor the output of camera 51. The systems in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can also be used to constantly monitor the entrance even when a visitor is not present.
In FIG. 3 is shown a system using a two-way line 60 and a bidirectional branch junction 61. When a visitor comes, the detection signal output from a visitor detection circuit 62 is sent over the two-way line 60 through a modem 63 and a mixer 64, branched by a bidirectional branch junction 61 for relay to control a circuit 73 via a mixer 74 and a modem 72, thus notifying the occupant inside that a visitor has come to the entrance.
The signal output from the camera 66 and microphone 67 installed in the entrance is modulated to a specific television frequency by a television modulator 65. The modulated signal is output to the indoor side through the mixer 64 and two-way line 60, and input to a television demodulator 75 through a mixer 74 for demodulation of the video and audio signals. The video signal carries the image of the visitor taken by the monitor camera for playback on the dedicated monitor television 76, and the audio signal carries the voice of the visitor for reproduction via a speaker 71 in a handset 70.
Similarly, the audio from inside the room is converted to an audio signal by a microphone 77 also provided in the handset 70, modulated to a specific frequency by an audio transmission circuit 78, and input to the bidirectional branch junction 61 via the mixer 74. The signal is input by the two-way line 60 to the mixer 64 on the entrance side where it is received by an audio receiving circuit 68 and amplified through a speaker 69 so that the voice from the party inside can be heard by the visitor outside.
However, a conventional system configured as described above presents the following problems.
Specifically, with the system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the inside party learns via the intercom that a visitor has come, the inside party must reset the switch 54 and tune television set 55 to the proper channel if the visitor is to be viewed on the television. With the system as shown in FIG. 3, the dedicated monitor television 76 is required for viewing visitors; this dedicated monitor is incapable of receiving conventional television broadcasts, and if only one monitor television 76 is provided, the visitor can only be monitored in that single location where the monitor is installed. Monitoring the video from the entrance camera at multiple locations requires the installation of multiple monitor televisions 76, resulting in a corresponding increase in cost. In addition, this monitor television 76 must remain with the power normally on to monitor the visitors at the entrance.
The camera monitoring sub-system of a conventional home automation system is described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a conventional camera monitoring system, wherein a reference numeral 80 is a monitor camera, 82 is a dedicated cable used to carry the image (video signal) from the monitor camera 80, and 81 is a monitor television which displays the image received from monitor camera 80. The operation of this camera monitoring system is described below. The image captured by monitor camera 80 is transferred over a cable 82 and displayed on the dedicated monitor television 81. With this system there is only one monitor camera 80, and a dedicated monitor television and cable are required.
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a system using multiple monitor cameras, wherein a reference numeral 80a to 80c indicate the monitor cameras, 83 is a sequential switch used to control these multiple monitor cameras 80a-80c, and 81 is the monitor television used to view the image from the monitor camera selected by a sequential switch 83. Multiple monitor cameras can be connected in this system, but as in the system shown in FIG. 4, a dedicated monitor television and cable are required.
FIG. 6 shows a system which uses an existing, conventional television receiver and multiple monitor cameras configured so that the image from the monitor is displayed on the conventional television. In these FIGS. 80a-80c are monitor cameras, 82 is a dedicated cable used to carry the video signal from monitor cameras 80a-80c, 83a to 83c are modulators which convert the video image from monitor cameras 80a-80c to a specific broadcast signal wave, and 84 is a mixer which mixes the images from monitor cameras 80a-80c for relay to a television receiver 85. While this system makes it possible to use an existing television monitor, it is still necessary to tune the television to the channel used for monitoring camera signal reception, and dedicated cables are still needed.
The object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission system for an entrance surveillance which can receive signals from the monitor camera on a conventional television receiver and makes it easy to identify a visitor without requiring manual switch operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a home automation system which uses a remote control system for improved ease of use.
To achieve the aformentioned objectives, the system of the present invention is comprised of an entrance unit, one or multiple television receiver blocks, and a home bus. The entrance unit is comprised of a TV modulator which modulates the video signal from a TV camera and the audio signal from a microphone, an audio signal receiver which receives the audio signal transmitted over a home bus laid throughout the residence, a speaker to project the output signal from the audio signal receiver, an interface unit which communicates with other components in the system over the home bus to control said components, and a detection circuit which detects visitors. Each of the one or multiple television receiver blocks is comprised of a TV set with an external control terminal, an interface unit which is connected to the TV set and controls the TV set and communications between the TV set and other components via the home bus, a microphone, and an audio transmission circuit which sends the output signal from the microphone over the home bus. The home bus connects the entrance unit with each of TV reception blocks. When the interface unit of the entrance unit detects a visitor at the entrance, it modulates the signal from the TV camera and microphone with the TV modulator and sends the modulated signal to the home bus together with a visitor detection signal. When the interface unit of the single or multiple TV receiver blocks receives the visitor detection signal, the tuner of the monitor television is automatically switched to receive the modulated TV signal output from the TV modulator in the entrance unit.
With a monitoring system constructed as described above, the party inside can be viewing normal television broadcasts and know simultaneously with the arrival of a visitor at the entrance that someone has come. A dedicated monitor for monitoring the entrance is not needed, and any television receiver connected at any point to the home bus can be used as an entrance monitor.
In addition, to achieve the other object of the present invention, the components connected to the home bus are comprised of a signal generator which generates a control signal controlled by a remote control device, a microphone, a signal transmitter which transmits the audio signal from the microphone, and an audio signal receiver.
With this configuration, the user is able to control the components of the system by remote control. Additionally, voice audio signals can be sent over the home bus, thereby improving the functionality of the home automation system.
To achieve the objects of the present invention, the system is also comprised of a home bus having multiple data connectors, one or multiple monitor cameras connected to the data connectors on the home bus, sensors which detect the entry of any object in the vicinity of the monitor camera(s), and a television receiver or video cassette recorder connected to a data connector on the home bus. On the basis of the detector signal from the sensor, the video signal from the monitor camera is automatically displayed on the television receiver or is automatically recorded to tape by the video cassette recorder.
In a system so configured, the image from the monitor camera is, for example, modulated to any open channel on the television receiver and the modulated signal is output to an existing television receiver or VCR connected to the home bus, thus improving the functionality of the home automation system.
FIGS. 1 through 3 are block diagrams each showing the configuration of the entrance system in a conventional home automation system,
FIGS. 4 through 6 are block diagrams each showing the configuration of a conventional monitor camera system,
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a home automation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIGS. 8 through 11 are block diagrams showing the modifications of television receiver blocks in the home automation system according to a second to fifth embodiments of the present invention, respectively,
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a home automation system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention,
The camera interface unit of seventh embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13, wherein the camera interface unit 115 is comprised of a television demodulator 130 which demodulates the video signal output of monitor camera 116 to a television signal, and an interface unit 131 which is used to communicate with other components in the system through data connector 112.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing eighth embodiment of the interface unit 131, wherein reference numeral 140 is a control circuit and 141 is a signal drive circuit used to communicate over the home bus 111. The control circuit 140 uses the signal drive circuit 141 for two-way communications with other components connected to the home bus 111. It notifies other components when the sensor 117 is triggered, turns television demodulator 130 on, and sends the video signal from monitor camera 116 over the home bus 111.
FIG. 15 is a spectrogram used to explain signal transmission over the home bus 111.
Because the home bus 111 is a coaxial cable, it can be used to carry signals across a frequency band ranging continuously from the direct current level to frequencies in the 1-GHz range. In the present embodiment, frequencies from DC current to a maximum 10 MHz are used for the data channel; frequencies greater than 10 MHz are used as the RF channel. The interface unit in each component uses the data-channel for communications. The communications signals is an AMI (alternate mark inversion) signal with a 50% duty cycle transmitting data at 9600 bps. The RF channel carries existing radio broadcast frequencies. FM broadcasts, television broadcasts (including VHF-L, VHF-H, UHF, and satellite), and includes a frequency band which is used as a data channel over the home bus only. The video signal for the monitor camera 116 in this embodiment uses an open signal range in the UHF broadcast frequency band.
FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 show the construction of the data connector 112.
In FIG. 16, reference numeral 200 is a high pass filter which passes the RF channel signal, 210 is a low pass filter which passes the data channel signal, and 220 is an attenuator.
The coaxial path of the home bus 111 is connected to the home bus output and the home bus input. The outputs of the television demodulator 130 and the interface unit 131 in FIG. 13 are connected respectively to the RF terminal and the data terminal.
The RF signal in the hme bus 111 is separated by high pass filter 200. The attenuator 220 electrically reduces the connection between the components connected to the RF terminal and the home bus 111 to prevent unwanted interference with other components connected to the home bus 111. The characteristics of the attenuator 220 are set to produce an insertion loss of from 10 dB to 15 dB.
The data channel signal is separated by the low pass filter 210, and sent to the interface unit of the other components through the data terminal.
FIG. 17 shows another modification of the data connector 112, wherein the home bus input and home bus output are connected as described. To the RF terminal through which is carried the RF channel signal are connected a high pass filter comprised of capacitors C1, C2, and a coil L1, and a resistor R1 and a coil L2. The value of resistor R1 is determined by the number of RF terminal connections to the home bus 111. A resistor R2 is used to unify the impedance from the RF terminals to 75 ohms.
The data channel signal is supplied from the data terminal using a low pass filter comprised of coils L10 and L1, and capacitor C11.
The waveform of the data signal in the data connector 112 is shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 18(a) shows the signal in the home bus; it is an AMI signal with an amplitude of approximately 2.5 V in both the positive and negative directions. The duty ratio of the signal is approximately 50% and the high frequency of the signal is suppressed by the control signal. It has a negative logic. The signal in FIG. 18(b) is the reception signal of the interface unit.
An alternative modification of the signal drive circuit 141 is shown in FIG. 19, in which T20 is a transformer with a turn ratio of 1:1:1; D20, D21 are protector diodes; Q20, Q21 are drive transistors; R20 to 23 are base current limiting resistors for transistors Q20, Q21; IC30, IC31 are comparators for reception signal waveform rectification; R30 to R33 are voltage differentiation resistors for the input signal; R34, R35 are comparator voltage generator resistors for IC30, IC31.
In FIG. 18(a), when the signal is output to the positive side, the transistor Q20 becomes on; when the signal is output to the negative side, the transistor Q21 becomes on. When an excessively high signal enters into the transformer T20, diodes D20, D21 function to prevent a reverse voltage greater than a predefined level from being applied between the emitter and collector of transistors Q20 and Q21, and thus prevents damage to the transistors Q20 and Q21.
Resistors R30 to R3 have a common resistance of a minimum 10 kilohms. If the resistance is greater than 10 kilohms, the resistance passes the transformer T20 and becomes a load resistance on the data channel of the home bus. The object is the minimize the effect on other components.
The output signal waveforms from comparator IC30 and IC31 when the signal in FIG. 18(a) is input from the home bus is as shown in FIG. 18(b).
Using the embodiments of the present invention as described above, because the TV set is automatically tuned to the channel required to receive the TV modulated signal output from the TV modulator of in the entrance unit when the interface unit in the TV receiver block receives the visitor detection signal, the user will know immediately upon arrival that a visitor has come without manually operating any switches or controls even if another, conventional television broadcast is being viewed at that time. Furthermore, because the TV receiver block is connected via the home bus, the arrival of a visitor can be known at any point in the home where there is a home bus connection with a television set connected. Moreover, because the TV sets are controlled through the interface unit, each interface unit can independently control the TV set or other system component connected to the interface unit according to the response of the visitor.
In addition, by providing a forced TV control/non-forced TV control mode selector switch on the interface unit of the TV receiver block, it becomes possible to select from two major notification modes when a visitor is detected: a controlled mode in which the television channel selector is automatically switched to the monitor channel, the power is turned on for the television if it is off, and the video image from the entrance camera is automatically shown on the TV screen, and a non-controlled mode in which a chime or alarm is sounded, or an LED or other indicator is turned on to light steady or flash.
By also providing a microphone and radio transmitter in the remote control device used to control the television or system and a radio receiving circuit to receive the signal from the remote control in the TV receiver block, the user may converse with the visitor at the entrance via the remote control device from any point in the house.
According to the present invention, sensors used to detect unauthorized intruders can also automatically turn monitor cameras on so that image of the intruder can be automatically displayed on the screen of any existing television or recorded to a video cassette recorder connected to the system bus. Multiple cameras can also h═independently controlled to automatically capture a sequential series of images. In addition, by simply connecting existing television, VRCs, or other components to the home bus through the data connectors, multiple television sets and multiple monitor cameras can be used. Also, the use of a home bus provides a system which can be easily expanded with greater functionality in the future.
Inoue, Hideki, Morotomi, Noriaki, Endo, Yasumasa, Emura, Yoshinori, Asaka, Nobuyoshi
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