Intercom master unit

Abstract

To provide an intercom master unit capable of achieving both of a maintaining of a sound quality of a speaker sound and a high designability at the same time.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: An intercom master unit comprises: a front cabinet; a rear cabinet that is engaged to the front cabinet and constitutes a housing; a speaker that is housed in the housing, and emits a sound; a display part that is housed in the housing and has a liquid crystal display; and a panel that is installed inside the housing between the front cabinet and the liquid crystal display and protects the liquid crystal display. The front cabinet is provided with an output hole for leading the sound emitted by the speaker to the outside of the housing and a display hole for making a screen of the liquid crystal display visible, and the front cabinet and the panel form a sub-output hole communicating with the display hole for leading the sound emitted by the speaker to the outside of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an intercom master unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an intercom master unit that aims to improve design by covering the entire unit, except for the operation buttons and display unit provided on the front of the housing, with a separate member.

[0003] In recent years, in order to further improve the design of intercom base units, there has been a need to make the sound hole located on the front of the housing, which is used to emit the sound emitted by the speaker (hereinafter referred to as "speaker sound"), as small as possible. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-228992 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, simply reducing the size of the sound hole provided on the front surface of the housing of an intercom master unit reduces the volume of sound, making it difficult to maintain the quality of the speaker sound.

[0006] Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure contribute to providing an intercom master unit that can maintain the quality of speaker sound while also achieving high design quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An intercom master unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a front cabinet, a rear cabinet that engages with the front cabinet to form a housing, a speaker that is housed in the housing and emits sound, a display unit that is housed in the housing and has an LCD display, and a panel that is installed inside the housing between the front cabinet and the LCD display and protects the LCD display, and the front cabinet is provided with an output hole for directing sound emitted by the speaker to the outside of the housing, and a display hole for making the screen of the LCD display visible, and the front cabinet and the panel form a secondary output hole that is connected to the display hole and for directing sound emitted by the speaker to the outside of the housing.

[0008] These comprehensive or specific aspects may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium, or may be realized as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an intercom master unit can be provided that can maintain the quality of speaker sound while also achieving high design quality.

[0010] Further advantages and benefits of an embodiment of the present disclosure will become apparent from the specification and drawings. Such advantages and / or benefits may be provided by some of the embodiments and features described in the specification and drawings, respectively, but not necessarily all of them may be provided to obtain one or more identical features. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an intercom master unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an intercom master unit according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an intercom master unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4]2 is a cross-sectional view of the intercom master unit according to the embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 1; [Figure 5] 5 is an enlarged view of a portion D in FIG. 4 of the intercom master unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] BB cross-sectional view of the intercom master unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7 is an enlarged view of a portion E in FIG. 6 of the intercom master unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 3 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 2 of the intercom master unit according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following explanation and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0013] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0014] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the parts of the configuration of the intercom master unit 1 according to this embodiment that are exposed to the outside will be described. Figure 1 is a front view of the intercom master unit 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the intercom master unit 1 according to this embodiment. Below, the up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions of the intercom master unit 1 are defined by arrows shown in each drawing. Also, the intercom master unit 1 will be referred to as master unit 1.

[0015] Base unit 1 is installed inside the house. A visitor to the house operates an intercom handset (handset) installed near the entrance of the house to call a resident inside the house. The visitor uses the handset, and the resident uses base unit 1, and the visitor talks to the resident.

[0016] The housing 11 of the master unit 1 has a front cabinet 11a and a rear cabinet 11b. The rear cabinet 11b engages with the front cabinet 11a to form the housing 11. The front cabinet 11a is provided with an output hole 2, an input hole 5, and a display hole 10.

[0017] The base unit 1 has a call button 3, a display unit 4, a status display LED 6, an operation button 7, and a panel 26.

[0018] The output hole 2 is a hole for guiding sound (speaker sound) emitted by the speaker 22 housed in the housing 11 to the outside of the housing 11. For example, the output hole 2 guides to the outside of the housing 11 a ring tone that notifies the user of a visitor's arrival and the visitor's voice picked up by a microphone provided in the handset.

[0019] The call button 3 is a button for establishing / disconnecting a call path with the handset. For example, when a resident hears a ringtone, he or she presses the call button 3 to establish a call path. This allows the resident to start a call with a visitor. When the call with the visitor is finished, the resident presses the call button 3 to disconnect the call path.

[0020] The display unit 4 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 25. For example, the display unit 4 displays an image of the visitor captured by the camera of the handset, call information including the call duration, the date and time, etc. The display unit 4 may be a touch panel type liquid crystal display, and the resident operates the base unit 1 by touching the display unit 4 with their finger.

[0021] The input hole 5 is a hole for introducing sounds from outside the housing 11 into the inside of the housing 11. For example, the voice of a resident talking with a visitor is introduced into the inside of the housing 11 through the input hole 5. The voice of the resident introduced into the inside of the housing 11 is picked up by a microphone provided inside the housing 11. The speaker of the handset emits the voice of the resident picked up by the microphone.

[0022] The status display LED 6 displays the status of the base unit 1. For example, the status display LED 6 lights up and flashes, or a combination of lights up and flashes, to notify the resident of the status of the base unit 1, such as busy, on standby, or an error.

[0023] The operation button 7 is a button for operating and setting the base unit 1. For example, the resident operates the operation button 7 when performing various settings on the base unit 1, or when checking visitors captured by the camera of the sub-unit while the resident was away.

[0024] The display hole 10 is a hole that allows the screen of the liquid crystal display 25 to be viewed. The display hole 10 is formed in a rectangular shape. The display hole 10 has a first side portion 101, a second side portion 102, a third side portion 103, and a fourth side portion 104 that define the hole. The first side portion 101, the second side portion 102, the third side portion 103, and the fourth side portion define the left side, top side, right side, and bottom side of the display hole 10, respectively.

[0025] A first side portion 101 defining the left side of the display hole 10 is located closer to the output hole 2 than the second side portion 102, the third side portion 103, and the fourth side portion 104.

[0026] In addition, in the region R between the output hole 2 and the display hole 10, the front cabinet 11a and the panel 26 form a sub-output hole 20 that communicates with the display hole 10 and that guides the speaker sound to the outside of the housing 11. Details of the sub-output hole 20 will be described later.

[0027] The front cabinet 11a, speaker 22, holder 24, LCD display 25, and panel 26 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the intercom master unit 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the panel 26, holder 24, and speaker 22 are assembled to the front cabinet 11a.

[0028] The front cabinet 11a is formed thinner in a region R between the output hole 2 and the sub-output hole 20 than in other regions. For example, the region R is a recess formed inside the front cabinet 11a (inside the housing 11). A plurality of protrusions 28 are provided in the region R. For example, the protrusions 28 are integrally molded with the front cabinet 11a. The protrusions 28 and the panel 26 abut against each other.

[0029] Furthermore, front cabinet 11a has an integrally molded hollow portion 11c. Hollow portion 11c prevents the inside of main unit 1 from being seen through output hole 2 when a user (resident) looks at main unit 1 from the front. Hollow portion 11c also prevents foreign matter and moisture from entering the inside of main unit 1.

[0030] The speaker 22 is housed in the housing 11 and emits speaker sound. For example, the speaker sound may be a ringtone that notifies the user of a visitor's arrival, or the visitor's voice picked up by a microphone provided in the handset.

[0031] The holder 24 holds the speaker 22 and the liquid crystal display 25. The holder 24 holding the speaker 22 and the liquid crystal display 25 is attached to the front cabinet 11a.

[0032] The liquid crystal display 25 is, for example, an LCD module including liquid crystal, a color filter, a polarizing plate, a driving circuit, and the like.

[0033] The panel 26 is installed inside the housing 11 between the front cabinet 11a and the LCD display 25 (in front of the LCD display 25), and protects the LCD display 25 from foreign matter and moisture that may enter the inside of the housing 11 through the display hole 10.

[0034] The panel 26 is made of a transparent material. After assembly, letters, patterns, etc. may be printed on the portion of the panel 26 that is visible through the display hole 10. Furthermore, after assembly, a manufacturing number, etc. may be printed on the portion of the panel 26 that is not visible through the display hole 10.

[0035] The panel 26 is provided with an opening 26a through which the speaker sound passes. The speaker sound that passes through the opening 26a is led out of the housing 11 from the output hole 2 or the sub-output hole 20. The size of the opening 26a is larger than the output hole 2 and the hollow portion 11c. Therefore, the speaker sound passes through the opening 26a without being blocked by the panel 26, and is led out of the housing 11 from the output hole 2 and the sub-output hole 20.

[0036] The internal configuration of the intercom master unit 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the intercom master unit 1 taken along line AA in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part D in the cross-sectional view of the intercom master unit 1 taken along line AA in Figure 1.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the speaker support part 21 is disposed behind the speaker 22, supports the speaker 22, and fixes it in an appropriate position.

[0038] The board 23 is a board on which electronic components such as an LSI for driving the liquid crystal display 25 are mounted. The electronic components mounted on the board 23 electrically control the base unit 1.

[0039] The holder 24 is disposed behind the liquid crystal display 25 and holds the liquid crystal display 25. The holder 24 may form a frame for fixing the liquid crystal display 25.

[0040] The support portion 27 is disposed on the rear side of the panel 26 and supports the panel 26. The panel 26 is in contact with the second side 102, the third side 103, and the fourth side 104 of the display hole 10, and is therefore fixed by being sandwiched between the support portion 27 and the front cabinet 11a.

[0041] In the region R including the first side portion 101 where the front cabinet 11a is formed thin, the panel 26 abuts against the protrusion portion 28 provided on the front cabinet 11a, and is fixed by being sandwiched between the support portion 27 and the protrusion portion 28.

[0042] In region R including first side 101, which is formed thinner than second side 102, third side 103, and fourth side 104, protrusion 28 abuts against panel 26. Therefore, even if panel 26 is subjected to stress near first side 101, it is fixed horizontally (perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of base unit 1). As a result, even if a resident touches display unit 4 with their finger when operating base unit 1 and stress is applied to panel 26, panel 26 will not rattle and can maintain a horizontally fixed state.

[0043] The internal configuration of the intercom master unit 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the intercom master unit 1 taken along line BB in Figure 1. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part E in the cross-sectional view of the intercom master unit 1 taken along line BB in Figure 1.

[0044] 7, the thickness of the first side 101 of the display hole 10 is t1, which is thinner than the thickness t2 of the second side 102 and the fourth side 104 of the display hole 10. A gap of width d is formed between the panel 26 and the first side 101.

[0045] The protrusions 28 are in contact with the panel 26, and sub-output holes 20 are formed between the plurality of protrusions 28. The speaker sound is guided from the sub-output holes 20 to the outside of the housing 11.

[0046] The sub-output port 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion C of the intercom master unit 1 shown in Fig. 2.

[0047] The sub-output hole 20 is a hole for leading the speaker sound to the outside of the housing 11. The sub-output hole 20 is connected to the display hole 10 by the front cabinet 11a and the panel 26, and leads the speaker sound to the outside of the housing 11.

[0048] The secondary output hole 20 is formed in a position that is not visible when the user (resident) views the main unit 1 from the front. The secondary output hole 20 is a hole with a width d that is formed between the panel 26 and an area R that includes the first side 101 of the display hole 10.

[0049] The thickness t1 of the first side portion 101 is thinner than the thickness t2 of the second side portion 102, the third side portion 103, and the fourth side portion 104. Therefore, the secondary output hole 20 is formed between the first side portion 101 and the panel 26. On the other hand, the second side portion 102, the third side portion 103, and the fourth side portion 104 are in contact with the panel 26, so no hole is formed between the second side portion 102, the third side portion 103, and the fourth side portion 104 and the panel 26.

[0050] Next, the path along which the speaker sound is guided to the outside of the housing 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The speaker sound emitted by the speaker 22 passes through an opening 26a provided in the panel 26.

[0051] The speaker sound that has passed through opening 26a is guided through two types of paths and is discharged to the outside of housing 11. First path L1 is a path through which the speaker sound that has passed through opening 26a is discharged to the outside of housing 11 from output hole 2. The speaker sound (S1) that has been guided through first path L1 and is discharged from output hole 2 is discharged in a direction toward the front of base unit 1.

[0052] The second path L2 is a path through which the speaker sound that has passed through the opening 26a is guided from the sub-output hole 20 to the outside of the housing 11. The speaker sound (S2) that is guided to the second path L2 and guided from the sub-output hole 20 to the outside of the housing 11 is guided in a direction toward the right of the parent unit 1.

[0053] The second path L2 is a sound guide path formed between the front cabinet 11a and the panel 26 and communicating with the display hole 10. The front cabinet 11a is formed thinner in a region R between the output hole 2 and the sub-output hole 20 than other portions. A protrusion 28 provided on the front cabinet 11a abuts against the panel 26, thereby ensuring the second path L2.

[0054] <Summary of the embodiment> As described above, the housing 11 comprises a front cabinet 11a, a rear cabinet 11b that engages with the front cabinet 11a to form the housing 11, a speaker 22 that is housed in the housing 11 and emits sound, a display unit 4 that is housed in the housing 11 and has an LCD display 25, and a panel 26 that is installed inside the housing 11 between the front cabinet 11a and the LCD display 25 and protects the LCD display 25. The front cabinet 11a is provided with an output hole 2 for guiding the sound emitted by the speaker 22 to the outside of the housing 11, and a display hole 10 for making the screen of the LCD display 25 visible, and the front cabinet 11a and the panel 26 form a sub-output hole 20 that is connected to the display hole 10 and for guiding the sound emitted by the speaker 22 to the outside of the housing 11.

[0055] With this configuration, master unit 1 has two ports, output port 2 and sub-output port 20, as paths for guiding sound emitted by speaker 22 inside housing 11 to the outside of the housing. In master unit 1 of this embodiment, output port 2 can be made smaller while maintaining the sound quality (volume, tone, pitch, etc.) of the speaker sound. This allows the design of master unit 1 to be improved while maintaining the sound quality of the speaker sound.

[0056] The panel 26 abuts against a protrusion 28 provided on the front cabinet 11a and is fixed by being sandwiched between the support part 27 and the protrusion 28, so that the panel does not rattle when operating the parent unit 1, allowing for stable operation.

[0057] The main unit 1 has a secondary output port 20 in a position that cannot be seen from the front, allowing the appearance to be kept simple while maintaining the sound quality of the speaker sound output from the secondary output port 20. These features of the main unit 1 can meet the needs of a market where design is becoming increasingly important.

[0058] Furthermore, the master unit 1 may have a configuration in which it does not have the output port 2 but has the sub-output port 20. This configuration reduces the number of ports provided on the front of the master unit 1 while maintaining the quality of the sound emitted from the sub-output port 20, thereby simplifying the appearance of the master unit 1 and further enhancing the design of the master unit 1.

[0059] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims. It is understood that such modifications or alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components in the embodiments may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0060] In the above-described embodiments, the notation "... part" used for each component may be replaced with other notations such as "... circuitry," "... assembly," "... device," "... unit," or "... module."

[0061] The present disclosure can be realized by software, hardware, or software linked to hardware. Each functional block used in the description of the above embodiments may be partially or entirely realized as an LSI, which is an integrated circuit, and each process described in the above embodiments may be partially or entirely controlled by a single LSI or a combination of LSIs. The LSI may be composed of individual chips, or may be composed of a single chip that includes some or all of the functional blocks. The LSI may have data input and output. Depending on the degree of integration, the LSI may be called an IC, system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI.

[0062] The integrated circuit method is not limited to LSI, but may be realized by a dedicated circuit, a general-purpose processor, or a dedicated processor. Also, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connections and settings of circuit cells within the LSI, may be used. The present disclosure may be realized as digital processing or analog processing.

[0063] Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that can replace LSI emerges due to advances in semiconductor technology or other derivative technologies, it is natural that such technology may be used to integrate functional blocks. The application of biotechnology, etc. is also a possibility. [Industrial Applicability]

[0064] The present disclosure is useful as a base unit 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 base unit 2 output ports 4 Display section 5 Input port 10 display hole 11. Housing 11a Front cabinet 11b Rear cabinet 20 Sub-output port 22 Speaker 25 LCD display 26 Panels 28 Protrusion 101 First side 102 Second side 103 Third Side 104 Fourth Side

Claims

1. The front cabinet and a rear cabinet that engages with the front cabinet to form a housing; a speaker housed in the housing and emitting sound; a display unit housed in the housing and including a liquid crystal display; a panel that is installed inside the housing between the front cabinet and the liquid crystal display and protects the liquid crystal display; the front cabinet is provided with an output hole for guiding the sound emitted by the speaker to the outside of the housing, and a display hole for making the screen of the liquid crystal display visible; a sub-output hole that communicates with the display hole and that guides the sound emitted by the speaker to the outside of the housing is formed by the front cabinet and the panel; Intercom base station.

2. The display hole is formed in a rectangular shape and has a first side portion, a second side portion, a third side portion, and a fourth side portion that define the display hole, the first side portion defines a left side of the display hole and is located closer to the output hole than the second side portion, the third side portion, and the fourth side portion; The thickness of the first side portion is formed to be thinner than the thicknesses of the second side portion, the third side portion, and the fourth side portion, the sub output hole is formed by an area including the first side portion and the panel; The intercom master unit according to claim 1.

3. In the region between the output hole and the sub-output hole, A plurality of protrusions are provided on the inside of the front cabinet, the plurality of protrusions abut against the panel; the sub-output holes are formed between the plurality of protrusions; The intercom master unit according to claim 2.

4. a support portion disposed on a rear side of the panel and supporting the panel; the second side portion, the third side portion, and the fourth side portion define an upper side, a right side, and a lower side of the display hole, At the left side, the panel is fixed by the support portion and the plurality of protrusions, At the top edge, the right edge, and the bottom edge, the panel is fixed by the support portion and the front cabinet. The intercom master unit according to claim 3.

5. the panel is provided with an opening through which the sound emitted by the speaker passes; The sub-output hole guides the sound emitted by the speaker that has passed through the opening to the outside of the housing. The intercom master unit according to claim 4.

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