Intercom system

Abstract

To make an image displayed on a room main unit when an entrance handset is called different from an image recorded when a signal is received from a delivery box even when the images are taken with a common camera.SOLUTION: An intercom system includes an entrance handset 1 equipped with a camera 12, a room main unit 2 equipped with a monitor 22, and a delivery box 3 that sends a door opening signal to the entrance handset 1 when the door is opened. The room main unit 2 includes a main CPU 27 that digitally zooms and displays a predetermined first area of an imaging area at the maximum angle of view of the camera 12 on the monitor 22 when the entrance handset 1 is called, performs at least one of wide display of displaying a captured image at the maximum angle of view of the camera 12 on the monitor 22 when the door opening signal is received, and zoom display of digitally zooming a predetermined second area of the imaging area at the maximum angle of view of the camera 12 and performing on the monitor 22, and records the image in a storage unit 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an intercom system, and more particularly to an intercom system that operates in conjunction with a delivery box. [Background technology]

[0002] Delivery boxes installed in detached houses can be opened more easily by outsiders than those installed in apartment buildings, so some intercom systems are linked to them so that when the delivery box is opened, the camera on the entrance unit turns on to take an image, and then records it so that the information about the person who opened the box can be checked later. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a delivery box is unlocked, an intercom system is used to notify the resident with a sound, and the entrance camera is activated to begin capturing images. Furthermore, when the resident receives the notification and recognizes that the delivery box has been unlocked, an alarm or other sound can be sounded from the entrance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-149694 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the camera detects the door of the delivery box being opened, activates, and records the captured image, which can then be checked later. However, because the camera is installed to capture images of visitors, the operator of the delivery box was not necessarily within the camera's field of view, and even if he or she was within the field of view, the image was difficult to see.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a method for recording images captured by a common camera, in which the image displayed on the main unit in a room when the entrance slave unit is called is different from the image recorded in response to a signal from the delivery box. stomach The purpose is to provide an intercom system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is an intercom system having a front door slave unit for calling a resident and a living room master unit for responding to the call, the front door slave unit having a camera for capturing images of visitors, the living room master unit having a monitor for displaying images captured by the camera and a memory unit for recording images, and a delivery box for outputting an open door signal to the outside when the door is opened, and a receiver for receiving the open door signal is provided in either the front door slave unit or the living room master unit, and when the front door slave unit is operated to make a call, a predetermined first area of ​​the image capture area at the maximum angle of view of the camera is digitally zoomed and displayed on the monitor, and when the open door signal is received, an image control unit performs at least one of a wide display in which the image captured at the maximum angle of view of the camera is displayed on the monitor and a zoom display in which a predetermined second area of ​​the image capture area at the maximum angle of view of the camera is digitally zoomed and displayed on the monitor, and when the open door signal is received, the image control unit further performs The camera switches between an image captured at the maximum angle of view of the camera and an image obtained by zooming in on a predetermined second area of ​​the image capture area at the maximum angle of view of the camera, and records both images in a storage unit. It is characterized by: With this configuration, the image displayed on the monitor when a call is received and the image displayed or recorded on the monitor when the delivery locker is opened can be different images. This makes it possible to display an image on the monitor that makes it easy to identify the visitor, and when the delivery locker is operated, it is possible to display and record an image that allows the operator of the delivery locker to be identified, which helps improve security.

[0007] The invention of claim 2 is the configuration of claim 1, wherein the video control unit Open When a door signal is received, the camera will start recording the image at its maximum angle of view. 、 The recording of the zoomed-in image of the second area is alternately switched over at predetermined time intervals. With this configuration, wide-angle images and zoomed images of a specified area are recorded alternately, which is useful for identifying not only the person but also their behavior if the operator of the delivery box is suspicious.

[0008] The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the configuration described in claim 1 or 2, it has an alarm control unit that, when the receiving unit receives a door open signal, sounds an alarm to notify the room master unit that the door has been opened. With this configuration, when the delivery box door is opened, the room master unit will notify the person at home, allowing them to recognize the event and take prompt action if the person is suspicious.

[0009] The invention of claim 4 is the configuration of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the camera is provided with an illuminance sensor, and the entrance slave unit is provided with a lighting unit for night lighting, and when the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the lighting unit turns off the lighting. Department The present invention is characterized by having a lighting control unit that turns on the According to this configuration, when the imaging environment of the camera is dark, the lighting Department will light up, allowing you to record video that will allow you to check the situation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the image displayed on the monitor when a call is received and the image displayed on the monitor or recorded when the delivery locker is opened can be different images. This makes it possible to display an image on the monitor that makes it easy to identify the visitor, and when the delivery locker is operated, it is possible to display and further record an image that allows the operator of the delivery locker to be identified, which helps improve security. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an intercom system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of each device in the intercom system of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012]

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an intercom system according to the present invention, in which intercom system 10 includes a front door slave unit 1, a room master unit 2, and a delivery box 3. Front door slave unit 1 and room master unit 2 are connected by a transmission line L1, and delivery box 3 is connected to front door slave unit 1 by a signal line L2.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the intercom system 10 of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the entrance slave unit 1 includes a call button 11 for calling the resident, a camera 12 for capturing images of visitors, an image processing unit 13 for processing the images captured by the camera 12 to be transmitted to the room master unit 2, a microphone 14a and a speaker 14b for communication, an audio unit 14 for controlling the microphone 14a and the speaker 14b, a lighting unit 15 equipped with an LED for illuminating the camera 12 at night, a slave unit CPU 16 for controlling the entrance slave unit 1, a slave unit communication IF 17 for communicating with the room master unit 2, a receiving unit 18 for receiving signals transmitted from the delivery box 3, and the like.

[0014] Camera 12 is a wide-angle camera that captures images at a wide angle of, for example, 180 degrees, and the image captured at the wide angle or a zoomed image of a preset area within the entire image capture area is displayed on the room master unit 2. Camera 12 also has a built-in illuminance sensor (not shown), and lighting unit 15 blinks based on illuminance information from the illuminance sensor.

[0015] The room master unit 2 is equipped with a call button 21 for answering a call from the front door slave unit 1, a monitor 22 for displaying the image captured by the camera 12, an image processing unit 23 for processing the image signal transmitted from the front door slave unit 1 to display it on the monitor 22, a microphone 24a and a speaker 24b for making calls, an audio unit 24 for controlling the microphone 24a and the speaker 24b, an operation unit 25 for controlling various displays on the monitor 22 and for performing recording setting operations, a memory unit 26 for recording the image captured by the camera 12, a master unit CPU 27 for controlling the room master unit 2, a master unit communication IF 28 for communicating with the front door slave unit 1, etc. The master unit CPU 27 functions as an image control unit for controlling the image to be displayed on the monitor 22 and the image to be recorded, and an alarm control unit for controlling the alarm sounds of the room master unit 2.

[0016] The delivery box 3 is provided with a sensor device 3a that detects the opening operation of a door (not shown) that is opened and closed when storing / removing packages, and the sensor device 3a is connected by a signal line L2 to the entrance slave unit 1. When the door of the delivery box 3 is opened, the sensor device 3a detects this and outputs a door open signal.

[0017] Here, we will explain the image captured by camera 12 and displayed on monitor 22. Camera 12 captures images at a wide angle, and monitor 22 displays this wide-angle image or a preset zoom image. The zoom image is digitally zoomed and displayed. Digital zoom is set by a predetermined operation on operation unit 25 (provided as a touch panel on monitor 22). This zoom setting is different depending on whether the call button 11 is operated or a signal from the delivery box 3 is received.

[0018] To explain this setting in more detail, when call button 11 is operated, a zoomed image (image captured in the first area) of the visitor captured by camera 12 is set to be displayed, in order to confirm the visitor. For example, if the visitor often stands directly in front of entrance slave unit 1, i.e., directly in front of camera 12, the setting is made to display a zoomed image of the visitor from the front on monitor 22. If the visitor often stands to the left or right of the visitor, the setting is made to display a zoomed image of that direction on monitor 22. In this way, a zoomed image that makes it easy to confirm the visitor is displayed on monitor 22. The set pan / tilt angles and zoom ratio are stored in memory unit 26, and this zoomed image is displayed unless changed.

[0019] Similarly, the image displayed on monitor 22 upon receiving a door-open signal from delivery box 3 is zoomed so that delivery box 3 and its operator are displayed on monitor 22. For example, the setting is made to display a zoomed image (image captured of a second area) that enlarges the area in which the operator is captured. The set pan / tilt angles and zoom ratio are then stored in memory unit 26.

[0020] However, if the relative positions of the front door slave unit 1 and the delivery box 3 mean that the delivery box 3 and its operator will not be within the angle of view even when the camera 12 captures an image at its maximum angle of view, the image displayed on the monitor 22 in response to a signal from the delivery box 3 may be a wide-angle image without zooming. This increases the probability that a suspicious person making suspicious movements will be captured.

[0021] The operation of the intercom system 10 configured as described above is as follows: When the entrance slave unit 1 is operated to call a resident, a call signal is transmitted to the room master unit 2. At the same time, the camera 12 starts capturing images, and the captured images are transmitted to the room master unit 2. In the room master unit 2 to which the call signal and captured image are transmitted, a call tone sounds and the visitor image is displayed on the monitor 22. At this time, the monitor 22 displays an image of the first area registered in the memory unit 26. In other words, a zoomed image that makes it easy to identify the visitor is displayed. When the resident recognizes the call and operates the call button 21, a call path is established between the entrance slave unit 1, enabling a call to be made, and the resident can talk to the visitor while checking the visitor's video image. The call path is cut off by the call-ending operation, or after a predetermined time has elapsed even if the call is not ended. If recording is set, the displayed image is recorded in the memory unit 26.

[0022] Next, we will explain what happens when the door of the delivery box 3 is opened. When the door is opened, the sensor device 3a detects this and sends a signal (door open signal) to the entrance slave unit 1 via the signal line L2. This signal is sent to the room master unit 2 via the entrance slave unit 1, and the master unit CPU 27 controls the following operation. Camera 12 is activated to begin capturing images, and the captured images are displayed on monitor 22 of room master unit 2. However, monitor 22 also displays an image of the second area registered in memory unit 26, and a zoomed image is displayed to make it easier to identify the operator of delivery box 3. At the same time, the image displayed on monitor 22 is recorded in memory unit 26.

[0023] In addition, a notification sound is sounded from the speaker 24b of the room master unit 2 to notify the resident that the delivery box 3 has been opened. This notification sound is different from the ring tone sounded by operating the front door slave unit 1.

[0024] Based on information from an illuminance sensor provided in camera 12, slave CPU 16 functions as an illumination control unit, and when the brightness (illuminance) falls below a predetermined level, illumination unit 15 turns on in synchronization with the activation of camera 12. Also, if camera 12 has a backlight correction function, backlight correction is performed, and display and recording on monitor 22 are performed. Furthermore, if the display and recording settings of the monitor 22 when the door open signal is received are for an image with a maximum angle of view such as 180 degrees, a wide-angle image is displayed and recorded without zooming.

[0025] In this way, the image displayed on monitor 22 when a call is received can be different from the image displayed or recorded on monitor 22 when delivery box 3 is opened. This makes it possible to display an image on monitor 22 that makes it easy to identify the visitor, and when delivery box 3 is operated, it is possible to display and further record an image that allows the operator of delivery box 3 to be identified, which helps improve security. Furthermore, when the door of the delivery box 3 is opened, the room master unit 2 notifies the person at home, so that the person at home can be made aware of the fact and can take prompt action if the person is suspicious. In addition, when the imaging environment of the camera 12 is dark, the lighting unit 15 is turned on, so that an image that allows the situation to be confirmed can be recorded.

[0026] In the above embodiment, the image recorded upon receiving the door open signal is either a predetermined zoom image or a wide-angle image with the maximum angle of view, but it is also possible to switch between the two and record. For example, wide and zoom images may be alternately recorded every three seconds, which is useful for identifying a suspicious person operating the delivery box 3 and understanding their behavior. Furthermore, although the camera 12 is configured to capture images at a wide angle of 180 degrees, it may also be configured to capture images at a wide angle of about 160 degrees, and even at this angle it is possible to capture images over a wide range and have the same functionality as a 180-degree wide-angle camera. Furthermore, the sensor device 3a of the delivery box 3 may be directly connected to the room master unit 2, or may be connected to the entrance slave unit 1 or the room master unit 2 wirelessly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1·· Entrance door sub-unit, 2·· Room main unit, 3·· Delivery box, 3a·· Sensor device, 10·· Intercom system, 11·· Call button, 12·· Camera, 15·· Lighting Department, 16··Sub-unit CPU (lighting control unit), 21··Call button, 22··Monitor, 25··Operation unit, 26··Memory unit, 27··Main unit CPU (video control unit, alarm sound control unit).

Claims

1. An intercom system having a door slave unit for calling a resident and a room master unit for responding to the call, the door slave unit having a camera for capturing images of visitors, the room master unit having a monitor for displaying images captured by the camera and a memory unit for recording images, The delivery box is provided with a door-opening signal that is output to the outside when the door is opened, and a receiving unit that receives the door-opening signal is provided in either the entrance slave unit or the room master unit, When the entrance slave unit is operated to make a call, a predetermined first area of ​​an image pickup area at a maximum angle of view of the camera is digitally zoomed and displayed on the monitor, an image control unit that, upon receiving the door-open signal, performs at least one of a wide display in which the image captured at the maximum angle of view of the camera is displayed on the monitor, and a zoom display in which a predetermined second area of ​​the image capture area at the maximum angle of view of the camera is digitally zoomed and displayed on the monitor; The intercom system is characterized in that, upon receiving the door-open signal, the image control unit further switches between the image captured at the maximum angle of view of the camera and an image zoomed in on a specified second area within the image capture area at the maximum angle of view of the camera, and records both images in the memory unit.

2. The intercom system described in claim 1, characterized in that, when the video control unit receives the door open signal, it alternates between recording the video captured at the maximum angle of view of the camera and recording the video zoomed in on the second area at predetermined intervals.

3. The intercom system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when the receiving unit receives the door-open signal, the room master unit has an alarm control unit that sounds an alarm to notify the user that the door has been opened.

4. An intercom system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the camera is equipped with an illuminance sensor, and the entrance unit has a lighting unit for night lighting and a lighting control unit that turns on the lighting unit when the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor is below a predetermined level.

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