System and Method for Picture Interphone Using Camcorder and TV

The present invention relates to a picture interphone system for monitoring visitors, and more particularly to a picture interphone system that uses TV and Camcorder for recording and monitoring the picture of the visitor. After the visitor has gone away, the system automatically turns off.

There are two types of conventional interphone systems. The first conventional picture interphone system includes a camera, monitor, and its ancillary parts. It is usually used at home. The user can watch the visitor on his own monitor accompanied by an alarm, when the visitor pushes the button of the system. Such a conventional interphone system can not record a picture of the visitor. A second type of the conventional interphone system includes a camera, recorder, monitor, and its ancillary parts. It is usually used in order to monitor or record the picture of the visitor at a security place, for example, a bank or the labratory. However, such a conventional picture interphone system must be turned on during all the time when the user wants to record the picture of the visitors. These conventional picture interphone systems are used only for their own exclusive use as picture interphone systems.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a picture interphone system the use of existing TV and Camcorder without using special equipment as required in a conventional picture interphone system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture interphone system which is capable of recording the picture of the visitor while a user is not at home or when the user wants to record the picture of the visitor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a picture interphone system having a TV automatically turned on and off for monitoring by the signal of a switch actuated by the visitor. In the present invention monitoring and recording the picture of the visitor can be operated at the same time.

The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood more completely from the following detailed description of presentely preferred, illustrated, embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of picture interphone system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of picture interphone system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are a flow chart of picture interphone system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an alternative preferred embodiment of picture interphone system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart of picture interphone system of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6(a) and (b) is a flow chart of picture interphone system of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2, and 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate a preferred embodiment of a picture interphone system using existing TV and Camcorder embodying the present invention, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout several views of the drawings. The system includes an interphone power switch (SW1), a camcorder (1) which has a microprocessor (1-1), an auto-focus control means (1-2), a melody output means (1-3), a camcorder power control means (1-4), a camera means (1-5), a record/reproduce means (1-6), a camcorder power switch (SW2), a monitor/record switch (SW3), an external jack for 1 (EXJ1), an external jack for 2 (EXJ2), a video output port, and a audio output port, and a TV (2) which has a TV power control means (2-1) and a TV/monitor selector (2-2). A camcorder (1) is located where it can capture a picture of a visitor. An interphone switch (SW1) is connected to the camcorder (1) through an external jack (EXJ1) of the camcorder (1). A microprocessor (1-1) of the camcorder (1) controlls the present system. An auto-focus control means (1-2) is connected to the microprocessor for controlling the lens of the camcorder the use of a focus motor not shown. A camcorder power control means (1-4) for controlling the power of the camcorder is connected to the microprocessor. A camcorder power switch (SW2) is connected to the microprocessor. A monitor/record switch (SW3) which can be selected to a monitor mode or a record mode by the user is connected to the microprocessor (1-1). A melody output means (1-3) for outputting a signal in order to alarm the user is connected between the microprocessor (1-1) and a TV/monitor selector of a TV (2) through one of external jacks (EXJ2). A TV power control means (2-1) for turning on/off the TV by the signal of a microprocessor (1-1) is connected to the microprocessor (1-1) through one of external jacks (EXJ2). There is a TV/Monitor selector (2-2) which, in case of the user's watching TV program, can convert the TV to a monitor mode for the user to observe the visitor. The selector (2-2) is connected to the microprocessor (1-1), a video out port, and an audio output port of the camcorder through external jacks (EXJ2).

The operation of the picture interphone system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, will be described in the following description with reference to the drawings, FIGS. 2 to 3(a) and 3(b).

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the interphone switch 1 (SW1) is pushed by a visitor, the power of the camcorder (1) is turned on. It is determined whether or not the monitor/record switch is in the monitor mode. When a monitor/record switch is on the monitor mode, which is the state that allows the user to watch the visitor through the TV at home, the microprocessor of the camcorder sends control signal and melody signal to the TV for turning on the TV, switching the TV/monitor output means of the TV to the monitor mode, and alarming the user by the melody signal. If the monitor/record switch isn't on the monitor mode, which is the state that the user can not watch the visitor through the TV at home and wants the camcorder to record the picture of the visitor, the camcorder (1) starts recording. It is checked whether or not the camcorder power switch (SW2) is turned off by the user and whether or not the auto-focus control means has been stopped for a certain period. When the camcorder power switch (SW2) is turned off or the auto-focus control means has been stopped for the certain time, the camcorder is set to an initial mode which is the state that this system is ready to operate at any time. The TV/monitor selector is switched to the TV mode and/or the TV is turned off.

FIG. 3(a) and (b) is a control flow chart in accordance with the invention as shown in the FIG. 1. When the interphone switch is pushed by the visitor, an interrupt signal occurs through a interrupt port (P1) of a microprocessor (1-1). The microprocessor (1-1) disables the interrupt port (P1), so the operation of the present invention can be maintained not to be started again even if the interphone switch (SW1) is periodically and continuously pushed by the user. Then the power of the camcorder (1) is turned on through the camcorder power control means (1-4). It is determined whether or not a monitor/record switch (SW3) is on monitor mode. When the monitor/record switch is on monitor mode which is the state that the user can monitor, a TV power control means (2-1) is checked to be on or off. If the power of TV is off, TV is turned on and TV power flag is set for power-off after the monitor operation is finished. If TV power is on, the power flag is cleared and a TV/monitor selector (2-2) is set to monitor mode. Then the picture captured by camcorder (1) can be monitored through TV (2). A melody output means (1-3) outputs the melody signal for alarming the user to monitor the visitor. After starting to output the melody signal and the picture of the visitor, the melody output means stops outputting the melody signal in a predetermined time. When the monitor/record switch (SW3) is on record mode which is the state that the user wants to record the visitor, for example, if the user is out, the camcorder (1) starts recording the picture of the visitor. Then the camcorder power flag is cleared for automatic power-off. It is checked whether a power switch (SW2) is on or off. When the user pushes the power switch (SW2) after watching the visitor, the power of the camcorder is turned off. If the power switch (SW2) is not pushed, it is checked whether a focus motor is running or stopping for a certain time. In case that there is any movement of the visitor, the focus motor operates continuously. In case that the focus motor does not operate in certain period, which means that the visitor has returned, then the focus motor does not move and then the system goes power-off system. It is determined whether the monitor/recorder switch (SW3) is on monitor mode. If the switch 3 is on record mode, the recording operation is paused. If the switch 3 is on monitor mode, the TV/monitor selector (2-2) is returned to TV mode, and then it is checked whether TV power flag is set. When TV power flag is set, the power of TV is turned off. That is, the TV is turned to initial state that the power of TV is off after TV is turned on for monitoring. That is, the TV is turned to initial state that the power of TV is off after TV is turned on for monitoring. After the recording of camcorder is paused or if the TV power flag is cleared, the interrupt port (P1) of the microprocessor is enabled to be able to receive the switching signal of the system switch (SW1). And the power of camcorder is turned off.

Referring to, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate a modified embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment it provides a means for operating two operation simultaneously, which are (1) recording of camcorder and (2) monitoring through TV.

As described above, the present invention could be used as a picture interphone system by using an existing camcorder and TV without using a special picture interphone system. This is described, for example, as follows.

In a case that the user goes away from home, the user set the monitor/record switch (SW3) of the camcorder to record mode. Then the camcorder records the picture of the visitor until the visitor leaves. The user can check the visitor by reviewing the recorded tape. In another case, when the user is watching TV, when the visitor pushes the button, the TV is turned to a monitor mode so the visitor can be observed. Then the user can turn off the power of camcorder when the user welcomes the visitor. Alternatively, the user might let the camcorder be automatically turned off after the visitor leaves because the user does not want to meet the visitor. Then the TV, which has been on monitor mode, is turned to TV mode again for the user's use. In another case when the power of TV is off, when the visitor pushes the TV is turned on and switched to monitor mode so the visitor can be checked. Then the user can turn off the power of camcorder or let it automatically turn off. Then the TV is switched to TV mode and turned off again. In another embodiment of the present invention is to provide the picture interphone system which can operate recording and monitoring at the same time. In a further embodiment of the present invention the picture interphone system has a multi-switch for selecting a plurality of operations which are a first operation that said recording means records and the user can also watch TV program and a second operation that said recording means records and the user can also watch the picture of the visitor. A third operation in that said recording means records, a fourth operation is that the user monitors the picture of the visitor, a fifth operation that the user watches the TV program and the picture of the visitor, and a sixth operation that the user watches the TV program and the picture of the visitor, and the picture of the visitor is recorded.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.