Distributed intercom system

• US 20060222153A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Legrand Home Systems Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: On-Q/Legrand
• Inventors: Miller, Matthew T., Bruggemeier, William E., Fletcher, Donald R., Tarkoff, Daniel M., Hahne, Amy J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,764,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/159
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186

Abstract

A distributed intercom system including a centralized interconnection unit with a central control device for receiving, processing and transmitting signals, a power distribution device for transmitting a power signal for distribution and at least one cable connection port for receiving a cable connection therein. The system includes a cable with a cable connection element for connection to the cable connection port, and the cable transmits a control signal, a line-level, analog audio signal and the power signal. One or more remote user interface units are connected to and in communication with the centralized interconnection unit through the cable, and the remote user interface unit includes an amplifier, a speaker device and a microphone device. At least one component of the remote user interface unit is powered by the power signal transmitted by the power distribution device.

Claims

1. A distributed intercom system, comprising:

a centralized interconnection unit including;

(i) a central control device configured to receive, process and transmit signals;

(ii) a power distribution device configured to transmit a power signal for distribution; and

(iii) at least one cable connection port configured to receive a cable connection therein;

at least one cable having a cable connection element configured for connection to the cable connection port, the cable further configured to transmit a control signal, a line-level, analog audio signal and the power signal; and

at least one remote user interface unit connected to and in communication with the centralized interconnection unit through the at least one cable, the at least one remote user interface unit including;

(i) an amplifier configured to amplify the line-level analog audio signal and provide an amplified audio signal;

(ii) a speaker device configured to output the amplified audio signal; and

(iii) a microphone device configured to receive audible input and generate an audio input signal;

wherein at least one component of the remote user interface unit is powered at the remote user interface unit by the power signal transmitted by the power distribution device of the centralized interconnection unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable is Category-type cable, CAT 3 cable, CAT 5 cable, CAT 5E cable, CAT 6 cable or any combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user interface unit includes an enclosure for at least partially housing the amplifier, the speaker device and the microphone device, the enclosure sized and shaped so as to fit into:

(i) a one-gang decorator opening;

(ii) a two-gang decorator opening;

(iii) a three-gang decorator opening, or any combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user interface unit includes an enclosure for at least partially housing the amplifier, the speaker device and the microphone device, the enclosure configured as a standalone, portable unit for positioning upon a substantially flat surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user interface unit includes at least one control interface element configured to permit a user to engage in a distributed control function at the remote user interface unit through interaction with the at least one control interface element.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the function is a monitor function, a mute function, a selective call function, a broadcast function, a telephone answering function, a call function, a call function across a network, a call function to another remote user interface unit, a call function to the centralized interconnection unit, a call function to another centralized interconnection unit, a door activation function, a volume control function, a hands-free talk function, or any combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized interconnection unit includes at least one control interface element configured to permit a user to engage in a control function at the centralized interconnection unit through interaction with the at least one control interface element.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized interconnection unit further comprises at least one external system connection port for communication with an external system, thereby facilitating communication between the centralized interconnection unit and the external system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the external system is a telephone system, an audio system, a security system, a network, an external telephone system, an internal telephone system, a home automation system, a video system, or any combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the external system is an audio system, the central control device of the centralized interconnection unit configured to communicate with and mute an audio signal emanating from the audio system when a specified condition arises.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the external system is a network, the central control device of the centralized interconnection unit configured to communicate with a system over the network.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the external system is a telephone system, an audio system, a security system, another network, an external telephone system, an internal telephone system, a home automation system, a remote user interface unit, another centralized interconnection unit, a remote user interface unit in communication with another centralized interconnection unit, a system module, or any combination thereof.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user interface unit is in the form of a telephone handset.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the handset is operable through existing telephone wiring, which is in communication with the centralized interconnection unit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized interconnection unit, the remote user interface unit, or any combination thereof, includes an enclosure having a display portion with at least one status indicator configured to visually display the status of the remote user interface unit, the status of the centralized interconnection unit, a function of the remote user interface unit, a function of the centralized interconnection unit, a state of the remote user interface unit, a state of the centralized interconnection unit, the status of an external system, a function of the external system, a state of the external system, or any combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user interface unit includes an enclosure for at least partially housing the amplifier, the speaker device and the microphone device, the enclosure having a display portion with at least one status indicator configured to visually display the status of the remote user interface unit, a function of the remote user interface unit, a state of the remote user interface unit, the status of another remote user interface unit, a function of another remote user interface unit, a state of another remote user interface unit, or any combination thereof.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of remote user interface units in communication with the centralized interconnection unit via a corresponding and respective cable and cable connection port.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote user interface units is a central control unit in communication with the other remote user interface units via the centralized interconnection unit.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the central control device comprises control circuitry and configurable firmware configured to provide for the programmable control of the central control device, the remote user interface unit, or any combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized interconnection unit, the remote user interface unit, or any combination thereof include an audio recording device, an audiovisual recording device, a visual recording device, a video capture device, a digital recording device, a monitoring device, a temperature monitoring device, a weather monitoring device, a state monitoring device, or any combination thereof.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the centralized interconnection unit, the remote user interface unit, or any combination thereof is in communication with a video display system configured to visually display data obtained from the centralized interconnection unit, the remote user interface, or any combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the centralized interconnection unit, the remote user interface unit, or any combination thereof includes radio frequency filter circuitry configured to substantially eliminate electromagnetic field coupling from radio frequency transmitters.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the component powered is the amplifier, the speaker device, the microphone device, a component positioned at the remote user interface device, a control interface element, a display, an audio recording device, an audiovisual recording device, a visual recording device, a video capture device, a digital recording device, a monitoring device, a temperature monitoring device, a weather monitoring device, a state monitoring device, or any combination thereof.

24. An intercom system, comprising:

a centralized interconnection unit including a central control device configured to receive, process and transmit signals; and

at least one remote user interface unit connected to and in communication with the centralized interconnection unit, the at least one remote user interface unit including an enclosure configured to house;

(i) a speaker device configured to output an amplified audio signal; and

(ii) a microphone device configured to receive audible input and generate an audio input signal;

wherein the enclosure is sized and shaped so as to fit into;

(i) a one-gang decorator opening;

(ii) a two-gang decorator opening;

(iii) a three-gang decorator opening, or any combination thereof.

25. A distributed intercom system, comprising:

a centralized interconnection unit including a central control device configured to receive, process and transmit signals; and

at least one remote user interface unit connected to and in communication with the centralized interconnection unit, the at least one remote user interface unit including;

(i) a speaker device configured to output an amplified audio signal;

(ii) a microphone device configured to receive audible input and generate an audio input signal; and

(iii) at least one control interface element;

wherein at least one control interface element is configured to permit a user to engage in a distributed control function at the remote user interface unit through interaction with the at least one control interface element.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the function is a monitor function, a mute function, a selective call function, a broadcast function, a telephone answering function, a call function, a call function across a network, a call function to another remote user interface unit, a call function to the centralized interconnection unit, a call function to another centralized interconnection unit, a door activation function, a volume control function, a hands-free talk function, or any combination thereof.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the remote user interface unit is in the form of a telephone handset in communication with the centralized interconnection unit through existing telephone wiring.