JP5494327B2 - Wireless communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication system including a parent device and a child device that is electronically connected to the parent device by wireless communication. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wireless communication signal between the parent device and the child device. The present invention relates to a wireless communication system having a function of reducing interference with the system.

  Conventionally, in a cordless telephone system, when wireless communication is performed between a master unit and a slave unit, radio waves are always transmitted and received at a constant power, for example, 10 mW. As a result, in the cordless telephone system, it is possible to make a call even if the parent device and the child device are separated from each other, but there is a problem that the contents of the call are easily wiretapped by a third party.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-55948) discloses a communication device that prevents wiretapping and suppresses unnecessary power consumption. In this communication apparatus, each of the parent device and the child device measures the electric field strength of the received radio wave from the other party, and transmits the result as a signal in a band different from the voice transmission frequency band. In each of the master unit and the slave unit, the transmission power is increased when the field strength result of the received radio wave from the other party is low, and the transmission power is decreased when the field strength result of the received radio wave is high.

  In the invention of this patent document 1, when the slave unit is located very close to the master unit, for example, when it is placed on the charging stand of the master unit, how to control the transmission power is It is not specified.

  By the way, in Japan, most radio frequency bands are allocated for communication and broadcasting, and use is not permitted unless a license is obtained. However, wireless communication in a frequency band near 2.4 GHz can be used without obtaining a license if it is below a predetermined output. Therefore, various devices using the 2.4 GHz band electromagnetic wave or wireless have been developed. A digital cordless telephone system that performs communication using the 2.4 GHz band electromagnetic wave between a parent machine and a child machine of the cordless telephone system has also become widespread.

  However, devices using these 2.4 GHz band radio frequencies are not only digital cordless telephone systems, but also a wide range of devices using wireless LAN devices and Blue Tooth (registered trademark) connections. If used in, there arises a problem of mutual interference of radio communications.

  The following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-1608076) uses a control signal transmitted from a master unit to a slave unit as slot configuration data, and intermittently transmits this slot configuration control signal at regular intervals. A digital cordless telephone base unit is disclosed in which transmissions at regular intervals are randomly thinned out. As a result, even if multiple master units want to send control signals to each slave unit at exactly the same timing, it is possible to prevent communication settings with the master unit from becoming impossible in each slave unit. doing.

  In the invention of the following Patent Document 2, it is possible to avoid interference with the handset of each digital cordless telephone system, but about reducing the adverse effect on the wireless LAN system using the same radio frequency band. It is not mentioned in Patent Document 2.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-55948 JP-A-8-168076

  An object of the present invention is a wireless communication system that includes a parent device and a child device that is electronically connected to the parent device by wireless communication, and transmits a radio signal from the parent device to the child device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication system that reduces interference with a communication system that uses the same frequency band and suppresses unnecessary power consumption when transmitting the wireless signal.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a digital cordless telephone system that includes a master unit and a slave unit that is electronically connected to the master unit by wireless communication, and transmits a radio signal from the master unit to the slave unit. When transmitting a radio signal to the slave unit, it is to reduce interference with a wireless LAN system or the like using the same frequency band and to suppress unnecessary power consumption.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a wireless communication device of the present invention is a wireless communication device capable of communicating with a child device by wireless communication , and the wireless communication device registers the child device in a memory of the wireless communication device. Registering means; and transmitting means for transmitting a radio signal to the slave unit registered in the memory, and when the slave unit is not registered in the memory, the transmitting unit transmits to the slave unit The wireless signal to be transmitted is turned off .

In addition, the wireless communication device of the present invention includes a slave unit state determination unit that determines whether or not the slave unit is physically connected to the wireless communication device, and the slave unit registered in the memory includes When there is only one unit, and the slave unit state determination unit determines that the slave unit is physically connected to a wireless communication device, the transmission unit transmits a radio signal transmitted to the slave unit It is characterized by reducing power .

In addition, the wireless communication device of the present invention includes a slave unit state determination unit that determines whether or not the slave unit is physically connected to the wireless communication device, and the slave unit registered in the memory includes There is only one unit, and the slave unit state determination means is configured so that the slave unit is physically connected to a wireless communication device.
When it is determined that the wireless communication device is present, the transmission means turns off transmission of the wireless signal to the slave device .

The wireless communication device of the present invention further includes a charging state determination unit that determines whether or not the child device is mounted and charged in the wireless communication device, and the child device registered in the memory is 1 A wireless signal transmitted by the transmitting unit to the slave unit when the charging unit is determined to be mounted on the wireless communication device and charged. The transmission power is reduced .

The wireless communication device of the present invention further includes a charging state determination unit that determines whether or not the child device is mounted and charged in the wireless communication device, and the child device registered in the memory is 1 A wireless signal transmitted by the transmitting unit to the slave unit when the charging unit is determined to be mounted on the wireless communication device and charged. The transmission is turned off .

  With the above configuration, the wireless communication system of the present invention exhibits the following excellent effects. That is, according to the wireless communication system of the present invention, when there is only one slave unit registered in the memory of the master unit and the slave unit is physically connected to the master unit, The transmission power of the radio signal transmitted from the transmission means to the slave unit is reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce interference with a communication system using the same frequency band by a radio signal transmitted from the parent device to the child device, and to suppress unnecessary power consumption.

  Further, according to the wireless communication system of the present invention, when there is only one slave unit registered in the memory of the master unit and the slave unit is physically connected to the master unit, The transmission means turns off the radio signal transmitted to the slave unit. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate interference with a communication system using the same frequency band by this radio signal, and it is possible to eliminate unnecessary power consumption.

  In addition, according to one aspect of the wireless communication system of the present invention, when there is only one slave unit registered in the memory of the master unit, and the slave unit is mounted on the master unit and is charged. Makes the transmission power of the radio signal transmitted from the transmission unit of the master unit to the slave unit low. Thereby, it is possible to reduce interference with a communication system using the same frequency band by a radio signal transmitted from the parent device to the child device, and to suppress unnecessary power consumption.

  In addition, according to one aspect of the wireless communication system of the present invention, when there is only one slave unit registered in the memory of the master unit, and the slave unit is mounted on the master unit and is charged. Turns off the radio signal transmitted from the transmission means of the master unit to the slave unit. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate interference with a communication system that uses the same frequency band by a radio signal transmitted from the parent device to the child device, and unnecessary power consumption can be eliminated.

  Further, according to one aspect of the wireless communication system of the present invention, when no slave unit is registered in the memory of the master unit, the radio signal to the slave unit that does not need to be transmitted is turned off. As a result, interference with a communication system using the same frequency band can be eliminated, and at the same time, wasteful power consumption can be eliminated.

1 is an overview of a digital cordless telephone system 10 according to the present embodiment. It is an internal block diagram of the main | base station 100 which comprises the digital cordless telephone system of a present Example. It is an internal block diagram of the subunit | mobile_unit 200 which comprises the digital cordless telephone system of a present Example. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of transmission power control of the parent device 100 with respect to the child device 200.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings together with embodiments. However, the following embodiments are described by exemplifying a digital cordless telephone system as a wireless communication system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is specified to this digital cordless telephone system. However, the present invention can be applied equally to other wireless communication systems without departing from the technical idea shown in the claims.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of each part of the digital cordless telephone system 10 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an overview of a digital cordless telephone system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  The digital cordless telephone system 10 includes a parent device 100 and a child device 200. Master unit 100 is electronically connected to slave unit 200 using radio communication, particularly 2.4 GHz band radio frequency signals.

The base unit 100 includes a liquid crystal display 120 provided at the upper front of the housing, a dial button 131 including a plurality of buttons provided at the front of the housing, various function buttons 132 , a microphone 172 provided at the lower front of the housing, and provided on the side of the housing. The antenna 184 is formed in a shape in which the front surface of the housing is partially depressed so that a slave unit 200 to be described later can be placed, and the slave unit 200 can be charged while the slave unit 200 is placed. Charging stand 141 and speaker 171 provided in the recessed portion of charging stand 141.

  The liquid crystal display 120 is configured in a housing or formed separately from the housing, and is connected to the housing by a hinge so that the tilt can be freely changed.

  The dial button 131 includes a numeric keypad for inputting characters such as characters and phone numbers when making a call or registering a phone book, other selection keys, setting keys, and the like. The various function buttons 132 include a function key for dialing a registered telephone number with one touch, a function key for setting or canceling an answering machine, a function key for listening to recorded requirements, and the like.

  The microphone 172 collects the voice uttered in front of the parent device 100 without using the child device 200, converts it into an electric signal, and transmits it to the telephone line or the child device 200 by a method described later.

  The antenna 184 is integrated with the side surface of the housing or attached by a hinge so that the direction of the antenna itself can be changed, and transmits a 2.4 GHz band radio frequency signal processed in the parent device 100 to the child device 200.

  As described above, the charging stand 141 is formed in a shape in which the front surface of the housing of the parent device 100 is partially recessed so that the child device 200 can be placed thereon. In addition, when the slave unit 200 is placed, the master unit side charge terminal (not shown) that contacts the slave unit side charge terminal provided on the housing constituting the slave unit 200 and is electrically connected to enable charging. ).

  The speaker 171 processes a sound signal transmitted from the handset 200 via a telephone line or generates a sound or makes a ringtone.

  The handset 200 includes an earpiece 261, a liquid crystal display 220, various function buttons 232, a dial button 231, and a microphone 262.

  The earpiece 261 has a built-in speaker, and the user can listen to the call voice by using the earpiece 261 with his / her ear when in use. The liquid crystal display 220 displays the date and time, the extension number of the slave unit 200, the name when the name is registered in the slave unit, other settings, and the "use line" when the master unit and other slave units are busy. A display indicating that the parent device is being used such as “medium” is displayed.

  The various function buttons 232 include a cross button, a call button, a call cut button, and the like provided below the liquid crystal display 220. By operating these various function buttons 232, it is possible to use various functions such as setting or canceling an answering machine, starting a call, canceling a call or operation, and checking a history of outgoing / incoming calls.

  The dial button 231 is a plurality of buttons provided below the various function buttons 232, and includes a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number when placing a call, a hold button for holding a call, and the like.

  The microphone 262 is built in the lowermost part of the housing of the child device 200, and when the user speaks with his / her mouth approached during a call, the sound is collected and converted into an electrical signal.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the internal configuration of base unit 100 constituting digital cordless telephone system 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of base unit 100 constituting the digital cordless telephone system of this embodiment.

  The master unit 100 includes a control unit 110, a liquid crystal display 120, an operation unit 130, a slave unit registration unit 112, a slave unit state determination unit 113, a charging unit 140, an incoming call detection unit 150, a line connection unit 160, a voice processing unit 170, and transmission / reception. A portion 180 is provided.

The control unit 110 manages each circuit based on a control program stored in a memory 111 including, for example, a flash memory. The control unit 110 registers a slave unit ID and a slave unit registration unit 112 for registering a slave unit ID. A slave unit state determination unit 113 for determining whether or not the connection is established. The ID of the registered slave unit, the number of registered slave units, and information indicating whether the slave unit is physically connected to the master unit are stored in the memory 111 described above.

  Further, the memory 111 stores various data such as a telephone book. This telephone book can store personal information such as name, telephone number, mail address, and address.

  The liquid crystal display 120 displays the date, time, and setting status of various functions when no operation is performed. Further, during a call, the telephone number of the call destination and the name of the call destination registered in association with the telephone number are displayed. When the slave unit is in use, an extension number of the slave unit being used and a message indicating that the slave unit is in use are displayed.

  The operation unit 130 includes the dial button 131 and various function buttons 132 described above.

  The slave unit registration unit 112 registers the slave unit 200 in the master unit 100 by recording the ID of the slave unit 200 registered in the memory 111 of the control unit 110, the name assigned to the slave unit 200 by the user, and the like. This registration process is performed by the user operating various function buttons 132.

  The slave unit state determination unit 113 determines whether or not the slave unit 200 is registered as a slave unit of the master unit 100, more specifically, information such as an ID of the slave unit 200 is registered in the memory of the master unit 100. If it is registered, the number is also determined. When only one slave unit 200 is registered in the memory of the master unit 100, the slave unit state determination unit 113 is placed on the status of the slave unit 200, that is, on the charging stand 141 of the master unit 100. It is determined whether it is in a state. Whether or not the child device 200 is placed on the charging stand 141 is determined by the child device state determination unit 113 monitoring the voltage or charging current between the charging terminals on the parent device provided on the charging stand 141, and this charging voltage. It is detected by the change in value and the presence or absence of charging current. Alternatively, the charging stand 141 is provided with a contact (not shown) for detecting on / off hook, and when the slave unit 200 is placed, the contact point is operated to detect the placement of the slave unit 200. Also good. Furthermore, the placement of the handset 200 on the charging stand 141 may be detected by providing an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like on the charging stand.

  The charging unit 140 includes the charging stand 141 described above. The charging unit 140 supplies a predetermined DC voltage to the slave unit 200 while the slave unit 200 is mounted on the charging stand 141, and charges the battery built in the power source unit 240 of the slave unit 200. Do. Further, the charging unit 140 sends the value of the charging voltage (current) to the battery to the slave unit state determination unit 113. In response to this, the slave unit state determination unit 113 receives the status of the slave unit, that is, the slave unit 200 It is determined whether or not the battery is placed on the charging stand 141.

  The incoming call detection unit 150 shapes the incoming signal from the telephone line into a pulse signal and outputs it to detect the incoming call. The line connection unit 160 is connected to a telephone line to release / close the line, or performs a calling process based on the telephone number information stored in the memory 111 or the telephone number information transferred from the slave unit 200. And connect to an external telephone device via a telephone line.

  The audio processing unit 170 is connected to a speaker 171 and a microphone 172, and an analog signal converted from audio in the microphone 172 is sampled at a predetermined frequency to be converted into a digital signal, and conversely, the digital signal from the transmission / reception unit 180 is converted. It is converted into an analog signal, amplified, and produced by a speaker 171.

  The transmission / reception unit 180 includes a modulation / demodulation unit 181, an RF / IF unit 182, a power amplifier 183, and an antenna 184. The modem unit 181 encodes and compresses the digital signal input from the voice processing unit 170. The digital signal compressed by the modulation / demodulation unit 181 is converted into a transmission radio signal, for example, a 2.4 GHz band signal by the RF / IF unit 182, amplified by the power amplifier 183 to a power required for transmission, for example, 10 mW, and the antenna 184. Send to and send.

In addition, the signal input from the antenna 184 is lowered to an intermediate frequency such as 600 MHz by the RF / IF unit 182, and then the digital signal is extracted from the carrier wave by the modem unit 181 and the compressed data is restored. Decode and output to the audio processing unit 170.

  As will be described later, the power amplifier 183 is changed from the parent device 100 to the child device 200 when the child device state determination unit 113 determines that the child device 200 is placed on the charging stand 141 of the parent device 100. The transmission power of the radio signal to be transmitted is reduced or turned off.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the internal configuration of the handset 200 constituting the digital cordless telephone system 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the handset 200 constituting the digital cordless telephone system of this embodiment.

  The subunit | mobile_unit 200 is provided with the control means 210, the liquid crystal display 220, the operation part 230, the power supply part 240, the charging part 250, the audio | voice processing part 260, and the transmission / reception part 270, and is comprised.

  The control unit 210 is a processor including a memory 211 including a RAM and a ROM. The control unit 210 manages each circuit based on a control program recorded in the memory 211, and controls and supervises the operation of each unit of the child device 200. The memory 211 stores various data in the phone book, similar to the parent device 100.

  The liquid crystal display 220 displays the setting status of various functions such as the date and time, the extension number of the slave unit, and the setting of the answering machine when no operation is performed. Further, the telephone number of the called party and the call time are displayed during a call, and a message indicating that the line is in use is displayed when the parent device 100 and another child device 200 are busy. The information displayed on the liquid crystal display 220 reflects the contents of the radio signal received from the master unit 100.

  The operation unit 230 includes the above-described dial button 231 and various function buttons 232.

  The power supply unit 240 includes a battery, and power is supplied from the battery to each unit of the slave unit 200. The charging unit 250 is formed in a shape to be placed on the charging base 141 of the charging unit 140 of the base unit 100, and further, a terminal that receives power from the base unit side charging terminal provided on the charging base 141, A charging circuit is provided.

  The audio processing unit 260 is connected to a speaker 261 and a microphone 262, and the analog signal converted from the audio in the microphone 262 is sampled at a predetermined frequency and converted into a digital signal, or conversely, the digital signal from the transmission / reception unit 270 is converted. It is converted into an analog signal, amplified, and produced by a speaker 261.

  The transmission / reception unit 270 includes a modem unit 271, an RF / IF unit 272, a power amplifier 273, and an antenna 274. The modem unit 271 encodes and compresses the digital signal input from the audio processing unit 260. The digital signal compressed by the modulation / demodulation unit 271 is converted into a transmission radio signal, for example, a 2.4 GHz band signal by the RF / IF unit 272, amplified by the power amplifier 273 to a power required for transmission, for example, 10 mW, and the antenna 274 Send to and send.

Further, the signal is RF / IF section 272 that has entered the antenna 274, for example, down to an intermediate frequency of 600MHz, etc., then restores the compressed data is taken out of the digital signal from the carrier wave by the modem unit 271, which is sign-signal Is decoded and output to the audio processing unit 260.

  Next, the operation of the digital cordless telephone system 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of transmission power control of base unit 100 with respect to handset 200.

  FIG. 4 shows the operation when the digital cordless telephone system is in a standby state. In the digital cordless telephone system, unlike the analog cordless telephone, the master unit periodically transmits signals to the slave unit wirelessly even in a standby state. The signal transmitted from the parent device includes information indicating the state of the parent device (for example, that the parent device is in an external line call).

  In step S <b> 401, the child device state determination unit 113 of the parent device 100 refers to the memory 111 and determines whether or not the child device 200 is registered in the parent device 100. If the child device 200 is not registered, the process proceeds to step S404. If the child device 200 is registered, the process proceeds to step S402.

  In step S402, the slave unit state determination unit 113 refers to the memory 111 and determines whether the number of slave units 200 registered in the master unit 100 is only one. If there are not only one registered slave device 200 but a plurality of slave devices 200, the process proceeds to step S405. If only one slave 200 is registered, the process proceeds to step S403.

  In step S <b> 403, the slave unit state determination unit 113 determines whether or not the slave unit 200 is placed on the charging stand 141. As a method for detecting that the child device 200 is placed on the charging stand 141, for example, the child device state determination unit 113 can determine the charging voltage or charging current between the charging terminals on the parent device provided on the charging stand 141. This is monitored and detected by changes in the charging voltage and current. Alternatively, the charging stand 141 is provided with a contact (not shown) for detecting on / off hook, and when the slave unit 200 is placed, the contact point is operated to detect the placement of the slave unit 200. Also good. Furthermore, the placement of the handset 200 on the charging stand 141 may be detected by providing an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like on the charging stand.

  If it is determined in step S403 that the slave unit state determination unit 113 places the slave unit 200 on the charging stand 141, the slave unit state determination unit 113 registers the slave unit 200 in the master unit 100 in step S401. If it is determined that the process has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S404. In the process of step S404, the power amplifier 183 of the transmission / reception unit 180 sets the transmission power for the child device 200 to a lower power than normal or off, and ends the process.

  When it is determined in step S402 that there are a plurality of slave devices 200 registered in the master device 100, or in step S403, it is determined that the slave device 200 registered in the master device 100 is not placed on the charging stand 141. In step S405, the power amplifier 183 of the transmission / reception unit 180 sets the transmission power for the child device 200 to a normal value, for example, 10 mW, transmits a signal, and ends the process.

  As described above, in this embodiment apparatus, when the slave unit 200 is placed on the master unit 100 and only one slave unit 200 is registered in the master unit 100, the master unit 100 is the slave unit 100. The transmission power is reduced with respect to the apparatus 200 to transmit a radio signal, or the transmission of the radio signal is stopped. For this reason, in a state where the slave unit 200 is placed in the immediate vicinity of the master unit 100, it is possible not only to avoid wasteful power consumption for wireless transmission, but also due to the radio waves transmitted from the master unit. It is possible to avoid problems such as malfunction of electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital cordless telephone system 100 Master unit 110 Control part 111 Memory 112 Slave unit registration part 113 Slave unit state determination part 120 Liquid crystal display 130 Operation part 140 Charging part 141 Charging stand 150 Incoming detection part 160 Line connection part 170 Voice processing part 180 Transmission / reception Unit 200 slave unit 210 control unit 220 liquid crystal display 230 operation unit 240 power source unit 250 charging unit 260 voice processing unit 270 transmission / reception unit

Claims (5)

In a wireless communication device that can communicate with a slave by wireless communication ,
The wireless communication device
Registration means for registering the slave unit in a memory of the wireless communication device ;
Transmitting means for transmitting a radio signal to the slave unit registered in the memory;
With
The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the slave unit is not registered in the memory, the transmission unit turns off a radio signal to be transmitted to the slave unit . The wireless communication device
Comprising a handset state determination means for determining whether or not the handset is physically connected to the wireless communication device;
When there is only one slave unit registered in the memory and the slave unit state determination unit determines that the slave unit is physically connected to a wireless communication device, the transmission unit The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transmission power of a wireless signal transmitted to the slave unit is reduced. The wireless communication device
Comprising a handset state determination means for determining whether or not the handset is physically connected to the wireless communication device;
When there is only one slave unit registered in the memory and the slave unit state determination unit determines that the slave unit is physically connected to a wireless communication device, the transmission unit The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transmission of a wireless signal to the slave unit is turned off. The wireless communication device
Charging state determination means for determining whether or not the slave unit is mounted and charged in the wireless communication device;
The transmission is performed when there is only one slave unit registered in the memory and the charging state determination unit determines that the slave unit is mounted on the wireless communication device and is charged. The means reduces the transmission power of a radio signal transmitted to the slave unit.
The wireless communication device described. The wireless communication device
Charging state determination means for determining whether or not the slave unit is mounted and charged in the wireless communication device;
The transmission is performed when there is only one slave unit registered in the memory and the charging state determination unit determines that the slave unit is mounted on the wireless communication device and is charged. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unit turns off transmission of a wireless signal transmitted to the slave unit.

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