JPS59105731A - Communication device of automatic driving truck - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain communication despite the discordance of optical axes between a light transmitting part and a light receiving part, by providing communication devices consisting of a light transmitting part where the signal modulation light is diffused and a wide-angle light receiving part where said modulation light is received at the desired positions of an automatic driving truck and a building, respectively. CONSTITUTION:The signal sent from a central controller 1 is modulated at an optical modulating/demodulating part 3 of an optical transmitting/receiving device 2 of the center side provided on a wall, a ceiling, etc. and then transmitted from a light transmitting/receiving part 4. The transmitted light is diffused in a wide angle and reflected by a wall, a floor and a ceiling to be received at a light transmitting/receiving part 6 of automatic driving trucks 5A and 5B respectively. This received light is demodulated at an optical modulating/demodulating part 7. In this case, the coincidence of optical axes is not required since the part 6 has a wide angle. The transmission signal consists of an address of the truck 5A or 5B, the control data to be given to the truck 5A or 5B, and a data request. Therefore after demodulating, only the automatic driving truck of the corresponding address receives the control signal, and the control signal is transmitted to a truck controller. Thus the truck has the corresponding working.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a communication device for an automatic guided vehicle in which an optical transmitter and an optical receiver are not axially aligned (but can transmit and receive data).

Conventional communication methods between automatic guided vehicles and centers are: (1) In the electromagnetic induction type, a communication signal is superimposed on the guide wire in addition to the guide signal. ■Optical method uses wireless method,
was taken.

Recently, guideless automatic guided vehicles that do not use wire or tape have been proposed, such as electromagnetic induction and optical guidance.
The communication method for this is generally based on wireless pressure.

Wireless communication had problems such as (1) restrictions under the Radio Law, and (2) interference from strong external radio waves.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and instead of using light as a communication medium, it provides a communication device for an automatic guided vehicle that does not require communication lines and is not regulated by the Radio Law. The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

The drawings show one embodiment of the invention.

In this figure, 1 is a central control unit, 2 is an optical transmitter/receiver, and is composed of an optical quality demodulator 3 and an optical transmitter/receiver 4. 5A
, 5B are automatic guided vehicles, each of which has an optical transmitter/receiver unit 6. Optical modulation/demodulation section 1. It is composed of a transport vehicle control device 8.

Next, the operation will be explained. Here, a case will be described in which there are two automatic guided vehicles 5A and 5B in the central control device 1.

A signal from the central control device 1 is modulated by an optical quality demodulator 3 of a central optical transmitter/receiver 2 installed on a wall, ceiling, etc., and then transmitted from an optical transmitter/receiver 4. The emitted light is diffused in a wide angle and reflected from the walls, floor, and ceiling to the automatic guided vehicles 5A and 5B.
The light is received by the optical transmitter/receiver 6 and demodulated by the optical quality demodulator 7.

At this time, the optical transmitter/receiver 6 also has a wide angle pressure, so the optical axes do not need to be aligned.

The transmission signal is composed of the 7 addresses of the automatic guided vehicle 5A or 5B, control data and data requests to the automatic guided vehicle 5A and 5B, so after demodulation, only the automatic guided vehicle with the corresponding address receives the control signal and starts the transport. The information is transmitted to the vehicle control device, and the conveyance vehicle performs corresponding operations.

Next, a case in which data is sent from the automatic guided vehicle S Ae 5 B to the central control device 1 will be explained.

As mentioned above, the data structure of the signal from the central control unit R1 consists of an address, a control signal, and a data request. There will be a certain time delay in order for the receiver to receive the call. If there is a data request, the corresponding automated guided vehicle will be at its preset current location.

Sends data such as the presence or absence of transported goods.

Note that, as a method for receiving the light from the optical transmitting/receiving section 4.6 in a diffused or omnidirectional manner, a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged radially, or a diffusing lens is used.

At this time, a plurality of light emitting diodes may be used and a diffusion lens may also be used. The light receiving part may be a plurality of phototransistors, or may be condensed by a multifaceted lens. Furthermore, if the walls, ceiling, etc. of a building absorb a lot of light, install reflectors at key points to diffuse the light. Further, the light is preferably infrared light, but colored light may also be used, and the light transmitting element may be a laser.

In addition, the light receiving element may be a CdSe or PIN photodiode (also, the central controller 1 and the central optical transmitter/receiver 2
The connection may be made by wire, optical fiber, etc., or by optical communication with the same optical axis.

As explained above, the present invention provides a communication device that includes an optical transmitter that diffuses signal modulated light over a wide range and a wide-angle optical receiver that receives signal modulated light emitted from other sources. Since the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are provided in each part, communication is possible even when the optical axes of the optical transmitter and optical receiver are not aligned, and therefore communication can be carried out freely without being subject to regulations under the Radio Law. There are advantages to being able to do so.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawing is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the central control unit, 2 is the optical transmitter/receiver 8 device, 3.1
5A is an optical quality demodulating section, 4 and 6 are optical transmitting/receiving sections. 5B is an automatic guided vehicle, and 8 is a guided vehicle control device. Agent Shin Kuzuno (1 other person)

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An optical transmitter that diffusely transmits signal modulated light over a wide range;
A communication device consisting of a wide-angle optical receiver that receives signal-modulated light emitted from another device is installed at a required part of the automated guided vehicle and the building, respectively, and the optical axis of the optical transmitter and the optical receiver is A communication device for an automatic guided vehicle, characterized in that communication is possible even in a mismatched state. (2) The light transmitting section includes a plurality of light projecting elements to diffuse light over a wide range, and the light receiving section includes a plurality of light receiving elements to receive light over a wide range. Range No. (Communication device for automatic guided vehicle described in item 11) (3) The light transmitter is equipped with a diffusion lens to diffuse the light over a wide range.
The communication device for the automated guided vehicle described in item 1). (4) The communication of the automatic guided vehicle according to claim (1), wherein the optical receiving section is provided with a light reflecting plate at a required part in order to improve the reflection of light from the building. Device.