GB2312800A

GB2312800A - Electronic apparatus with an optical communication unit on an extendable cable

Info

Publication number: GB2312800A
Application number: GB9708855A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fumiyuki Kobayashi
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 1996-05-01
Filing date: 1997-04-30
Publication date: 1997-11-05
Also published as: GB9708855D0; AU1992697A; CA2204048A1; JPH09298510A

Abstract

An electronic apparatus 11 has a main body 11A with an infra-red light transmitting/ receiving unit 12 connected to it via a cable 13. The apparatus 11 has a cable storing unit 21 and a cable rewinding mechanism (figures 3 & 6) within the main body 11A, which may be activated by a button 32, to store the transmitting/receiving unit 12 when it is not in use. When the transmitting/receiving unit 12 is withdrawn from the cable storing unit 21 and positioned appropriately, optical communication can be carried out with another party positioned in a suitable direction. If desired the transmitting/receiving unit 12 can be physically coupled with another such unit belonging to the other party (figure 8).

Description

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS DELVING AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATION FUNCTION The present invention relates to electronic apparatus having an optical communication function. By "optical communication" is meant a communication which may, at least partly, be by means of a physical connector, for example a fibre-optic cable, or a waveguide, and/or as a radiation, in which signals are transmitted in the visible and other, for example infrared, wavebands.

In a particular arrangement illustrative of the invention the optical communication is carried out among a plurality of electronic apparatus.

Apparatus including personal computers and terminal units have previously been proposed which include a main body unit controlled in response to infra-red light transmitted from a remote controller. It has also previously been proposed for a personal computer and a terminal unit to communicate with another personal computer, or another terminal unit by means of infra-red light.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view showing a previously proposed electronic apparatus coupled by infra-red light, and Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings is a side view of another previously proposed electronic apparatus coupled by means of infra-red light.

Referring to Fig. 1, one infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 52 is provided with one electronic apparatus 51, and another infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 54 is employed with another electronic apparatus 53. Infra-red radiation communications are carried out between the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element units 52 and 54, so that the required information may be transmitted/received between the electronic apparatus 51 and 53.

In these electronic apparatus, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element units 52 and 54 are fixed to the housings of the electronic apparatus 51 and 52, respectively. As a result, in order to carry out infrared communication between the electronic apparatus, as represented in Fig. 1, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 52 must be positioned opposite to the other infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 54. For instance, while such infra-red communications is carried out during a conference, or meeting, there is no problem when the communicating parties are positioned opposite to one another. However, when the communicating parties are not located opposite to one another, the problem occurs that it is very difficult to position the apparatus to provide the communication required.

An example of previously proposed electronic apparatus having infra-red equipped with the optical communication is described in the specification of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-185098 published in 1992. This previously proposed electronic apparatus has an infra-red remote controller 1 and a main body 2, arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2. An infra-red light generator 4 is connected via cable 3 to the remote controller 1. In this electronic apparatus, the main body 2, which is located outside the interference range, is controlled by the infra-red remote controller 1. In this case, the infra-red light generator 4, which is connected via the cable 3 to the infra-red remote controller 1, is positioned near to the main body 2.

Thus, communications are carried out by way of the infrared light between the main body 2 of the electronic apparatus and the infra-red remote controller 1 (infrared light generator 4). In this previously proposed electronic apparatus, when there is a need to use the cable 3 during the communication, there is the drawback that the cable 3 may cause an obstruction.

To avoid a cable causing an obstacle in other technical fields, various rewinding mechanisms have been proposed. For instance, a rewinding mechanism for the power supply cable of an electronic vacuum cleaner, and a rewinding mechanism for an earphone cable of a radio have previously been proposed. In, for example, the specification of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 7-107148 published in 1995 a portable telephone equipped with a rewinding mechanism was proposed. In this portable telephone, the cable is rewound on the reel, so that the cable can be stored in a housing.

Features of arrangements to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the invention, are that they enable an electronic apparatus to be provided with optical communication whilst being easy to operate and employing a cable which gives no obstruction during communication.

An electronic apparatus to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the invention has a main body, a light communication unit for transmitting and/or receiving information by way of light signals, and a cable or waveguide for connecting the main body to the light communication unit for transmitting and or receiving the light signals.

The main body may have a cable storing unit for storing a cable therein. The cable storing unit may store the cable by winding the cable up. Also, the main body may provide storage for the light communication unit. When the cable is stored in the cable storing unit, the light communication unit storing unit causes the light communication unit to be stored in the light communication unit storage unit. The light used in the particular light communication unit is infra-red light.

In this case, the light communication unit may include infra-red light transmitting/receiving elements.

Furthermore, the light communication unit may have means for coupling its own light communication unit with another light communication unit.

An arrangement to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the present invention, has the following features. One end of the cable is connected to the housing of the apparatus, and the other end thereof is connected to the optical communication unit, so that when the optical communication unit is withdrawn it may be placed in a selected position so as to enable the communication to be carried out. The light transmission/reception range can be varied simply, and furthermore, the optical communication can be carried out over a wider range, and the optical communication can be carried out easily. Also, when it is not necessary for the optical communication unit to be withdrawn from the housing, the cable can be wound up so that the light transmitting/receiving unit and the cable can be stored in the housing. Further, there is the merit that the cable does not obstruct the communication path.

Arrangements illustrative of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 3 is a block schematic diagram of an electronic apparatus having an optical communication function.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an electronic apparatus having an optical communication function, Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an electronic appliance employing the optical communication function, Fig. 6 is an end view of a cable rewinding mechanism for use in the electronic apparatus shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view for use in explaining the coupling condition of the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit shown in Fig. 7.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown a schematic block diagram illustrating the arrangement of an electronic apparatus 11 having an optical communication function. In this drawing, the electronic apparatus 11 employs a cable 13, one of whose ends is connected to a housing llA of the electronic apparatus 11, an infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 functioning as an optical communication unit being connected to the other end of the cable 13, and a cable rewinding mechanism 14 for rewinding the cable 13. It should be noted that the cable 13 can be freely withdrawn, as indicated by an arrow A.

Further, the electronic apparatus 11, which has an optical communication function, includes a user interface 18 for inputting/outputting information to be communicated, a modem unit 16 for carrying-out a modulating and demodulating step, a control unit 17 for controlling the user interface 18 and the modem unit 16, and an infra-red light transmitting/receiving circuit unit 15 for supplying the signal outputted from the modem unit 16 to the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12, and also for supplying the signal output from the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 to the modem unit 16.

It should be understood that although the optical communication is carried out using infra-red light in this embodiment, light at other frequencies may be employed in such an optical communication.

With the above-described arrangement, an information transmitting operation is carried out as follows. First, information which is input from the user interface 18 is modulated by the modem unit 16 under the control of the control unit 17. Then, the signal obtained by modulating the information is supplied from the infra-red light transmitting/receiving circuit unit 15 via the cable 13 to the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12, and this information is thus transmitted in the form of the infra-red light from the infra-red light element unit 12.

An information receiving operation is carried out as follows. First, infra-red light transmitted from another electronic apparatus as a counter party (not shown in detail) is received by the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12, and supplied to the modem unit 16 via the cable 13 and the infra-red light transmitting/receiving circuit unit 15, and thereafter demodulated by the modem unit 16. Then, the demodulated signal is output to the user interface 18 under the control of the control unit 17.

As indicated in Fig. 7, it should also be noted that a convex portion 12A and a concave portion 12B may be formed on the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 in order that the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 may be coupled with the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit provided as the counter party by using these convex and concave portions 12A and 12B. For instance, as indicated in Fig. 8, the coupling of these two infra-red light transmitting/receiving units is carried out in the following manner. One infra-red light transmitting/ receiving unit 12 is moved in the direction of an arrow f. Subsequently, the convex portion 12A of the one infra-red light transmitting/receiving unit 12 is inserted into the concave portion 12B of the other infrared light transmitting/receiving unit 12. With the employment of such a convex/concave arrangement, optical communication can be reliably carried out between the two sets of electronic apparatus.

Description will now be made of a method for using the electronic apparatus 11 equipped with an optical communication function. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are perspective views showing the outer appearance of the electronic appliance 11.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the electronic appliance 11 has a recessed portion 21 on the outer surface of the housing 11A. Under normal conditions, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 is stored in the recessed portion 21. Further, as shown in Fig. 5, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving unit 12 can be separated and withdrawn from the housing 11A. At this time, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 is connected to the housing llA of the electronic appliance 11 by way of the cable 13. As a result, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 may be positioned such that the optical communication can be performed with the counter party, and also at an arbitrary position.

Also, in the case in which the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 need not be withdrawn, but is returned to the recessed portion 21 after having been withdrawn, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 is stored in the recessed portion 21 formed in the outer surface of the housing 11A of the electronic appliance 11, as indicated in Fig. 4, by using a cable rewinding mechanism (to be explained later). As is apparent from the foregoing description, the infra-red communication can be performed even under such a condition. Reference numeral 32 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 indicates a rewinding operation button.

The cable rewinding mechanism 14 will now be described with reference to Fig. 6.

The cable rewinding mechanism 14 shown in Fig. 6 includes a cable reel 30 for rewinding the cable 13 in the direction of a rewinding arrow a, an engaging claw 30C formed on the cable rewinding reel 30, an engaging plate 38 for engagement with the engaging claw 30C to stop the cable rewinding operation, and a rewinding operation button 32 for releasing the engagement between the engaging plate 38 and the engaging claw 30C. A rib 40 is formed on the inside of the housing llA of the electronic apparatus 11, while being positioned opposite to the engaging plate 38. A tip portion of the engaging plate 38 is depressed against an outer peripheral surface of an upper side of the reel 30 by means of a spring 41 arranged between the rib 40 and the engaging plate 38.

As a consequence, when the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12, to which one end of the cable 13 is connected, is withdrawn by hand from the apparatus 11, the reel 30 is rotated, as indicated by an arrow d, so that the cable 13 can only be withdrawn by a desired length. The, when the withdrawal of the cable is stopped, the tip portion of the engaging plate 38 is caused to engage with the engaging claw 30C. As a result, the withdrawn cable 13 can be held in this position. Also, when the rewinding operation button 32 is slid in the direction of the arrow b with respect to the engaging plate 38, the tip portion thereof is able to cause the engaging plate 38 to be depressed in a direction opposite to that in which the spring 41 is depressed. Accordingly, as indicated by an arrow c, the tip portion of the engaging plate 38 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the reel 30. As a consequence, since the rewinding operation button 32 has been moved in the direction of the arrow b, the cable 13 may be rewound on the reel 30, with the result that the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit 12 is returned to be stored into the recessed portion 21 of the electronic apparatus 11.

As described above in detail, with reference to a particular embodiment illustrative of the invention, there has been disclosed an electronic apparatus having an infra-red light communication function, with an infrared light transmitting/receiving element unit separably provided in the main body thereof, and with the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit connected via a cable to the main body of the electronic apparatus. As a consequence, the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit can be freely positioned in any direction desired by the user, and the infra-red light communication can be simply performed without the need to change or align the direction of the main body of the electronic apparatus.

Also, the electronic apparatus of this embodiment has a cable rewinding mechanism for rewinding the cable used to connect the electronic apparatus with the infrared light transmitting/receiving element unit.

Accordingly, with this arrangement the infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit need not be withdrawn from the main body of the apparatus, the cable being stored inside the electronic apparatus and being automatically rewound by merely manipulating a rewinding button. The infra-red light transmitting/receiving element unit can be stored in a portion of the outer surface of the housing of the electronic apparatus. As a consequence, the need for any difficult operation in storing the cable is avoided and a very easy operation of the electronic apparatus is made possible.

As previously explained, in the arrangement described in illustration of the present invention, since one end of the cable is connected to the housing of the apparatus, and the other end is connected to the optical communication unit, the optical communication unit may be withdrawn and positioned in an arbitrary position so as to enable the optical communication to be carried out.

The following advantages of the present arrangement may be seen. The light transmission/reception range can be simply varied, and furthermore, the optical communication can be carried out over a wider range, and comparatively easily. Also, when it is not necessary for the optical communication unit to be withdrawn from the housing of the apparatus, the cable is wound within the housing and the light transmitting/receiving unit is stored in the housing. Further, there is the benefit that the cable never obstructs the optical communication.

It will be understood that particular embodiments illustrative of the invention have been described by way of example only, and that variations and modifications thereof, as well as other embodiments, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus including a main body, an optical communication unit for communicating information to and from the main body, and a cable for connecting the main body to the optical communication unit.

2. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a unit for storing the cable within the main body, wherein the optical communication unit transmits information by means of light.

3. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cable storing unit includes a cable rewinding mechanism.

4. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main body includes means for accommodating the optical communication unit.

5. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the cable is stored in the cable storing unit, the optical communication unit storing unit causes the optical communication unit to be stored in the means for accommodating the optical communication unit.

6. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light used in the optical communication unit for transmitting information is infra-red light.

7. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical communication unit includes means for coupling the optical communication unit with another optical communication unit.

8. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a cable storing unit within the main body, for storing the cable therein.

9. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical communication unit receives information by means of light.

10. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cable storing unit includes a cable rewinding mechanism.

11. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the main body includes an optical communication unit storing unit for storing the optical communication unit.

12. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the cable is stored in the cable storing unit, the optical communication unit storing unit causes the optical communication unit to be stored in the optical communication unit storing unit.

13. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the light used in the optical communication unit is infra-red light.

14. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the optical communication unit includes means for coupling the optical communication unit with another optical communication unit.

15. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the optical communication unit transmits and receives information by means of light.

16. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cable storing unit includes a cable rewinding mechanism.

17. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the main body includes an optical communication unit storing unit for storing the optical communication unit.

18. An electronic appliance as claimed in claim 17, wherein when the cable is stored in the cable storing unit, the optical communication unit storing unit causes the optical communication unit to be stored in the optical communication unit storing unit.

19. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light used in the optical communication unit is infra-red light.

20. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the optical communication unit includes means for coupling the optical communication unit with another optical communication unit.

21. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figs. 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings