JP2003289273A - Short-range communication device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfactorily detect a sign of the approach of a living body, such as a human body in a non-contact manner. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided a transmitting apparatus 10 that generates a specific electric field around the living body 1 to transmit a specific identification signal; a plurality of antennas 21, 22 that are composed of a reception apparatus 20 for receiving a signal from the transmission apparatus 10 and to receive a signal transmitted from the transmission apparatus 10 as the receiving apparatus 20; a reception state detection means for detecting the reception state in the plurality of antennas and the presence or absence of the reception of the signal being transmitted from the transmitting apparatus approaching respective antennas; a demodulation means for demodulating the signal, that is received by the antenna where the reception state detection means detects the presence of the reception signal; and a control means for performing processing, based on an identification signal, when the specific identification signal is detected by the demodulation means according to the demodulated signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a short-range communication device and a communication system, and more particularly to a communication device and a communication system in which a transmitter is attached to a living body such as a human body and communicates at a position close to the living body. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an infrared sensor has been widely used as a sensor for detecting the approach of a human body. The infrared sensor is a sensor that detects infrared rays emitted by the human body, and is widely used for applications such as monitoring the presence or absence of an intruder at a specific monitoring location.

[0003]

However, the conventional detection sensor of this type has a relatively wide detection range, and for example, one sensor can detect whether an intruder is present within a range of several meters. Met. So, for example, the number of objects
It was difficult to detect whether or not it was within cm. Further, in the detection using a conventional infrared sensor or the like, it is possible to simply determine the presence or absence of an approaching person (intruder), and it is difficult to identify who the approaching person is.

As a system for identifying who the approaching person is in a non-contact state (or in a state close to a non-contact state), for example, an automatic ticket gate system using an IC card has been put to practical use in transportation facilities. In the case of the IC card system, the IC card in which the identification data is stored is
It is necessary to bring it close to the receiver of the C card for communication. Therefore, no matter what part of the human body approaches the receiver,
There is a problem that the owner of the C card cannot be identified and the applicable range is limited.

In view of the above points, the present invention is to make it possible to satisfactorily detect a sign of a living body such as a human body approaching without contact.

[0006]

A short-range communication device of the present invention detects a plurality of antennas for receiving signals and a reception situation at the plurality of antennas, and detects a transmission signal from a position close to each antenna. In the case where a predetermined identification signal is detected from the signal demodulated by the demodulation means, the demodulation means for demodulating the signal received by the antenna whose reception signal is detected by the reception status detection means , And control means for executing processing based on the identification signal.

According to the short-distance communication device of the invention, when a living body approaches any antenna by sending a predetermined identification signal from the living body side in a state where a predetermined electric field is generated around the living body, Is detected by the reception status detection means, the identification signal transmitted by the demodulation means is demodulated,
The processing based on the identification signal is executed.

Further, the communication system of the present invention is a communication comprising a transmitter for transmitting a predetermined identification signal by generating a predetermined electric field around a living body and a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter. As a receiving device, the system detects a plurality of antennas that receive a signal transmitted from a transmitting device and the reception status at the plurality of antennas, and receives signals transmitted from the transmitting device that is close to each antenna. In the case where a predetermined identification signal is detected from the reception status detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the signal, the demodulation means for demodulating the signal received by the antenna for which the reception status detecting means has detected the reception signal, and the signal demodulated by the demodulation means And a control means for executing processing based on the identification signal.

According to the communication system of the present invention, when the predetermined identification signal is transmitted from the transmitter attached to the living body,
A predetermined electric field is generated around the living body. In this state, when a living body approaches any one of the antennas of the receiving device, the fact is detected by the reception status detection means, the identification signal transmitted by the demodulation means is demodulated, and processing based on the identification signal is performed. Will be executed.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of this example. In this example, the transmitter 10 is attached to the arm of the human body 1, and a signal transmitted from the transmitter 10 forms an electric field e that clings to the human body 1. Then, when the human body 1 approaches any one of the plurality of antennas 21 and 22 attached to the receiving device 20, the receiving device 20 installed at a predetermined position transmits that from the transmitting device 10. It is designed to be detected by a signal. The detection of the approach here is the detection of a sign that the distance between the antenna 21 or 22 and the human body 1 approaches several cm to 30 cm.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the transmitter 10 is attached to the wrist of the human body 1 with a band 11, and in such a state of attachment, the two transmitters 10 arranged on the transmitter 10 are arranged. The electrodes 12 and 13 are in direct contact with the surface (skin) of the human body 1. The transmitter 10 of this example is provided with a light emitting diode 14a for displaying a signal transmission state.

The receiving device 20 is connected to the personal computer device 40 here, and the personal computer device 40 is authenticated by a signal from the receiving device 20. Personal computer device 4
0 is connected to the display 41 and displays a screen based on the processing in the computer device 40. Here, the display 41 is mounted on the turntable 42.
A drive means such as a motor is built in the turntable 42, and the display 41 is rotated in the horizontal direction based on an instruction from the personal computer device 40, so that the screen displayed on the display 41 faces. The configuration is such that the direction can be adjusted. The orientation of the display 41 using the turntable 42 can be adjusted by a user's operation, but automatic adjustment may be performed in some cases. Details of this automatic orientation adjustment processing will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the transmitting apparatus 10 of this example. The signal source 14 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and generates a signal to be transmitted to the receiving device. Here, this signal is an identification signal for identifying the transmitter 10 (or a person who possesses the transmitter). The signal source 14 lights the light emitting diode 14a when outputting a signal.

The signal output from the signal source 14 is a modulator 15
Modulate for transmission by a predetermined method. For example, FSK (Fr
Modulates using the equency shift keying method. At this time, modulation is performed using the carrier supplied from the carrier generator 16. As the carrier frequency, for example, a frequency band of 10 M to 20 MHz is used.

The signal modulated by the modulator 15 is supplied to a band pass filter 17 to extract a signal component of a frequency band to be transmitted, and the extracted signal is supplied to an amplifier 18 for amplification. The amplifier 18 performs amplification by, for example, linear modulation, and the signal amplified by the amplifier 18 is output to the electrode 12. The amplifier 18 performs amplification so that the potential between the peaks of the output signal waveform becomes about 3V, for example.

One end of the battery 19 is grounded, and the other end supplies necessary electric power to the signal source 14, the modulator 15, the carrier generator 16, the bandpass filter 17, the amplifier 18, and the like. The grounded one end of the battery 19 is connected to the signal source 1
4, the modulator 15, the carrier generator 16, the band pass filter 17, the amplifier 18, and other ground potential parts. Further, one end of the battery 19 and the ground potential portion of each circuit are also connected to the electrode 13.

The electrode 13 connected to the ground side is the amplifier 1
The electrode 12 to which the output of 8 is supplied is arranged in the transmitter 10 so as to be in contact with the surface of the human body with a certain distance (for example, about several centimeters). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the transmitter is configured to be worn on the wrist, the casing forming the transmitter 10 is provided on the back surface side with a certain distance and is arranged on the same plane. The two electrodes 12 and 13 are arranged, and the transmitter 11 is connected to the band 11.
The two electrodes 12 and 13 are brought into contact with the surface of the human body 1 at the same time when they are worn on the wrist. Electrode 1
As the materials 2 and 13, a metal having conductivity is used. Further, the optimum value of the distance between the two electrodes 12 and 13 changes depending on the carrier frequency of the transmission signal.

Thus, the transmitting electrode 12 and the ground electrode 1
By directly contacting the two electrodes 3 of the human body 1 with the human body 1 and outputting the transmission signal, the transmission signal is efficiently sent to the human body 1 side, and the electric field e due to the transmission signal is formed around the human body 1. be able to. This electric field e is basically formed so as to cling to the entire human body.

In the configuration of the transmitter 10 shown in FIG. 3, the electrode 13 for grounding is provided, but the ground electrode that contacts the wearer (human body) may be omitted. However,
A signal is efficiently transmitted to the human body side by providing the ground electrode. Further, when two electrodes are provided, one of them may be made to be a grounded electrode, and two electrodes may obtain signals having mutually opposite polarities in balance.

Next, the configuration of the receiving device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, two antennas 21 and 22 are connected to the receiving device 20 of this example. The respective antennas 21 and 22 are arranged at positions where it is desired to detect the approach of the human body 1 wearing the transmitter 10. Here, the two antennas 21 and 22 are separated from each other by at least 30 cm to the left and right, and Display 4
It is arranged in the vicinity of 1.

Each antenna 21 is connected to an amplifier 23 and amplifies a received signal. A bandpass filter for extracting the received signal band may be provided between the antenna 21 and the amplifier 23. The amplified output of the amplifier 23 is supplied to the detector 24 to detect the DC level of the received signal. The level signal detected by the detector 24 is supplied to the comparator 25 and compared with a preset reference level. The comparison output of the comparator 25 is the microprocessor 31.
Supply to. In the microprocessor 31, the comparator 25
It is possible to determine whether the output of the detector 24 exceeds the reference level from the output of the above.

The reference level to be compared by the comparator 25 is, for example, the human body 1 wearing the above-mentioned transmitter 10.
Is about 20 cm of the human body 1 as a level almost equal to the signal level detected by receiving the electric field formed in the human body 1 when approaching a distance of about 20 cm from the antenna 21. Allow less than approach to be detected. Alternatively, instead of setting the reference level based on such an approach distance, the lowest received signal level that can be demodulated by the demodulator 30 described later may be set as the reference level.

The output of the antenna 22 is similarly processed. That is, the output of the antenna 22 is supplied to the amplifier 26, the amplified output of the amplifier 26 is supplied to the wave detector 28, the wave detection output of the wave detector 27 is supplied to the comparator 28, and it is compared with a preset reference level. The comparison output of the comparator 28 is
Supply to the microprocessor 31. The microprocessor 31 can determine from the output of the comparator 28 whether the output of the detector 27 exceeds the reference level.

The amplified outputs of the amplifiers 23 and 26 are selectively supplied to the demodulator 30 by the changeover switch 29 for switching the receiving system. Changeover switch 2
The switching of 9 is controlled by the microprocessor 31. Here, based on the outputs from the comparators 25 and 28, the microprocessor 31 performs the switching control so that the changeover switch 29 selects the receiving system which is determined that the received signal level exceeds the reference level. Demodulator 30
The demodulation process corresponding to the modulation method in the transmission device 10 described above is performed. For example, a PLL circuit (phase locked
Loop circuit) is used for demodulation processing. The reception signal demodulated by the demodulator 30 is supplied to the microprocessor 31.

The microprocessor 31, which functions as the control means of the receiving device, judges the data contained in the demodulated signal supplied from the demodulator 30. Here, the identification signal transmitted from the transmission device 10 is detected, and authentication processing is performed to determine whether the detected identification signal is a correct identification signal. At the time of this authentication processing, communication may be performed with a device (personal computer device 40 or the like) connected as necessary to obtain the data required for the authentication processing.

An interface section 32 is connected to the microprocessor 31 of this example, and a personal computer device 40 is connected through a port 33 of the interface section 32 as shown in FIG. Examples of the communication method with the computer device 40 via the interface unit 32 include RS232C method and USB.
A well-known method such as a (Universal Serial Bus) method can be applied. Microprocessor 31 in the receiver 20
Sends a signal indicating that the authentication process has been correctly completed to the personal computer device 40 side, for example, when a correct identification signal is recognized from the received signal.

If necessary, the microprocessor 31
Sends information about the approaching direction of the human body approaching the antenna 21 or 22 to the personal computer device 40. The information regarding the approaching direction is generated based on the determination of which antenna receives the signal. For example, when a correct identification signal is recognized from the signal received by the antenna 21 arranged on the left side, the information indicating that the left side is approaching is sent to the personal computer device 40. Further, when the correct identification signal is recognized from the signal received by the antenna 22 arranged on the right side, the information indicating that the right side is approaching is sent to the personal computer device 40.

In the personal computer device 40, for example, when a signal indicating that the authentication process has been completed correctly is received, a process for permitting the use of the personal computer device 40 is executed. Further, when the information regarding the direction in which the person approaches is obtained, the drive signal for the turntable 42 is supplied so as to move the display 41 (see FIG. 1) in the direction indicated by the information.

Next, an example of receiving processing executed by the receiving apparatus 20 with the system configuration as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S11, the microprocessor 31 determines the threshold value (reference level) from the comparison output of either of the comparators 25 and 28.
It is determined whether or not the above reception levels are detected. In this judgment, when the reception level above the threshold is detected, it is judged which output of the comparator (25 or 28) of which reception system is above the threshold, and the judged reception system is selected. (Step S12). In addition, when a threshold value or more is detected in both receiving systems, which receiving system is selected under a predetermined condition. For example, the system in which the reception level equal to or higher than the threshold is detected later is selected.

Based on this judgment, the microprocessor 31 switches to the changeover switch 29 so that the output of the amplifier 23 or 26 to which the selected receiving system antenna (21 or 22) is connected is selected by the changeover switch 29. A signal is sent (step S13). After the reception system is selected, the demodulator 30 demodulates the received signal and the microprocessor 31 receives the demodulated signal (step S14). Here, the microprocessor 31 performs the process of detecting the identification signal from the received signal, and the authentication process of determining whether or not the correct identification signal has been detected by the process (step S15). As described above, at the time of this authentication processing, the data required for the authentication processing is not received from the connected computer device or all the authentication processing is performed by the arithmetic processing in the microprocessor 31. , Part of the authentication process,
It may be executed by the computing means on the side of the connected computer device.

If a correct identification signal can be detected in this authentication processing, the connected device (computer 40
Etc.) to output a use permission signal (step S16). If the correct identification signal cannot be detected in the authentication processing in step S15, it is determined that the authentication processing here has failed, and the process waits until the reception of the threshold value or more next in step S11.

By performing the authentication process in this way, for example, a person wearing the transmitting device 10 can receive the antenna 21 or 22.
By approaching, the identification signal transmitted from the transmitting device 10 is detected, and the authentication process is automatically performed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the electric field e formed by the signal from the transmitter 10 is basically formed so as to be attached to the entire human body 1, so that which portion of the human body 1 is the antenna 21 or The authentication process is executed even when the user approaches 22. Therefore, for example, the transmitting device 10 itself does not need to approach the antenna, and very efficient authentication processing can be performed. Further, in the case of this example, two antennas 21 and 22 and a receiving system circuit individually connected to each antenna are provided so that they can be selectively used according to the receiving level. Even if the human body 1 approaches the antenna, the reception process and the authentication process can be performed, and the range in which the presence of the human body can be detected can be widened.

It should be noted that the detection of the sign of the approach of the human body has been described here, but the sign here is defined as follows. 1. Invisible movement of organic matter with body temperature (thus excluding non-organic matter such as pet robots). 2. Generates unintentional and non-mechanical sounds in response to the movement of organic matter. 3. Invisible and inaudible existence of organic substances that change the environment such as sound, light and odor. In the processing of this example, since the transmitter mounted on the human body gives a change in the electric field, it is not a so-called normal sign, but since the approach can be detected in a non-contact manner, it is technically close to the sign. It occurs and can be detected.

In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 4, two antennas and a receiving system circuit connected to the two antennas are provided, and the antennas are selectively used according to the respective receiving levels. However, three or more antennas and receiving circuits may be provided and selected by the changeover switch. Alternatively, only one system of antenna and receiving system circuit may be provided and processing may be performed only by the received signal of the circuit. Further, in the example of FIG. 4, the identification signal is detected and judged only from the reception signal of one system selected by the changeover switch. However, when the antenna and the reception system circuit of two systems or more are provided. Alternatively, it may be configured such that the processing of individually detecting and determining the identification signal is performed for each signal received by each reception system circuit, and the identification signals included in the reception signals of a plurality of systems can be simultaneously detected.

Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, only the process until the use permission signal is output is shown. However, for example, the time until which the use permission signal once output is valid is determined in advance and the corresponding process is performed. May be executed. For example, when the microprocessor 31 cannot detect the same identification signal and a predetermined time elapses, a signal for invalidating the use permission may be output.

Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, only the authentication process is performed. However, by utilizing the fact that there are a plurality of receiving systems, which antenna the person wearing the transmitter 10 approaches. Alternatively, the processing based on the approaching direction may be performed. For example, in the case of this example, the display 41 arranged in the vicinity of the antennas 21 and 22 is configured to be rotatable by the rotary table 42, and which antenna is approached is determined to determine the rotary table 42. The orientation of the display 41 may be adjusted in the direction of approaching.

The flowchart of FIG. 6 shows the rotary table 42.
This is an example of processing when the orientation of the display 41 is changed by. The processing of the flowchart of FIG. 6 will be described. In the microprocessor 31, step S1
At 1, it is determined whether or not a reception level equal to or higher than a threshold value (reference level) is detected from the comparison output of either of the comparators 25 and 28. In this judgment, when the reception level above the threshold is detected, it is judged which output of the comparator (25 or 28) of which reception system is above the threshold, and the judged reception system is selected. (Step S12).

Based on this judgment, the microprocessor 31 switches to the changeover switch 29 so that the output of the amplifier 23 or 26 to which the selected receiving system antenna (21 or 22) is connected is selected by the changeover switch 29. A signal is sent (step S13). After the reception system is selected, the demodulator 30 demodulates the received signal and the microprocessor 31 receives the demodulated signal (step S14). Here, the microprocessor 31 performs the process of detecting the identification signal from the received signal, and the authentication process of determining whether or not the correct identification signal has been detected by the process (step S15). The processing from step S11 to step S15 is the same as that shown in FIG.
This is the same as the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

Here, when a correct identification signal can be detected in this authentication processing, it is judged from which received signal of which antenna 21 or 22 the correct identification signal has been detected, and the detected antenna 21 or 22 so that the display 41 faces the front in the direction of 22.
Is used to correct the rotational position of the display 41. If the correct identification signal cannot be detected in the authentication processing in step S15, the process returns to the determination in step S11.

In this way, by automatically correcting the orientation of the display 41 in accordance with the installation position of the antenna which has detected the approach, a person who approaches automatically is detected, and the display is displayed in the approaching direction. It becomes possible to point 41. Although the orientation of the display is changed here, the orientations of other devices may be changed based on the detection of the approach direction. For example, the video camera may be configured to be movable by a rotating table or the like, and the video camera may be directed to the antenna which is close to the video camera.

Further, in the example described so far, the approach is detected only by the signal from the transmitter 10 worn by the human body, but other means for detecting the approach may be used together. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, as a system configuration, apart from the receiving device 20 to which the antennas 21, 22 and the like are connected, infrared sensors 51, 52, 53 called pyroelectric sensors, and their respective sensor outputs. And a sensor output discriminating device 50 for discriminating between the sensor output discriminating device 50 and the sensor output discriminating device 50. In this case, the respective infrared sensors 51, 52, 53 detect the approach of the receiving device 20 to the antennas 21, 22 (for example, about 20 cm).
It is a sensor that detects the presence of a human being or the like in a wide range. Specifically, for example, the infrared sensors 51, 52, 53 are arranged so as to detect the presence of a person within a range of several meters near the computer device 40. Then, the computer device 40 executes the process when the presence of a person is detected by the infrared sensors 51 to 53 and the process when the approach is detected by the receiving device 20.

The flowchart of FIG. 8 shows an example of processing executed by the processing in the microprocessor in the receiving apparatus 20 and the arithmetic means in the computer apparatus 40 in the case of the system configuration shown in FIG. . The process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8. First, the computer device 40 is in a standby state in which only the minimum operation is performed while the infrared sensors 51 to 53 detect that there is no person. . Then, in this standby state, it is determined whether or not there is a person within a range of several meters of the computer device 40 from the output of any of the infrared sensors 51 to 53 (step S21). When it is determined that the computer device 40 is present, the computer device 40 is activated from the standby state (step S2).
2).

When the computer device 40 is activated in this way, the microprocessor 31 in the receiving device 20 determines in step S23 which one of the comparators 25,
From the comparison output of 28, it is determined whether a reception level equal to or higher than the threshold value (reference level) is detected. In this judgment, when the reception level above the threshold is detected, it is judged which output of the comparator (25 or 28) of which reception system is above the threshold, and the judged reception system is selected. (Step S24).

Based on this judgment, the microprocessor 31 switches to the changeover switch 29 so that the output of the amplifier 23 or 26 to which the selected receiving system antenna (21 or 22) is connected is selected by the changeover switch 29. A signal is sent (step S25). After the reception system is selected, the demodulator 30 demodulates the received signal and the microprocessor 31 receives the demodulated signal (step S26). Here, the microprocessor 31 performs a process of detecting the identification signal from the received signal, and an authentication process of determining whether or not the correct identification signal has been detected by the process (step S27).

When a correct identification signal can be detected by this authentication processing, a use permission signal is output to the connected computer device 40 (step S28). If the correct identification signal cannot be detected in the authentication process in step S27, it is determined that the authentication process here has failed, and the process waits until reception of the threshold value or more in step S23.

If there is no detection of the received signal level exceeding the threshold value in step S23 between the time when the computer device is started in step S22 and the time when a predetermined time elapses, the computer device is detected. May be returned to the standby state.

By performing the processing in this way, for example, when the infrared sensors 51 to 53 detect that a person approaches within a range of several meters around the computer device 40,
When the computer device 40 automatically stands up from the standby state, and after that, when the person wearing the transmitting device 10 approaches within about 20 cm from the antenna 21 or 22 near the display 41 in the receiving device 20, the approach is made. The person authentication process is executed, and the started computer device 40 becomes usable. Therefore, even if it takes some time (for example, about several seconds) to start up the computer device 40 from the standby state, when the antenna 21 or 22 near the display 41 is approached, the computer device 40 already starts up. In this state, the authentication process is immediately performed, and when the approaching person is the person wearing the correctly authenticated transmitting apparatus 10, the computer apparatus 4 is promptly activated.
0 can be used.

In the example of FIG. 7, the infrared sensor is combined with the system including the receiving device 20, but detection can be performed in a wider range or at a position farther than the proximity detection using the receiving device 20. Other sensors may be used as long as they are sensors. For example, when the vicinity of the position where the computer device 40 is installed is photographed and monitored by a video camera and the presence of a person is detected from the video signal photographed by the video camera, the computer device 40 is started up. After that, the authentication process may be performed when the approach is detected on the receiving device 20 side.
Alternatively, a switch that operates depending on the weight of the approaching individual may be provided on the floor near the position where the computer device 40 is installed, and the computer device 40 may be started up when the switch operates.

Further, in the embodiment described so far,
As an example of detection by the receiving device 20, one person wears one transmitting device 10, but, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the transmitting device 10a is mounted on the left arm of the human body 1 and the transmitting device 10 transmits on the right arm. The transmitter 10 is attached to each of the transmitters 10
Different identification signals may be transmitted for a and 10b. With this configuration, there is a difference between the case where the receiving device 20 receives the electric field e ₁ formed near the left arm and the case where the receiving device 20 receives the electric field e ₂ formed near the right arm. The identification signal can be determined, and the position or orientation of the approaching human body 1 can be determined more finely on the receiving device 20 side. In the case of the example of FIG. 9,
Interference due to the transmission signals from the two transmitters 10a and 10b cannot be said to be completely nonexistent (for example, when the right hand and the left hand are overlapped), but they can be separated at the tip of the arm and the human body 1 and the receiver 20 are separated. The relative relationship with the antennas 21 and 22 can be satisfactorily detected without contact.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the identification signal is transmitted from the transmission device and the authentication processing is performed based on the identification signal received by the reception device has been described, but other various signals are transmitted from the transmission device. You may make it transmit and make it receive by the receiving apparatus which approached. The values of the modulation method and carrier frequency described above are also examples, and a modulation method and carrier frequency suitable for the signal to be transmitted may be applied.

Regarding the range in which the receiver can detect the approach, in the above-mentioned example, the approach within the range of 20 cm from the antenna was detected, but the transmission output from the transmitter and the amplifier in the receiver are detected. By changing the gain setting, it is possible to detect an approaching sign from a distance. For example, an approach within a range of about 1 m may be detected.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the personal computer device is connected to the receiving device, and the authentication process necessary for operating the computer device is performed. Alternatively, the processing required by the connected electronic device may be executed based on the signal received by the receiving device.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the system for transmitting data through the human body has been described. However, it is needless to say that the transmitter may be attached to a living body other than the human body to perform the same processing. Is.

[0055]

According to the short-range communication device of the present invention, when a living body approaches any antenna by sending a predetermined identification signal from the living body side in a state where a predetermined electric field is generated around the living body. ., That is detected, the identification signal is demodulated, and the processing based on the identification signal is executed. Therefore, it becomes possible to automatically detect the sign that the living body approaches the predetermined position, automatically identify the detected living body, and execute the corresponding processing.

In this case, the reception status detecting means performs a process of judging whether the reception signal level of each antenna exceeds a predetermined threshold value, thereby setting the threshold value corresponding to the electric field generated around the living body, It becomes possible to detect the approach of the living body to the body with high accuracy and satisfactorily.

Further, the control means controls the display device to move in the direction corresponding to the installation position of the antenna where the reception status detection means has detected the presence of the reception signal, so that the living body side which has detected the sign of approach is detected. , The position of the display device can be set automatically.

Further, by providing an approach detection sensor for detecting an approach from a position farther than the approach of the transmission source antenna of the reception signal detected by the reception status detecting means, a plurality of signs of the approach of the living body can be obtained. It becomes possible to detect in stages, and finer control becomes possible.

Further, this approach detection sensor is provided, and when the approach detection sensor detects an approach, a predetermined device is started up, and in this state, an identification signal detected from the signal demodulated by the demodulation means. When the identification process by the device is correctly executed, the specified device can be used so that the device can be started up automatically based on the sensor output until the device can be used. The time can be shortened.

Further, according to the communication system of the present invention, when the predetermined identification signal is transmitted from the transmitter mounted on the living body,
A predetermined electric field is generated around the living body, and when the living body approaches any of the antennas of the receiving device in the state where the electric field is generated, that fact is detected by the reception status detection means and the identification signal is demodulated. , Processing based on the identification signal is executed. Therefore, the receiving device can satisfactorily detect a sign that a living body equipped with the transmitting device is approaching, and the living body that has detected the approaching can be identified, and processing corresponding to the identified living body can be performed.

Further, in the case of this system configuration, the receiving device is an approach detection sensor for detecting an approach from a position farther than the approach of the transmission source antenna of the reception signal detected by the reception status detecting means of the transmission device. With the provision of the above, it becomes possible to detect the presence / absence of a living body in a plurality of stages, and a system capable of finer control can be obtained.

Further, when an approach detection sensor provided in the receiving device of this system detects an approach, a predetermined device is started up, and in the started state, the identification signal detected from the signal demodulated by the demodulation means is used. When the identification process is executed correctly, by making the specified device available, the startup of the device can be automatically performed based on the sensor output, and the time until the device can be used is shortened. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration example according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mounting example of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of reception processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example (an example of rotating the display) of the reception process according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration example according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart showing an example of a receiving process according to the example of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example in which transmitters are mounted on the left and right.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Human body, 10, 10a, 10b ... Transmitting device, 11 ...
Electrode, 12 ... Electrode, 13 ... Electrode, 14 ... Signal source, 14a
... Light emitting diode, 15 ... Modulator, 16 ... Carrier generation
Vessel, 17 ... bandpass filter, 18 ... amplifier, 19 ...
Battery, 20 ... Receiving device 21, 22 ... Antenna, 23 ...
Amplifier, 24 ... Level detection circuit, 25 ... Comparator, 26 ...
Amplifier, 27 ... Level detection circuit, 28 ... Comparator, 29 ...
Changeover switch, 30 ... Demodulator, 31 ... Microprocessor
32, interface section, 33 terminal, 40 terminal
-Sonal computer device, 41 ... Display, 42
... rotary table, 50 ... sensor output discriminating device, 51, 52, 5
3 ... Infrared sensor, e, e ₁, E₂... power by transmission signal
World

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of antennas for receiving signals, reception status detection means for detecting reception statuses at the plurality of antennas, and detecting presence / absence of a transmission signal from positions close to the respective antennas, the reception A demodulation unit that demodulates the signal received by the antenna when the situation detection unit detects the presence of a received signal, and when a predetermined identification signal is detected from the signal demodulated by the demodulation unit, performs processing based on the identification signal Short-range communication device comprising: 2. The short-range communication device according to claim 1, wherein the reception status detecting means performs a process of determining whether the received signal level of each antenna exceeds a predetermined threshold value. 3. The short-range communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the display device to move in a direction corresponding to the installation position of the antenna at which the reception status detection means detects the presence of a reception signal. A short-range communication device. 4. The near field communication device according to claim 1, further comprising an approach detection sensor for detecting an approach from a position farther than an approach of a transmission source antenna of a reception signal detected by the reception status detecting means. Near field communication device. 5. The short-range communication device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit activates a predetermined device when the approach detection sensor detects an approach, and the demodulator in the activated state. A short-range communication device that puts the predetermined device in a usable state when the identification process based on the identification signal detected from the signal demodulated by the means is correctly executed. 6. A predetermined electric field is generated around a living body,
A communication system comprising a transmitting device that transmits a predetermined identification signal and a receiving device that receives a signal from the transmitting device, wherein a plurality of receiving devices that receive the signal transmitted from the transmitting device are provided as the receiving device. An antenna, a reception status detecting unit that detects a reception status at the plurality of antennas, and detects the presence or absence of a signal transmitted from the transmitting apparatus that is close to each antenna, and the reception status detection unit is a reception signal. A demodulation unit that demodulates the signal received by the antenna that detects the presence, and a control unit that executes processing based on the identification signal when a predetermined identification signal is detected from the signal demodulated by the demodulation unit Communication system. 7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the receiving device further includes an approach detection sensor that detects an approach from a position farther than the approach of detecting the approach to the antenna by the reception status detecting means. system. 8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein when an approach detection sensor of the receiving device detects an approach, a predetermined device is started up, and the demodulation means demodulates in the started state. A communication system that puts the predetermined device in a usable state when the identification process based on the identification signal detected from the signal is correctly executed.