JP2005333337A - Optical communication device, optical communication sysrem, and optical communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an optical communication with a plurality of devices surely through a distribution type optical signal transmission body without exerting any unnecessary adverse influence on the life of a light emitting element nor heating value during light emission. <P>SOLUTION: In the optical communication system which has an LD array 18 of a master optically coupled with a PD array 20 of each slave and an LD array 18 of each slave optically coupled with a PD array 20 of the master through an optical sheet bus, the master transmits an optical signal to a specified slave by the LD array 18, for example, when the power source is turned on and the photodetection state of the PD array 20 of the specified slave is judged based upon photodetection state information received from the specified slave repeatedly while the light emission intensity of the LD array 18 is varied to detect optimum light emission intensity for each slave. Each slave sets an initial value and a variation range of light emission intensity based upon optimum light emission intensity reported from the master and then detect optimum light emission intensity of an LD array 18 of each slave to the master similarly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical communication device, an optical communication system, and an optical communication control method, and in particular, a distribution-type optical signal transmission body connected to each of a plurality of second devices via different optical fibers and connected via an optical fiber. Optical communication device capable of transmitting arbitrary information to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication, and a plurality of devices connected to the distribution-type optical signal transmitter via different optical fibers. And an optical communication control method applicable to the optical communication system.

  Conventionally, a layered waveguide that diffuses and propagates incident signal light is formed with a plurality of signal light input / output portions that are responsible for input / output of signal light, and the incident optical signal is distributed to a plurality of distribution destinations. A distribution-type optical signal transmission body (also referred to as an optical sheet bus) that can be distributed to an optical communication system and an optical communication system that includes the distribution-type optical signal transmission body have been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 to 6). . When distributing highly directional optical signals such as laser light, the optical signal was previously converted into electrical signals and distributed, and then the distributed electrical signals are sent to a plurality of light sources provided corresponding to each distribution destination. Although a complicated configuration such as transmitting an optical signal to each distribution destination by an element is required, it becomes possible to directly direct an optical signal with strong directivity by using the above-described distributed optical signal transmission body. The system configuration can be simplified. In addition, the distribution type optical signal transmission body can easily insert and remove the optical fiber for transmitting the optical signal, as well as the insertion and removal of the signal line of the electric signal by the connector, and the construction and configuration change of the optical communication system can be easily performed. It has the advantage of being.

In relation to the above, Patent Document 7 discloses that an optical signal received from the outside is converted into an electric signal, the converted electric signal is decoded to determine whether or not the decoding is normally completed, and the converted electric signal Determining the intensity level of the received light, determining the light emission intensity based on the determination result of whether or not the decoding is normally completed and the determination result of the intensity level of the received light, and converting the encoded transmission data into the optical signal A technique for converting is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-270751 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-270752 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-65625 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-39069 JP-A-11-39251 JP-A-11-205246 JP 2000-49712 A

  By the way, when the above-described distributed optical signal transmission body is provided in an optical communication system, the construction and configuration change of the optical communication system can be easily performed, but the light from the light emitting element provided in the optical signal transmission source device can be used. There is a possibility that the optical attenuation of the optical signal in each of a plurality of optical transmission paths reaching each light receiving element provided in each of a plurality of devices as signal transmission destinations is greatly different (in particular, as an optical fiber, the optical attenuation is In the case of using POF (Plastic Optical Fiber), which is frequently used for transmission of optical signals over a short distance, the possibility is high). And depending on the light attenuation amount of the optical signal in each optical transmission line and the light emission intensity of the light emitting element provided in the optical signal transmission source device, in a specific device among a plurality of devices as the optical signal transmission destination, There is a problem that a situation in which an optical signal transmitted from an optical signal transmission source device cannot be received by the specific device may occur because the amount of light received by the light receiving element deviates from the light receiving range. .

  In order to solve the above problem, it is conceivable that all devices as optical signal communication destinations emit light emitting elements with a light emission intensity that can reliably receive optical signals. As the light emission intensity increases, the lifetime is shortened and the amount of heat generated during light emission is increased. Therefore, as described above, the light emitting element has a light emission intensity with which all devices can reliably receive an optical signal. When the light is emitted, the life of the light emitting element is shortened, and it is necessary to frequently replace the light emitting element. In addition, a facility for cooling the light emitting element is required, and the power consumption is increased.

  The technique described in Patent Document 7 described above is a technique for determining the light emission intensity of the light emitting element based on the intensity level of the externally received light. When the above technology is applied to an optical communication system configured to be able to communicate, the light emission intensity of the light emitting element of the optical signal transmission source device is adjusted to the optimum intensity level in optical communication with a specific device among a plurality of devices Although it is possible, another device other than the specific device because the light emission intensity of the light emitting element of the device that is the optical signal transmission source does not necessarily match the optimum light emission intensity in optical communication with another device other than the specific device. There is also a possibility that optical communication with will be impossible.

  In addition, there is a restriction that the configuration of the optical communication system cannot be easily changed or the configuration change of the optical communication system is prohibited so that the optical attenuation of the optical signal in each of the plurality of optical transmission paths is not greatly different. However, in this case, it is not desirable because the expandability / expansibility of the optical communication system and the field of use are greatly limited.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and can reliably connect a plurality of devices via a distributed optical signal transmission body without unnecessarily adversely affecting the lifetime of the light emitting element and the amount of heat generated during light emission. It is an object to obtain an optical communication apparatus, an optical communication system, and an optical communication control method capable of performing optical communication.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical communication device according to a first aspect of the present invention is connected to a distributed optical signal transmitter through a first optical fiber, and the distributed optical signal transmitters are different from each other. Lights emitted from the first light-emitting element that are respectively connected to a plurality of second devices via two optical fibers, modulated according to arbitrary information, and emitted from the first light-emitting element, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the first Each of the plurality of second devices is transmitted to the plurality of second devices via two optical fibers and received by a second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of optical communication devices. An optical communication device capable of transmitting arbitrary information, wherein the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the arbitrary second device when transmitting information to the arbitrary second device by optical communication is within an allowable range. For the first light emitting element First detection means for detecting each of the plurality of second devices, first storage means for storing optimum light emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices by the first detection means, and any second device First control for controlling the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element to be the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the arbitrary second device stored in the first storage means when transmitting information by optical communication Means.

  The optical communication device according to the first aspect of the present invention is connected via the first optical fiber and the distributed optical signal transmission body respectively connected to the plurality of second devices via different second optical fibers. The light emitted from the first light emitting element after being modulated according to arbitrary information is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via the first optical fiber, the distribution type optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber, and Arbitrary information can be transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication by receiving light with the second light receiving elements provided in the respective optical communication devices. Here, in the first aspect of the invention, the first light emission for keeping the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of any second device within the allowable range when transmitting information to any second device by optical communication. The optimum light emission intensity of the element is detected for each of the plurality of second devices by the first detection means and stored in the first storage means. Then, when the first control means transmits information to any second device by optical communication, the optimum light emission corresponding to any second device in which the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element is stored in the first storage means. Control to be strong.

  Thus, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of second devices are connected through the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber, and can transmit arbitrary information by optical communication. On the other hand, the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element when transmitting information by optical communication is detected, and when the information is transmitted by optical communication, the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element is the information transmission destination second device. Therefore, it is possible to transmit information to each second device by optical communication so that the information is reliably received by each second device. In addition, since the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element when transmitting information by optical communication is optimized for each second device, the first light emission does not adversely affect the life of the light emitting element more than necessary. It is possible to suppress the element from generating more heat than necessary during light emission. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of second devices can be securely connected via the distributed optical signal transmission body without unnecessarily adversely affecting the life of the first light emitting element and the amount of heat generated during light emission. Optical communication can be performed.

  The optimum light emission intensity in the invention described in claim 1 may be any light emission intensity that allows the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the second device to be within an allowable range. It is preferable to apply the light emission intensity of the first light-emitting element when the amount of light received by the second light-receiving element of the two devices becomes a lower limit value within the allowable range. Thereby, the lifetime of the first light emitting element can be extended to the maximum, and the amount of heat generated during light emission of the first light emitting element can be suppressed to the minimum necessary.

  Further, in the first aspect of the invention, the first detection means causes the first light emitting element to emit light while changing the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element stepwise as described in, for example, claim 3, and emits light. By receiving light reception state information representing a light reception state by the second light receiving element of the second device of the intensity detection target from the second device of the light emission intensity detection target, the information is transmitted to the second device of the light emission intensity detection target by optical communication. It is possible to configure so as to detect the optimum light emission intensity at the time. Accordingly, the light reception state by the second light receiving element of the second device of the light emission intensity detection target is surely determined based on the light reception state information received from the second device of the light emission intensity detection target (and whether or not the light reception state information is received). It is possible to recognize the optimum light emission intensity when transmitting information to the second device subject to light emission intensity detection by optical communication.

  The light reception state information may be, for example, information indicating a deviation between the upper limit value or the lower limit value within the allowable range of the light reception amount of the second light receiving element and the actual light reception amount, or the light reception amount of the second light receiving element. May be information representing an upper limit value, a lower limit value, and an actual received light amount within the allowable range, and arbitrary information representing a light receiving state can be applied. In addition, for the transmission of the light reception state information from the second device to the optical communication device according to the present invention, an optical transmission line composed of the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber may be used. (The above optical transmission path may be the same as the optical transmission path through which the light emitted from the first light-emitting element is transmitted, or a plurality of first optical fibers, distributed optical signal transmission bodies, and second optical fibers are provided, The optical transmission line different from the optical transmission line through which the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmitted may be transmitted), or may be transmitted as an electrical signal using a separate electric signal line.

  In the invention described in claim 3, the first detection means uses the information to which the emission intensity information indicating the emission intensity of the first light emitting element at that time is added as described in claim 4, for example. The light emitted from one light emitting element is modulated, and the light intensity information extracted and added to the light reception state information extracted by the second device of the light intensity detection target based on the light received by the second light receiving element is received and received. It is preferable to detect the optimum light emission intensity based on the emitted light intensity information. The light emission intensity of the first light emitting element can be stored on the side of the optical communication apparatus according to the present invention, but the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the second device is allowed depending on the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element. Since the light receiving state information may not be transmitted from the second device, the received light received from the second device when the first light emitting device emits light while gradually changing the light emission intensity of the first light emitting device. In some cases, the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element corresponding to the state information cannot be determined. On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 4, since the light reception state information to which the light emission intensity information is added is received by the second device, it is received based on the light emission intensity information added to the received light reception state information. It is possible to reliably recognize the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element corresponding to the light reception state information.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 3, the first detection means acquires the optimum light emission intensity detected last time for the same second device when detecting the optimum light emission intensity, for example, as described in claim 5. The initial value of the emission intensity and the change range of the emission intensity are set based on the acquired previous optimum emission intensity, and the emission intensity of the first light emitting element is stepwise according to the set initial value of the emission intensity and the change range of the emission intensity. It is preferable to change to. The probability that the optimum light emission intensity for the same second device is greatly changed is very low, and the optimum light emission intensity detected this time is very likely to be the same or approximate value as the optimum light emission intensity detected last time. In the invention according to claim 5, the initial value of the emission intensity and the change range of the emission intensity are set based on the optimum emission intensity detected last time for the same second device, and the initial value and emission intensity of the set emission intensity are set. Since the emission intensity of the first light emitting element is changed stepwise in accordance with the change range of, the initial value of the emission intensity of the first light emitting element and the change range of the emission intensity are set so that the optimum emission intensity can be detected in a short time can do. Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the time required for detection (acquisition) of the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element can be shortened.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the optical communication device and the plurality of second devices connected via each optical fiber and the distribution type optical signal transmitter are the same device (even if this device is an image forming device). When the same device is turned on, for example, as described in claim 6, the first detection means emits the optimum light when the same device is connected to different modules (which may be a computer and any device can be applied). It is preferable to detect the intensity. As a result, the optimum light emission intensity can be detected without affecting the operation of the device configured to include each module to which any of the optical communication device and the plurality of second devices is connected.

  Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, for example, as described in the seventh aspect, the time measuring means for measuring the time during which information is transmitted / received by optical communication via each optical fiber and the distribution type optical signal transmitter. And the first detecting means may be configured to detect the optimum light emission intensity every time the time measured by the time measuring means reaches a preset value. Further, for example, as described in claim 8, temperature detection means for detecting the environmental temperature or the temperature of the first light emitting element is provided, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is set to a value set in advance. It may be configured to detect the optimum light emission intensity when the above is reached.

  In the first aspect of the invention, as described in the ninth aspect, for example, in the optical communication with an arbitrary second device, the information used for modulating the light emitted from the first light emitting element may be an optional second. It is preferable to provide an adding means for adding device identification information. Thus, as in the first aspect of the invention, the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber. In this configuration, even when the light emission intensity of the first light-emitting element is such that the amount of light received by the second light-receiving elements of the plurality of second devices is within an allowable range, it is transmitted to the specific second device by optical communication. Can be prevented from being mistakenly recognized as information transmitted to the own device by a second device other than the specific second device, and optical communication with a plurality of second devices can be performed reliably and securely. Can be done without error.

  In the invention described in claim 9, the identification information of the second device may be fixedly set in advance. For example, as described in claim 10, each of the plurality of second devices is identified. The granting means for granting the identification information to each of the second devices, and the identification information given by the granting means being notified to each of the plurality of second devices, thereby holding the notified identification information in each of the plurality of second devices. It is preferable to further provide notification means. As a result, even when the number of second devices increases or decreases, the identification information is reassigned to each second device, and the reassigned identification information is notified to each second device. Therefore, optical communication with a plurality of second devices can be performed reliably and without error regardless of a configuration change such as an increase or decrease in the number of second devices.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 10, the granting unit sequentially turns on the power of the plurality of second devices and enables new optical communication as the power is turned on. By repeatedly giving the identification information to the second device, the identification information can be given to each of the plurality of second devices.

  An optical communication apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is connected to a distributed optical signal transmission body via a second optical fiber, and the distributed optical signal transmission body is connected to the optical transmission apparatus via the first optical fiber. It connects with the 1st apparatus which consists of an optical communication apparatus in any one of Claim 11 thru | or 11, It modulates according to arbitrary information, and is inject | emitted from the said 1st light emitting element of the said 1st apparatus, The said 1st light The light transmitted through the fiber, the distribution type optical signal transmitter and the second optical fiber is received by the second light receiving element, and the light emitted from the second light emitting element is modulated according to arbitrary information and emitted. The first optical fiber is transmitted to the first device via the second optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the first optical fiber, and is received by a first light receiving element provided in the first device. Arbitrary information can be sent and received by optical communication The optical communication device is notified of the optimum light emission intensity detected by the first detection means of the first device, and stores the notified optimum light emission intensity in the second storage means. The second light emitting element for setting the amount of light received by the first light receiving element of the first device to be within an allowable range when transmitting information to the first device by optical communication based on the optimum light emission intensity. Setting means for setting optimum light emission intensity, and when transmitting information to the first device by optical communication, control is performed so that the light emission intensity of the second light emitting element becomes the optimum light emission intensity set by the setting means. And a second control means.

  An optical communication apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is a distributed optical signal connected to a first apparatus comprising the optical communication apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects via a first optical fiber. The transmission body and the second optical fiber are connected to each other, modulated in accordance with arbitrary information, emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device, the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber. The light transmitted through the optical fiber is received by the second light receiving element, and the light emitted from the second light emitting element after being modulated according to arbitrary information is sent to the second optical fiber, the distribution type optical signal transmitter, Any information can be transmitted and received by optical communication with the first device by transmitting to the first device via one optical fiber and receiving light with a first light receiving element provided in the first device. It should be noted that another optical communication device (second device) may be connected to the distribution type optical signal transmission body via a second optical fiber different from the second optical fiber.

  In the invention of claim 12, an optical transmission path used for information reception (information transmission from the first apparatus to the optical communication apparatus according to claim 12) and information transmission (invention of claim 12) The optical transmission path used for the transmission of information from the optical communication apparatus to the first apparatus may be the same or different (the optical transmission path used for information reception and the optical transmission path used for information transmission). Can be realized by providing a plurality of first optical fibers, distributed optical signal transmission bodies, and second optical fibers), but in any case, the optimum of the second light emitting element at the time of information transmission There is a high possibility that the emission intensity is the same as or close to the optimum emission intensity of the first light emitting element of the first device at the time of receiving information.

  Based on the above, in the twelfth aspect of the invention, the optimum light emission intensity detected by the first detection means of the first device is notified, and the notified optimum light emission intensity is stored in the second storage means. Further, based on the optimum light emission intensity stored in the second storage means, the first light receiving amount of the first light receiving element of the first device when transmitting information to the first device by optical communication is within an allowable range. The optimum light emission intensity of the two light emitting elements is set by the setting means. Then, when information is transmitted to the first device by optical communication, the second control means controls the light emission intensity of the second light emitting element to be the optimum light emission intensity set by the setting means. Thus, in the invention described in claim 12, the optimum light emission intensity of the second light emitting element is set using the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element detected and notified by the first detection means of the first device. Therefore, the time required for obtaining the optimum light emission intensity of the second light emitting element can be shortened.

  In the invention of claim 12, the optical transmission path used for receiving information and the optical transmission path used for transmitting information are the same, and the characteristics of the second light emitting element are the same as or close to those of the first light emitting element. The setting means is configured to set the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element notified from the first device and stored in the second storage means as it is as the optimum light emission intensity of the second light emitting element. The light emitted from the second light emitting element and the light emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device are transmitted via different optical fibers, or the characteristics of the second light emitting element are the first. When the characteristic differs from the characteristic of the light emitting element, the setting means specifically sets the light emission intensity based on the optimum light emission intensity stored in the second storage means as described in claim 13, for example. Set the initial value and emission intensity change range, and set The second light emitting element emits light while gradually changing the light emission intensity of the second light emitting element in accordance with the initial value of the emitted light intensity and the change range of the light emission intensity, and light reception indicating the light receiving state by the first light receiving element of the first device. It is preferable to configure so as to set an optimum light emission intensity when information is transmitted to the first device by optical communication by receiving the state information from the first device. Thereby, the time required for obtaining the optimum light emission intensity of the second light emitting element can be shortened.

  An optical communication device according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention is different from each other as the first device comprising the optical communication device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects is connected via a first optical fiber. Connected via a third optical fiber to a distributed optical signal transmission body connected to each of a plurality of second devices via a second optical fiber, modulated according to arbitrary information, and emitted from the third light emitting element Light is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via the third optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber, and second light receiving elements provided in the plurality of second devices, respectively. The optical communication device is capable of transmitting arbitrary information by optical communication to each of the plurality of second devices by receiving light at the first detection unit of the first device, and the plurality of second devices. Obtaining the optimal emission intensity detected for each And obtaining means, and an optimum of the third light emitting element for keeping an amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device within an allowable range when transmitting information to the specific second device by optical communication A second detection means for detecting the emission intensity; an optimum emission intensity corresponding to the specific second device among the optimum emission intensities acquired by the acquisition means; and an optimum emission intensity detected by the second detection means; Based on the deviation, the correction means for correcting the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the second device other than the specific second device among the optimum light emission intensity acquired by the acquisition means, and the second detection means A third storage means for storing the optimum light emission intensity and the optimum light emission intensity corrected by the correction means, and the light emission intensity of the third light emitting element when transmitting information by optical communication to an arbitrary second device. There has been characterized by comprising a third control means for controlling so as to optimize the light emission intensity corresponding to the second device of the arbitrary stored in the third storage means.

  An optical communication device according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention is different from each other as the first device comprising the optical communication device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects is connected via a first optical fiber. It is connected to a distributed optical signal transmission body connected to each of a plurality of second devices via a second optical fiber via a third optical fiber, and modulated according to arbitrary information from the third light emitting element. The emitted light is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via the third optical fiber, the distribution-type optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber, and is received by the second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of second devices. Thus, arbitrary information can be transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication. In the above configuration, the optical transmission line used when the optical communication device according to the invention of claim 14 transmits information to each second device is used when the first device transmits information to each second device. 15. The invention according to claim 14, wherein the first optical fiber is merely replaced with the third optical fiber for the optical transmission line to be used, and therefore the optimum light emission intensity of the first light-emitting element of the first device and the specific second device. If the deviation from the optimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element of the optical communication device according to the above is obtained, the deviation and the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element detected by the first device with respect to the other second device, The optimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element for the second device can be estimated with high accuracy.

  Based on the above, in the invention described in claim 14, the optimum light emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices by the first detection unit of the first device is acquired by the acquisition unit, and information is transmitted to the specific second device by optical communication. The optimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element for making the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when transmitting the signal within the allowable range detected by the second detecting means and acquired by the acquiring means Based on the deviation between the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the specific second device out of the light emission intensity and the optimum light emission intensity detected by the second detection means, out of the optimum light emission intensity acquired by the acquisition means by the correction means The optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the second device other than the specific second device is corrected. The optimum light emission intensity detected by the second detection means and the optimum light emission intensity corrected by the correction means are respectively stored in the third storage means, and when transmitting information to any second device by optical communication, The third control means controls the light emission intensity of the third light emitting element to be the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to an arbitrary second device stored in the third storage means.

  Thus, according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when information is transmitted to a second device other than the specific second device only by detecting the minimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element for the specific second device. Since the optimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element can be obtained with high accuracy without actually detecting, the time required for obtaining the optimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element can be shortened. In the invention according to claim 14, the optimum light emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices by the first detection means of the first device is, for example, as specified in claim 15 for a specific second device. It can memorize | store in the provided 2nd memory | storage means. In this case, the acquisition unit can be configured to acquire the optimum light emission intensity from the second storage unit provided in the specific second device.

  An optical communication system according to the invention of claim 16 is a first apparatus connected to a distributed optical signal transmission body via a first optical fiber, and the distributed optical signal transmission via a different second optical fiber. A plurality of second devices each connected to a body, and a third device connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via a third optical fiber, wherein the first device is modulated according to arbitrary information The light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber, and the plurality of second devices. Light is received by the second light receiving elements provided in each of the first and second devices, so that arbitrary information can be transmitted from the first device to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication, and according to the arbitrary information. Modulated and emitted from the third light emitting element of the third device The transmitted light is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via the third optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber, and is provided to each of the plurality of second devices. An optical communication system capable of transmitting arbitrary information by optical communication from the third device to each of the plurality of second devices by being received by a light receiving element, wherein the first device and the third device are Optimum light emission of the first or third light-emitting element for keeping the amount of light received by the second light-receiving element of the arbitrary second device within an allowable range when transmitting information by optical communication to the arbitrary second device Intensities are detected for each of the plurality of second devices by first detection means for detecting each of the plurality of second devices, and the first detection means of the non-own device among the first device and the third device. Acquisition means for acquiring the optimum emission intensity Optimum light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element so that the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when transmitting information to the specific second device by optical communication is within an allowable range. A deviation between the optimum emission intensity corresponding to the specific second device out of the optimum emission intensity acquired by the acquisition means and the optimum emission intensity detected by the second detection means Based on the correction means for correcting the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the second device other than the specific second device among the optimum light emission intensities obtained by the obtaining means, and the plurality of first detection means by the first detection means. Storage means for storing the optimum emission intensity detected for each of the two optical communication devices, or the optimum emission intensity detected by the second detection means and the optimum emission intensity corrected by the correction means; When transmitting information to the second device by optical communication, the light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element is set to the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the arbitrary second device stored in the storage means. Each of the first device and the third device detects the optimum light emission intensity by the first detection means, each time when the optimum light emission intensity should be detected, The other device detects the optimum light emission intensity by the acquisition means, the second detection means and the correction means, and detects the optimum light emission intensity by the first detection means when a predetermined event occurs, and the acquisition The device for detecting the optimum light emission intensity is switched by the means, the second detection means, and the correction means.

  An optical communication system according to the invention of claim 16 includes a first device connected to a distributed optical signal transmitter via a first optical fiber, and a distributed optical signal transmitter via a different second optical fiber. And a plurality of second devices connected to each other, and a third device connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via a third optical fiber. Then, light that is modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device is sent to the plurality of second devices via the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber. Each information is transmitted and received by a second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of second devices, so that arbitrary information can be transmitted from the first device to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication. At the same time, the light, which is modulated according to arbitrary information and emitted from the third light emitting element of the third device, is transmitted to the plurality of second devices via the third optical fiber, the distribution type optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber. Each information is transmitted and received by a second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of second devices, so that arbitrary information can be transmitted from the third device to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication. .

  Also in the above-described configuration, the optical transmission line used when the first device transmits information to each second device and the third device transmits information to each second device, as in the invention described in claim 14. The optical transmission line used in this case is different only in whether the optical transmission line leading to the distribution-type optical signal transmission body is the first optical fiber or the third optical fiber. Detects the optimum light emission intensity of the light emitting element for each of the plurality of second devices, and if the other of the first device and the third device detects the optimum light emission intensity of the light emitting element for the specific second device, The optimum emission intensity can be estimated with high accuracy from the already detected optimum emission intensity.

  Based on the above, the first device and the third device according to the invention described in claim 16 can determine the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of any second device when transmitting information to any second device by optical communication. First detection means for detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element to be within the allowable range for each of the plurality of second devices, and the first detection of the non-own device among the first device and the third device. Means for acquiring the optimum light emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices by means, and the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when transmitting information to the specific second device by optical communication Second detection means for detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element to be within the allowable range, the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to a specific second device among the optimum light emission intensity obtained by the obtaining means, Optimum emission detected by the second detection means Based on the deviation from the intensity, correction means for correcting the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the second device other than the specific second device among the optimum light emission intensity acquired by the acquisition means, and a plurality of second detection means by the first detection means. Optimum emission intensity detected for each optical communication apparatus, or storage means for storing the optimum emission intensity detected by the second detection means and the optimum emission intensity corrected by the correction means, and light to any second device When transmitting information by communication, each has control means for controlling the light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element to be the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to any second device stored in the storage means. Yes. Thus, as in the first aspect of the invention, optical communication with a plurality of devices can be reliably performed via the distributed optical signal transmission body without unnecessarily adversely affecting the life of the light emitting element and the amount of heat generated during light emission. It can be performed.

  In the invention according to claim 16, each time when the timing for detecting the optimum emission intensity arrives, one of the first device and the third device detects the optimum emission intensity by the first detection means, and the other is the acquisition means. The optimum light emission intensity is detected by the second detection means and the correction means. Accordingly, as in the invention described in claim 14, one of the first device and the third device detects the optimum light emission intensity of the light emitting element for each of the second devices, and the other emits light for the specific second device. By only detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the element, it is possible to obtain the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element and the third light emitting element for each second device, so that the first light emitting element and the third light emitting element The time required for obtaining the optimum emission intensity can be shortened.

  Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 16, when a predetermined event occurs, an apparatus for detecting the optimum light emission intensity by the first detection means, and an apparatus for detecting the optimum light emission intensity by the acquisition means, the second detection means and the correction means Are configured to be switched. The predetermined event includes, for example, an event that the timing at which the optimum light emission intensity should be acquired has arrived, or that one device has continuously detected the optimum light emission intensity by the first detection means a predetermined number of times. . Accordingly, the number of times of light emission for obtaining the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element and the third light emitting element can be prevented from being biased to one of the first light emitting element and the third light emitting element. Only the lifetime of one of the first light-emitting element and the third light-emitting element can be prevented from becoming extremely short as the intensity is acquired.

  In the optical communication control method according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the first device is connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via the first optical fiber, and the plurality of second devices have different second optical fibers. Are connected to the distribution type optical signal transmission body through the first optical fiber and the distribution type optical signal transmission. The light is modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device. Body and the second optical fiber to be transmitted to the plurality of second devices, respectively, and are respectively received by the second light receiving elements provided in the plurality of second devices, from the first device to the In an optical communication system capable of transmitting arbitrary information to a plurality of second devices by optical communication, the first of the arbitrary second device when the first device transmits information to any second device by optical communication. 2 Make the amount of light received by the light receiving element within the allowable range. The first light emitting element for detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element for each of the plurality of second devices and the optimum light emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices provided in the first device And when the first device transmits information to any second device through optical communication, the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element is stored in the first storage means. In the same manner as in the first aspect of the invention, the distribution is performed without adversely affecting the life of the light emitting element and the amount of heat generated during light emission more than necessary. Optical communication can be reliably performed with a plurality of devices via the type optical signal transmitter.

  In the optical communication control method according to the invention of claim 18, the first device is connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via the first optical fiber, and the plurality of second devices each have a different second optical fiber. Are connected to the distribution type optical signal transmission body through the first optical fiber and the distribution type optical signal transmission. The light is modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device. Body and the second optical fiber to be transmitted to the plurality of second devices, respectively, and are respectively received by the second light receiving elements provided in the plurality of second devices, from the first device to the In an optical communication system capable of transmitting arbitrary information to a plurality of second devices by optical communication, light emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device is respectively transmitted to the second light receiving elements of the plurality of second devices. The amount of light received when received is approximately equal. As described above, the optical loss in each second optical fiber connecting the distribution-type optical signal transmission body and each second device is relatively adjusted, and the first device transmits the specific second device to the specific second device by optical communication. An optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element for detecting an amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when transmitting information is within an allowable range, and the detected optimum light emission intensity is When the first device transmits information to the second device by optical communication, the emission intensity of the first light emitting element is stored in the first storage device. Control is performed so that the stored optimum light emission intensity is obtained.

  In the invention described in claim 18, the first device is connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via the first optical fiber, and the plurality of second devices are distributed optical signals via different second optical fibers. In the optical communication system configured to be connected to each transmitter, the amount of light received when the light emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device is received by each of the second light receiving elements of the plurality of second devices is approximately equal. Thus, the optical loss in each second optical fiber connecting the distribution type optical signal transmission body and each second device is relatively adjusted. Accordingly, the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element when the first device transmits information to each of the second devices becomes substantially equal. Therefore, in the invention according to claim 18, the first device is a specific second device. The optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element for detecting the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when transmitting information by optical communication is within an allowable range, and the detected optimum light emission intensity is When the first device transmits information to any second device by optical communication, the emission intensity of the first light emitting element is stored in the first storage device. It controls so that it may become the optimal light emission intensity.

  Accordingly, the invention described in claim 18 is similar to the invention described in claim 1 in that a plurality of optical elements are distributed via the distributed optical signal transmitter without adversely affecting the life of the light emitting element and the amount of heat generated during light emission. It is possible to reliably perform optical communication with this device. In the invention according to claim 18, the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element is detected only for the specific second device, and the detected optimum light emission intensity is used as the first light emission at the time of information transmission to an arbitrary second device. Since it is commonly used for controlling the light emission intensity of the element, the optimum light emission intensity of the first light emitting element can be obtained in a very short time.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of light received by the light receiving element of another device when transmitting information by optical communication to another device connected via an optical fiber and a distributed optical signal transmitter is within an allowable range. When detecting the optimum emission intensity of the light emitting element for each of a plurality of other devices connected via an optical fiber and a distribution type optical signal transmission body, and transmitting information to any other device by optical communication, light emission Since the light emission intensity of the element is controlled so as to be the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to any other device, the distribution type optical signal transmitter can be used without adversely affecting the life of the light emitting element and the amount of heat generated during light emission. Therefore, it is possible to reliably perform optical communication with a plurality of devices.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an electronic apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The electronic device 10 includes a plurality of electronic circuits 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D. Of the electronic circuits 12A to 12D, the electronic circuit 12A functions as a master that controls the operation of the other electronic circuits 12B to 12D, and the electronic circuits 12B to 12D function as slaves that operate under the control of the electronic circuit 12A.

  Although any device can be applied as the electronic device 10, each color component is received by receiving image data via a network such as a LAN as an example and performing image processing such as screen processing based on the received image data. (For example, C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black), S (special color), etc.) exposure image data is generated, and each color component is generated based on the generated exposure image data. An electrostatic latent image of each color component is formed by controlling image exposure by a ROS (Raster Output Scanner) provided in the image, and the formed electrostatic latent image of each color component is developed with each color component developer and superimposed. Thus, it is possible to apply a full color printer having a configuration in which a full color toner image is formed and the formed full color toner image is transferred to a recording sheet and fixed. In this case, as the electronic circuits 12B to 12D functioning as slaves, an image processing circuit for controlling generation of image data for exposure of each color component and image exposure by ROS is used. As an electronic circuit 12A functioning as a master, each image processing is performed. A control circuit that controls the operation of the circuit (for example, a control circuit including a peripheral device such as a CPU and a memory) can be applied.

  In the first embodiment, communication between the electronic circuit 12A and the electronic circuits 12B to 12D is performed by optical communication, and optical communication between these electronic circuits is performed between the electronic circuit 12A and the electronic circuits 12B to 12D. An optical communication system 14 that realizes the above is provided. The optical communication system 14 includes optical communication interface (I / F) units 16A to 16D connected to the individual electronic circuits 12A to 12D. The optical communication I / F units 16A to 16D are respectively mounted on the same substrate as the connected electronic circuits 12A to 12D. The optical communication I / F units 16A to 16D have substantially the same configuration, and a plurality of (for example, five) LD arrays 18 in which a plurality of (for example, five) LDs (laser diodes) are arranged in a row, and a plurality of (for example, five) A PD array 20 in which a plurality of PDs (photodetectors) are arranged in a line, and an optical communication control unit 22 connected to the electronic circuit 12, the LD array 18 and the PD array 20 are provided. In the first embodiment, the electronic device 10 corresponds to the “same device” described in claim 6, and the electronic circuits 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> D correspond to the “module” described in claim 6.

  Each of the LD array 18 and the PD array 20 of each optical communication I / F unit 16 is configured so that the optical connector 24 can be freely attached and detached, and the optical connector 24 connected to the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A. One end of the first optical fiber 26 is attached, and one end of the first optical fiber 28 is attached to the optical connector 24 attached to the PD array 20, and is connected to the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16B. One end of the second optical fiber 36 is attached to the optical connector 24, and one end of the second optical fiber 30 is attached to the optical connector 24 attached to the PD array 20. Similarly, one end of the second optical fiber 38 is connected to the optical connector 24 connected to the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16C, and the second optical fiber 32 is connected to the optical connector 24 connected to the PD array 20. One end of the second optical fiber 40 is connected to the optical connector 24 connected to the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16D, and the second end is connected to the optical connector 24 connected to the PD array 20. One end of the optical fiber 34 is attached.

  The first optical fibers 26, 28 and the second optical fibers 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 are optical fibers made of synthetic resin called POF (Plastic Optical Fiber) (the core material is acrylic, and the cladding covers the core material) An optical fiber whose material is made of fluororesin is bundled by the same number (for example, five) as the number of LDs in the LD array 18 and the number of PDs in the PD array 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical connectors 24 are respectively attached to the other ends of the first optical fiber 26 and the second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34, and these optical connectors 24 are connected to the optical sheet bus 42A, respectively. ing. Although not shown in detail, the optical connectors 24 are respectively attached to the other ends of the first optical fiber 28 and the second optical fibers 36, 38, 40, and these optical connectors 24 are respectively connected to the optical sheet bus 42B. It is connected. The optical sheet buses 42A and 42B correspond to the distribution type optical signal transmission body according to the present invention.

  The optical sheet buses 42A and 42B are configured by embedding a waveguide member 44 shown in FIG. 3 in the same number (for example, five) as the number of optical fibers in a synthetic resin base member. The waveguide member 44 is made of a material having a high light transmittance and a refractive index higher than that of a clad layer to be described later (for example, polymethylmethacrylate). The step-like portions 46A and 46B are formed at two locations in the middle portion. Inclinations that are inclined at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the waveguide member 44 (vertical direction in FIG. 3) at both ends of the waveguide member 44 and the stepped portions 46A and 46B. Surfaces 44A to 44D are respectively formed. The inclined surfaces 44A to 44D function as signal light incident / exit portions. The waveguide member 44 is embedded so that portions of the upper surface of the waveguide member 44 corresponding to the individual inclined surfaces 44 </ b> A to 44 </ b> D are exposed from the upper surface of the base member. Of these, the base member is connected to face the exposed portion. The waveguide member 44 is covered with a clad layer whose outer surface other than the portion exposed from the upper surface of the base member is made of a material having a refractive index lower than that of the material constituting the waveguide member 44 (for example, a fluorine polymer). Has been.

  In the optical sheet bus 42A, the optical connector 24 to which the first optical fiber 26 is attached has a base so as to face an exposed portion corresponding to the inclined surface 44A formed in the portion of the waveguide member 44 having the largest width dimension. The optical connector 24 to which the second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34 are attached is connected to the base member so as to face the exposed portion corresponding to the inclined surfaces 44B to 44D. Since the first optical fiber 26 is connected to the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A via the optical connector 24, when the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A emits light, The signal light (laser light) emitted from the LD is transmitted through the first optical fiber 26, enters the waveguide member 44, is reflected by the inclined surface 44A, and is confined in the waveguide member 44. It diffuses and propagates in the waveguide member 44. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the light is emitted from the waveguide member 44 by being reflected by the inclined surfaces 44B to 44D, and transmitted through the second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34 via the optical connector 24. The light is received by the PD array 20 of each of the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D.

  In the optical sheet bus 42B, the optical connector 24 to which the first optical fiber 28 is attached is connected to the base member so as to face the exposed portion corresponding to the inclined surface 44A, and the second optical fibers 36, 38, 40 are connected. The attached optical connector 24 is connected to the base member so as to face the exposed portion corresponding to the inclined surfaces 44B to 44D. Since the second optical fibers 36, 38, and 40 are connected to the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D via the optical connector 24, any one of the LDs of the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D. When the array 18 emits light, the signal light (laser light) emitted from the individual LDs of the LD array 18 is transmitted through one of the second optical fibers 36, 38, and 40 and is incident on the waveguide member 44. It is diffused and propagated in the waveguide member 44 in a state of being confined in the waveguide member 44 by being reflected by any of the surfaces 44B to 44D. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the light is emitted from the waveguide member 44 by being reflected by the inclined surface 44A, is transmitted through the first optical fiber 28 via the optical connector 24, and the optical communication I / F. Light is received by the PD array 20 of the section 16A.

  As described above, the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A includes the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D via the first optical fiber 26, the optical sheet bus 42A, and the second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34. Each of the LD arrays 18 of the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D includes a second optical fiber 36, 38, 40, an optical sheet bus 42B, and a first optical fiber 28. And optically coupled to the PD array 20 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A. In this embodiment, the distance of the optical transmission path between the optical communication I / F unit 16A and the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D is about 5 m.

  Next, the configuration of the optical communication control unit 22 provided in each of the optical communication I / F units 16A to 16D will be described with reference to FIG. The optical communication control unit 22 includes an electronic circuit I / F unit 50 that is connected to the electronic circuit 12 and manages communication with the electronic circuit 12. The electronic circuit I / F unit 50 receives information to be transmitted to the other electronic circuit 12 from the electronic circuit 12 and transmits information received from the other electronic circuit 12 to the electronic circuit 12. A transmission control unit 52 is connected to the electronic circuit I / F unit 50, and information received by the electronic circuit I / F unit 50 from the electronic circuit 12 (transmission information to be transmitted to other electronic circuits 12) is transmission controlled. Is output to the unit 52. The transmission control unit 52 includes a non-volatile NVM memory 54 formed of a flash memory or the like, and an optimum light emission intensity table (details will be described later) is stored in the NVM memory 54.

  In the first embodiment, the NVM memory 54 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A has an optical communication I / F unit 16 (16B) connected to each electronic circuit 12 (12B to 12D) functioning as a slave. -16D) and the ID set in advance for the optical communication I / F unit 16 (16B-16D) are stored in advance, and are stored in the NVM memory 54 of the optical communication I / F units 16B-16D. Is pre-stored with its own ID and an ID set in advance for the optical communication I / F unit 16A. In the above information, for example, the number of optical communication I / F units 16 connected to the electronic circuit 12 functioning as a slave has increased or decreased due to the configuration change of the electronic device 10 such as the addition of the electronic circuit 12 functioning as a slave. In some cases, it is rewritten by an operator or the like.

  An 8B / 10B encoder 56 is connected to the transmission controller 52, and transmission information is output from the transmission controller 52 to the 8B / 10B encoder 56 byte by byte. Each PD in the PD array 20 has a characteristic that the response decreases when the state where light is not received continues. The optical communication system 14 according to this embodiment transmits transmission information serially using an optical signal, but normal data is data in which all bits are 0 or 1 (the LD does not emit light while transmitting all bits of data). Data) may be included, and while such data is being transmitted serially, the PD on the receiving side may become inactive and the response may be reduced. For this reason, the 8B / 10B encoder 56 is configured so that the ratio of the 0 bit and the 1 bit included in all bits of the transmission information input by 1 byte (8 bits) from the transmission control unit 52 does not fall below a certain value. The 8-bit transmission information is converted into 10-bit transmission information according to the conversion conditions set in advance. A plurality of 8B / 10B encoders 56 are actually provided, and conversion from 8-bit transmission information to 10-bit transmission information is performed in parallel by the individual 8B / 10B encoders 56.

  The 8B / 10B encoder 56 is connected to the LD drive unit 62 via a P / S (parallel / serial) conversion unit 60, and the 10-bit transmission information converted by the 8B / 10B encoder 56 is converted to P / S. After being input to the unit 60 and converted into serial data, it is input to the LD driving unit 62. Further, an ECC (Error-Correcting Code) generation unit 58 is connected to the 8B / 10B encoder 56, and the 10-bit transmission information output from the 8B / 10B encoder 56 is also input to the ECC generation unit 58. The generation unit 58 generates an error correction code for error correction. The ECC generation unit 58 is also connected to the LD drive unit 62 via the P / S conversion unit 60, and the error collection code generated by the ECC generation unit 58 is converted into serial data by the P / S conversion unit 60. After that, the signal is input to the LD driving unit 62. Then, the LD drive unit 62 responds to the transmission information input from the 8B / 10B encoder 56 via the P / S conversion unit 60 and the error correction code input from the ECC generation unit 58 via the P / S conversion unit 60. Thus, transmission information is transmitted as an optical signal by controlling turning on / off of each LD of the LD array 18.

  Further, the LD driving unit 62 is connected to the transmission control unit 52, and a clock signal and light emission intensity control information are input from the transmission control unit 52, respectively. A specific LD in the LD array 18 is for transmitting a clock signal, and the LD driving unit 62 controls turning on / off of the specific LD according to the input clock signal. The LD driving unit 62 can control the light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 and controls the light emission intensity of each LD according to the input light intensity control information.

  On the other hand, a signal processing unit 64 is connected to the PD array 20, and each PD in the PD array 20 receives (receives) an optical signal, so that an output signal from each PD is amplified by the signal processing unit 64. , Demodulated into digital reception information and output. The signal processing unit 64 is connected to the error correction unit 70 via an S / P (serial / parallel) conversion unit 66, and serial reception information output from the signal processing unit 64 is parallelized by the S / P conversion unit 66. After being converted into the received information, it is input to the error correction unit 70. The signal processing unit 64 is connected to the error detection unit 68 via the S / P conversion unit 66. The error detection unit 68 generates an error (error) such as bit corruption in the reception information body based on the error collection code included in the parallel reception information input from the signal processing unit 64 via the S / P conversion unit 66. Verify whether or not. The error correction unit 70 is connected to the error detection unit 68, and performs error correction on the reception information body when the error detection unit 68 detects that an error has occurred in the reception information body.

  The error correction unit 70 is connected to the reception control unit 74 via the 8B / 10B decoder 72, and the reception information (main body) output from the error correction unit 70 after error correction is 10 bits by the 8B / 10B decoder 72. The data is converted into normal 8-bit data in units and input to the reception control unit 74. The signal processing unit 64 is connected to the reception control unit 74, and among the received optical signals, the clock signal is directly input to the reception control unit 74 and used to synchronize with the optical signal transmission side. The reception control unit 74 is connected to each of the electronic circuit I / F unit 50 and the transmission control unit 52, and outputs the received reception information to the transmission control unit 52 and also electronically via the electronic circuit I / F unit 50. Output to the circuit 12. The signal processing unit 64 is also connected to the transmission control unit 52 and outputs received light amount information indicating the received light amount of the optical signal to the transmission control unit 52 at the time of optical signal reception (light reception).

  The optical communication I / F unit 16A corresponds to the optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and the first device according to claims 12 to 18, respectively. Each LD of the LD array 18 of the F section 16A corresponds to the first light emitting element according to the present invention, and each PD of the PD array 20 of the optical communication I / F section 16A corresponds to the first light receiving element according to the present invention. . The optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D are optical communication devices according to the inventions of claims 12 and 13, respectively, and the second devices of claims 1 to 11 and claims 14 to 18. Each LD of the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D is a second light emitting element according to the present invention, and each PD of the PD array 20 of the optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D is a main light emitting element. Each corresponds to the second light receiving element according to the invention.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is turned on, the optical communication control unit 22 (the transmission control unit 52) of the optical communication I / F unit 16A connected to the electronic circuit 12A functioning as a master serves as a slave. The optimum light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 of the optical communication I / F unit 16A when transmitting information to the optical communication I / F unit 16 connected to each functioning electronic circuit 12 is determined by the individual optical communication I / F. Optimal emission intensity detection processing (FIG. 5A) for detecting each of the F sections 16B to 16C is executed. The transmission control unit 52 starts measuring the elapsed time from the end of execution when the execution of the optimal emission intensity detection process is completed, and performs the optimum emission intensity detection process even when a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the previous execution. Do. Hereinafter, the optical communication I / F unit 16A is simply referred to as “master”. The optimum emission intensity detection process executed by the master is a process corresponding to the first detection means according to the present invention, and the transmission control unit 52 of the master optical communication control unit 22 executes this optimum emission intensity detection process. It functions as the first detecting means according to the present invention. In addition, the fact that the master (the transmission control unit 52) performs the optimum light emission intensity detection process when the electronic device 10 is turned on corresponds to the invention according to claim 6, since the optimum light emission intensity detection process has been executed last time. The master (the transmission control unit 52) performs the optimum light emission intensity detection process when the elapsed time reaches the predetermined time, which corresponds to the invention of claim 7.

  In the optimum light emission intensity detection processing according to the first embodiment, first, in step 100, by referring to the NVM memory 54, the optical communication I / F unit 16 (hereinafter referred to as the individual electronic circuit 12 functioning as a slave) is connected. , Simply referred to as “slave”) and an ID preset for each slave. In the next step 102, a slave to be processed in the following (for convenience, this slave is referred to as “slave n”) is determined. In step 104, it is determined whether or not the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n is registered in the optimum emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54. If the determination is negative, the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n is detected in the previous optimum emission intensity detection process, for example, because the slave n is newly added this time. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 106, and a predetermined value is set as an initial value and a change range of the light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 for detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 with respect to the slave n. The process proceeds to step 112 later.

  On the other hand, when the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n detected in the previous optimum emission intensity detection process is registered in the optimum emission intensity table, the optimum emission intensity detected this time is stored in the optimum emission intensity table. There is a high possibility that the value is the same as or close to the registered optimum emission intensity. Therefore, if the determination in step 104 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 108, where the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n detected in the previous optimum emission intensity detection process is read from the optimum emission intensity table. In the next step 110, on the assumption that the optimum emission intensity detected this time is the same as or approximate to the read optimum emission intensity, the emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 is determined based on the read optimum emission intensity. Set the initial value and change range. For example, the change range of the light emission intensity is set to a range centered on the read optimum light emission intensity and narrower than usual, and the initial value of the light emission intensity is set to a value corresponding to the upper limit or the lower limit of the set change range. Thereby, the time required for the optimum light emission intensity detection process can be shortened. The above steps 108 and 110 correspond to the invention described in claim 5.

  In the next step 112, in the intensity detection information used when each LD of the LD array 18 emits light for optimal emission intensity detection, the ID of the slave n as the transmission destination ID and the own (master) as the transmission source ID. Each ID is added, and emission intensity information indicating the emission intensity (initial value set above) of each LD of the LD array 18 is added. In step 114, emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light with the set emission intensity is output to the LD drive unit 62, and the intensity detection with the slave n and master IDs and emission intensity information added thereto is performed. Use information (transmission information) is output to the LD drive unit 62 via the 8B / 10B encoder 56, the ECC generation unit 58, and the P / S conversion unit 60. Thereby, each LD of the master LD array 18 is turned on / off according to the transmission information so that the light emission intensity at the time of lighting (light emission) matches the set light emission intensity, and according to the above transmission information. The modulated optical signal is emitted from the master LD array 18 and transmitted through the first optical fiber 26, the optical sheet bus 42A, and the second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34, and then the slaves (optical communication I / F units 16B to 16B). 16D) is received by the PD array 20 respectively. The process of adding the slave ID as the transmission destination ID to the information to be transmitted to the slave corresponds to the adding means described in claim 11. Thereby, it is possible to prevent information transmitted to a specific slave from being erroneously recognized as information addressed to the own apparatus by a slave other than the specific slave.

  In the next step 116, it is determined whether or not a light reception state notification is received from the slave n. When determination is denied, it transfers to step 118, and it is determined whether predetermined time passed after transmitting an optical signal. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 116, and steps 116 and 118 are repeated until either determination is positive.

  On the other hand, in each slave, when the PD array 20 receives an optical signal and the amount of received light is within the allowable range of each PD of the PD array 20, the received optical signal is demodulated as reception information, and S The data is input to the reception control unit 74 via the / P conversion unit 66, the error detection unit 68, the error correction unit 70, and the 8B / 10B decoder 72. Then, when the reception information is input from the reception control unit 74 to the transmission control unit 52, the transmission control unit 52 executes an optical signal reception process (see FIG. 5B). In this optical signal reception process, first, in step 150, the transmission destination ID included in the reception information is extracted, and it is determined whether or not the extracted transmission destination ID is the ID of the own device. It is determined whether the information is addressed to the device. If the determination is negative, the optical signal reception process is terminated without performing any process. Further, when the determination is affirmative (when the own apparatus is a slave n), the process proceeds to step 152, and the processes after step 152 are performed.

  Here, when the received light amount of the optical signal in the slave n is outside the allowable range of each PD of the PD array 20 (when the received light amount is insufficient), the transmission control unit 52 of the slave n performs the above light Since the signal reception process (FIG. 5B) is not executed, the determination in step 118 of the optimum light emission intensity detection process (FIG. 5A) executed in the master transmission control unit 52 is affirmed and step 120 is executed. , And the process returns to step 112 after the emission intensity setting value is increased by a predetermined amount. Thereby, each LD of the LD array 18 is turned on and off again according to the transmission information so that the light emission intensity at the time of lighting (light emission) increases by a predetermined amount, so that the light modulated according to the same transmission information The signal is sent again to each slave. Further, the process of step 120 described above is executed every time the determination of step 118 is affirmed. Accordingly, if the amount of light received by the slave n is insufficient, the amount of light received by the slave n falls within the allowable range, and the transmission control unit 52 of the slave n receives the optical signal reception process (FIG. 5). The transmission of the optical signal is repeated while increasing the emission intensity of each LD of the master LD array 18 by a predetermined amount so that (B)) is executed.

  If the received light amount of the optical signal in the slave n is within the allowable range of each PD of the PD array 20, the transmission control unit 52 executes the optical signal reception process (FIG. 5B). If the determination in step 150 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 152, it is determined whether or not the detection of the optimum light emission intensity for the own apparatus is being executed by the master by determining whether or not the received information is information for intensity detection. To do. When determination is denied, it transfers to step 158, and it is determined whether reception information is information which notifies optimal light emission intensity. If this determination is also denied, the process proceeds to step 162, a process corresponding to the content of the received information is executed, and the optical signal reception process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 152 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 154, and based on the received light amount information input from the signal processing unit 64, the received light state information indicating the light reception state of the optical signal by each PD of the PD array 20 Is generated. As the light reception state information, for example, information indicating the lower limit of the allowable range of the light reception amount of each PD of the PD array 20 and the deviation of the actual light reception amount of the optical signal by each PD of the PD array 20 can be applied. However, instead of this, information representing the upper limit of the allowable range of the received light amount of each PD of the PD array 20 and the actual received light amount of the optical signal by each PD of the PD array 20 may be applied, Information representing the upper and lower limits of the allowable range of the received light amount of each PD of the PD array 20 and the actual received light amount of the optical signal by each PD of the PD array 20 may be applied.

  In step 156, the emission intensity information is extracted from the received information, and the extracted emission intensity information is added to the generated light reception state information, and the master ID is set as the transmission destination ID, and the ID of the own apparatus is set as the transmission source ID. After the addition, light emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light with a preset light emission intensity (the optimum light emission intensity detected last time may be applied instead) to the LD driver 62. In addition to outputting, the light reception state information to which the light emission intensity information is added is output to the LD driving unit 62 via the 8B / 10B encoder 56, the ECC generation unit 58, and the P / S conversion unit 60, and the processing at the time of receiving the optical signal is completed. . Thereby, each LD of the LD array 18 of the slave n is turned on / off according to the reception state information so that the light emission intensity at the time of lighting (light emission) matches the set light emission intensity. The optical signal modulated in accordance with the state information is emitted from the LD array 18 of the slave n, transmitted through one of the second optical fibers 36, 38, and 40, the optical sheet bus 42B, and the first optical fiber 28, and then transmitted to the master. Light is received by the PD array 20.

  When the master receives light reception state information to which light emission intensity information has been added from slave n, the determination in step 116 of the optimum light emission intensity detection process (FIG. 5A) is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 122, where the received light reception state is received. By referring to the information, it is determined whether or not the light emission intensity represented by the light emission intensity information added to the light reception state information is the optimum light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 when transmitting information to the slave n. As the optimum light emission intensity, for example, the light emission intensity that provides an optimum state in which the light reception amount of each PD of the PD array 20 of the slave n matches the lower limit value of the allowable range of the light reception amount can be applied. This matter corresponds to the invention described in claim 2, and the life of the master LD array 18 can be maximized and the amount of heat generated can be suppressed to the minimum necessary. Step 122 corresponds to the invention described in claim 3. If the received light amount represented by the received light reception state information is different from the light reception amount corresponding to the optimum state, the determination in step 122 is negative, the process proceeds to step 124, and the slave notified by the light reception state information After changing the light emission intensity according to the light receiving state of each PD in the n PD arrays 20, the process returns to step 112.

  Thereby, each LD of the LD array 18 is turned on / off again according to the same information as the previous time so that the light emission intensity at the time of lighting (light emission) matches the light emission intensity after the change setting, and according to the same information as the previous time The modulated optical signal is transmitted again to each slave at a light emission intensity different from the previous time. Therefore, when the received light amount of the optical signal in the slave n is different from the received light amount corresponding to the optimum state, the received light amount of the optical signal in the slave n is set to the optimum state. The transmission of the optical signal is repeated while changing the light emission intensity of each LD of the master LD array 18 in accordance with the light receiving state of each PD.

  If the received light amount of each PD in the PD array 20 of the slave n matches the received light amount corresponding to the optimum state, the determination in step 122 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 126, where the current light emission intensity (last received light reception state information) is obtained. Is registered in the optimum emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54 in association with the ID of the slave n as the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n. Thus, the master NVM memory 54 corresponds to the first storage means according to the present invention. Further, as described above, the emission intensity information is added to the intensity detection information transmitted to the slave n to be processed, and the optimum emission intensity is based on the emission intensity information added to the light reception state information received from the slave n. The processing for recognizing (the light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 when the amount of light received by the slave n reaches the optimum state) corresponds to the invention according to claim 4. With the above processing, the optimum light emission intensity can be recognized with certainty.

  In the next step 128, information for notifying the above-mentioned optimum light emission intensity to the slave n is generated, and the ID of the slave n as the transmission destination ID and the own (master) ID as the transmission source ID are generated in the generated information. In addition, it transmits by optical communication. Thereby, in the optical signal reception process (FIG. 5B) executed by the transmission control unit 52 of the slave n, the determination in step 150 is affirmed, the determination in step 152 is denied, and the determination in step 158 is affirmed. Then, the process proceeds to step 160, and the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n notified from the master is stored in the NVM memory 54 of the slave n. Thus, the NVM memory 54 of each slave corresponds to the second storage means according to the present invention.

  In the optimum light emission intensity detection process (FIG. 5A) executed by the master, in the next step 130, it is determined whether or not the processes after step 102 described above have been performed for all slaves. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 102, and the process of step 102 is repeated with a new slave as a processing target. As a result, the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 is detected for all slaves, and the detected optimum emission intensity is registered in the optimum emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54, and is also stored in the corresponding slave n. You will be notified.

  When the determination of step 130 is affirmed and the optimum emission intensity detection process (FIG. 5A) is completed, the master transmission control unit 52 transmits the information to each slave to each slave when transmitting information to the master. Predetermined information for instructing execution of processing for detecting the optimum light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 is sequentially transmitted by optical communication. Thus, in the slave (referred to as “slave n” for convenience) instructed to execute the process of detecting the optimum emission intensity by receiving the predetermined information, the transmission control unit 52 performs the optimum emission intensity detection process (FIG. 6). (A)) is executed. Note that the optimum emission intensity detection process (FIG. 6A) executed by the slave is a process corresponding to the setting means according to the present invention, and the transmission control unit 52 of the slave optical communication control unit 22 performs this optimum emission. By executing the intensity detection process, it functions as setting means according to the present invention (specifically, setting means according to claim 13).

  In this optimum emission intensity detection process, first, in step 180, the optimum emission intensity notified from the master and stored in the NVM memory 54 (the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n) is read. In the first embodiment, an optical transmission path (first optical fiber 26, optical sheet bus 42A and second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34) used for transmitting information to each slave by the master, and a master by each slave. Although the optical transmission paths (first optical fiber 28, optical sheet bus 42B, and second optical fibers 36, 38, and 40) used for transmitting information to are different, the distances of the optical transmission paths are substantially equal. The optimum light emission intensity when the slave n transmits information to the master is likely to be a value that is the same as or close to the optimum light emission intensity when the master transmits information to the slave n.

  Based on the above, in step 182, the optimum emission intensity detected this time is the same as or approximate to the optimum emission intensity read from the NVM memory 54 (the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for the slave n detected and notified by the master). Based on the read optimum emission intensity, the initial value and change range of the emission intensity of each LD of the slave n LD array 18 are set. Thereby, the time required for the optimum light emission intensity detection process can be shortened. In the next step 184, the master ID as the transmission destination ID and the own device (slave n) as the transmission source ID in the intensity detection information used when each LD of the LD array 18 emits light for the detection of the optimal emission intensity. Are added, and emission intensity information indicating the emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 of the slave n is added.

  In step 186, the emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light with the set emission intensity is output to the LD drive unit 62, and the intensity detection with the ID of the master and its own device and the emission intensity information is added. The business information (transmission information) is output to the LD drive unit 62 via the 8B / 10B encoder 56, the ECC generation unit 58, and the P / S conversion unit 60. Thereby, each LD of the LD array 18 of the slave n is turned on / off according to the transmission information so that the light emission intensity at the time of lighting (light emission) matches the set light emission intensity. The modulated optical signal is transmitted from the slave n to the master, transmitted through one of the second optical fibers 36, 38, 40, the optical sheet bus 42B, and the first optical fiber 28, and then received by the master PD array 20. The

  In the next step 188, it is determined whether a light reception state notification is received from the master. When determination is denied, it transfers to step 190 and it is determined whether predetermined time passed since transmitting the optical signal. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 188, and steps 188 and 190 are repeated until either determination is positive.

  In the master, every time an optical signal is received from one of the slaves, the transmission control unit 52 executes an optical signal reception process (see FIG. 6B). In this optical signal reception process, first, in step 210, the transmission destination ID included in the reception information is extracted, and it is determined whether or not the extracted transmission destination ID is the ID of the own device. It is determined whether the information is addressed to the device. If the determination is negative, the optical signal reception process is terminated without performing any process. In the configuration of the first embodiment, all the information transmitted by each slave is information addressed to the master, and the determination in step 210 is not denied, so step 210 may be omitted. If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 212, and the processing after step 212 is performed.

  Here, when the received light amount of the optical signal in the master is outside the allowable range of each PD of the PD array 20 (when the received light amount is insufficient), the transmission control unit 52 of the master receives the above optical signal reception. Since the time process (FIG. 6B) is not executed, the determination in step 188 of the optimum emission intensity detection process (FIG. 6A) executed in the transmission control unit 52 of the slave n is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 190. The process proceeds to step 184 after the set value of the emission intensity is increased by a predetermined amount. Thereby, each LD of the LD array 18 is turned on and off again according to the transmission information so that the light emission intensity at the time of lighting (light emission) increases by a predetermined amount, so that the light modulated according to the same transmission information The signal is sent again to the master. Therefore, when the received light amount of the optical signal in the master is insufficient, the light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 is increased by a predetermined amount so that the received light amount of the optical signal in the master is within the allowable range. The transmission of the optical signal is repeated.

  If the received light amount of the optical signal in the master is within the allowable range of each PD in the PD array 20, the master transmission control unit 52 executes the optical signal reception process (FIG. 6B). At the same time, the determination in step 210 is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 212, where it is determined whether or not the detection of the optimum light emission intensity for the own apparatus is being executed by slave n by determining whether or not the received information is information for intensity detection. To determine. When determination is denied, it transfers to step 214, the process according to the content of reception information is performed, and the process at the time of optical signal reception is complete | finished.

  If the determination in step 212 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 216, and based on the light reception amount information input from the signal processing unit 64, the light reception state information indicating the light reception state of the optical signal by each PD of the PD array 20 Is generated. In step 218, the emission intensity information is extracted from the reception information, and the extracted emission intensity information is added to the generated light reception state information, and the ID of the slave n is set as the transmission destination ID and the own apparatus (master) is set as the transmission source ID. After the IDs are added, the emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light with the optimum emission intensity for the slave n detected and registered in the optimum emission intensity table is sent to the LD driving unit 62. At the same time, the light reception state information (transmission information) to which the light emission intensity information is added is output to the LD drive unit 62 via the 8B / 10B encoder 56, the ECC generation unit 58, and the P / S conversion unit 60, and an optical signal is received. The process ends. Thereby, the light reception state information to which the slave n and master ID and light emission intensity information are added is transmitted from the master to the slave n by optical communication.

  When the slave n receives the light reception state information to which the light emission intensity information is added from the master, the determination in step 188 of the optimum light emission intensity detection process (FIG. 6A) is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 194. By referring to the state information, it is determined whether or not the light emission intensity represented by the light emission intensity information added to the light reception state information is the optimum light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 when transmitting information to the master. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 196, where the light emission intensity is changed and set according to the light reception state of each PD in the master PD array 20 notified by the light reception state information, and then the process returns to step 184. As a result, the light intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 of the slave n is changed and set according to the light receiving state of each PD of the master PD array 20 so that the received light amount of the optical signal in the master becomes an optimum state. Signal transmission will be repeated.

  When the received light amount of each PD in the master PD array 20 matches the received light amount corresponding to the optimum state, the determination in step 194 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 198, where the current light emission intensity (last received light reception state information is added). The light emission intensity represented by the light emission intensity information added) is stored in the NVM memory 54 as the optimum light emission intensity of the LD array 18 of the slave n with respect to the master, and the optimum light emission intensity detection process is terminated. The optimum emission intensity detection process described above is sequentially executed by each slave according to an instruction from the master.

  As described above, when the master and each slave complete the detection of the optimum light emission intensity for the other party of optical communication, normal optical communication is performed. In this normal optical communication, the master transmits information to an arbitrary slave. In this case, the master transmission control unit 52 reads out the optimum emission intensity registered in the optimum emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54 in association with the ID of the slave to which information is to be transmitted, and the LD array 18 is read with the read optimum emission intensity. Light emission intensity control information for causing each LD to emit light is output to the LD drive unit 62. This process corresponds to the first control means according to the present invention, and by executing this process, the master transmission control unit 52 functions as the first control means according to the present invention. Thereby, when transmitting information from the master to an arbitrary slave, the light emission intensity of each LD of the master LD array 18 is controlled so that the received light amount of the optical signal in the slave of the information transmission destination becomes an optimum state.

  When an arbitrary slave (slave n) transmits information to the master, the transmission control unit 52 of the slave n uses the optimum emission intensity stored in the NVM memory 54 (the optimum emission intensity of the LD 18 of the slave n with respect to the master). , And the light emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light with the read optimum light emission intensity is output to the LD driving unit 62. As a result, even when information is transmitted from any slave n to the master, the light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 of the slave n is controlled so that the received light amount of the optical signal at the master is in an optimum state. This process corresponds to the second control unit according to the present invention, and by executing this process, the slave transmission control unit 52 functions as the second control unit according to the present invention. As a result, when transmitting information from an arbitrary slave to the master, the light emission intensity of each LD of the slave LD array 18 is controlled so that the received light amount of the optical signal at the information transmission destination master is in an optimum state.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave is detected by the master, and the light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 when the master transmits information to any slave. Is controlled so as to be the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the slave of the information transmission destination, so that information can be reliably transmitted to each slave by optical communication, and the light emission intensity of the LD array 18 is set for each slave. Since it is optimized, it is possible to prevent the life of the LD array 18 from being adversely affected by the light emitted from the master LD array 18 with an excessive light emission intensity, and to prevent the LD array 18 from generating more heat than necessary. .

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part same as 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different part from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, a power control unit 80 is provided in the electronic device 10. The power control unit 80 is connected to each of the slaves (optical communication I / F units 16B to 16D) mounted on the electronic device 10, and can control the power on / off of each slave.

  In the second embodiment, for example, with the configuration change of the electronic device 10 such as the addition of the electronic circuit 12 functioning as a slave, the slave (the light connected to the electronic circuit 12 functioning as a slave) is mounted on the electronic device 10. Even when the number of communication I / F units 16) increases or decreases, the number of slaves connected to the power supply control unit 80 increases or decreases accordingly. The power supply control unit 80 can grasp the increase / decrease in the number. The power supply control unit 80 manages each slave connected (implemented) with an ID (this ID is referred to as a physical ID in order to distinguish it from a logical ID described later). The master optical communication control unit 22 is connected to the power supply control unit 80 and can communicate with the power supply control unit 80.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment described above, an ID (corresponding to a logical ID in the second embodiment) is set in advance for the master and each slave, and the ID is stored in advance in the NVM memory 54 of the master and each slave. However, in the second embodiment, the logical ID is set in advance only for the master, and the logical ID of each slave is set prior to the execution of the optimum light emission intensity detection process described above when the electronic device 10 is turned on. The logical ID setting process shown in FIG. 8A is executed and executed by the master transmission control unit 52.

  In this logical ID setting process, first, in step 230, the number of slaves mounted in the electronic device 10 (which can perform optical communication with the master) and the physical ID of each slave are inquired to the power control unit 80, and the power control unit By receiving the response from 80, the number of slaves and the physical ID of each slave are recognized. In the next step 232, the power control unit 80 is requested to turn off the power of all slaves. As a result, the power supply control unit 80 turns off all the slaves.

  In step 234, among the slaves recognized in the previous step 230, a slave to be processed (hereinafter referred to as “slave n” for convenience) is determined. In step 236, the power supply control unit 80 is requested to turn on the slave n. Thereby, the power supply of the slave n is turned on by the power supply control unit 80, and the master enters a state where optical communication with the slave n is possible. In step 238, the logical ID of the slave n is determined, and the determined logical ID is stored in the NVM memory 54 in association with the physical ID of the slave n.

  In the next step 240, logical ID notification information for notifying the slave n of the logical ID of the slave n determined in step 238 is generated, and the own device (master) logic is set as a transmission source ID in the generated logical ID notification information. After adding the ID (destination ID is not set), the preset emission intensity (instead of this, the optimum emission intensity previously detected and registered in the optimum emission intensity table (of the master LD array for slave n) (Optimum emission intensity) may be applied), and the emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light is output to the LD drive unit 62, and the logical ID notification information with the transmission source ID added is 8B / The data is output to the LD drive unit 62 via the 10B encoder 56, the ECC generation unit 58, and the P / S conversion unit 60. Thereby, the logical ID notification information is transmitted from the master to the slave n by optical communication. Step 240 corresponds to the notifying means described in claim 9. In step 242, it is determined whether a response from slave n has been received, and step 242 is repeated until the determination is affirmed.

  On the other hand, in the slave according to the second embodiment, when the power is turned on, the transmission control unit 52 executes the power-on process shown in FIG. At this time, since each slave other than the slave n is powered off, the power-on process is executed only by the transmission control unit 52 of the slave n, and the logical ID notification information transmitted from the master is processed. Received only at slave n. In this power-on process, it is first determined in step 260 whether or not an optical signal has been received, and step 260 is repeated until the determination is positive. When an optical signal is received from the master, the determination in step 260 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 262 to determine whether the received information is information addressed to the own apparatus. When the logical ID notification information is transmitted from the master, since the slave side does not know the logical ID of the own device, the master does not set the transmission destination ID as described above, and the transmission destination ID is not set. If unset information is received, the determination in step 262 is unconditionally affirmed and the process proceeds to step 264.

  In step 264, it is determined whether the received information is logical ID notification information. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 270, the process corresponding to the content of the received information is executed and the power-on process is terminated. If the determination in step 264 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 266. The logical ID of itself (slave n) notified by the logical ID notification information and the logical ID of the master set as the transmission source are stored in the NVM memory 54. In the next step 268, reception notification information for notifying that the logical ID notification information has been received is generated, and in the generated reception notification information, the master logical ID as the transmission destination ID and the own device (slave) as the transmission source ID are generated. n), after adding each of the logical IDs, the preset emission intensity (instead of this, the optimum emission intensity previously detected and stored in the NVM memory 54 (the optimum emission intensity of the LD array 18 of the slave n with respect to the master) ) May be applied), the emission intensity control information for causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light is output to the LD driving unit 62, and the reception notification information with the transmission destination ID and the transmission source ID added is 8B / The data is output to the LD drive unit 62 via the 10B encoder 56, the ECC generation unit 58, and the P / S conversion unit 60, and the process returns to step 260. As a result, the reception notification information is transmitted from the slave n to the master by optical communication.

  When the reception notification information transmitted from the slave n is received by the master, the determination in step 242 of the logical ID setting process (FIG. 8A) is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 244, and the power supply of the slave n is turned off. The control unit 80 is requested. Thereby, the power supply control unit 80 turns off the power supply of the slave n to be processed. In step 246, it is determined whether or not the processing from step 234 has been performed on all slaves. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 234. As a result, Steps 234 to 246 are repeated for all slaves, and determination and notification of logical IDs for all slaves are sequentially performed. If the determination in step 246 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 248, the power supply control unit 80 is requested to power on all slaves, and the logical ID setting process is terminated. As a result, the power supply control unit 80 turns on the power of all slaves, and the master is in a state where optical communication with each slave is possible. Thereafter, the optimum emission intensity detection process described in the first embodiment is executed by the master and each slave. The logical ID corresponds to the identification information described in claim 9 and the like. In the logical ID setting process described above, each step except step 240 is assigned according to claim 9 (specifically, claim 10). Corresponds to the means.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is turned on, the above-described logical ID setting process is performed prior to the execution of the optimum emission intensity detection process. Even if there is a change, a logical ID is automatically assigned to each slave, and each time the configuration of the electronic device 10 is changed with an increase or decrease in the number of slaves, the master and slave NVM memories There is no need for the operator to perform operations such as rewriting the information stored in 54.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part same as 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different part from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. The electronic device 10 according to the third embodiment is provided with an electronic circuit 12E that functions as a master similarly to the electronic circuit 12A, and the optical communication system 14 according to the third embodiment is connected to the electronic circuit 12E. The optical communication I / F unit 16E is included.

  The optical communication I / F unit 16E has the same configuration as the optical communication I / F units 16A to 16D. Hereinafter, the optical communication I / F unit 16E is referred to as a quasi-master in order to distinguish it from the optical communication I / F unit 16A. The optical sheet buses 42A and 42B described in the first embodiment are configured by embedding a plurality of waveguide members 44 each having four inclined surfaces 44A to 44D embedded in a base member. In the embodiment, the optical sheet buses 84A and 84B provided in place of the optical sheet buses 42A and 42B have five inclined surfaces in order to enable optical communication between the quasi-master and each slave. A plurality of formed waveguide members are each embedded in a base member. The quasi-master LD array 18 is connected to the optical sheet bus 84A via the optical connector 24 and the third optical fiber 76, and the PD array 20 is connected to the optical sheet bus via the optical connector 24 and the third optical fiber 78. 84B. The optical sheet buses 84A and 84B also correspond to the distribution type optical signal transmission body according to the present invention.

  Therefore, the quasi-master LD array 18 is optically coupled to each slave PD array 20 via the third optical fiber 76, the optical sheet bus 84A, and the second optical fibers 30, 32, 34, respectively. The optical signals emitted from the quasi-master LD array 18 are received (received) by each slave PD array 20. The LD array 18 of each slave is optically coupled to the PD array 20 of the quasi-master via the second optical fibers 36, 38, 40, the optical sheet bus 84B, and the third optical fiber 78, respectively. The optical signal emitted from the LD array 18 of each slave is received (received) by the PD array 20 of the quasi-master in addition to the master. The optical communication I / F unit 16E corresponds to the optical communication device according to the inventions of claims 14 and 15, and the third device of claim 16, and the LD of the optical communication I / F unit 16E. Each LD of the array 18 corresponds to a third light emitting element according to the present invention.

  Next, as an operation of the third embodiment, when the electronic device 10 is turned on and when the elapsed time since the execution of the optimum emission intensity detection process last time reaches a predetermined time, the master transmission control unit 52 The optimum emission intensity detection process to be executed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the third embodiment, in the optimum emission intensity detection process executed by the master, first, in step 280, each slave performs the same as the optimum emission intensity detection process (see FIG. 5A) described in the first embodiment. The optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 is detected, registered in the optimum light emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54, and notified to each slave. When the process of step 280 is completed, the process proceeds to step 282, and the optimum emission intensity notification information for notifying the specific slave X of the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for all the slaves detected in step 280 is generated and generated. The ID of the specific slave X is added as the transmission destination ID to the optimum emission intensity notification information, and the ID of itself (master) is added as the transmission source ID.

  The specific slave X may be fixedly set in advance, or the optimal light intensity detection is performed so that the slave functioning as the specific slave X is switched every time the optimal light intensity detection process according to the third embodiment is executed. The master may be set each time the process is executed. In step 284, processing end notification request information for requesting that the specific slave X that has notified the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave to notify the quasi-master of the completion of the optimum emission intensity detection process is provided. The generated process completion notification request information is added with the ID of the specific slave X as the transmission destination ID and the own (master) ID as the transmission source ID, and transmitted by optical communication, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, in each slave, when the optical signal is received (received) by the PD array 20, the transmission control unit 52 executes the optical signal reception process shown in FIG. In this optical signal reception process, it is first determined in step 290 whether or not the received information is information addressed to the own apparatus by determining whether or not the transmission destination ID included in the received information matches the ID of the own apparatus. To do. If the determination is negative, the optical signal reception process is terminated without performing any processing. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 292 to determine whether the received information is the optimal emission intensity notification information. Thus, it is determined whether or not the master has notified the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave. When determination is denied, it transfers to step 294, the process according to the content of reception information is performed, and the process at the time of optical signal reception is complete | finished. In the third embodiment, the processing in step 294 includes the processing in steps 152 to 160 in the optical signal reception processing (FIG. 5B) described in the first embodiment.

  If the slave executing the optical signal reception process is the specific slave X and the information received by the specific slave X is the optimum emission intensity notification information transmitted from the master, the determination in step 292 is made. The process proceeds to step 296, and the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave notified from the master by the received optimum light emission intensity notification information is stored in the NVM memory 54. In the next step 298, it is determined whether or not the notification of completion of the optimum emission intensity detection processing to the sub-master is requested based on whether or not the processing completion notification request information has been received from the master, and the step is continued until the determination is affirmed. Repeat 298.

  When the processing end notification request information is received from the master, the above determination is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 300, where the optimum light emission intensity detection for notifying the sub master that the optimum light emission intensity detection process executed at the master has been completed. Process end notification information is generated, and the generated optimum emission intensity detection process end notification information is transmitted by optical communication with the quasi-master ID added as the transmission destination ID and the own (specific slave X) ID as the transmission source ID. To do. In the next step 302, it is determined whether or not it has been requested from the quasi-master to transmit the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave, and step 302 is repeated until the determination is affirmed.

  In the quasi-master, when the optimum emission intensity detection process end notification information is received from the specific slave X by optical communication, the transmission controller 52 executes the optimum emission intensity detection process shown in FIG. In this optimum emission intensity detection process, first, in step 310, the optimum emission intensity for requesting the specific slave X to transmit information indicating the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave to the specific slave X. Transmission request information is generated, and the ID of the specific slave X is added as a transmission destination ID to the generated optimum light emission intensity transmission request information, and the ID of itself (semi-master) is added as a transmission source ID, and transmitted by optical communication. In the next step 312, it is determined whether the specific slave X has notified the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave, and step 312 is repeated until the determination is affirmed.

  When the above-mentioned optimum emission intensity transmission request information transmitted from the quasi-master is received by the specific slave X, in the optical signal reception process (FIG. 10B) executed by the transmission control unit 52 of the specific slave X When the determination in step 302 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 304, and the optimum emission intensity notified from the master and stored in the NVM memory 54 (information indicating the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave) is set to NVM. Reads the optimum emission intensity read from the memory 54 and generates the optimum emission intensity notification information for notifying the quasi-master of the read optimum emission intensity, and uses the ID of the quasi-master as the transmission destination ID in the generated optimum emission intensity notification information as the transmission source ID. The ID of (specific slave X) is added and transmitted by optical communication, and the process at the time of optical signal reception is terminated.

  In the quasi-master, when the optimum emission intensity notification information is received from the specific slave X by optical communication, the determination in step 312 of the optimum emission intensity detection process (FIG. 10C) is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 314. The optimum emission intensity (optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave) is stored in the NVM memory 54 based on the emission intensity notification information. The specific slave X corresponds to the specific second device according to claim 15, and the process of storing the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave in the NVM memory 54 is performed in the above-described step 310, 312 corresponds to the acquisition means described in claim 14 (specifically, claim 15). Then, in the same manner as Step 104 to Step 126 of the optimum light emission intensity detection process (FIG. 5A) described in the first embodiment, the quasi-master LD array 18 for the specific slave X (which may be another slave) is used. Detect the optimal emission intensity. The process of detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the quasi-master LD array 18 for the specific slave X corresponds to the second detection means according to claim 14.

  In the next step 316, the optimum emission intensity of the LD array 18 of the quasi-master for the specific slave X detected in step 314 and the master for the specific slave X notified from the master via the specific slave X and stored in the NVM memory 54. The deviation S from the optimum light emission intensity of the LD array 18 is calculated. In the third embodiment, an optical transmission path (third optical fiber 76, optical sheet bus 84A, and second optical fibers 30, 32, and 34) through which optical signals are transmitted when the quasi-master transmits information to individual slaves. ) For the optical transmission path (the first optical fiber 26, the optical sheet bus 84A and the second optical fibers 30, 32, 34) through which the optical signal is transmitted when the master transmits information to each slave. The first optical fiber 26 is merely replaced with the third optical fiber 76, and the deviation S is the difference between the first optical fiber 26 and the third optical fiber 76 (the optical attenuation of the optical signal transmitted through each optical fiber). Difference).

  For this reason, in the next step 318, the deviation calculated in step 316 for the optimum emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave other than the specific slave X received from the master via the specific slave X and stored in the NVM memory 54. Correct with S. As a result, the optimum emission intensity of the quasi-master LD array 18 for each slave can be detected with high accuracy without actually detecting the LD array 18 to emit light, and the time required for the optimum emission intensity detection process can be reduced. can do. The above steps 316 and 318 correspond to the correcting means according to the present invention.

  When the optimum emission intensity of the quasi-master LD array 18 for each slave is obtained as described above, in step 318, the obtained optimum emission intensity is associated with the ID of each slave, and the optimum emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54 is obtained. Register with. In the next step 320, the optimum emission intensity of the quasi-master LD array 18 for each slave obtained by the above process is notified to each slave, and the optimum emission intensity detection process is terminated. In the third embodiment, the process of detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the LD array 18 of each slave for each of the master and the semi-master is sequentially performed for each slave in response to the end of the optimum light emission intensity detection process at the semi-master. Done. Instead of this, each slave sequentially detects the optimum emission intensity for the master in response to the end of the optimum emission intensity detection process at the master, and then the optimum emission intensity detection process is performed at the quasi-master. In response to the end of, each slave may sequentially detect the optimum light emission intensity for the quasi-master.

  Further, when the detection of the optimum light emission intensity is completed as described above, normal optical communication is performed. In this normal optical communication, the case where the quasi-master transmits information to an arbitrary slave is also used. The transmission control unit 52 reads out the optimum emission intensity registered in the optimum emission intensity table of the NVM memory 54 in association with the ID of the slave to which information is to be transmitted, and emits each LD of the LD array 18 with the read optimum emission intensity. The light emission intensity control information for making it output is output to the LD drive unit 62. This processing corresponds to the third control means according to the present invention, and by executing this processing, the semi-master transmission control unit 52 functions as the third control means according to the present invention. As a result, even when information is transmitted from the quasi-master to an arbitrary slave, the light emission intensity of each LD of the LD array 18 of the quasi-master is controlled so that the received light amount of the optical signal in the information transmission destination slave is in an optimum state. Will be.

  In the above description, the example in which the master executes the optimum light emission intensity detection process when the electronic device 10 is turned on and when the elapsed time from the previous execution of the optimum light emission intensity detection process has reached a predetermined time has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the LD has a drive current-light emission intensity characteristic that changes depending on the temperature. The optimum light emission intensity detection process may be performed even when the temperature detected by the above becomes equal to or higher than a preset value. The above matter corresponds to the invention described in claim 8.

  In the third embodiment, the master detects the optimum emission intensity of the LD array 18 for each slave by actually causing each LD of the LD array 18 to emit light, and the quasi-master detects the optimum of the LD array 18 for the specific slave X. The light emission intensity is detected, and the optimum light emission intensity for each slave other than the specific slave X is obtained by calculation based on the optimum light emission intensity detected for each slave by the master and the optimum light emission intensity detected for the specific slave X. Although the example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first process for detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the LD array 18 for each slave and the optimum light emission intensity of the LD array 18 for the specific slave X are detected. Master the second processing to calculate the optimal emission intensity for each slave other than the specific slave X by calculation And the quasi-master, each time when the optimal emission intensity should be detected, or one of the master and the quasi-master performs the first process and the other performs the second process continuously a predetermined number of times. It may be switched at every timing. As a result, the number of times of light emission of each LD of the LD array 18 at the time of detecting the optimum light emission intensity can be prevented from being biased to one of the master and the quasi-master. Only the lifetime of one LD array 18 of the master can be prevented from becoming extremely short. The above items correspond to the invention described in claim 16.

  In the above, the optimum light emission intensity is detected for each optical transmission path (master (and quasi-master) → each slave, each slave → master (and quasi-master) optical transmission path) through which the optical signal is transmitted. Although an example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and each optical transmission line may be adjusted so that the optical loss in each optical transmission line becomes equal to each other. For example, in the configuration described in the third embodiment, making the optical loss in each optical transmission line equal to each other makes the optical loss in the first optical fiber 26 and the third optical fiber 76 equal, and the second optical fibers 30 and 32. , 34 are equal to each other, the optical losses in the second optical fibers 36, 38, 40 are equal to each other, and the optical losses in the first optical fiber 28 and the third optical fiber 78 are equal to each other. realizable. In addition, adjusting the optical loss in each optical fiber to be equal means adjusting the length of each optical fiber (equalizing) or, for example, adjusting the light blocking means used for controlling the gas laser with the smaller optical loss. It can be realized by providing it in the middle of the optical fiber. In this case, although the degree of freedom in changing the configuration of the optical communication system 14 is hindered, the optimum emission intensity detected for a specific optical transmission line can be used as the optimum emission intensity in another optical transmission line. The time required for detecting the emission intensity can be made very short. Note that the above matter corresponds to the invention described in claim 18.

  Furthermore, in the above, the optimum light emission intensity of the master LD array 18 for each slave is notified from the master to each slave, and each slave, based on the notified optimum light emission intensity, the optimum light emission intensity of the slave LD array 18 for the master. The example of setting the initial value and the change range of the light emission intensity in the detection of the above has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, optical transmission in which an optical signal is transmitted when transmitting information from the slave to the master If the path is the same as the optical transmission path where the optical signal is transmitted when transmitting information from the master to the slave, or the optical transmission path itself is different, but the difference in optical attenuation in both optical transmission paths is ignored If it is as small as possible, the optimum light emission intensity of the slave LD array 18 relative to the master is determined without detecting the optimum light emission intensity at the slave. , The optimum light emission intensity notified from the master may be used as it is. The invention described in claim 12 includes the above-described aspect within the scope of rights.

  In the above description, a full-color printer has been described as an example of the electronic device 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to any electronic device such as a computer.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical communication system according to a first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an optical sheet bus | bath. It is a perspective view which shows the waveguide member embed | buried under the base member of the optical sheet bus | bath. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of an optical communication control part. (A) is the optimal light emission intensity detection process executed by the master according to the first embodiment, and (B) is a flowchart showing the contents of the optical signal reception process executed by any slave n according to the first embodiment. It is. (A) is the optimal light emission intensity detection process executed by an arbitrary slave n according to the first embodiment, and (B) is a flowchart showing the contents of the optical signal reception process executed by the master according to the first embodiment. It is. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the optical communication system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a flowchart showing logical ID setting processing executed by the master according to the second embodiment, and (B) is a flowchart showing contents of power-on processing executed by any slave n according to the first embodiment. . It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the optical communication system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. (A) is the optimum emission intensity detection process executed by the master according to the third embodiment, (B) is the optical signal reception process executed by the specific slave X according to the third embodiment, and (C) is the first. It is a flowchart which each shows the content of the optimal light emission intensity detection process performed with the semi-master which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic device 12 Electronic circuit 14 Optical communication system 16 Optical communication I / F part 18 LD array 20 PD array 22 Optical communication control part 26 Optical fiber 28 Optical fiber 30 Optical fiber 32 Optical fiber 34 Optical fiber 36 Optical fiber 38 Optical fiber 40 Optical fiber 42 Optical sheet bus 52 Transmission control unit 54 NVM memory 76 Optical fiber 78 Optical fiber 80 Power supply control unit 84 Optical sheet bus

Claims (18)

The distributed optical signal transmission body is connected to a plurality of second devices via different second optical fibers, and is connected to arbitrary information via a first optical fiber. In response, the light emitted from the first light emitting element is transmitted to the plurality of second devices via the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber, respectively, An optical communication device capable of transmitting arbitrary information to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication by receiving light with a second light receiving element provided in each of the optical communication devices,
The optimal light emission intensity of the first light emitting element for setting the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the arbitrary second device when transmitting information to the arbitrary second device by optical communication within an allowable range, First detection means for detecting each of a plurality of second devices;
First storage means for storing optimum light emission intensities respectively detected for a plurality of second devices by the first detection means;
When transmitting information to any second device by optical communication, the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element is set to the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the arbitrary second device stored in the first storage means. First control means for controlling
An optical communication device comprising:   The said optimal light emission intensity is the light emission intensity of the said 1st light emitting element when the light-receiving amount of the said 2nd light receiving element of the said 2nd apparatus becomes a lower limit in an allowable range, The said 1st light emitting element is characterized by the above-mentioned. Optical communication device.   The first detection means causes the first light emitting element to emit light while changing the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element in stages, and determines the light reception state by the second light receiving element of the second device whose emission intensity is to be detected. Receiving the received light reception state information from the second device that is a target for detecting the light emission intensity, and detecting an optimum light emission intensity when transmitting information to the second device that is the target for detecting the light intensity by optical communication. Item 4. The optical communication device according to Item 1.   The first detection means modulates the light emitted from the first light emitting element using information to which light emission intensity information indicating the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element at that time is added, and the second light receiving element. Receiving the light emission intensity information extracted by the second device of the light emission intensity detection target and added to the light reception state information on the basis of the light received in the step, and detecting the optimum light emission intensity based on the received light emission intensity information The optical communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein   The first detecting means acquires the optimum light emission intensity detected last time for the same second device at the time of detecting the optimum light emission intensity, and based on the obtained previous optimum light emission intensity, the initial value of the light emission intensity and the light emission intensity 4. The optical communication device according to claim 3, wherein the change range is set, and the emission intensity of the first light emitting element is changed stepwise in accordance with the set initial value of the emission intensity and the change range of the emission intensity.   The optical communication device and the plurality of second devices connected via the optical fibers and the distributed optical signal transmission body are connected to different modules of the same device, and the first detecting means The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optimum light emission intensity is detected when the same apparatus is turned on.   The apparatus further comprises time measuring means for measuring the time during which information is transmitted / received by optical communication via each optical fiber and the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the first detecting means is timed by the time measuring means. 2. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optimum light emission intensity is detected every time when a predetermined time becomes a preset value.   The apparatus further comprises temperature detection means for detecting an environmental temperature or a temperature of the first light emitting element, and the first detection means is optimal when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is equal to or higher than a preset value. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein emission intensity is detected.   An addition means for adding identification information of the arbitrary second device to information used for modulation of light emitted from the first light emitting element during optical communication with the arbitrary second device is further provided. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1.   The granting means for giving identification information for identifying each of the plurality of second devices to each of the second devices, and the notification of the identification information given by the giving means to each of the plurality of second devices. The optical communication device according to claim 9, further comprising notification means for causing each of the plurality of second devices to hold identification information.   The assigning unit sequentially turns on the power of the plurality of second devices and repeats giving the identification information to the second device that is in a state in which optical communication is newly possible as the power is turned on, The optical communication device according to claim 10, wherein identification information is assigned to each of the plurality of second devices. The optical communication according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the optical communication body is connected to a distribution-type optical signal transmission body via a second optical fiber, and the distribution-type optical signal transmission body is connected via a first optical fiber. Connected to a first device comprising a device, modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device, the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter and the second The light transmitted through the optical fiber is received by the second light receiving element, and the light emitted from the second light emitting element after being modulated according to arbitrary information is sent to the second optical fiber and the distributed optical signal transmitter. In addition, by transmitting to the first device via the first optical fiber and receiving light by a first light receiving element provided in the first device, arbitrary information can be transmitted and received by optical communication with the first device. An optical communication device,
Second storage means for notifying the optimum light emission intensity detected by the first detection means of the first device and storing the notified optimum light emission intensity;
Based on the optimum light emission intensity stored in the second storage means, the received light amount of the first light receiving element of the first device when transmitting information to the first device by optical communication is within an allowable range. Setting means for setting an optimum light emission intensity of the second light emitting element;
Second control means for controlling the light emission intensity of the second light emitting element to be the optimum light emission intensity set by the setting means when transmitting information to the first device by optical communication;
An optical communication device comprising:   The light emitted from the second light emitting element and the light emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device are transmitted through different optical fibers, or the characteristics of the second light emitting element are The setting means sets an initial value of the emission intensity and a change range of the emission intensity based on the optimum emission intensity stored in the second storage means, and the set light emission The second light emitting element is caused to emit light while gradually changing the light emission intensity of the second light emitting element in accordance with the initial intensity value and the change range of the light emission intensity, and the light receiving state by the first light receiving element of the first device is changed. 13. The optical communication device according to claim 12, wherein an optimum light emission intensity for transmitting information to the first device by optical communication is set by receiving the received light reception state information from the first device. A first device comprising the optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is connected via a first optical fiber, and a plurality of second devices are connected via different second optical fibers. Lights emitted from the third light-emitting element after being modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the third light-emitting element are connected to the respective distributed optical signal transmission bodies connected to each other via the third optical fiber. Each of the plurality of second devices is transmitted to the plurality of second devices via the transmission body and the second optical fiber, and received by a second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of second devices. An optical communication device capable of transmitting arbitrary information to each by optical communication,
Obtaining means for obtaining optimum light emission intensities respectively detected for the plurality of second devices by the first detecting means of the first device;
Detecting the optimum light emission intensity of the third light emitting element for keeping the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when the information is transmitted to the specific second device by optical communication within an allowable range A second detection means;
Acquired by the acquisition unit based on a deviation between the optimal emission intensity corresponding to the specific second device out of the optimal emission intensity acquired by the acquisition unit and the optimal emission intensity detected by the second detection unit. Correction means for correcting the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the second device other than the specific second device among the optimum light emission intensities,
Third storage means for storing the optimum emission intensity detected by the second detection means and the optimum emission intensity corrected by the correction means;
When transmitting information to any second device by optical communication, the light emission intensity of the third light emitting element is set to the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the arbitrary second device stored in the third storage means. 3rd control means to control to,
An optical communication device comprising:   The optimum light emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices by the first detection unit of the first device is stored in a second storage unit provided in a specific second device, and the acquisition unit is The optical communication device according to claim 14, wherein the optimum light emission intensity is obtained from the second storage means provided in the second device. A first device connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via a first optical fiber, and a plurality of second devices respectively connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via different second optical fibers; A third device connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via a third optical fiber, wherein light emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device is modulated according to arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting device; The light is transmitted to each of the plurality of second devices via one optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmission body, and the second optical fiber, and is received by a second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of second devices. As a result, arbitrary information can be transmitted from the first device to each of the plurality of second devices by optical communication, and is modulated in accordance with the arbitrary information from the third light emitting element of the third device. The emitted light is the third optical fiber, the distributed optical signal. Each of the plurality of second devices is transmitted to the plurality of second devices via the transmission body and the second optical fiber, and is received by the second light receiving element provided in each of the plurality of second devices. An optical communication system capable of transmitting arbitrary information to each of a plurality of second devices by optical communication,
The first device and the third device are:
Optimum light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element so that the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the arbitrary second device when transmitting information to the arbitrary second device by optical communication is within an allowable range. First detection means for detecting each of the plurality of second devices,
Obtaining means for obtaining optimum light emission intensities respectively detected for the plurality of second devices by the first detecting means of the non-own device among the first device and the third device;
Optimum light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element so that the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device when transmitting information to the specific second device by optical communication is within an allowable range. Second detecting means for detecting
Acquired by the acquisition unit based on a deviation between the optimal emission intensity corresponding to the specific second device out of the optimal emission intensity acquired by the acquisition unit and the optimal emission intensity detected by the second detection unit. Correction means for correcting the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the second device other than the specific second device among the optimum light emission intensities,
The optimum emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second optical communication devices by the first detection means, or the optimum emission intensity detected by the second detection means and the optimum emission intensity corrected by the correction means are stored. Storage means for
When transmitting information to any second device by optical communication, the light emission intensity of the first or third light emitting element becomes the optimum light emission intensity corresponding to the arbitrary second device stored in the storage means. Control means for controlling
Each with
Each time when the optimal emission intensity should be detected, one of the first apparatus and the third apparatus detects the optimal emission intensity by the first detection means, and the other detects the acquisition means and the second detection means. And an apparatus for detecting the optimum light emission intensity by the correction means and detecting the optimum light emission intensity by the first detection means triggered by occurrence of a predetermined event, the acquisition means, the second detection means, and the correction means An optical communication system, characterized in that the apparatus for detecting the optimum light emission intensity is switched. The first device is connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via the first optical fiber, and the plurality of second devices are connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body respectively via different second optical fibers, Light that is modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device passes through the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber. Each information is transmitted to the two devices and received by the second light receiving elements respectively provided in the plurality of second devices, so that arbitrary information is transmitted from the first device to the plurality of second devices by optical communication. In a possible optical communication system,
Optimum of the first light emitting element for keeping the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the arbitrary second device within an allowable range when the first device transmits information to the arbitrary second device by optical communication Luminescence intensity is detected for each of the plurality of second devices,
Storing the optimum emission intensity detected for each of the plurality of second devices in a first storage means provided in the first device;
When the first device transmits information to an arbitrary second device by optical communication, the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element corresponds to the arbitrary second device stored in the first storage means. An optical communication control method, wherein the control is performed so as to obtain a light emission intensity. The first device is connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body via the first optical fiber, and the plurality of second devices are connected to the distributed optical signal transmission body respectively via different second optical fibers, Light that is modulated in accordance with arbitrary information and emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device passes through the first optical fiber, the distributed optical signal transmitter, and the second optical fiber. Each information is transmitted to the two devices and received by the second light receiving elements respectively provided in the plurality of second devices, so that arbitrary information is transmitted from the first device to the plurality of second devices by optical communication. In a possible optical communication system,
The distributed optical signal transmission body so that the amount of light received when the light emitted from the first light emitting element of the first device is received by the second light receiving elements of the plurality of second devices is substantially equal. And relatively adjusting the optical loss in the individual second optical fibers connecting the individual second devices,
Optimum of the first light emitting element for keeping the amount of light received by the second light receiving element of the specific second device within an allowable range when the first device transmits information to the specific second device by optical communication Detect the emission intensity,
Storing the detected optimum emission intensity in a first storage means provided in the first device;
When the first device transmits information to an arbitrary second device by optical communication, control is performed so that the light emission intensity of the first light emitting element becomes the optimum light emission intensity stored in the first storage means. An optical communication control method characterized by the above.

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