JP2008294548A - Millimeter wave transmission and reception system, frequency conversion device, modem device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a millimeter wave transmission and reception system which transmits data to be transmitted and received between a communication line and a network terminal on a network, bidirectionally by radio using millimeter wave, the system suppressing millimeter waves sent and received by the system from affecting operations of other electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The millimeter wave transmission and reception system has a hub 14 constituting a LAN and an information processor 102 as a network terminal of the LAN each provided with a modem 20 and a modem module 90 each having frequency converters (master device/slave device) 30 and 60 converting respective uplink and downlink signals into millimeter waves and transmitting and receiving them. The hub 14 is provided with an error rate measuring device 10 which measures an error rate of reception data and sends the measurement result back to the data transmission source. The information processor 102 sends reference data to the error rate measuring device 10 to measure the error rate of the data and then adjusts transmission power from the slave device 60 so that the measurement result has a maximum value within an allowable range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a millimeter wave transmission / reception system for wirelessly transmitting data transmitted / received between a communication line and a network terminal constituting a network using a millimeter wave, and a frequency converter suitable for constructing the system. The present invention relates to a modem, and a program.

  Conventionally, a LAN (Local Area Network) communication line wired in a building and a network terminal provided in each room in the building are connected by a wireless transmission path using millimeter waves. A millimeter-wave transmission / reception system is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This millimeter wave transmission / reception system configures a wireless LAN using millimeter waves that can secure a wide transmission frequency band, and increases the amount of data that can be wirelessly transmitted per unit time. It is possible to prevent a reduction in communication speed that occurs.
JP 2003-168986 A (FIG. 5, paragraphs 0055 to 0058)

  By the way, when constructing the above millimeter wave transmission / reception system, just connecting a modulator / demodulator for modulating / demodulating transmission / reception data to a communication line and a network terminal as in a general wireless LAN, Because it cannot transmit and receive waves, it up-converts the data signal modulated by the modulator / demodulator to the millimeter-wave band and wirelessly transmits it, or receives the millimeter-wave signal transmitted from the up-converter and A down converter for conversion is provided.

  In this case, as described in Patent Document 1, if a millimeter-wave wireless transmission path is used only when data is transmitted in the downstream direction from the communication line side of the network to the network terminal side, the millimeter wave is used indoors. Although only one transmission source (upconverter) for transmitting waves is required, when wirelessly transmitting downlink data and uplink data transmitted and received between a network communication line and a network terminal using millimeter waves, An up converter and a down converter are provided on the communication line side and one or a plurality of network terminal sides, respectively, so that millimeter waves are transmitted from each up converter, so the number of millimeter wave transmission sources is at least. It becomes two, and in some cases, it becomes 3 or more, which is more than that.

  And, in this way, when there are multiple millimeter wave transmission sources (upconverters) provided in the room, the probability that the millimeter waves transmitted from each transmission source will affect the operation of other electronic devices increases. It is also conceivable that transmission sources (upconverters) also affect each other.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in a millimeter wave transmission / reception system for wirelessly transmitting data transmitted / received between a communication line and a network terminal constituting a network bidirectionally using millimeter waves, It is an object to suppress millimeter waves transmitted and received by the system from affecting the operation of other electronic devices.

The invention according to claim 1, which has been made to achieve the object,
Connected to a communication line constituting a network, converts transmission data flowing through the communication line into a downlink data signal for wireless transmission and outputs it, and converts an uplink data signal into transmission data that can be transmitted on the network. First modulation / demodulation means for outputting to the communication line;
Down-up-conversion means for wirelessly transmitting a downstream signal in the millimeter-wave band from the first antenna by up-converting the downstream data signal output from the first modulation / demodulation means to the millimeter-wave band and outputting it to the first antenna ,
By receiving a downlink signal in the millimeter wave band wirelessly transmitted from the first antenna via the second antenna and down-converting the received downlink signal, the downlink before the down-up-conversion means up-converts. Down-down conversion means for restoring the data signal,
From the downlink data signal restored by the downlink down-conversion means, the first modulation / demodulation means restores transmission data before being converted into a downlink data signal, and outputs it to an information processing apparatus that is one of the network terminals. Second modulation / demodulation means for converting transmission data output from the information processing apparatus toward the network into an uplink data signal for wireless transmission and outputting the data;
The upstream data signal output from the second modulation / demodulation means is up-converted to a millimeter wave band having a frequency different from that of the downstream signal and is output to the second antenna. Up-up conversion means for wirelessly transmitting an up signal,
The upstream data before the up-up-conversion means up-converts by receiving the millimeter-wave band upstream signal wirelessly transmitted from the second antenna via the first antenna and down-converting the upstream signal. An up / down converting means for restoring a signal and outputting it to the first modulation / demodulation means;
In the millimeter-wave transmission / reception system with
An error rate measurement device that measures an error rate of received data and returns a measurement result to the transmission source of the received data is connected to the communication line as one of network terminals,
In the information processing apparatus connected to the second modulation / demodulation means,
Outputting measurement transmission data for causing the error rate measuring device to measure the error rate to the second modulation / demodulation means, and then measuring the error rate measurement result transmitted from the error rate measuring device to the information processing device. Error rate acquisition means for acquiring via the second modulation / demodulation means;
Based on the measurement result of the error rate acquired by the error rate acquisition unit, the error rate measured by the error rate measurement unit restores the transmission data from the information processing apparatus to the other network terminal side normally. Control data for controlling the signal level of the uplink signal output from the uplink up-conversion means to the second antenna is generated so as to be an upper limit value within a possible allowable range, and is output to the second modulation / demodulation means Control data generating means,
The second modulation / demodulation means includes control data output means for outputting control data input from the information processing apparatus to the uplink up-conversion means,
The uplink up-conversion means is provided with level adjustment means for adjusting the output level of the uplink signal output to the second antenna based on the control data input from the second modulation / demodulation means.

The invention described in claim 2 is the millimeter-wave transmission / reception system according to claim 1,
The control data output means provided in the second modulation / demodulation means generates a control data signal by modulating a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of the uplink data signal with the control data input from the information processing apparatus, A control data signal is mixed with the upstream data signal and output to the upstream up-conversion means,
The level adjustment means provided in the up-up-conversion means extracts a control data signal from the data signal input from the second modulation / demodulation means, restores the control data, and adjusts the output level from the control data. It is characterized by generating the analog signal.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the millimeter-wave transmission / reception system according to the first or second aspect, the second modulation / demodulation means operates with power supplied from the information processing apparatus. It is characterized by being configured as an electronic device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to the third aspect, the second modulation / demodulation unit includes the upstream data signal and the downstream data signal in the upstream up-conversion unit and the downstream down-conversion unit. The power supply voltage is supplied through a signal path for inputting / outputting.

On the other hand, the invention described in claim 5 is a frequency converter connected to the information processing apparatus via the second modulation / demodulation means in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. There,
A second antenna capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter waves;
Via the second antenna, a downlink signal that has been up-converted to the millimeter wave band on the transmission side is received, and the downlink data signal before being up-converted on the transmission side is converted by down-converting the received downlink signal. A down-down-converting means for restoring and outputting to the second modem means;
The upstream data signal input from the second modulation / demodulation means is up-converted to a millimeter wave band having a frequency different from that of the downstream signal and is output to the second antenna. Up-up conversion means for wirelessly transmitting an up signal,
Level adjusting means for adjusting the output level of the uplink signal output to the second antenna based on the control data input from the second modulation / demodulation means;
It is provided with.

The invention according to claim 6 is a modulation / demodulation device used as the second modulation / demodulation means in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The transmission data is restored from the downlink data signal input from the downlink down-converting means, and is output to the information processing apparatus that is one of the network terminals, and the transmission data output from the information processing apparatus toward the network is A modulation / demodulation unit for converting to an uplink data signal for wireless transmission and outputting the uplink data signal to the uplink up-conversion means;
Control data output means for outputting control data input from the information processing apparatus to the up-up conversion means;
It is provided with.

  Next, the invention described in claim 7 is an invention relating to a computer program, and the program of the present invention is a computer for error rate acquisition means in a millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. And functioning as control data generation means.

  In the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to claim 1, the first modulation / demodulation means converts the transmission data flowing through the communication line of the network into a downlink data signal for wireless transmission, and the downlink up-conversion means converts the downlink data signal into the downlink data signal. Up-converted to the millimeter wave band and wirelessly transmitted from the first antenna.

  Next, the millimeter wave band downlink signal wirelessly transmitted from the first antenna is received by the second antenna and input to the downlink down-conversion means. The downlink down-conversion means restores the downlink data signal before the downlink up-conversion means up-converts by down-converting the received downlink signal, and outputs it to the second modulation / demodulation means. Then, the second modulation / demodulation means restores the transmission data before the first modulation / demodulation means converts the downlink data signal into the downlink data signal, and outputs it to the information processing apparatus which is one of the network terminals.

  On the other hand, the second modulation / demodulation means converts transmission data output from the information processing apparatus toward the network into an uplink data signal for wireless transmission. The uplink data signal is input to the uplink up-conversion unit, and the uplink up-conversion unit up-converts the uplink data signal to a millimeter wave band having a frequency different from that of the downlink signal, and causes the second antenna to wirelessly transmit.

  Next, the millimeter-wave band uplink signal wirelessly transmitted from the second antenna is received by the first antenna and input to the uplink down-converting means. The uplink down-converting means restores the uplink data signal before the uplink up-converting means up-converts by down-converting the uplink signal, and outputs it to the first modulation / demodulation means. Then, the first modulation / demodulation means converts the uplink data signal into transmission data that can be transmitted through the network, and outputs the transmission data to the communication line.

  As described above, in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of the present invention, the modulation / demodulation means, the up-conversion means, and the down-conversion means are provided on the network communication line side and the network terminal side, respectively. Data transmitted and received between network terminals can be relayed bidirectionally using millimeter waves.

  Next, the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of the present invention is provided with an error rate measurement device connected to a communication line as one of network terminals. This error rate measuring apparatus measures the error rate of received data received via a communication line, and returns the measurement result to the transmission source of the received data.

  In the information processing apparatus connected to the second modulation / demodulation means, the error rate acquisition means outputs measurement transmission data for causing the error rate measurement apparatus to measure the error rate to the second modulation / demodulation means, and thereafter An error rate measurement result transmitted from the error rate measuring device to the information processing device is acquired via the second modulation / demodulation means.

  In the information processing apparatus connected to the second modulation / demodulation means, when the error rate acquisition means acquires the measurement result of the error rate, the control data generation means is measured by the error rate measurement apparatus based on the measurement result. Of the uplink signal output from the uplink up-conversion means to the second antenna so that the error rate becomes an upper limit value within an allowable range in which transmission data from the information processing apparatus can be normally restored on the other network terminal side. Control data for controlling the signal level is generated and output to the second modulation / demodulation means.

  Thus, the control data output from the information processing apparatus to the second modulation / demodulation means is input to the uplink up-conversion means via the control data output means of the second modulation / demodulation means, and the uplink up-conversion means The adjusting means adjusts the output level of the uplink signal output to the second antenna based on the input control data.

  In other words, one millimeter-wave transmission / reception device provided on the communication line side is installed in one room, and the network terminal transmits data so that data can be restored from the received signal wherever the network terminal is installed. It is necessary to set the power, but the number of network terminals (in other words, information processing devices) and millimeter-wave transmission / reception devices connected to them are installed in one room and the installation location is the user. Therefore, it is not necessary to always set the transmission power to the maximum.

  The error rate of the received data when the transmission data from the network terminal (in other words, the information processing apparatus) is received on the other network terminal side is the signal level of the millimeter wave transmitted from the up-up conversion means (in other words, For example, if the transmission power is decreased, the error rate increases. If the transmission power is increased, the error rate decreases.

  Therefore, in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of the present invention, the transmission data transmitted to the error rate measurement device via the uplink up-conversion means by transmitting the measurement transmission data from the information processing device to the error rate measurement device. The error rate that occurs when other network terminals are restored is experimentally measured, and the measured error rate is the upper limit value within the allowable range necessary for other network terminals to restore data. As described above, the signal level (in other words, transmission power) of the millimeter wave transmitted from the up-up-conversion means is adjusted.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the millimeter wave transmitted from the up-up-conversion unit can be reduced by suppressing the transmission power of the millimeter-wave from the up-up-conversion unit while ensuring the transmission quality of the uplink data in the millimeter-wave transmission / reception system. It is possible to suppress the influence on the operation of the electronic apparatus.

  Further, according to the present invention, the transmission power of the millimeter wave from the up-up-conversion unit can be suppressed to the minimum necessary, so that the power consumption in the up-up-conversion unit can also be suppressed, and It is also possible to save energy.

  By the way, the control data output means provided in the second modulation / demodulation means may output the control data input from the information processing apparatus to the up-up conversion means via a dedicated data transmission path. In this case, there are a plurality of signal lines connecting the second modulation / demodulation means and the up-up-conversion means, and the installation work becomes troublesome.

  Therefore, the control data output means generates a control data signal by modulating a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of the uplink data signal with the control data input from the information processing apparatus. The control data signal may be mixed with the upstream data signal and output to the upstream up-conversion means.

  In other words, in this way, the second modulation / demodulation means and the up-up conversion means need only be connected by a signal line capable of transmitting a data signal, and it is not necessary to separately provide a transmission path for control data transmission. Installation work can be performed easily.

  When the control data output means is configured in this way, the level adjustment means provided in the up-up conversion means can control data from the data signal input from the second modulation / demodulation means as described in claim 2. The signal may be extracted to restore the control data, and an analog signal for output level adjustment may be generated from the restored control data.

  The second modulation / demodulation means may be configured as an electronic device for function expansion that operates by receiving power supply from the information processing apparatus. In other words, in this way, since it is not necessary to incorporate a power supply device or the like in the second modulation / demodulation means, the configuration of the second modulation / demodulation means can be simplified and the second modulation / demodulation means can be reduced in size and cost. .

  In this case, the second modulation / demodulation means can be built in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer if it is configured as a PC card conforming to the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) standard. If it is configured as a USB device that communicates with the information processing apparatus, it can be externally attached to the information processing apparatus such as a personal computer.

  The second modulation / demodulation means supplies a power supply voltage to the up-up conversion means and the down-down conversion means via a signal path for inputting / outputting the uplink data signal and the downlink data signal, as described in claim 4. It can also be configured as follows.

  In this way, since it is not necessary to separately provide a power supply device for the up-up conversion means and the down-down conversion means, it is possible to reduce their size and cost.

  Here, the second antenna, the downlink down-converting means, and the uplink up-converting means (including the level adjusting means) can each be configured as a single unit, but the downlink down-converting means and the uplink up-converting means are Since the two antennas are shared, the down-down conversion means, the up-up conversion means, and the level adjustment means are integrated with the second antenna as a frequency converter for millimeter wave transmission / reception, as described in claim 5. It is better to configure it.

  Since the down-up-converting means and the up-down-converting means also share the first antenna, each of these means is integrated with the first antenna as a frequency converter for millimeter wave transmission / reception, as described above. It may be configured.

On the other hand, a modulation / demodulation device according to a sixth aspect includes a modulation / demodulation unit and control data output means, and functions as the second modulation / demodulation device.
Therefore, if this modulation / demodulation device and the frequency conversion device according to claim 5 are used, in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of the present invention (claims 1 to 4), as a millimeter wave transmission / reception device connected to the information processing device on the terminal side. Can be configured.

When the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to claims 2 to 4 is constructed, the modulation / demodulation device according to claim 6 may be configured as described in each of claims 2 to 4.
Next, since the program according to claim 7 causes the computer to function as an error rate acquisition unit and a control data generation unit, any computer (in other words, an information processing apparatus) can be used by using this program. ) Can function as an information processing apparatus necessary for constructing the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of the present invention (claims 1 to 4).

  Therefore, if this program is used, the user does not need to use an information processing device dedicated to the millimeter wave transmission / reception system, and any commercially available computer can be used as a terminal device (information processing device) of the millimeter wave transmission / reception system. Can be used.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a millimeter wave transmission / reception system to which the present invention is applied.

  The millimeter wave transmission / reception system of the present embodiment is installed in a room in a building where a joint reception system for receiving television broadcasts or a LAN is constructed, and is transmitted via a transmission line (coaxial cable) of the joint reception system. Wirelessly transmitted to a television receiver 100 installed indoors, or transmitted / received between a network terminal (specifically, an information processing device 102 such as a personal computer) installed indoors and a LAN. Data is transmitted wirelessly.

  Here, the joint reception system receives BS / CS broadcasting and digital terrestrial television broadcasting radio waves by the BS / CS antenna 2 and the UHF antenna 4 installed on the roof of the building. A well-known signal that transmits an output reception signal (television broadcast signal) to each room in a building via a transmission path (coaxial cable) provided with a mixer 6, an amplifier 8, a distributor 9, and the like. is there.

  The LAN includes an optical network unit (ONU) 12, a hub (HUB) 14, a hard disk (LAN connection type HDD) 16 having a communication function, and various network terminals. The hub 14 is connected to an error rate measuring apparatus 10 that measures the error rate of received data and returns the measurement result to the transmission source of the received data as one of network terminals.

  Next, in a room where the information processing apparatus 102 as a network terminal and the television receiver 100 are installed, a LAN-side modem 20 connected to the hub 14 via a network communication line, and the modem 20 The frequency converter 30 connected to the transmission path of the television joint reception system, the frequency converter 60 that transmits and receives millimeter waves between the frequency converter 30, and the modulation / demodulation module 90 connected to the frequency converter 60. And are provided.

  The frequency converters 30 and 60 include antennas 30a and 60a for transmitting and receiving millimeter waves, and relay the television broadcast signals and data transmitted and received between the information processing apparatus 102 and the LAN using millimeter waves. In the following description, the joint reception system and the frequency converter 30 on the LAN side are also referred to as a master unit, and the frequency converter 60 on the terminal side is also referred to as a slave unit.

Next, the error rate measuring apparatus 10, the modem 20, the master device 30, the slave device 60, and the modem module 90 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the error rate measuring apparatus 10 includes a communication interface 10a that is connected to the hub 14 and transmits / receives data to / from other network terminals, and another network via the communication interface 10a. An error consisting of a microcomputer (CPU) that obtains data sent from the terminal to itself, measures the error rate of the obtained received data, and returns the measurement result to the sender of the received data The rate calculation / transmission unit 10b and a memory 10c including a ROM, a RAM, and the like for storing data used by the error rate calculation / transmission unit 10b to measure the error rate and the measurement results thereof are configured.

  Next, the LAN modulator / demodulator 20 corresponds to the first modulator / demodulator of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication interface 22 and LAN-side transmission input via the communication interface 22 are provided. The data is converted into a downlink data signal for wireless transmission, and the uplink data signal input from the base unit 30 is converted into transmission data that can be transmitted via the LAN, and the communication interface 22 (and hence the LAN communication line) is converted. The modulation / demodulation unit 24 to output, the RF transmission unit 26 to output the downlink data signal generated by the modulation / demodulation unit 24 to the base unit 30, and the uplink data signal output from the base unit 30 are received and input to the modulation / demodulation unit 24 And an RF receiver 28.

  The modem unit 24 is configured by an LSI. As shown in FIG. 4, the frequency of the downlink data signal generated by the modem unit 24 is a television broadcast signal distributed by the joint reception system (reception signals of terrestrial, BS, and CS: 470 to 700). 2100 MHz) (for example, 2500 to 3000 MHz). The frequency of the uplink data signal input from the terminal-side modulation / demodulation module 90 to the modem unit 24 via the slave unit 60 and the master unit 30 is set to a higher frequency (for example, 3000 to 3500 MHz) than the downlink data signal. Has been.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the master unit 30 mixes the downstream data signal and the television broadcast signal, and the mixed signal output from the mixing circuit 32 is converted into a millimeter wave band (60 GHz band). Frequency conversion (up-conversion) to a downstream signal is performed and output to the antenna 30a via the mixing circuit 36, so that the antenna 30a receives the downstream up-conversion unit 34 that transmits a downstream signal in the millimeter wave band from the antenna 30a. And an up / down conversion unit 38 that restores the upstream data signal before the slave unit 60 up-converts by taking in the upstream signal in the millimeter wave band through the mixing circuit 36 and down-converting the signal. .

  In base unit 30, downlink up-converting unit 34 corresponds to the downlink up-converting unit of the present invention, uplink down-converting unit 38 corresponds to the uplink down-converting unit of the present invention, and antenna 30a is used in the present invention. It corresponds to the first antenna.

  Then, the down-up conversion unit 34 amplifies the output from the mixing circuit 32 (mixed signal obtained by mixing the television broadcast signal and the downlink data signal), the mixed signal amplified by the amplifying circuit 41, and the oscillator 42. The mixer 43 that converts the mixed signal to the millimeter wave band by mixing the millimeter wave band high-frequency signal generated in Step 1 and the mixed signal that is frequency-converted to the millimeter wave band among the outputs from the mixer 43. A band-pass filter (hereinafter referred to as BPF) 44 that selectively passes only (downstream signal) and an amplification circuit 45 that amplifies the millimeter-wave band downstream signal that has passed through the BPF 44 are configured.

  Further, the up / down conversion unit 38 selectively passes the BFM 51 that has passed through the mixing circuit 36 through the millimeter-wave band, the amplification circuit 52 that amplifies the upstream signal that has passed through the BPF 51, and the amplification circuit 52. The mixer 54 that converts the upstream signal into an upstream data signal by mixing the millimeter-wave upstream signal amplified by the above and the millimeter-wave high-frequency signal generated by the oscillator 53, Among the outputs, it is composed of a BPF 55 that selectively allows only an upstream data signal to pass through, and an amplifier circuit 56 that amplifies the upstream data signal that has passed through the BPF 55.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the slave unit 60 receives the transmission signal (downstream signal) from the master unit 30 received by the antenna 60a through the mixing circuit 61, and down-converts it. Downlink down-converter 62 that restores a mixed signal (mixed signal obtained by mixing a television broadcast signal and a downlink data signal) before up-converting by machine 30, and an uplink data signal output from modulation / demodulation module 90 Frequency conversion (up-conversion) to an upstream signal (60 GHz band, but a frequency band that does not overlap with the downstream signal), and output to the antenna 60a via the mixing circuit 61, thereby transmitting an upstream signal in the millimeter wave band from the antenna 60a. The mixed signal restored by the up-up-conversion unit 65 and the down-down-conversion unit 62 is converted into a TV broadcast signal and a downlink data signal. And a demultiplexing circuit 63 for outputting the television broadcast signal to the television receiver 100, and a downlink data signal separated from the television broadcast signal by the demultiplexing circuit 63 is output to the modulation / demodulation module 90. And a mixing circuit 64 that inputs the upstream data signal input from the upstream up-converter 65 to the upstream up-converter 65.

  The mixing circuit 64 is used to connect the slave unit 60 and the modulation / demodulation module 90 with a single signal line such as a coaxial cable. Two input terminals are connected to the down-down conversion unit 62 side. The transmission line is connected to the transmission line and the transmission line on the upstream up-conversion unit 65 side, and the output terminal is connected to the connection terminal to the modulation / demodulation module 90.

  The data signal transmission path between the mixing circuit 64 and the demultiplexing circuit 63 is provided with a DC separation filter 66 for separating a direct-current voltage (DC). The DC voltage is input to the power supply circuit 67, and the power supply circuit 67 generates an internal power supply voltage using the input DC voltage.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the mixing circuit 64 is configured so that a direct current can be passed between the modulation / demodulation module 90 and the DC separation filter 66, and the direct current voltage (from the modulation / demodulation module 90 via the data signal transmission path) DC) is supplied, the DC voltage is supplied to the power supply circuit 67 through the mixing circuit 64 and the DC separation filter 66, and the power supply circuit 67 can generate the power supply voltage necessary for the operation of the slave unit 60. ing.

  Next, the down-down conversion unit 62 includes a BPF 71 that selectively passes a millimeter-wave band downstream signal input via the mixing circuit 61, an amplification circuit 72 that amplifies the downstream signal that has passed through the BPF 71, and an amplification By mixing the millimeter wave band downstream signal amplified by the circuit 72 and the millimeter wave band high frequency signal generated by the oscillator 73, the downstream signal is down-converted to a mixed signal before the base unit 30 up-converts. A mixer 74 to be converted, a BPF 75 that selectively passes only the down-converted television broadcast signal and downlink data signal out of the output from the mixer 74, and an amplifier circuit 76 that amplifies the mixed signal that has passed through the BPF 75. Has been.

  On the other hand, the up-up conversion unit 65 amplifies the BPF 82 that selectively passes only the upstream data signal among the signals input from the modulation / demodulation module 90 side via the mixing circuit 64 and the upstream data signal that has passed through the BPF 82. The amplifying circuit 83 and a mixer 85 that frequency-converts the upstream data signal into the millimeter wave band by mixing the upstream data signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 83 and the millimeter wave band high-frequency signal generated by the oscillator 84. Among the outputs from the mixer 85, the BPF 86 that selectively passes only the upstream data signal frequency-converted to the millimeter wave band (that is, the upstream signal), and the amplification that amplifies the millimeter wave band upstream signal that has passed through the BPF 85. A circuit 87. The amplifier circuit 87 is configured such that the amplification gain can be adjusted by a control voltage input from the outside.

  The up-up conversion unit 65 includes a control data separation circuit 81 that extracts a control data signal from a data signal input from the modulation / demodulation module 90 to the BPF 82 via the mixing circuit 64, and a control data separation circuit 81. A control data demodulator 88 for restoring the original control data from the control data signal separated in this way, a D / A converter 89 for converting the control data restored by the control data demodulator 88 into an analog voltage, The analog voltage D / A converted by the D / A converter 89 is input to the amplifier circuit 87 as a control voltage.

  Therefore, according to the slave unit 60 (specifically, the up-up conversion unit 65) of the present embodiment, if the control data signal is input together with the upstream data signal from the modulation / demodulation module 90, the control data signal causes the amplifier circuit 87 to The gain, that is, the transmission power of the uplink signal can be adjusted.

  Here, the control data signal has a frequency different from that of a television broadcast signal (terrestrial wave, BS, CS), a downlink data signal, and an uplink data signal, and a predetermined frequency band (several dozens) having a frequency lower than those signals. (MHz band) carrier wave is modulated by control data for gain adjustment (for example, FSK modulation), and in this embodiment, generated by the modem module 90 on the terminal side.

  In the present embodiment, the slave unit 60 corresponds to the frequency conversion device of the present invention (Claim 5), the down-down conversion unit 62 in the slave unit 60 corresponds to the down-down conversion unit of the present invention, and the uplink The up-conversion unit 65 corresponds to the uplink up-conversion means of the present invention, the antenna 60a corresponds to the second antenna of the present invention, the control data separation circuit 81, the control data demodulation unit 88 in the uplink up-conversion unit 65, and The D / A converter 89 corresponds to the level adjusting means of the present invention.

  Next, the modulation / demodulation module 90 on the terminal side corresponds to the second modulation / demodulation means of the present invention or the modulation / demodulation apparatus according to claim 6. In this embodiment, the PC card slot of the information processing apparatus 102 is used. It is configured as a PC card that can be detachably mounted.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the modulation / demodulation module 90 is provided with a PCMCIA interface 91 compliant with the PCMCIA standard. By connecting the PCMCIA interface 91 to the PC card slot of the information processing apparatus 102, a personal computer is provided. Data can be input / output to / from the information processing apparatus 102.

  The modulation / demodulation module 90 can convert transmission data from the information processing apparatus 102 input via the PCMCIA interface 91 into an uplink data signal, and can transmit and receive a downlink data signal input from the slave 60 via the LAN. The transmission / reception data is converted to transmission data and output to the PCMCIA interface 91 (and thus the information processing apparatus 102), and the uplink data signal generated by the modulation / demodulation unit 92 is output to the slave unit 60 and input from the slave unit 60. And a mixing circuit 93 that inputs the downlink data signal thus input to the modem unit 92.

  The mixing circuit 93 is used to connect the slave unit 60 and the modulation / demodulation module 90 with a single signal line such as a coaxial cable, like the mixing circuit 64 of the slave unit 60. The terminals are respectively connected to the downlink data signal input terminal and the uplink data signal output terminal of the modem unit 92, and the output terminal is connected to the connection terminal to the slave unit 60.

  The PCMCIA interface 91 is provided with a power supply terminal for taking in the power supply voltage (DC) from the information processing apparatus 102. The modem module 90 is supplied with the power supply voltage (DC) input through the power supply terminal. Operate. A downlink data signal transmission path between the downstream data signal input terminal of the modem unit 92 and the mixing circuit 93 is provided with a DC mixing circuit 94 that applies the power supply voltage (DC) to the transmission path. For this reason, the power supply voltage (DC) supplied from the information processing apparatus 102 is also supplied from the DC mixing circuit 94 to the slave unit 60 via the mixing circuit 93.

  Further, the PCMCIA interface 91 is a control data for gain adjustment input from the information processing apparatus 102 separately from communication data (uplink / downlink data) exchanged between the information processing apparatus 102 and the modem unit 92. Is configured to be identifiable. Then, the control data is input to the control data modulation circuit 95, and as described above, a carrier wave in a predetermined frequency band (several tens of MHz) is modulated with the control data (for example, FSK modulation), so that wireless It is converted into a control data signal for transmission.

  In addition, data for mixing the control data signal generated by the control data modulation circuit 95 with the upstream data signal is provided on the upstream data signal transmission path between the upstream data signal output terminal of the modem unit 92 and the mixing circuit 93. A signal mixing circuit 96 is provided. Therefore, in addition to the upstream data signal, the control data signal and the direct current voltage (DC) are output from the modem module 90 to the slave unit 60. In the present embodiment, the control data modulation circuit 95 and the data signal mixing circuit 96 correspond to the control data output means of the present invention.

Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a transmission power control process executed in the information processing apparatus 102.
Note that this transmission power control process is performed when the information processing apparatus 102 is activated or when an execution command is input from a user, and the built-in computer constituting the apparatus 102 executes an initial setting program. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the transmission power control process is executed, first, in S110 (S represents a step), the output (in other words, the output of the amplification circuit 87 for amplifying the upstream signal (millimeter wave) in the slave unit 60) Then, control data for maximizing the gain is output to the modem module 90.

  That is, when the control data is output from the information processing apparatus 102 to the modulation / demodulation module 90, the modulation / demodulation module 90 converts the control data into a control data signal and outputs the control data signal to the slave unit 60. By restoring control data from the signal and performing D / A conversion, a control voltage for gain adjustment of the amplifier circuit 87 is generated, and the gain of the amplifier circuit 87 (and thus the transmission power of the uplink signal) is adjusted. From S110, the control data for maximizing the output of the amplifier circuit 87 is output to the modulation / demodulation module 90, so that the millimeter wave transmission power of the slave unit 60 is set to the maximum level.

  After the control data is output in S110, the set time elapses by determining in S120 whether the set time required for the transmission power of the slave unit 60 to stabilize has elapsed. When the set time elapses, the process proceeds to S130, where the error rate measuring apparatus 10 connected to the LAN is transmitted as the error rate measurement reference data.

  When the reference data for error rate measurement is transmitted in this way, the error rate measuring apparatus 10 receives the reference data, obtains the error rate of the received reference data, and returns the measurement result (error rate data). Therefore, in subsequent S140, it is determined whether or not the error rate data has been received, so that the error rate measurement device 10 waits for the error rate measurement result to be returned.

  If it is determined in S140 that the error rate data has been received, the process proceeds to S150, and the error rate of the reference data measured by the error rate measuring apparatus 10 is within a preset setting range. Determine whether or not. The error rate setting range includes a value in the vicinity of the upper limit value that maximizes the error rate within the allowable range in which transmission data from the information processing apparatus 102 can be normally restored on the other network terminal side. Is set.

  Next, when it is determined in S150 that the error rate is within the set range, the transmission power control process is terminated. Conversely, when it is determined that the error rate is not within the set range, the process proceeds to S160. Then, the control data is updated so that the error rate falls within the set range, and the updated control data is output to the modem module 90.

  That is, when the error rate is larger than the set range, it is necessary to increase the transmission power of the millimeter wave (upstream signal) from the slave unit 60 to reduce the error rate. The control data is updated to increase the output (in other words, gain). Conversely, when the error rate is smaller than the set range, the transmission power of the millimeter wave (upstream signal) from the slave unit 60 is slightly reduced. Even in this case, it is considered that the transmission data can be restored on the other network terminal side. Therefore, in S160, the control data is updated so as to lower the output (in other words, gain) of the amplifier circuit 87.

  After the control data is updated and output to the modem module 90 in S160, the process proceeds to S120 again, and the processes after S120 are executed. As a result, the processing of S120 to S160 is repeatedly executed until the error rate of the reference data measured by the error rate measuring apparatus 10 falls within the set range, during which the output of the amplifier circuit 87 (in other words, gain) ) Is increased / decreased, and finally the output of the amplifier circuit 87 (and thus the millimeter wave transmission power from the slave unit 60) is set so that the error rate of the reference data is within the set range. Will be.

In the present embodiment, the processing of S110 to S140 corresponds to the error rate acquisition unit of the present invention, and the processing of S150 and S160 corresponds to the control data generation unit of the present invention.
As described above, in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of this embodiment, the error rate measurement device 10 is installed on the LAN communication line to which the modem 20 is connected, and the modem module is connected to the information processing device 102 on the terminal side. If the reference data for error rate measurement is output to 90, the reference data is measured via the modulation / demodulation module 90, slave unit 60, millimeter wave wireless transmission path, master unit 30, modem 20, and hub 14. The error rate is transmitted to the device 10 and the error rate when the reference data is restored by the error rate measuring device 10 is measured.

  Then, the measurement result is transmitted from the error rate measurement device 10 to the information processing device 102 via the hub 14, the modem 20, the master device 30, the millimeter wave wireless transmission path, the slave device 60, and the modem module 90. The information processing apparatus 102 determines that the measurement result (error rate) is within the allowable range in which the network terminal can normally restore the received data, and the error rate is the highest value (specifically, within the set range near the upper limit value). ), The transmission power of the millimeter wave (uplink signal) from the slave unit 60 is adjusted.

  For this reason, according to the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of this embodiment, while ensuring the transmission quality of the uplink data output from the information processing apparatus 102, the signal level of the millimeter wave transmitted from the slave unit 60 is suppressed, It is possible to suppress the millimeter wave transmitted from the device 60 from affecting the operation of other electronic devices.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the transmission power of the millimeter wave from the slave unit 60 can be suppressed to the minimum necessary, so that the amount of power consumed by the internal up-up conversion unit 65 is also suppressed to the minimum necessary. Energy saving of the millimeter wave transmission / reception system.

  In this embodiment, the modulation / demodulation module 90 is configured as a PC card that can be inserted into the PC card slot of the information processing apparatus 102 and operates by receiving power supply from the information processing apparatus 102. It is not necessary to incorporate a power supply device inside, and the modulation / demodulation module 90 can be reduced in size and cost.

  The modulation / demodulation module 90 also supplies the power supply voltage (DC) supplied from the information processing apparatus 102 to the slave unit 60 through the signal line for data signal transmission. Since the power supply voltage for driving the internal circuit is generated from the direct current voltage (DC), it is not necessary to provide the power supply device in the slave unit 60, and the frequency converter (slave unit) 60 can be reduced in size and cost. You can also.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, a various aspect can be taken.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the slave unit 60, the modem module 90, and the information processing apparatus 102 are installed in the room in which the master unit 30 is installed. When a plurality of terminal-side devices including 90 and the information processing device 102 are installed in one room, these units are configured as described in the above embodiment, and are transmitted from each slave unit 60. By suppressing the signal level of the millimeter wave (uplink signal) to a necessary minimum, it is possible to suppress malfunction of other electronic devices due to the millimeter wave transmitted from the slave unit 60 or interference between millimeter waves.

It is a block diagram showing the structure of the whole millimeter wave transmission / reception system of embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the structure of an error rate measuring device. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the modem on the LAN side. It is explanatory drawing explaining the frequency arrangement | sequence of the television broadcast signal, downlink data signal, uplink data signal, and control data signal transmitted with the millimeter wave transmission / reception system of embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the structure of a frequency converter (master). It is a block diagram showing the structure of a frequency converter (slave unit). It is a block diagram showing the structure of the modem module on the terminal side. It is a flowchart showing the transmission power control process performed with an information processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ... BS / CS antenna, 4 ... UHF antenna, 6 ... mixer, 8 ... amplifier, 9 ... distributor, 10 ... error rate measuring device, 10a ... communication interface, 10b ... error rate calculating / transmitting unit, 10c ... memory , 12 ... ONU, 14 ... hub (HUB), 20 ... modem, 22 ... communication interface, 24 ... modem, 26 ... RF transmitter, 28 ... RF receiver, 30 ... frequency converter (master), 30a ... Antenna, 32 ... Mixing circuit, 34 ... Down-converting unit, 36 ... Mixing circuit, 38 ... Up-down converting unit, 41, 45, 52, 56 ... Amplifying circuit, 42, 53 ... Oscillator, 43, 54 ... Mixer, 44, 51, 55 ... BPF, 60 ... frequency converter (slave unit), 60a ... antenna, 61, 64 ... mixing circuit, 62 ... down-down conversion unit, 63 ... demultiplexing circuit, 65 ... Up-conversion unit, 66 ... DC separation filter, 67 ... power supply circuit, 71,75,82,86 ... BPF, 72,76,83,87 ... amplifier circuit, 73,84 ... oscillator, 74,85 ... mixer, 81 ... Control data separation circuit, 88 ... Control data demodulation unit, 89 ... D / A converter, 90 ... Modulation / demodulation module, 91 ... PCMCIA interface, 92 ... Modulation / demodulation unit, 93 ... Mixing circuit, 94 ... DC mixing circuit, 95 ... Control Data modulation circuit, 96 ... Data signal mixing circuit, 100 ... Television receiver, 102 ... Information processing device.

Claims (7)

Connected to a communication line constituting a network, converts transmission data flowing through the communication line into a downlink data signal for wireless transmission and outputs it, and converts an uplink data signal into transmission data that can be transmitted on the network. First modulation / demodulation means for outputting to the communication line;
Down-up-conversion means for wirelessly transmitting a downstream signal in the millimeter-wave band from the first antenna by up-converting the downstream data signal output from the first modulation / demodulation means to the millimeter-wave band and outputting it to the first antenna ,
By receiving a downlink signal in the millimeter wave band wirelessly transmitted from the first antenna via the second antenna and down-converting the received downlink signal, the downlink before the down-up-conversion means up-converts. Down-down conversion means for restoring the data signal,
From the downlink data signal restored by the downlink down-conversion means, the first modulation / demodulation means restores transmission data before being converted into a downlink data signal, and outputs it to an information processing apparatus that is one of the network terminals. Second modulation / demodulation means for converting transmission data output from the information processing apparatus toward the network into an uplink data signal for wireless transmission and outputting the data;
The upstream data signal output from the second modulation / demodulation means is up-converted to a millimeter wave band having a frequency different from that of the downstream signal and is output to the second antenna. Up-up conversion means for wirelessly transmitting an up signal,
The upstream data before the up-up-conversion means up-converts by receiving the millimeter-wave band upstream signal wirelessly transmitted from the second antenna via the first antenna and down-converting the upstream signal. An up / down converting means for restoring a signal and outputting it to the first modulation / demodulation means;
In the millimeter-wave transmission / reception system with
An error rate measurement device that measures an error rate of received data and returns a measurement result to the transmission source of the received data is connected to the communication line as one of network terminals,
In the information processing apparatus connected to the second modulation / demodulation means,
Outputting measurement transmission data for causing the error rate measuring device to measure the error rate to the second modulation / demodulation means, and then measuring the error rate measurement result transmitted from the error rate measuring device to the information processing device. Error rate acquisition means for acquiring via the second modulation / demodulation means;
Based on the measurement result of the error rate acquired by the error rate acquisition unit, the error rate measured by the error rate measurement unit restores the transmission data from the information processing apparatus to the other network terminal side normally. Control data for controlling the signal level of the uplink signal output from the uplink up-conversion means to the second antenna is generated so as to be an upper limit value within a possible allowable range, and is output to the second modulation / demodulation means Control data generating means,
The second modulation / demodulation means includes control data output means for outputting control data input from the information processing apparatus to the uplink up-conversion means,
The upstream up-conversion means is provided with level adjustment means for adjusting the output level of the upstream signal output to the second antenna based on the control data input from the second modulation / demodulation means. Wave transmission / reception system. The control data output means provided in the second modulation / demodulation means generates a control data signal by modulating a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of the uplink data signal with the control data input from the information processing apparatus, A control data signal is mixed with the upstream data signal and output to the upstream up-conversion means,
The level adjustment means provided in the up-up-conversion means extracts a control data signal from the data signal input from the second modulation / demodulation means, restores the control data, and adjusts the output level from the control data. The millimeter-wave transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein the millimeter-wave transmission / reception system is configured to generate an analog signal.   3. The millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein the second modulation / demodulation unit is configured as an electronic device for function expansion that operates by receiving power supply from the information processing apparatus.   4. The second modulation / demodulation unit supplies a power supply voltage to the up-up conversion unit and the down-down conversion unit via a signal path for inputting / outputting the uplink data signal and the downlink data signal. The millimeter wave transmission / reception system described in 1. The millimeter-wave transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frequency conversion device is connected to the information processing device via the second modulation / demodulation means,
A second antenna capable of transmitting and receiving millimeter waves;
Via the second antenna, a downlink signal that has been up-converted to the millimeter wave band on the transmission side is received, and the downlink data signal before being up-converted on the transmission side is converted by down-converting the received downlink signal. A down-down-converting means for restoring and outputting to the second modem means;
The upstream data signal input from the second modulation / demodulation means is up-converted to a millimeter wave band having a frequency different from that of the downstream signal and is output to the second antenna. Up-up conversion means for wirelessly transmitting an up signal,
Level adjusting means for adjusting the output level of the uplink signal output to the second antenna based on the control data input from the second modulation / demodulation means;
A frequency conversion device comprising: In the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a modulation / demodulation device used as the second modulation / demodulation means,
The transmission data is restored from the downlink data signal input from the downlink down-converting means, and is output to the information processing apparatus that is one of the network terminals, and the transmission data output from the information processing apparatus toward the network is A modulation / demodulation unit for converting to an uplink data signal for wireless transmission and outputting the uplink data signal to the uplink up-conversion means;
Control data output means for outputting control data input from the information processing apparatus to the up-up conversion means;
A modulation / demodulation device comprising:   A program causing a computer to function as an error rate acquisition unit and a control data generation unit in the millimeter wave transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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