JP2009207017A - Radio communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a stable communication and a communication adaptive to the situation by enabling a radio communication to be performed in the other frequency band such as sub-millimeter wave band to millimeter wave band while utilizing a plurality of existent TDD modems for 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band, and selecting or combining communication signals in accordance with priorities or the number of TDD modems under signal transmission. <P>SOLUTION: Transmission routes for transmission signals and reception signals are separated by circulators 11, 12 provided for each of a plurality of TDD modems 1A, 1B, and based on detection results of detectors 61, 62 for detecting presence/absence of transmission signals of the TDD modems 1A, 1B and priorities of the TDD modems, either a signal resulting from selecting any one of output signals from the plurality of circulators 11, 12 or a signal resulting from signal-strength adjusting and combining the respective signals is frequency-converted and then transmitted via a transmission antenna 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus that relays and transmits a communication signal transmitted / received by a modem of a time division multiplex reciprocation method with a counterpart wireless communication apparatus using a wireless signal.

In recent years, personal high-frequency wireless communication systems represented by mobile phones and wireless LANs are rapidly spreading.
For example, a 2.4 GHz band wireless LAN system uses 2.4 to 2.5 GHz (100 MHz band) of an ISM (Industrial, Science, and Medical) band. There is also a 5 GHz band wireless LAN system. In these wireless LAN systems, there is a concern that due to the limitation of the number of wireless channels, a shortage of frequency bands will become apparent due to further spread in the future, and a sufficient communication speed cannot be obtained.

On the other hand, a vast frequency band remains in the quasi-millimeter wave to millimeter wave band exceeding 10 GHz. As the radio communication frequency of the quasi-millimeter wave to millimeter wave band, frequencies of 22 GHz band, 26 GHz band, and 38 GHz band are already assigned as subscriber wireless access (FWA) for telecommunications business, Allocation of 18 GHz band is prepared for public works, and when these are combined, it is possible to use a wide band close to 4 GHz. In addition, in quasi-millimeter wave to millimeter wave band wireless communication, a communication speed of several tens to 100 Mbps or more can be realized, and it is suitable for high-speed communication. With the widespread use of broadband wireless communication systems used for communications, the problem of insufficient frequency bandwidth can be solved.

By the way, modems (hereinafter referred to as TDD modems) in a time division multiplex duplex (TDD) wireless LAN system (2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz band) are already in widespread use and the cost is greatly reduced.
On the other hand, a communication device such as a modem in a conventional quasi-millimeter wave to millimeter wave band FWA system is a dedicated product different from the device of the wireless LAN system, and the number of production is small and the cost is high.
Therefore, if the existing TDD modem can be effectively used in the quasi-millimeter wave to millimeter wave band FWA system, it is considered that the spread of the FWA system will be promoted. In particular, it is more preferable if the quasi-millimeter-wave to millimeter-wave band FWA system uses a plurality of the TDD modems in parallel or automatically.
For example, by using a plurality of TDD modems in parallel, high-speed communication is possible by transmitting communication data in parallel. In addition, by configuring individual communication links for each of the plurality of TDD modems, it is possible to realize a system in which interference (communication of communication data) does not occur (that is, security is high). In addition, by automatically switching a plurality of TDD modems, a redundant system capable of continuing communication even if some of the TDD modems fail can be realized.

For example, Patent Document 1 (FIG. 4) shows a communication device that is connected to a plurality of TDD modems and performs quasi-millimeter wave to millimeter wave band wireless communication. The communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 separates signal transmission paths for transmission signals and reception signals by a plurality of circulators connected to a plurality of TDD modems having different communication channels. Furthermore, the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 combines transmission signals of a plurality of TDD modems to perform frequency conversion and wireless transmission, and frequency-converts and distributes wireless reception signals and transmits the signals to the plurality of TDD modems. As a result, a plurality of existing TDD modems for wireless LAN can be used in parallel without any modification.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-253044

By the way, an existing TDD modem for wireless LAN does not have a function of controlling the timing of signal transmission with another TDD modem connected in parallel. When a plurality of such TDD modems are used, signal transmission time zones of a plurality of TDD modems that operate independently may overlap.
Then, when the signal transmission of multiple TDD modems overlaps, control which TDD modem has priority for communication according to the situation such as the time zone and the authority of the user of the terminal connected to each TDD modem There is a need to do it. However, the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot meet such needs.
Further, the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not suitable for using a plurality of TDD modems in which communication channels (communication signal frequency bands) overlap. When the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is connected to a plurality of TDD modems having overlapping communication channels (communication signal frequency bands), signal collision occurs when the number of signal transmissions of the plurality of TDD modems increases. This is because of frequent occurrences and a noticeable decrease in communication speed.
In addition, the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs frequency conversion and signal amplification on a composite signal of transmission signals of a plurality of TDD modems. Therefore, the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 changes the intensity of the combined signal according to the number of TDD modems that perform signal transmission in the same time zone, and transmits a signal (signal after signal amplification) that is transmitted wirelessly through an antenna. ) Also changes. For this reason, in the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a signal amplification gain is set with priority given to sufficient strength of the radio transmission signal, if the number of TDD modems that perform signal transmission in the same time zone is large, the radio transmission signal There is a possibility that the strength of exceeds the upper limit strength. In addition, in the communication apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a signal amplification gain is set in which priority is given to the strength of the wireless transmission signal not exceeding the upper limit strength, the strength of the wireless transmission signal is insufficient and communication becomes unstable. There is a fear.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to use a plurality of existing TDD modems in the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band as they are and use the quasi-millimeter wave band to the millimeter wave band. This makes it possible to perform wireless communication in other frequency bands, etc., and to select and synthesize communication signals according to the priority and number of TDD modems that are transmitting signals. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication apparatus capable of performing the above.

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication device according to the present invention relays and transmits a communication signal transmitted and received by each of a plurality of modems of a time division multiplex reciprocation method using a wireless signal with a counterpart wireless communication device. It is. The wireless communication device according to the present invention includes the components shown in the following (1) to (10).
(1) Provided for each of the plurality of modems, and outputs a transmission signal of the modem input from the first connection end connected to the modem to the second connection end and input from the third connection end. A plurality of circulators for outputting received signals of the modem to the first connection end.
(3) Signal transmission adjusting means for outputting a signal including a transmission signal of the modem from one output terminal by synthesizing or selecting an output signal from the second connection terminal of each of the plurality of circulators.
(4) A plurality of burst signal detecting means provided for each of the plurality of modems, for detecting the presence / absence of a burst signal transmitted from the modem in a signal transmission path from the modem to the signal transmission adjusting means.
(5) Control means for controlling signal output operations by the signal transmission adjusting means based on detection results of the plurality of burst signal detecting means and preset priorities for the plurality of modems.
(6) Transmission-side frequency conversion means for increasing the frequency of the output signal of the signal transmission adjusting means by a predetermined frequency width and outputting it.
(7) A transmission antenna that wirelessly transmits an output signal of the transmission-side frequency conversion means.
(8) A receiving antenna that receives a radio signal.
(9) Reception-side frequency conversion means for reducing the frequency of the reception signal of the reception antenna and outputting it by a predetermined frequency width.
(10) A demultiplexing unit that distributes an output signal of the reception-side frequency conversion unit to the third connection ends of the plurality of circulators.
The transmission side frequency conversion means converts a 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band frequency signal into a millimeter wave band or quasi-millimeter wave frequency signal, and the reception side frequency conversion means converts the millimeter wave band or quasi-millimeter wave frequency signal. A typical example is converting a signal having a frequency of a quasi-millimeter wave band into a signal having a frequency of 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band.

In the radio communication apparatus according to the present invention, the path of the transmission signal (modem → transmission side frequency conversion means → transmission antenna) and the path of the reception signal (reception antenna → reception side) of the modem (TDD modem) by the function of the circulator Frequency conversion means → modem) is separated. Therefore, stable communication can be realized in which a collision between a transmission signal and a reception signal does not occur even if a signal synchronized with TDD communication is taken out from the modem and a transmission / reception signal path is not switched. Therefore, it is possible to realize a stable (high communication quality) wireless communication system in another frequency band such as a quasi-millimeter wave band to a millimeter wave band by effectively utilizing an existing TDD modem in the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band as it is. .
Further, the control means can grasp the modems that are transmitting signals, the number of the modems, and the priority thereof from the detection results of the plurality of burst signal detection means. Accordingly, the control means selects and synthesizes the transmission signals according to the modems that are transmitting signals, the number of the modems, and the priority thereof, thereby enabling communication adapted to the communication status and priority of each of the plurality of modems. Realized.

It is conceivable that the signal transmission adjusting means and the control means have, for example, the following configurations (1-1) and (1-2).
(1-1) The signal transmission adjusting unit is a signal selecting unit that selects one of the output signals from the second connection end of each of the plurality of circulators and outputs the selected signal from one output end.
(1-2) While the control means is detecting that only one burst signal detection means is transmitting the burst signal, an output signal from the circulator corresponding to the modem that is transmitting the burst signal is The priority is selected from among the plurality of modems that are transmitting the burst signal while the plurality of burst signal detection units detect that the burst signal is being transmitted. Control is performed so that an output signal from the circulator connected to the one with the highest value is selected and output by the signal selection means.
According to this control means, when signal transmission is performed from a plurality of modems in the same time zone, transmission signals are selected according to the priority. Therefore, even if the communication channels of the modems overlap, transmission signal collision is avoided.
It is also conceivable that the signal transmission adjusting means and the control means have, for example, the configurations shown in the following (2-1) and (2-2).
(2-1) The signal transmission adjusting means is provided for each of the plurality of circulators and adjusts the intensity of the output signal from the second connection end of the circulator, and the signal intensity adjustment. Signal combining means for combining the signals after intensity adjustment by each means and outputting them from one output terminal.
(2-2) The control means adjusts the strength of each of the signal strength adjusting means according to the number of the burst signal detecting means that are detecting the transmission of the burst signal and the priority of the modem corresponding thereto. Control the amount.
Thus, the control means can control the output signal of the signal synthesizing means to be at a substantially constant level even when the number of modems during signal transmission changes. As a result, it is possible to avoid that the intensity of the radio transmission signal exceeds the upper limit or too weak, and stable communication can be realized. In addition, the control means is configured so that the intensity of the transmission signal from the modem with the lower priority is substantially zero, and only the transmission signal of the one modem with the highest priority is output from the signal synthesizing means. It is also possible to control the adjustment amount.
The priority is not limited to a fixed one, and for example, a priority that is scheduled in advance so as to change according to the date and time (time, day of the week, etc.) can be considered.
Further, it is conceivable that the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes priority setting means for setting the priority as needed according to input information from an external apparatus or input information through a predetermined operation input means.
It is also conceivable that the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention has a function of automatically setting the priority as needed according to the past communication performance of each modem.
With the priority setting function described above, it is possible to realize communication control that can flexibly cope with a change in situation.

  The wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention realizes wireless communication in other frequency bands such as a quasi-millimeter wave band to a millimeter wave band by being connected to a plurality of existing TDD modems in the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. it can. In addition, since the radio communication apparatus according to the present invention can select and synthesize communication signals according to the priority and number of TDD modems that are transmitting signals, there is no collision of transmission signals or excessive or insufficient signal strength. Stable communication and communication adapted to the situation can be performed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the radio communication device X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the radio communication device X2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device X3 that is an application example of the wireless communication device X2.

<First Embodiment>
First, the wireless communication device X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
The wireless communication device X1 is connected to a plurality of TDD modems 1A and 1B, which are time-division multiplex duplex (TDD) modems used in so-called wireless LANs, and transmits and receives communication signals transmitted and received by the TDD modems 1A and 1B. , Relay transmission is performed with a wireless signal to and from a counterpart wireless communication device having the same configuration as that of the wireless communication device X1. In the present embodiment, the frequency fd of the radio signal (radio transmission signal) transmitted to the other party is different from the frequency fu of the radio signal (radio reception signal) received from the other party.
Although not shown, an information processing device such as a personal computer is connected to each TDD modem 1A and 1B directly or via a communication device such as a HUB, and the TDD modems 1A and 1B transmit transmission signals. Modulation and demodulation of the received signal are performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication device X1 includes a plurality of circulators 11 and 12, a high frequency switch 5a, a duplexer 52, a frequency converter 2b, a transmission bandpass filter 41 and a reception bandpass filter 42, a transmission antenna 31 and a reception. An antenna 32, a plurality of detectors 61 and 62, a control device 7 and the like are provided.
The circulators 11 and 12 include three connection terminals p1, p2 and p3, respectively, and are provided for the TDD modems 1A and 1B. Then, the circulators 11 and 12 output the transmission signals of the TDD modems 1A and 1B input from the first connection end p1 connected to the TDD modem 1Aor1B to the second connection end p2. Furthermore, the circulators 11 and 12 output the reception signals of the TDD modems 1A and 1B input from the third connection terminal p3 to the first connection terminal p1.
The high frequency switch 5a is connected to the second connection terminal p2 of each of the plurality of circulators 11 and 12, and selects one of the output signals from the second connection terminal p2 and outputs it from one output terminal. Yes (an example of signal transmission adjustment means and signal selection means). The signal switching state of the high-frequency switch 5a is controlled by the control device 7, which will be described later.
The frequency converter 2b includes an up-converter 21b (transmission-side frequency conversion means) that performs frequency conversion processing for increasing the frequency f0 by a predetermined frequency width (fd−f0) with respect to the output signal of the high-frequency switch 5a. . The transmission signal after frequency conversion by the up-converter 21 b is transmitted to the transmission antenna 31 through the transmission bandpass filter 41.
The up-converter 21 b includes a mixer 211, a high power amplifier 212 that amplifies the power of the output signal of the mixer 211, and the frequency oscillator 231.
The mixer 211 performs frequency conversion of a predetermined frequency width (fd−f0) by mixing the output signal of the frequency oscillator 231 with the output signal from the second connection terminal of the circulator 11.
For example, the up-converter 21b converts a signal having a frequency of 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band into a signal having a frequency of millimeter wave band or quasi-millimeter wave band.

The transmission antenna 31 is an antenna that wirelessly transmits the output signal of the up-converter 21b.
The transmission band-pass filter 41 passes the signal component of the frequency fd band in the output signal of the up-converter 21b in the signal path from the up-converter 2b to the transmitting antenna 31. Further, the transmission band pass filter 41 blocks the passage of signal components in the band of the frequency fu of the radio signal received from the counterpart wireless communication device.
The receiving antenna 32 is an antenna that receives a radio signal radiated from the counterpart wireless communication device.
Further, the frequency converter 2b includes a down converter 22b (reception side frequency conversion means) that performs frequency conversion processing on the received signal of the reception antenna 32 to reduce the frequency fu by a predetermined frequency width (fu-f0). ing. The received signal after frequency conversion by the down converter 22 b is transmitted to the duplexer 52.
The down converter 22 b includes a low noise amplifier 222 that amplifies a signal received by the receiving antenna 32, a mixer 221, and a frequency oscillator 232. The mixer 221 performs frequency conversion of a predetermined frequency width (fu−f 0) by mixing the output signal of the frequency oscillator 232 with the output signal of the low noise amplifier 222.
For example, the down converter 22b converts a signal having a frequency in the millimeter wave band or quasi-millimeter wave band into a signal having a frequency in the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band.

The reception band-pass filter 42 passes a signal component of the frequency fu band in the reception signal of the reception antenna 32 in the signal path from the reception antenna 32 to the down converter 22b. Further, the reception band pass filter 42 blocks the passage of signal components in the frequency fd band of the radio signal transmitted from the transmission antenna 31.
Even if a transmission signal from the transmission antenna 31 of the local station is received by the reception antenna 32 of the local station, the transmission bandpass filter 41 and the reception bandpass filter 42 block the intrusion of the received signal into the interior. Is done. As a result, stable communication quality can be ensured. A configuration in which these bandpass filters are omitted is also conceivable.

The duplexer 52 distributes the output signal of the down converter 22b to the third connection ends p3 of the circulators 11 and 12, respectively.
In the wireless communication device X1, the transmission signal path and the reception signal path of the TDD modems 1A and 1B are separated by the functions of the circulators 11 and 12, respectively. Therefore, stable communication can be realized in which collision between a transmission signal and a reception signal does not occur even if a signal synchronized with TDD communication is extracted from the TDD modems 1A and 1B and a transmission / reception signal path is not switched.
Therefore, it is possible to realize a stable (high communication quality) wireless communication system in another frequency band such as a quasi-millimeter wave band to a millimeter wave band by effectively utilizing an existing TDD modem in the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band as it is. .

The detectors 61 and 62 are provided for each of the plurality of TDD modems 1A and 1B. The detectors 61 and 62 are burst signals transmitted from the TDD modems 1A and 1B in signal transmission paths from the corresponding TDD modems 1A and 1B to the first connection ends p1 of the circulators 11 and 12, respectively. Is detected (an example of burst signal detection means).
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the detectors 61 and 62 include signal attenuators 61a and 62a and high frequency detectors 61b and 62b.
The signal attenuators 61a and 62b are provided on branch paths from the transmission signal paths of the TDD modems 1A and 1B. The high frequency detectors 61b and 62b detect the presence or absence of a burst signal based on whether or not the level of the signal after passing through the signal attenuators 61a and 62a exceeds a predetermined set level.

The control device 7 includes an MPU (not shown) that executes a predetermined program and a storage unit (not shown) that stores preset priorities for each of the plurality of TDD modems 1A and 1B. And).
The control device 7 controls the switching operation (signal output operation) of the high-frequency switch 5a based on the detection result of the burst signal by each of the plurality of detectors 61 and 62 and the priority. Specific examples thereof are as follows.
In the following description, the TDD modems 1A and 1B corresponding to the detectors 61 and 62 that are detecting “the transmission of burst signal” is referred to as a transmitting modem. FIG. 1 shows an example in which there are two combinations of the TDD modem and devices connected thereto, but it is also conceivable that there are three or more combinations. Therefore, the following description assumes that there are three or more combinations.
When only one of the plurality of detectors is detecting “burst signal transmission is present” (the number of the transmitting modem is one), the control device 7 Control is performed so that a corresponding output signal from the circulator is selected and output by the high-frequency switch 5a.
In addition, when the plurality of detectors are detecting "burst signal transmission", the control device 7 is connected to the modem having the highest priority in principle during transmission. Control is performed so that an output signal from the circulator is selected and output by the high-frequency switch 5a.
However, it is also conceivable that the priorities of the transmitting modems are the same. In that case, the control device 7 selects and outputs, by the high-frequency switch 5a, an output signal from the circulator connected to the first one of the plurality of transmitting modems with the highest priority that is the start of signal transmission. Control output.
That is, the control device 7 starts signal transmission of another TDD modem having the same or lower priority for the modem when the transmission signal is transmitted to the other party. Even if detected, the state of the high-frequency switch 5a is not changed.

In the wireless communication device X1, the control device 7 determines which TDD modems 1A and 1B are transmitting signals and the number of the TDD modems 1A and 1B that are transmitting signals, and the priority level between the TDD modems 1A and 1B that are transmitting signals. Can be grasped. Then, the control device 7 selects the transmission signal according to the grasped contents (that is, selects the valid TDD modem 1A or 1B), so that the communication status and priority of each of the plurality of TDD modems 1A and 1B are determined. Communication adapted to the degree is realized.
Further, since the transmission signal is selected by the high frequency switch 5a, the wireless communication device X1 can be used even when the communication channels of the plurality of TDD modems 1A and 1B overlap.

Second Embodiment
First, the wireless communication device X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
The wireless communication device X2 is obtained by changing only a part of the configuration of the wireless communication device X1 (see FIG. 1). Hereinafter, only portions of the wireless communication device X2 different from the wireless communication device X1 will be described. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 1, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the wireless communication device X2, the high-frequency switch 5a is replaced with a multiplexer 5b, and a plurality of variable attenuators 81 and 82 are added as control targets of the control device 7 with respect to the configuration of the wireless communication device X1. It has the structure which was made. The plurality of TDD modems 1A and 1B in the wireless communication apparatus X2 transmit and receive communication signals (f01 and f02) having different communication channels (frequency bands). Accordingly, the frequency fd ′ of the radio signal transmitted from the transmitting antenna 31 and the frequency fu ′ of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna 32 are also different from those in the radio communication device X1.
The variable attenuators 81 and 82 are provided for each of the plurality of circulators 11 and 12, and the intensity of the output signal from the second connection end p2 of the corresponding circulators 11 and 12 is set as a command from the control device 7. It is an example of a signal intensity adjusting means that adjusts accordingly (adjusts the amount of attenuation).
Further, the multiplexer 5b synthesizes the signals after intensity adjustment by the variable attenuators 81 and 82 and outputs them from one output terminal.
That is, the variable attenuators 81 and 82 and the multiplexer 5b combine the output signals from the second connection ends p2 of the circulators 11 and 12, respectively, thereby transmitting the transmission signals of the TDD modems 1A and 1B. Is an example of a signal transmission adjusting means for outputting a signal including the signal from one output terminal.

Then, the control device 7 in the wireless communication device X2 detects the number of the detectors 61 and 62 that are detecting “the transmission of burst signal” and the TDD modems 1A and 1B corresponding to the detectors 61 and 62. In accordance with the priority, the sum and balance of the intensity adjustment amounts (attenuation amounts) of the variable attenuators 81 and 82 are controlled.
FIG. 2 shows an example in which there are two combinations of the TDD modem and devices connected thereto, but it is also possible that there are three or more combinations. Therefore, the following description assumes that there are three or more combinations.
For example, when there is only one detector that is detecting “burst signal transmission is present”, the control device 7 uses the variable attenuator present in the transmission path of the transmission signal of the transmitting modem. Is set to zero (a state of passing without being attenuated). At this time, with respect to the other variable attenuators, for example, it is conceivable that the signal attenuation is maximized (the signal intensity passing through the multiplexer 5b is almost zero).

On the other hand, when there are a plurality of detectors that are detecting “burst signal transmission is present”, the control device 7 has the variable that is present in the transmission path of the transmission signal of the transmitting modem whose priority is not maximum. Maximize the signal attenuation by the attenuator. Further, the control device 7 sets a signal attenuation amount for the variable attenuator existing in the transmission path of the transmission signal of the transmitting modem having the maximum priority according to the number of the modems.
That is, when the number of transmitting modems with the highest priority is N, the signal attenuation amount of each of the corresponding N variable attenuators is set so that the signal strength is attenuated by 1 / N times. Is done. In this way, the control device 7 controls the output signal of the multiplexer 5b to be at a substantially constant level even when the number of TDD modems that are transmitting signals changes.
As a result, it is possible to avoid that the intensity of the radio transmission signal exceeds the upper limit or too weak, and stable communication can be realized.
In addition, the control device 7 in the wireless communication device X2 follows the same control rule as the control device 7 in the wireless communication device X1, and the intensity of the transmission signal from the TDD modem with the low priority becomes almost zero, It is also possible to control the signal attenuation so that only the transmission signal of the one TDD modem having the highest priority is output.

In addition, it is conceivable that the control device 7 in the wireless communication device X1 and the wireless communication device X2 has a priority setting function described below.
For example, the control device 7 is connected to an operation input unit such as a numeric key (not shown), and sets priorities of the TDD modems 1A and 1B according to information input through the operation input unit, and the priority memory It is conceivable to have a function of storing in the memory.
Further, it is conceivable that the control device 7 includes a communication interface for inputting information from an external device, and has a function of setting the priority as needed according to the information input through the communication interface and storing it in the priority memory. It is done.
Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the control device 7 has a function of recording the communication performance of each TDD modem in a memory (not shown) and automatically setting the priority according to the recorded contents (past communication performance). It is done.
For example, the communication performance may be, for example, the number of times a burst signal is transmitted or the transmission time for each TDD modem. Then, the control device 7 can level the communication load of each TDD modem by setting the priority of the TDD modem having a high communication load low from the past communication results.
The priority is not limited to a fixed one, and for example, a priority that is scheduled in advance so as to change according to the date and time (time, day of the week, etc.) can be considered.

By the way, in both the wireless communication device X1 and the wireless communication device X2, the control device 7 controls the signal transmission based on the priority of each TDD modem.
On the other hand, as an application example of the wireless communication device X2, a wireless communication device X3 that does not use the priority may be considered. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of such a wireless communication device X3.
The wireless communication device X3 is obtained by changing only a part of the configuration of the wireless communication device X2 (see FIG. 2). Hereinafter, only portions of the wireless communication device X3 that are different from the wireless communication device X2 will be described. In FIG. 3 and FIGS. 1 and 2, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In contrast to the configuration of the wireless communication device X2, the wireless communication device X3 includes variable attenuators 81 and 82 provided for each of the plurality of circulators 11 and 12, and the signal strength of the output signal of the multiplexer 5b. 1 is replaced with one variable attenuator 80 that adjusts.
Then, the control device 7 in the wireless communication device X3 sets the intensity adjustment amount (attenuation gain) of the variable attenuator 80 in accordance with the number of the detectors 61 and 62 that are detecting “burst signal transmission”. Control.
That is, when the number of transmitting modems is N [numbers], the signal attenuation amount of each of the corresponding N variable attenuators is set so that the signal strength is attenuated by 1 / N times. In this way, the control device 7 controls the output signal of the multiplexer 5b to be at a substantially constant level even when the number of TDD modems that are transmitting signals changes.
As a result, it is possible to avoid that the intensity of the radio transmission signal exceeds the upper limit or too weak, and stable communication can be realized.

In the wireless communication devices X1 to X3, the detectors 61 and 62 are provided in a signal transmission path from the TDD modems 1A and 1B to the circulators 11 and 12.
On the other hand, the detectors 61 and 62 may be provided at other positions in the signal transmission path from the TDD modems 1A and 1B to the high-frequency switch 5a in the wireless communication device X1, for example.
Similarly, the detectors 61 and 62 may be provided at other positions in the signal transmission path from the TDD modems 1A and 1B to the variable attenuators 81 and 82 in the wireless communication device X2, for example.
Similarly, the detectors 61 and 62 may be provided at other positions in the signal transmission path from the TDD modems 1A and 1B to the multiplexer 5b in the wireless communication device X3, for example.
However, in consideration of the time required for the control of the control device 7, the detectors 61 and 62 are preferably provided as close as possible to the TDD modems 1A and 1B.

  The present invention can be used for a wireless communication device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device X1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device X2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram showing schematic structure of the radio | wireless communication apparatus X3 which is an application example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus X2.

Explanation of symbols

X1, X2, X3: wireless communication devices 1A, 1B: TDD modem 11, 12: circulator 2b: frequency converter 21b: up converter 22b: down converter 231, 232: frequency oscillator 31: transmission antenna 32: reception antenna 41: transmission band Pass filter 42: reception band pass filter 5a: high frequency switch 5b: multiplexer 52: duplexer 61, 62: detector 7: controller 81, 82: variable attenuator

Claims (6)

A wireless communication device that relays and transmits a communication signal transmitted / received by each of a plurality of modems in a time-division multiplex reciprocation method with a counterpart wireless communication device using a wireless signal,
The modem which is provided for each of the plurality of modems and outputs a transmission signal of the modem input from a first connection end connected to the modem to a second connection end and input from a third connection end A plurality of circulators that output the received signal to the first connection end;
Signal transmission adjustment means for outputting a signal including a transmission signal of the modem from one output terminal by combining or selecting output signals from the second connection terminals of each of the plurality of circulators;
A plurality of burst signal detecting means provided for each of the plurality of modems for detecting the presence or absence of a burst signal transmitted from the modem in a signal transmission path from the modem to the signal transmission adjusting means;
Control means for controlling a signal output operation by the signal transmission adjusting means based on detection results of the plurality of burst signal detecting means and preset priorities for the plurality of modems;
Transmitting-side frequency converting means for increasing the frequency of the output signal of the signal transmission adjusting means by a predetermined frequency width and outputting it;
A transmission antenna that wirelessly transmits an output signal of the transmission-side frequency conversion means;
A receiving antenna for receiving radio signals;
Receiving-side frequency converting means for lowering the frequency of the received signal of the receiving antenna by a predetermined frequency width and outputting it;
Demultiplexing means for distributing the output signal of the receiving side frequency converting means to the third connection ends of each of the plurality of circulators;
A wireless communication apparatus comprising: The signal transmission adjusting means is a signal selecting means for selecting one of the output signals from the second connection end of each of the plurality of circulators and outputting it from one output end;
While the control means detects only one burst signal detection means that the burst signal is being transmitted, the signal selection means selects an output signal from the circulator corresponding to the modem that is transmitting the burst signal. The burst signal detecting means detects the presence of transmission of the burst signal and the highest priority among the plurality of modems transmitting the burst signal. 2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that an output signal from the connected circulator is selected and output by the signal selection means. The signal transmission adjusting means is provided for each of the plurality of circulators and adjusts the intensity of the output signal from the second connection end of the circulator, and the intensity adjustment by each of the signal intensity adjusting means Signal synthesis means for synthesizing the subsequent signals and outputting them from one output terminal,
The control means controls the intensity adjustment amount of each of the signal intensity adjusting means according to the number of the burst signal detecting means detecting that the burst signal is being transmitted and the priority of the modem corresponding thereto. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1.   The wireless communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising first priority setting means for setting the priority at any time according to input information from an external device or input information through a predetermined operation input means. .   The wireless communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising second priority setting means for automatically setting the priority as needed according to past communication performance of each modem. The transmission side frequency converting means converts a signal of 2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band into a signal of a millimeter wave band or a quasi-millimeter wave frequency;
The radio according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the receiving-side frequency conversion means converts a signal having a frequency in a millimeter wave band or a quasi-millimeter wave band into a signal having a frequency in a 2.4 GHz band or a 5 GHz band. Communication device.

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