JP2010093748A - Receiving device, optical communication system, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine that communication is established, while taking internal information of devices into consideration, when the devices are to be connected to one another. <P>SOLUTION: When a function substrate 10 is connected to a processing substrate 30, a light-emitting unit 14 emits a light for communication establishment, prior to the communication of actual data etc. The output light is received by a light-receiving unit 34. An average light reception level detecting unit 50 detects the light received by the light-receiving unit 34 and calculates the average light reception level, based on the light. An optical communication establishment determining unit 60 acquires the average light reception level, from the average light reception level detection unit 50 and determines whether communication is available between the function substrate 10 and processing substrate 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiving device, an optical communication system, and a recording medium. Specifically, whether or not communication is established between the first optical communication unit and the second optical communication unit based on the light reception level of the optical signal output from the first optical communication unit when the transmission device is mounted. It is a judgment.

  When communication is performed between a plurality of devices, it is necessary to establish communication between the devices before starting communication. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging apparatus in which an interchangeable lens unit is detachable from a camera unit. In this imaging apparatus, when the power is turned on, communication connection processing is performed between the lens unit and the camera unit, and it is determined whether communication has been established between the lens unit and the camera unit. In the communication connection process, for example, when the lens unit receives a signal from the camera unit, whether or not communication is possible is determined by transmitting a response signal such as ACK to the camera unit.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a remote operation terminal system in which a remote operation terminal controls a terminal device by transmitting a light output control signal to the remote terminal device. In this system, when communication is performed between the remote operation terminal and the terminal device, if the terminal device can receive a control signal emitted from the output unit of the remote operation terminal, communication is performed between the terminal device and the remote operation terminal. Is determined to be established.

JP 2008-096907 A JP 2006-345143 A

  However, the imaging device and remote control terminal systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 determine the establishment of communication based on whether or not the terminal device has received a control signal (ACK) emitted from the output unit. is there. Therefore, in the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2, when determining the establishment of communication in optical communication, the light emitting element inside the device does not emit light, or the amount of light is insufficient due to deterioration of the emitting light. However, there is a problem that whether or not communication is possible is determined without considering any internal information of the device.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a receiving device, an optical device, and an optical device capable of determining the establishment of communication in consideration of internal information of each device when the devices are connected to each other. It is to provide a communication system and a recording medium.

  The receiving device according to the present invention solves the above-described problem, and includes a receiving-side optical communication unit that performs communication with a transmitting-side optical communication unit of a transmitting device that is detachably attached to the receiving device body, The reception-side optical communication unit includes an optical reception unit that receives an optical signal output from the transmission-side optical communication unit, a received light level detection unit that detects a received light level of the optical signal received by the optical reception unit, An optical communication establishment determination unit that determines whether communication is established between the transmission side optical communication unit and the reception side optical communication unit based on the light reception level detected by the light reception level detection unit; Is.

  An optical communication system according to the present invention includes a transmission device having a first optical communication unit including an optical transmission unit that outputs an optical signal, and an optical signal that receives an optical signal output from the optical transmission unit of the transmission device. A receiving unit; a light receiving level detecting unit that detects a light receiving level of the optical signal received by the light receiving unit; and the first optical communication unit and the light receiving level detected by the light receiving level detecting unit. And a receiving device having a second optical communication unit including an optical communication establishment determining unit that determines whether communication has been established with the second optical communication unit.

  The computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention includes an optical signal output step for outputting an optical signal to the receiving device side on the transmitting device side, and the optical signal output in the optical signal output step on the receiving device side. A light receiving step for receiving the light signal, a light receiving level detecting step for detecting a light receiving level of the optical signal received in the light receiving step, and the light receiving level detected in the light receiving detecting step. A program for executing an optical communication establishment determination step for determining whether or not communication has been established with an apparatus is recorded.

  In the receiving apparatus according to the present invention, when the transmitting apparatus is mounted on the receiving apparatus main body, the optical signal for determining communication establishment is transmitted to the first optical communication unit (transmitting side optical communication unit) prior to actual communication of data or the like. Is output from. The light reception level detection unit calculates a light reception level based on the optical signal received by the light reception unit. For example, the light emission level may be obtained by averaging the light emission levels in a certain time of the optical signal. The optical communication establishment determination unit determines whether communication is established between the first optical communication unit and the second optical communication unit (reception side optical communication unit) based on the light reception level.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether communication has been established between the transmission device and the reception device based on the light reception level of the optical signal obtained from the first optical communication unit of the transmission device. The establishment of communication can be determined in consideration of the internal information of the transmitting device and the receiving device based on the information.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of an optical communication system 100A according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical communication system 100A includes a functional board 10 that generates predetermined functional information and a processing board 30 that performs predetermined processing on the functional information generated by the functional board 10. In this optical communication system 100A, the functional substrate 10 is configured to be detachably attached to the processing substrate 30, detects attachment / detachment at the time of attachment, and uses laser light, infrared light, or the like with the processing substrate 30. Optical communication to determine the establishment of communication.

  The functional board 10 is an example of a transmission device, and includes an optical communication unit 12, a functional unit 22, and a power control unit 20 that configures an example of a power supply unit. As will be described later, the function unit 22 functions as a photoelectric conversion unit and a broadcast signal reception unit, and acquires a video signal, an image signal, and the like and outputs them to the optical communication unit 12. The optical communication unit 12 is an example of a transmission-side optical communication unit, and includes a light emitting unit (optical transmission unit) 14, an optical transmission control unit 16, and a functional unit operation start instruction unit 18.

  The optical transmission control unit 16 is configured by, for example, a laser diode driver, generates a driving (bias) current, and supplies it to the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit 14 is configured by, for example, a laser diode, and converts a predetermined electric signal supplied from the functional unit 22 into an optical signal by the drive current from the optical transmission control unit 16 and outputs the optical signal.

  The functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 has a function of starting the operation of the functional substrate 10 based on communication establishment information from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the processing substrate 30 described later. The power control unit 20 performs power management on the function board 10 side, and supplies power to the function unit 22 and the optical communication unit 12.

  The processing board 30 is an example of a receiving device, and includes a power control unit 36, a processing unit 38, a user presentation unit 40, a light shielding and mechanism lock instruction unit 72 that constitute an example of an optical communication unit 32, a power supply unit, and the like. ing. The optical communication unit 32 is an example of a reception side optical transmission unit, and includes a light receiving unit (light receiving unit) 34, an average received light level detection unit 50, an optical communication establishment determination unit 60, and a communication standby state control unit 70. Yes. The light receiving unit 34 is composed of, for example, a photodiode, receives the optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 14 and converts it into an electrical signal, and supplies the converted electrical signal to the average received light level detection unit 50 as an output signal.

  The average received light level detection unit 50 calculates the average received light level of the optical signal received by the light receiving unit 34 and supplies it to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. The optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines whether communication is established between the functional substrate 10 and the processing substrate 30 based on the average light reception level supplied from the average light reception level detection unit 50. Then, communication establishment information indicating whether or not communication is possible is supplied to the communication standby state control unit 70. The communication standby state control unit 70 controls the state of the light receiving unit 34 according to the communication establishment information supplied from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

  The user presentation unit 40 is for performing processing for the next task, and includes, for example, a touch panel having functions of a display unit and an input unit. The user presentation unit 40 presents (displays) an instruction to stop the light emission of the light emitting unit 14, turn on / off the power source, and a message that prompts the user to replace the functional board 10.

  The light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72 performs setting / canceling of the light shielding unit and lock setting / canceling of the substrate holding unit, which will be described later, based on the communication establishment information supplied from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. The processing unit 38 performs a predetermined process based on data supplied from the optical communication unit 32 and changes the processing state based on the communication establishment information from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. The power control unit 36 performs power management on the processing substrate 30 side, and supplies power to the optical communication unit 32, the processing unit 38, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the functional substrate 10 when the optical communication system 100A is powered on will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the functional board 10. In step S10, the power control unit 20 supplies power to the optical communication unit 12 when the power of the optical communication system 100A is turned on by the user.

  In step S <b> 12, the light transmission control unit 16 generates a predetermined drive current by the power supplied from the power control unit 20 to drive the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit 14 outputs an optical signal by the drive current supplied from the optical transmission control unit 16. This optical signal is used when confirming the establishment of communication between the functional board 10 and the processing board 30 in a stage before starting communication of data or the like.

  In step S <b> 14, the functional unit operation start instructing unit 18 acquires a communication establishment notification from the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 on the processing substrate 30 side. If the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines that communication is possible based on the average received light level of the output signal (optical signal) from the light emitting unit 14, communication establishment information for communication is supplied. The function unit operation start instructing unit 18 acquires this communication establishment information.

  In step S <b> 16, the function unit operation start instruction unit 18 notifies the power supply control unit 20 of the operation start of the function unit 22. That is, since it has been determined that communication with the processing substrate 30 is possible, the functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 notifies the functional unit 22 other than the optical communication unit 12 to start supplying power. Do.

  In step S <b> 18, the power supply control unit 20 supplies power to the function unit 22 in response to a notification from the function unit operation start instruction unit 18. In step S <b> 19, the function unit operation start instruction unit 18 notifies the function unit 22 of the operation start. As a result, functions such as obtaining image signals are started on the function substrate 10 side.

  Next, the operation of the processing substrate 30 when the optical communication system 100A is powered on will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the processing substrate 30. In step S20, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the optical communication unit 32 when the power of the optical communication system 100A is turned on.

  In step S <b> 22, the light receiving unit 34 receives an optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 14 of the functional substrate 10. In step S <b> 24, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 uses the average light reception level calculated by the average light reception level detection unit 50 based on the optical signal received by the light receiving unit 34, and communicates with the light emitting unit 14 of the functional substrate 10. Determine whether communication is possible.

  In step S26, when the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines that communication is possible in the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 based on the average received light level of the output signal, the power control unit 36 starts the operation of the processing unit 38. Notice. In step S <b> 28, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the processing unit 38.

  In step S30, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the start of operation of the processing unit 38. As a result, the processing unit 38 performs predetermined processing on the video signal, the image signal, and the like supplied from the functional board 10 to acquire the video, the image, and the like. In step S32, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the communication standby state control unit 70 of the transition to the communication state.

  In step S34, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 of establishment of communication. That is, by notifying the functional board 10 that communication has been established between the functional board 10 and the processing board 30, the communication enabling / disabling sequence at the time of startup is terminated and the process proceeds to actual data processing.

<Modification of the first embodiment>
Next, a modification of the optical communication system 100A according to the first embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical communication system 100B according to a modification. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in the optical communication system 100B of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The processing substrate 30 includes a power control unit 36 for performing power management on both the processing substrate 30 side and the functional substrate 10 side. That is, the power control unit 36 as a power supply source is provided only on the processing substrate 30 side. The power supply control unit 36 is connected to the optical communication unit 32 and the processing unit 38 on the processing board 30 side, and is connected to the optical communication unit 12 and the functional unit 22 on the functional board 10 side. Supply power.

  Next, the operation of the processing substrate 30 when the optical communication system 100B is turned on will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the processing substrate 30. In step S40, the light emitting unit 14 is supplied with power from the power control unit 36 of the processing substrate 30 when the optical communication system 100A is turned on. That is, the state of the optical communication system 100B transitions from the off state to the standby state.

  In step S <b> 42, the light transmission control unit 16 drives the light emitting unit 14 with the power supplied from the power control unit 36. The light emitting unit 14 outputs an optical signal for determining optical communication establishment by the drive current supplied from the optical transmission control unit 16.

  In step S <b> 44, when the functional unit 22 determines that communication is established by the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 on the processing substrate 30 side, the functional unit 22 receives power supply from the power control unit 36 of the processing substrate 30. That is, when the state of the optical communication system 100B changes from the standby state to the communication state, power is also supplied to the functional unit 22 and the processing unit 38 other than the optical communication units 12 and 32 supplied for establishing communication.

In step S46, the functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 determines the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the processing substrate 30.
Get communication establishment from. In step S <b> 48, when the functional unit operation start instructing unit 18 is notified of establishment of communication from the optical communication establishment determining unit 60, it notifies the functional unit 22 of the start of operation.

  The operation of the processing substrate 30 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the processing substrate 30. In step S50, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the optical communication unit 32 of the processing board 30 when the power of the optical communication system 100A is turned on.

  In step S <b> 52, the power control unit 36 also performs power management on the function board 10 side, and thus supplies power to the optical communication unit 12 of the function board 10. As a result, the state of the optical communication system 100B transitions from the off state to the standby state.

  In step S <b> 54, the light receiving unit 34 receives an optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 14 on the functional board 10 side by the power supply of the power control unit 36. The average light receiving level detector 50 calculates the average light receiving level from the optical signal received by the light receiver 34. In step S <b> 56, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 uses the average light reception level calculated by the average light reception level detection unit 50 to determine whether communication with the light emitting unit 14 on the functional board 10 side is possible.

  If the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines in step S58 that communication with the light emitting unit 14 on the functional substrate 10 side is possible, the operation of the processing unit 38 on the processing substrate 30 side and the functional unit 22 on the functional substrate 10 side is started. The power control unit 36 is notified. That is, when the state of the optical communication system 100B changes from the standby state to the communication state, power is also supplied to the functional unit 22 and the processing unit 38 other than the optical communication units 12 and 32 supplied for establishing communication.

  In step S <b> 60, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the processing unit 38 of the processing substrate 30. Thereafter, in step S <b> 62, the power control unit 36 also performs power management on the function board 10 side, and thus supplies power to the function unit 22 of the function board 10.

  In step S <b> 64, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the start of operation of the processing unit 38 of the processing substrate 30. In step S66, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the communication standby state control unit 70 of the transition to the communication state. In step S <b> 68, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 of the functional board 10 of the establishment of communication.

  Next, the average received light level detection unit 50 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the average light reception level detection unit 50. The average received light level detection unit 50 includes an amplification unit 505, an integration unit 506, and a calculation unit 507.

  The output signal received by the light receiving unit 34 is input to the amplification unit 505, amplified, and supplied to the integration unit 506 and the calculation unit 507. The output signal is stabilized by a feedback signal from an integration unit 506, which will be described later, and output to the calculation unit 507. The integration unit 506 smoothes (stabilizes) the output signal amplified by the amplification unit 505, removes noise, and feeds it back to the amplification unit 505. The computing unit 508 calculates the average received light level A of the output signal output from the amplifying unit 505, and supplies the calculated average received light level to the optical communication establishment determining unit 60.

  Here, an example of the first calculation process in the calculation unit 508 of the average received light level detection unit 50 will be described. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the output waveform of the output signal amplified by the average received light level detection unit 50. The vertical axis represents amplitude, and the horizontal axis represents time. The arithmetic unit 508 uses the sample (output) values at a plurality of different times (t0 to tn) for the output waveform of the output signal input from the amplifying unit 505, and uses the average received light level in the light receiving unit 34. A is calculated.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the calculation unit 508. The calculation unit 508 includes a plurality of subtraction units 501a, 501b, 501c, and 501d, a comparison / calculation unit 502, a weighting unit 503, and an addition unit 504.

  The subtraction unit 501a subtracts the input light emission level at time t3 and the light emission level at time t4 and outputs the result to the comparison / calculation unit 502. The subtracting unit 501b subtracts the input light emission level at time t2 and the light emission level at time t4 and outputs the result to the comparison / calculation unit 502. The subtraction unit 501c subtracts the input light emission level at time t1 and the light emission level at time t4 and outputs the result to the comparison / calculation unit 502. The subtracting unit 501d subtracts the input light emission level at time t0 and the light emission level at time t4 and outputs the result to the comparison / calculation unit 502.

  The comparison / calculation unit 502 estimates the outer shape of the output signal based on the difference values input from the subtraction units 501a to 501d, and outputs the estimated outer shape of the output signal to each of the weighting units 503a to 503d.

  The weighting unit 503a calculates a weight for the sampling value at time t3 in the outer shape of the output signal and outputs the weighted value to the adding unit 504. The weighting unit 503b calculates a weight for the sampling value at the time t2 in the outer shape of the output signal and outputs the weighted value to the adding unit 504. The weighting unit 503c calculates a weight for the sampling value at the time t1 in the outer shape of the output signal and outputs the weighted value to the adding unit 504. The weighting unit 503d calculates a weight for the sampling value at the time t0 in the outer shape of the output signal and outputs the weighted value to the adding unit 504.

  The adding unit 504 adds the weighted sample values output from the weighting units 503a to 503d and the sample value at time t4. Then, for example, the added value is set as the average received light level.

  Next, the communication standby state control unit 70 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the communication standby state control unit 70. Hereinafter, the optical communication system 100A will be described. The communication standby state control unit 70 receives a state change acquisition unit 701 that acquires state change information regarding its own state such as an off state, a standby state, and a communication state, and receives light based on the state change information acquired by the state change acquisition unit 701. A state setting unit 702 that controls the operation of the unit 34.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the communication standby state control unit 70. In step S70, the state change acquisition unit 701 receives power supply from the power control unit 36 when the optical communication system 100A is powered on.

  In step S <b> 72, the state setting unit 702 sets a standby state in the light receiving unit 34 based on the information change information acquired from the state change acquisition unit 701. On the other hand, the state change acquisition unit 701 indicates that the state of the optical communication system 100A has been changed from the standby state to the communication state when communication enable / disable information indicating communication establishment is supplied by the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. Generate state change information.

  In step S74, the state setting unit 702 acquires state change information indicating that the state of the optical communication system 100A has changed from the standby state to the communication state from the state change acquisition unit 701. In step S76, the state setting unit 702 sets a communication state in the light receiving unit 34 based on the state change information acquired from the state change acquisition unit 701.

  Next, an operation example of the communication standby state control unit 70 when an APD (avalanche photodiode) is used for the light receiving unit 34 will be described. FIG. 12 is a graph showing the characteristics of APD. The vertical axis is the multiplication factor, and the horizontal axis is the reverse voltage. As shown in FIG. 12, when the reverse voltage applied to the APD increases, the multiplication factor (light receiving sensitivity) increases accordingly. In this example, the optimum light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 34 in the operation for determining the establishment of communication and the operation at the time of actual communication are set differently. This is because the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 34 may be lower than that at the time of communication because it is sufficient to detect a certain output from the light emitting unit 14 when determining the establishment of communication.

  Therefore, in this example, by using the above-described APD characteristics, the light receiving sensitivity of the APD when detecting a communication partner (standby state) is different from the light receiving sensitivity of the APD during actual communication (communication state). Thus, the optimum light receiving sensitivity is set according to the transition state of the communication standby state control unit 70.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the communication standby state control unit 70 when an APD is used as the light receiving unit 34. Here, the reverse voltage applied during the standby state of the optical communication system 100A is the reverse voltage VR_sleep, and the reverse voltage applied during the communication state is the reverse voltage VR_comm. The reverse voltage VR_sleep and the reverse voltage VR_comm satisfy the relationship of reverse voltage VR_sleep <reverse voltage VR_comm.

  In step S <b> 80, the communication standby state control unit 70 receives power supply from the power supply control unit 36 when the power is turned on by the user's operation of the user presentation unit 40. As a result, the state of the communication standby state control unit 70 changes from the “off state” to the “standby state”.

  In step S82, the communication standby state control unit 70 applies the reverse voltage VR_sleep to the APD when the state transitions to the “standby state”. For example, the reverse voltage corresponding to the standby state is acquired by referring to a lookup table in which each state of the optical communication system 100A and the reverse voltage in each state are stored in association with each other.

  In step S <b> 84, the communication standby state control unit 70 acquires a communication start notification (communication availability information) from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. As a result, the state of the communication standby state control unit 70 changes from the “standby state” to the “communication state”.

  In step S86, the communication standby state control unit 70 applies the reverse voltage VR_comm to the APD when the state transitions to the “communication state”. For example, the reverse voltage is applied to the APD by referring to the “reverse voltage VR_comm” corresponding to the “communication state” from the lookup table described above.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a transition state of the communication standby state control unit 70. When the power is turned on by the user by the operation of the user presentation unit 40, the state of the communication standby state control unit 70 is changed from the “off state” to the “standby state” by the supply of power from the power supply control unit 36. When the state of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 transitions to the “standby state”, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 sets the reverse voltage applied to the APD to the reverse voltage VR_sleep.

When there is a communication establishment instruction from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60, the state of the communication standby state control unit 70 changes from "standby state" to "communication state". When the state of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 transitions to the communication state, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 changes and sets the reverse voltage applied to the APD from the reverse voltage VR_sleep to the reverse voltage VR_comm.

  On the other hand, when receiving an instruction for transition from the “communication state” to the “standby state” from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 changes the reverse voltage applied to the APD from the reverse voltage VR_comm to the reverse voltage VR_sleep. Set. When the communication standby state control unit 70 is turned off in the “communication state”, the state of the communication standby state control unit 70 changes from the “communication state” to the “off state”. When the state of the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 transitions to the “off state”, the supply of power is stopped, and accordingly, the application of the reverse voltage to the APD is also stopped. When the power is turned off in the “standby state”, the state of the communication standby state control unit 70 changes from the “standby state” to the “off state”. When the state of the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 transitions to the “off state”, the supply of power is stopped, and accordingly, the application of the reverse voltage to the APD is also stopped.

  As described above, by changing the reverse voltage applied to the light receiving unit 34 according to the state of the communication standby state control unit 70, it is possible to optimize the detection accuracy of the output signal and the accuracy of communication, respectively. . Furthermore, wasteful power consumption can be prevented by optimizing the reverse voltage in accordance with the state of the communication standby state control unit 70.

  Next, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 will be described. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. The optical communication establishment determination unit 60 includes a communication availability determination unit 601, a value reference unit 602, a setting unit 603, and a notification unit 604. The communication availability determination unit 601 refers to a look-up table (hereinafter referred to as LUT_COM) held in the value reference unit 602, and based on the average light reception level A acquired from the average light reception level detection unit 50, the light emission unit 14 and the light reception unit It is determined whether or not communication with the unit 34 has been established.

  The value reference unit 602 holds LUT_COM for determining whether communication is possible. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of LUT_COM. LUT_COM is associated with each average light reception level A acquired from the average light reception level detection unit 50 and communication enable / disable information indicating whether or not communication with the light emitting unit 14 is possible at each average light reception level A. It is remembered. For example, in the case of the average light reception level A0, “◯ (communication possible)” indicating that communication with the light emitting unit 14 is possible is associated and stored. On the other hand, in the case of the average light reception level A2, “x (communication impossible)” indicating that communication with the light emitting unit 14 is impossible is associated and stored.

  The setting unit 603 supplies the communication enable / disable information supplied from the communication enable / disable determining unit 601 to the communication standby state control unit 70. The notification unit 604 supplies the communication availability information supplied from the communication availability determination unit 601 to the function unit operation start instruction unit 18 and the light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72.

(First judgment operation)
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first determination operation of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. In step S90, when the optical communication system 100A is turned on, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 instructs the communication standby state control unit 70 to shift the light receiving unit 34 to the standby state. In step S <b> 92, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the average light reception level A supplied from the average light reception level detection unit 50.

  In step S94, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 refers to the LUT_COM described above using the acquired average received light level A, and acquires communication enable / disable information corresponding to the average received light level A. In step S <b> 96, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the function unit operation start instruction unit 18, the light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit of communication enable / disable information.

(Second judgment operation)
Next, an example of the second determination operation of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 will be described. In the second determination operation, using the communication standby state control unit 70 having the standby state and the communication state, it is determined whether communication is possible once in the standby state, and whether communication is possible again is determined even in the communication state. . Therefore, the value reference unit 602 of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 has LUT_COM_SLEEP that is referred to in the standby state and LUT_COM_REAL that is referred to in the communication state. LUT_COM_SLEEP and LUT_COM_REAL have the same configuration as LUT_COM described above.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the second determination operation of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. When the power is turned on by the operation of the user presenting unit 40, the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 in step S100 instructs the communication standby state control unit 70 so that the light receiving unit 34 shifts to the standby state.

  In step S <b> 102, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the average light reception level A supplied from the average light reception level detection unit 50. In step S104, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 refers to LUT_COM_SLEEP using the acquired average received light level A0, and acquires communication enable / disable information corresponding to the average received light level A0.

  In step S106, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines whether communication is possible between the functional board 10 and the processing board 30 based on the communication availability information acquired from the LUT_COM_SLEEP. If the communication enable / disable information acquired from LUT_COM_SLEEP is “◯”, the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines that communication with the functional board 10 is possible and proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the communication availability information is “x”, it is determined that communication with the functional board 10 is impossible, and the process returns to step S102.

  In step S108, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 supplies the communication enable / disable information (“◯”) to the communication standby state control unit 70 via the setting unit 603, and changes the communication standby state control unit 70 from the standby state to the communication state. Let When transitioning to the communication state, the communication standby state control unit 70 applies a reverse voltage VR_comm corresponding to the communication state to the light receiving unit 34.

In step S110, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the average light reception level A1 from the average light reception level detection unit 50. Since the light receiving unit 34 has higher light receiving sensitivity than the standby state due to the reverse voltage VR_comm, the average light receiving level A1 is also the average light receiving level A0 in the standby state.
Higher than that.

  In step S110, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 refers to LUT_COM_REAL using the average light reception level detection unit 50, thereby acquiring communication availability information according to the average light reception level A1.

  In step S112, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines whether communication is possible between the functional board 10 and the processing board 30 based on the communication availability information acquired from LUT_COM_REAL. If the communication enable / disable information is “◯”, the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines that communication with the functional board 10 is possible and proceeds to step S116. On the other hand, if the communication availability information is “x”, it is determined that communication with the functional board 10 is impossible, and the process returns to step S100 to change the state of the optical communication system 100A from the communication state to the standby state. .

  If the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines in step S116 that communication is possible, the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 notifies the function unit operation start instructing unit 18, the light shielding and mechanism lock instructing unit of communication enable / disable information. According to the second determination operation, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of optical communication because it is determined whether communication is possible even in the communication state.

  Next, the light shielding and mechanism lock instruction unit 72 will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72. The light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72 includes a lock unit 721 including a lock release unit 722 and a lock setting unit 723, a substrate holding unit 724, and a notification unit 725.

  When the communication setting information indicating that the communication has been established is supplied from the optical communication establishment determining unit 60, the lock setting unit 723 prevents, for example, the functional board 10 from being disconnected from the processing board 30 or from being displaced. The substrate holder 724 is locked. The lock release unit 722 instructs the substrate holding unit 724 to release the lock when, for example, the functional substrate 10 is removed (replaced) from the processing substrate 30.

  The substrate holding unit 724 is configured by, for example, a mechanical lock mechanism, and locks or unlocks the functional substrate 10 and the processing substrate 30 based on instructions from the lock release unit 722 and the lock setting unit 723. . The notification unit 725 outputs the lock setting information and the lock release information supplied from the lock unit 721 to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modified example of the light shielding and mechanism lock instruction unit 72.

  The light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72 includes a light shielding adjustment unit 726 including a light shielding setting unit 727 and a light shielding cancellation unit 728, and a light shielding unit 729, in addition to the lock unit 721, the substrate holding unit 724, and the notification unit 725 described above. And have. The shading adjustment unit 726 is supplied with operation information from the user presentation unit 40 and communication availability information from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

  When external light detection information indicating that external light has been detected is supplied from an external light detection unit 80 described later, the light shielding setting unit 727 blocks external light so that the external light does not adversely affect communication. Thus, the light shielding portion 729 is controlled. For example, when the functional substrate 10 is detached (replaced) from the processing substrate 30 or when the external light detection unit 80 determines that the influence of external light is small, the light shield canceling unit 728 cancels the light shielding. To control.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the functional board 10 is attached to or detached from the processing board 30, before the optical communication units 12 and 32 communicate actual data or the like, the functional board 10 and the processing board are used. It is possible to determine whether or not communication with 30 is possible. Further, in the present embodiment, since only light characteristics are used, it is possible to detect attachment / detachment without being tied to a specific device. As a result, the types of devices to be connected can be increased, and the degree of freedom of (configuration) design can be improved.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, an optical communication system 100C according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The optical communication system 100C is different from the first embodiment in that an external light detection unit 80 is provided. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in optical communication system 100A of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, external light incident on the optical communication system 100C and communication light used for communication will be described. FIG. 21A is a graph showing a spectrum of a light emitting element (laser diode) used in the light emitting section 14, and FIG. 21B is a graph showing a spectrum of outside light (natural light). ) Is a graph showing the spectrum of a fluorescent lamp or the like. 21A to 21C, the vertical axis represents intensity, and the horizontal axis represents wavelength.

  As shown in FIG. 21A, the light-emitting element has a wavelength peak value in the vicinity of approximately 850 nm. As shown in FIG. 21B, external light has a wavelength peak value near 400 nm and light of various wavelengths is mixed. As shown in FIG. 21C, the incandescent light bulb has a wavelength spectrum distributed over a wide wavelength region. The fluorescent lamp has a peak value of a wavelength spectrum at two locations of about 440 nm and about 550 nm. The white LED has a peak wavelength near about 480 nm and a wavelength in the range of about 500 nm to 700 nm.

  Next, in describing the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 34 and the external light receiving unit 801 mounted on the processing substrate 30, first, the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving element will be described. FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B are graphs showing the light receiving sensitivity of light receiving elements having different light receiving sensitivities. 22A and 22B, the vertical axis indicates the light receiving sensitivity, and the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength. 22A and 22B that the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving element varies depending on the wavelength range.

  Specifically, the light receiving element shown in FIG. 22A has a peak value in the vicinity of 850 nm, has a high light receiving sensitivity with respect to the communication light described above, and the natural light or the output light of the fluorescent lamp described above. The sensitivity to light reception is weak. On the other hand, the light receiving element shown in FIG. 22B has light receiving sensitivity at a wavelength of about 300 to 700 nm, has high light receiving sensitivity with respect to outside light, and has a high sensitivity to communication light from the light emitting unit 14. Has low light sensitivity or no light sensitivity. Therefore, depending on the light receiving sensitivity, it is possible to detect a specific wavelength range in one light receiving element, and to prevent detection of a specific wavelength range in the other light receiving element.

  Considering the above, the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 34 and the outside light detecting unit 80 will be described. FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B are graphs showing an example of the relationship between the wavelength regions of communication light and external light. In the following description, among the optical signals received by the light receiving unit 34, the light used for communication excluding outside light is referred to as communication light.

  As described above, the communication light output from the light emitting unit 14 has a wavelength peak value near 850 nm, and external light sources such as external light and fluorescent lamps include many wavelength regions smaller than the wavelength of communication light. Yes. Therefore, the external light receiving unit 801 is set so as to have sufficient light receiving sensitivity in a wavelength region other than the communication wavelength by not receiving the communication wavelength of the communication light. In this way, the external light receiving unit 801 can detect only assumed external light. Further, the light receiving unit 34 is set to have sufficient light receiving sensitivity in the wavelength region of communication light and to reduce the light receiving sensitivity in the wavelength region of external light.

  FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the optical communication system 100C. The optical communication system 100 </ b> C includes a functional substrate 10 and a processing substrate 30. The functional board 10 includes an optical communication unit 12, a functional unit 22, and a power supply control unit 20. The processing substrate 30 includes an optical communication unit 32, a user presentation unit 40, an external light detection unit 80, and a light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72. The external light detection unit 80 detects external light incident on the processing substrate 30 (in the optical communication system 100C, for example, in the vicinity of the light receiving unit 34 of the optical communication unit 32), and the state of external light based on the detected external light Is calculated (estimated).

  FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the external light detection unit 80, and FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation thereof. The external light detection unit 80 includes an external light receiving unit 801, an external light state determination unit 802, an external light sensitivity setting unit 803, a value reference unit 804, and a notification unit 805. The external light receiving unit 801 is constituted by, for example, a photodiode, and is set not to receive the communication wavelength of the communication light as described above. The external light receiving unit 801 receives external light, and calculates an external light reception level B that serves as an index of the wavelength intensity profile of external light based on the received light (step S120). The external light reception level B can be calculated, for example, by the same method as the calculation operation for calculating the average light reception level A described above.

  The value reference unit 804 holds LUT_OUT for storing the external light reception level B and the external light state in association with each other. FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the LUT_OUT. For example, when the external light detection unit 80 includes a light receiving element having a plurality of different wavelength light reception sensitivity profiles as described below, for example, when the external light reception level indicates a profile of B0, The state (type) indicates natural light. Thus, when a plurality of light receiving elements are configured, the type and intensity of external light can be estimated. On the other hand, when a single light receiving element is configured, only one light receiving level can be obtained, so that only a rough intensity of external light can be estimated. The outside light sensitivity setting unit 803 sets the light receiving sensitivity of the outside light receiving unit 801 when creating the LUT_OUT, as will be described later.

  The external light state determination unit 802 refers to the LUT_OUT using the external light reception level B acquired from the external light reception unit 801, acquires the external light state associated with the external light reception level B, and notifies the notification unit 805. (Step S122). The notification unit 805 notifies the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the state of external light output from the external light state determination unit 802 (step S124). The optical communication establishment determination unit 60 estimates the communication light obtained by removing the external light from the external light state, thereby improving the accuracy of the communication establishment determination.

  As described above, when the light reception sensitivity of the external light received by the external light sensitivity setting unit 803 does not overlap the communication wavelength range of the communication light, the external light intensity can be estimated from the received light level of the received external light. it can. However, when the external light detection unit 80 has light reception sensitivity in the communication wavelength region of communication light, it is necessary to suppress the influence of the communication wavelength. In this case, it is necessary to optimize the light receiving sensitivity of the external light sensitivity setting unit 803 so that the influence of the communication wavelength region of the communication light is minimized.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the external light sensitivity setting unit 803 includes the maximum wavelength (λLD) and half-width wavelength (ΔλLD) of the light source of the light emitting unit 14, the light receiving wavelength ranges λmin and λmax, and the light receiving sensitivity l (λ ) To obtain a light receiving sensitivity curve (light receiving level) R (λ) and output it.

  Next, an example of calculating the light receiving sensitivity of the external light sensitivity setting unit 803 will be described. FIG. 29A is a graph showing the light receiving sensitivity characteristic of the light receiving unit 34, and FIG. 29B is a graph showing the light receiving sensitivity characteristic of the external light receiving unit of the external light detecting unit. In FIGS. 29A and 29B, the vertical axis indicates the light receiving sensitivity, and the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength.

  As shown in FIG. 29A, the light reception level received by the light receiving unit 34 in the wavelength range of λLD−ΔλLD <λ <λLD + ΔλLD with respect to the light emitting unit light source having the external light intensity Ai is Abase. The light reception level Abase is a region indicated by hatching in FIG. This light reception level Abase is given by the following equation (1).

  Here, L (λ) is the light intensity for each wavelength of the light source i, and I (λ) is the received light intensity of the external light receiving unit 801. The light reception level Abase is a region indicated by hatching in FIG.

  When the light receiving level of the light emitting unit light source is given by the light receiving level Abase, the light receiving sensitivity of the external light receiving unit 801 of the external light detecting unit 80 is set as follows. Specifically, the above wavelength is set so that the light receiving level Aout from the light emitting unit light source in the wavelength range (λLD−ΔλLD <λ <λL + ΔλLD) is smaller than the light receiving level Abase of the light receiving unit 34 by Xmin [dB] or more. The maximum light receiving sensitivity Rmax in the range is set. Xmin is, for example, 6 dB. Therefore, in the wavelength range of λLD−ΔλLD <λ <λL + ΔλLD, the light from the light emitting unit light source receives a substantially uniform light receiving sensitivity of the maximum light receiving sensitivity Rmax, and the light receiving level Aout at that time is the oscillation characteristic of the light emitting unit 14. Is a waveform reduced by a constant multiplication (area of the hatched portion in FIG. 29B), and is described by the following equation (2). Here, since Δλ in the equation (2) is a half-width wavelength, the relationship shown in the following equation (3) is established. By developing Formula (2) using Formula (3), the light reception level Aout of the external light detection unit 80 shown in Formula (2) below is obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 29B, the light receiving sensitivity of the external light receiving unit 801 has a sensitivity Ro that is at least K [dB] or more of the maximum light receiving sensitivity Rmax in the range of λmin <λ <λmax.

  Next, a method for creating a lookup table (LUT_OUT) held in the value reference unit 804 will be described. The light generated from various external light sources i is described by the following equation (4). Various external light sources are assumed to be various light sources such as fluorescent lamps and natural light.

In the light receiving sensitivity R of the external light receiving unit 801, the light receiving level Si obtained when the external light intensity Ai is received is given by the following equation (5).

Here, Li (λ) is the light intensity for each wavelength of the light source i, and R (λ) is the light receiving sensitivity R of the external light receiving unit 801. In this way, LUT_OUT is created by acquiring the light reception level corresponding to each external light source i from the relationship between the external light source i at various external light intensities Ai and the light reception sensitivity R of the external light detection unit 80. .

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the LUT_OUT. In LUT_OUT, the external light intensity Ai of each external light source and the light reception level Si corresponding to each external light source are stored in association with each other. For example, the light reception level when the external light receiving unit 801 receives external light emitted from an external light source having an external light intensity of A0 is S0. Thereby, the external light intensity of each external light source can be estimated based on the external light reception level S detected by the external light detection unit 80.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the external light detection unit 80. In step S390, the external light receiving unit 801 receives external light and calculates and acquires an external light reception level S based on the received external light. The external light receiving unit 801 supplies the acquired external light reception level S to the external light state determination unit 802.

  In step S392, the external light state determination unit 802 refers to the LUT_OUT (see FIG. 30) of the value reference unit 804 to determine the external light intensity Ai corresponding to the external light reception level S supplied from the external light reception unit 801. get. The external light state determination unit 802 supplies the acquired external light intensity Ai to the notification unit 805.

  In step S394, the notification unit 805 notifies the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the external light intensity Ai supplied from the notification unit 805. The optical communication establishment determination unit 60 blocks an instruction to block external light, for example, when it is determined that the external light intensity Ai affects the communication wavelength according to the output state of the external light detection unit 80. And to the mechanism lock instruction unit 72.

  Next, a modified example of the external light detection unit 80 described above will be described. FIG. 32 is a graph showing the wavelength spectrum (D_1) of the light receiving unit 34 for optical communication and the wavelength spectrum (D_0) of the external light receiving unit 801 for detecting external light. The vertical axis represents the light receiving sensitivity, and the horizontal axis represents the wavelength. In this modification, a light receiving element used for external light and a light receiving element used for communication are used in the external light detection unit 80 together. As shown in FIG. 32, the light emitting element for communication has light receiving sensitivity with respect to the communication wavelength region. Therefore, since the communication wavelength can also be detected, wavelength information can be acquired for external light such as an incandescent bulb having a communication wavelength. As a result, it is possible to specify the type of the external light source.

  FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the LUT_OUT used in the external light detection unit 80 according to the modification. LUT_OUT includes a light receiving level Si obtained by a light receiving element (D_1) used for external light, a light receiving level Ri obtained by a light receiving element (D_0) used for communication, a light source type Vk, an external light level The light intensity Ai is stored in association with each other. Thereby, the type Vk and the external light intensity Ai of each external light source can be estimated based on the light reception level Si and the light reception level Ri.

  Next, an example of processing of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 when the optical communication system 100C includes the external light detection unit 80 will be described. When the light receiving unit 34 has light receiving sensitivity with respect to external light in addition to communication light, it is distinguished whether the received optical signal is only communication light output from the light emitting unit 14 or includes external light. You may not be able to. For example, as shown in FIG. 34, it is difficult to determine whether or not communication light is present in a region where the communication wavelength and the wavelength of external light overlap (shaded region). In this case, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 needs to determine whether communication is possible in consideration of the light reception level by external light in addition to the average light reception level received by the light reception unit 34. That is, it is required to use the value from the external light detection unit 80 to calculate the external light level observed in the light receiving unit 34 and to correctly acquire the average light reception level including the external light component.

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the communication availability determination unit 601 in the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 when the external light detection unit 80 is included. In step S <b> 130, the communication availability determination unit 601 acquires the external light intensity Pout from the external light detection unit 80. The external light intensity Pout can be acquired by using the external light reception level detected by the external light detection unit 80, for example, by referring to the LUT_OUT described above. In step S <b> 132, the communication availability determination unit 601 acquires the average light reception level P of the light emitting unit 14 from the average light reception level detection unit 50.

  In step S134, the communication availability determination unit 601 estimates the external light level Pout_est observed in the light receiving unit 34 from the external light intensity Pout acquired from the external light detection unit 80. The estimation of the external light level Pout_est can be realized by using a lookup table, for example. In this lookup table, the external light reception level detected by the external light detection unit 80 and the external light reception level predicted to be received by the light reception unit 34 are stored in association with each other.

  In step S136, the communication availability determination unit 601 subtracts the external light level Pout_est observed by the light receiving unit 34 from the average light reception level P acquired from the average light reception level detection unit 50, thereby transmitting the communication light received by the light receiving unit 34. Only the average received light level Pest is calculated. That is, by calculating “Pest = P−Pout_est”, the average light reception level Pest obtained by subtracting the external light level Pout_est from the average light reception level P is acquired.

  In step S138, the communication availability determination unit 601 determines whether communication with the functional board 10 is possible by using the average light reception level Pest and referring to LUT_COM. As the LUT_COM, for example, one configured in the same manner as the LUT_OUT described above is used.

  In step S <b> 140, the communication availability determination unit 601 notifies the function unit operation start instruction unit 18 and the light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72 of communication availability.

  In the present embodiment, an external light component is removed from the output signal received by the light receiving unit 34, and it is determined whether or not communication can be established only by communication light. Therefore, it is possible to make a communication establishment determination with high accuracy without causing an error in the communication establishment determination by the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

(Optical filter)
FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating wavelength spectra of the communication light L1, the external light L2, the optical filter 33, and the light receiving unit. The processing substrate 30 of the optical communication system 100C includes a light receiving unit 34, an average received light level detecting unit 50, an optical communication establishment determining unit 60, a communication standby state control unit 70, a user presenting unit 40, an external light detecting unit 80, a light shielding and mechanism lock. In addition to the instruction unit 72, the optical filter 33 is provided. The optical filter 33 is disposed in front of the light receiving port of the light receiving unit 34 and is configured to pass only the wavelength region of the communication light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 14.

  Here, the communication light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 14 has a peak wavelength near 850 nm as described above (see (A)). The external light L2 has a wavelength in a region lower than the wavelength spectrum of the communication light L1 (see (D)).

  The optical filter 33 has such a wavelength sensitivity that only the wavelength spectrum of the communication light L1 passes (see (B)). In addition to the communication light L1 described above, the external light L2 is also incident on the optical filter 33. However, the external light L2 is blocked by the optical filter 33 due to the band (light reception sensitivity) limitation of the light receiving unit 34, and only the communication light L1 is optical. Passes through the filter 33. The light receiving unit 34 receives only the communication light L1 that has passed through the optical filter 33 (see (C)).

  Thus, by configuring the light receiving unit 34, the influence of the external light L2 can be removed, and the determination process and configuration of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 can be simplified. For example, processing such as estimating the external light reception level and subtracting external light received by the light receiving unit 34 from the average light reception level becomes unnecessary.

  FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in the communication availability determination unit 601 of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. In step S350, the communication availability determination unit 601 acquires the external light level Pout detected by the external light detection unit 80. In step S <b> 352, the communication availability determination unit 601 acquires the average light reception level P of the light emitting unit 14 calculated by the average light reception level detection unit 50.

  In step S354, the communication availability determination unit 601 uses the average light reception level P acquired from the average light reception level detection unit 50, and refers to LUT_COM to determine whether communication with the functional board 10 is possible. The LUT_COM has the same configuration as the LUT_COM described in FIG. In step S356, the communication availability determination unit 601 notifies the function unit operation start instruction unit 18, the light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72 of communication availability.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, an optical communication system 100D according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The optical communication system 100D is different from the first and second embodiments in that a light emitting unit death determining unit 90 is provided. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in optical communication system 100A of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 38 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of an optical communication system 100D according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The optical communication system 100 </ b> D includes a functional substrate 10 and a processing substrate 30. The functional board 10 includes an optical communication unit 12, a functional unit 22, and a power supply control unit 20. The processing substrate 30 includes an optical communication unit 32, a user presentation unit 40, an external light detection unit 80, a light emitting unit death determination unit 90, and a light shielding and mechanism lock instruction unit 72.

  For example, when the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines that communication between the functional substrate 10 and the processing substrate 30 is possible, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 deteriorates or dies. This is to determine whether or not This is because even when the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 determines that communication is possible, the light emitting unit 14 may be deteriorated because weak communication light is used when determining communication establishment. It is. Of course, even when it is determined that communication is not possible, the deterioration of the light emitting unit 14 or the like can be detected using the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 in order to identify the cause.

  FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the light emitting unit death determining unit 90, and FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the light emitting unit death determining unit 90. The light emitting unit death determination unit 90 includes a calculation unit 901, a value reference unit 902, a determination unit 903, a data holding unit 904, a setting unit 905, and a notification unit 906.

  When the communicable information indicating that the communication is established is supplied from the optical communication establishment determining unit 60, the arithmetic unit 901 sets the drive control of the light receiving unit 34 and adjusts the light receiving sensitivity of the light receiving unit 34 as described later. (Step S150). Then, the calculation unit 901 acquires the light reception level A from the average light reception level detection unit 50 (step S152), acquires the minimum light reception level (threshold value) of the light emitting unit 14 from the value reference unit 902, and the threshold value and the light reception level A. Are compared (step S154).

  The determination unit 903 determines the survival state of the light emitting unit 14 based on the comparison result in the calculation unit 901 (step S156). Then, the survival state of the light emitting unit 14 is held in the data holding unit 904 as the current life / death information of the light emitting unit 14, and the life / death information is supplied to the notification unit 906 (step S158). In the data holding unit 904, the latest life / death information of the light emitting unit 14 is updated. The notification unit 906 notifies the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the life / death information of the light emitting unit 14 determined by the determination unit 903 (step S160). The setting unit 905 controls the drive voltage of the light receiving unit 34 based on the life / death information of the light emitting unit 14 determined by the determining unit 903.

(First death judgment process)
Next, a specific processing example of the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 will be described. FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the first death determination process performed by the light emitting unit death determination unit 90. In step S170, the calculation unit 901 acquires the light reception level ALD from the average light reception level detection unit 170.

  In step S172, the calculation unit 901 refers to the minimum light reception level ALDmin of the light receiving unit 34 when the light emitting unit 14 emits light from the value reference unit 902, and determines whether or not the light reception level ALD is less than the minimum light reception level ALDmin. . The minimum light receiving level ALDmin is a light receiving level value that is input to the light receiving unit 34 at a minimum if the light emitting unit 14 is alive. The calculation unit 901 proceeds to step S174 when determining that the light reception level ALD is less than the minimum light reception level ALDmin, and proceeds to step S176 when determining that the light reception level ALD is greater than or equal to the minimum light reception level ALDmin.

  In step S174, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is dead when the light reception level ALD is smaller than the minimum light reception level ALDmin. In step S178, the notification unit 906 supplies the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 with life / death information indicating that the light emitting unit 14 has died.

  On the other hand, in step S176, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is alive when the light reception level ALD is higher than the minimum light reception level ALDmin. In step S180, the notification unit 906 supplies life / death information indicating that the light emitting unit 14 is alive to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

(Detailed example of the first death determination process)
Next, an optimal embodiment of the first death determination process when APD is used for the light receiving unit 34 will be described.

  FIG. 42 is a graph showing the relationship between the reverse voltage of the APD and the light reception level. As described above with reference to FIG. 12, the amount of received light (light receiving sensitivity) of the APD changes according to the reverse voltage. For example, when the light emitting unit 14 has the light amount Alq (FIG. 42A), when a standard reverse voltage (standard reverse voltage) is applied to the APD, the light reception level of the APD becomes the reference level (FIG. 42C). . When the reverse voltage is reduced with respect to the standard reverse voltage, the light reception level at the APD is reduced (FIG. 42B). On the other hand, when the reverse voltage is increased with respect to the standard reverse voltage, the light reception level at the APD increases (FIG. 42D).

  Therefore, in this example, using such characteristics of the APD, the average light reception level is acquired while changing the reverse voltage applied to the APD in the death determination process of the light emitting unit death determination unit 90. As a result, even if the light intensity Alq of the light emitting unit 14 is decreased, if the APD is alive, the average light receiving level of the light receiving unit 34 can be increased by applying a large reverse voltage to the APD. The accuracy of 14 survival judgments can be improved.

  FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a lookup table used in the first death determination process. The lookup table is held in the value reference unit 902, for example. In the lookup table, the reverse voltage VR (i) and the minimum light receiving level ALDmin at each reverse voltage VR (i) are stored in association with each other. The minimum light receiving level ALDmin changes as the reverse voltage VR (i) increases or decreases.

  FIG. 44 is a flowchart illustrating an example of detailed operation of the first death determination process of the light emitting unit death determination unit 90. In step S190, the calculation unit 901 sets the parameter i of the reverse voltage VR (i) to i = 0. In step S192, the calculation unit 901 sets the reverse voltage of the APD to VR (0) corresponding to the parameter i = 0.

  In step S194, the calculation unit 901 obtains “10” of the average received light level ALDmin (0) corresponding to “80” of the reverse voltage VR (0) from the above-described lookup table. In step S196, the calculation unit 901 increments the parameter i of the reverse voltage VR (i) (i = i + 1), and sets the reverse voltage of the APD to VR (1).

  In step S198, the calculation unit 901 determines whether or not the average light reception levels ALDmin (i) to ALDmin (N) have been obtained for all the reverse voltages VR (i) to VR (N). When it is determined that the average received light levels ALDmin (i) to ALDmin (N) corresponding to all the reverse voltages VR (i) to VR (N) have been acquired, the process proceeds to step S200, and it is determined that they have not been acquired. Return to step S192.

  In step S200, the calculation unit 901 determines whether or not the average light reception level ALD (i) corresponding to the reverse voltage VR (i) exceeds the minimum light reception level ALDmin (i). This process is performed for all reverse voltages VR (i) to (N). If it is determined that the average light receiving levels ALD (i) to (N) exceed the minimum light receiving levels ALDmin (i) to (N) in all the reverse voltages VR (i) to (N), the process proceeds to step S202. If it is determined that the average light reception levels ALD (i) to (N) are less than or equal to the minimum light reception levels ALDmin (i) to (N), the process proceeds to step S204.

  In step S202, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is alive when the average light reception level ALD (i) is higher than the minimum light reception level ALDmin (i). In step S206, the notification unit 906 supplies life / death information indicating that the light emitting unit 14 is alive to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

  On the other hand, in step S204, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is dead when the average light reception level ALD (i) is smaller than the minimum light reception level ALDmin (i). In step S <b> 208, the notification unit 906 supplies life / death information to the effect that the light emitting unit 14 has died to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

(Modification of the first death determination process)
Next, a modified example of the first death determination process will be described. When APD is used for the light receiving unit 34, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 can determine not only the death determination of the light emitting unit 14 but also the survival of the light receiving unit 34. FIG. 45 is a graph showing the relationship between the reverse voltage and the average light receiving level in the light receiving unit 34. The vertical axis represents the average received light level, and the horizontal axis represents the reverse voltage.

  In this modification, it is determined whether or not the light receiving unit 34 is dead in the relationship between the reverse voltage Vr and the average light receiving level A. For example, when both the light emitting unit 14 and the light receiving unit 34 are operating normally, the average light receiving level V increases as the reverse voltage Vr increases as shown by the solid line in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the operation of the light emitting unit 14 is normal and the operation of the light receiving unit 34 is abnormal, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 45, when the reverse voltage Vr is changed from V0 to V1, the reverse voltage The average received light level increases with the increase of. On the other hand, it can be seen that when the reverse voltage Vr is set to V1 or higher, the average light reception level does not change, and even if the reverse voltage Vr is increased, the average light reception level does not increase. In such a case, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines that the light emitting unit 14 operates normally but the light receiving unit 34 operates abnormally, and determines that the light receiving unit 34 is deteriorated or dead. .

(Second death judgment process)
Next, an example of the second death determination process of the light emitting unit death determination unit 90 will be described. The second death determination process is applied when the light emitting unit 14 that has been operating normally suddenly dies and the light reception level ALD rapidly decreases.

  FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the second death determination process. In step S <b> 210, the calculation unit 901 acquires the light reception level ALD from the average light reception level detection unit 170, and acquires the average light reception level ALD_pre of the light emitting unit 14 at the previous power-on from the data holding unit 904. When the light emitting unit 14 is operating normally, the value of the average light reception level ALD does not vary so much, so the data holding unit 904 holds the value of the average light reception level ALD with little variation. Further, when the value of the light reception level ALD slightly varies due to the variation of the ambient temperature during the operation of the light emitting unit 14 (use environment dependent), the value of the average light reception level ALD of the data holding unit 904 is updated accordingly. Held.

  In step S212, the calculation unit 901 calculates a light reception level ratio between the average light reception level ALD_pre and the light reception level ALD and performs decibel conversion. Then, it is determined whether or not the received light level ratio after the decibel conversion exceeds a threshold value X ([dB]) serving as a death determination criterion of the light emitting unit 14. The threshold value X is set to a value larger than the light reception level ratio obtained by, for example, the gradual deterioration of the light emitting unit 14 in order to determine the sudden death of the light emitting unit 14. The calculation unit 901 proceeds to step S214 when determining that the decibel converted light reception level ratio exceeds the threshold value X, and proceeds to step S216 when determining that the decibel converted light reception level ratio is equal to or less than the threshold value X.

  In step S214, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is dead when the decibel converted light reception level ratio exceeds the threshold value X. In step S218, the notification unit 906 supplies life / death information to the effect that the light emitting unit 14 has died to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

  On the other hand, in step S216, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is alive if the received light level ratio after the decibel conversion is equal to or less than the threshold value X. In step S220, the determination unit 903 updates the past average light reception level ALD held in the data holding unit 904 to the current average light reception level ALD_pre when it is determined that the light emitting unit 14 is alive. In step S222, the notification unit 906 supplies the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 with life / death information indicating that the light emitting unit 14 is alive.

(Third death judgment process)
Next, the 3rd death judgment process of the light emission part death judgment part 90 is demonstrated. In the third death determination process, during the constant light output operation, the death determination of the light emitting unit 14 is performed using the increase in the operating current accompanying the deterioration of the light emitting unit 14. FIG. 47 is a graph showing the relationship between the energization time and the operating current accompanying the deterioration of the light emitting unit 14.

  As shown in FIG. 47, the characteristics of the light emitting unit 14 deteriorate with the total time of use (light emission). An increase in operating current can be cited as a characteristic deterioration. It can be seen that when the light emitting unit 14 deteriorates, a larger amount of operating current is required to obtain the same amount of light emission even when the energization time is the same as compared with the case where the light emitting unit 14 is not deteriorated. In other words, when the operating current is constant, if the light emitting unit 14 is deteriorated, the amount of light emission is reduced by the operating current, and accordingly, the average light receiving level is also reduced. Therefore, the deterioration of the light emitting unit 14 can be determined by driving the light emitting unit 14 with a constant current and detecting a value from the average light receiving level.

  FIG. 48 is a graph illustrating an example of a temporal change in the average light reception level accompanying the deterioration of the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit death determining unit 90 estimates the deterioration of the light emitting unit 14 by detecting the operation time T when the average light receiving level is equal to or less than the threshold Ath after the power is turned on. Here, the threshold value Ath indicates a general average light reception level A obtained when the light emitting unit 14 is significantly deteriorated. The deterioration reference time Tth indicates a general time when the average light receiving level A is lower than the threshold value Ath when the light emitting unit 14 is significantly deteriorated.

  For example, when the operation time T that is smaller than the average light reception level Ath of the average light reception level A (one-dot chain line) is faster than the deterioration reference time Tth, the light emitting unit death determination unit 90 has a significant deterioration in the light emitting unit 14. Judged dead. In addition, although the average light receiving level A (wave line) detected by the light receiving unit 34 is attenuated, the operation time T in which the average light receiving level A is smaller than the average light receiving level Ath is later than the predetermined time Tth. In this case, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines that the light emitting unit 14 has deteriorated, and does not determine that it has died. Further, when the average light receiving level A (solid line) detected by the light receiving unit 34 is changing at a constant level, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines that the operation of the light emitting unit 14 is normal.

  FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the third death determination process. In step S230, the calculation unit 901 acquires the light reception level ALD from the average light reception level detection unit 170. In step S232, the calculation unit 901 determines whether or not the average received light level ALD is less than the threshold value Ath. The calculation unit 901 proceeds to step S234 when determining that the average light reception level ALD is less than the threshold value Ath, and returns to step S230 when determining that the average light reception level ALD is equal to or greater than the threshold value Ath.

  In step S234, the calculation unit 901 obtains the operation time T from the value reference unit 902 until the average received light level ALD becomes smaller than the threshold value Ath after the power is turned on. In step S236, the calculation unit 901 determines whether or not the operation time T is less (short) than the reference time Tth. The calculation unit 901 proceeds to step S240 when determining that the operation time T is less than the reference time Tth, and returns to step S238 when determining that the operation time T is equal to or greater than the reference time Tth.

  In step S240, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is dead when the operation time T is shorter than the reference time Tth. In step S <b> 242, the notification unit 906 supplies life / death information indicating that the light emitting unit 14 is dead to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

  On the other hand, in step S238, the determination unit 903 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is alive when the operation time T is longer than the reference time Tth. In step S <b> 2240, the notification unit 906 supplies life / death information indicating that the light emitting unit 14 is alive to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60.

(Fourth death judgment process)
FIG. 50 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the third death determination process. In this example, a lookup table in which the reverse voltage VR (i) to be applied is associated with the threshold value ALDmin (i) serving as a reference for determining deterioration is used, but is similar to the lookup table described in FIG. Since those are used, the description is omitted.

  In step S360, the light emitting unit death determination unit 90 sets the parameter i to “0”. In step S362, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 sets the reverse voltage of the APD to VR (0).

  In step S364, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 acquires the average light receiving level ALD (0) received by the light receiving unit 34 when the reverse voltage VR (0) is applied to the APD. In step S366, when the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 obtains the average received light level ALD (0), the parameter i is incremented and the parameter i is set to “1”.

  In step S368, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines whether or not the average light reception levels ALD (0) to ALD (N) have been obtained for all the reverse voltages VR (0) to VR (N). If it is determined that all the average light reception levels ALD (0) to ALD (N) have been acquired, the process proceeds to step S370, and it is determined that all the average light reception levels ALD (0) to ALD (N) have not been acquired. In that case, the process returns to step S362.

  In step S370, the light emitting unit death determination unit 90 determines whether or not the condition “ALD> ALDmin” is satisfied at any one of the reverse voltages VR (0) to VR (N). ALDmin is obtained from the lookup table. If it is determined that the above condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S372. If it is determined that the above condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S374.

  In step S372, the light emitting unit death determination unit 90 acquires the minimum reverse voltage VR_m that is the minimum value among the reverse voltages that satisfy the condition of ALD> ALDmin.

  In step S374, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines whether the relationship VR_m = VR (0) is satisfied. If it is determined that the minimum reverse voltage VR_m is equal to the deterioration reference voltage VR (0), the process proceeds to step S378. If it is determined that the minimum reverse voltage VR_m is not equal to the deterioration reference voltage VR (0), the process proceeds to step S380. .

  In step S378, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines that the light emitting unit 14 is alive in the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 when the minimum reverse voltage VR_m is equal to the deterioration reference voltage VR (0). That is, when the minimum reverse voltage VR_m is equal to the deterioration reference voltage VR (0), the communication light from the light emitting unit 14 can be normally received without increasing the reverse voltage. Judged to be alive.

  In step S382, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 applies VR (0), which is a deterioration reference voltage, to the light receiving unit. That is, the initial value of the reverse voltage is set to VR (0). If the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 determines in step S380 that the minimum reverse voltage VR_m is not equal to the deterioration reference voltage VR (0), it determines that the light emitting unit 14 is alive but has deteriorated.

  In step S384, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 notifies the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 that the light emitting unit 14 is alive. In step S386, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 applies the minimum reverse voltage VR_m to the light receiving unit. That is, the reverse voltage is minimized, and the light receiving unit 34 applies a reverse voltage at which the communication light of the light emitting unit 14 can be received at the minimum.

  On the other hand, in step S374, if the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 does not satisfy the condition of ALD> ALDmin, the light emitting unit 14 is dead, assuming that the average light receiving level is equal to or less than the threshold ALDmin in all reverse voltages. Judge. In step S388, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 notifies the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 that the light emitting unit 14 is dead.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since it is determined whether or not communication is possible based on the average received light level acquired by the average received light level detecting unit 50, for example, the light emitting unit 14 and the received light are detected from the change in the average received light level. It is possible to determine a living state such as the part 34 being deteriorated. Thereby, when the functional board 10 is attached and detached, it is possible to determine whether communication is possible based on internal information such as deterioration and death of the light emitting unit 14 and the light receiving unit 34, and simply determine whether communication is possible based on a control signal such as ACK. As compared with the case, it is possible to determine establishment of communication with higher accuracy.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, an optical communication system 100D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in that the configuration of the optical communication unit is a reflection type. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in optical communication system 100D of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an optical communication system 100E according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The optical communication system 100E includes a functional substrate 10 and a processing substrate 30. The functional board 10 includes an optical communication unit 12, a functional unit 22, and a power supply control unit 20. The power control unit 20 performs power management on the function board 10 side, and supplies power to each of the function unit 22 and the optical communication unit 12.

  The optical communication unit 12 on the functional board 10 side includes a modulation unit 24, an optical transmission control unit 16, and a functional unit operation start instruction unit 18. The modulation unit 24 uses, for example, an electro-optic effect type or an electroabsorption type, and will be described later based on a digital signal supplied from the function unit 22 with light emitted from the light emitting unit 42 on the processing substrate 30 side. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 42 is modulated. The optical signal obtained by the modulation is output to the light receiving unit 34 of the processing substrate 30.

  The processing board 30 includes an optical communication unit 32, a power supply control unit 36, a processing unit 38, a user presentation unit 40, an external light detection unit 80, a light emitting unit death determination unit 90, and a light shielding and mechanism lock instruction unit 72. . The power control unit 36 performs power management on the processing substrate 30 side, and supplies power to each of the optical communication unit 32 and the processing unit 38.

  The optical communication unit 32 on the processing substrate 30 side includes a light emission unit 42, a light emission control unit 44, a light reception unit 34, an average light reception level detection unit 50, an optical communication establishment determination unit 60, and a communication standby state control unit 70. . The light emission control unit 44 includes a light emission unit drive driver, is driven by the power supplied from the power supply control unit 36, and supplies a predetermined operating current to the light emission unit 42. The light emitting unit 42 is configured by, for example, a laser diode or a surface emitting laser, and emits light toward the modulation unit 24 on the functional substrate 10 side by an operating current supplied from the light emission control unit 44. The light receiving unit 34 is composed of, for example, a photodiode, receives the optical signal output from the modulation unit 24 on the functional substrate 10 side, converts it to an electrical signal, and outputs the converted electrical signal to the average received light level detection unit 50. .

  As described above, in the optical communication system 100C of the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 42 is provided on the processing substrate 30 side instead of providing the light emitting unit 14 on the functional substrate 10. As a result, communication data can be read from the processing substrate 30 side.

<Modification of Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the optical communication system 100E according to the modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component which is common in optical communication system 100D of 4th Embodiment mentioned above, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The processing substrate 30 includes a power control unit 36 for performing power management on both the processing substrate 30 side and the functional substrate 10 side. The power supply control unit 36 is connected to the optical communication unit 32 and the processing unit 38 on the processing board 30 side, and is connected to the optical communication unit 12 and the functional unit 22 on the functional board 10 side. Supply power.

  Here, when optical communication between the functional substrate 10 and the processing substrate 30 is performed by a reflection type, the power-on sequence varies depending on the configuration of the modulation unit 24. The first configuration of the modulation unit 24 is a configuration in which light is not absorbed or received light is not delivered to the light receiving unit 34 when the power is turned off. The second configuration of the modulation unit 24 is a configuration in which light is reflected or received light is directly output to the light receiving unit 34 when the power is turned off. Hereinafter, a power-on sequence will be described by taking as an example an optical communication system 100D according to a modification of the fourth embodiment in which the power control unit 36 of the processing board 30 manages the power of the functional board 10.

  Next, the operation of the functional substrate 10 when the modulation unit 24 described above has the first configuration will be described. FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the functional board 10. In step S250, the light emitting unit 14 is supplied with power from the power control unit 36 of the processing substrate 30 when the optical communication system 100A is turned on by the user.

  In step S <b> 252, the optical transmission control unit 16 drives the modulation unit 24 with the power supplied from the power control unit 36. By driving the modulation unit 24, the light output from the light emitting unit 42 of the processing substrate 30 is reflected or output as it is, and this output signal is received by the light receiving unit 34. The output signal is supplied as an average received light level to the optical communication establishment determining unit 60, and it is determined whether or not communication is possible.

  In step S254, when the functional unit 22 determines that communication has been established by the optical communication establishment determining unit 60, the functional unit 22 receives supply of power from the power control unit 36 of the processing substrate 30. In step S <b> 256, the functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 acquires communication establishment from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the processing substrate 30. In step S <b> 258, the function unit operation start instruction unit 18 notifies the operation start of the function unit 22.

  The operation of the processing substrate 30 will be described. FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the processing substrate 30. In step S260, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the optical communication unit 32 of the processing substrate 30 when the power of the optical communication system 100D is turned on. In step S <b> 262, the power control unit 36 also supplies power to the optical communication unit 12 of the functional board 10.

  In step S <b> 264, the light emission control unit 44 drives the light emission control unit 44 with the power from the power supply control unit 36. Light is emitted from the light emitting unit 42 by driving the light emission control unit 44, and the emitted light is modulated by the modulation unit 24 on the functional substrate 10 side. In step S266, the light receiving unit 34 receives the output signal output from the modulation unit 24 of the functional substrate 10. The received output signal is supplied to the average received light level detector 50, calculated by the average received light level detector 50, and supplied to the optical communication establishment determination unit 60. In step S <b> 268, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines whether communication with the modulation unit 24 of the functional board 10 is possible based on the average light reception level supplied from the average light reception level detection unit 50.

  If the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines in step S270 that communication with the modulation unit 24 on the functional board 10 side is possible, the power communication control unit 36 is notified of the start of the operation of the processing unit 38. In step S <b> 272, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the operation start of the processing unit 38 of the processing substrate 30. In step S274, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the communication standby state control unit 70 of the transition to the communication state. In step S <b> 276, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the functional unit operation start instruction unit 1822 of the functional board 10. In step S278, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the functional unit operation start instruction unit 18 of the functional board 10 of the establishment of communication.

  Next, the operation of the functional substrate 10 when the above-described modulation unit 24 has the second configuration will be described. First, the operation of the functional substrate 10 will be described. FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the functional board 10. Since the modulation unit 24 in this example reflects light or the like even when the power is off, whether or not communication is possible is determined in a state before power is supplied from the power control unit 36 of the processing substrate 30. The modulation unit 24 is set so that incident light is reflected by the light receiving unit 34 on the processing substrate 30 side, and reflects light toward the light receiving unit 34 when light is incident from the light emitting unit 42.

  In step S280, when the optical communication unit 12 determines that communication has been established by the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 (after communication is established), the optical communication unit 12 receives supply of power from the power control unit 36 of the processing board 30. In step S282, the function unit 22 receives power supply from the power control unit 36 of the function board 10 in the same manner.

  In step S <b> 284, the functional unit operation start instructing unit 18 acquires a communication establishment notification from the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 of the processing substrate 30. In step S286, the optical transmission control unit 16 starts driving the modulation unit 24. Thereby, actual communication is performed. In step S288, the function unit operation start instruction unit 18 notifies the operation start of the function unit 22.

  Subsequently, the operation of the processing substrate 30 will be described. FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the processing substrate 30. In step S290, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the optical communication unit 32 of the processing substrate 30 when the power of the optical communication system 100D is turned on. In step S <b> 292, the light emission control unit 44 drives the light emission unit 42 with the power from the power supply control unit 36. Light is emitted from the light emitting unit 42 by driving the light emission control unit 44, and the emitted light is modulated by the modulation unit 24 on the functional substrate 10 side.

  In step S294, the light receiving unit 34 receives the optical signal reflected or output as it is by the modulation unit 24 of the functional substrate 10. The received output signal is supplied to the average received light level detecting unit 50, calculated by the average received light level detecting unit 50, and supplied to the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 as the average received light level. In step S296, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines whether communication with the modulation unit 24 of the functional board 10 is possible based on the average light reception level supplied from the average light reception level detection unit 50.

  If the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines in step S298 that communication with the modulation unit 24 on the functional board 10 side is possible, the power communication control unit 36 is notified of the start of the operation of the processing unit 38. In step S <b> 300, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 acquires the start of operation of the processing unit 38 of the processing substrate 30. In step S302, the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 notifies the communication standby state control unit 70 of the transition to the communication state. In step S <b> 304, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the optical communication unit 12 of the functional board 10. In step S <b> 306, the power control unit 36 supplies power to the functional unit 22 of the functional board 10. In step S308, the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 notifies the functional unit operation start instructing unit 18 of the functional substrate 10 of the establishment of communication.

  As described above, in this example, the determination of establishment of communication between the functional board 10 and the processing board 30 is performed in a state where power is not supplied to the optical communication unit 12 of the functional board 10. Then, after communication is established, the power of the functional board 10 is supplied to each of the optical communication unit 12 and the functional unit 22. In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the light emitting unit 42 is provided on the processing substrate 30 side instead of the light emitting unit 42 on the functional substrate 10 side, communication data is read from the processing substrate 30 side. Can do.

<Fifth embodiment>
Next, an example in which the optical communication systems 100A to 100F in the first to fourth embodiments are applied to the imaging device 100G will be described. FIG. 57 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an imaging apparatus 100G according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The imaging apparatus 100G includes a processing substrate 30 and a solid-state imaging element 103 that is detachably attached to the processing substrate 30.

  When the solid-state imaging device 103 is connected to the processing substrate 30, it is determined whether or not communication is established between the processing substrate 30 and the solid-state imaging device 103. The light emitting unit 14 emits light by the drive current from the optical transmission control unit 16. The light receiving unit 34 receives an output signal from the light emitting unit 14. The average light reception level detector 50 calculates an average light reception level based on the optical signal received by the light receiver 34.

  The positional deviation determination unit 74 determines the positional deviation (optical axis deviation) between the solid-state imaging device 103 and the processing substrate 30 from the average light receiving level. When it is determined that there is a positional deviation, for example, the user presentation unit 40 presents the positional deviation.

  The optical communication establishment determination unit 60 determines whether communication is established between the processing substrate 30 and the solid-state image sensor 103 based on the average light reception level. If it is determined that communication has been established, for example, the light shielding / mechanism lock instruction unit 72 is instructed to lock the processing substrate 30 and the solid-state imaging device 103. Further, the light emitting unit death determining unit 90 uses the external light detected by the external light detecting unit 80 to determine the death or deterioration of the light emitting unit 14 with high accuracy. Further, the functional substrate operation start determination unit 256 on the solid-state image sensor 103 side instructs the pixel data reading unit 113 to start the operation.

  The pixel unit 111 includes, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. Under the control of the pixel data reading unit 113, the pixel unit 111 converts imaging light incident through a lens (not shown) into an electrical signal for each pixel to generate an image signal. The image signal is amplified by an amplifying unit (not shown), denoised by a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling circuit), and supplied to the A / D conversion unit 112.

The A / D conversion unit 112 converts an analog image signal into a digital image signal and supplies the digital image signal to the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit 13 converts the image signal output from the A / D conversion unit 112 into an optical signal based on the drive current supplied from the optical transmission control unit 16 and emits light.
The light receiving unit 34 receives an output signal from the light emitting unit 14 and converts it into an electrical signal to obtain an image signal. The signal processing unit 310 performs processing such as decoding on the image signal output from the light receiving unit 34 and supplies the processed image signal to the data holding unit 312. The data holding unit 312 holds the video signal and the like supplied from the signal processing unit 310.

  Next, the misregistration determination unit 74 will be described. FIG. 58 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the misregistration determination unit 74. The misregistration determination unit 74 includes a calculation unit 741, a misregistration detection unit 742, a data holding unit 743, and a determination unit 744. The misregistration detection unit 742 includes sensing means (mechanism switch) that detects the relative positional relationship between the light emitting unit 14 and the light receiving unit 34 and detects the state of communication light and the surrounding physical state, and the detected misregistration. Information is supplied to the calculation unit 741.

  The calculation unit 741 is a mechanism between the solid-state imaging device 103 and the processing substrate 30 based on the average light reception level of the light receiving unit 34 from the average light reception level detection unit 50 and the position shift information from the position shift detection unit 742. To calculate the positional misalignment. The determination unit 744 determines whether or not there is a mechanical displacement between the solid-state imaging device 103 and the processing substrate 30 based on the calculation result of the calculation unit 741. The data holding unit 743 holds positional deviation information based on the calculation result of the calculation unit 741.

  Here, when a positional deviation occurs between the solid-state imaging device 103 and the processing substrate 30, the average light receiving level is shifted overall. That is, after the positional deviation occurs, the average light receiving level is stabilized at a value smaller than the average light receiving level when no positional deviation occurs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, this misalignment characteristic is used to detect and determine misalignment between the solid-state image sensor 103 and the processing substrate 30.

  FIG. 59 is a graph showing the relationship between the temporal change in average light reception level and positional deviation. The vertical axis represents the average received light level, and the horizontal axis represents time. Until the time To, the average light receiving level exceeds the minimum light receiving level Ath when light emission is stopped, and the light receiving level is stable in the state of An. At time To, the average received light level decreases from An to Ad. After the time To, the average light receiving level is stable in a state of being lowered to Ad. Therefore, the positional deviation determination unit 74 determines that a positional deviation has occurred between the solid-state imaging device 103 and the processing substrate 30 at time To.

  FIG. 60 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the misregistration determination unit 74. In step S320, the calculation unit 741 acquires the average light reception level A (t) at the time t from the average light reception level detection unit 50.

  In step S322, the calculation unit 741 obtains the change amount ΔA (t) of the average received light level at the time t and the time t−1 using the equation (i). The average rate of change S (t) of the integrated value of the average received light level is calculated from the change amount ΔA (t) of the average received light level by the equation (ii). Then, the average rate of change ΔS (t) of the integrated value of the average received light level at the time t and the time t−1 is calculated by the equation (iii).

  In step S324, the arithmetic unit 741 determines whether or not the conditions | ΔS (t) |> ε and ΔA (t) <− | Δth | are satisfied. ε is the average rate of change of the integrated value of the average light receiving level when there is no position shift, and Δth is the average rate of change of the average light received level when there is no position shift. The calculation unit 741 proceeds to step S326 when determining that the above condition is satisfied, and returns to step S320 when determining that the above condition is not satisfied.

  In step S326, the calculation unit 741 holds the time t when the above condition is satisfied as time T in the data holding unit 743. In step S328, the calculation unit 741 performs the same processing as in step S322, and the average received light amount change amount ΔA (t) and the average change rate ΔS (t) of the average received light level when the average received light level has changed. Is calculated.

  In step S330, the calculation unit determines whether or not the average rate of change ΔS (t) of the integrated value of the average received light level calculated in step S328 satisfies the condition of | ΔS (t) | <ε. That is, as shown in FIG. 59, it is determined whether or not the average light receiving level is stable in a lowered state.

  In step S332, the determination unit 744 determines that a positional deviation has occurred between the solid-state imaging device 103 and the processing substrate 30 when the average change rate ΔS (t) of the integrated value of the average light reception level satisfies the above condition. To do.

<Sixth Embodiment>
FIG. 61 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video processing device 100H to which the above-described optical communication systems 100A to 100F are applied. The video processing apparatus 100H includes a video receiving board 25 that functions as the functional board 10 described above, and a processing board 30 that is detachably attached to the video receiving board 25. The processing substrate 30 is provided with a synchronization signal detection unit 460 for determining whether communication is established. In this example, in addition to the communication establishment determination operation of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 described below, the synchronization signal detection unit 460 also determines communication establishment.

  When the video receiving board 25 is connected to the processing board 30, it is determined whether or not communication is established between the processing board 30 and the video receiving board 25. Since the operation for determining communication establishment by the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted.

  When it is determined that communication has been established, the video signal input unit 251 supplies, for example, a video signal input from an external electronic device to the signal processing unit 253. The signal processing unit 253 performs signal processing such as decoding based on the control signal (synchronization signal) from the signal processing control unit 257 and supplies the signal-processed video signal to the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit 14 converts the video signal into an optical signal by the operating current from the optical transmission control unit 16 and outputs the optical signal.

  The light receiving unit 34 of the processing substrate 30 receives the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 14 of the video receiving substrate 25, converts it into an electrical video signal, and supplies it to the synchronization signal detecting unit 460. The synchronization signal detection unit 460 determines whether communication is normally performed between the video reception board 25 and the processing board 30 by detecting a synchronization signal included in the video signal.

  Thus, in this embodiment, in addition to the communication establishment determination using the average light reception level, the communication establishment determination is made based on whether or not the synchronization signal included in the video signal is detected by the synchronization signal detection unit 460. Can do. As a result, communication establishment can be determined with higher accuracy.

<Seventh embodiment>
FIG. 62 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television receiver 100I to which the above-described optical communication systems 100A to 100F are applied. The television receiver 100I includes a video receiving board 25 that functions as the functional board 10 described above, and a video processing board 31 that is detachably attached to the video receiving board 25. The video processing board 31 is provided with a synchronization signal detection unit 460 for determining whether communication is established. In this example, in addition to the communication establishment determination operation of the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 described below, the synchronization signal detection unit 460 also determines communication establishment.

  When the video receiving board 25 is connected to the video processing board 31, it is determined whether or not communication is established between the video processing board 31 and the video receiving board 25. Since the operation for determining communication establishment by the optical communication establishment determining unit 60 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted.

  When it is determined that the communication has been established, the broadcast receiving unit 252 or the video input unit 258 of the video receiving board 25 receives the broadcast signal, performs a process such as modulation, and supplies it to the video selection unit 255. The video selection unit 255 performs channel selection based on the control signal from the signal processing control unit 257 and supplies the selected video signal to the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit 14 converts the video signal into an optical signal and outputs it.

  The light receiving unit 34 of the processing substrate 30 receives the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 14 and converts it into an electrical signal, and supplies the obtained video signal to the synchronization signal detecting unit 460 and the signal processing unit 310. The synchronization signal detection unit 460 detects a synchronization signal included in the video signal and determines, for example, whether communication is performed between the video reception board 25 and the video processing board 31. The signal processing unit 310 performs signal processing such as decoding on the video signal, and outputs the signal-processed video signal to the video display unit 311. The video display unit 311 displays an image based on the video signal from the signal processing unit 310 on the screen.

  Thus, in this embodiment, whether the synchronization signal is detected in addition to the communication establishment determination using the average received light level by detecting the synchronization signal included in the video signal by providing the synchronization signal detection unit 460. Whether or not communication is established can also be determined by whether or not the communication is successful. As a result, communication establishment with higher accuracy can be determined.

  In this embodiment, in addition to the communication establishment determination using the average light reception level, the establishment of communication can be determined based on whether or not the synchronization signal included in the video signal is detected by the synchronization signal detection unit 460. As a result, communication establishment can be determined with higher accuracy.

  Next, extraction of the synchronization signal of the video processing device 100H and the television receiver 100I described above will be described. 63 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the light emitting unit 14 and the light receiving unit 34 of the television receiver 100I shown in FIG. 62, and FIG. 64 is a communication between the light emitting unit 14 and the light receiving unit 34. It is a figure which shows the timing chart of an optical signal.

  The light emitting unit 14 of the video receiving board 25 of the television receiver 100I includes an encoding unit 142 that superimposes pixel data A / D converted by the A / D conversion unit and a synchronization signal generated by the timing generator (not shown). Prepare.

  In addition, the light emitting unit 14 includes a data scrambler 144 that scrambles pixel data on which a synchronization signal is superimposed, and a parallel / serial converter 146 that converts pixel data scrambled on which a synchronization signal is superimposed into serial data. Further, the light emitting unit 14 includes an optical modulation unit 148 that converts the serialized pixel data and the synchronization signal into an optical signal and outputs the optical signal.

  The light receiving unit 34 of the video processing board 31 of the television receiver 100I includes an optical receiving unit 342 that receives serialized pixel data and a synchronization signal as an optical signal and converts the input optical signal into an electrical signal.

  In addition, the light receiving unit 34 includes a serial / parallel conversion unit 344 that reproduces a clock from the serialized pixel data and the synchronization signal and detects the pixel data. Further, the light receiving unit 34 includes a descrambling unit 346 that descrambles pixel data on which the synchronization signal is superimposed, and a decoding unit 348 that detects the synchronization signal.

  The television receiver 100I generates a vertical synchronization signal φV shown in FIG. 64A that controls the vertical scanning circuit, and also generates a horizontal synchronization signal φH shown in FIG. 64B that controls the horizontal scanning circuit. .

  When attention is paid to a certain horizontal scanning period H1, a horizontal scanning signal φh shown in FIG. 64D is generated for a horizontal synchronizing signal φH shown in FIG. Also, a pixel from which a signal is read is selected with the number shown in FIG. Thereby, the data D shown in FIG. 64 (e) is read.

  In the video receiving board 25, the pixel data that has been A / D converted by the A / D converter 11 </ b> A is input to the encoder 142. In addition, a vertical synchronization signal φV, a horizontal synchronization signal φH, and a field signal F for selecting a field are input to the encoding unit 142.

  As shown in FIGS. 64E and 64F, the encoding unit 142 includes data indicating the field signal F, the vertical synchronization signal φV, and the horizontal synchronization signal φH in the section E where there is no pixel data.

  FIG. 65 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of an encoding unit. The encoding unit 142 employs, for example, an 8b / 10b system. In the 8b / 10b system, 8-bit data is converted to 10 bits according to a conversion table, and a clock is superimposed on the serial data.

  FIG. 66 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a clock recovery unit in the serial / parallel conversion unit 344. The clock recovery unit is configured by, for example, a phase-locked loop (PLL) and regenerates the clock CLK using the edge of the input serial data D1.

  The clock recovery unit includes a phase comparator 350 that converts a phase difference between two input signals into a voltage and outputs the voltage, and a loop filter 352 that performs phase compensation. The clock recovery unit also includes an oscillator (VCO) 354 that controls the frequency of the output pulse according to the input voltage, and a frequency divider 356 that divides the input frequency into N and outputs it.

  FIG. 67 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a decoding unit. The decoding unit 348 adopts the 10b / 8b system corresponding to the encoding unit 142. In the 10b / 8b system, 10-bit data is converted according to a conversion table to obtain the original 8-bit data.

  FIG. 68 is a diagram for describing a function of the synchronization signal detection unit 460 included in the television receiver 100I illustrated in FIG. Synchronization signals such as a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal decoded by the decoding unit 348 are superimposed on a predetermined format (for example, the SMPTE 260 standard of an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal. The synchronization signal is extracted while restoring the signal, and it is determined whether communication is established between the light emitting unit 14 and the light receiving unit 34 using the extracted synchronization signal.

  In addition, the synchronization signal detection unit 460 can return the status of the absence of the synchronization signal or the like while detecting the error rate according to the restoration of the signal, and can be used for ensuring communication. For example, even if a predetermined error rate is exceeded, only communication synchronization is established.

<Eighth Embodiment>
FIG. 69 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network device 100J to which the above-described optical communication systems 100A to 100F are applied. The network device 100J includes a host HA and a host HB, and the host HA and the host HB are detachably connected to each other.

  The functional board operation start determination unit 256 of the host HA controls the CPU 260 and the optical transmission control unit 16 to start the operation of the video reception board 25 based on the communication establishment availability information from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60 of the host HB. To do. The CPU 260 reads predetermined data from the data holding unit 262 and supplies it to the packet data generation unit 261.

  The packet data generation unit 261 generates packet data by dividing the data and adding a destination address (host HB) or the like, and supplies the packet data to the light emitting unit 14. The light emitting unit 14 converts each packet data generated by the packet data generation unit 261 into an optical signal and outputs the optical signal.

  The light receiving unit 34 of the host HB receives the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 14, converts it into an electrical signal, acquires packet data, and supplies the packet data to the packet data analyzing unit 463. The packet data analysis unit 463 analyzes the control information included in the packet data and supplies it to the CPU 462. When the establishment of communication is notified from the optical communication establishment determination unit 60, the CPU 462 supplies an image and information based on the predetermined data transmitted from the host HA to the user display unit 465 and holds the data in the data holding unit 464. .

<Ninth embodiment>
Next, an example in which the above-described optical communication systems 100A to 100F are applied to the imaging apparatus 100K will be described. FIG. 70 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the imaging apparatus 100K. The imaging device 100K includes a camera body 300 that constitutes an example of a receiving device body, and a solid-state imaging device unit 100 that is detachably attached to the camera body 300.

  The solid-state image sensor unit 100 includes a lens 101, a lens barrel 102, a solid-state image sensor 103, and a modulation unit 24. The lens 101 is attached to a cylindrical lens barrel 102 and forms an image of incident subject light on the solid-state image sensor 103. The solid-state image sensor 103 is configured by, for example, a CMOS or a CCD, converts an electric signal for each pixel to generate an image signal, and supplies the image signal to the modulation unit 24. The modulation unit 24 modulates the light output from the light emitting unit 42 of the camera main body 300 according to the image signal from the solid-state image sensor 103 and emits the light as a light signal to the light receiving unit 34 of the camera main body 300.

  The camera body 300 is a box-shaped housing, and the camera substrate 300 incorporates the processing substrate 30 described above. The processing substrate 30 includes a light emitting unit 42 that outputs light and a light receiving unit 34 that receives an optical signal output from the modulation unit 24 of the solid-state imaging device unit 100. A control unit (not shown) of the camera main body 300 and a lens driving unit, a diaphragm driving unit, and the like of the solid-state imaging device unit 100 are electrically connected by a control line 301.

  When the solid-state image sensor unit 100 is attached to the camera body 300, it is determined whether or not communication is established between the solid-state image sensor unit 100 and the camera body 300 as described above. 34 deterioration or death is judged. When communication is established by this processing, communication such as data is performed between the solid-state imaging device unit 100 and the camera body 300.

<Tenth Embodiment>
Next, an example in which the above-described optical communication systems 100A to 100F are applied to the signal processing system 100L will be described. FIG. 71 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the signal processing system 100L. It includes a signal processing system 100L, a display device 302, and a video selection device 104 that is detachably attached to the display device 302.

  The video selection device 104 is a device for receiving a broadcast signal and selecting a video based on the broadcast signal. The video selection device 104 includes a detachable unit 105 that can be attached to and detached from the display device 302 and a light emitting unit 14 provided in the detachable unit 105. Have. A broadcast signal received by the antenna 116 is input to the video selection device 104. The tuner unit selects a predetermined transmission channel, performs signal processing such as demodulation on the selected broadcast signal, and acquires a video signal and the like. The video signal or the like is converted into an optical signal by the light emitting unit 14 and output.

  The display device 302 includes a display unit 304, an attachment / detachment unit 305 to / from which the video selection device 104 provided below the display unit 304 is attached / detached, and a light receiving unit 34 provided to the attachment / detachment unit 305. The light receiving unit 34 of the display device 302 receives the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 14 and converts it into an electrical signal. Then, predetermined processing such as decoding is performed on the display device 302, and the video selected by the video selection device 104 is displayed on the display unit 304.

  When the video selection device 104 is attached to the display device 302, it is determined whether or not communication is established between the video selection device 104 and the display device 302 as described above. Deterioration or death is judged. When communication is established by this processing, communication such as data is performed between the video selection device 104 and the display device 302.

<Eleventh embodiment>
Next, an example in which the above-described optical communication systems 100A to 100F are applied to the signal processing system 100M will be described. FIG. 72 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the signal processing system 100M. The signal processing system 100M includes a display device 302, an image processing device 118, an imaging device 106, and a video reproduction device 108.

  The image processing device 118 is a device that decodes a video signal or the like input from the imaging device 106 or the video reproduction device 108 and outputs the obtained video signal to the display device 302. A first attachment / detachment unit 119 to which the imaging device 106 is detachably attached and a second attachment / detachment unit 122 to which the video reproduction device 108 is detachably attached are provided on the upper surface portion of the image processing device 118.

  The first attaching / detaching unit 119 is a light emitting type reading unit, and includes a light receiving unit 34 that receives an optical signal output from the light emitting unit of the imaging device 106. The second attaching / detaching unit 122 is a modulation type reading unit, and includes a light emitting unit 42 that outputs light, and a light receiving unit 34 that receives an optical signal output from the modulating unit of the video reproduction device 108.

  The imaging device 106 reproduces and outputs video and the like stored in an HDD (Hard disk drive) or a flash memory, and is attached to an attachment / detachment unit 126 for attaching / detaching to / from the image processing device 118, a memory of the imaging device 106, and the like. And a light emitting unit 14 for outputting a video signal or the like corresponding to the stored video.

  The video playback device 108 plays back and outputs video and the like recorded and recorded in an HDD or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The video playback device 108 is attached to and detached from the image processing device 118. And a modulation unit 24 that modulates light based on a video signal or the like corresponding to a video stored in a memory or the like.

  When the imaging device 106 or the video reproduction device 108 is attached to the image processing device 118, as described above, it is determined whether or not communication is established between the image processing device 118 and the imaging device 106, and the light emitting unit. 42, the deterioration or death of the light receiving unit 34 is determined. After communication is established by this processing, the video signal stored in the imaging device 106 or the like is output by the light emitting unit 14. The output video signal is received by the light receiving unit 34 of the image processing device 118. Then, the image processing device 118 performs predetermined processing such as decoding, and the selected video is output to the display device 302. The display device 302 displays an image based on the video signal output from the image processing device 118.

  It should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes those in which various modifications are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, communication is established between the optical communication units 12 and 32 by executing a recording medium such as an optical disk or a semiconductor memory on which a computer program corresponding to the above-described series of processing of the present invention is recorded by hardware such as a computer. It can also be determined whether or not it has been done.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the optical communication system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a functional board | substrate. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a process board | substrate. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the modification of an optical communication system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a process board | substrate. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a process board | substrate. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an average light reception level detection part. It is a figure which shows the output waveform of the output signal in an average light reception level detection part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a calculating part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a communication standby state control part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a communication standby state control part. It is a graph which shows the characteristic of APD. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the communication standby state control part at the time of using APD for a light-receiving part. It is a figure which shows the transition state of a communication standby state control part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an optical communication establishment judgment part. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of LUT_COM. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st judgment operation | movement of an optical communication establishment judgment part. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd determination operation | movement of an optical communication establishment determination part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a light-shielding and a mechanism lock instruction | indication part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the modification of a light-shielding and a mechanism lock instruction | indication part. It is a figure which shows the spectrum of a light emission part, external light (natural light), and a fluorescent lamp. It is a figure which shows the light reception sensitivity of a light-receiving part and an external light light-receiving part. It is a graph which shows an example of the relationship of the wavelength range of communication light and external light. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the optical communication system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an external light detection part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of an external light detection part. It is a figure which shows the structural example of LUT_OUT. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an external light sensitivity setting part. It is a figure which shows the light reception sensitivity of a light emission part light source and an external light detection part. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of LUT_OUT. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of an external light detection part. It is a figure which shows the wavelength spectrum of the light-receiving part for optical communications, and the external light-receiving part for external light detection. It is a figure which shows the structure of the modification of LUT_OUT. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a communication wavelength and an external light wavelength. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process of the optical communication establishment determination part in the case of having an external light detection part. It is a figure which shows the light reception sensitivity and wavelength spectrum of communication light, external light, an optical filter, and a light-receiving part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a process of the optical communication establishment judgment part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the optical communication system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the light emission part death determination part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the light emission part death determination part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 1st death judgment process of the light emission part death judgment part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the reverse voltage of APD, and a light reception level. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the look-up table utilized by the 1st death judgment process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the detailed operation | movement of a 1st death judgment process. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the reverse voltage and average light reception level in a light-receiving part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the 2nd death judgment process of the light emission part death judgment part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the electricity supply time based on deterioration of a light emission part, and an operating current. It is a figure which shows an example of the time change of the average light reception level accompanying deterioration of a light emission part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the 3rd death judgment process of the light emission part death judgment part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the 4th death judgment process of the light emission part death judgment part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the optical communication system which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the modification of an optical communication system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a functional board | substrate. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a process board | substrate. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a functional board | substrate. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a process board | substrate. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the imaging device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a position shift determination part. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the time change of an average light reception level, and position shift. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a position shift determination part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a video processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a television receiver. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the light emission part of a television receiver, and a receiving part. It is a figure which shows the timing chart of the optical signal communicated between a light emission part and a receiving part. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of an encoding part. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a clock reproduction | regeneration part. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a decoding part. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the synchronizing signal detection part of a television receiver. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a network apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of an imaging device. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of a signal processing system. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of a signal processing system.

Explanation of symbols

100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 100F ... optical communication system,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Functional board | substrate, 12 ... Optical communication part, 18 ... Functional part operation start presentation part, 20 ... Power supply control part, 24 ... Modulation part, 32 ... Optical communication part, 34・ ・ ・ Light receiving unit, 36 ... Power supply control unit, 50 ... Average received light level detection unit, 60 ... Optical communication establishment determination unit, 70 ... Communication standby state control unit, 72 ... Light shielding and Mechanism lock instruction unit, 80 ... external light detection unit, 90 ... light emitting unit death determination unit

Claims (20)

A reception side optical communication unit that performs communication with a transmission side optical communication unit of a transmission device that is detachably attached to the reception device body,
The receiving side optical communication unit is:
An optical receiver that receives an optical signal output from the transmitter optical communication unit;
A light receiving level detecting unit for detecting a light receiving level of the optical signal received by the light receiving unit;
An optical communication establishment determination unit that determines whether communication is established between the transmission side optical communication unit and the reception side optical communication unit based on the light reception level detected by the light reception level detection unit; Receiver device. The optical communication establishment determination unit
A storage unit that stores a reference light reception level set in advance and communication enable / disable information according to whether or not communication is established between the transmission side optical communication unit and the reception side optical communication unit;
Using the light reception level acquired from the light reception level detection unit, the communication availability information corresponding to the light reception level is obtained from the storage unit, and the transmission side optical communication unit based on the obtained communication availability information The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication availability determination unit configured to determine whether communication has been established with the reception-side optical communication unit. The light receiving level detector is
An amplifying unit for amplifying the optical signal received by the receiving side optical communication unit;
Integrating the optical signal amplified by the amplifying unit, and feeding back the optical signal obtained by the integration to the amplifying unit;
The receiving device according to claim 2, further comprising: an arithmetic unit that calculates a light reception level based on the feedback-controlled optical signal output from the amplification unit. A light emitting unit death determining unit that determines whether or not the transmitting side optical communication unit is alive,
The light emitting unit death determining unit is
An operation for comparing the light reception level acquired from the reception side optical communication unit with a minimum light reception level that is input to the reception side optical communication unit at least if the preset transmission side optical communication unit is alive. And
The receiving device according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit that determines a survival state of the transmission-side optical communication unit based on a comparison result of the calculation unit. The optical receiver is composed of an avalanche photodiode,
The computing unit is
Varying the reverse voltage applied to the light receiving unit to obtain the light reception level according to the variable reverse voltage, comparing the light reception level and the lowest light emission level in each obtained reverse voltage,
The determination unit
4. When it is determined that the light reception level at at least one of the varied reverse voltages is lower than the minimum light reception level, it is determined that the transmission side optical communication unit has deteriorated or died. The receiving device described in 1. When the drive current for driving the first optical transmission unit is set constant,
The determination unit
4. When the operation time during which the light reception level is lower than the minimum light reception level is faster than a preset reference time, it is determined that the transmission side optical communication unit has deteriorated or died. Receiver. A light emitting unit death determining unit that determines whether or not the transmitting side optical communication unit is alive,
The light emitting unit death determining unit is
Calculate a light emission level ratio between the light reception level at the previous power-on and the light reception level at the current power-on obtained from the reception side optical communication unit, and calculate the light reception level ratio and a preset reference light reception. An arithmetic unit for comparing the level ratio;
The receiving device according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit that determines a survival state of the transmission-side optical communication unit based on a comparison result of the calculation unit. It has an outside light detection unit that detects outside light,
The outside light detector is
An external light receiving unit that detects external light input and calculates an external light reception level based on the external light;
A storage unit that stores a preset external light reception level and a state of external light in association with each other;
An external light state determination unit that acquires a state of the external light corresponding to the external light reception level stored in the storage unit based on the external light reception level calculated by the external light reception unit. 2. The receiving device according to 2. The communication availability determination unit of the optical communication establishment determination unit,
The outside light level received by the light receiving unit is estimated using the outside light receiving level acquired from the outside light detecting unit, and the outside light level estimated from the light receiving level of the light signal received by the light receiving unit is estimated. The receiving device according to claim 8, wherein the light reception level of the optical signal transmitted from the transmission side optical communication unit is calculated by removing an optical level. Having a light-shielding part that shields external light;
The communication availability determination unit of the optical communication establishment determination unit,
It is determined whether to block external light based on the state of the external light acquired from the external light detection unit, and when it is determined to block external light, the light blocking unit is configured to block the external light. The receiving device according to claim 8 to be controlled. A power supply unit that supplies power to each unit of the receiving device;
The power supply unit
When the power is turned on, supply power to the receiving side optical communication unit,
The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the optical communication establishment determining unit determines that communication has been established, power is supplied to each unit of the receiving apparatus including the receiving-side optical communication unit. A communication standby state control unit that controls the operation of the reception side optical communication unit based on the communication availability determination information supplied from the optical communication establishment determination unit;
The optical receiver is composed of an avalanche photodiode,
The communication standby state control unit
When power is supplied from the power supply unit and transitions to a standby state, a first reverse voltage is applied to the optical receiving unit,
When the communication availability determination information corresponding to communication establishment is supplied from the optical communication establishment determination unit and the communication state is changed, a second reverse voltage larger than the first reverse voltage is applied to the optical reception unit. The receiving device according to claim 11. A misalignment determining unit that determines misalignment between the transmitting optical communication unit and the receiving optical communication unit;
The misregistration determination unit
A calculation unit that acquires the light reception level from the light reception level detection unit and calculates a displacement of the light reception level at each acquired time;
Based on the comparison result of the calculation unit, it is determined that the displacement of the light receiving level is stable from the first light receiving level at the second light receiving level that is lower than the first light receiving level and higher than the lowest light receiving level. The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a determination unit that determines that a positional deviation has occurred. A lock unit for locking the transmission device;
The lock part is
The transmission device is locked to the receiver main body when the optical communication establishment determination unit determines that communication is established between the transmission side optical communication unit and the reception side optical communication unit. Receiver. A transmission device having a first optical communication unit including an optical transmission unit that outputs an optical signal;
An optical receiver that receives an optical signal output from the optical transmitter of the transmitter, a received light level detector that detects a received light level of the optical signal received by the optical receiver, and the received light level detector Second light including an optical communication establishment determination unit that determines whether communication has been established between the first optical communication unit and the second optical communication unit based on the received light level detected by An optical communication system comprising: a receiving device having a communication unit. The transmission device includes a transmission-side power supply unit that supplies power to each unit of the transmission device,
The receiving device has a receiving-side power supply unit that supplies power to each unit of the receiving device,
The transmission-side power supply unit is
When the power is turned on, supply power to the first optical communication unit,
When the communication availability information corresponding to communication establishment is supplied from the optical communication establishment determination unit on the receiving device side, power is supplied to each unit of the transmission device including the first optical communication unit,
The receiving-side power supply unit is
When the power is turned on, supply power to the second optical communication unit,
The optical communication according to claim 15, wherein when the communication enable / disable information corresponding to communication establishment is supplied from the optical communication establishment determining unit, power is supplied to each unit of the receiving device including the second optical communication unit. system. The receiving device includes a power supply unit that supplies power to each unit of the receiving device and the transmitting device,
The power supply unit
When the power is turned on, supply power to each of the first optical communication unit and the second optical communication unit,
When the communication enable / disable information corresponding to communication establishment is supplied from the optical communication establishment determination unit, power is supplied to each of the units of the transmission device and the reception device including the first and second optical communication units. The optical communication system according to claim 15. The optical transmitter of the transmitter is
A modulator that modulates incident light and outputs the optical signal to the second optical communication unit of the receiver;
The optical receiver of the receiver is
A light emitting unit for emitting light to the modulation unit of the transmission device;
The optical communication system according to claim 15, further comprising: a light receiving unit that receives the optical signal output from the modulation unit of the transmission device. At least one of the transmission device and the reception device has a power supply unit that supplies power to the first and second optical communication units,
The modulation unit of the first optical communication unit is configured using an electro-optic effect,
The power supply unit supplies power to the second optical communication unit to output the light from the light emitting unit,
The light receiving unit receives the light reflected by the modulation unit,
The optical communication system according to claim 18, wherein the optical communication establishment determination unit determines whether communication is possible based on the light received by the light receiving unit. On the transmitting device side, an optical signal output step for outputting an optical signal to the receiving device side;
On the receiving device side, an optical reception step for receiving the optical signal output in the optical signal output step, a light reception level detection step for detecting a light reception level of the optical signal received in the optical reception step, and the light reception A computer-readable recording of a program for executing an optical communication establishment determination step for determining whether or not communication is established between the transmission device and the reception device based on the light reception level detected in the detection step Recording medium.