JP2729902B2 - Partition connector for infrared signal transmission - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for wirelessly transmitting a data signal between devices installed at a relatively short distance such as in the same room of an office, and more particularly to an infrared ray projected between the devices. For infrared signal transmission for transmitting the data signal by modulating the beam with the required data signal
It relates to a partition connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When transmitting a data signal between a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) or between a personal computer and a printer, an online system in which each device is conventionally connected by a communication cable. Instead, wireless systems using infrared light beams have become widespread.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of wireless communication using an infrared light beam.
Communication units (102a) and (102b) for transmitting and receiving infrared light beams are respectively attached to 1a) and (101b). Communication unit (102a) or (102b)
Is the personal computer (101a) or (1
The infrared light beam (103) modulated by the data signal from the communication unit 01b) is projected toward the other communication unit.

[0004] The communication unit (102b) or (102a) on the receiving side demodulates the received infrared light beam (103) into an electric signal and inputs it to the corresponding personal computer (101b) or (101a). In this case, if the two communication units (102a) and (102b) are installed at positions where they can be easily seen, the infrared light beam is projected and transmitted on an optical path that linearly connects the two units. Can be.

However, in an actual office, the interior is partitioned by the low partition (104), or a bookcase or a locker is installed, so that two communication units (102a) and (102b) are mutually visible. Often cannot. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, an infrared light beam (103) is projected toward a ceiling (105) or a side wall of a room, and a reflected communication beam is received by a communication unit of the other party.

[0006]

When an infrared light beam is reflected by a ceiling or a side wall, depending on the properties of the surface of the reflection point,
There is a problem that the degree of attenuation of the infrared light beam is large and the communication state becomes unstable. Further, there is also a disadvantage that a passer-by (106) or the like inadvertently enters the optical path of the infrared light beam (103), the beam is cut off, and communication data is lost. In order to avoid these inconveniences, it is necessary to appropriately select the position of the communication unit, and there is a problem that it is very difficult to freely design an office layout.

[0007] The present invention is to overcome these disadvantages, certain
Size partitions are continuously joined and arranged
Is not affected by the office layout,
Infrared that can form an infrared signal transmission path by these joints
It is an object of the present invention to provide a line signal transmission partition connector .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Infrared signal transmission of the present invention
Partition fittings along the panel surface
There is a through hole that can project an infrared light beam in the horizontal direction.
Multiple partitions at different angles to each other
This is a connector for connecting
Multiple connection ports that specify the connection direction of a number of partitions
And the connection of the partition
And a space communicating with the through-hole.
In the space between each other, the defined
Surface in the direction that bisects the angle between the connection directions
Make sure that the mirror is fixed in advance so that
Features.

[0009]

[Function] Connect partitions using this connection tool
If the partition is connected to the
Direction is defined, and the
A space in the fitting, and a preset in this space
Mirrors allow self-installation in the assembled partition.
The formation of a bent light path for the infrared beam
Become. This means that depending on the office layout
Just connect the partition to the connection port of
When the floodlight path is formed without subsequent mirror adjustment
Together, disassemble again and reassemble with new layout
Even if the connection direction and mirror angle are not changed
The order of the connectors and the various long and short partitions.
However, a light emitting path is secured.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view showing a partition panel (hereinafter abbreviated as a panel) in which an infrared light beam transmitting / receiving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, two panels (1) and (1) are connected at right angles by a connector (2).

Each panel (1) has a frame-like structural material (1).
A face plate (12) is mounted on both sides of 1), and a horizontal through hole (13) is formed between the face plates (12) on both sides. The through hole (13) penetrates the panel (1) in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined height position, and each panel (1)
Both (1) are formed at the same height position.

The connection tool (2) has two connection ports (40).
Have two panels (1) and (1) at right angles
It can be fixed at the position where the direction is specified as it is assembled
It is formed in a substantially right-angled triangular cross section.
And communicates with the through hole (13) of the partition inside.
Space (50) is formed, and each panel (1) has
A space which is a position facing the through hole (13) opened at the end face.
The mirror (14) is mounted on the section (50). Further
In the space (50), the directions defined in the directions are different from each other.
Those who divide the angle between the connection directions of two partitions into two
Mirror (14) so that its plane is perpendicular to the direction
Has been fixed. That is, in this embodiment, this mirror
-(14) is the intersection of the center lines of the two panels (1) and (1).
At the insertion position, 45
It is installed at a degree angle.

A communication unit (3) attached to an OA device (not shown) such as a personal computer is mounted at a required portion of the panel (1). The communication unit (3) is installed so as to penetrate the surface plate (12) of the panel (1) and protrudes into the through hole (13).
And a case housing various signal conversion transmission devices (16)
It is composed of

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication unit (3). In a case (16), a connector socket (17), a modulation / demodulation circuit (18), and an optical / electrical signal converter (19) are provided. , A light emitting diode (20) and a photocoupler (21). Connector socket (17)
Is connected to a wiring plug (22) from the OA device.

When transmitting data, the modulation / demodulation circuit (18) modulates the data output from the OA device via the plug (22) and the connector socket (17) into a transmission signal. The modulated transmission signal is converted by an optical / electrical signal converter (19) into a signal that modulates the output light of the next-stage light emitting diode (20) according to required data, and is converted from the light emitting diode (20). Infrared light modulated based on the data signal is emitted.

This infrared light is transmitted by the optical system (15).
An infrared light beam is projected in a direction along the through hole (13) in the panel (1). At this time, the inner surface of the through hole (13) acts similarly to the light guide fiber to guide the infrared light as a light beam along the through hole (13). And connect
The light beam arriving at the fitting (2) is transmitted to a plurality of the fittings (2).
Direction of each partition by connection port (40)
According to regulations, through-holes (13) in the partition and fittings
(2) The space (50) and the mirror (14) in
Automatically formed in the assembled partition
Multiple participants travel down the curved beam path of the infrared beam.
Proceed through the area. On the other hand, in the communication unit (3) on the receiving side, the infrared light that has arrived is received by the photocoupler (21) via the optical system (15).

The optical / electrical signal converter (19) outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the photocoupler (21),
It is converted into a data signal for OA equipment by a modulation / demodulation circuit (18), and a connector socket (17) and a plug (22)
To the OA device on the receiving side via. That is, the communication units (3) attached to the plurality of OA devices are mounted on the panel (1) near the OA devices, respectively, and the through holes (1) are provided.
Infrared light beam can be transmitted and received through 3), and mutual data communication can be performed.

As described above, the infrared signal transmission device of the present invention projects an infrared light beam through a through hole formed in a partition panel, modulates the infrared light beam with required data, and transmits a signal. It is.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example of the infrared transmission device of the present invention. A plurality of panels (1) having through holes (13) are connected to each other by a connector (2).
The communication unit (3) is mounted on each panel (1).

In FIG. 3, one set of communication units (3) is provided for each panel (1). However, a plurality of sets of communication units can be installed on one panel. A panel having only the through-hole (13) without providing the unit (3) may be used, and can be appropriately configured according to the layout of the OA device provided with the communication unit.

A plug (22) is connected to each communication unit (3). By exposing an optical system (15) on the outer surface of the communication unit (3) as in the communication unit (3 ') in the center of the drawing, Alternatively, a data signal from a personal computer or the like can be received by an infrared light beam and a signal can be sent to each communication unit (3). In this case, a cable can be omitted.

The two panels (1) may be connected at an arbitrary angle other than a right angle, for example, as shown in FIG. In this case, the planar cross-sectional shape of the connector (31) has a shape in which the two panels (1) are installed at a desired angle, and at a position where the center lines of the through holes (13) in both panels intersect, A mirror (33) is mounted on the support (32).

FIG. 5 shows that three panels (1) are connected to the connector (3).
In this embodiment, the infrared light beam is transmitted between the panels by being connected in a Y-shape according to 4). A mirror (35) having a triangular cross section having two reflecting surfaces is provided in the connecting device (34).

FIG. 6 shows a means for transmitting an infrared light beam between four panels arranged in a cross shape, showing a mirror installed at the intersection of each panel,
The illustration of the panel is omitted.

The two mirrors (36) and (37) are at right angles to each other and in the opposite direction to the center line of each panel.
It is installed at an angle. Two mirrors (36) (3
7) is installed in the up-down direction, and a gap of a required size is provided therebetween.

The infrared light beam (B) from the communication unit (3) on the transmitting side partially receives two mirrors (36) (3).
Go straight through the gap of 7), the upper part is a mirror (36),
The lower part is reflected by the mirror (37) and projected along the through holes of each panel combined in a cross shape.

By combining the means shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 as necessary, an infrared signal transmission device adapted to an arbitrary office layout is constructed, and data is transmitted between a plurality of required OA devices. Signals can be transmitted and received accurately.

Further, by locating the communication unit (3 ') attached to the partition panel at a position slightly above the tabletop of the desk, the above-described communication unit without cable has no obstacle in the partition 1 section. Works more effectively.

[0029]

The partition using the connecting device of the present invention.
Can be connected to the
According to the direction of the partition
By the space inside the fixture and the mirror, the assembled
The beam path where the infrared beam is bent naturally within the
Is formed.

[0030]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a panel and a communication unit in one embodiment of the present invention in which two partition panels are connected at right angles.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the arrangement of partition panels.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an embodiment in which two partition panels are connected at an obtuse angle.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an embodiment in which three partition panels are connected in a Y-shape.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of mirrors when four partition panels are connected in a cross shape.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of data communication using a conventional infrared light beam.

[Explanation of symbols]

(1) Partition panel (2) Connector (3) Communication unit (3 ') Communication unit (11) Structural material (12) Surface plate (13) Through hole (14) Mirror (15) Optical system (16) Case ( 17) Connector socket (18) Modulation / demodulation circuit (19) Optical / electrical signal converter (20) Light emitting die auto (21) Photocoupler (22) Plug (31) Connector (for obtuse angle) (32) Support base (33) Mirror (34) Connector (for Y-shape) (35) Mirror (37) (3
8) Mirror (40) connection port (50) space
Department

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (1) Horizontally inside and along the panel surface
A party with a hole that can project an infrared light beam
To connect multiple cameras at different angles.
Connection for multiple parties.
A plurality of connection ports for defining the connection direction of the
Connection with partition through hole by connecting partition
A space portion, and further within the space portion,
The connection direction of the partitions specified in the direction
The surface is perpendicular to the direction that bisects the angle
Characterized in that the mirror is pre-fixed as
External signal transmission partition connector.