JP2754234B2 - Polling system for mobile objects - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a polling system for a mobile object, and more specifically, for example, in a hospital, an intelligent building, or the like, as a unit of a plurality of limited areas, the unit position information and The present invention relates to a system for polling transponders having individual identification codes.

[Technical background of the invention]

For example, in hospitals and intelligent buildings,
Monitor the patient's condition and location of workers, or
There is a strong demand to transmit information to all or specific persons. As a method for this, for example, a system in which communication is performed by allocating a specific radio frequency to all patients and workers is conceivable, but not only is the operation complicated, but also it is not easy to obtain the position information.

Therefore, the present applicant has formed a limited area from a plurality of basic areas having a specific address, and provided a number of transponders having their own identification codes that move within the limited area to a position identification signal or the like by infrared rays. We have previously filed a Japanese Patent Application No. 63-122487 for a polling system for a mobile unit which transmits a polling signal and the like and responds from a transponder by radio (weak radio wave).

That is, the system is provided corresponding to each element region having a predetermined area, and is provided for each basic region including one or more of the above-described element regions and an infrared transmitter that transmits infrared information to the element region. A basic area transmission controller having a specific address for transmitting a drive signal to the infrared transmitter belonging to the same basic area; a local controller for outputting a control signal including a position identification signal and a polling signal to the basic area transmission controller; Moving with the transponder which receives infrared information from the infrared transmitter in any one of the basic areas, and responds at least with an address of the basic area and its own identification code by a weak radio wave, A receiver for receiving a response signal from the transponder; And a central management unit that performs time-division transmission of the signal to each of the basic area transmission controllers via a local controller, receives a reception output from the receiver, and performs location confirmation and message transmission to a plurality of transponders. I have.

According to this system, since an infrared transmitter was used,
The boundaries of each area are clear, and the location of the transponder can be accurately confirmed. Further, the basic area to be monitored can be variously changed in accordance with the shape and use of the building. Furthermore, since the response from the transponder is wireless, there is an advantage that there is no possibility of interference between transmission and reception.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Referring to FIG. 8, in which a block diagram of the transmitting side of the above system is schematically shown, a local controller LC arranged, for example, for each floor of a building is connected to a center controller CC of a central management unit. . A plurality of basic area transmission controllers LTX are serially connected to each of these local controllers LC via data transmission lines. In this case, each basic area transmission controller LTX includes:
A specific address code is assigned in advance. An infrared transmitter TX for transmitting infrared information to an element area having a predetermined area is connected to each basic area transmission controller LTX. In this figure, nine local area transmission controllers LTX are connected to one local controller LC, and four infrared transmitters TX are connected to the one basic area transmission controller LTX. That is, one elementary area is defined by the four element areas.

Center controller CC to local controller LC
First, the first basic area transmission controller LTX1 operates to simultaneously emit infrared information from the four infrared transmitters TX belonging to the _first basic area transmission controller LTX1. Subsequently, the first basic area transmission controller LTX ₁
, A signal is sent to the second basic area transmission controller LTX ₂ with a delay of, for example, 10 ms, and infrared information is emitted to this basic area. Thereafter, similarly, after a time lag of 10 ms, infrared information including the address code is sequentially emitted from the succeeding basic area transmission controller LTX.

Thus, the first basic area transmission controller LTX ₁ from the local controller LC, also, but than it signal is sent from the base region transmit controller LTX ₁ of the first to the next elementary region transmit controller LTX ₂ However, in the above-mentioned prior application, since the data transmission lines are connected between them, there are many connection lines, and wiring work particularly behind the ceiling is difficult.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, data transmission between a local controller and a basic area transmission controller and data transmission between the respective basic area transmission controllers are performed by an optical communication unit including a light emitting element and a light receiving element. It is characterized by doing.

[Action]

According to the above configuration, it is only necessary to provide a light emitting element and a light receiving element for each controller, and wiring work behind the ceiling can be greatly reduced.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figure 1, the central management unit 10 of the polling system, the information center 11, and a central controller (CC) 12, and a plurality of local controllers (LC) 13 ₁ ~13n . In this case, the information center 11 is provided with a host computer and an input / output device, and is usually operated by an administrator.

The information center 11 and the central controller 12 are connected by a communication line, and serial binary data is transferred by, for example, RS232C. Each local controller 13 ₁ -13N and central controller 12 is connected by an optical transmission fiber cable. Each local controller 13 _{1 -1}
3n are arranged corresponding to, for example, each floor of a building, and are connected to an operation power supply, respectively.

In this embodiment, in conjunction with the local controller 13 ₁ for example, the first corresponding to one floor, several six basic areas transmit controller in this example (LTX) 14 ₁
To 14 ₆ is provided.

A plurality of infrared transmitters (TX) 15 are connected to each of the basic area transmission controllers 14, respectively. One of the basic areas transmit controller 14 to the four infrared transmitter 15 _{1-15 4} is connected in this embodiment. That is, this basic area is formed from four element areas.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in this system, the basic area transmission controller 14 _{1-14 6} of the first to sixth governed to a first local controller 13 ₁ is light They are connected by communication means. To explain with reference to the drawing, the first local controller 13 ₁
The, for example, first and second base regions transmission controller 14 _1, 14 made of ₂ and a light emitting diode that emits light information emitting element 16a is provided. In this embodiment, two basic area transmission controllers 14 ₁ ,
And to have a width of the light to simultaneously provide light information to the 14 _2.

On the other hand, the first and second basic area transmission controllers 14 ₁ and 14 ₂ are provided with a light receiving element 17 such as a photodiode for receiving the optical information, and the optical information is transmitted to the other basic area transmission controllers 14. A light emitting element 16b for transmitting is provided. In this case, the first basic area transmission controller 14 ₁ of the light emitting element 16b sends out light information to the fourth and fifth basic area transmission controller 14 _4, 14 _5, also,
The first basic area transmission controller 14 ₂ of the light emitting element 16b is
To deliver light information to the third and sixth basic area transmission controller 14 _3, 14 _6. Although not shown in detail, third to sixth basic area transmission controllers
The 14 _{3-14 6} similar to the above light-receiving element are provided.

FIG. 4 shows a modification. That is, when each basic area transmission controller 14 _{1-14 5} first to the local controller 13 ₁ for example are arranged radially, the local controller 13 _1, for example, four light emitting elements 16a ₁ ～16A ₄ the provided with radially, the basic area transmission controller 14 _{1-14 5} side may be attached to the light receiving element 17. In this modification, the second light emitting element 16a
₂ is a second and third basic area transmission controller 14 ₂ , 1
4 the beam width to simultaneously provide light information ₃ is expanded.

Incidentally, each basic area transmission controller 14 usually has about 3.
Since they are arranged at intervals of 2 m or more, it is possible to easily supply power from indoor wiring for lighting (1.6 m or 1.8 m intervals).

Referring again to FIG. 1, a local radio receiver (LRX) 20 is provided on a ceiling or the like in a room in relation to the basic area defined by the basic area transmission controller 14.
The receiver 20 does not necessarily need to be provided in a one-to-one relationship with each basic area. That is, when a plurality of basic regions are arranged close to each other and all the radio waves of the transponders existing in the region can be received, one may be arranged for the plurality of basic regions.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a transponder (TRC) 30 carried by each user in the system. The transponder 30 has a rectangular shape having a thickness of about 5 mm, for example, and is carried like a name tag. Although not shown in detail, a plurality of pin diodes are arranged in parallel on the upper side of the transponder 30, and when infrared light from the infrared transmitter 15 is input to at least one of the PIN diodes, It is configured to emit a weak radio wave according to the contents. That is, in the transponder 30, a decoding circuit for decoding the photoelectrically converted content and a transmitter for transmitting a radio wave based on the decoding result are mounted. This radio wave is received by the local radio receiver 20 and the local controller 13
Via central controller 12 and information center
Sent back to 11.

Next, the signal configuration and transmission / reception timing will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

FIG. 6 (I) shows the contents of data (A) sent from the local controller 13 to the basic area transmission controller 14. This data (A) is composed of a position identification signal followed by a polling signal, for a total of 120 bits. In this case, the position identification signal includes a preamble (16 bits), a system address (6 bits) indicating this system, a position address (10 bits) indicating an area, and a time (16bi) indicating a transmission time.
t) and check (16bit). This check (16 bits) is used for CRC (Cyclic Redendancy).

Polling signals include polling (16 bits) and group simultaneous (8
bit), individual signal (16 bit), and check (16 bit). The collective group is a polling request to all transponders 30, and the individual signal is a polling request to a specific transponder 30.

To explain FIG. 2 as an example, the local controller 13 of the _first and second base regions transmission controller 1
4 _1, 14 when ₂ data (A) is sent by the optical signal, as shown in Figure 7, approximately the signal A ₁ belongs to it at the same time as it from the first basic area transmission controller 14 ₁ The information is output to each infrared transmitter 15, and the infrared information is simultaneously transmitted to the area. Note that each basic area transmission controller 14
Are granted in advance location address identifying the basic region to, the above-mentioned signal A ₁ its position addresses at the same controller 14 ₁ is added.

The second basic area transmission controller 14 _2, after receiving the data (A), at the time of the 10ms passed by, for example, built-in timer, and outputs a signal A ₂ in the infrared transmitter 15 that belong to it.

Subsequently, the same data as the data (A) is output by the optical signal toward the first base area transmission controller 14 ₁ in the fourth and fifth each primitive area transmission controller 14 _4, 14 _5. Thus, the signal A ₃ from the fourth basic area transmission controller 14 ₄ is issued to each infrared transmitter 15 belonging to it, after the 10ms has elapsed, this time from the basic area transmission controller 14 ₅ of the fifth signal A ₄ is thereto Each infrared transmitter that belongs to 1
Output to 5.

Accordingly then, the second basic area transmission controller 14 each basic ₂ of the third and sixth regions transmission controller 14 _3, 14
Data similar to the above data (A) is output as an optical signal toward ₆ . Thus, similar to the above, signal A ₅ is outputted from the third basic area transmission controller 14 _3, the 10m
After s elapses, the signal from the basic area transmission controller 14 ₆ sixth
A ₆ is output. As described above, the signal A is output from each basic area transmission controller 14 with a delay time of, for example, 10 ms. In this embodiment, the time control is performed by a built-in timer.

The transponder 30 can transmit the infrared transmitter 15 in any area.
When receiving the infrared information from, a response signal shown in FIG. 5 (II) is transmitted by a weak radio wave.

The response signal includes a preamble (16 bits), a slave station address (16 bits) specifying the transponder, a system address (6 bits), and a position address (10bi) indicating an area.
t), time indicating reception time (16bit), arbitrary data (8bi
t) and check (16 bits), totaling 88 bits. The position address (10 bits) indicating the area is the position address (10 bits) contained in the received infrared information.
It corresponds to. Also, the arbitrary data (8bit)
It contains a message indicating the special status of the carrier of the transponder 30.

When the data A is, for example, 1
If the transponder 30
Response signal from the transmission time of the signals A ₁ ~A ₆ 10ms × ₆
Is transmitted to the central controller 12 and the like via the local radio wave receiver 20 and the local controller 13 during, for example, 20 ms × 47 slots = 940 ms.

In this system, the timing at which the infrared information reaches the adjacent basic region is shifted as described above (at least 10 ms in the above embodiment), so that the position of the transponder 30 can be accurately detected. In the above embodiment, polling of 47 × 60 = 2820 persons per minute is possible.

This system can be applied to, for example, the following applications in addition to position detection. Call the transponder from the information center.
This includes personal calls, group calls, general calls, and the like. Call the information center from the transponder. Transmission of predetermined fixed text from the information center to the transponder.

In addition, as specific applications, management of person exit from a specific area, automatic paging (paging), monitoring of a moving person (for example, a security guard), emergency notification when a person falls down due to illness, automatic transfer of telephone, dining room Understanding congestion status, emergency guidance,
Examples include automatic turning off of a lighting lamp, control of an air conditioner, operation control of an elevator, and the like.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a local controller, a basic area transmission controller controlled by the controller, and an infrared transmitter driven by the controller are provided, for example, on the ceiling of a building, and the infrared transmitter is In a polling system that transmits infrared information to a predetermined area and outputs a response signal by radio waves from a transponder that has received the infrared information, each basic area is transmitted between a local controller and a basic area transmission controller. By connecting the controllers by optical communication means, wiring work on the underside of the ceiling or on the ceiling surface can be significantly reduced, and the construction period and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a polling system for a mobile unit according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout of a local controller and basic area transmission controllers of the system, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an optical communication means provided between the area transmission controllers, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the optical communication means, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing a transponder used in this system. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a time arrangement of transmission / reception information in this system, FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a transmission state of infrared information in this system, and FIG. 8 is a local controller and each basic area transmission in the prior application system. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection state of a controller. In the figure, 10 is a central management device, 11 is an information center, 12 is a central controller, 13 is a local controller, 14 is a basic area transmission controller, 15 is an infrared transmitter, 16a, 16
b is a light emitting element, 17 is a light receiving element, 20 is a receiver, and 30 is a transponder.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04B 10/22

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An infrared transmitter is provided corresponding to each element region having a predetermined area and transmits infrared information to the element region. The infrared transmitter is provided for each basic region including one or more of the element regions. A basic area transmission controller having a specific address for transmitting a drive signal to the infrared transmitter belonging to the basic area; a local controller for outputting a control signal including a position identification signal and a polling signal to the basic area transmission controller; A transponder that moves and receives infrared information from the infrared transmitter in any of the basic areas, and responds at least with the address of the basic area and its own identification code with a weak radio wave, provided in association with the basic area; A receiver for receiving a response signal from the transponder; And a central management unit for transmitting a signal to each of the basic area transmission controllers through a time-division transmitter, receiving a reception output from the receiver, and performing location confirmation and message transmission to a plurality of transponders. In a polling system for a body, data transmission between the local controller and the basic area transmission controller and data transmission between the respective basic area transmission controllers are performed by optical communication means including a light emitting element and a light receiving element. A polling system for moving objects, characterized in that: