JP4352983B2 - Wireless data transmission / reception system and communication state determination program for wireless data transmission / reception system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless data transmission / reception system and a wireless data transmission / reception system communication program, and more particularly to wireless data for determining a communication state in a wireless data transmission / reception system including a wireless TAG that is a memory module with a wireless function including an antenna. The present invention relates to a communication state determination program for a transmission / reception system and a wireless data transmission / reception system.

  In recent years, non-contact wireless communication is performed using a memory module with a wireless function including an antenna, data is written to the memory module with a wireless function, and data stored in the memory module with a wireless function is read, Based on this, it is underway to perform a predetermined process. As such a memory module with a wireless function, an IC card with a wireless function, a so-called wireless tag (TAG) attached to a component, and the like are known.

  In that case, if communication between the memory module with a wireless function and the reader / writer that reads / writes the data from the outside is not properly performed, an error is included in the data. Therefore, ensuring communication is important. If communication is not performed correctly, the reader / writer side is also equipped with an antenna, so there may be a problem on the reader / writer side and a problem on the memory module with wireless function side. It is necessary to determine where the location is.

  In Patent Document 1, a self-diagnosis card capable of wireless communication with the reader / writer side is prepared, and when performing self-diagnosis of communication, the self-diagnosis card is attached to the reader / writer, and the self-diagnosis card is attached from the reader / writer side. It is disclosed that power is supplied to diagnose the state of wireless communication between a self-diagnosis card and a reader / writer. That is, if there is a communication error when using a self-diagnosis card, there is a problem on the reader / writer side. If a self-diagnosis card is used, communication is normal, but communication is performed when communicating with an actual IC card with a wireless function. When there is an abnormality, it can be easily determined that there is a problem on the IC card with wireless function.

JP 2000-30005 A

  In order to efficiently perform communication control between a plurality of memory modules with wireless functions, for example, the communication control unit is combined into one, a plurality of couplers having antennas are prepared, and the coupler, the communication control unit, It is convenient to connect each of them to each other by a wired connection and to make each coupler correspond to each memory module with a wireless function. For example, in a copier, in order to collectively manage the history of a plurality of parts such as a photosensitive drum and a toner cartridge, a wireless TAG is attached to each part, and a coupler that can wirelessly communicate with each wireless TAG is disposed. A plurality of couplers are connected to an ASIC circuit for communication control provided on the main board of the copying machine main body. By configuring such a wireless data transmission / reception system, transmission / reception with a plurality of wireless TAGs can be controlled at one location.

  In this way, when wireless data transmission / reception is performed via a coupler, a signal path of communication control ASIC circuit-coupler substrate-wireless TAG is obtained. Therefore, there is a possibility that a communication abnormality may occur in two types: wired communication between the communication control ASIC circuit and the coupler board, and wireless communication between the coupler board and the wireless TAG. Here, even if the communication state determination technique of Patent Document 1 is applied, it can be easily distinguished whether there is a cause on the communication control ASIC circuit side or on the other side than the communication control ASIC circuit side. It cannot be determined which of the wired communication between the control ASIC circuit and the coupler substrate and the wireless communication between the coupler substrate and the wireless TAG has a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless data transmission / reception system and a communication state determination program for a wireless data transmission / reception system that can determine the communication state in more detail in wireless data transmission / reception. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless data transmission / reception system capable of distinguishing between a communication abnormality in a wired communication path and a communication abnormality in a wireless communication path in a wireless data transmission / reception system via a wired communication path and a wireless communication path. It is to provide a state judgment program.

A wireless data transmission / reception system according to the present invention includes a wireless TAG that is a memory module with a wireless function including an antenna, a coupler that can wirelessly communicate with the wireless TAG, and a control unit that is connected to the coupler by wire communication through serial communication. In the wireless data transmission / reception system, the coupler has coupler-side bias setting means for defining a coupler-side bias level that is a bias level of a signal line when there is no data to be output to the control unit, and the control unit includes the controller Control unit side bias setting means for defining a control unit side bias level, which is a bias level of the signal line when there is no data received from the coupler, to a level different from the coupler side bias level, and the control unit includes the coupler Request to send a data reply from the wireless TAG via Based on the response to the request, when the coupler side bias level state continues, it is determined that the wireless connection between the coupler and the wireless TAG is poor, and when the control unit side bias level continues determines that the wired connection failure between the coupler and the control unit, to have a communication state determination unit that acquires a reply data when the not be determined that the radio connection failure both the wired connection failure Features.

  In the wireless data transmission / reception system according to the present invention, a transmission signal line for transmitting a signal from the control unit to the coupler, a reception signal line for the control unit to receive a signal from the coupler, The control unit side bias setting means is a pull-up element that connects the reception signal line to the power supply side, sets the control unit side bias level to H level, and the coupler side bias setting means It is preferable to set the coupler side bias level to L level.

Also, the return request unit is configured to request a reply ID data from the radio TAG, the communication state determining unit, the data sent back when the not be determined that the radio connection failure both the wired connection failure It is preferable to obtain the ID of the wireless TAG.

The wireless data transmission / reception system communication state determination program according to the present invention is connected to a wireless TAG, which is a memory module with a wireless function, including an antenna, a coupler capable of wireless communication with the wireless TAG, and a wired connection with the coupler through serial communication. that a control unit, provided in the coupler, and a coupler-side bias setting means for defining a bias level of the signal line is a coupler-side bias level when there is no data to be output from the coupler to the control unit, before Symbol controller And a control unit side bias setting means for defining a control unit side bias level, which is a bias level of the signal line when there is no data received from the coupler, to a level different from the coupler side bias level. Communication state judgment program executed on the control unit of the transmission / reception system And when the coupler-side bias level continues based on an ID request processing procedure for requesting a return of the ID data of the wireless TAG via the coupler and a response to the request, the coupler and the wireless determines that the wireless connection failure between the TAG, determines that when the control unit side bias level persists a wired connection failure between the coupler and the control unit, the radio connection failure both the a communication state determination procedure for obtaining the reply data as the ID of the radio TAG when wired connection failure and also not determined, characterized in that the run.

  According to at least one of the above-described configurations, the coupler has coupler-side bias setting means for defining a coupler-side bias level that is a bias level of the signal line when there is no data to be output to the control unit. Control unit side bias setting means for defining a control unit side bias level, which is a bias level of the signal line when there is no data to be received, to a level different from the coupler side bias level. Therefore, when there is an abnormality in the wireless communication path between the coupler and the wireless TAG, such as when there is no wireless TAG that should be wirelessly connected to the coupler even if the control unit requests the wireless TAG to return data. No data is returned from the coupler, and only the coupler bias level continues. At that time, if there is an abnormality in the wired communication path between the control unit and the coupler, such as disconnection of the coupler that should be wired to the control unit, the control unit can receive data. In other words, the control unit side bias level continues. When both the wired connection and the wireless connection are normal, reply data from the wireless TAG can be acquired. In this way, it is possible to distinguish between a communication abnormality in the wired communication path and a communication abnormality in the wireless communication path.

  With at least one of the above configurations, the reception signal line connecting the control unit and the coupler is connected to the power supply side via a pull-up element on the control unit side, and the coupler side bias level is set to L level correspondingly. Is done. Therefore, even if the control unit requests the return of the wireless TAG ID data, if there is an abnormality in the wireless communication path between the coupler and the wireless TAG, the L level only continues. When there is an abnormality in the wired communication path between and the H level, the state where the H level continues is maintained. In this way, it is possible to distinguish between a communication abnormality in the wired communication path and a communication abnormality in the wireless communication path.

  With at least one of the above-described configurations, the control unit requests a return of ID data of the wireless TAG. When communicating between a control unit and a plurality of wireless TAGs, in order to identify the wireless TAG of the other party of communication, a command for requesting a response of the ID data from the control unit to the wireless TAG is usually provided. . Therefore, by setting the coupler-side bias level and the control-unit-side bias level to different levels, it is possible to easily determine the communication state using the already prepared commands as they are.

  As described above, according to the wireless data transmission / reception system and the communication state determination program for the wireless data transmission / reception system according to the present invention, the determination of the communication state can be performed in more detail. In addition, according to the wireless data transmission / reception system and the wireless data transmission / reception system communication status determination program according to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between a communication abnormality in a wired communication path and a communication abnormality in a wireless communication path.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, a wireless data transmission / reception system will be described that manages and controls the history of each part in a copying machine. However, it is necessary to manage image processing apparatuses such as facsimiles and printers other than copying machines or replacement parts. It may be some other device. Further, any wireless data transmission / reception system having a communication path between the wireless TAG and the coupler and a communication path between the coupler and the control unit may be applied to apparatuses other than the image processing apparatus. For example, it may be a wireless data transmission / reception system applied to distribution management of a plurality of cargoes or product management for displaying a wireless TAG attached to a plurality of clothes.

  Hereinafter, a memory module with a wireless function including an antenna is defined as a wireless TAG. There are various types of so-called wireless TAGs in the market. The term wireless TAG used in this specification refers to a wireless transmission / reception terminal such as a coupler, regardless of the terminology used in the market. The memory module with a wireless function including the antenna in a form in which wireless communication is possible and the wireless transmission / reception terminal is connected to the control unit by wire is widened.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless data transmission / reception system 10 applied to a copying machine. The wireless data transmission / reception system 10 includes an MCU (Machine Control Unit) board 20 which is a main body control board of a copying machine, a coupler board 50 provided in a coupler, and a wireless TAG 70 which is a memory module including an antenna. . The MCU board 20 is provided in a control box or the like of the copying machine main body, and the wireless TAG 70 is attached to one or a necessary number of replacement parts such as a process cartridge including a toner cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a photosensitive drum. It is done. The coupler board 50 is attached to an appropriate place inside the copying machine near the wireless TAG 70 according to the wireless communication possible distance of each wireless TAG 70. The MCU board 20 and the coupler board 50 are connected by wire via the communication ports 26 and 52, and the coupler board 50 and the wireless TAG 70 are connected by wireless communication.

The MCU board 20 includes a CPU 22 that also controls the operation control of the entire copying machine, and a communication control ASIC circuit 24 that controls data communication with the wireless TAG 70 via the coupler board 50 under the control of the CPU 22. The communication control ASIC circuit 24 is connected to the CPU 22 by an I ² C bus. Here, I ² C (Inter Integrated circuit) is a serial interface that is generally used to transmit information between devices in relatively close locations using two signal lines.

Communication control ASIC circuit 24, the ^{I 2} C bus I / F (Interface) circuit 32 for connecting to the ^{I 2} C bus, RF-UART for converting between serial signals and parallel signals (Radio-Frequency Universal An Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) circuit 34, an anti-collision holder circuit 36 that controls anti-collision processing, which will be described in detail later, and a MODEM (Modulator-DE Modulator) I / F circuit 38 that is a modulation and demodulation circuit in communication. The I ² C bus I / F (Interface) circuit 32 includes a FIFO (First-In First-Out) circuit that manages first-in first-out of data. The RF-UART circuit 34, the anti-collision holder circuit 36, and the MODEMI / F circuit 38 are connected to an I ² C bus I / F (Interface) circuit 32, and the RF-UART circuit 34 is connected to the anti-collision holder circuit 36. Then, the MODEMI / F circuit 38 is connected. Such a communication control ASIC circuit 24 can be obtained, for example, with one semiconductor chip by integrated circuit technology. Of course, it is also possible to configure with a plurality of ICs and electronic components.

  The communication control ASIC circuit 24 and the communication port 26 are connected by two signal lines. One is a transmission signal line 28 that transmits a signal from the communication control ASIC circuit 24 to the coupler board 50, and the other is a reception signal line 30 that receives a signal from the coupler board 50. Here, the reception signal line 30 in the MCU board 20 is pulled up to the power source side by the pull-up element 40. Accordingly, when there is no data received from the coupler substrate 50, the level of the reception signal line 30 continues to be H level. That is, the pull-up element 40 has a function as control circuit side bias setting means for setting the bias level of the reception signal line 30 to the H level when there is no data received from the coupler substrate 50. In a general MCU board, the bias level of the reception signal line when not receiving data is the L level or the open level.

  The pull-up element 40 can be composed of a resistance element having an appropriate value. As will be described later, on the coupler substrate 50 side, the bias level of the reception signal line 30 when there is no data to be output to the communication control ASIC circuit 24 side is set to L level. Therefore, since a current flows from the power source through the pull-up element 40 and the reception signal line 30 toward the L level on the coupler substrate 50 side, the resistance value of the pull-up element 40 is set so that this current does not become excessive.

  The coupler board 50 radiates the radio signal output from the transmission modulation circuit 54 to the radio TAG 70 and the radio signal output from the transmission modulation circuit 54, and modulates the signal transmitted from the communication control ASIC circuit 24 into a radio signal. An antenna 56 that detects the radiated radio signal and a reception demodulation circuit 58 that demodulates the signal detected by the antenna 56 are provided.

  Here, the output of the reception demodulation circuit 58 is connected to the reception signal line 30. However, in the design of the internal logic of the reception demodulation circuit 58, the reception signal line 30 when there is no data to be output to the communication control ASIC circuit 24 side. The bias level is set to L level. That is, the design condition of the reception demodulating circuit 58 can determine how the coupler-side bias level, which is the bias level of the reception signal line 30, when there is no data to be output to the communication control ASIC circuit 24 side. In the example of FIG. 1, the coupler side bias level and the control circuit side bias level are set to be different. That is, when the control circuit side bias level is set to H level, the coupler side bias level is set to L level. Therefore, when there is no data received from the wireless TAG 70 and there is no data to be output to the communication control ASIC circuit 24 side, the level of the reception signal line 30 continues to be L level.

  Of course, the design of the internal logic of the reception demodulating circuit 58 may be inverted to set the coupler side bias level to the H level, and the control circuit side bias level may be set to the L level corresponding to this. The H level and the L level are relative and may be levels that are significantly different from each other in signal processing.

  The wireless TAG 70 includes an antenna, a reception circuit and a transmission circuit connected to the antenna, a power supply circuit that is connected to the reception circuit, generates power from the received wireless signal, and supplies the power to the wireless TAG 70, and a memory that stores data It is a module that has. For example, an antenna formed by a wiring pattern on a 20-30 mm square glass epoxy substrate and connected with an RFID-IC (Radio-Frequency IDentified Circuit) in which a transmission / reception circuit, a power supply circuit, and a memory are integrated is used. it can. As the RFID-IC, for example, one having a size of about several mm square can be used.

  The wireless communication range of the wireless TAG 70 is determined by the wireless power specification of the RFID-IC and the antenna specification. In the case of the above-described substrate, antenna, and the like, wireless communication can be performed within a range of several mm.

  The coupler board 50 can not only wirelessly communicate with one wireless TAG 70 but also wirelessly communicate with a plurality of wireless TAGs 70 disposed within a certain distance range. Further, the radio control ASIC circuit 24 can perform communication control with a plurality of coupler substrates 50 as well as communication control with one coupler substrate 50. For example, one coupler board 50 can wirelessly communicate with two wireless TAGs 70, and the wireless control ASIC circuit 24 can control communication between seven coupler boards 50, ie, 14 wireless TAGs 70.

  The operation of the wireless data transmission / reception system 10 having such a configuration will be described. First, as a background, the arrangement relationship of the MCU board 20, the coupler board 50, and the wireless TAG 70 in the copying machine will be described. In this connection, the wired connection between the MCU board 20 and the coupler board 50, the coupler board 50, and the like. The difficulty in determining the state of wireless communication between the wireless tag and the wireless TAG 70 will be described.

  In a copying machine, a wireless TAG 70 is attached to each of a toner cartridge, a developing cartridge, and a process cartridge, and a coupler board 50 is disposed within a wireless communication range in the vicinity thereof. Each coupler board 50 and MCU board 20 are connected by wire. An example will be described. In this case, since the toner cartridge, the developing cartridge, and the process cartridge each have a considerable size, the coupler boards 50 are arranged so as to be separated from each other, and these and the MCU board 20 are connected by a considerably long signal line. Will be. These signal lines may be arranged by sewing a gap between the arrangements of the components of the copying machine. As described above, in the copying machine, the MCU board 20 and the plurality of coupler boards 50 are wiredly connected by a complicated wiring relationship, and toner cartridges or the like are provided in the vicinity of each coupler board 50 within a range where wireless communication is possible. The wireless TAG 70 is attached to these parts.

  Therefore, even if the wired connection between the plurality of communication ports 26 provided on the MCU board 20 and the communication ports 52 provided on each coupler board 50 is incomplete, wireless data transmission / reception cannot be performed satisfactorily. However, when the wireless communication state is insufficient, in order to identify the cause, the complicated wiring relationship inside the copying machine is traced and the state of the wired connection between the MCU board 20 and each coupler board 50 is investigated, Alternatively, it is difficult to check the wireless communication state between each coupler board 50 and each wireless tag 70 that may be affected by noise or the like.

  The wireless data transmission / reception system 10 having the configuration of FIG. 1 can make detailed determination of the communication state by effectively using the “anti-collision command”, and in particular, wired connection between the MCU board 20 and the coupler board 50. And the abnormality of the wireless communication between the coupler board 50 and the wireless TAG 70 can be determined separately.

  The “anti-collision command” is a command issued by the CPU 22 to acquire an ID of the wireless TAG so that communication with each wireless TAG does not collide when communicating with a plurality of wireless TAGs. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the “anti-collision” process. First, the CPU 22 issues a REQ to the communication control ASIC circuit 24 (S10). Then, the communication control ASIC circuit 24 executes steps S12, S14, and S16 as execution contents for the REQ.

  S12 is a step of executing an anti-collision procedure. The anti-collision procedure is a procedure for requesting the wireless TAG 70 to transmit the ID data divided into two bits in synchronization with a predetermined time slot, and obtaining a response to the request. Here, since the ID data of the wireless TAG 70 is usually composed of 32 bits, in this case, the ID of the wireless TAG 70 is checked by dividing it into 16 time slots.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of how the wireless TAG 70 responds with respect to a 2-bit time slot. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the timing of responding when the 2-bit time slot is divided into four types of data that can be expressed by 2 bits and corresponding to the data. The horizontal axis is time. (B) shows the response reply of the wireless TAG 70 when the ID (2 bits) of the wireless TAG 70 is “0, 0” on the same time axis as (a). That is, the wireless TAG 70 returns the H level only during the timing period corresponding to “0, 0” in (a). If the ID (2 bits) of the wireless TAG 70 is “0, 1”, the wireless TAG 70 returns an H level only during the timing corresponding to “0, 1” in (a). In this way, in the anti-collision procedure, if there is a response from the wireless TAG 70, the H level is returned somewhere within the 2-bit time slot period. Therefore, the presence or absence of a response from the wireless TAG 70 can be easily recognized. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a case where the wireless TAG 70 has not responded due to some failure, the significance of which will be described in detail later.

  Returning to FIG. 2 again, the wireless TAG 70 checks how it responds for a 2-bit time slot and checks for all time slots, ie, 16 time slots. Up to this point corresponds to the execution of the anti-collision procedure. When all the time slots have been checked and the wireless TAG 70 has responded to all of the time slots, the wireless TAG 70 sends back the ID data as serial data. For example, when ID data = 3, data “0000000000000011” is returned. If a response cannot be made for at least some of the time frames, the ID data is not returned, and a timeout occurs. Therefore, the communication control ASIC circuit 24 confirms the presence / absence of an ID response from the wireless TAG 70 (S14), and if there is a response, acquires the data as the ID of the wireless TAG 70 (S16) and ends the “anti-collision” process. To do. If there is no ID response, a time-out occurs and the “anti-collision” process ends.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the communication state by effectively using the “anti-collision command”. As described above, the CPU 22 issues a command such as REQ to the communication control ASIC circuit 24, and requests the ID data of the wireless TAG 70 (S20). Then, the process enters the check (S22) for the first two bits of the ID data of the wireless TAG 70. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a response for the two bits (S24). When there is a response, as already described in FIG. 3B, if there is a response from the wireless TAG 70, it rises to an H level somewhere within the time slot. As described above, if the H level is detected during the time slot period, it is assumed that there is a response from the wireless TAG 70, and then the next 2-bit check (S26) is entered, and this is applied to all time slots. Repeat about.

  When no H level is detected in the time slot for 2 bits, it is determined that there is no response for the 2 bits. That is, there is an abnormality in the wireless communication path between the wireless TAG 70 and the coupler board 50, for example, the wireless TAG 70 is damaged or dropped from the attachment location, and there is no response from the wireless TAG 70, and the communication control ASIC circuit 24 When there is no data to be output, the L level which is the coupler side bias level is continued. This is shown in FIG. Therefore, when the H level is not detected in the first two bits time slot and the coupler bias level L level continues, the wireless connection abnormality is not waited without waiting for the ID data check in the subsequent time slot. Is determined (S36).

  Note that the H level continues throughout the two-bit time slot period when the control circuit side bias level, which is the bias level of the reception signal line 30 when there is no data received from the coupler substrate 50, continues. Therefore, there is an abnormality in the wired connection between the communication control ASIC circuit 24 and the coupler board 50. At this time, even if there is a response of 2 bits from the wireless TAG 70, it is hidden. However, at least when the H level is not detected in the 2-bit time slot and the L level, which is the coupler-side bias level, continues, it can be determined that there is a radio communication abnormality.

  As described above, if the H level is detected in the period of the time slot for the first 2-bit check, the next 2-bit check (S26) is continued, and this is repeated for all time slots. When all the time slots have been checked (S28), it is next determined whether or not there is an ID response from the wireless TAG 70 (S30). As described above, when the wireless TAG 70 has responses for all time slots, the wireless TAG 70 returns its own ID data as serial data. When the wireless TAG 70 does not return its own ID data, the H level, which is the bias level of the reception signal line 30 when there is no data received from the coupler board 50, continues and time-out occurs.

  Therefore, when the predetermined response period is completed without timing out, it is when there is a response of ID data from the wireless TAG 70, and therefore the connection of the wired communication path of the communication control ASIC circuit 24-coupler board 50 is also performed. The connection of the wireless communication path between the coupler board 50 and the wireless TAG 70 is also normal, and it is determined that the communication is normal as a whole (S32).

  When the control circuit side bias level that is the H level over the predetermined response period, that is, the bias level of the reception signal line 30 when there is no data received from the coupler board 50, continues to time out, the communication control ASIC circuit 24-coupler It is determined that there is an abnormality in the connection of the wired communication path of the board 50, for example, the communication port 26, 52 is disconnected, or the coupler board 50 is damaged, etc.

  Explain the marginal case. In the predetermined period of S30, that is, in the response period of the ID data of the wireless TAG 70, when the L level continues at 000. The L level does not continue to time out. This is because the time-out is that there is no response, and when there is no response, the H level that is the bias level on the control circuit side continues. Further, unless the ID data of the wireless TAG 70 is set to the maximum limit that can represent the ID data, the H level of 111... 11 does not continue to time out in the predetermined period of S30. When the H level continues to time out, it is determined that the coupler is missing (S34) as described above.

  As described above, it may be difficult to directly detect the bias level of the reception signal line 30 in the communication port 26. However, by effectively using the difference in response in the “anti-collision” process, the wireless data transmission / reception system 10 The communication state can be determined in detail. More specifically, the communication connection state of the wired communication path between the communication control ASIC circuit 24 and the coupler board 50 and the communication connection state of the wireless communication path between the coupler board 50 and the wireless TAG 70 are determined separately. it can.

  In the above description, the case where the specific “anti-collision” processing procedure is effectively used has been described. However, the coupler-side bias level in the coupler substrate 50 and the control circuit-side bias level in the communication control ASIC circuit 24 are set to different levels. Thus, the communication control ASIC circuit 24 requests the wireless TAG 70 to return a general data, and the communication state can be determined in detail by looking at the response. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the situation at that time, with the horizontal axis representing time and the vertical axis representing signal level. When the communication state of the wireless data transmission / reception system 10 is normal, the data 100 whose signal level changes between the H level and the L level as shown by a solid line is returned and detected. On the other hand, if there is an abnormality in the wireless communication path between the coupler board 50 and the wireless TAG 70, the coupler-side bias level 102 indicated by the broken line continues. If there is an abnormality in the wired communication path between the control ASIC circuit 24 and the coupler substrate 50, the control circuit side bias level 104 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line continues.

  However, it cannot be distinguished from the case where the returned data is actually at the H level or the case of the L level. However, since it is rare that the H level or the L level continues for a long time in the normal communication state, an appropriate judgment period is set, and the data 100 is not detected over the period, and the coupler side bias level 102 or When the control circuit side bias level 104 continues, it is assumed that the communication state is abnormal. When the coupler side bias level 102 continues, a wireless communication error occurs. When the control circuit side bias level 104 continues, a wired connection error occurs. Judgment can be made.

  When requesting a reply of data containing at least one pulse within a predetermined period and seeing the response, there is no such problem as above, and whether it is correctly normal communication, wireless communication abnormality or wired connection abnormality Can be distinguished. For example, instead of the specific “anti-collision” processing procedure described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a command for simply requesting the return of ID data of the wireless TAG 70 may be used. At this time, it is not possible to distinguish between normal communication returning address 0 and radio communication abnormality. By not using the address 0, such a problem can be avoided.

  The coupler-side bias level and the control circuit-side bias level need only be different levels, and need not be the upper limit level and the lower limit level of the signal amplitude range.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] It is a block diagram of the radio | wireless data transmission / reception system of embodiment based on this invention applied to a copying machine. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an "anti-collision" process. It is a figure which shows the example of how a radio | wireless TAG responds about a 2-bit time slot in an "anti-collision" process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which judges the communication state in embodiment which concerns on this invention. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure explaining the mode at the time of judging a communication state based on the response with respect to a data request.

Explanation of symbols

10 wireless data transmission / reception system, 20 MCU board, 22 CPU, 24 communication control ASIC circuit, 26, 52 communication port, 28 transmission signal line, 30 reception signal line, 32 I ² C bus I / F circuit, 34 RF-UART circuit 36 Anti-collision holder circuit, 38 MODEMI / F circuit, 40 pull-up element, 50 coupler board, 54 transmission modulation circuit, 56 antenna, 58 reception demodulation circuit, 70 wireless TAG, 100 data, 102 coupler side bias level, 104 control Circuit side bias level.

Claims (4)

A wireless TAG that is a memory module with a wireless function including an antenna;
A coupler capable of wireless communication with the wireless TAG;
A control unit wired to the coupler by serial communication;
In a wireless data transmission / reception system comprising:
The coupler has coupler side bias setting means for defining a coupler side bias level that is a bias level of a signal line when there is no data to be output to the control unit,
The control unit has a control unit side bias setting means for defining a control unit side bias level, which is a bias level of a signal line when there is no data received from the coupler, to a level different from the coupler side bias level,
The controller is
A reply request unit that requests a data reply from the wireless TAG via the coupler;
Based on the response to the request, when the coupler side bias level state continues, it is determined that the wireless connection between the coupler and the wireless TAG is poor, and when the control unit side bias level continues, the control parts and determines that the wired connection failure between the coupler, and wherein a communication state determination unit that acquires a reply data when the not radio connection failure both the wired connection failure and determine also Wireless data transmission / reception system. The wireless data transmission / reception system according to claim 1,
A transmission signal line for transmitting a signal from the control unit to the coupler;
A reception signal line for the control unit to receive a signal from the coupler;
With
The control unit side bias setting means is a pull-up element that connects the reception signal line to the power source side, and sets the control unit side bias level to H level,
The wireless data transmission / reception system, wherein the coupler side bias setting means sets the coupler side bias level to L level. The wireless data transmission / reception system according to claim 1,
The reply request unit requests a reply of ID data from the wireless TAG,
Wireless data transmission and reception system the communication state determining unit, characterized in that to obtain the data returned when the not be determined that the radio connection failure both the wired connection failure as an ID of the wireless TAG. A wireless TAG that is a memory module with a wireless function including an antenna;
A coupler capable of wireless communication with the wireless TAG;
A control unit wired to the coupler by serial communication;
A coupler-side bias setting means that is provided in the coupler and defines a coupler-side bias level that is a bias level of a signal line when there is no data to be output from the coupler to the control unit;
Provided in front Symbol controller, the controller-side bias level is the bias level of the signal line when there is no data received from the coupler, and a control unit side bias setting means for defining a different level to the coupler side bias level,
A communication state determination program executed on a control unit of a wireless data transmission / reception system comprising:
An ID request processing procedure for requesting a return of ID data of the wireless TAG via the coupler;
Based on the response to the request, when the coupler side bias level continues, it is determined that the wireless connection between the coupler and the wireless TAG is poor, and when the control unit side bias level continues, the control unit and determines that the wired connection is poor between the coupler, the radio connection failure both the wired connection failure and if it is not determined also acquires the reply data as the ID of the radio TAG communication state determination procedure When,
A communication state determination program for a wireless data transmission / reception system.

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