JP4616375B2 - Transceiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transceiver that transmits and receives signals by inducing an electric field in an electric field transmission medium.

  In recent years, research on a communication system that induces an electric field in an electric field transmission medium such as a human body has been made (see Non-Patent Document 1).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional communication system. When transmitting information from the transceiver 10 to the transceiver 20, the transceiver 10 applies a voltage corresponding to the information between the electrodes 17 and 18. The user is touching the electrode 17, thereby creating a path for the electric field through the electrode 17, the user's human body, the electrodes 17, 18 of the transceiver 20, the ground, and back to the electrode 18 of the transceiver 10. The transceiver 20 detects information by an electric field between the electrodes 17 and 18.
"RedTacton", [online], Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, [Search June 8, 2008], Internet <URL: http://www.redtacton.com/>

  In the communication system shown in FIG. 4, a capacitance is formed between the electrode 17 of the transceiver 10 and the user's human body. If the capacitance is large, signal attenuation is small and ideal communication can be performed. Therefore, a larger electrode 17 should be used.

  However, a portable transceiver such as the transceiver 10 is battery-driven, and the electrode 17 cannot be disposed at the place of a detachable battery. Therefore, there is a problem in that the electrode 17 cannot be made large and signal attenuation becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transceiver capable of reducing signal attenuation while being battery-driven.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention of claim 1 is a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals by inducing an electric field in an electric field transmission medium, the signal to be transmitted to another transceiver via the electric field transmission medium A transceiver circuit including at least one of a transmission circuit that generates a circuit ground with respect to the circuit ground and a reception circuit that receives a signal transmitted from another transceiver with respect to the circuit ground; and a housing to which the transceiver circuit is attached; To attach a battery covered with a metal outer casing having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface to the housing such that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver. the structure of being connected to an input terminal or the circuit ground of the output terminal or the receiving circuit of the transmitting circuit, the battery toward the first surface the Toranshi It is a solutions with a transceiver, characterized in comprising an electrode disposed so as to face the second surface when mounted to be close to the periphery of the bar.

The present invention of claim 2 is a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals by inducing an electric field in an electric field transmission medium, and generating a signal to be transmitted to another transceiver via the electric field transmission medium with reference to a circuit ground A transceiver circuit including at least one of a transmission circuit and a reception circuit that receives a signal transmitted from another transceiver with reference to a circuit ground; a housing to which the transceiver circuit is attached; a first surface; A structure for attaching a battery covered with a metal exterior body having an opposite second surface to the housing such that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver; and An electrode arranged to face the second surface when mounted so that one surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver ;
Provided between the electrode and the output terminal of the transmission circuit or the input terminal of the reception circuit or the circuit ground, and when the electrode and the second surface of the battery are electrically connected, from the battery to the output terminal of the transmission circuit or A transceiver comprising a receiving element or a protective element for reducing a current flowing through a circuit ground is used as a solution.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the electrode is a circuit pattern formed in a printed circuit board on which the transceiver circuit is disposed. The transceiver according to the first or second aspect is used as a solution.

  According to the transceiver of the present invention, signal attenuation can be reduced while being driven by a battery.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transceiver according to the first embodiment.

  The transceiver 1 is a transceiver that transmits a signal by inducing an electric field in an electric field transmission medium such as a human body, and generates a signal to be transmitted to another transceiver via the electric field transmission medium with reference to the circuit ground CG. A battery covered with a metal casing C having a transceiver circuit 11 having a circuit, a housing 12 to which the transceiver circuit 11 is attached, a first surface C1 and a second surface C2 opposite to the first surface C1. A structure 13 for attaching the CEL to the housing 12 so that the first surface C1 is closer to the periphery of the transceiver 1, and a circuit ground CG are connected, and the battery CEL is closer to the periphery of the first surface C1. And the electrode 14 disposed so as to face the second surface C2 when mounted.

  The battery CEL is attached so that the first surface C1 is closer to the periphery, and the electrode 14 faces the second surface C2. The structure 13 includes a lid 15 and is formed by forming a space (space) that is closed by the lid 15, that is, a space that accommodates the battery CEL. The transceiver circuit 11 and the electrode 14 are disposed on the printed circuit board 16. Further, the electrode 17 connected to the circuit ground CG is disposed so as to be exposed to the surroundings. Further, the electrode 18 connected to the output terminal OUT of the transmission circuit in the transceiver circuit 11 is arranged so as to be exposed to the surroundings.

  The transceiver 1 is a portable transceiver and is driven by a battery. Since the battery CEL is detachable, no electrode can be disposed on the lid 15, so that the first surface C1 is closer to the periphery on the second surface C2 of the outer body C of the battery CEL attached. The electrodes 14 are arranged facing each other. Thereby, the electrode 14 and the exterior body C of the battery CEL are in a so-called capacitively coupled state.

  In the figure, the electrode 14 and the second surface C2 are in contact with each other, but the exterior body C is normally connected to the positive electrode of the battery CEL and has the same potential as the positive electrode, so that the electrode 14 does not conduct to the positive electrode. 14 and the second surface C2 are spaced apart from each other. It is an example of a preferred embodiment in which the electrode 14 is covered with an insulating film.

  Alternatively, the circuit pattern formed in the printed circuit board 16 may be used as the electrode 14, and the electrode 14 may be covered with a resist layer (insulating layer) formed in the printed circuit board 16. By using the electrode 14 as a circuit pattern, it is not necessary to provide the electrode 14 separately from the printed circuit board 16, which is preferable. In addition, the resist layer can be insulated from the second surface C2, and it is not necessary to provide a separate film, which is preferable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transceiver 1 may include a housing that can be folded by a hinge H. The transceiver 1 may be provided with a slide type housing.

(Operation of the first embodiment)
Next, the operation of transmitting information from the transceiver 1 to another transceiver (not shown) will be described as the operation of the first embodiment.

  For example, the transceiver 1 is carried so that the lid 15 and the electrode 17 are closer to the user's body than the electrode 18, and the transceiver circuit 11 is in a state where the user is touching one of the two electrodes provided on the other transceiver. The transmission circuit inside generates a signal corresponding to the information and applies the signal to the output terminal OUT.

  As a result, the electrode 18 connected to the output terminal OUT, the ground, the electrode of the other transceiver touched by the user, the other electrode of the other transceiver, the path of the electric field returning to the electrode 17 through the human body of the user is formed. Is done.

  In addition, a path of an electric field that returns to the electrode 14 is formed through the electrode 18, the ground, the two electrodes of the other transceiver, the user's human body, the lid 15, and the exterior body C of the battery CEL. Other transceivers detect information by the electric field between their electrodes.

  As described above, the battery CEL is attached so that the first surface C1 is closer to the periphery, and the electrode 14 and the outer surface C2 are capacitively coupled by facing the second surface C2, Thereby, when the electrode 14 and the electrode 17 are considered as one electrode, the electrostatic capacitance between the electrode and the user's human body can be made relatively large. That is, there is little attenuation of the signal between the electrode and the user's human body, and ideal information can be transmitted.

(Modification 1 of the first embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the output terminal OUT and the circuit ground CG may be reversed.

  In this case, an electrode 17 connected to the output terminal OUT, the user's human body, the two electrodes of the other transceiver, the ground, and the electric field path returning to the electrode 18 of the transceiver 1 are formed.

  In addition, the electrode 14 connected to the output terminal OUT, the outer body C of the battery CEL, the lid 15, the human body of the user, the two electrodes of other transceivers, the path of the electric field returning to the electrode 18 through the ground is formed. . Other transceivers detect information in the same manner.

  Even in this case, if the electrode 14 and the electrode 17 are considered as one electrode, the capacitance between the electrode and the human body can be made relatively large. That is, there is little attenuation of the signal between the electrode and the user's human body, and ideal information can be transmitted.

(Modification 2 of the first embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the transceiver 1 may be capable of receiving signals. In this case, the transceiver circuit 11 includes a receiving circuit that receives a signal transmitted from another transceiver with reference to the circuit ground CG. Electrode 14 and electrode 17 are connected to the input terminal of the receiving circuit.

  Other transceivers apply a signal to one of their two electrodes depending on the information to be transmitted.

  This creates a path for the electric field through the electrode, the user's human body, the electrode 17, the electrode 18, the ground and back to the other electrode of the other transceiver.

  In addition, an electric field path is formed through one electrode of the other transceiver, the user's human body, the lid 15, the outer casing C of the battery CEL, the electrode 14, the electrode 18, and the other electrode of the other transceiver. The

  For example, the receiving circuit in the transceiver circuit 11 amplifies a potential difference between the input terminal and the circuit ground and detects information.

Considering the electrode 14 and the electrode 17 as one electrode, the capacitance between the electrode and the user's human body can be made relatively large. That is, there is little signal attenuation between the electrode and the user's human body, and ideal information can be received.
(Modification 3 of the first embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the input terminal of the receiving circuit in the second modification and the circuit ground CG may be reversed.

  In this case as well, as in the second modification, a path of an electric field passing through one electrode of the other transceiver, the human body of the user, the electrode 17, the electrode 18, and the ground and returning to the other electrode of the other transceiver is formed.

  In addition, an electric field path is formed through one electrode of the other transceiver, the user's human body, the lid 15, the outer casing C of the battery CEL, the electrode 14, the electrode 18, and the other electrode of the other transceiver. The

  The receiving circuit in the transceiver circuit 11 detects information as in the second modification.

  Also in the modification 3, if the electrode 14 and the electrode 17 are considered as one electrode, the electrostatic capacitance between the electrode and the user's human body can be made relatively large. That is, there is little signal attenuation between the electrode and the user's human body, and ideal information can be received.

(Modification 4 of the first embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the transceiver 1 may be capable of transmitting and receiving signals.

  In this case, the transceiver circuit 11 includes both the transmission circuit and the reception circuit, and the output terminal of the transmission circuit and the input terminal of the reception circuit are shared. Further, the transmission circuit and the reception circuit generate and receive signals with reference to the same circuit ground. The receiving circuit is stopped when the transmitting circuit is transmitting a signal, and the transmitting circuit is stopped when the receiving circuit is receiving a signal. Since the operation and effect of signal transmission and signal reception are the same as those described above, description thereof will be omitted.

  In each of the above examples, a conductive sheet (electrically floating conductive sheet) covered with an insulating film may be attached to the lid 15. By doing so, the capacitance between the electrode and the human body can be further increased, which is more preferable.

  Further, in each of the above examples, the electrodes 17 and 18 are not essential, that is, it is sufficient that signals can be transmitted and received even in a configuration in which one or both of the electrodes are not provided. In each example, since the electrostatic capacitance between the electrode 14 and the user's human body is increased, the possibility of signal transmission and reception can be increased even when the electrodes 17 and 18 are not provided.

  As described above, according to the transceiver 1 according to the first embodiment, the transceiver circuit including at least one of the transmission circuit and the reception circuit, the housing to which the transceiver circuit is attached, the first surface, and the first surface A structure for attaching a battery covered with a metal outer casing having a second surface opposite to the surface to the housing such that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver, and an output terminal of the transmission circuit or An electrode connected to an input terminal of the receiving circuit or a circuit ground, and disposed so as to face the second surface when the battery is mounted so that the first surface is closer to the periphery. Capacitance between the user's human body can be made relatively large, signal attenuation between the electrode and the user's human body is small, and ideal information can be transmitted and received. That is, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to solve the problem of providing a transceiver capable of reducing signal attenuation while being battery-driven.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a transceiver according to the second embodiment.

  Since the transceiver 1A of the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the transceiver 1 according to the first embodiment, redundant description of the configuration is omitted. In the second embodiment, the difference from the transceiver 1 will be mainly described.

  In the transceiver 1A, the protection element P is provided between the electrode 14 and, for example, the circuit ground CG. The protective element P reduces the current flowing from the battery CEL to the circuit ground CG when the electrode 14 and the second surface C2 of the outer package C of the battery CEL are electrically connected. For example, the protective element P is provided on the printed circuit board 16. It is done.

  For example, when the insulating coating 14A covering the electrode 14 is broken and the electrode 14 and the second surface C2 of the exterior body C are brought into conduction, the exterior body C is connected to the positive electrode of the battery CEL as described above. The positive and negative electrodes of the battery CEL are conducted through the circuit ground CG, so that a large current flows, and the circuit pattern on the printed circuit board 16 through which the battery CEL or the current passes may be damaged.

  The protective element P can reduce this current, thereby preventing damage to the battery CEL and the like.

  Since the current to be flown from the battery CEL is a direct current, for example, the protection element P is preferably a capacitor or a series circuit of a capacitor and an inductor.

  Further, by making the resonance frequency equal to the frequency of the carrier wave of the signal, the impedance of the protection element P can be maximized at the time of signal transmission and reception, that is, an adverse effect due to induction to the transmission circuit and the reception circuit. Can be minimized, which is preferable.

  The protective element P may be provided between the electrode 14 and the output terminal of the transmission circuit. In this case, if the electrode 14 and the second surface C2 of the exterior body C are brought into conduction, a large current flows from the battery CEL to the transmission circuit, and the transmission circuit or the circuit pattern may be damaged. The current can be reduced, thereby preventing the transmission circuit and the like from being damaged.

  The protective element P may be provided between the electrode 14 and the input terminal of the receiving circuit. In this case, if the electrode 14 and the second surface C2 of the exterior body C are conducted, a large current flows from the battery CEL to the receiving circuit, and the receiving circuit or the circuit pattern may be damaged. The current can be reduced, so that damage to the receiving circuit and the like can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the transceiver circuit including at least one of the transmission circuit and the reception circuit, the housing to which the transceiver circuit is attached, the first surface and the opposite side of the first surface And a structure for attaching a battery covered with a metal outer casing having a second surface to the housing such that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver, and the battery to the first surface. An electrode disposed so as to face the second surface when mounted so as to be close to each other, and provided between the electrode and the circuit ground, etc., and when the electrode and the second surface of the battery are conducted, from the battery to the circuit ground, etc. In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the protection element can prevent damage to the battery, the transmission circuit in the transceiver circuit, the reception circuit, and the like. it can.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the transceiver which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the transceiver which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing an example of a transceiver concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional communication system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Transceiver 10 ... Transceiver 11 ... Transceiver circuit 12 ... Housing 13 ... Structure 14, 17, 18 ... Electrode 14A ... Coating 15 ... Cover 16 ... Printed circuit board C ... Exterior body C1 ... First side C2 ... Second side CEL ... Battery CG ... Circuit ground H ... Hinge OUT ... Output terminal P ... Protective element

Claims (3)

A transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals by inducing an electric field in an electric field transmission medium,
At least one of a transmission circuit that generates a signal to be transmitted to another transceiver via the electric field transmission medium with reference to the circuit ground and a reception circuit that receives a signal transmitted from the other transceiver with reference to the circuit ground A transceiver circuit comprising:
A housing to which the transceiver circuit is attached;
To attach a battery covered with a metal outer casing having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface to the housing such that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver. And the structure of
Connected to the output terminal of the transmitter circuit, the input terminal of the receiver circuit, or the circuit ground, facing the second surface when the battery is mounted so that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver A transceiver comprising: an electrode arranged to: A transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals by inducing an electric field in an electric field transmission medium,
At least one of a transmission circuit that generates a signal to be transmitted to another transceiver via the electric field transmission medium with reference to the circuit ground and a reception circuit that receives a signal transmitted from the other transceiver with reference to the circuit ground A transceiver circuit comprising:
A housing to which the transceiver circuit is attached;
To attach a battery covered with a metal outer casing having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface to the housing such that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver. And the structure of
An electrode disposed to face the second surface when the battery is mounted so that the first surface is closer to the periphery of the transceiver ;
Provided between the electrode and the output terminal of the transmission circuit or the input terminal of the reception circuit or the circuit ground, and when the electrode and the second surface of the battery are electrically connected, from the battery to the output terminal of the transmission circuit or And a protection element for reducing a current flowing through an input terminal of the receiving circuit or a circuit ground. The electrode is
3. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver circuit is a circuit pattern formed in a printed circuit board on which the transceiver circuit is arranged.

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