JPH02131634A - Infrared ray repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the cost and to improve the efficiency of a device to be controlled by providing at least 2 pairs of light transmitting and receiving means and a judging means and sending a remote control signal to other transmitter-receiver from other light transmitting and receiving means corresponding based on an output from the judging means. CONSTITUTION:Photodetectors 15h-17h being transmission means in 3 transmission-reception means 15-17 are connected to input ports I1-I3 of a memory 26 of a central controller CPU. Three output ports O1-O3 are connected to corresponding gates 27-29. A judging circuit 30 connecting to the memory 26 judges from which of the input ports I1-I3 a specific remote control signal being an infrared ray is inputted. The signal based on the decision is sent to any of the gates 27-29 to set it. Thus, the remote control signal is sent/received efficiently in 2-way between a minimum number of transmitting and receiving means and plural infrared ray transmitters-receivers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an infrared relay device used for monitoring and remote control of electrical equipment in a home automation system. In recent home automation systems, for example, there is a remote control relay device described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 177140/1983. This relay device has a structure that includes a receiving section that receives remote control signals and converts them into electrical signals, and a number of transmitting sections that amplify the electrical signals and transmit them as remote control signals. In the case of such a public mail relay device, there is no way to determine from which of the many transmitters the remote control signal was sent. The problem is that there is no way to select a predetermined one. In addition, in order to accommodate operated devices installed in arbitrary directions by multiple transmitters, the multiple transmitters are arranged on a spherical surface, and the receiver is provided at a different location. Bidirectional electrical transmission and reception is not possible. Furthermore, there are problems in that some of the large number of transmitters often remain idle without being able to perform their functions, making them uneconomical and costly. The purpose of the present invention was to solve the problems of the conventional method, and to reduce costs by using a minimum number of transmitting/receiving units, and to transmit and receive remote control signals in various and arbitrary directions. The object of this invention is to provide an infrared relay device that enables efficient remote control of operated devices. In order to achieve this object, the infrared relay device according to the present invention includes at least two pairs of receiving/emitting means for detecting and transmitting a remote control signal of a specific code using infrared rays; It has a determining means for determining which one of the receiving/emitting means has received a remote control signal from a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices that transmit and receive infrared rays, and determines which one of the receiving/emitting means receives a remote control signal from a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices that transmit and receive infrared rays, and determines whether the corresponding other receiving/emitting device receives a remote control signal from the plurality of transmitting/receiving devices that transmit/receive infrared rays. The device is configured to send remote control signals to other transmitting and receiving devices. Souichi Infrared relay devices are placed at key locations. When a remote control signal with a specific code is transmitted using infrared rays, this control signal is detected and sent to a predetermined receiving/emitting means. There are a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices that transmit and receive infrared rays to/from the receiving/emitting means, and the determining means determines which of these transmitting/receiving devices has transmitted the remote control signal and which one of the receiving/emitting means has received the remote control signal. It will be judged.

Based on the output from this determining means, a remote control signal is sent from the corresponding other receiving/emitting means to other transmitting/receiving devices. Hereinafter, an embodiment of an infrared relay device according to the present invention will be described as 5JSl.
This will be explained based on Figures 3 to 3. FIG. 1 shows that a plurality of infrared relay devices 10 according to the embodiment are arranged at key points indoors, and a remote control signal is relayed by these infrared relay devices 10 to, for example, an entrance door (one of the plurality of infrared transmitting and receiving devices). 1) An example of an automatic locking or automatic unlocking home automation system that locks and unlocks an infrared lock 4l attached to a vehicle 40 is shown. That is, a remote control signal based on a specific code transmitted by the infrared remote control key 42 from outside is sent to the infrared lock 41 to remotely control the locking and unlocking of the entrance door 40. Also, when operating indoors,
A remote control signal based on a specific code is transmitted by a remote control switch 44 for an indoor controller (another one of a plurality of infrared transmitting/receiving devices) 43. The indoor controller 43 includes a display section 46 and a switch board 47 for turning on and off.
It is equipped with When a remote control signal based on a specific code is transmitted by the remote control switch 44,
This signal is sequentially relayed and transmitted and received by a plurality of infrared relay devices 10 (two in the illustrated example), thereby locking and unlocking the infrared lock 41 of the entrance door 40 by remote control. As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the infrared relay device 10 is such that a case 11 of the main body is formed into a box shape, and a control board 12 incorporating a microcomputer control unit is built into the case 11. It has been done. This control board 12 is a power supply box 1 connected to the lower part of the case 1l.
3 and is electrically connected to the FJI from the power supply box 13.
An M plug outlet 14 is led out, and this connection plug 14 is connected to a wiring outlet of indoor equipment and then inserted into the power supply box 13.

Further, in the case 11, on this plane, for example, three sets of infrared transmitting/receiving sections 15 to 17 as shown are arranged at equal intervals in the radial direction. All of the three transmitting/receiving sections 15 to 17, for example, have the same shape, in which a flat plate 15a is bent into an L shape.
It is supported on the upper surface of the case 11 via support stays 15b and 15c, and the angle can be adjusted in all directions. That is, one support stay 15b is connected to the support pin 1 on this one side.
5d, it is hinged to be rotatable relative to the plane of the case 11. The other side is rotatably supported by the other side of the support stay 15c and the connecting pin 15e. Therefore, this other support stay 15c is
It will rotate in a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the plane of. Further, the other side of the other support stay 15c is connected to the support pin 15f.
It is rotatably hinged to the aforementioned plate lla via. The angle of the plate 15a can be freely adjusted in all directions with respect to the plane of the case 11 by the universal joint formed by these two support stays 15b and 15c.

An infrared light emitting element (LED) 1 is mounted on the plate 15a.
5g and a light receiving element 15 such as a vinyl photodiode.
h [receiving and emitting means] is installed, and various other electronic parts such as capacitors are also installed. Therefore, by adjusting the angle of the plate 15a, the light emitting element 15
g and the orientation of the light receiving element 15h can be adjusted in any direction. Each of these electronic components is connected to the control board l2 side by a dedicated harness 16. Further, the above three sets of transmitting/receiving units 15 to 17 are covered by a cover 18 formed from acrylic resin into a hemispherical dome shape. This cover 18 is fixed to the upper surface of the case 11 with a set screw 19 at the flange portion. Here, the structure of the universal joint in the infrared relay device 10 of the embodiment is shown to be a rotationally connected structure using two support stays 15b and 15c. Alternatively, a flexible member such as a flexible tube may be connected to the plate 15a to adjust the angle of the plate 15a. Furthermore, a rod member is rotatably supported in all directions on the ball joint, and a plate 15a is attached to the tip of the rod member.
It is also possible to have a structure in which . FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electric circuit of this infrared repeater 11110. The light receiving elements 15h to 17h, which are transmitting means in the three transmitting/receiving sections 15 to 17, are connected to amplifiers 23 to 2.
5 to the input port E, ~I, of the memory 26 of the central control unit (cpU). Three output ports 01-0 are connected to corresponding gates 27-29. A determination circuit 30 connected to the memory 26 determines from which input port I1 to I a specific infrared remote control signal is input, and transmits the signal based on this determination to one of the corresponding gates 27 to 29. It is designed to turn on by sending it to one of the following. That is,
The determination circuit 30 determines which of the above-mentioned infrared transmitting and receiving devices the remote control signal is transmitted via one of the three transmitting/receiving units 15 to 17. The gates 27 to 29 are connected to respective light emitting elements 15g to 17g which are receiving means.

Next, the operation of the infrared relay device 1o of the embodiment will be explained using the block diagram of the electric circuit shown in FIG. A plurality of infrared relay devices 10 are arranged at key points indoors. Three transmitter/receivers 15 in each infrared relay device 1o
In steps 17 to 17, for example, with the cover 18 removed from the case 11, the angle of one of the transmitting/receiving sections 15 is adjusted in advance so as to match the orientation of the plate 15a with the other infrared relay device 10 to be transmitted and received. In this angle adjustment, the two support stays 15b and 15c, which are universal joints, are rotated relative to each other, and finally the orientation angle of the plate 15a is adjusted.

In this way, the orientation angle of the transmitting/receiving section 15 (16, 17) in each infrared relay device 10 is set, and the device is fixed at a predetermined position indoors.

A remote control signal based on a specific locking/unlocking code is transmitted from an infrared remote control key 42 or an indoor remote control switch 44, for example, from the indoor remote control switch 44 to the infrared lock 41 shown in FIG. This remote control signal is received by a light receiving element in one infrared repeater 10 via an indoor controller, amplified by an amplifier, converted into an electrical signal, and then input to the memory 26. A determination circuit determines which infrared relay device 10 the electrical signal as a remote control signal input to the memory 26 has passed through and which infrared transmitting/receiving device it has been sent from. Based on this determination, the electrical signal sent out turns on the corresponding gate and makes it conductive, causing the light emitting element to emit light and transmitting it. This transmission signal is received by another infrared relay device 10, and is finally input as an unlocking signal or a locking signal to the infrared lock 41 of the entrance door 40, which is one of the infrared transmitting and receiving devices.
The infrared lock 41 of No. 0 will be automatically locked or unlocked by remote control. A1R Relay Results As explained above, the infrared relay device according to the present invention has the following features:
When one or more of these devices is placed at a key location and a remote control signal of a specific code is transmitted using infrared rays, this control signal is detected and sent to a predetermined receiving/emitting means. There are a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices that transmit and receive infrared rays to/from the receiving/emitting means, and the determining means determines which of these transmitting/receiving devices has transmitted the remote control signal and which one of the receiving/emitting means has received the remote control signal. It will be judged. Based on the output from this determining means, a remote control signal is sent from the corresponding other receiving/emitting means to the other transmitting/receiving device. Therefore, as with conventional repeaters of this type, in order to match the direction of the transmitted and received signals with the operated equipment installed in any direction, a large number of transmitting parts are provided, and the other parts are idle. This eliminates the uneconomical effects of being in a remote state, and also makes it clear which transmitter the remote control signal was sent from. In other words, remote control signals can be efficiently transmitted and received bidirectionally between the minimum number of receiving/emitting means and the plurality of infrared transmitting/receiving devices, and this remote control signal is sent to any of the infrared transmitting/receiving devices via any of the receiving/emitting means. This has the effect of determining whether the message was sent from the source.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example in which an embodiment of the infrared relay device according to the present invention is applied to an automatic locking/unlocking system for a home entrance door, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the infrared relay device of the embodiment, and FIG. Each figure shows a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the example device. 10. ．． Infrared relay device, 15-17. ．． transmitter/receiver,
12. ．． control board, 13. ．． power box,
15a to 15f. ．． Universal joint. 15g~17g.
．． Light emitting element (one of the light receiving and emitting means), 15h to 17h. ．．
Light receiving element (one of the light receiving and emitting means), 18. ．． Spherical cover 40. ．． Entrance door (infrared transmitter/receiver).
43. ．． Indoor controller (infrared transmitter/receiver) Patent applicant: Kokusan Metal Industry Co., Ltd. Agent: Keiichi Shimizu (one idiot). '゛Engraving of the drawings (no changes to the dimensions) Figure 1 procedural amendment (foot) April 5, 1999

Claims (1)

[Claims] at least two pairs of receiving and emitting means for detecting and transmitting remote control signals of specific codes using infrared rays; has a determination means for determining whether one of the
An infrared relay device characterized in that a remote control signal is sent from another corresponding receiving/emitting device to another transmitting/receiving device based on the output from the determining device.