JPH0353625A - Infrared ray receiving module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To receive an infrared-ray over a wide range through the use of a single infrared-ray receiving module by arranging at least two photodetectors to a photodetector section in different directions so as to differentiate the directivity of the photodetectors. CONSTITUTION:A photodetector section 5 receiving an infrared-ray radiating from a remote controller main body is provided to an upper end of a cylinder 3 provided upright to a casing 4, 3 photodetectors 1 are arranged to the photodetector section 5 in different directions from each other and the light receiving area over a range of 360 deg. is ensured by the photodetectors 1. Thus, an infrared- ray is received over a wide range by using a single infrared ray receiving module A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an infrared receiving module used for remote control using infrared rays as a medium.

<Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention> Equipment such as television receivers, VCRs, CD radio cassette players, and air conditioners are now remotely controlled using infrared rays emitted from a remote control body in hand. .

The above-mentioned equipment is provided with an infrared light receiving module that includes a light receiving section that receives infrared light and converts it into an electrical signal, and an electronic circuit that obtains a digital signal corresponding to the electrical signal from the light receiving section. When infrared rays are emitted toward the device from the remote control body at hand, the infrared rays are received by the infrared receiving module, thereby performing the desired remote control.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional infrared receiving module.

In this infrared receiving module, the casing 80
Infrared light entering the casing 80 from the light receiving window 81 is received by a light receiving element (not shown) in the casing 80, and generally has conical directivity in the range of about 30 degrees to 120 degrees. .

By the way, for example, if we assume that a television receiver can be rotated within a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees and that this rotation is also controlled remotely, it must be possible to remotely control the television receiver from diagonally in front of it or from behind it. . Also,
The same applies when remotely controlling the raising or lowering of a device that is to be raised or lowered.

In order to accommodate remote control of these devices and expand the light receiving range, it may be possible to install multiple identical infrared receiver modules with different orientations, but this would complicate the structure and increase costs. The problem is that it gets expensive.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an infrared light receiving module that has a simple structure, can expand the light receiving range at low cost, and can also be used for remote control of equipment that rotates or moves up and down. With the goal.

Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an infrared light receiving section that receives infrared light and converts it into an electrical signal, and an electronic circuit that obtains a digital signal corresponding to the electrical signal. The light-receiving module is characterized in that at least two light-receiving elements are disposed in the light-receiving section and are oriented in different directions so as to have different fingers.

Effect> According to the above configuration, since at least two light receiving elements are arranged in the light receiving section and are oriented in different directions so as to have different directivity, using a single infrared light receiving module, It can receive infrared light over a wide range.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infrared receiving module A as an embodiment of the present invention, in which a casing 4
A light receiving section 5 that receives infrared rays emitted from a remote control main body (not shown) is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical body 3 that stands upright.

This light receiving section 5 is provided with three light receiving elements 1 which are arranged in different directions so as to have different directivity, and these light receiving elements 1 cover a light receiving area over a 360 degree range. is ensured. A dome-shaped light-receiving window 3a made of glass or the like that transmits infrared rays is provided at the upper end of the cylinder 3, and each light-receiving element 1
It receives infrared rays incident from the source and converts them into electrical signals.

The cylinder 3 is made of a conductive material to shield the light receiving element 1, and is erected on the upper surface 4a of the casing 4, which is also made of a conductive material.

Inside the casing 4, an electronic circuit 2 for obtaining a high or low digital signal corresponding to the electrical signal output by the light receiving element 1 is disposed.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the electronic circuit 2. As shown in FIG. In the figure, the electronic circuit 2 includes a first stage amplifier 2m for signal amplification.
, limiter 2b1 that controls the signal strength, band pulse filter 2 that controls the signal range and eliminates noise, cs detection circuit 2
d and a waveform shaping circuit 2e are connected in sequence, and each light receiving element 1 is connected in parallel to the first stage amplifier 2a.
It is connected to the.

FIG. 3 shows how the infrared receiving module A is attached to the information management device 6. As shown in FIG. This information management device 6 has a main body 6a suspended from a ceiling 7 by an elevating and rotating member 8, and various control switches 6b for controlling each electrical device in the home, as well as various control switches 6b arranged in the home. It has a monitor 6C etc. that displays images detected by various sensors. An infrared light receiving module A is attached to the lower end of the main body 6a with the light receiving section 5 protruding below the information management device 6.

The main body 6a of this information management device 6 includes the elevating and rotating member 8.
When not in use, it can be raised (see Figure 3), and when in use, it can be lowered by emitting infrared rays from the remote control body (see Figure 4).At this time, the plurality of light receiving elements 1 Since they are arranged facing in different directions, commands can be given from any direction, such as the front or rear of the main body 6a.Also, when rotating the main body 6a, commands can be given from any direction as well.

According to this embodiment, a plurality of light receiving elements 1 are disposed in the light receiving section 5 facing in different directions, and the directivity of each light receiving element 1 is made different, so that a single infrared light receiving module can be used. With a simple structure, the light receiving range can be expanded at low cost. Since remote control can be performed from diagonally in front or behind the device, it can also be used to remotely control devices such as the information management device 6 that rotates and moves up and down as shown in FIG. 3 above.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the light receiving element 1 can be arranged facing in four or more different directions.

Furthermore, at least one of the light-receiving elements 1 can be arranged facing downward or upward (see Fig. 5), or the light-receiving elements 1 can be arranged on each side of the tetrahedron (see Fig. 6). reference),
In these cases, commands can also be issued from directly above or below the device.

In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention, such as providing an infrared light receiving module on the top surface of the television receiver.

Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the infrared light receiving module having the above configuration, at least two light receiving elements are disposed in the light receiving section so as to face in different directions, so that the directivity of each light receiving element is made different. Therefore, a single infrared receiving module can be used to receive infrared rays over a wide range, and has the unique effect of being able to be used for remote control of equipment that rotates or moves up and down.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an infrared receiving module as an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit, and Fig. 3 is a front view showing an information management device to which an infrared receiving module is attached. 4 is a side view of the information management device, FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing other examples of arrangement of light receiving elements, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional infrared light receiving module. A... Infrared light receiving module, 1... Light receiving element, 2... Electronic circuit, 5... Light receiving section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Receive infrared light and convert it into electrical signals The light receiving section and the detector corresponding to this electrical signal. Red with electronic circuit to obtain digital signal In the outside line light receiving module, the above light receiving Place at least two light-receiving elements in the in different directions to make the direction different red, which is characterized by being arranged towards External line receiver module.