JPH04132396A - Wireless remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an omnidirectional wireless remote control system whose transmission distance is long and which has a high reliability by providing a switching means which automatically operates a transmission and reception by a high frequency system at the time of failing in the transmission and reception by an infrared ray system. CONSTITUTION:When the signal transmission and reception by an infrared ray system is failed, a switching controlling circuit 12 transmits a control signal which transmits data from a high frequency system receiver 10 to a switching circuit 13, and transmits a signal to a CPU 14 so that the CPU 14 can fetch received data. Then, the CPU 14 transmits a command for transmitting picture data collected by an X-ray TV camera 3 through an A/D converter 15, which are stored in a memory 16, to display interface 17, based on a data signal for operating pictures transmitted from the switching circuit 13. Moreover, the picture data transmitted to the display interface 17 are displayed on a TV monitor. Thus, the non-oriented wireless remote control whose transmission distance is long and which has the high reliability can be operated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a wireless remote control system used for operating images obtained by an X-ray imaging device or the like.

(Prior art) For example, images taken by an X-ray imaging device in a cardiovascular laboratory or the like are stored in a memory, and when necessary, these images are retrieved from the memory and displayed on a TV monitor to be used as diagnostic information. You may want to display it.

In this way, whenever you want to retrieve a necessary image, you do not have to touch and directly operate the X-ray image diagnostic equipment where the image is stored, but you can operate the remote control from a remote location to achieve your goal. In many cases.

When performing remote control operation in this way, it is necessary to transmit the operation signal from the operator's hand (transmitter) to the X-ray image diagnostic equipment (receiver) through space, and the signal transmission medium for this purpose is generally Infrared.

Radio waves and ultrasound are known. However, among these, ultrasonic waves are not easy to handle and the configuration of the transmitter/receiver is expensive, so they are not used except for special purposes, and infrared waves or radio waves are usually widely used.

Among these, infrared rays are highly reliable because they are less susceptible to interference from other sources, but they have the drawbacks of being directional, easily affected by obstacles, and having a short range. -On the other hand, radio waves have the advantage of being non-directional and have a long range, but are less reliable because they are susceptible to interference from the surroundings. In addition, the legal regulations regarding radio wave output are likely to become stricter in the future, so higher output cannot be expected.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventional wireless remote control systems have advantages and disadvantages whether they use infrared rays or radio waves as a signal transmission medium. For example, in the cardiovascular examination room, there are various supporting rods, polygraphs, contrast agent injectors, drip stands, etc. necessary for diagnosis, as well as multiple doctors and nurses.

Since x-ray technicians and others are working simultaneously, it is impossible to keep the space between the transmitter and receiver unblocked for signal transmission. Therefore, the operator is forced to change the operating position or take actions to shorten the distance from the receiver.
The test takes a long time and may cause pain to the patient. In the worst case, a re-examination may be necessary due to a missed timing.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable wireless remote control system that is non-directional and has a long transmission distance by utilizing the advantages of conventionally used signal transmission media.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems)] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a first signal transmitting/receiving means that uses infrared rays as a signal transmission medium, and a second signal transmission and reception means that uses radio waves as a signal transmission medium. The present invention is characterized by comprising a signal transmitting/receiving means, and a switching control means for automatically switching to signal transmission by the second signal transmitting/receiving means when signal transmission by the first signal transmitting/receiving means fails.

(Function) At short distances, signals are transmitted by the first signal transmitting/receiving means using infrared rays, which is highly reliable and less susceptible to interference from others and has directivity. When the signal transmission by the first signal transmitting/receiving means fails due to a distance, the second signal transmitting/receiving means using non-directional radio waves having a long range is automatically switched to perform the signal transmission. This allows signal transmission to be performed by utilizing the advantages of each signal transmission medium.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the wireless remote control system of the present invention, in which 1 is a wireless remote controller on the transmitting side, and 2 is an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus on the receiving side. 3 is an X-ray television camera, and 4 is a TV monitor, both of which are connected to the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus 2. By operating the wireless remote controller 1 with such a configuration, the X-ray image data collected by the television camera 3 is processed by the X-ray image diagnostic device 2,
Various image operations can be controlled by displaying on the TV monitor 4.

The wireless remote control 1 includes a remote control key 5. Key interface circuit 6. Infrared transmitter using infrared rays as a signal transmission medium7. A high frequency transmitter 8 that uses radio waves as a signal transmission medium is provided.

On the other hand, the infrared transmitter 7 is provided in the X-ray image diagnostic apparatus 2.
Infrared receiver compatible with 9. A high frequency receiver 10 corresponding to the high frequency transmitter 8, and a pair of data latch circuits 11A and IIB.

Switching control circuit 12. Switching circuit 13. CPU (Central Processing Unit')14. A/D converter 15. A memory 16 and a display interface 17 are provided.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the operator operates the remote control key 5, this operation signal is sent to the infrared transmitter 7 via the key interface circuit 6.
and is added to the high frequency transmitter 8. For example, the operation signal is to fast forward the image 9 times and rewind it.

A signal for freezing or the like is selected. These operation signals can be applied to both transmitters 7, 8 at the same time, or can be applied to only one of the transmitters as required.

First, when the infrared receiver 9 receives a signal sent from the transmitter 7 via infrared rays, the receiver 9 transmits a signal indicating the reception to the switching control circuit 12 and transmits the data to the data latch circuit 11A. Forward. - When the high-frequency receiver 10 also receives a signal sent from the transmitter 8 via radio waves, the receiver 10 transmits a signal indicating that it has been received to the switching control circuit 12 and transmits the data to the data latch circuit 11B. Transfer to.

The switching control circuit 12 sends a control signal for transmitting data from the infrared receiver 9 to the normal switching circuit 13, and when receiving a reception signal from the high frequency receiver 10, the CPU 14
sends a signal to capture the received data.

If there is an obstacle between the transmitter 7 and the receiver 9 in the examination room or the distance is too long, and the signal transmission and reception using the infrared method fails, the switching control circuit 12 receives the received signal from the receiver 9. This means that only the received signal from the receiver 10 is input. In this case, the switching control circuit 12 sends a control signal to the switching circuit 13 to transmit the data from the receiver 10, and also sends a signal to the CPU 14 to take in the received data.

When the CPU 14 sends a signal indicating the completion of data acquisition, the switching control circuit 12 causes the switching circuit 13 to switch the receiver 1 again.
Outputs a control signal that transmits data from 0. CPU
In I4, based on the data signal for image manipulation sent from the switching circuit 13, the A/D stored in the memory 16 is
A command is sent via the converter 15 to transmit the image data collected by the TV camera 3 to the display interface 17. The image data sent to the display interface 17 is displayed on the TV monitor 4 for observation by the operator.

As described above, according to this embodiment, signals are first transmitted simultaneously through two routes: the infrared method using the infrared method transmitter 7 and the infrared method receiver 9, and the high frequency method using the high frequency method transmitter 8 and the high frequency method receiver 10. Transmission and reception are performed, and when transmission and reception using the infrared method fails, the system automatically switches to transmission and reception using the high frequency method. As a result, by performing a single remote control operation on the wireless remote controller 1 side, the same image operation signal is simultaneously transmitted to the X-ray image diagnostic equipment 2 side using both methods, and normally, in order to ensure high reliability, an infrared method is used. Transmission and reception are performed with priority, but if transmission and reception using the infrared method fails due to problems such as obstacles or distance, it is possible to automatically switch to the high frequency method and continue transmission and reception. This allows signal transmission to take advantage of the advantages of each method, making it possible to perform highly reliable wireless remote control operations with no directivity and long transmission distances.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and particularly shows a configuration designed to improve the reliability of transmission and reception using a high frequency system.

10 is a high frequency system receiver, 11B is a data latch circuit,
12 is a switching control circuit, 13 is a switching circuit, 14 is a CPU
(Central processing unit) has the same configuration as the first embodiment. 11C is a newly added data latch circuit, 18
1 is a similar display circuit, and 19 is a comparison circuit.

If transmission and reception using the infrared method fails for some reason,
As explained in the first embodiment, when a received signal is input from the receiver 10 to the switching control circuit 12, the display circuit 18
A display signal is sent to the receiver 10, and a signal to this effect is also sent to the receiver 10. This causes the display circuit 18 to display, so that the operator confirms that high-frequency transmission and reception are being performed, and then performs the same remote control operation again. The receiver 10 then transmits the received signal data to the data latch circuit 11C.

Next, the comparison circuit 19 compares the previous data stored in the data latch circuit 11B and the current data stored in the data latch circuit 11C, and if the comparison results are the same, it notifies the switching control circuit 12 of this fact. send. Switching control circuit 12
is the switching circuit 1 upon receiving the same recognition signal from the comparison circuit 19.
3 and a received signal to the CPU 14.

According to such an embodiment, since the switching operation is performed based on the data comparison result, it is possible to prevent the system from malfunctioning even if the high frequency transmitting/receiving system malfunctions due to, for example, noise.

In the embodiment of this text, an example in which an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus is operated by remote control has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and similar effects can be obtained even when applied to various apparatuses such as an XI1CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when transmission/reception using the infrared method fails, it is automatically switched to transmitting/receiving using the high frequency method. A reliable wireless remote control system can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the wireless remote control system of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention. 1...Wireless remote control, 2...X-ray image diagnostic device, 3...X-ray TV camera,
4...TV monitor, 5...Remote control key 7...Infrared transmitter, 8...High frequency transmitter, 9...
Infrared system receiver, 10... High frequency system receiver, 11A, IIB, IIC... Data latch circuit, 12
...Switching control circuit, 13...Switching circuit, 14...
CPU, 16... Memory, 18... Display circuit, 19
...Comparison circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A first signal transmitting/receiving means that uses infrared rays as a signal transmitting medium, a second signal transmitting/receiving means that uses radio waves as a signal transmitting medium, and when signal transmission by the first signal transmitting/receiving means fails, the second signal transmitting/receiving means automatically 1. A wireless remote control system comprising: switching control means for switching to signal transmission by the signal transmission/reception means of item 2; (2) When signals are transmitted simultaneously by the first and second signal transmitting/receiving means, only the signal by the first signal transmitting/receiving means is received with priority, and the signal transmission by the first signal transmitting/receiving means fails. 2. The wireless remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising selection means on the receiving side for automatically causing the second signal transmitting/receiving means to receive the signal when the signal is received.