JPH0738500A - Infrared ray signal transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To send accurate data without disturbance of a signal by projecting an infrared ray optical beam used to carry communication data into a partition panel through a throughhole and receiving the beam at a receiver side communication unit. CONSTITUTION:When data are sent, an infrared ray light modulated based on a data signal from a light emitting diode is emitted. The infrared ray is emitted in a direction along a throughhole 13 in the panel 1 as an infrared ray beam by an optical system. In this case, the inner side of the throughhole 13 acts as a light guide fiber to guide the infrared ray as an optical beam along the throughhole 13. On the other hand, a receiver side communication unit 3 receives the arrived infrared ray by its photocoupler via an optical system 15. An optoelectrical signal converter outputs an electric signal corresponding to a received luminous quantity of the photocoupler and a modulation/ demodulation circuit converts the signal into a data signal for an OA equipment and the signal is inputted to the receiver side OA equipment. That is, plural units 3 are mounted on the panel 1 to make data communication.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for wirelessly transmitting a data signal between devices installed relatively close to each other, such as in the same room of an office, and particularly to infrared rays projected between the devices. The present invention relates to an infrared signal transmission device that modulates a beam with a required data signal and transmits the data signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a data signal is transmitted between a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as personal computers) or between a personal computer and a printer, conventionally, an online system is used in which each device is connected by a communication cable. Wireless systems using infrared light beams have become popular in place of the.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the procedure of wireless communication using an infrared light beam.
Communication units (102a) and (102b) for transmitting and receiving infrared light beams are attached to a) and (101b). Communication unit (102a) or (102b) is a corresponding personal computer
The infrared light beam (103) modulated by the data signal from (101a) or (101b) is projected toward the other communication unit.

Receiving side communication unit (102b) or (102a)
Demodulates the received infrared light beam (103) into an electric signal and inputs it to the corresponding personal computer (101b) or (101a).
In this case, if the two sets of communication units (102a) and (102b) are installed directly in a position to see through, it is necessary to project the infrared light beam on the optical path that linearly connects both units and transmit it. You can

However, in an actual office, since the interior is divided by the low partition (104) or a bookcase or a locker is installed, the two communication units (102a, 102b) are visually recognized by each other. I often cannot. Therefore, for example, as shown in Fig. 7, the infrared light beam (1
It is practiced to project 03) toward the ceiling (105) or the side wall of the room so that the reflected beam is received by the communication unit of the other party.

[0006]

When an infrared light beam is reflected by a ceiling or a side wall, depending on the nature of the surface of the reflection point,
There is a problem that the communication state becomes unstable due to the large attenuation of the infrared light beam. Further, there is also a disadvantage that a passerby (106) or the like carelessly enters the optical path of the infrared light beam (103) and the beam is blocked, resulting in loss of communication data. In order to avoid these inconveniences, it is necessary to appropriately select the position of the communication unit, and there is a problem that it becomes very difficult to freely design the office layout.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate these disadvantages and provide an infrared signal transmission device capable of improving communication performance without being affected by office layout.

[0008]

The infrared signal transmission device of the present invention is provided with a partition panel having a through hole extending horizontally along the panel surface therein and a transmitting panel installed at a required position of the partition panel. The infrared light beam modulated by the data signal from the OA device is projected through the through hole, and the received infrared light beam is demodulated into a data signal and input to the receiving OA device. Is characterized by.

In the above apparatus, a plurality of partition panels each having a through hole opened on a single surface of the panel at the same height position are arranged linearly or with the open ends of the through holes facing each other. You may bend and connect.

When a plurality of partition panels are bent and connected to each other, a mirror that reversibly reflects the infrared light beam projected into the through hole is provided in the through hole on the bent connecting portion. Is desirable.

The externally exposed portion of the communication unit is an optical system,
It is desirable to position this optical system above the tabletop of the desk.

[0012]

[Function] The infrared light beam that carries communication data is projected from the communication unit on the transmission side through a through hole formed in the partition panel so as to be shielded from the outside, and is received by the communication unit on the reception side to attenuate the signal. To prevent the influence of external disturbance and transmit accurate data.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view showing a partition panel (hereinafter abbreviated as a panel) on which an infrared light beam transmitting / receiving unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the two panels (1) (1) are connected to the connector (2).
Are connected at right angles.

In each panel (1), surface plates (12) are mounted on both sides of a frame-shaped structural material (11), and horizontal through holes (13) are provided between the surface plates (12) on both sides. Has been formed. The through hole (13) penetrates the panel (1) in a longitudinal direction at a predetermined height position,
Moreover, each panel (1) (1) is formed at the same height position.

The connector (2) is formed in a substantially right-angled triangular cross section so that the two panels (1) and (1) can be fixed at a position where they are combined at right angles. A mirror (14) is mounted at a position facing the opened through hole (13). The mirror (14) is installed at a position where the center lines of the two panels (1) and (1) intersect with each other at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the center lines of both panels.

A communication unit (3) attached to an OA device (not shown) such as a personal computer is attached to a required portion of the panel (1). The communication unit (3) is installed so as to penetrate the surface plate (12) of the panel (1), and has a light transmitting / receiving optical system (15) protruding into the through hole (13) and various signal conversions. And a case (16) accommodating the transmission device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the communication unit (3). In the case (16), a connector socket (17),
A modulation / demodulation circuit (18), an optical / electrical signal converter (19), a light emitting diode (20) and a photocoupler (21) are incorporated.
The connector socket (17) is connected to a wiring plug (22) from the OA device.

When transmitting data, the modulation / demodulation circuit (18) modulates the data output from the OA equipment through the plug (22) and the connector socket (17) into a transmission signal.
The modulated transmission signal is converted by the optical / electrical signal converter (19) into a signal that modulates the output light of the light emitting diode (20) at the next stage according to the required data, and the light emitting diode (2
Infrared light modulated based on the data signal is emitted from 0).

The infrared light is projected by the optical system (15) as an infrared light beam in the direction along the through hole (13) in the panel (1). At this time, the inner surface of the through hole (13) acts similarly to the light guide fiber to guide the infrared light as a light beam along the through hole (13). On the other hand, the communication unit on the receiving side
In (3), the arriving infrared light is received by the photocoupler (21) through the optical system (15).

The optical / electrical signal converter (19) is a photo coupler.
An electric signal corresponding to the amount of received light of (21) is output, converted into a data signal for OA equipment by the modulation / demodulation circuit (18), and received through the connector socket (17) and plug (22). OA
Input to the device. That is, the communication units (3) attached to a plurality of OA devices are attached to the panel (1) near the OA devices, respectively, and infrared light beams are transmitted and received through the through holes (13). Data communication can be performed.

As described above, the infrared signal transmission device of the present invention projects the infrared light beam through the through hole formed in the partition panel, modulates the infrared light beam with required data, and transmits the signal. Is.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an example of the infrared transmission device of the present invention, and a plurality of panels having through holes (13).
Connect (1) to each panel by connecting tool (2).
The communication unit (3) is attached to (1).

In FIG. 3, one set of communication units (3) is installed for each panel (1), but a plurality of sets of communication units can be installed for one panel, or communication is possible. It may be a panel having only the through hole (13) without providing the unit (3), and can be appropriately configured according to the layout of the OA equipment provided with the communication unit.

Also, a plug 22 is connected to each communication unit 3, but by exposing the optical system 15 to the outer surface of the communication unit 3'as shown in the center of the drawing, a data signal from a personal computer or the like can be transmitted by infrared rays. It is also possible to receive by a light beam and send a signal to each communication unit 3, in which case the cable can be omitted.

The two panels (1) may be connected to each other at any angle other than a right angle as shown in FIG. 4, for example. In this case, the plane cross-sectional shape of the connector (31) is such that two panels (1) are installed at a desired angle, and the center lines of the through holes (13) in both panels intersect, Support base (3
The mirror (33) is attached by 2).

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which three panels (1) are connected in a Y-shape by a connector (34) to transmit an infrared light beam between the respective panels. . In the connector (34), a mirror (35) having a triangular cross section having two reflecting surfaces is installed.

FIG. 6 shows a means for transmitting an infrared light beam between four panels arranged in a cross shape. This figure shows a mirror installed at the intersection of each panel.
Illustration of the panel is omitted.

The two mirrors (36) (37) are at right angles to each other,
In addition, the panels are installed at an angle of 45 degrees in the opposite direction to the center line of each panel. The two mirrors (36) and (37) are installed in the vertical direction, and a gap having a required size is provided between them.

The infrared light beam (B) from the communication unit (3) on the transmission side goes straight through a gap between two mirrors (36) and (37), and the upper part is a mirror (36). The lower part is reflected by a mirror (37) and projected along the through holes of each panel combined in a cross shape.

By combining the means shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 as necessary, an infrared signal transmission device adapted to an arbitrary office layout can be constructed, and data can be transferred between a plurality of required OA devices. The signal can be transmitted and received accurately.

Further, by arranging the position of the communication unit 3'attached to the partition panel at a position slightly above the top plate of the desk, the above-mentioned communication unit without cable has no obstacle in the partition 1 partition, It works effectively.

[0032]

(A) When a data signal is transmitted and received between a plurality of OA devices using an infrared light beam, the infrared light beam is transmitted through a through hole formed in the partition panel, and Since the transmitter / receiver of the communication unit for transmitting / receiving the infrared light beam is installed in the through hole, there is no signal disturbance and data can be accurately transmitted.

(B) One communication unit can be used for both transmission and reception and can be simply constructed.

(C) The communication unit can be installed at any place on the partition panel, and the panel can be installed in any plane shape, and can be branched in a Y shape or crossed in a cross shape. You can also do it,
You can freely configure the office layout.

[0035]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a panel and a communication unit in an embodiment of the present invention in which two partition panels are connected at a right angle.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an arrangement example of partition panels.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an embodiment in which two partition panels are connected at an obtuse angle.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an embodiment in which three partition panels are connected in a Y shape.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of mirrors when four partition panels are connected in a cross shape.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of data communication using a conventional infrared light beam.

[Explanation of symbols]

(1) Partition panel (2) Connector (3) Communication unit (3 ') Communication unit (11) Structural material (12) Surface plate (13) Through hole (14) Mirror (15) Optical system (16) Case ( 17) Connector socket (18) Modulation / demodulation circuit (19) Optical / electrical signal converter (20) Light emitting die auto (21) Photo coupler (22) Plug (31) Connector (for obtuse angle) (32) Support (33) Mirror (34) Connector (for Y-shape) (35) Mirror (37) (38) Mirror

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A partition panel in which a through hole extending horizontally along a panel surface is formed, and an infrared light beam installed at a required position of the partition panel and modulated by a data signal from a transmitting OA device. An infrared signal transmission device including a plurality of sets of communication units that project an infrared light beam through a through hole, demodulate the received infrared light beam into a data signal, and input the demodulated data signal to a receiving OA device. 2. A plurality of partition panels each having a through hole opened at an end surface of the panel at the same height position are linearly or bent with the open ends of the through holes aligned and facing each other. The infrared signal transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared signal transmission devices are connected to each other. 3. A plurality of partition panels are bent and connected to each other, and a mirror for reversibly reflecting an infrared light beam projected in a through hole is installed in the through hole of another panel at the connecting portion. The infrared signal transmission device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The externally exposed portion of a communication unit installed at a required position of a partition panel is an optical system, and the optical system is located above a desk top plate. Infrared signal transmission device according to.