JPH0844673A - Equipment connecting information processor and miniaturized radio receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use the equipment while making a miniaturized radio receiver (pager) and an information processor coexistent. CONSTITUTION:An information processor 10 is provided with an antenna connected with a pager 12, electric switch to be changed over based on the communicating state of the pager 12, and power source microcomputer for detecting the connection with the pager 12 and stopping operations based on the detected result and the state of the electric switch, and the pager 12 is provided with a connection detecting function for detecting the connection with the information processor 10, reception reporting function for reporting a receiving state showing whether radio waves addressed to its own receiver are just under receiving or not, and antenna switching function for switching the connection to the antenna installed at its own receiver or any external antenna for a circuit (radio circuit or demodulation circuit) inside its own receiver when the connection with the information processor 10 is detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device in which an information processing device capable of communicating with a pager and a small radio receiver (pager) are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, small radio receivers called pagers have been widely used. The pager has a specific telephone number, and is carried by a person who is out or away. When a person carrying the pager has an errand, he / she informs that the need for contact has arisen due to a bell sound, vibration, etc., when a telephone number is dialed from an ordinary telephone. Further, in recent years, it is possible to send not only a call but also a simple message.

A pager receives radio waves from a base station using a frequency of 280 MHz band, and can notify the user that there is a call if the user is within the range of the radio waves from the base station.

By the way, in recent years, in the field of information processing devices such as personal computers, portable information processing devices (for example, referred to as subnotebooks) having sufficient functions have been developed while reducing weight and downsizing. Is coming. As a result, the user can easily carry the information processing device while out and can use the information processing device even when he / she is out and perform information processing.

[0005]

By using such a pager and an information processing apparatus, for example, sales while contacting the head office or offices while performing information processing by a portable information processing apparatus while away from home. When performing a task that requires contact, it has been inconvenient to use a pager for contact while using an information processing device.

That is, when an information processing apparatus is used, radio waves are generally generated from the power source section and other circuit sections,
In some cases, radio waves in the communication band (280 MHz band) used by the pager are affected, the reception state deteriorates, and communication becomes impossible.

Further, the pager does not provide an antenna having sufficient performance, but prioritizes miniaturization and replaces the human body with the antenna. For this reason, when the pager is used at the same time as the information processing device, the reception state is particularly deteriorated and communication is often impossible. Therefore, the pager cannot be used in a device configuration in which the pager and the information processing device are connected (a state where the pager is separated from the human body).

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device in which a small radio receiver (pager) and an information processing device can be used together.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a connecting means for connecting to an external small radio receiver, an antenna connected to the small radio receiver via the connecting means, and the connecting means. A switch that is connected to the small radio receiver via the switch and is switched based on the input of a signal indicating the communication state of the small radio receiver; and the small radio receiver connected via the connecting means to the small radio receiver. And a control means for detecting the connection with the receiver and stopping the operation of the own device based on the detection result and the state of the switch.

The control means stops the operation of its own device at regular time intervals or at an arbitrary timing when it is detected that the small radio receiver is connected.

Further, the control means controls the drive of the small radio receiver when the operation of the own device is stopped. Further, the present invention relates to a small radio receiver for receiving a radio wave addressed to its own receiver, a connecting means for connecting to an external information processing device, and the information processing device connected to the information processing device via the connecting means. Whether or not a radio wave addressed to the own receiver is being received when the connection detecting means for detecting the connection with the processing device and the connection detecting means detects the connection with the information processing device. And a reception notification unit for notifying the reception state indicating that the connection detection unit detects that the connection with the information processing apparatus is established, the circuit in the self-reception unit is provided with the self-reception unit. It is characterized by comprising an antenna and a switching means for switching the connection to any of the external antennas via the connecting means.

The present invention is also a device in which an information processing device and a small radio receiver are connected, wherein the information processing device comprises:
Receiver connection means for connecting to an external small radio receiver, an antenna connected to the small radio receiver via the connecting means, and connected to the small radio receiver via the connecting means, A switch that is switched based on the input of a signal indicating the communication state of the small wireless receiver, and is connected to the small wireless receiver through the connection means, detects the connection with the small wireless receiver, and detects this. And a control means for stopping the operation of the self-device based on the result and the state of the switch, wherein the small wireless receiver has a device connecting means for connecting with an external information processing device, and the connecting means. Connected to the information processing device via a connection detection means for detecting connection with the information processing device, and the connection detection means detects connection to the information processing device. To a reception notifying means for notifying a reception state indicating whether or not receiving the radio wave of the own receiver addressed,
When it is detected by the connection detection means that the information processing device is connected, the antenna in the own receiver and the external antenna through the connection means are connected to the circuit in the own receiver. It is characterized in that the information processing apparatus and the small radio receiver can coexist and be used by including a switching means for switching the connection to either one.

[0013]

According to such a configuration, in the case of a device configuration in which the information processing device and the small radio receiver (pager) are connected,
A small radio receiver receives an electric wave by using an antenna provided in the information processing device. Further, when the small wireless receiver is in communication or when an operation is to be executed during communication, the reception of the small wireless receiver is affected by preventing the information processing device from operating. Generation of radio waves is suppressed.

Further, when the information processing apparatus and the small radio receiver are used together, the information processing apparatus is stopped at regular intervals or at arbitrary timings, so that the small radio receiver can receive during this period. Become.

At this time, the small radio receiver is normally in a standby state and can be put into a receivable state immediately when necessary by driving control, that is, switching on / off by an information processing device. .

The small radio receiver, when connected to the information processing device, has an external antenna (having better performance than the antenna provided in the device itself), for example, an antenna provided in the information processing device. The reception of the radio wave is executed using. Further, by notifying the outside that the reception is in progress, it is possible to prevent the operation of the information processing apparatus from being stopped and the reception state from being deteriorated.

[0017]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing the configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention, that is, a device in which an information processing device and a pager (small radio receiver) are connected. FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a state in which a pager is connected to an information processing device, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an information processing device in which the pager is not connected.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the information processing device 1
0 and the pager 12 are connected via a cable 14. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the information processing device 10 includes an antenna 1 used when a pager 12 is connected.
5 are provided. The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a form called a laptop type or a notebook type, and is located near an end of the main body 10b accommodating the keyboard 10a at a predetermined angle from the state of being stacked on the upper surface of the main body. Display 10c mounted so that it can be opened and closed
A lid 10d for accommodating the (LCD) is provided.

When not in use, the antenna 15 is housed in the antenna housing 16 provided at the side end of the lid 10d. The antenna 15, when used, is shown in FIG.
It is exposed to the outside from the antenna housing portion 16 as shown in (a). The antenna housing 16 is shielded so as not to receive an interfering wave.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the cable 14 is provided with a terminal portion 14a having a 6-pin DIN type connector at both ends. The position of the pin of the terminal portion 14a is as shown in FIG. 2 (b). For example, pin a
Is for a signal indicating that the pager 12 is receiving, similarly, pin b is for the antenna line of the pager 12, and pin c is G for the antenna line of the pager 12.
Pins for ND, pin d for drive control of pager 12, pin e for future function expansion, pin f for signal indicating that pager 14 and information processing device 10 are connected. And the pin g is for the ground terminal.

The cable 14 physically connects the information processing device 10 and the pager 14 by connecting a terminal portion 14a to a cable terminal provided in each of the information processing device 10 and the pager 14.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the pager 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the pager 12 includes an antenna 20, an antenna switching unit 21, a wireless circuit 22, a demodulation circuit 23, a microcomputer 24, a switch 25, and a sound output unit 2.
6, display drive unit 27, and LCD (display) 28
It is composed by.

The antenna 20 is used when the pager 12 is used alone. Antenna switching unit 21
Is for switching the connection between the wireless unit 22 and the antenna 20 or the signal line b according to the control by the microcomputer 24. The signal line b is connected to the antenna 15 provided in the information processing device 10 via the cable 14.

The radio circuit 22 receives a radio wave received via the antenna 22 or the antenna 15, performs processing such as signal amplification and filtering, and performs detection.

The demodulation circuit 23 demodulates the signal input by the radio circuit 22, detects the signal to the pager 12 of its own, and notifies the microcomputer 24 of it. The microcomputer 24 controls the entire pager 12 and also inputs and outputs control signals and the like with the information processing device 10 when connected to the information processing device 10.
In this embodiment, the microcomputer 24 uses the antenna switching unit 2
Antenna switching function 24 for controlling switching to 1
a, a reception notification function 24 that notifies the information processing apparatus 10 that the radio wave for the pager 12 is being received
b, a connection detection function 24c for detecting connection with the information processing device 10 via the cable 14, and the pager 1
It has a drive control function 24d for controlling the drive of the second.

The antenna switching function 24a is used by the pager 12
When used alone, the antenna 20 and the wireless circuit 22
When the connection with the information processing device 10 is detected by the connection detection function 24c, the wireless circuit 2
The switching is controlled so as to connect 2 to the signal line b (the antenna 15 of the information processing device 10).

The reception notification function 24b notifies the information processing apparatus 10 through the signal line a. Further, the connection detection function 24c monitors the signal line f and detects the connection with the information processing device 10 via the cable 14 based on the change in the signal.

The connection detecting function 24c is used by the information processing apparatus 10
If the pager 12 is in the power-on state (may be in a temporary stop state), the connection can be detected even if the function is not turned on.

The drive control function 24d controls to turn on / off the function of the pager 12 in response to an instruction from the information processing device 10 via the signal line c. The pager 12
Has an operation mode in which the function can be turned on (receivable state) / off while a power source (not shown) is turned on.

The switch 25 is a switch for activating the pager 12, and when the switch 25 is turned on, the microcomputer 2 operates.
Notify 4. The sound output unit 26 is controlled by the microcomputer 24 and notifies the user of the reception of radio waves to the own pager 12 and the status of other operations with a bell sound or the like.

The display drive unit 27 is controlled by the microcomputer 24 and causes the LCD 28 to display characters and the like. The LCD 28 is display-driven by the display drive unit 27 and displays a message or the like to the user based on the information included in the received radio waves.

FIG. 4 shows an information processing apparatus 1 related to this embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the partial structure of 0. In this embodiment, when the pager 12 is receiving, the information processing apparatus 10 is provided with a function for controlling the drive of the apparatus including a power supply unit so as not to operate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 10 has
Electric switch 30, manual switch 31, power supply microcomputer 3
2, the power supply unit 33, and the main circuit 34. The electric switch 30 is connected to the signal line a and has a function of turning off when the signal line a is active, that is, when the pager 12 notifies that the communication is in progress, and turning on when the signal line a is not active. ing.

The manual switch 31 is a normal power switch provided in the information processing device 10, and is an electric switch 3.
0 is connected in series. The power supply microcomputer 32 is connected to the manual switch 31, and both the manual switch 31 and the electric switch 30 are turned on (the pager 12 is not receiving).
Works if Further, the power supply microcomputer 32 is connected to the signal line f, monitors the signal line f, and detects the connection with the pager 12 via the cable 14 based on a change in the signal. The power supply microcomputer 32 determines the information processing device 10 based on the states of the signal line f and each switch (signal line a).
If it is necessary to stop the operation of the main circuit 3
4 and the power supply from the power supply unit 33 to each unit is stopped.

The power supply unit 33 is controlled by the power supply microcomputer 32, and is for supplying electric power from a battery provided inside the apparatus or from the outside to each unit. Main circuit 3
Reference numeral 4 is a main component of the information processing device 10, and CP
The U, various memories, a bus, an I / O interface, an external storage device and the like are included. When the operation of the information processing device 10 is stopped, the main circuit 34 has a function (a resume function or the like) for restarting from the state at the time of stop. The main circuit 34 changes the state of the system when there is a notification of the operation stop from the power supply microcomputer 32 or in response to a specific instruction from the user using an input device such as a keyboard (details will be described later). The information processing apparatus 10 is saved and the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 is stopped.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, in the case where the information processing apparatus 10 is operating, FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 1A, it is assumed that the information processing device 10 and the pager 12 are connected via a cable 14. However, the function of the pager 12 is off. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 10 is not affected by the signals on the signal lines a, b, c, f.

The information processing device 10 executes a normal process such as an application (step S1). The information processing apparatus 10 determines whether a preset fixed time has elapsed during execution of normal processing, or whether the user has instructed to shift to a state in which the pager 12 can be used ( Step S2).

When the main circuit 34 determines that the conditions match in step S2, the main circuit 34 saves the state of the system in order to temporarily stop the process being executed, and the power supply microcomputer 32 stops the operation, that is, the information processing. An instruction to set the drive frequency of the device 10 to "0" is output (step S3).

The power supply microcomputer 32 turns off the power supply unit 33 in response to an instruction from the main circuit 34 (step S4), and outputs an instruction to activate the function to the pager 12 via the signal line c. With this, the information processing device 10
Operation is stopped, and the reception of radio waves by the pager 12 becomes good.

On the other hand, the pager 12 is the information processing device 10.
When an instruction to turn on the function is input from (power supply microcomputer 32), the function is turned on by the drive control function 24d of the microcomputer 24 (step S5).

Here, the connection detection function 24c detects the connection with the information processing apparatus 10, and accordingly, the antenna switching function 24a causes the antenna switching unit to connect the radio circuit 22 and the signal line b. 21 is controlled. That is, the use of the antenna 15 provided in the information processing device 10 enables stable reception of radio waves.

When the function is turned on, the pager 12 discriminates whether or not the radio wave is received by the pager 12 for a predetermined time (steps S6 and S7). Here, the wireless circuit 22, the demodulation circuit 23, and the microcomputer 24
When the pager 12 receives a signal by each of the above functions, the reception notification function 24b notifies the information processing apparatus 10 of the reception via the signal line a (step S).
8). As a result, the information processing device 10 cannot be restarted.

When the reception is completed (step S9),
Similarly, the information processing apparatus 10 is notified via the signal line a that it is not in communication (step S10). Thus
If the reception is completed and is normally completed, or if the reception is not completed within a certain time, the pager 12 turns off the function by the drive control function 24d of the microcomputer 24 (step S11).

Further, the microcomputer 24 controls the information processing device 10
The power supply microcomputer 32 is notified of the end of the communication state. The power supply microcomputer 32 turns on the power supply unit 33 (returns the drive frequency to the original value), saves it, restores the system state, and restarts (step S12).

Thus, while the information processing apparatus 10 is operating, the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 is temporarily stopped at regular time intervals or according to an instruction from the user, and the function of the pager 12 is turned on to execute the receiving operation. be able to.

Next, a case where the function of the pager 12 is turned on and the reception operation is executed while the information processing apparatus 10 is stopped will be described. When the pager 12 is in the communication state, the signal line a is activated by the reception notification function 24b as in the above description. The power supply microcomputer 32 of the information processing device 10 includes a manual switch 31.
Even if is turned on, control is performed so that power is not supplied from the power supply unit 33 to each unit. As a result, communication of the pager 12 is not disturbed.

In this way, even if the information processing apparatus 10 and the pager 12 are used at the same time, the information processing apparatus 10 does not affect the communication operation by the pager 12.

Further, the pager 12 can be connected to the information processing apparatus 10 for use. At this time, the information processing apparatus 1
Since the system can be temporarily stopped to enable communication by the pager 12 at regular intervals during the operation of 0, the information processing device 10 and the pager 12 can coexist.

If the user of the information processing apparatus 10 wants to communicate with the pager 12 not at regular intervals, the user can use the keyboard of the information processing apparatus 10 to give an instruction to perform information processing in the same manner. The operation of the device 10 can be suspended to enable communication by the pager 12.

When the pager 12 is used by being connected to the information processing apparatus 10, since it is connected to the antenna 15 provided in the information processing apparatus 10 and radio waves are received using this antenna 15. The communication state by the pager 12 becomes good.

Further, when the pager 12 is in the communication state, even if the manual switch 31 of the information processing device 10 is turned on, the system is not started (the operation of the power supply unit 33 is stopped), and the pager 12 is turned on. It is possible not to affect the communication to.

In the above embodiment, the pager 1
Although the antenna 15 used when the 2 is connected to the information processing device 10 and used has a structure as shown in FIG.
The antenna 15 may have any shape. For example, the antenna may be embedded along the outer periphery of the main body 10b of the information processing device 10 and the peripheral edge of the lid 10d.

The cable 14 for connecting the information processing device 10 and the pager 12 is not limited to the case of the above embodiment. That is, although a dedicated cable terminal for connecting the cable 14 to the information processing apparatus 10 and the pager 12 is provided, it is also possible to use a generally provided communication terminal, for example, RS-232C. .

[0054]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the operation of the information processing device is stopped and the reception by the small radio receiver is executed. Therefore, the small radio receiver (pager) and the information processing device are executed. And can coexist.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing the configuration of a communication device (device connecting an information processing device and a pager) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a terminal portion 14a provided on a cable 14 in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a pager 12 in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing device 10 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the device that connects the information processing device 10 and the pager 12 in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Information processing device, 12 ... Pager, 14 ... Cable, 15 ... Antenna, 16 ... Antenna storage part, 20 ... Antenna, 21 ... Antenna switching part, 22 ... Wireless circuit, 23
... Demodulation circuit, 24 ... Microcomputer, 24a ... Antenna switching function, 24b ... Reception notification function, 24c ... Connection detection function, 2
4d ... Drive control function, 25 ... Switch, 26 ... Sound output section, 27 ... Display drive section, 28 ... LCD (display), 30 ... Electric switch, 31 ... Manual switch, 32
... power supply microcomputer, 33 ... power supply unit, 34 ... main circuit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connecting means for connecting to an external small radio receiver, an antenna connected to the small radio receiver via the connecting means, and the small radio receiver via the connecting means. Connected,
A switch that is switched based on the input of a signal indicating the communication state of the small radio receiver, and is connected to the small radio receiver via the connection means,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that detects a connection with the small radio receiver and stops the operation of the own device based on the detection result and the state of the switch. 2. The control means stops the operation of its own device at regular intervals or at an arbitrary timing when it is detected that it is connected to the small radio receiver. The information processing device according to item 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the driving of the small radio receiver when the operation of the own apparatus is stopped. 4. A small radio receiver for receiving a radio wave addressed to its own receiver, a connection means for connecting to an external information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus via the connection means. A connection detection unit that detects a connection with the processing device, and whether or not a radio wave addressed to the own receiver is being received when the connection detection unit detects that the information processing device is connected. And a reception notification means for notifying the reception status indicating that the connection detection means is provided in the own receiver with respect to a circuit in the own receiver when the connection detection means detects that the information processing device is connected. A small radio receiver, comprising: an antenna and a switching unit that switches a connection to any one of an external antenna via the connecting unit. 5. A device in which an information processing device and a small radio receiver are connected, wherein the information processing device includes a receiver connecting means for connecting to an external small radio receiver, and the connecting means. An antenna connected to the small radio receiver, and connected to the small radio receiver via the connection means,
A switch that is switched based on the input of a signal indicating the communication state of the small radio receiver, and is connected to the small radio receiver via the connection means,
A control unit that detects a connection with the small wireless receiver and stops the operation of the own device based on the detection result and the state of the switch; Device connection means for connecting to an apparatus, connection detection means connected to the information processing device via the connection means, and detecting connection with the information processing device; and the information processing device by the connection detection means. When the connection is detected, the reception notification means for notifying the reception state indicating whether or not the radio wave addressed to the own receiver is being received, and the connection detection means to connect to the information processing device If it is detected that the circuit inside the self-receiver is switched to either the antenna provided in the self-receiver or the external antenna via the connecting means. Comprising the stage, and was connected to the information processing apparatus and the small radio receiver, characterized in that use coexist with said information processing apparatus and the small radio receiver device.