JPH1013349A - Plural-directional optical repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend a visual angle available for an infrared ray data link by placing device extending the luminous visual angle of an infrared ray in the data link. SOLUTION: A light receiving and emitting module 7 of a master personal computer 1 is placed oppositely to a light receiving reception module 2 and a light emitting transmission module 3 of a plural-directional optical repeater 14. A slave side of the repeater 14 is provided with a plurality of light receiving reception modules 12 and light emitting transmission modules 13. When a transmission signal from the master side personal computer 1 is converted into an infrared ray signal 6 and sent from a transmission section T of the light receiving and emitting element module 7 of the personal computer and received by a reception section R of the light receiving reception module 2 of the plural- directional optical repeater 14 and converted into an electric signal, distributed by a branch circuit 10 and given to a transmission section T of a slave side light emitting transmission modules 13a-13n and sent again as an infrared ray signal 6 to each slave side light receiving equipment and converted into the electric signal and decoded and then the transmission signal from the master side personal computer 1 is received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an IrD used for communication between a personal computer and related devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a repeater device for an infrared ray signal having a plurality of directions for expanding an effective viewing angle in an infrared data link device or the like.

[Prior Art] Conventional infrared communication technology has been widely used for remote control of televisions, video systems, karaoke sound systems, air conditioners, and the like. With the spread of the technology, the idea of an infrared data link has arisen to simplify the connection between PCs and the exchange of data between PCs and related equipment, and the IrDA physical layer that uses serial communication as the latest standard Specs have been settled, and recent PCs are increasingly equipped as standard equipment. The standard is that the reach distance is 1 cm to 1 m and the effective viewing angle is 30 degrees. In addition, high-speed infrared communication outside the IrDA standard has begun to be used. In these communication methods, since the viewing angle is narrow, communication is usually performed with the devices facing one to one.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Infrared data links are expected to be widely used because they have good communication performance and do not require connection between devices. In most cases, the angle is narrow and is usually set at 30 degrees. Therefore, for example, when two PCs face each other to communicate, there is no problem, but a printer or keyboard with infrared communication function with one PC,
When used for exchanging data with a mouse, facsimile, electronic organizer or, of course, other personal computers, it is necessary to place the personal computer and each other device in advance so that one or two of the devices mentioned above Can be opposed to each other, but there are few devices that can be placed within the limits of the standard reachable distance of 1 m and the viewing angle of 30 degrees due to their size and arrangement. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures such as moving a device that is not used for communication and facing a device that newly communicates.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides an infrared data link with a view angle of infrared rays within a data link without modifying the equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light repeater device which is an additional device for expanding a viewing angle in which an infrared data link between devices can be used without moving a plurality of devices which have been previously placed, without moving a plurality of devices.

[Operation] In the application of the IrDA infrared data link system, which has been generally started to be used as described in the prior art, the maximum communication speed is 115.2 KBd, which is remarkable, but the viewing angle between operating devices is large. In the case of a standard having an operation range of 30 degrees and an operating range of 1 m or less, it is limited to using a device as close as possible, but if these limitations are expanded even a little, various applications can be further expanded. In addition, the same applies to high-speed optical communication of a standard other than IrDA. However, in order to reliably perform optical axis adjustment between a transmitter and a receiver in a short time even in a long-distance optical communication system, a light repeater device for expanding a viewing angle according to the present invention is required. This is an industrially effective means that the optical axis can be easily adjusted by using.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram in which a repeater for optical communication according to the present invention is used between a master and a slave personal computer. First, an IrDA physical layer specification will be described as an example. An infrared data link of a device conforming to this standard is designed to communicate with a master and slave device facing each other within a viewing angle of 30 degrees and an operating distance of 1 m.
In this case, the optical repeater according to the present invention is effective when communication is to be abandoned when the master and slave devices can be installed only at an operating distance of 1 m or more, except for a viewing angle of 30 degrees. That is, in the example of FIG. 1, when communication is performed between a personal computer of one main device having seven light receiving / emitting modules and a personal computer of five slave devices at a location separated by a distance more than the communicable distance, That is, the four optical repeaters of the present invention are installed between the personal computers. And 4
The structure of the optical repeater is as follows.
Optical receiving module, three light emitting and transmitting modules, and two optical receiving and receiving modules facing the slave device, and three optical transmitting and receiving modules, both of which have an optical signal transmitting unit and an optical signal receiving unit. Modules composed of the resulting semiconductor integrated circuits (hereinafter, referred to as ICs) and ICs for separate transmission and reception are generally commercially available, and the commercially available ICs can be used. Although not shown, the light-emitting and transmitting module IC includes a light-emitting diode that emits an infrared signal proportional to an input electric signal and an amplifier that drives the light-emitting diode. The light-receiving module of the IC converts the infrared signal received by the photodiode into an electric signal. The structure of a general IC is to convert it into a signal, amplify it, detect it, shape the waveform, convert it into pulse radiation, and output it. As a commercially available product, a transmission / reception module is marketed under the model name HSDL-1000 of Hewlett-Packard Japan Co., Ltd., and a transmission / reception unit is a model name IS1U20 for reception by Sharp Corporation and a model name GL1F2 for transmission.
There is also a transmission module for optical communication of another company, which is equivalent to this.
The optical repeater 4 electrically connects the output R of the two light receiving and receiving modules on the main side and the input T of the three light emitting and transmitting modules on the slave side so as to match the signal level. The input T and the output R of the two receiving and receiving modules on the slave side are also electrically connected to each other at the same signal level, and the main optical communication module and the slave optical communication module are installed in opposite directions of 180 degrees, respectively. I do. The personal computer used also has a similar optical communication module and is used in opposition to the present invention. However, the optical communication module 7 of the main personal computer 7 and the optical communication of the optical repeater 4 are also used. The optical communication module on the slave side of the optical repeater 4 and the light emitting / receiving module 7 on the slave personal computer 5 are used with the modules facing each other. When a transmission signal from the main personal computer 1 is converted from a transmitting unit T (shown by T in the drawing, hereinafter referred to as T) 7 of the personal computer to the infrared signal 6 and emitted, the main side of the optical repeater 4 is transmitted. The receiving unit R (shown as R,
(Hereinafter, indicated by R), converted into an electric signal, input to a transmission unit (T in the drawing, hereinafter referred to as T) of the three light emitting transmission modules on the slave side of the four optical repeaters, and again converted into six infrared signals. The receiving unit R (illustrated R, hereinafter, indicated by R) of the light emitting / receiving module 7 of the slave personal computer 5 is converted into an electric signal, decoded by the personal computer, and receives a transmission signal from the main personal computer 5. By repeating the above, the data of the main PC can be transmitted to the sub PC. Also, the transmission from the slave PC of 5 is converted into an infrared signal of 6 from the transmission unit T of the light emitting and receiving module of 7 of the slave PC, and the two light receiving and receiving modules of the slave of the optical repeater of 4 are transmitted. Is received by the receiving unit R, converted into an electric signal, input to the transmitting unit T of the light emitting transmitting module 3 on the main side of the optical repeater 4, and again received as an infrared signal 6 by the receiving unit 7 of the main personal computer 7. The signal is received by the receiver R of the light emitting module, converted into an electric signal, decoded by the personal computer, and repeatedly receiving the transmission signal from the subordinate personal computer. By using the four optical repeaters configured as described above, depending on the position where the repeaters are placed, the specifications can be expanded such that a viewing angle of 30 degrees is 90 degrees and an operating distance is 1 m to 2 m. Further, by using a plurality of four optical repeaters and placing repeaters in each of the light reachable areas and connecting them, the reach can be greatly increased. The above description is the basic principle of the present invention.

Although the main optical communication module and the slave optical communication module have been described so far as being installed in opposite directions of 180 degrees, it is more effective to further increase the use direction (viewing angle). Therefore, a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention for expanding the effective viewing angle will be described with reference to FIG. Although the optical repeater portion 4 described in FIG. 1 is changed to the multi-directional optical repeater 14 in FIG. 2, this will be described. The light receiving / emitting module 7 of the main personal computer 1, the light receiving / receiving module 2 of the multi-directional optical repeater 14 and the light emitting / transmitting module 3 are provided so as to face each other.
On the slave side of the multi-directional optical repeater, a plurality of twelve slave-side light receiving / receiving modules and thirteen light emitting / transmitting modules are provided. Since the transmission range (viewing angle) of the light emitting and transmitting module is 30 degrees as a set of the 12 slave light receiving and receiving modules and the 13 light emitting and transmitting modules, 360 degrees ÷ 30 degrees = 12 degrees theoretically when transmitting in all directions. In this case, it is sufficient to dispose 12 sets of 12 slave light receiving modules and 13 light emitting modules. However, in reality, the required number of the light receiving and emitting modules as viewed from the arrangement of the slave device is set at an angle of about 60 degrees to 180 degrees with respect to a point orthogonal to the boundary when viewed from the main side. It is practical to use the arrangement shown in FIG. Returning to the description of the multi-directional optical repeater 14 shown in FIG. 2, the output of the light receiving and receiving module 2 is branched as necessary by 10 branch circuits, and the signal level is adjusted to the input of each of the 13 slave light emitting and transmitting modules. input.
The outputs of one of the twelve slave-side light receiving modules are combined by the combining circuit of the eleven, and are input to the input of the third light emitting transmission module with the signal level adjusted. Logically speaking, the ten branch circuits may be a plurality of inverters or the like as buffers, and the eleventh synthesis circuit can use a NAND gate or the like, and all of them can be constituted by commercially available ICs. As an example of actual usage, a multi-directional optical repeater having the external configuration of FIG. 3 is arranged between a main personal computer and a plurality of sub personal computers as shown in FIG. And serial communication with. That is, a transmission signal from the main personal computer is converted from the transmission unit T of the light emitting / receiving module 7 of the personal computer to an infrared signal of the light source 6 and emitted. The light is received by and converted into an electric signal.
, And is input to the transmitters T of the slave-side light-emitting and transmitting modules 13a to 13n, sent again as 6 infrared signals to the light-receiving and emitting modules of each slave-side device, received and converted into electric signals. It repeats receiving and transmitting the signal transmitted from one main personal computer. The transmission from the slave device is converted into an infrared signal of 6 from the transmission unit of the light emitting and receiving module of the slave device and is emitted. The received light is converted into an electric signal, and this output is combined by an combining circuit 11 and input to the transmitting section T of the light emitting transmitting module 3 to be converted again into an infrared signal of 6 to 1
, And is received by the receiving unit R of the light receiving / emitting module 7, converted into an electric signal, decoded by the single personal computer, and received by the slave device. With the above configuration, the viewing angle of the IrDA standard can be greatly expanded. Further, even in a communication system of a standard other than IrDA, for example, even in a system capable of long-distance communication, it becomes more difficult to match the transmitted light beam and the received optical axis as the distance increases, but the multi-directional optical repeater device of the present invention If used, a wide viewing angle is possible, so that adjustment can be made easily. Also, a description has been given in which a plurality of sets of the twelve slave-side light receiving / receiving modules and the thirteen light emitting / transmitting modules are arranged in the horizontal direction as in the example of the external configuration shown in FIG. By doing so, it becomes possible to support more slave devices. However, the communication between the master side and the slave side needs to determine its own identification number for the slave side device in advance, and have a rule of communicating only with the slave side device having the identification number designated by the master side.

[Effect of the Invention] By using the optical repeater of the present invention, it is possible to exceed the restriction of the viewing angle of 30 degrees of the IrDA communication standard. For example, it is possible to communicate the positions of a plurality of slave devices to communicate. There is no need to change the position. Also, by using the multi-directional optical repeater of the present invention in infrared communication other than the IrDA standard, the optical axis can be easily adjusted, and a wide viewing angle can be obtained even when moving to a place where there is no influence of disturbance light. Can be made possible, and the reliability of communication can be improved. Therefore, it is considered to be an effective means for both general and industrial use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a block diagram in which a one-to-one optical repeater of the present invention is used between a master and a slave personal computer.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a block diagram in which a 1: n multi-directional optical repeater device of the present invention is used between a master and a slave personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an external configuration of a multidirectional optical repeater device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example of optical communication with a plurality of personal computers by the multi-directional optical repeater device according to the present invention.

[Description of sign]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main-side personal computer 12n Slave-side light receiving / receiving module 2 Light-receiving / receiving module 13n Slave-side light emitting / transmitting module 3 Light emitting / transmitting module 14 Multi-directional optical repeater 4 Optical repeater 5n Slave-side personal computer 6 Infrared signal 20 Post 7 Light receiving / emitting module 21 Box 10 Branch Circuit 11 Synthesis circuit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical display location H04B 10/16 H04L 12/28

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A data link device between a main device and a slave device using infrared light, means for receiving and receiving an infrared signal facing the main device of the infrared data link, and converting the received infrared signal into an electric signal. A means for demodulating, a means for branching the demodulated signal into one or more, and one or more means for receiving and modulating the respective branched signals and re-emitting the infrared signal are provided. Means for facing the light receiving section of the slave device, one or more means for receiving and receiving an infrared signal facing each of the one or more slave devices, and converting the received infrared signal into an electric signal Means for converting and demodulating, means for collecting the respective demodulated signals and synthesizing the output, means for modulating the synthesized signal to re-emit an infrared signal, and means for causing the infrared signal to face the light receiving portion of the main device. Provided, Multiple directional light repeater device for enlarging the viewing angle of the infrared signal of the infrared data link formed by comprising means for decrypting the control of the light emitting and receiving signals on the side equipment and detail side equipment.