JPH11127117A - Infrared communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand an infrared communicable space and to prevent communication errors which are caused by the movements of devices by receiving the transmitted infrared signals by plural infrared communication ports and extracting the received signal of the port that satisfies the communication conditions. SOLUTION: When infrared communication is conducted between a mobile equipment and a fixed device, the mobile equipment produces serial signals as the packet serial signals. These serial signals are received by three infrared communication ports 10, which are vertically arrayed and stored for each packet in the memories 41 corresponding to the ports 10. A comparison processing means 42 compares the storage contents of the memories 41 with each other. When the storage contents of all three memories 41 match with each other and if two of three storage contents match with each other while another does not satisfy prescribed conditions, these storage contents are sent out to the controller 50 as the correct signals and processed as prescribed. Even if all storage contents of memories 41 do not match with each other, these contents are sent out to the controller 50 as the correct signals, as long as one of these contents is adaptive to the communication standard. When plural storage contents are adaptive to the communication standard and if no storage contents are adaptive to the communication standard, a communication error is decided and a request is given to a mobile station to have the signals retransmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infrared communication system, and more particularly to a system capable of reliably preventing a communication error when one or both devices to be infrared-communicated are moving.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Infrared communication by IrDA is higher in safety than radio waves and laser light, and can transfer data in a non-contact manner, has less damage such as erroneous connection and wear, and does not require cables or connectors. Recently, there is an advantage that cost reduction and downsizing can be easily performed, and thus, there is a tendency to be recently used for connection between electronic devices such as various information devices.

For example, an infrared communication port including an IrDA device is provided at a location opposite to a desktop or notebook personal computer and a printer, and infrared communication is performed between the personal computer and the printer, and data processed by the personal computer is sent to the printer. It is being transferred to and printed out.

In order to smoothly perform such infrared communication, communication in which the light receiving element is disposed within a conical solid angle of 30 ° around the optical axis of the light emitting element and at a predetermined distance, for example, 1 m. It is required to meet the conditions.

[0005]

By the way, it is relatively easy to satisfy a predetermined communication condition when a device for performing infrared communication is installed on a desk or the like.
Depending on the type or function of the device, one or both of them may be moving. In such a case, it is difficult to stably satisfy a predetermined communication condition, and a communication error is highly likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides an infrared ray communication system that can prevent a communication error when one or both of two devices to be used for infrared communication are moving and can surely transmit and receive a signal. It is an object to provide a communication system.

[0007]

Therefore, in the infrared communication system according to the present invention, an infrared communication port including a light receiving element and / or a light emitting element is provided at a portion facing two devices, and the infrared communication of the device is performed by infrared communication. An infrared communication system for transmitting and receiving signals between at least one of the two devices, a plurality of infrared communication ports provided at different positions and including at least a light receiving element, and at least one infrared communication port among the plurality of infrared communication ports; Control means for performing infrared communication between the port and the infrared communication port of the other device.

One of the features of the present invention is that a plurality of infrared communication ports are provided at different positions of at least one device, and infrared communication is performed between at least one infrared communication port and the infrared communication port of the other device. That's the point. This makes it possible to receive a transmission signal at a plurality of infrared communication ports and extract a signal received at a port satisfying the communication conditions. As a result, a spatial range in which infrared communication can be performed can be expanded, a communication error due to movement of the device can be reliably prevented, and a spatial range satisfying the communication conditions can be expanded.

One of the two devices may move, or both may move, and the present invention can be applied to both. Here, the infrared communication port is a device mainly composed of a light receiving element and a circuit for shaping and amplifying the waveform, a device mainly composed of a light emitting element and a circuit for driving the same, or a light receiving element, and its waveform shaping. And a circuit that performs amplification, a light-emitting element, and a circuit that drives the light-emitting element.

[0010] Making the infrared communication between at least one of the plurality of infrared communication ports and the infrared communication port of the other device means that the infrared communication is performed between one infrared communication port and the infrared communication port of the other device. The case where communication is performed includes the case where infrared communication is simultaneously performed between two or more infrared communication ports and the infrared communication port of the other device.

The signals received by the plurality of infrared communication ports may be taken out when all match, and may be requested to be retransmitted at other times. A signal may be extracted, and when a signal is received by three or more infrared communication ports, the signal may be extracted when two or more coincide with each other, and these requirements may be appropriately combined. Signal may be taken out.

That is, the control means includes a plurality of storage means for respectively storing signals from the plurality of infrared communication ports, and receives the stored contents when the stored contents of the plurality of storage means are compared with each other and coincide with each other. It may be constituted by comparison processing means for converting the signal.

The control means includes a plurality of storage means for storing light reception signals from the plurality of infrared communication ports, respectively, and compares the storage contents of the plurality of storage means with each other and communicates the plurality of storage contents. A comparison processing means for outputting the stored content as a light receiving signal when a plurality of stored contents match each other or when one of the plurality of stored contents conforms to the communication standard. it can.

[0014] Further, at least three infrared communication ports are provided at different positions, three or more storage means for storing light receiving signals from the three or more infrared communication ports, respectively, and three or more storage means for each of the three or more storage means. The control means may be composed of comparison processing means for comparing the stored contents with each other and outputting the stored contents as a light receiving signal when two or more of them match.

Further, at least three or more infrared communication ports are provided at different positions, three or more storage means for storing light receiving signals from the three or more infrared communication ports, respectively, and three or more storage means for each of the three or more storage means. The stored contents are compared with each other and at least three of the stored contents are compared with the communication standard, and when two or more match or when one of the three or more stored contents conforms to the communication standard, the stored contents are compared. And a comparison processing means for outputting a light receiving signal as a light receiving signal.

Further, at least three infrared communication ports are provided.
Three or more storage means provided at two or more different positions and storing light reception signals from three or more infrared communication ports, respectively;
When the storage contents of the three or more storage means are compared with each other and the three or more storage contents are compared with the communication standard, when a plurality of storage contents match each other, and when two or more match. Alternatively, the control means may be constituted by a comparison processing means for outputting the stored content as a light receiving signal when one of the three or more stored contents conforms to the communication standard.

[0017]

According to the present invention, a plurality of infrared communication ports are provided at different positions of at least one device, and infrared communication is performed between at least one infrared communication port and the infrared communication port of the other device. As a result, the transmission signal can be received by a plurality of infrared communication ports and the signal received by a port that satisfies the communication conditions can be taken out. As a result, even when one or both devices are moving, When the infrared communication port satisfies a predetermined communication condition, it can be taken out as a light receiving signal, and a communication error can be reliably prevented.

Further, since a plurality of infrared communication ports are provided at different positions, even if the infrared communication port during communication is out of the range satisfying the communication conditions due to movement of the device, other infrared communication ports satisfying the communication conditions are used. As a result of continuously receiving light at the communication port, the range that satisfies the communication conditions can be widened, and infrared communication in a wide range can be realized.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings. 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of an infrared communication system according to the present invention, which is an example applied to data transfer between a mobile device and a fixed device. In the figure, the mobile device 20 is provided with an infrared port 10, while the fixed device 30 is provided with three infrared communication ports 10 on the front wall of the fixed device 30 with a vertical interval.

The infrared communication port 10 comprises an IrDA device in which a light receiving element 11 and a light emitting element 12 are mounted on an LIS 13, and a circuit for amplifying and shaping a light receiving signal and a driving circuit for the light emitting element 11 are provided in the LSI 13. Have been.

Further, in the fixed device 30, control means 40 for performing infrared communication between at least one of the three infrared communication ports 10 and the infrared communication port 10 of the mobile device 20, control of the control means 40, and A controller 50 for performing data processing is mounted.

The control means 40 comprises a memory 41... And a comparison control means 42, and comprises three memories 41.
Stores the signal of the corresponding infrared communication port 10..., The comparison control means 42 compares the storage contents of the three memories 41. When the three storage contents match each other, when two or more storage contents match, or when one of the three or more storage contents conforms to the communication standard, the storage contents are provided to the controller 50 as light reception data. Has become. The comparison control means 42 is constituted by a CPU or the like which processes according to a program, but may be constituted by a hardware circuit.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. When performing infrared communication between the mobile device 20 moving up and down and the fixed device 30, when a packet serial signal is emitted from the mobile device 20 as an infrared signal, the infrared light is transmitted to the three infrared communication ports 10. (Step S1 in FIG. 4) and stored in the corresponding memory 41... In the control means 40 for each packet (Step S2 in FIG. 4).

In the control means 40, the comparison control means 42 compares the storage contents stored in the three memories 41... With each other to determine whether or not the three storage contents match (FIG. 4). (Step S3) If the three stored contents match, the stored contents are sent to the controller 50 (Step S4 in FIG. 4), and the controller 50 performs a predetermined process on the stored contents.

If the three stored contents do not match, 2
It is determined whether or not one or more stored contents match (FIG. 4)
Step S5), if they match, one infrared communication port 41 does not satisfy the predetermined communication condition,
Since the other two are satisfied, the stored content is sent to the controller 50 as a correct signal (step S in FIG. 4).
6), the controller 50 performs a predetermined process on the stored contents.

If the three stored contents are different from each other, it is determined whether or not the contents conform to the communication standard (step S7 in FIG. 4). Here, as a communication standard, parity check is performed, for example, when the number of 'Hi' of 8-bit data is an odd number, parity is sent and the receiving side confirms the received data and parity, and when they do not match, retransmission is requested. Or a check by a communication pattern, for example, if there is always one "Hi" in a 4-bit length,
It is possible to adopt a standard that requires retransmission without "Hi" or with two or more.

If there are stored contents conforming to the communication standard, it is determined whether there are a plurality of them (step S8 in FIG. 4). In the case of one, it is determined that the signal is a correct signal, and the stored contents are sent to the controller 50. Sending out (step S9 in FIG. 4), if there are a plurality of stored contents conforming to the communication standard, if there is more than one, the stored contents do not match, and retransmission as a signal due to a communication error is sent to the mobile device 20. Also, when there is no stored content conforming to the communication standard, a request is made to the mobile device 20 for retransmission as a signal due to a communication error (step S9 in FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. In this example, when the mobile device 20 moves in the horizontal direction, the infrared communication ports 10 and 10 are provided side by side on the front wall of the fixed device 30. Is shown.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment. In this example, when the mobile device 20 rotates in a horizontal plane, the fixed device 3
0 shows an example in which infrared communication ports 10 and 10 are provided on the front wall and the side wall of the No. 0.

In the first embodiment, the contents stored in each of the three memories 41 are compared with each other.
The three stored contents are compared with the communication standard, and when the three stored contents match each other, when two or more of the stored contents match, or when one of the three or more stored contents conforms to the communication standard, the storage is performed. The contents are given to the controller 50 as the received light data. When the three stored contents match each other or when one of the three or more stored contents conforms to the communication standard, the stored contents are given to the received light data. May be given to the controller 50, or when two or more match or when one of the three or more stored contents conforms to the communication standard, the stored contents may be provided to the controller 50 as received light data. You may.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a preferred embodiment of an infrared communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram showing a main part of the system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an infrared communication port in the system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the system.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Infrared communication port 20 Mobile equipment 30 Fixed equipment 40 Control means 41 Memory (storage means) 42 Comparison processing means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An infrared communication system in which an infrared communication port including a light receiving element and / or a light emitting element is provided at a position facing two devices and a signal is transmitted and received between the devices by infrared communication. A plurality of infrared communication ports provided at different positions and including at least a light receiving element, at least one of the plurality of infrared communication ports and an infrared communication port including at least a light emitting element of the other apparatus, Control means for performing infrared communication between the infrared communication system and the communication system. 2. A control device comprising: a plurality of storage means for storing light receiving signals from a plurality of infrared communication ports, respectively; 2. The infrared communication system according to claim 1, further comprising comparison processing means for outputting a signal as a light receiving signal. 3. The control means includes: a plurality of storage means for storing light receiving signals from a plurality of infrared communication ports; a storage means for comparing the storage contents of the plurality of storage means with each other; A comparison processing means for outputting the stored content as a light receiving signal when the plurality of stored contents match each other or when one of the plurality of stored contents conforms to the communication standard, in comparison with the communication standard. Claim 1
An infrared communication system as described. 4. The infrared communication port is provided at at least three different positions, and the control means stores at least three light receiving signals from the three or more infrared communication ports. 2. The infrared communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: comparison processing means for comparing the storage contents of each of the at least two storage means with each other and outputting the stored contents as a light receiving signal when two or more of them match. 5. The infrared communication port is provided at at least three different positions, and the control means includes three or more storage means for storing light receiving signals from three or more infrared communication ports, respectively. The storage contents of the one or more storage means are compared with each other and the three or more storage contents are compared with the communication standard, and when two or more match or one of the three or more storage contents is the communication standard 2. The infrared communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: comparison processing means for outputting the stored content as a light reception signal when the data conforms to (1). 6. The infrared communication port is provided at at least three different positions, and the control means stores at least three storage means for respectively receiving light receiving signals from the three or more infrared communication ports; Comparing the storage contents of the one or more storage means with each other and comparing the three or more storage contents with the communication standard, and when the plurality of storage contents match each other,
2. An infrared communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a comparison processing means for outputting the stored content as a light receiving signal when two or more of them match or when one of the three or more stored contents conforms to a communication standard. system.