JPS58120331A - Multidirectional optical space propagation coupling system for computer, terminal equipment, or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate mutual connections between a host computer and many terminal equipments, by utilizing a space propagation path, and converting a spot signal into a plane signal by a light signal, and performing signal transmission and reception to and from other systems. CONSTITUTION:The light reflecting plate 8 of an optical communication device 10 uses a convex mirror to function to disperse a light signal from an optical transmitter and receiver 6 in many directions and also to converge light signals incident in many directions to a photodetection surface. Therefore, signals outputted from a computer and a terminal equipment 1 are converted into light signals, which are radiated in many directions. Light signals incident in many directions, on the other hand, are converted into electric signals, which are inputted to the computer and terminal equipment 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system in which computers, terminal equipment, etc. (hereinafter abbreviated as equipment) are interconnected via an optical modem.

Conventional systems have been used to connect devices via optical modems, etc.; 1) Loop coupling using an optical data bus; and 1) Spatial propagation.
There are pair-to-one connections, etc.

However, each of the two systems described above has the following drawbacks.

First, in the case of ■, it was necessary to lay an optical cable in the relevant area, which involved particularly difficult construction work to lay it in an existing building. Furthermore, when adding equipment, the existing cables had to be cut and loops added from there, which was not easy to do.

In the case of (2), since the connection is one-to-one, it is impossible to connect the host computer to a large number of terminals.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional optical coupling system as described above and to provide a mutual multidirectional optical spatial propagation coupling system that can be easily expanded.

In order to achieve the above object, the system according to the present invention is configured to convert a point signal into a surface signal using an optical signal using a spatial propagation path, and to transmit and receive signals with other systems.

That is, a signal line for connecting a computer, a terminal device, a signal processor, a power supply, etc., a photoelectric signal converter connected to the signal line, and an optical transmitter/receiver connected to the photoelectric signal converter. , which brings emitted optical signals from the optical transmitter/receiver in multiple directions and guides incident optical signals from multiple directions to the optical transmitter/receiver. An optical signal that is installed in a line-of-sight position of the light reflecting plate of the component system and converts signals from terminal equipment, etc. connected to the signal line into optical signals, propagates in multiple directions in space, and enters from multiple directions in space. The device is configured to converge the signal and convert it into an electrical signal, which is then received by the terminal device.

According to the above configuration, a large number of terminals, etc. can be connected, expansion can be easily performed, and the object of the present invention can be completely achieved.

Hereinafter, the system of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a multidirectional optical spatial propagation coupling system according to the present invention.

There are multiple devices similar to this installed in the same building or on the ceiling inside the room. A computer/terminal device 1 installed on the floor is connected to a signal/power line 3 via a signal processor/power source 2. The system according to the present invention, that is, the optical communication device @10ri is composed of an optical electrical signal converter 5, an optical transmitter/receiver 6, a light reflector 8, and a support 7 that supports the light reflector 8. Light reflecting plate 9tIi In this embodiment, a convex mirror is used, which plays the role of dispersing the optical signal from the optical transmitter/receiver 6 in multiple directions, and at the same time allows the optical signal coming from multiple directions to be received by the optical transmitter/receiver 6. It also plays the role of converging on a surface. Therefore, the signal output from the computer/terminal device 1 is converted into an optical signal and emitted in multiple directions. On the other hand, optical signals incident from multiple directions are converted into electrical signals and input into computers and terminal equipment.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an arrangement in which seven such systems are installed in the same building or room. Three or more light reflecting plates 8 of each system are not arranged in a straight line, but are provided at a position 11 where they can be seen from each other.

Although a convex mirror is used in this embodiment as the light reflecting plate 9 that converts the optical signal of each system into a multidirectional human light signal, it may be of any type as long as it disperses light in multiple directions.For example, it may be configured by combining a large number of plane mirrors. A similar effect can be obtained.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is easy to connect a host computer and a large number of terminal devices to each other, and when adding terminal devices, it is possible to add new terminal devices instead of cutting the existing cables as in the past. Easy to operate without having to install signal lines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of ceiling arrangement of optical communication equipment. 1... Computer/terminal equipment 2... Signal processor/power supply 3... Signal/power line 5... Optical electrical signal converter 6... Optical transmitter/detector 7.
・・Support 8・Light reflector 9・・Optical signal
10... Optical communication device 11... Optical signal spatial propagation path Patent applicant Hisashi Inoro, agent for NEC Corporation, patent attorney

Claims (1)

[Claims] a signal line for connecting a computer, a terminal device, a signal processor, a power supply, etc.; an opto-electrical signal converter connected to the signal line; an optical transmitter/receiver connected to the opto-electric signal converter; a light reflecting plate that brings emitted optical signals from the optical transmitter/receiver in multiple directions and guides incident optical signals from multiple directions to the optical transmitter/receiver; It is installed at a line-of-sight position of the light reflecting plate, and converts signals from terminal equipment, etc. connected to the signal line into optical signals, propagates in multiple directions in space, and detects optical signals entering from multiple directions between the gaps. 1. A multi-directional optical spatial propagation coupling system for computers, terminal equipment, etc., characterized in that it is configured to converge and convert into electrical signals and have the terminal equipment receive the converged signals.