JPS5881322A - Control system of interface - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent abnormal operation, etc., due to a noise or when a power source is turned on, by performing signal transmission and reception between devices through a noncontacting transmitter which utilizes light or ultrasonic waves. CONSTITUTION:On confronting surfaces of a copying machine 10 and sorter 20, light emitting elements 11 and 21 and photodetecting elements 12 and 22 are arranged opposite to each other to perform data transmission and reception between the light emitting elements and photodetecting elements. Consequently, a bundle of electric wires is unnecessary and no connector is used, so how to treat the bundle of electric wires and the problem of the fitting precision of the connector are solved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a control method for an interface that connects a plurality of adjacent devices, such as a copying machine, a sorter, an automatic document feeder, etc., and transmits and receives signals, and in particular, A non-contact signal transmitting/receiving device, such as a light emitting diode, a phototransistor, or an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving device, is provided at the point where the devices touch each other, and signals are exchanged between the devices through the non-contact signal transmitting/receiving device. It is something.

When connecting multiple adjacent devices such as a copying machine, a sorter, an ADF, etc., conventional methods are used to transmit and receive data between these devices.
Signal cables were used, but the cables were difficult to handle, and since they were connected using electric wires, there were problems such as noise and abnormal operation when the power was turned on. Furthermore, in order to prevent noise, it has been considered to use an optical fiber instead of the cable, but in that case, there are disadvantages such as high costs for the connector section and a portion of the fiber.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and uses light or ultrasonic waves to connect adjacent peripheral devices without using cables, original fibers, etc. Data is transmitted and received between adjacent devices without contact.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of a conventional interface control system. , when connecting the copying machine 1o and the sorter 2°, it has been considered to connect them using cable I, or to use the connectors by extending the connectors from both devices and fitting these connectors in. . However, the above conventional method
There were problems with the processing of wire bundles, the accuracy of connector installation, etc., and furthermore, there were drawbacks such as a reduction in noise margin due to the connection of peripheral devices.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided on the mating surfaces of the copy machine 10 side and the sorter side, respectively, and The light-emitting element 11 on the machine side and the light-receiving element η on the sorter side, and the light-emitting element 21 on the sorter side and the light-receiving confectionery 12 on the copying machine side are arranged to face each other, and data is transmitted and received by these light-receiving elements and the light-emitting element. It is something.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a copying machine equipped with the above-described light emitting element and light receiving element, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the light emitting element and light receiving element. An arrow 13 for emitting light from the light emitting element 11 to the light receiving element of the sorter and a hole 14 for receiving the light from the light emitting element of the sorter are provided, and the light emitting element 11 and the light receiving element 12 are provided. They are placed in line with these holes.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the above precautions when installing the light emitting elements and light receiving elements.The light emitted from the light emitting elements 11 and 21, as shown in the figure, spreads as the distance increases 9, and this spreads when the other elements Therefore, it is desirable to separate them by a predetermined distance l or to shield them so that the sources emitted from both emitting elements do not interfere with each other.

Figure 6 shows 'jl!' which incorporates the above-mentioned light-emitting element and light-receiving confectionery. This is a diagram showing an example of the IIF circuit.
and C2 are communication interfaces, which are elements for transmitting and receiving data by converting parallel signals into serial signals or serial signals into parallel signals. When sending a signal from the copying machine 10 to the sorter, the parallel signal is input to the IC□, converted to a serial signal, and sent out as the transmission signal SD, which is amplified by the transistor Q1 and sent to the light emitting element (LED).
11 is made to blink according to the serial signal, and this light emitting element 11
The light-receiving element (phototransistor) 22 receives the blinking of the signal, and the IC4 amplifies the received signal RD, inputs it to the device C2, and the IC converts it into a parallel signal for subsequent processing. Also, when sending a signal from the sorter to the copying machine 10, the IC 2 converts the parallel signal into a serial signal to blink the light emitting element 21, and the light receiving element 12 receives the blinking of the light emitting element 21. , IC3, and then IC1 converts the received serial signal into a parallel signal. In addition, the 6th
The figure shows an example in which parallel signals are first converted into serial signals and signals are sent and received, but it is easily possible to provide multiple light-emitting elements and light-receiving confections to send and receive signals in parallel. I can understand it.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which 10
is a copying machine, and 4' is a sorter. For example, as shown in the figure, when peripheral devices are connected and there is a possibility that another device (sorter 20' in the illustrated example) may be inserted, each device should be A member 40 for determining the position of the hollow member 40 is made inside, and the hollow member 40 can be fitted as shown in FIG.
By transmitting and receiving signals through the entire hollow member 40, external influences can be reduced, and furthermore, the hollow member can be used for positioning between devices.

Although an example in which signals are transmitted and received depending on the source has been shown as an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. It is easy to understand that it is also possible to send and receive signals.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. M1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional interface method, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an interface method according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a copying machine to which the interface method according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of light emitting and receiving elements, FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit for carrying out the present invention.
FIG. 8, which shows another embodiment of the present invention, is a detailed view of the hollow member 40 shown in FIG. 7. 10,...copying machine body, addition, addition'...sorter, 11
．． 21... Light emitting element, 12.22... Light receiving element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an interface between two or more devices that are electrically connected and operated, a non-contact signal transmitting/receiving device is provided at one point where they touch each other, and signals are transmitted and received between adjacent devices through the signal transmitting/receiving device. An interface control method featuring: