JPH011347A - Multichannel optical space transmission equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Fields] The present invention is capable of connecting a plurality of computers at the time of rFr1, converting data transmitted and received from the computers into optical signals, and transmitting signals using light propagating through space. It relates to optical space transmission that allows a single device to transmit and receive data from multiple terminal devices.

[Prior Art] In order to send and receive computer data, for example, R8
If you want to directly connect both Combi Coaters via the 232C interface, or use a telephone line to communicate with a remote computer, it is recommended to use an acoustic coupler with NCtJ or t-fm. It is being

On the other hand, when a salesman or the like compiles data input into a handy terminal at a customer's site, data is sent and received by directly connecting the host computer and the R8232C interface of the handy terminal.

In addition, in restaurants, etc., customer orders are input into handheld terminals carried by individual tables or waitresses, and the data is output to a central host computer, which allows sumo wrestlers and other orders to be centrally managed. POS systems have come into use.

Without giving an example, a handheld terminal used for receiving and placing orders has a number of function keys on the keyboard, and each key has a v1 assigned to a variety of menus. [A key such as a terminal is provided as appropriate, and customers' orders are entered into this handy terminal.

[The handheld terminal is equipped with a transmitting unit that emits near-infrared light on its front surface, and the data is sent to the modem described below by this transmitting unit.

The [DEM] is fixed to a high place such as the ceiling, and a window for transmitting and receiving near-infrared light is arranged on the lower surface (floor side).

On the other hand, a connector compatible with the R8232C interface is provided at one end of the modem housing, and a cable connects the R8232C interface to the host computer.
Connected to the 232C interface.

When transmitting data from a terminal device such as a handheld terminal to a central information processing device as a host, infrared or near-infrared light is emitted toward the modem to Through propagation, data is sent to the modem, which in turn sends the data to the host computer via a cable.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, in order to send and receive computer data, modems DCE are usually prepared for each number of installed Combi Coaters DTE, and these are used in a one-to-one correspondence. There is.

Furthermore, in recent years, peripherals that are connected to computers!
8. Opportunities to share expensive equipment such as X-Y plotters and laser printers have increased.

These devices use the R8232C interface due to the need to process data exchange at high speed.

Therefore, most combo controllers are not equipped with multiple R8232C compatible input/output connectors on the back side. Prepare a multiplexer equipped with several RS232C connectors and a connector to be connected to the R8232C interface of the monitor, connect the multiplexer 1 and the R8232C interface of the monitor with a cable, and , connect various peripheral devices to the multiple R8232C connectors provided on the multiplex controller with cables, and connect the computer and those devices each time you use peripheral devices such as an In order to correspond to one pair], there is no need to manually connect cables from various I devices and repair the first connection, and the data sent is distributed according to the R device using the time division/J method of multiplexing. , which operate various peripheral devices.

In addition, it is known to use a modem with a built-in wireless transmitter/receiver unit to transmit and receive data wirelessly, without using cables to exchange data on the converter or control data on peripheral devices. There is.

11, in the case of one to one, each ]] pin j
--Connect each pair of modems DC [to the computer DTE or peripheral equipment to the Taro T, and even in the case of 1:N, as shown in Figure 9, connect the sending computer OT
A modem [lCE and a modem DCE connected to the computer or various peripheral devices] are separately prepared.

This modem connects the R8232C modem IC to the intermediary interface on the R8232C modem IC side.
Data is sent and received using er/flce 1var, and the ■/U HF band is used as radio waves.

In order to transmit data, the modem on the other end is switched to a receiving state to avoid radio wave collision, and then data is transmitted either in a one-sided state, or by changing the transmission frequency separately.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the first conventional example, it was necessary to prepare a modem for each number of installed computers, which inevitably led to an increase in cost.

Furthermore, when a signal splitting modem such as a multiplexer is used, the number of wiring lines is complicated and the transmission distance is limited, so there is no flexibility. Furthermore, there is a current situation where it is necessary to match the transmission speeds of the f-end terminals connected to the modem.

In addition, as in the second conventional example, transmitting and receiving by radio requires a qualification as a radio operator, so not everyone can use it, and furthermore, radio wave interference may adversely affect other electrical equipment. In addition, there was a problem that garbled characters occurred during sending and receiving, making it impossible to send and receive accurately.

On the other hand, in order to realize multi-channel spatial transmission using infrared rays, which is subject to the above-mentioned constraints, it is necessary to construct a line using a conventional time-division method to avoid collision and interference between the same transmitted spatial information. Even if it is determined and completed from the beginning on the host side and the slave side, the host side will always interrupt the line for which there is no communication request, wasting time unnecessarily. This poses an obstacle to multi-type implementation, such as not giving the slave side the opportunity to build a communication line.

Furthermore, even if the construction of a multi-channel line is completed, the transmission speeds of the data terminal devices must be made to match. It was impossible to do so.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for identifying in advance as a communication partner from among multiple receiving computers when data is transmitted by infrared rays almost simultaneously from a modem or a handy terminal connected to multiple transmitting computers. The present invention provides an optical space transmission modem that sequentially transmits and receives calls to and from a computer or a handheld terminal, starting with the first call received by the modem on the receiving side.

Furthermore, even if the transmission speeds of multiple terminal devices connected to a modem are different, the transmission speeds can be adjusted using a dip switch for each corresponding channel, without having to make the transmission speeds the same for each. For example, multiple pairs of multi-channel lines can be constructed using one pair of modems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an optical space that includes a plurality of terminal device connection connectors on the back surface of the casing, and a transmitting/receiving window section equipped with a transmitting light emitting diode and a light receiving photodiode on the front surface. It is a transmission mode, and the housing includes a means for determining whether data transmission is occurring in the transmission space, a means for determining the status of the line, and a means for appropriately assuming the time until the line becomes empty. means for waiting for the time when the line is idle; means for transmitting an acknowledgment or negative response signal in response to the output from the determining means; and means for returning an acknowledgment signal when the line is idle upon reception of the response signal; means for outputting data upon reception of an acknowledgment signal; means for outputting an acknowledgment signal upon normal reception of transmitted data;
At the time of the above-mentioned reception, a transmission control procedure consisting of means for determining whether the signal is data reception or a transmission request signal from another line is provided, and the signal from the terminal device connection connector is transmitted to the CPU circuit.
The serial input/output device (810) of the terminal is tuned to the transmission speed of each terminal device, and a modulation frequency is given by a means to maintain a constant optical transmission speed. At the same time, the signal that has propagated through the space is converted into an electrical signal by a transmitter/receiver circuit, and is input/output to the external device via the terminal connection connector through the SIO of the peripheral IC of the CPU, which synchronizes to the transmission speed of the external device. This is an optical space transmission modem characterized by transmitting and receiving data.

[Function] The present invention provides a plurality of RSs provided on the back side of the modem housing.
The setting switch placed near the 232C connector or the deep switch on the bottom specify the communication speed and communication partner in advance, and when sending, the destination address and sender are specified. The received ID number is used as a transmission request signal, and the sending side requests the receiving side to send it, and if it is accepted first, a transmission path is established, and the connection is made with the sending side specified by the above ID number. Transmission and reception are performed.

1/, while multiple communication partners are connected,
When there is a transmission request from multiple communication stations, the receiving side boat (J11 channel) will transmit if the line is not monopolized in the transmission space and is free, but if it is blocked, the line will be transmitted. , which is held by the terminal device on the transmitting side until it becomes free, and the holding queue at that time is created by the computer on the receiving side, depending on the priority of the incoming call signal, etc.

By the way, if transmission/reception is in progress or if a transmission path has already been established, the sending side that received the transmission request signal will be asked to confirm whether or not the other party is currently transmitting/receiving by using the IDi signal. Alternatively, it sends a negative response signal and communicates with the specified computer out of a plurality of computers (data terminal devices) while always specifying the transmission destination. In addition, when the data length is long, the transmission request and data on the transmitter side can be divided and intervened in order to avoid unnecessarily worsening the transmission time of other lines.

[Embodiment] The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiment will be specifically described below based on the drawings.

A window 3 through which infrared or near-infrared rays are transmitted and received is provided on the front surface of the housing 2 of the transmission device 1, and four R8232C connectors 4 are provided on the back surface.

Near this connector 4, there is a sending side ID setting switch 5, a sending destination ID OTl-IER setting switch 6, a 1:1 setting switch 7, and a status display 8, which will be described below.
is installed.

On the other hand, a dip switch 9.1) is located on the bottom of the housing 2.
E L△Ym selection switch 10 and rehit switch 1
1 is provided.

[The ID setting switch 7-5 is used to set the address of the own station.

The OT l-4E R setting switch 6 is used to set the ID address (00-11) of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, and has a plurality of switching contacts. Can be configured.

+) N: N L-- (transmission side only) When sending to ON switch 00 3 2) In case of 1:1 mode (16 bytes of 70'' with 1:1 option switch
(transfer) when turning ON to become a transmitting station
3 When becoming a receiving station 4 Furthermore, when this switch 7 is turned on, the 1:1 setting switch f-7 becomes the 1:1 mode, and one station each for transmitting and receiving can be used, and when it is turned off, it becomes the N:NE- mode. You can set the sending and receiving mode.

Next, the status display 8 is displayed using the various setting switches 5 mentioned above.
．． 6.7, the status set in accordance with 7 is displayed by means of numbers, which represent the following setting conditions.

0: 1:1 mode Bidirectional 1: Transmission 2: Reception 3: N: NE-do Reception 4: Transmission DLLAY 05,
'6:2 7: N:N mode transmission DELAY 3 Also,
The DELAYm selection switch 10 is a switch for setting the transmitting units according to the number of transmitting units, and is switched as follows.

:L unit count 78 1 OFF 0FF2
ON 0FF3 OFF
ON 'l ON ON Furthermore, the 30
The transmission speed is set in the range of 0 to 19200 bps.

Depending on these parameters, various control elements such as a modem IC or a,
II go! Management of number a is performed.

Next, the signals to be transmitted are transmitted and received in an asynchronous non-procedural manner under the following setting conditions.

Cable (DTE) side 1 ■Data length 7.8 bits ■Stop hit 1.1.5.2 bits ■Parity
ODD, [EVENSNONF.

■Transfer rate 300~19200bDS■Signal
R8232CF￥ base [Emission side 1 ■Data length 8 bits ■Stop bit 1 bit ■Parity EVEN ■Transfer rate 300 to 19200 bps ■Signal From the cable connected to the R8232C connector of the infrared host computer or communication terminal to the emission side transmission device. is sent to the modulator according to the above communication conditions, and the LED's
The light emitting element sends the light as infrared or near-infrared light to the transmission device on the receiving side.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the transmission device 1 includes a transmission signal generation circuit that generates a transmission signal in response to data;
A transmitting unit 13 that includes a transmitter that amplifies the signal and drives an infrared (near infrared) light emitting diode, a photodiode that charges and converts the light that has propagated through space, and an amplifier circuit that amplifies this signal. Furthermore, it is comprised of a transmitting/receiving circuit 15 equipped with a receiving section 14 consisting of a detection circuit, a waveform shaping circuit, etc. for extracting a target code string from the amplified signal, a power supply 16, and the like.

Note that the transmission device 1 of the present invention is capable of transmitting 2 signals sent serially from an external data terminal device to an RS232C connector.
The converted data is converted to RS232C level t'j1
17 to the CP Ll 18, processed into the data format described later, changed by adding height differences at the TTL level, and sent to the transmitting section of the transmitting/receiving circuit, where the V CO (VoltaOe-can mroll
ed oscillator) to oscillate at frequencies with different heights, drive the transistor,
Make the LED emit light.

On the other hand, this oscillation frequency is constant, and SrO, which is a peripheral IC of the CPU, is tuned to the transmission speed of the connected terminal device, converts it into a packet as shown in the data format described later, and sends it to the oscillation circuit each time. There is.

On the receiving side, the transmitted light (infrared rays) is received by a PIN photodiode installed in the receiving section of the transmitting/receiving circuit, and the optical signal is converted into an electrical signal, which is then processed by multiple stages of filters and operational amplifiers. A receiver, an operational amplifier, a Schmitt trigger inverter, and two monostable multivibrators are used to extract the "0" and "1'' signals, which are input to the CPU and determined according to the data format to complete the transmission. It is something.

Then, the signal converted into a predetermined digital signal is R8
The data is transferred from the cable connected to the 232C connector to the receiving terminal device (computer, etc.).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the transmission device of the present invention.

That is, according to the following procedure.

Step ①: Determine whether data is being transmitted (whether the transmission space is empty or not).

Sdep ■: When no transmission is being performed, the transmission device on the transmitting side outputs a transmission request signal (a signal to which the 10 numbers of both the transmitting side and the receiving side are added).

Sdep■: After the receiving transmission device receives the transmission request signal,
An acknowledgment signal to which a transmitting side address and a receiving side address are added is sent back to the transmitting side to indicate that the received data has been confirmed.

3: When the transmission device on the sending side receives the profile response signal, the transmission circuit is established and data is transmitted.

Step (2): If the data is successfully received, an acknowledgment signal is output from the receiving transmission device, and the data transmission is completed.

Step ①: Determine whether the data being transmitted is from the other party, or whether there is a request to start transmission.

Step ■: If the data in item 1- is the corresponding transmission request No. Iha, output an acknowledgment signal and send it to the receiving side! The device 1 confirms the signal and sends the data, and a transmission path is established. However, if the transmission request signal is different, a negative response signal is output, and the state returns to step (2).

Step ■: When data is received normally, an acknowledgment signal is output and a transmission path is established. However, on the other hand, if the data is not received properly due to garbled characters or a timeout occurs, , return to step ■.

As described above, the transmission device of the present invention performs communication between a plurality of computers phase n or a computer and a plurality of peripheral devices via the R8232C connector of a plurality of channels (boats), Depending on the settings of the various setting switches, data can be transmitted and received by the combination coaters arranged in a ratio of 1:1 to N:N as shown in Figures 4 and 5 through spatial propagation using infrared light or near-infrared light. There is.

Incidentally, an example of the data format to be transferred is shown on the next page.

(Left below) 1. Optical line side data format 2. CPU data format for transmitter 3. C for receiver.
PU data format [Right effect] The present invention uses light (infrared or near-infrared light) as a transmission means.
Because it uses , it is free from radio wave interference and has excellent directivity, and since it is not a wired transmission method, it has become possible to send and receive data with great flexibility.

Furthermore, data transmission and reception with multiple data terminal devices,
This can be done by providing only one transmission device of the present invention on each of the transmitting and receiving sides, making it possible to significantly reduce computer system costs.

Further, the communication partner can be arbitrarily set by the parameters of the various setting switches, which greatly increases the convenience in system operation.

In addition, the optical transmission lines have a common communication speed, for example 9.
Signals are sent and received at a high speed of 600 bps, but the communication speed between the cable between this transmission device and the terminal device can be set arbitrarily in the range of 300 to 19,200 bps. side 3
Even if it is set to 00 bps, the signal is sent to the optical transmission line by the aforementioned 810 at a speed of 9600 bps, and the signal is sent to the cable transmission line by the 810 on the receiving side at a speed of 300 bps.
This has the advantage that the signal is sent out at a speed of 100 s and that communication between both terminal devices can be performed without any trouble.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same, Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same, Figs. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing communication modes, and Fig. 6 is a A flowchart showing the transmission control procedure of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present S4 arrangement, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing a conventional example. 1... Transmission device, 2... Housing, 3... Window, 4...
・R8232C connector, 5...ID setting switch, 6...OT HE R setting switch, 7...1
:1 Setting switch, 8...Status display, 9...
date switch, 10...DELAYm selection switch, 11...reset switch. Patent applicant (183) Sanki Kogyo Co., Ltd. Agent
(γ134) Patent Attorney Ashi 1) Naoe Figure 1 1 Figure 2 ° Figure □ Figure 4 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical space comprising an RS232C connector connected to a plurality of data terminal devices or peripheral devices on the back of the casing, and a transmitting/receiving window section equipped with a transmitting light emitting diode and a light receiving photodiode on the front. The transmission device includes, within the housing, means for determining whether or not data transmission is being performed in the space to be transmitted, and an acknowledgment or negative response signal corresponding to the output from the determining means. means for transmitting an acknowledgment signal when the line is idle upon reception of the response signal; means for outputting data upon reception of the acknowledgment signal; and means for determining whether the transmitted data is normal. a transmission control procedure comprising means for outputting an acknowledgment signal upon reception; and means for determining, upon reception, whether the signal is data reception or a transmission request signal from another line; The signal from the terminal device connector,
The transmitter/receiver circuit converts the signal into light and propagates it in space, and the transmitter/receiver circuit converts the signal into an electrical signal and outputs it to the outside from the terminal connector to connect multiple terminal devices to each other. An optical space transmission device characterized by transmitting and receiving data in the same transmission space.