JPH01282933A - System and apparatus for receiving infrared-ray signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the photodetecting characteristic by demodulating an infrared-ray signal received by a photodetection section with the highest detection sensitivity among plural photodetection sections directed in different directions. CONSTITUTION:Photodetection sections 2, 3, 4 consist of infrared-ray photodetectors 5, 6, 7 and lenses 8, 9, 10. Amplifiers 11, 12, 13 amplify outputs of the infrared-ray photodetectors 5, 6, 7. Analog switches 14, 15, 16 are controlled for their switching by the output of AND gates 22, 23, 24 operated based on the output of comparators 16-21. Then the analog switches 14, 15, 16 are switched based on an output level of the amplifiers 11, 12, 13. Moreover, the priority with the same output level is amplifier 11 > amplifier 12 > amplifier 13. That is, the analog switch corresponding to the amplifier with the largest output level is opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial field of application The present invention relates to an infrared signal receiving device for equipment that receives infrared signals to control operation. As a signal receiving device,
There was one described in Japanese Patent No. 7-78159. The one described in this publication has two light receiving parts for optical signals.
In the case where the remote control transmitter is built into the main body,
It was designed so that infrared signals from the remote control could always be received whether it was separated from the main unit or not.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention Although the infrared signal receiving device configured in this manner has two light receiving sections for optical signals, the negative light receiving section cannot be used when the remote control transmitter is housed in the main body. It is a dedicated light receiving section for
In reality, only one light receiving section receives the infrared signal from the remote control transmitter. For this reason, the receiving characteristics of the receiving device depend on the light receiving characteristics of the light receiving section.
Infrared signals that deviate from this light receiving characteristic are either unreceivable or receive erroneous signals. Therefore, the remote controller that transmits the infrared signal must be moved to an appropriate position, which is cumbersome.

In view of such problems, the present invention provides a receiving device with improved infrared signal reception characteristics.

(Means for Solving the Phantom Problem) The present invention provides a reception system that receives a modulated infrared signal from a remote controller, demodulates this signal, and outputs it. It demodulates infrared signals received by a light receiving section with good light receiving sensitivity.

In addition, the receiving device includes a plurality of light receiving sections or light receiving elements each facing in a different direction, and a demodulating section that demodulates the infrared signal received by the light receiving section or light receiving element with the highest light receiving sensitivity among the respective light receiving sections or light receiving elements. It is equipped with the following.

(*) Function By using the infrared signal receiving method and receiving device configured in this way, the direction in which the infrared signal is transmitted from the remote controller is determined, and the light receiving unit or light receiving unit facing the direction closest to the transmitting direction is determined. The infrared signal received by the element can be demodulated, and the light receiving characteristics can be improved.

(F) Example Hereinafter, a case where an example of the present invention is used in an air conditioner will be explained based on the drawings. Note that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to air conditioners, but can also be used for televisions, video, audio equipment, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the air conditioner 1. FIG. 2゜3.4 in the figure
are light receiving sections each housing an infrared light receiving element, and an infrared transmitting filter and a lens are provided on the front surface of the light receiving sections to enlarge the light receiving range. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the light receiving characteristics of the light receiving sections 2, 3 and 4 when the air conditioner 1 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a room. The light-receiving characteristic of the light-receiving section 3 has light-receiving characteristics at angles α and β with respect to the center direction. It can receive infrared signals with the best sensitivity for signals transmitted from within the range of angle α, and has poor sensitivity for signals transmitted from beyond the range of angle α and within the range of angle β. is the range in which infrared signals can be received. At this time, if the output of the infrared signal is attenuated due to reflection etc., this is a signal reception range where erroneous reception may occur. Note that the sensitivity is poor for signals transmitted from directions beyond the range of angle β, and it is difficult to receive correct signals. The light receiving sections 2 and 4 have almost the same characteristics as the light receiving section 3, but the center directions of the light receiving characteristics are different from each other. By arranging the light receiving section 2°3.4 in this manner, infrared signals can be received from almost any direction within the room.

FIG. 3 is an electronic circuit diagram of the main parts of the receiving device used in the air conditioner 1 shown in FIGS. It consists of 8, 9, and 10. 11, 12, 13 are infrared receiving elements 5
, 6.7. 14,15.
16 is an analog switch, and AND gates 22 , 23 , which operate based on the outputs of the comparators 16 to 21
Opening/closing (ONloFF) is controlled by the output of 24. This analog switch 14, 15.16 is the amplifier 11.12
．． The opening/closing operation is performed as shown in FIG. 4 based on the output level of amplifier 13. When the output levels are the same, the priority order is amplifier 11>amplifier 12>amplifier 13. That is, the analog switch corresponding to the amplifier with the highest output level is opened (ON). 25 is a conversion section, and terminal ■. It demodulates the serial infrared signal supplied to the terminal, converts it into 4-bit parallel data, and outputs it from the terminal. 26 is a control unit of the air conditioner;
The operation of the compressor, blower, etc. is controlled based on the signal from the converter 25.

In the receiving device configured in this way, the analog switch corresponding to the infrared light receiving element with high reception sensitivity is opened (ON) according to the transmission position of the infrared signal, and the received signal of this infrared light receiving element is transferred to the converter. 25 to demodulate and output. At this time, by blocking the reception signals of the other infrared light receiving elements, it is possible to prevent the conversion unit 25 from malfunctioning due to interference of the reception signals of the other infrared light receiving elements.

(g) Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a reception system that receives a modulated infrared signal from a remote controller, demodulates this signal, and outputs it. It demodulates the infrared signal received by a good light receiving section, and the receiving device has a plurality of light receiving sections or light receiving elements facing different directions, and a light receiving section with the highest light receiving sensitivity among the respective light receiving sections or light receiving elements. Alternatively, since it includes a demodulation section that demodulates the infrared signal received by the light receiving element, the infrared signal can always be received with good sensitivity, reducing malfunctions and maintaining stable operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the front side of an air conditioner showing an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows the light receiving characteristics of each light receiving part when the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1 is installed in a room. An explanatory diagram, Fig. 3 is a main part electronic circuit diagram of the receiving device used in the air conditioner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4 shows the opening/closing of the analog switch (
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state (ONloFF). 2.3.4... Light receiving section, 5, 6.7... Infrared light receiving element, 14, 15.16... Analog switch, 25... Conversion section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a reception method that receives a modulated infrared signal from a remote controller, demodulates this signal, and outputs it, the signal is received by the light-receiving part with the highest light-receiving sensitivity among multiple light-receiving parts facing different directions. An infrared signal reception method characterized by demodulating infrared signals. (2) A receiving device that receives a modulated infrared signal from a remote controller, demodulates and outputs this signal, and has a plurality of light receiving sections facing different directions, and a receiver with the highest light receiving sensitivity among the light receiving sections. 1. An infrared signal receiving device comprising: a demodulating section that demodulates an infrared signal received by a good light receiving section. (3) In a receiving device that receives a modulated infrared signal from a remote controller, demodulates this signal, and outputs it, a plurality of light-receiving elements each facing a different direction and a sensor with the highest light-receiving sensitivity of each light-receiving section are used. 1. An infrared signal receiving device comprising: a demodulating section that demodulates an infrared signal received by a good light receiving section.