Wireless Communication System, Cradle Apparatus, and Portable Device

• US 20070237123A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Komoriya, Yota
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A cradle apparatus and a portable device are interconnected employing reflected wave transmission without interfering with an adjacent wireless system or impairing ease of use of the portable device. The cradle is provided with a function of a reflected wave reader and a digital camera is provided with a function of a reflector, whereby communication between the cradle and the digital camera is performed in a non-contact manner. The digital camera modulates a reflected wave of an unmodulated carrier transmitted from the cradle by varying the antenna load impedance in accordance with picked up image data, thereby performing reflected wave transmission. Communication is possible even while the portable device is somewhat apart from the cradle, and the ease of use of the portable device is not impaired even while communication is being performed.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for performing reflected wave transmission employing modulation of a reflected wave of a radio wave, the system comprising:

a portable device configured to superimpose data on a reflected wave of a received radio wave and thereby transmit the data; and

a cradle apparatus configured to transmit a carrier wave, receive a reflected wave of the carrier wave, and demodulate the data transmitted from said portable device.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said cradle apparatus includes interface means for communicating with a host device configured to process data stored in said portable device, and transfers the data received from said portable device via the reflected wave transmission to the host device via the interface means.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said portable device includes image pickup means for picking up a moving or still image and a built-in memory or a removable memory for storing picked up image data, and performs the reflected wave transmission by modulating the reflected wave of the carrier wave transmitted from said cradle apparatus in accordance with the image data to be transmitted.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said cradle apparatus controls transmission of the carrier wave in accordance with whether or not said portable device is being received by said cradle apparatus.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein

said cradle apparatus transmits the carrier wave in response to reception of said portable device by the receptacle.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein

said cradle apparatus transmits the carrier wave in response to removal of said portable device from the receptacle.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein,

in response to removal of said portable device from the receptacle, said cradle apparatus transmits the carrier wave with a higher power than when said portable device is being received by the receptacle.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said cradle apparatus stops transmission of the carrier wave in response to absence of reception of the reflected wave from said portable device continuing for a predetermined time.

9. A cradle apparatus configured to function as an intermediary between a portable device and a host device, said cradle apparatus comprising:

transmission means for transmitting a carrier wave;

receiving means for receiving from the portable device a reflected wave of the transmitted carrier wave and demodulating data transmitted from the portable device; and

interface means for performing communication with the host device.

10. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cradle apparatus transfers the data received from the portable device via said receiving means to the host device via said interface means.

11. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cradle apparatus transmits data received from the host device via said interface means toward the portable device via said transmission means employing the carrier wave.

12. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive the portable device; and

portable device reception recognition means for recognizing whether or not the portable device is being received by said receptacle, wherein

said transmission means controls transmission of the carrier wave based on a result of the recognition.

13. The cradle apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said transmission means transmits the carrier wave in response to reception of the portable device by said receptacle.

14. The cradle apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said transmission means transmits the carrier wave in response to removal of the portable device from said receptacle.

15. The cradle apparatus according to claim 12, wherein,

in response to removal of the portable device from said receptacle, said transmission means transmits the carrier wave with a higher power than when the portable device is being received by said receptacle.

16. The cradle apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said portable device reception recognition means is formed by a switch configured to detect placement of the portable device on said receptacle.

17. The cradle apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said portable device reception recognition means is formed by a weight sensor configured to detect a weight of the portable device placed on said receptacle.

18. The cradle apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising

a bus interface configured to electrically connect with the portable device received on the receiving surface, wherein

said portable device reception recognition means is formed by a bus monitor configured to monitor a signal on said bus interface.

19. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising

communication control means for stopping transmission of the carrier wave by said transmission means in response to absence of reception by said receiving means of the reflected wave from the portable device continuing for a predetermined time.

20. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

said interface means is formed by a USB interface.

21. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

said interface means is formed by a cable or wireless network interface.

22. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

video/audio data processing means for decoding video or audio data received via said receiving means; and

video/audio data output means for outputting the decoded video or audio data to an outside.

23. The cradle apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising

charging means for charging a battery of the portable device.

24. A portable device, comprising:

data processing means for processing data; and

data transmission means for modulating a reflected wave of a carrier wave transmitted from the cradle apparatus of claim 9 in accordance with data to be transmitted and thereby transmitting the data.

25. The portable device according to claim 24, further comprising:

image pickup means for picking up a moving or still image; and

a built-in memory or a removable memory for storing picked up image data, wherein

said data transmission means modulates the reflected wave of the carrier wave transmitted from the cradle apparatus in accordance with the image data to be transmitted and thereby transmits the image data.

26. A wireless communication apparatus that performs reflected wave communication employing modulation of a reflected wave of a carrier wave, the reflected wave being caused by a reflector, the apparatus comprising:

transmission means for transmitting the carrier wave;

receiving means for performing a process of receiving the reflected wave of the transmitted carrier wave, the reflected wave being caused by the reflector; and

communication control means for controlling transmission of the carrier wave by said transmission means in accordance with a situation of the reflector.

27. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

a receptacle configured to receive the reflector; and

portable device reception recognition means for recognizing whether or not the reflector is being received by said receptacle, wherein

said communication control means controls transmission of the carrier wave based on a result of the recognition.

28. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

said communication control means causes the carrier wave to be transmitted in response to reception of the reflector by said receptacle.

29. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein

said communication control means causes the carrier wave to be transmitted in response to removal of the reflector from said receptacle.

30. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein,

in response to removal of the reflector from said receptacle, said communication control means causes the carrier wave to be transmitted with a higher power than when the reflector is being received by said receptacle.

31. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said communication control means stops transmission of the carrier wave by said transmission means in response to absence of reception by said receiving means of the reflected wave from the reflector continuing for a predetermined time.