Wireless transmission apparatus and control system

• US 6,597,292 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intertechnology Global LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shigyo, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/407,374
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/5.1, 340/5.61, 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/10.52
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A transmission apparatus for transmitting key operation information in a wireless signal form can avoid erroneous operation, even when a radio interference occurs between a transmission system and a reception system. A keyboard outputs a key make code when a key is depressed, and outputs a key break code when the key is released. Even when the keyboard is connected to a personal computer via a wireless signal, these key codes are transmitted utilizing the wireless signal. However, after the key make code is transmitted, if the key break code cannot be transmitted due to noise, then the personal computer cannot recognize that the relevant key is released. The transmission system (keyboard side) regularly transmits a fixed-term identification code (ID code) to the reception system (personal computer side). When the reception system cannot regularly detect the fixed-term identification code, the transmission system automatically transmits an all off code to the personal computer so as to notify that all keys are set under a break state. As a result, the transmission system can avoid the erroneous operation.

Claims

1. A wireless transmission apparatus for transmitting information input by key input means, and for remote-controlling an external appliance connected to a reception system, comprising:

a transmission system including said key input means, a wireless communication unit for transmitting an input key data code, and a transmitting antenna; and

a reception system including a receiving antenna, a wireless communication unit, and reception key code analyzing means for analyzing a key make state and a key break state, wherein

said transmission system regularly transmits an identification code to said reception system; and

when said identification code is not detected regularly, said reception system automatically produces an all off code for informing said external appliance that all of keys are brought into a break state.

2. A wireless transmission apparatus to which key input means such as a keyboard functioning as an input apparatus is connected, for transmitting operation control information input by said input apparatus to a transmission system, for transmitting said operation control information from said transmission system, and for remote-controlling an external appliance such as a personal computer connected to a reception system, wherein

said transmission system is comprises:

an interface for connecting said key input mean;

a control unit for producing a key transmission packet by entering information indicative of a make-state and break state of an input key to said key transmission packet, and for producing a fixed-term identification data packet containing a fixed-term code every predetermined time;

a wireless communication unit for modulating a wireless signal with said fixed-term data packet and said key transmission packet; and

a transmitting antenna,

said reception unit comprises;

a receiving antenna;

a wireless communication unit; and

reception key code analyzing means for analyzing a make state and break state of a key,

said transmission system regularly transmits an identification code to said reception system, and

when said identification code is not detected regularly, said reception system automatically produces an all off code for informing said external appliance that all of keys are brought into the break state.

3. A transceiver unit for constituting a reception system of a wireless transmission apparatus, comprising:

a receiving antenna for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from a control console unit, and a reception RF module for deriving data from said received wireless signal;

a transmitting antenna and transmission RF module for transmitting to a receiver unit a wireless signal modulated with image data and speech data;

connection means for connecting with an external appliance;

a video scan converter for converting a personal computer output image signal into an image signal which can be displayed on a home-use television set and a monitor apparatus; and

a CPU for executing a control operation for transmitting key information received by said receiving antenna and said reception RF module to said external appliance, and for automatically producing an all off code for informing said external appliance that all of keys are brought into the break state when identification code is not detected regularly.

4. A control system of a wireless transmission apparatus to which key input means such as a keyboard for controlling an external appliance is connected, and for transmitting remote operation control information produced by employing said input means to a transmission system to remote-control a personal computer and said external appliance which are connected to a reception system, wherein

a single identification code is set for one pair of both said transmission system and said reception system;

when a link is established between said transmission system and said reception system, an identification code with which a transmitter and a receiver can identify in an one-to-one relationship each other is continuously transmitted from said transmission system to a reception unit every predetermined time, a key input apparatus being connected to said transmission system;

said reception system judges that a state of the link is stable when said reception system continuously recognizes said identification code, whereas said reception system judges that radio interference occurs when said reception system cannot recognize said identification code plural times under link state.

5. A control system of a wireless transmission apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein

said transmission system remote-controls said external appliance by transmitting two codes to said reception system, said two codes being a code indicative of a key depressing state and another code for indicating such a state that said key is released from the key depressing state;

when a key make state of a key is determined on a reception side or when a key break state code to be subsequently received is not reached to said reception system due to the radio interference between said transmission system and said reception system, said reception system detects that said identification codes cannot be continuously received plural times, to judge occurrence of a radio interference; and

said reception system produces an all break code for forcibly returning the key make state to the key break state, when said reception system judges the occurrence of the radio interference.