GPIB BUS TO ZIGBEE INTERCONNECTION

• US 20150317267A1
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
• Inventors: LIU, QI
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/40 Bus structure for computer networks G06F15/163; for optical bus networks H04B10/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An interface conversion device and a wireless communication system including the interface conversion device are disclosed. The interface conversion device is connected to GPIB-equipped devices in a GPIB network to convert data in the GPIB format to the ZigBee format and vice versa, thereby transforming a cable network to a wireless network to increase the mobility, range, and number of devices in the network.

Claims

1. A conversion device comprising:

a GPIB module configured to transmit and receive data in a GPIB format;

a ZigBee module configured to transmit and receive data in a ZigBee format;

a controller unit configured to convert data in the GPIB format into data in the ZigBee format and convert data in the ZigBee format into data in the GPIB format; and

a configuration interface module configured to set up a ZigBee network and an operating mode of the conversion device.

2. The conversion device of claim 1, wherein the GPIB module comprises:

a GPIB interface configured to interface with a device equipped with a GPIB port; and

a GPIB controller unit configured to control data communication in the GPIB format.

3. The conversion device of claim 2, wherein the GPIB module further comprises:

a transmit buffer and a reception buffer.

4. The conversion device of claim 1, wherein the configuration interface module comprises:

a configuration interface unit configured to connect the conversion device to a computer; and

a configuration management unit configured to manage operations and configurations of the conversion device.

5. The conversion device of claim 4, wherein the configuration interface unit comprises a USB port or a COM port.

6. The conversion device of claim 1, wherein the ZigBee network comprises a personal are network ID, a communication channel, and a network address.

7. The conversion device of claim 1, further comprising:

a static random access memory configured to store received data and converted data.

8. The conversion device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply unit configured to provide an operating voltage.

9. The conversion device of claim 8, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one of a battery, a USB port, and a charger interface.

10. The conversion device of claim 8, further comprising:

a power supply control module configured to control the power supply unit.

11. A network system comprising:

a main control device equipped with a first GPIB interface;

a first conversion device connected to the first GPIB interface of the main control device;

a remote device equipped with a second GPIB interface;

a second conversion device connected to the second GPIB interface of the remote device, the second conversion device having substantially a same structure as the first conversion device;

wherein;

each of the first and second conversion devices comprises;

a GPIB module configured to transmit and receive data in a GPIB format;

a ZigBee module configured to transmit and receive data in a ZigBee format;

a controller unit configured to convert data in the GPIB format into data in the ZigBee format and convert data of the ZigBee format into data of the GPIB format; and

a configuration interface module configured to set up a ZigBee network and an operating mode of the conversion device.

12. The network system of claim 11, wherein the first conversion device is configured to:

receive and identify GPIB format data coming from the main control device;

convert the received and identified GPIB format data into data in the ZigBee format;

wirelessly transmit the data in the ZigBee format to the remote device.

13. The network system of claim 12, wherein the second conversion device is configured to:

wirelessly receive the data in the ZigBee format transmitted by the first conversion device;

convert the received data in the ZigBee format into data in the GPIB format; and

provide the GPIB format data to the remote device.

14. The network system of claim 12, wherein the first conversion device is further configured to:

receive data in the ZigBee format transmitted by the remote device;

convert the received data in the ZigBee format data into data in the GPIB format; and

provide the data in the GPIB format to the main control device.

15. The network system of claim 13, wherein the second conversion device is further configured to:

receive and identify data in the GPIB format coming from the remote device;

convert the received and identified GPIB format data into data into data in the ZigBee format;

wirelessly transmit the data in the ZigBee format to the main control device.

16. The network system of claim 11, wherein a transmission frame used in the ZigBee network comprises a header field, a transmission frame type field, a single-wire interface information field, a GPIB data field, a system status information field, and a checksum field.

17. The network system of claim 16, wherein the transmission frame type field comprises bits for encoding one of the following frame types:

a downlink ZigBee system testing frame;

an uplink ZigBee response system testing frame;

a downlink GPIB controller message frame;

an uplink GPIB response of device status frame;

a downlink GPIB talker response message frame;

an uplink GPIB talker message frame;

a downlink reset all conversion devices frame; and

an uplink response of conversion devices reset status frame.

18. The network system of claim 11, further comprising additional remote devices each equipped with a GPIB interface connected to a corresponding conversion device configured to communicate with the main controller device.