Distributed infrared communication system
First Claim
1. A two-way communications system for a generally enclosed space employing a base infrared transmitter and a base unit infrared receiver that communicate through a variable or undefined length optical path at carrier frequencies respectively with an up-link infrared receiver and from an up-link infrared transmitter, and a base unit for generating transmission signals for the base transmitter and for receiving signals from the base receiver, comprising:
- said base infrared transmitter including a plurality of base unit infrared transmitter modules placed at distributed locations within the space to generate infrared light signals, first cable means for coupling the transmission signals from the base unit to the base unit transmitter modules so as to cause the transmission of infrared light therefrom towards the up-link infrared receiver;
said based infrared receiver including a plurality of base unit infrared receiver modules placed at distributed locations within the space to detect light from the up-link infrared transmitter and produce at carrier frequencies output signals representative thereof, and second cable means for coupling the output signals from base unit infrared receivers to the base unit, means for combining said output signals from base infrared receiver modules and generating a level signal representative of the combined infrared energy detected at base unit receiver modules.means responsive to the level signal for varying the base transmission signals so as to establish, from the up-link infrared transmitter, an optical output level that is at a level needed for detection by at least one of said distributed base unit infrared receiver modules;
wherein a plurality of base unit infrared transmitter and receiver modules and a plurality of up-link infrared transmitters and receivers operate at different carrier frequencies for operation in different frequency channels;
with base-unit infrared receiver modules operative in different frequency channels being placed in proximity to each other so as to effectively have a common optical field of view.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A two way communication system is described wherein a base unit can transfer information with remotely-located unit such as a portable infrared commuicator. The base unit produces carrier frequency signals to a plurality of distributed transmitter modules which expose different areas to infrared transmissions. A plurality of down-link or base unit associated infrared detection modules are distributed to receive infrared carrier frequency communications from one or more remote or portable units and convert these to electrical signals at the same carrier frequencies. The latter electrical signals are delivered to the base unit through a common cable. This cable also serves to deliver electrical power to the base unit to the latter modules. The electrical carrier frequency signals are combined at the base unit which uses this to provide the base unit with the information detected from the remote unit and produce a signal representative of the detected infrared energy. The latter signal may then be used to control the output power from the remote or portable units.
68 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A two-way communications system for a generally enclosed space employing a base infrared transmitter and a base unit infrared receiver that communicate through a variable or undefined length optical path at carrier frequencies respectively with an up-link infrared receiver and from an up-link infrared transmitter, and a base unit for generating transmission signals for the base transmitter and for receiving signals from the base receiver, comprising:
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said base infrared transmitter including a plurality of base unit infrared transmitter modules placed at distributed locations within the space to generate infrared light signals, first cable means for coupling the transmission signals from the base unit to the base unit transmitter modules so as to cause the transmission of infrared light therefrom towards the up-link infrared receiver; said based infrared receiver including a plurality of base unit infrared receiver modules placed at distributed locations within the space to detect light from the up-link infrared transmitter and produce at carrier frequencies output signals representative thereof, and second cable means for coupling the output signals from base unit infrared receivers to the base unit, means for combining said output signals from base infrared receiver modules and generating a level signal representative of the combined infrared energy detected at base unit receiver modules. means responsive to the level signal for varying the base transmission signals so as to establish, from the up-link infrared transmitter, an optical output level that is at a level needed for detection by at least one of said distributed base unit infrared receiver modules;
wherein a plurality of base unit infrared transmitter and receiver modules and a plurality of up-link infrared transmitters and receivers operate at different carrier frequencies for operation in different frequency channels;with base-unit infrared receiver modules operative in different frequency channels being placed in proximity to each other so as to effectively have a common optical field of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A two-way communications system for a generally enclosed space employing a base infrared transmitter and a base unit infrared receiver that communicate through a variable or undefined length optical path at carrier frequencies respectively with an up-link infrared receiver and from an up-link infrared transmitter, and a base unit for generating transmission signals for the base transmitter and for receiving signals from the base receiver, comprising:
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said base infrared transmitter including a plurality of base unit infrared transmitter modules placed at distributed locations within the space to generate infrared light signals, first cable means for coupling the transmission signals from the base unit to the base unit transmitter modules so as to cause the transmission of infrared light therefrom towards the up-link infrared receiver; said base infrared receiver including a plurality of base unit infrared receiver modules placed at distributed locations within the space to detect light from the up-link infrared transmitter and produce at carrier frequencies output signals representative thereof, and second cable means for coupling the output signals from base unit infrared receivers to the base unit, means for combining said output signals from base infrared receiver modules and generating a level signal representative of the combined infrared energy detected at base unit receiver modules, means responsive to the level signal for varying the base transmission signals so as to establish, from the up-link infrared transmitter, an optical output level that is at a level needed for detection by at least one of said distributed base unit infrared receiver modules;
whereinsaid base unit infrared receiver modules have sufficient bandwidth to provide a plurality of separate frequency channels for receiving infrared signals from up-link infrared transmitters respectively operating in said separate frequency channels. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A two-way communication system for a generally enclosed space employing infrared communication at carrier frequencies between a base unit and remote locations, comprising:
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base unit means for generating signals for transmission at carrier frequencies; means including a plurality of up-link infrared transmitter modules placed at distributed locations within the space to generate infrared signals, first cable means for coupling the base unit to the up-link infrared transmitter modules so as to reproduce infrared signals at carrier frequencies therefrom; means including a plurality of down-link distributed infrared detector modules for detecting infrared communications from remote locations at carrier frequencies and reproducing said infrared communication in the form of electrical signals at said latter carrier frequencies; and
second cable means for coupling said latter electrical signals to said base unit means at said carrier frequencies; andwherein said base unit means includes means for combining said electrical signals from infrared detector modules at carrier frequencies to produce an output signal representative of a communication from a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A two-way communication system for a generally enclosed space employing infrared communication at carrier frequencies between a base unit and remote locations, comprising:
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base unit means for generating signals for transmission at carrier frequencies; means including a plurality of up-link infrared transmitter modules placed at distributed locations within the space to generate infrared signals, first cable means for coupling the base unit to the up-link infrared transmitter modules so as to reproduce infrared signals at carrier frequencies therefrom; means including a plurality of down-link distributed infrared detector modules for detecting infrared communications from remote locations at carrier frequencies and reproducing said infrared communication in the form of electrical signals at said latter carrier frequencies; and
second cable means for coupling said latter electrical signals to said base unit means at said carrier frequencies;wherein the second cable means comprises a common cable connected to each said detector module; and wherein the base unit means further comprises means for combining said electrical signals at carrier frequencies to produce an output signal representative of a communication from a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification