GPIB bus to ZigBee interconnection

• US 9,727,509 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Qi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/631,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 710305, 710 65
• 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 for increasing a location and mobility of devices connected in a bus-based network, 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 for coupling to a host computer and configured to receive ZigBee network information and an operating mode of the conversion device from the host computer,

wherein the controller unit converts the data between the GPIB and ZigBee formats using a frame comprising 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.

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 the device as a talker or a listener.

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 the host 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 information comprises a personal area 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 for increasing a location and mobility of devices originally connected in a bus-based network, 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,

wherein the configuration interface module of the first conversion device is coupled to a host computer for receiving ZigBee network information and an operating mode of the first conversion device, and

wherein the first conversion device is a coordinator device and the second conversion device is an end 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 the first and second conversion devices communicate using a transmission frame comprising 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 wirelessly communicate with the main controller device through the ZigBee module.