DESCRIPTION
[Title of Invention]
ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT DEVICE,
AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
[Technical Field]
[0001]
The present invention relates to an electronic circuit system and an
electronic circuit device using close-coupled contactless interface technology.
[Background Art]
[0002]
As close-coupled contactless interface technology, a device having a
close-coupled wireless communication interface utilizing magnetic field coupling
between coils has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). FIG. 30
illustrates a configuration of a conventional device having a close-coupled wireless
communication interface disclosed in Patent Literature 1. It is often difficult to
establish wireless communication utilizing magnetic field coupling between coils
unless the coils are close to each other and face each other.
[0003]
In FIG. 30, a target system 912 includes a microcomputer 913 having coils
99 for a close-coupled wireless communication interface. On the other hand, a host
device for debugging the target system 912 includes a host computer 91, a debugger
93 and a wireless communication interface IC 97 having coils 98 for a wireless
communication interface. By being controlled by the host computer 91, the
debugger 93 establishes data connection with the IC 97 and debugs the target system
912 through wireless communication established between the coils 98 and 99.
[0004]
The IC 97 has three coils 98, and the microcomputer 913 has three coils 99.
To the three coils, respective functions, such as a clock function, a signal
transmission function and a signal reception function, are assigned. By appropriately
setting a positional relation between the coils 99 and 98 so that the coils 99 and 98
can transmit/receive respective signals assigned thereto, data communication is
established between the debugger 93 and the target system 912. That is to say, in
order to establish close-coupled wireless communication, it is necessary that a coil
included in the debugger 93 having the clock function and a coil included in the
target system 912 having the clock function face each other, and a coil included in
one of the debugger 93 and the target system 912 having the transmission function
and a coil included in the other one of the debugger 93 and the target system 912
having the reception function face each other.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0005]
[Patent Literature 1]
WO 2008/056739
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0006]
With the conventional configuration described above, it is necessary that the
positional relation between the three coils 98 and the three coils 99 be set so that
they can communicate with each other.
[0007]
As a result, a positional relation between the debugger 93 and the target
system 912 is set accordingly. Therefore, there is such a problem that a relative
position and a relative angle of the debugger 93 and the target system 912 cannot be
changed even though it is required to change the relative position and the relative
angle for any reason. Note that there may not be any good reason to change the
positional relation between the debugger 93 and the target system 912. In the case
where two wireless communication interfaces are attached to respective members
moving or turning relative to each other, however, it is desirable that wireless
communication be established both before and after the relative movement and the
like. The same is true in the case where one of the debugger 93 and the target system
912 has a single coil for use in communication.
[0008]
In addition, the arrangement and the number of coils can vary according to
the type of the microcomputer 913 due to a difference in size and communication
configuration (e.g. the number of communication lines). In such a case, if the IC 97
having the coils 98 is changed for each type of the microcomputer 913, many
problems occur as a great number of components are required and debugging
becomes complex.
[0009]
The present invention has been conceived in view of the above problems. A
purpose of the present invention is to provide an electronic circuit system, an
electronic circuit device and a wireless communication device that reduce at least
one of a constraint on the positional relation between two devices and a constraint
on the number and the arrangement of coils included in each device when the
close-coupled wireless communication is established.
[Solution to Problem]
[0010]
In order to solve the above-presented problems, one aspect of the present
invention is an electronic circuit system comprising a first electronic circuit device
and a second electronic circuit device, the first electronic circuit device including a
first antenna and a first electronic circuit connected to the first antenna, the second
electronic circuit device including a plurality of second antennas and a second
electronic circuit connected to one or more of the plurality of second antennas, the
first and second electronic circuit devices establishing close-coupled wireless
communication with each other in such a state that a part of the first electronic
circuit device in which the first antenna is positioned and a part of the second
electronic circuit device in which the plurality of second antennas are positioned
face each other, wherein the second electronic circuit device further includes: a
connection information generation unit configured to select one of the plurality of
second antennas to be paired with the first antenna for use in close-coupled wireless
communication, and generate connection information indicating that the selected
second antenna is to be connected to the second electronic circuit; and a connection
switching unit configured to switch the one or more second antennas connected to
the second electronic circuit in accordance with the connection information.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0011]
The electronic circuit system and the electronic circuit device of the present
invention reduce at least one of the constraint on the positional relation between two
devices establishing close-coupled wireless communication and the constraint on the
number and the arrangement of coils included in one of the devices.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 2 is an overview diagram of the electronic circuit system.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the electronic circuit system.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an antenna included in the electronic circuit system.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a connection switching unit 210 included in
the electronic circuit system.
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a connection information generation unit
209 included in the electronic circuit system.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing communication connection update
processing performed by the electronic circuit system.
FIGs. 8A and 8B illustrate a change in positional relation between
electronic circuit devices included in the electronic circuit system.
FIGs. 9A and 9B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of antennas
in Modification 1 of Embodiment 1.
FIGs. 10A and 10B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of
antennas in Modification 2 of Embodiment 1.
FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a connection information generation unit
309 in Modification 3 of Embodiment 1.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing communication connection update
processing 2 in Modification 3.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 2.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 3.
FIG. 15 schematically illustrates an arrangement pattern of antennas
included in the electronic circuit system in Embodiment 3.
FIG. 16 is an overview diagram of a wireless communication system in
Embodiment 4.
FIGs. 17A and 17B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of
antennas included in an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 5.
FIGs. 18A and 18B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of
antennas included in the electronic circuit system in Embodiment 5.
FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing communication connection update
processing 3 in Embodiment 5.
FIG. 20 is an outline view of a sliding-type mobile phone having a wireless
communication system in Modification 1 of Embodiment 5.
FIG. 21 illustrates the mobile phone having been separated into two parts.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the wireless communication system in
Modification 1 of Embodiment 5.
FIG. 23 is an outline view of a display device having a wireless
communication system in Modification 2 of Embodiment 5.
FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a coupling member 610 included in the
display device.
FIG. 25' schematically illustrates an arrangement pattern of antennas
included in the wireless communication system in Modification 2 of Embodiment 5.
FIGs. 26A and 26B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of
antennas included in an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 6.
FIGs. 27A and 27B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of
antennas included in an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 6.
FIGs. 28A and 28B schematically illustrate other arrangement patterns of
antennas included in the electronic circuit system in Embodiment 6.
FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system in
Embodiment 7.
FIG. 30 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 8.
FIG. 31 illustrates a configuration of a conventional device having a
wireless communication interface.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0013]
The following describes embodiments of the present invention, with
reference to the drawings.
[0014]
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit system in Embodiment 1
of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an electronic circuit system
composed of a first electronic circuit device 100 and a second electronic circuit
device 101 is taken as an example of the electronic circuit system.
[0015]
More specifically, taken as an example is a case where the first electronic
circuit device 100 is an electronic circuit device, such as an LSI (Large Scale
Integration), that includes an electronic circuit constituting a microcomputer, and the
second electronic circuit device 101 is an electronic circuit device, such an LSI, that
includes an electronic circuit constituting a debugger used to debug the first
electronic circuit device 100. Note that hereinafter the first electronic circuit device
100 and the second electronic circuit device 101 are also abbreviated to a "first
device" and a "second device", respectively.
[0016]
«Configuration»
The following describes an outline of configurations of the first device 100,
the second device 101 and antennas.
[0017]
An upper diagram of FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a state where the
second device 101 is placed on the first device 100 during debugging. FIG. 3
schematically illustrates a cross-section of the first device 100 and the second device
101.
[0018]
The first device 100 includes a plurality of antennas 11 formed on a
semiconductor circuit board 100a. The semiconductor circuit board 100a and the
antennas 11 are coated with a resin package 100b. The first device 100 includes a
lead 100c connected to wiring on the semiconductor circuit board 100a. The lead
100c extends to the outside of the resin package 100b and is soldered to a circuit
board 300.
[0019]
Note that a plurality of antennas 12, a semiconductor circuit board 101a, a
resin package 101b, a lead 101c and a circuit board 310 included in the second
device 101 are similar to respective components included in the first device 100.
Note that power is supplied to the first device 100 and the second device 101 via the
circuit boards 300 and 310, respectively.
[0020]
The semiconductor circuit boards 100a and 101a are positioned so that the
antennas 11 and 12 face each other. A distance between the semiconductor circuit
boards 100a and 101a is set to be sufficiently smaller than a width of a principal
surface of the semiconductor circuit board 100a and the like. This means that the
semiconductor circuit boards 100a and 101a are positioned close to each other, and
the antennas 11 and 12 are positioned close to each other.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically illustrating each of the antennas 11 and
12. Each of the antennas 11 and 12 has a square outline and includes a coil 320 that
is a spiral conductive line. The antennas 11 and 12 are formed along the principal
surfaces of the semiconductor circuit boards 100a and 101a, respectively. Note that a
straight line passing through a center O of the coil 320 and being perpendicular to
each of the principal surfaces of the semiconductor circuit boards 100a and 101a (a
straight line perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4) is a center line of the coil 320.
[0022]
In FIG. 3, the center line of the coil constituting each of the antennas 11 is
configured to be approximately parallel to the center line of the coil constituting
each of the antennas 201.
[0023]
A middle diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates the first device 100 and the second
device 101 separately. A lower diagram of FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a
state where the second device 101 is laid on the first device 100 viewed from above.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the electronic circuit system includes a layer of the first
device 100 and second device 101 implemented on the circuit board 300 so as to be
in close contact with the circuit board 300.
The plurality of antennas 11 (antennas 1100, 1101, 1102 and 1103) included
in the first electronic circuit device 100 are arranged as illustrated in the middle .
diagram of FIG. 2. The plurality of antennas 12 (antennas 1200 to 1215) included in
the second device 101 are arranged in a matrix as illustrated in the middle diagram
of FIG. 2. Note that, in order to distinguish the antennas 11 from the antennas 12,
the antennas 11 are represented by circles. In the drawings other than FIG. 2, some
antennas are also represented by circles.
[0025]
Here, an arrangement pattern of the antennas 12 illustrated in FIG. 2 is an
arrangement pattern viewed from the bottom of the second device 101 (an upper side
of the second device 101 opposite to the first device 100 in the upper diagram of
FIG. 2). Therefore, an arrangement pattern of the antennas 12 viewed from the top
of the second device 101 (a lower side of the second device 101 facing the first
device 100 in the upper diagram of FIG. 2) corresponds to a mirror image of the
arrangement pattern illustrated in FIG. 2. In order to facilitate understanding of the
drawings, an arrangement of antennas is illustrated in a similar manner also in other
embodiments and modifications.
[0026]
The first electronic circuit device 100 and the second electronic circuit
device 101 described above have wireless communication functions so that they
communicate with each other using antennas. By establishing wireless
communication in a state where the first electronic circuit device 100 and the second
electronic circuit device 101 are in contact with each other or are close to each other,
the second electronic circuit device 101 debugs the first electronic circuit device 100.
Note that signals transmitted in close-coupled wireless communication include data
and a control signal output from the electronic circuit.
In the example illustrated in the lower diagram of FIG. 2, antennas 1100 and
1200, antennas 1101 and 1208, antennas 1102 and 1202, and antennas 1103 and
1206 are each close to each other and face each other. Wireless communication is
established between the antennas 11 and 12 facing each other.
[0028]
As described above, the electronic circuit system in the present embodiment
establishes communication between devices by utilizing a close-coupled wireless
communication function, and debugs an electronic circuit device formed on an
integrated circuit and the like.
[0029]
Note that close-coupled wireless communication (or wireless transmission)
may be wireless communication established utilizing inductive coupling (magnetic
field coupling) between antennas included in the electronic circuit devices 100 and
101. Since a communication distance is very short in close-coupled wireless
communication, wireless communication is established in a state where a part of the
electronic circuit device 100 in which antennas are arranged and a part of the
electronic circuit device 101 in which antennas are arranged are in contact with each
other or are close to each other. Here, the state where the two parts are close to each
other may be a state where a distance between the two electronic circuit devices 100
and 101 is equal to or shorter than 3 mm, or is equal to or shorter than 1 mm. Note
that, when the two parts are in contact with each other or are close to each other, a
distance between antennas may be equal to or shorter than 5 mm, or be equal to or
shorter than 3 mm.
[0030]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first electronic circuit device 100 includes a bus
201, which is a component of the electronic circuit, and a plurality of electronic
circuit modules each connected to the bus 201. The plurality of electronic circuit
modules include a CPU 202, a memory (Read Only Memory) 203, a memory
(Random Access Memory) 204, a wireless communication IF (Interface) 205, a
debug assistance unit 206 and an I/O-IF (Input/Output-Interface) 207. The CPU 202
is a central processing unit such as a microprocessor. The CPU 202 performs various
types of control and processing within the first device 100.
[0031]
The debug assistance unit 206 performs processing to assist debugging
when the first electronic circuit device 100 is debugged. An IF (Interface) 217 is
connected to the debug assistance unit 206.
[0032]
The I/O-IF 207 is connected between the bus 201 and a relay terminal 208.
The I/O-IF 207 performs processing (interface processing) to relay signals
transmitted/received between the bus 201 and a device 301 connected to the first
electronic circuit device 100.
[0033]
The wireless communication IF 205 and the IF 217 each perform interface
processing such as serial-parallel conversion and buffering of data.
[0034]
The first electronic circuit device 100 includes the plurality of antennas 11
described above. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the first electronic circuit
device 100 includes the plurality of antennas 11 (antennas 1100, 1101, 1102 and
1103). A driver 151 is connected to each of the antennas 11 (see FIG. 5).
[0035]
Each of the antennas 11 includes a coil as describe above, and generates a
magnetic field in response to supply power or generates received power in response
to a change of the magnetic field.
The driver 151 supplies power to each of the antennas 11 based on
transmitting signals at the time of transmission, and obtains receiving signals based
on power generated in each of the antennas 11 and outputs the obtained signals at
the time of reception. The driver 151 is equipped with a voltage detection unit 152
(represented as "V" in FIG. 5) for detecting a value of voltage produced in each of
the antennas 11. The voltage detection unit 152 is connected to the connection
information generation unit 209, and transmits data on the detected value of voltage
to the connection information generation unit 209.
[0037]
As described above, in the present embodiment, close-coupled wireless
communication is established by utilizing inductive coupling (or magnetic field
coupling) between antennas included in the first device and antennas included in the
second device facing each other, without utilizing a carrier wave.
[0038]
During debugging, a signal to be transmitted within the first electronic
circuit device 100 is wirelessly transmitted from each of the antennas 11 to the
second electronic circuit device 101, and a signal wirelessly transmitted from the
second electronic circuit device 101 is received through each of the antennas 11. The
signals transmitted in wireless communication include data and a control signal
within the electronic circuit. As described above, each of the antennas 11 included in
the first electronic circuit device 100 functions as a contactless interface, and
establishes wireless communication with each of the antennas 12 included in the
second electronic circuit device 101.
[0039]
The first electronic circuit device 100 further includes the connection
information generation unit 209 and a connection switching unit 210.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the connection switching unit 210.
[0041]
The connection switching unit 210 is connected to the IF 217 (debug
assistance unit 206), the wireless communication IF 205 and the connection
information generation unit 209 via a plurality of signal lines. Here, the connection
switching unit 210 and each of the IF 217 and the like are serially connected. On the-
other hand, the IF 217 and the debug assistance unit 206, and the wireless
communication IF 205 and the bus 201 are each connected in parallel.
[0042]
The connection switching unit 210 is connected to the antennas 11 via the
driver 151.
[0043]
The connection switching unit 210 includes a changeover switch 210a for
switching one or more of the antennas 11. The switch 210a selects, from the IF 217
(debug assistance unit 206), the wireless communication IF 205 and the connection
information generation unit 209, one or more modules connected to respective one
or more of the antennas 11, or selects no module (in the state where each of the
antennas 11 is connected to no module, and represented as "E" in FIG. 5). More
specifically, one or more signal lines are connected to respective one or more
modules, and the connection switching unit 210 switches one or more of the signal
lines via which one or more of the antennas 11 are connected to the respective one
or more modules.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, the connection switching unit 210 is configured
so that two of the antennas 11 can be connected to the IF 217 (debug assistance unit
206). The IF 217 includes two interface circuits, and each of the interface circuits is
connected to the connection switching unit 210 via a signal line.
When receiving instruction information (described later) from the
connection information generation unit 209, the connection switching unit 210
switches one or more of the antennas 11 connected to respective one or more
modules in accordance with the received instruction information.
[0046]
A signal Dt1 is supplied to the connection switching unit 210 via the
wireless communication IF 205, which is one of the modules included in the
electronic circuit. Furthermore, a signal Dt2 output from the debug assistance unit
204, which is one of the modules included in the electronic circuit, is supplied to the
connection switching unit 210 via the IF 217. Signals within the first electronic
circuit device 100 separated into two classes are supplied to the connection
switching unit 210 in the above-mentioned manner. Here, the signals Dtl and Dt2
are signals to be transmitted from the first electronic circuit device 100 to the second
electronic circuit device 101.
[0047]
The connection information generation unit 209 is connected to each of the
antennas 11 via the connection switching unit 210.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the
connection information generation unit 209.
[0049]
The connection information generation unit 209 includes an information
communication processing unit 209a, a storage unit 209b, a connection information
transmission unit, a wireless communication IF unit 209d, a reception detection unit
209e and a bus IF unit 209f. The connection information generation unit 209 is
composed, for example, of an electronic circuit for performing predetermined
processing or a microcomputer including a processor for executing a control
program.
[0050]
The information communication processing unit 209a performs test
communication processing and generates connection information and instruction
information through processing described later. The connection information
indicates a connection relation between the antennas 11 and the modules such as the
debug assistance unit 206. That is to say, the connection information indicates
whether or not one or more of the antennas 11 are connected to respective one or
more modules. More specifically, the connection information indicates one or more
signal lines via which the one or more of the antennas 11 are connected to the one or
more modules. The instruction information is a control signal generated based on the
connection information to cause the connection switching unit 210 to perform
switching.
[0051]
Stored in the storage unit 209b are identification information of each of the
antennas 11 (antenna identification information) and identification information of
each of the electronic circuit modules (hereinafter, simply referred to as "modules")
such as the debug assistance unit 206 and the wireless communication IF 205
(module identification information). The antenna identification information is, for
example, an identification number assigned to each of the antennas 11, and differs
among the antennas 11. The module identification information is, for example, an
identification number assigned to each of the modules.
[0052]
Connection patterns of the antennas 11 and the modules are also stored in
the storage unit 209b. For example, when N antennas 11 are available for wireless
communication, the connection patterns indicate one or more modules connected to
each of the N antennas 11. The connection patterns are used to generate the
connection information.
[0053]
The instruction information transmission unit 209c transmits, to the
connection switching unit 210, the instruction information that is for causing the
connection switching unit 210 to perform switching and is generated based on the
connection information. The information communication processing unit 209a
generates the instruction information each time the connection information is
generated. Each time the instruction information is generated, the instruction
information transmission unit 209c transmits the generated instruction information.
The connection switching unit 210 switches one or more of the antennas 11
connected to respective one or more modules in accordance with the instruction
information.
[0054]
The wireless communication IF unit 209d is connected to each of the
antennas 11 (driver 151) via the connection switching unit 210, and performs a
similar function to the wireless communication IF 205. The reception detection unit
209e detects reception of signals based on the value of voltage produced in each of
the antennas 11, which is detected by the voltage detection unit 152. The bus IF unit
209f is connected to the bus 201, and transmits/receives signals to/from the debug
assistance unit 206, the CPU 202 and the like via the bus 201.
[0055]
The following describes an example of one or more of the antennas 11
connected to respective one or more modules. For example, when the connection
information generation unit 209 instructs, by using the instruction information, the
connection switching unit 210 to connect a debug IF 247 (signal Dt2) to the antenna
1100 and to connect a memory IF 245 (signal Dt1) to the antenna 1103, the
connection switching unit 210 performs switching accordingly. As a result, the
signal Dt2 output from the debug IF 247 is transmitted from the antenna 1100, and
the signal Dtl output from the memory IF 245 is transmitted from the antenna 1103.
As described above, the connection switching unit 210 switches one or more of the
antennas 11 from each of which a signal within the first electronic circuit device 100
is transmitted in accordance with the connection information.
[0056]
The second electronic circuit device 101 includes the plurality of antennas
12 described above, a debug processing unit 211, a connection information
generation unit 223, a connection switching unit 224, an IF 231, an IF 232 and a bus
233.
[0057]
The antennas 12 and a driver 161 respectively have similar functions to the
antennas 11 and the driver 151. Each of the antennas 12 and the driver 161 receives
a signal wirelessly transmitted from the antennas 11 included in the first electronic
circuit device 100, and wirelessly transmits a signal received within the second
electronic circuit device 101 to the antennas 11 included in the first device 100. As
described above, each of the antennas 12 and the driver 161 included in the second
electronic circuit device 101 functions as a wireless communication interface, and
establishes wireless communication with the first device 100.
[0058]
The connection switching unit 214 connected to each of the antennas 12 via
the driver 161 has a similar function to the connection switching unit 210. Note that
the connection switching unit 214 is configured to handle more antennas than the
antennas connected to the connection switching unit 210.
[0059]
The connection information generation unit 213 has a similar configuration
and a similar function to the connection information generation unit 209.
Information similar to the information stored in the storage unit 209b included in the
connection information generation unit 209 is stored in a storage unit (not
illustrated) included in the connection information generation unit 213. That is to
say, the identification information of each of the antennas 12 (antenna identification
information), the module identification information and connection patterns are
stored in the storage unit included in the connection information generation unit 213.
[0060]
Furthermore, the module identification information of each of the modules
included in the first device 100 and module correspondence information indicating
correspondence between the modules included in the first device 101 and the
modules included in the second device 101 are stored in the storage unit included in
the connection information generation unit 213. The module correspondence
information is used, for example, when the identification information of each of the
antennas 11 included in the first device 100 and the connection information are
obtained in the communication connection update processing described later.
Specifically, the connection information is generated based on the module
correspondence information so that one or more modules connected to respective
one or more of the antennas 11 included in the first device 100 are appropriately
paired with respective one or more modules included in the second device 101.
[0061]
The second electronic circuit device 102 also includes the debug processing
unit 211 for transmitting instructions to the debug assistance unit 204, and an IF
(interface) 212 connecting the debug processing unit 211 and the connection
switching unit 214. The debug processing unit 211 is connected to an external host
PC (host personal computer) 228 via a relay terminal 227.
[0062]
The second electronic circuit device 102 further includes a RAM (Random
Access Memory) 221 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "memory 221"), which is
a readable/writable volatile memory, and a flash memory 222 (hereinafter, simply
referred to as a "memory 222"), which is a readable/writable non-volatile memory.
In each of the memory 221 and the memory 222, data used for processing within the
second electronic circuit device 101, data transmitted from the first electronic circuit
device 100 and data to be transmitted to the first electronic circuit device 100 are
stored.
[0063]
The debug processing unit 211, the connection information generation unit
213, the memory 221 and the memory 222 are connected to the bus 233.
[0064]
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the antennas 12 are arranged in a matrix.
Specifically, the antennas 12 are arranged at equal intervals in two directions
crossing each other, i.e. in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction.
Note that the longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to a longitudinal side of a
square outlining the antennas 12, and the transverse direction is a direction parallel
to a transverse side of the square outlining the antennas 12. On the other hand, the
antennas 11 are arranged in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction
such that a distance between any two adjacent antennas 11 is equal to the natural
number multiple of a distance D between any two adjacent antennas 12.
[0065]
With such an arrangement pattern, wireless communication is established
while changing the positional relation between the first device 100 and the second
device 101, for example, by relatively moving the first device 100 and the second
device 101 in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction, and by
relatively turning the first device 100 and the second device 101 by 90 degrees.
[0066]
«Operations»
The following describes operations of the first electronic circuit device 100
and the second electronic circuit device 101. First, the communication connection
update processing for appropriately connecting one or more of the antennas to
respective one or more modules in each of the first device 100 and the second device
101 is described.
[0067]
Assume that four antennas 11 included in the first device 100 and four
antennas 12 (1200, 1202, 1206, 1208) included in the second device 101 face each
other as illustrated in the lower diagram of FIG. 2.
[0068]
The first device 100 and the second device 101, however, cannot learn about
which of the antennas 11 and the antennas 12 are paired up and face each other.
Therefore, by performing the communication connection update processing between
the connection information generation units 209 and 213, one or more pairs of the
antennas 11 and 12 facing each other are found.
[0069]
The communication connection update processing is processing of
experimentally establishing wireless communication (test communication) between
the first device 100 and the second device 101, newly generating connection
information based on the results of the test communication, and appropriately
connecting one or more of the antennas to respective one or more modules.
[0070]
The communication connection update processing includes the test
communication processing for selecting one or more antennas 11 and 12 for use in
wireless communication, and connection processing for appropriately connecting the
selected one or more of the antennas 11 and 12 to respective one or more modules.
In brief, the test communication processing is processing of transmitting a test signal
either from antennas included in the first device 100 or from antennas included in
the second device 101 and receiving the transmitted test signal through the other
antennas. The connection information generation processing is processing of
generating the connection information based on the results of the test
communication processing.
[0071]
Here, assume that the connection information generation units 209 and 213
perform the communication connection update processing when receiving
instructions to start the communication connection update processing via the buses
201 and 233, respectively. The instruction to start the communication connection
update processing is transmitted from the external device 301 to the connection
information generation unit 209 via the relay terminal 208 and the I/O-IF 207. To
the connection information generation unit 213, the instruction to start the
communication connection update processing is transmitted from the host PC 228
via the relay terminal 227 and the debug processing unit 211.
[0072]
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the communication connection update
processing.
[0073]
In brief, the test communication processing is processing of
transmitting/receiving a test signal between the antennas 11 and 12 respectively
included in the first device 100 and the second device 101, and selecting one or
more antennas for use in wireless communication. In FIG. 7, the test communication
processing performed by the first device 100 corresponds to processing in steps S11,
S12, S13, S14 and S16, and the test communication processing performed by the
second device 100 corresponds to processing in steps S21, S22, S23 and S24.
[0074]
Also, in FIG. 7, the connection processing performed by the first device 100
corresponds to processing in steps S15 and S17, and the connection processing
performed by the second device 100 corresponds to processing in steps S24, S25 and
S26.
[0075]
(a) Processing Performed by Connection Information Generation Unit 209
Included in First Device 100
Processing performed by the connection information generation unit 209 is
described first.
[0076]
In the step S11, a test signal is transmitted from each of the antennas 11. In
the present embodiment, one of the antennas 11 transmitting the test signal is
connected to the connection information generation unit 209, and switching
transmission processing of switching the one of the antennas 11 is performed at set
time Ta (e.g. 0.1 second) intervals. For example, the one of the antennas 11
connected to the connection information generation unit 209 is cyclically switched
in ascending order, for example, in order of the antennas 1100, 1101, 1102, 1103,
1100, 1101 and so on.
[0077]
The switching transmission processing terminates after a test signal is
transmitted from each of the antennas 11 the set number of times (e.g. three times).
[0078]
The selection and the switching of the one of the antennas 11 are performed
by the connection information generation unit 209 generating the instruction
information, and then by the connection switching unit 210 performing switching in
accordance with the instruction information. One or more of the antennas 11 that are
not selected are each in a non-connection state.
[0079]
The test signal is generated by the information communication processing
unit 209a included in the connection information generation unit 209, and
transmitted to the connection switching unit 210 via the wireless communication IF
unit 209d. The test signal is, for example, a signal repeating a value "110".
[0080]
In the step S12, reception detection processing of detecting whether or not
each of the antennas 11 receives the test signal is performed by the reception
detection unit 209e. The reception detection processing is performed to receive the
test signal transmitted from the second device 101 in a step S23 described later.
[0081]
Receiving signal intensity is indicated by the value of voltage produced in
each of the antennas 11, which is detected by the voltage detection unit 152. Each of
the antennas 11 having receiving signal intensity higher than a threshold during a
time period Tb, which is shorter than the set time Ta, is judged to have received the
test signal.
[0082]
The reception detection processing terminates after the elapse of a set time
Tc from the start of the reception detection processing. For example, the set time Tc
may be longer than a time period for which the test signal is transmitted from the
second device 101 in the step S23 described later.
[0083]
When the number of one or more of the antennas 11 having receiving signal
intensity higher than the threshold is smaller than a set number (e.g. three) in the
judgment processing in the step S13, the processing in the steps S11 and S12 is
repeated. When the number of one or more of the antennas 11 having receiving
signal intensity higher than the threshold is equal to or greater than the set number,
the processing in the step S14 is performed.
[0084]
In the step S14, selection processing of selecting one or more of the
antennas 11 for use in wireless communication is performed. In the selection
processing, one or more of the antennas 11 having receiving signal intensity higher
than the threshold are basically selected. When a plurality of the antennas 11
simultaneously receive the test signal transmitted from one of the antennas 12
included in the second device 101, one of the plurality of the antennas 11 of high
communication quality, for example, one of the plurality of the antennas 11 having
high receiving signal intensity, is selected. Here, assume that all the antennas 11
(1100, 1101, 1102 and 1103) are selected.
[0085]
In the step S15, the connection information is generated based on the
connection patterns described above, and the connection relation between the one or
more selected the antennas 11 and respective one or more modules is defined. For
example, the connection information indicates that the antennas 1100 and 1101 are
each to be connected to the debug assistance unit 206 (IF 217), the antenna 1102 is
to be connected to the connection information generation unit 209, and the antenna
1103 is to be connected to the wireless communication IF 205. Note that, as
described above, the IF 217 connected to the debug assistance unit 206 includes two
interface circuits, and is capable of establishing communication using two of the
antennas 11.
[0086]
In the step S16, the identification information of each of the one or more
selected antennas 11 and the connection information are transmitted from each of
the one or more selected antennas 11 in a similar manner to the switching
transmission processing in the step S11. Here, the connection information indicates
each of modules to be connected to the antennas 11, and is, for example, the
identification information of each of modules to be connected to the antennas 11.
Specifically, since the antenna 1100 is to be connected to the debug assistance unit
206, the identification information of the debug assistance unit 206 is the connection
information of the antenna 1100. In this case, the identification information of the
antenna 1100 and the identification information of the debug assistance unit 206 are
transmitted from the antenna 1100. That is to say, transmission of the identification
information of each of the antennas 11 and the connection information indicates
transmission of the identification information of each of the antennas 11 and the
identification information of each of modules to be connected to the antennas 11.
[0087]
Similarly, the identification information of each of the antennas 11 and the
identification information of each of modules to be connected to the antennas 11 (e.g.
the connection information generation unit 209) are transmitted from the other
antennas 1101, 1102 and 1103. Since two of the antennas 11 can be connected to the
IF 217 connected to the debug assistance unit 206, two pieces of identification
information are assigned to the debug assistance unit 206.
[0088]
In the step S17, the instruction information is generated based on the
connection information generated in the step S15. The generated instruction
information is transmitted to the connection switching unit 210, and the connection
switching unit 210 performs switching.
[0089]
(b) Processing Performed by Connection Information Generation Unit 213
Included in Second Device 101
On the other hand, in the step S21, the reception detection unit 209e
included in the connection information generation unit 213 performs reception
detection processing of detecting the receiving signal intensity of each of the
antennas 12, similarly to the processing in the step S12 as described above. In the
reception detection processing, one or more of the antennas 12 receiving the test
signal transmitted from the first device 100 are detected. The reception detection
processing does not end until the number of one or more of the antennas 12 having
receiving signal intensity higher than the threshold becomes equal to or greater than
a set number (e.g. three) (step S22). In addition, the reception detection processing
does not end unless a set time Td has passed since the receiving signal intensity of
any one of the antennas 12 exceeds the threshold, even if the number of one or more
of the antennas 12 having receiving signal intensity higher than the threshold is
equal to or greater than the set number (e.g. three). Here, the set time Td is set to be
longer than a time period for which the first device 100 performs the processing in
the steps S11 and S12.
[0090]
In the step S22, the selection processing of selecting one or more of the
antennas 12 for use in wireless communication is performed, similarly to the
processing in the step S14 as described above. Here, assume that four of the
antennas 12 (1200, 1202, 1206 and 1208) are selected.
[0091]
In the step S23, the switching transmission processing, which is similar to
the processing in the step S11 as described above, is performed by transmitting the
test signal from each of the three selected antennas 12. The time period for which
the switching transmission processing is performed is longer than the time period for
which the processing in the steps S11 and S12 is performed.
[0092]
In the step S24, the connection information generation unit 213 waits to
receive information transmitted from the first device 100. At this time, switching
reception processing of switching one of the selected antennas 12 connected to the
connection information generation unit 213 is performed at set time intervals. In the
switching reception processing, the one of the selected antennas 12 is switched so
that, within the time period Ta for which one of the antennas 11 included in the first
device 100 transmits the information, all of the selected antennas 12 can receive the
transmitted information at least once. Specifically, when the number of the selected
antennas 12 is N, the one of the selected antennas 12 is switched at time intervals
each equal to or shorter than a time obtained by dividing the time period Ta by N + 1.
The above-mentioned time interval is set to be equal to or longer than a time period
for which the identification information and the connection information transmitted
from the first device 100 can be obtained. With this configuration, all of the selected
antennas 12 can surely receive the transmitted information at least once during the
time period Ta.
[0093]
Note that the switching reception processing is performed by the connection
information generation unit 213 transmitting, to the connection switching unit 213,
the instruction information for instructing the connection switching unit 213 to
switch one of the antennas 12 connected to the connection information generation
unit 213 at set time intervals (described later). For example, the one of the antennas
12 connected to the connection information generation unit 213 is cyclically
switched in ascending order, similarly to the switching transmission processing in
the step S11. One or more of the antennas 12 other than the selected antennas 12 are
each in a non-connection state.
[0094]
Here, in the switching reception processing, via one of the selected antennas
12, the identification information and the connection information transmitted from
one of the antennas 11 facing the one of the selected antennas 12 are received. The
identification information and the connection information transmitted from the one
of the antennas 11 and the identification information of the one of the antenna 12
receiving these pieces of information are associated with each other, and stored in
the storage unit 209b. By associating these pieces of information, one of the
antennas 11 and one of the antennas 12 facing each other are paired up.
[0095]
In the step S25, the connection information of the second device 101 is
generated based on the identification information and the connection information
transmitted from the first device 100. At this time, by referring to the module
correspondence information stored in the storage unit, the connection relation
(connection relation between the antennas 12 and the modules) for appropriately
connecting the modules included in the first device 100 to the modules included in
the second device 101 is defined and stored.
[0096]
Specifically, for example, assume that the identification information of the
antenna 1100 and the connection information are received through the antenna 1200.
Since the debug assistance unit 206 is connected to the antenna 1100, the connection
relation is defined so as to indicate that the antenna 1200 is to be connected to the
debug processing unit 211. Furthermore, the connection relation is defined so as to
indicate that the antenna 1208 to be paired with the antenna 1101 is to be connected
to the memory 222, the antenna 1202 to be paired with the antenna 1102 is to be
connected to the connection information generation unit 213 itself, and the antenna
1206 facing the antenna 1103 is to be connected to the memory 221. One or more of
the antennas 12 other than these four antennas 12 are each in a non-connection state.
[0097]
In the step S26, the instruction information is generated based on the
above-mentioned connection information. Once the generated instruction
information is transmitted to the connection switching unit 214, the connection
switching unit 214 performs switching.
[0098]
(c) In the above-mentioned processing, the antennas and the modules are
appropriately connected in each of the first device 100 and the second device 101.
Then, the connection information generation units 209 and 213 respectively notify,
via the buses 201 and 233, the debug assistance unit 206 and the debug processing
unit 211 that it becomes possible to establish wireless communication. The debug
processing unit 211 then performs debugging. Since the antennas and modules are
appropriately connected, it becomes possible to establish data communication, for
example, between the debug assistance unit 206 and the debug processing unit 211
or between the debug assistance unit 206 and the memory 222 during debugging.
Also, it becomes possible to establish data communication between the wireless
communication IF 205 and the memory 221.
[0099]
In this case, for example, the wireless communication IF 205 and the
memory 221 (IF231) establish half duplex communication using a pair of antennas.
Therefore, the wireless communication IF 205 and the like are connected to the
driver 151 via a switch (not illustrated) similar to the switch 210a, and may switch
between a transmission state and a reception state of the driver 151.
[0100]
Explanation on the debugging is omitted.
[0101]
The following describes positional change detection processing performed
by the connection information generation units 209 and 213, for example, during
debugging.
[0102]
In the above-mentioned communication connection update processing, the
antennas 11 and 12 are each appropriately connected to modules. Even after the first
device 100 and the second device 101 are placed and the connection relation is set,
however, the positional relation can be changed.
[0103]
In such a case, although the host PC 228 and the external device 301 can
issue instructions to perform the communication connection update processing again,
the electronic circuit system becomes more convenient if the communication
connection update processing is automatically performed.
[0104]
To automatically perform the communication connection update processing,
positional change detection processing of detecting a change in positional relation
between the first device 100 and the second device 101 is performed.
[0105]
The positional change detection processing is processing of intermittently
transmitting/receiving a confirmation signal for connection confirmation between
the first device 100 and the second device 101 using one or more pairs of antennas
to confirm connection between the first device 100 and the second device 101. The
positional change detection processing is continuously performed, after the
communication connection update processing is performed, by the information
communication processing unit included in each of the connection information
generation units 209 and 213 to monitor connection between the first device 100 and
the second device 101.
[0106]
Here, as taken as an example in description on the communication
connection update processing, assume that the connection information generation
units 209 and 213 can establish wireless communication using the antennas 1102
and 1202 before the positional relation is changed. The connection information
generation units 209 and 213 alternately transmit/receive the confirmation signal at
set time Te (e.g. 0.1 second) intervals. The connection information generation units
209 and 213 each judge that the positional relation is changed when intensity of the
confirmation signal is equal to or lower than a threshold of the confirmation signal
after a set time Tf (e.g. twice as long as the set time Te) has passed since the
transmission of the confirmation signal, and perform the communication connection
update processing. Note that, when the confirmation signal is not transmitted from a
device targeted for communication even after the set time Tf has passed since the
transmission of the confirmation signal, the connection information generation units
209 and 213 each judge that the intensity of the confirmation signal is equal to or
lower than the threshold of the confirmation signal.
[0107]
When the change in positional relation is detected, the connection
information generation units 209 and 213 each perform the communication
connection update processing. The following describes a specific example of a case
where the change in positional relation occurs.
[0108]
For example, as illustrated in FIGs. 8A and 8B, assume that the positional
relation illustrated in FIG. 8A is changed to the positional relation illustrated in FIG.
8B by the second device 101 being shifted upwardly in FIG. 8B. The positional
relation between the antennas 11 included in the first device 100 and the antennas 12
included in the second device 101 is changed accordingly. For example, the
positional relation is changed such that the antenna 1100 and the antenna 1204 face
each other. Connection state in communication between the antennas 11 and the
antennas 12 is changed accordingly. Therefore, the intensity of the confirmation
signal becomes equal to or lower than the threshold, and thus the change in
positional relation is detected in the positional change detection processing.
Therefore, the communication connection update processing is performed, and the
connection information generation units 209 and 223 each update the connection
information based on the detected change. Since the connection information is
updated, the connection switching units 210 and 224 respectively switch one or
more of the antennas 11 and 12 from each of which a signal is transmitted.
[0109]
By the above-mentioned operation, for example, when the second electronic
circuit device 101 is shifted upwardly, the signal Dt2 transmitted from the IF 217
included in the first electronic circuit device 100 is stored in the memory 222
included in the second electronic circuit device 101 using a new pair of the antenna
1100 and the antenna 1212. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the
number of antennas included in the second electronic circuit device 101 is set to be
greater than the number of classes to which signals to be transmitted belong, even if
the positional relation between the first electronic circuit device 100 and the second
electronic circuit device 101 is changed, occurrence of such a problem that the
wireless communication cannot be established is reduced.
[0110]
In the present embodiment, the number of the antennas 11 included in the
first device 100 is set to be equal to or greater than the number of signals to be
transmitted. On the other hand, the number of the antennas 12 included in the second
device 101 is set to be greater than the number of the antennas 11 included in the
first device 100. With such a configuration, the electronic circuit system can perform
close-coupled wireless communication between electronic circuit devices without
uniquely specifying an antenna for use in wireless connection between the electronic
circuit devices. Therefore, the electronic circuit system is less likely to be limited by
the positional relation between electronic circuit devices and the number and the
arrangement of antennas.
[0111]
As described above, the electronic circuit system operates so as to update a
pair of antennas even when the positional relation between the first device 100 and
the second device 101 is changed. Therefore, the electronic circuit system can easily
establish contactless data communication between devices without being affected by
the positional relation between devices.
[0112]
Note that, in the present embodiment, the two signals Dt1 and Dt2 are taken
as examples of the signals to be transmitted. The number of signals to be transmitted,
however, may be one or more than one. The number of signals within the electronic
circuit may be set based on classification according to characteristics of the signals.
[0113]
The electronic circuit system may have a configuration in which the
connection information generation unit determines the number of classes to which
the signals belong based on the number of antennas included in each of the first
device 100 and the second device 101. That is to say, if the number of antennas is
great enough to transmit signals, the electronic circuit system may have a
configuration in which, for example, the signal Dt1 is transmitted in parallel using a
plurality of pairs of antennas.
[0114]
As describe above, the electronic circuit system in the present embodiment
is composed of the first device 100 and the device 101. The first device 100
includes: the antennas 11; the connection information generation unit 209 for
determining one or more pairs of antennas included in the electronic circuit devices
and generating the connection information on the determined pairs; and the
connection switching unit 210 for switching one or more of the antennas 11 from
each of which a signal is transmitted based on the connection information. The
second device 101 includes: the antennas 12; the connection information generation
unit 223 for determining one or more pairs of antennas included in the electronic
circuit devices and generating the connection information on the determined pairs;
and the connection switching unit 224 for switching one or more of the antennas 12
from each of which a signal is transmitted based on the connection information.
With such a configuration, even when the positional relation between the first device
100 and the second device 101 is changed, a pair of antennas is updated by the
operations performed by the connection information generation units 209 and 223,
and the connection switching units 210 and 224. Therefore, the electronic circuit
system can easily establish contactless data communication between devices without
being affected by the positional relation between devices and sizes of devices.
[0115]
The above-mentioned positional change detection processing is also
effective when the positional relation between the first device 100 and the second
device 101 is changed during debugging by such an accident that the first device 100
and the second device 101 are not firmly fastened or a user collides with the
debugger. Note that, when there is no pair of antennas capable of communicating
with each other in the communication connection update processing, an error may
be output to an external device and the like.
[0116]
[Modification 1]
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the number of the antennas 11 is four.
The number of the antennas 11, however, may be equal to or smaller than three, or
may be equal to or greater than five.
[0117]
FIGs. 9A and 9B illustrate a modification in which the number of the
antennas 11 included in the first device 100 is three. Note that first electronic circuit
devices 105 and 106 in the present modification are each similar to the first device
100 except that the number and the arrangement of antennas are different from those
of the antenna 11. Therefore, description is made on that difference.
[0118]
As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the first electronic circuit device 105 (hereinafter,
referred to as a "first device 105") includes three antennas 15. The three antennas 15
are arranged so as to be at respective three out of four vertices of a square. The three
antennas 15 face respective three of the antennas 12 included in the second device
101.
[0119]
In this example, both in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction,
a distance between any two adjacent antennas of the antennas 15 is set to be equal to
a distance between any two adjacent antennas of the antennas 12.
[0120]
Also as illustrated in FIG. 9B, the first electronic circuit device 106
(hereinafter, referred to as a "first device 106") includes three antennas 16. The three
antennas 16 are arranged in series in a longitudinal direction. The three antennas 16
face respective three of the antennas 12 included in the second device 101.
[0121]
In this example, in a longitudinal direction, a distance between any two
adjacent antennas of the antennas 15 is set to be equal to a distance between any two
adjacent antennas of the antennas 12.
[0122]
In the above-mentioned two first devices 105 and 106, it is possible to
automatically set the connection relation between modules and each of the antennas
15 and 16 by performing the communication connection update processing,
similarly to Embodiment 1. It is also possible to detect a change in positional
relation between the second device 101 and each of the first devices 105 and 106 by
performing the positional change detection processing, and to perform the
communication connection update processing again.
[0123]
Since the number of antennas included in the second device 101 is set to be
greater than the number of antennas included in each of the first devices 100, 105
and 106, it is possible to establish wireless communication by updating the
connection information even if the first device 100 is changed. That is to say, in the
present embodiment, the number and the arrangement of antennas included in the
first electronic circuit device are changed with respect to the second electronic
circuit device, it is possible to establish wireless communication between the first
and second electronic circuit devices. Therefore, it is possible to easily establish
close-coupled wireless communication between electronic circuit devices without
being affected by a size and a type of an electronic circuit device.
[0124]
[Modification 2]
In above-mentioned Embodiment 1 and Modification 1, the antennas 12 are
arranged in a matrix. The antennas 12, however, may be arranged in other
arrangement patterns.
[0125]
FIGs. 10A and 10B each illustrate an arrangement pattern of antennas
included in a first electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to as a "first
device") 108 and a second electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to as a
"second device") 107. Note that first device 108 in the present modification is
similar to the first device 100 except for the number and the arrangement of
antennas. Therefore, description is made on that difference.
[0126]
As illustrated in Fig. 10A, a plurality of antennas 17 included in the second
device 107 are arranged at a center of two concentric circles and on the two
concentric circles.
[0127]
On the other hand, a plurality of antennas 18 included in the first device 108
are three antennas 1801, 1802 and 1803 arranged in series. The antennas 1801 and
1803 face respective two antennas of the antennas 17. In this case, when the
communication connection update processing is performed, the antennas 1801 and
1803 are connected to respective modules, and close-coupled wireless
communication is established using the two of the antennas 18.
[0128]
Here, a distance between the antennas 1801 and 1802 is set to be equal to a
radius of a smaller circle 107a of the two concentric circles. A distance between the
antennas 1801 and 1803 is set to be equal to a radius of a larger circle 107b of the
two concentric circles.
[0129]
With such a configuration, when the first device 108 and the second device
107 are turned relative to each other around the antennas 1801 and 1701,
respectively, the antenna 1802 moves along the smaller circle 107a and the antenna
1803 moves along the larger circle 107b. When the first device 108 and the second
device 107 are stopped at such a position that one of the antennas 1802 and 1803
faces one of the antennas 17, wireless communication is established using two of the
antennas 18.
[0130]
FIG. 10B illustrates a state after the first device 108 and the second device
107 are turned relative to each other around the antennas 1801 and 1701,
respectively. In this state, the antennas 1801 and 1802 respectively face the antennas
1701 and 1702. As described above, the electronic circuit system in the present
modification can establish wireless communication using two pairs of antennas even
after the first device 108 and the second device 107 are turned relative to each other
to change the positional relation.
[0131]
[Modification 3]
In the communication connection update processing in Embodiment 1
described above, one or more antennas for use in wireless communication are
selected through transmission/reception of the test signal. The test signal may be the
identification information of each antenna. In Embodiment 1 described above, the
connection information generation units 209 and 213 each transmit the test signal
from one of the antennas. The connection information generation units 209 and 213,
however, may each transmit the test signal from each of the antennas at a time.
[0132]
The first electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to as a "first device")
and the second electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to as a "second
device") in the present modification are respectively similar to the first device 100
and the second device 101. Therefore, description is made on a difference
therebetween. Note that, although the first device and the second device in the
present modification are partially different from the first device 100 and the second
device 101 described above, respectively, there is no large difference between them
in the drawings. For the above-mentioned reason, the same reference numbers 100
and 101 as those used in Embodiment 1 are respectively assigned to the first and
second devices in the present modification.
[0133]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a
connection information generation unit 309 (or a connection information generation
unit 313).
[0134]
The connection information generation units 309 and 313 in the present
modification each have a similar configuration to the connection information
generation unit 209 in Embodiment 1 described above. However, a wireless
communication IF unit 309d includes the same number (four, in this example) of
interface circuits as the antennas 11. Each of the interface circuits is connected to a
corresponding one of the antennas 11. Therefore, the wireless communication IF
unit 309d is capable of separately transmitting/receiving signals to/from all of the
antennas 11. A wireless communication IF unit included in the connection
information generation unit 313 also includes the same number of interface circuits
as the antennas 12, and thus is capable of separately transmitting/receiving signals
to/from all of the antennas 11.
[0135]
An information communication processing unit 309a included in the
connection information generation unit 309 is capable of generating a signal to be
transmitted to each of the four antennas 11, or is capable of handling a signal
received through each of the four antennas 11. The connection information
generation unit 313 included in the second device 101 is capable of separately
transmitting/receiving signals to/from sixteen antennas 12, similarly to the
connection information generation unit 309.
[0136]
The connection information generation units 309 and 313 respectively
transmit, to the connection switching units 210 and 213, pieces of instruction
information for instructing the connection switching units 210 and 213 to connect
each of the antennas to the connection information generation units 309 and 313 to
cause the connection switching units 210 and 213 to perform switching.
[0137]
The following describes communication connection update processing 2
performed by the above-mentioned connection information generation units 309 and
313. The number "2" is attached to the communication connection update
processing in the present modification to distinguish the communication connection
update processing in the present modification from the communication connection
update processing in Embodiment 1 described above.
[0138]
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the communication connection update
processing 2 performed in the electronic circuit system in the present Modification
3.
[0139]
The connection information generation units 309 and 313 each perform the
communication connection update processing 2, for example, immediately after
power-on, immediately after the microcomputer is operated or at set time intervals
to confirm the connection relation between antennas. Here, each of the plurality of
antennas constituting the antennas 11 has identification information. Similarly, each
of the plurality of antennas constituting the antennas 12 has identification
information. Each of the connection information generation units 309 and 313 has
stored the identification information of each antenna in each of the storage units
209b. The connection information generation units 309 and 313 each confirm the
connection relation and generate the connection information using the identification
information. Note that, since the communication connection update processing is
described in detail in Embodiment 1, the communication connection update
processing 2 is briefly described.
[0140]
The communication connection update processing 2 progresses while
signals are transmitted/received between the first device 100 and the second device
101. Accordingly, the flow chart of FIG. 12 includes processing performed by the
connection information generation unit 309 included in the first device 100 and
processing performed by the connection information generation unit 313 included in
the second device 101. The processing performed by the connection information
generation unit 309 corresponds to processing in steps S201, S204, S205, S206,
S207 and S210. The processing performed by the connection information generation
unit 313 corresponds to processing in steps S202, S203, S208 and S209.
[0141]
First, the connection information generation unit 309 included in the first
device 100 transmits, from each of the antennas 11, the identification information of
the each of the antennas 11 to the second device 101. Here, if the positional relation
between the first device 100 and the second device 101 is as illustrated in FIG. 2, the
identification information is transmitted from the antennas 1100, 1101, 1102 and
1103 to the facing antennas 1200, 1208, 1202, 1206 included in the second device
101, respectively (step S201).
[0142]
Next, the connection information generation unit 313 included in the second
device 101 stores information about which of the antennas 12 has received the
identification information transmitted from the first device 100 (step S202).
Furthermore, the connection information generation unit 313 transmits, to the
antennas 11 included in the first device 100, reception results of the identification
information as reception results of the second device 101, along with the •
identification information of each of the antennas 12 included in the second device
101 (step S203).
[0143]
The connection information generation unit 309 included in the first device
100 then stores the reception results of the second device 101 and the identification
information of each of the antennas 12 transmitted from the second device 101,
along with reception results of each of the antennas 11 included in the first device
100 as reception results of the first device 100 (step S204). The connection
information generation unit 309 included in the first device 100 then judges whether
or not there is any pair of the antennas 11 and the antennas 12. When the connection
information generation unit 309 judges that there is no pair, the processing ends
(step S205).
[0144]
The connection information generation unit 309 judges whether or not there
is any pair of the antennas 11 and the antennas 12 based on quality of
communication established using the antennas 11 and 12. More specifically, when a
signal transmitted from a single antenna is received by a plurality of antennas, one
of the plurality of antennas of the highest communication quality is uniquely
selected and adopted. Examples of the antenna of the highest communication quality
are the antenna having the highest sensitivity (e.g. the antenna having the highest
receiving signal intensity) and the antenna with the lowest error rate.
[0145]
When judging that there is any pair of the antennas 11 and the antennas 12,
the connection information generation unit 309 updates the connection information
indicating one or more of the antennas 11 from each of which a signal within the
first device 100 is to be transmitted (step S206). Next, the connection information
generation unit 309 included in the first device 100 transmits the connection
information of the first device 100 to the second device 101 (step S207).
[0146]
The connection information generation unit 313 included in the second
device 101 receives the transmitted connection information of the first device 100.
The connection information generation unit 313 allocates the selected antennas 1200,
1208, 1202 and 1206 to the memories 221 and 222 by referring to the received
connection information of the first device 100. The connection information
generation unit 313 then updates the connection information of the second device
101 according to the allocation (step S208). The connection information generation
unit 313 then transmits the updated connection information of the second device 101
to the first device 100 (step S209).
[0147]
Finally, the connection information generation unit 309 included in the first
device 100 receives the updated connection information of the second device 101,
and terminates the communication connection update processing (step S210).
[0148]
In the above-mentioned communication connection update processing 2,
antennas are quickly and easily connected to respective modules in an appropriate
manner.
[0149]
Note that, in order to transmit information when one or more pairs of the
antennas 11 and 12 have not yet determined at the time of power-on and at the
beginning of debugging, the same desired information may be transmitted from each
of the antennas, and any one or more of the antennas may receive the transmitted
information.
[0150]
[Embodiment 2]
In Embodiment 1 described above, the second device 101 is an electronic
circuit device for performing debugging. The second device 101, however, may be a
memory device.
[0151]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic
circuit system composed of a first electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to
as a "first device") 110 and a second electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred
to as a "second device") 111 in Embodiment 2. Note that the first device 110 and the
first device 100 have a common configuration, and the second device 111 and the
first device 101 have a common configuration. Therefore, the same reference
number is assigned to the same component as those illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 2, and
description thereof is omitted or simplified.
[0152]
In the present embodiment, the first device 110 is an integrated circuit, such
as an LSI, that includes an electronic circuit constituting a microcomputer. The
second device 111 is an integrated circuit, such as an LSI, that includes an electronic
circuit constituting a memory device.
[0153]
The following describes the first device 110 and the second device 111.
[0154]
«Configuration»
As illustrated in FIG. 13, in the first device 110, the CPU 202, a core
processing unit 241, the debug assistance unit 206 and a relay IF 242 are each
connected to the bus 201. The CPU 202 and the debug assistance unit 206 here are
respectively the same as the CPU 202 and the debug assistance unit 206 in
Embodiment 1. Although not performing debugging in the present embodiment, the
debug assistance unit 206 is used for establishing communication with the second
device 111. The core processing unit 241 writes/reads data to/from a memory (not
illustrated) provided within the core processing unit 241. The relay IF 242 is
connected between the bus 201 and a relay terminal 243. The relay IF 242 performs
processing (interface processing) to relay signals transmitted/received between the
bus 201 and a device 220 connected to the first device 110.
[0155]
The first device 110 further includes a relay terminal 245. A core IF 246 is
connected between the core processing unit 241 and the relay terminal 245. The core
IF 246 performs processing (interface processing) to relay signals
transmitted/received between the core processing unit 241 and a device 219
connected to the first device 110. A memory IF 247 performs processing (interface
processing) to relay signals transmitted/received when the CPU 202 and the like
access the memory provided within the core processing unit 241.
[0156]
The first device 110 further includes a debug IF (interface) 248 via which
the debug assistance unit 206 is connected to the connection switching unit 210.
[0157]
The memory IF 247 and the debug IF 248 described above each perform
processing to relay transmitted/received signals such as serial-parallel conversion
and buffering of data.
[0158]
In the present embodiment, one or more of the antennas 11 connected to
respective one or more modules (the memories 221 and 222) are switched by
transmitting the instruction information generated by the connection information
generation unit 209 to the connection switching unit 210, similarly to Embodiment
1.
[0159]
For example, when the connection information generation unit 209 instructs,
by using the instruction information, the connection switching unit 210 to connect
the debug IF 248 (signal Dt2) to the antenna 1100 and to connect the memory IF 247
(signal Dtl) to the antenna 1103, the connection switching unit 210 performs
switching accordingly. As a result, the signal Dt2 output from the debug IF 247 is
transmitted from the antenna 1100, and the signal Dtl output from the memory IF
245 is transmitted from the antenna 1103. As described above, the connection
switching unit 210 switches one or more of the antennas 11 from each of which a
signal within the first device 100 is transmitted in accordance with the connection
information. In other words, the connection switching unit 210 switches one or more
of the antennas 11 connected to respective one or more electronic circuit modules
(the debug assistance unit 206, the memory IF 247 and the like) included in the first
device 100.
[0160]
Also, the second device 111 includes the antennas 12, a connection
information generation unit 223, a connection switching unit 224, a memory IF 231
and a memory IF 232. In FIG. 13, reference numbers are assigned to the antennas
1200, 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1206 and 1208 from among the antennas 12.
[0161]
The antennas 12 and the connection switching unit 224 are respectively the
same as the antennas 12 and the connection switching unit in Embodiment 1. The
memory IFs 231 and 232 respectively have the same functions as those of the IFs
231 and 232 in Embodiment 1.
[0162]
«Operations»
In the present embodiment, the communication connection update
processing is performed to update one or more antennas connected to respective one
or more modules, similarly to Embodiment 1 described above. Since the
communication connection update processing in the present embodiment is the same
as that in Embodiment 1, the following describes a flow of a signal after the
communication connection update processing.
[0163]
The connection switching unit 224 is connected to each of the antennas 12.
A signal transmitted from each of the antennas 12 is supplied to the connection
switching unit 224. Furthermore, the connection switching unit 224 is connected to
the memory 221 via the memory IF 231, which is a memory interface. The
connection switching unit 224 supplies a signal to the memory 221. The connection
switching unit 224 is further connected to the memory 222 via the memory IF 232,
which is a memory interface. The connection switching unit 224 supplies a signal to
the memory 222.
[0164]
As described above, a memory and an EF are respectively separated into two
memories and two IFs. Therefore, different types of signals are separately
transmitted to and stored in the memories 221 and 222. For example, it is possible to
separately transmit signals from different modules to memories 221 and 222.
[0165]
Note that signals to be transmitted are transmitted to the antennas 12, the
connection switching unit 224 and the memory IFs 231 and 232 in this order. By the
connection switching unit 224 appropriately connecting the antennas 12 to the
memory IFs 231 and 232, an appropriate signal is transmitted to each of the
memories 221 and 222. Note that the connection switching unit 224 switches the
antennas 12 connected to the memories 221 and 222 in accordance with the
instruction information transmitted from the connection information generation unit
223.
[0166]
For example, when the connection information generation unit 223 instructs,
by using the instruction information, the connection switching unit 224 to connect
the antenna 1200 to the memory 221 (via the memory IF 231) and to connect the
antenna 1206 to the memory 222 (via the memory IF 232), the connection switching
unit 224 performs switching accordingly. As a result, the signal Dt1 received
through the antenna 1200 is stored in the memory 221, and the signal Dt2 received
through the antenna 1206 is stored in the memory 222. As described above, the
connection switching unit 224 switches one or more of the antennas 12 from each of
which a signal within the second device 101 is transmitted in accordance with the
instruction information.
[0167]
In FIG. 13, a case where the antennas 1100 and 1200, the antennas 1101 and
1208, the antennas 1102 and 1202, and the antennas 1103 and 1206 are each paired
up and are close to each other is taken as an example of the positional relation
between the first device 100 and the second device 101.
[0168]
The connection switching unit 210 included in the first device 100 performs
switching in accordance with the instruction information, for example, such that the
signal Dt2 output from the debug IF 248 is transmitted to the antenna 1100. The
connection switching unit 224 included in the second device 101 performs switching
in accordance with the instruction information, for example, such that the signal
transmitted from the antenna 1200 is stored in the memory 222 via the memory IF
232. The signal Dt2, which is a signal for debugging output from the debug IF 248
included in the first device 100, is stored in the memory 222 included in the second
device 101 through wireless communication in the above-mentioned manner, for
example.
[0169]
Note that, although the above description is made by taking, as an example,
a case where data is transmitted from the first device 100 to the second device 101,
the present invention may have a configuration in which data is transmitted from the
second device 101 to the first device 100, or data is transmitted from/to the first
device 100 to/from the second device 101. For example, the present invention is
applicable to a configuration in which data for debugging in the first device 100 is
stored in the memory 221 included in the second device 101, and data obtained as a
result of debugging and stored in the memory 222 included in the second device 101
is transmitted to the debug assistance unit 206 included in the first device 100.
[0170]
In the above-mentioned example, the connection information may include
information about one or more pairs of antennas. Specifically, for example, the
connection information generation unit 209 generates connection information
indicating results of communication performed by the antennas 1100, 1101, 1102
and 1103, i.e. indicating that the antennas 1100 and 1200, the antennas 1101 and
1208, the antennas 1102 and 1202, and the antennas 1103 and 1206 are each paired
up and connected to each other. On the other hand, the connection information
generation unit 223 generates connection information indicating results of
communication performed by the antennas 1200, 1208, 1202 and 1206, i.e.
indicating that the antennas 1200 and 1100, the antennas 1208 and 1101, the
antennas 1202 and 1102, and the antennas 1206 and 1103 are each paired up and
connected to each other.
[0171]
When the connection information includes the above-mentioned
information about one or more pairs of antennas, one of the connection information
generation units 209 and 223 may request the other one of the connection
information generation units 209 and 223 to change the connection relation. For
example, the connection information generation unit 209 may request the connection
information generation unit 223 to perform processing to connect the antenna 1208
to the memory 222. In this case, the connection information generation unit 209 has
stored the identification information of the memory 222.
[0172]
This concludes the description of Embodiment 2.
[0173]
[Embodiment 3]
In Embodiment 1 described above, the first device 100 and the second
device 101 are connected to each other on a one-to-one basis. A plurality of
electronic circuit devices, however, may be connected to one of the first device 100
and the second device 101 through close-coupled wireless communication.
[0174]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic
circuit system composed of a first electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to
as a "first device") 110, a second electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to as
a "second device") 112 and a third electronic circuit device (hereinafter, referred to
as a "third device") 113 in Embodiment 3. The second device 112 and the third
device 113 are each embodied as an integrated circuit such as an LSI.
[0175]
Note that the first device 110 here is the same as the first device 110 in
Embodiment 2, and the second device 112 and the third device 113 each have a
similar configuration to the first device 111. Therefore, the same reference numbers
are assigned to the same configurations as those in Embodiment 2, and the
description thereof is omitted. Description is made mainly on the difference between
Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3.
[0176]
FIG. 15 schematically illustrates an arrangement pattern of antennas
included in each of the first device 110, the second device 112 and the third device
113.
[0177]
The second device 112 includes a plurality of antennas 13 including
antennas 1302 and 1308. The antennas 13 have similar functions to each of the
antennas 11 and 12 in Embodiment 1. The connection information generation unit
213 generates the connection information and the instruction information, and the
connection switching unit 214 switches one or more of the antennas 13 connected to
the debug processing unit 211 via the debug IF 212 in accordance with the
instruction information.
[0178]
The third device 113 includes a plurality of antennas 14 including antennas
1400 to 1411. The antennas 14 have similar functions to each of the antennas 11 and
12 in Embodiment 1. Similarly to the second electronic circuit device 101 in each of
Embodiment 1 and 2, the connection information generation unit 223 generates the
connection information and the instruction information, and the connection
switching unit 224 switches one or more of the antennas 14 connected to the
memories 221 and 222 in accordance with the instruction information.
[0179]
The first device 110, the second device 112 and the third device 113 each
having the above-mentioned configuration are positioned as illustrated in the lower
diagram of FIG. 15. In this case, the antennas 1102 and 1103 included in the first
device 110 face respective two of the antennas 13 included in the second device 112.
Furthermore, the antennas 1100 and 1101 included in the first device 110 face
respective two of the antennas 14 included in the third device 113.
[0180]
Under this condition, the first device 110 performs the communication
connection update processing with the second device 112 and the third device 113 to
set the connection relation in turn. As a result, the first device 110 and the second
device 112 are wirelessly connected using a pair of the antennas 1100 and 1302, and
a pair of the antennas 1101 and 1308. Furthermore, the first device 110 and the third
device 113 are wirelessly connected using a pair of the antennas 1102 and 1403, and
a pair of the antennas 1103 and 1406.
[0181]
As described above, the first device 110 is capable of establishing wireless
communication with each of the second device 112 and the third device 113 at a
time.
[0182]
Even when the present invention has such a configuration, the first device
110 and the third device 113 each perform the communication connection update
processing similarly to Embodiment 1. Therefore, even when the positional relation
among the first device 110, the second device 112 and the third device 113 is
changed, the first device 110 and the third device 113 each operate so as to update
one or more pairs of antennas. Therefore, it is possible to easily establish contactless
data communication between devices without being affected by the positional
relation between devices and the difference of the number and the arrangement of
antennas between devices. As described above, it is possible to combine a single
electronic circuit device with a plurality of electronic circuit devices.
[0183]
The first device 110 may have a configuration in which a signal output from
the debug IF 248 included in the first device 110 is transmitted to the first device
110 by separating the signal into a signal transmitted using a pair of the antennas
1100 and 1302 and a signal transmitted using a pair of the antennas 1101 and 1308,
and a signal output from the memory IF 247 included in the first device 110 is
transmitted to the third device 113 by separating the signal into a signal transmitted
using a pair of the antennas 1102 and 1313 and a signal transmitted using a pair of
the antennas 1103 and 1316.
[0184]
[Embodiment 4]
In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, each electronic circuit device
has a function of establishing close-coupled wireless communication. In place of the
electronic circuit device, a wireless communication device obtained by separating
the wireless communication function from the electronic circuit device may be used.
[0185]
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless
communication system composed of two wireless communication devices 114 and
115. In FIG. 16, the same reference numbers are assigned to the same components
as those illustrated in FIG. 1, and description thereof is omitted.
[0186]
In the present embodiment, a wireless communication system composed of
a first wireless communication device 114 and a second wireless communication
device 115 is taken as an example of the wireless communication system. The first
wireless communication device 114 and the second wireless communication device
115 are each embodied as an integrated circuit such as an LSI.
[0187]
The first wireless communication device 114 includes a plurality of
antennas 135 including antennas 2304 and 2305. The antennas 135 have similar
functions to the antennas 11 in Embodiment 1. The connection switching unit 210 is
connected to an external device 236 via a wireless communication IF 281.
[0188]
The second wireless communication device 115 includes a plurality of
antennas 136 including antennas 2308 and 2309. The antennas 136 have similar
functions to the antennas 12 in Embodiment 1. The connection switching unit 224 is
connected to an external device 237 via a wireless communication IF 281.
[0189]
According to this configuration, the devices 236 and 237 each not having a
wireless communication interface can establish wireless communication with each
other using the electronic circuit system.
[0190].
The first wireless communication device 114 and the second wireless
communication device 115 are used, for example, by being incorporated into
electronic equipment such as a mobile phone and a display device as described later.
[0191]
[Embodiment 5]
In each of the above embodiments, the antennas included in two electronic
circuit devices, or two wireless communication devices are configured to have the
same size. The size of the antennas, however, may differ between devices.
[0192]
FIG. 17A schematically illustrates an arrangement pattern of antennas
included in a first wireless communication device 120. FIG. 17B schematically
illustrates an arrangement pattern of antennas included in a second wireless
communication device 121. The first wireless communication device 120 and the
second wireless communication device 121 constitute a wireless communication
system. FIGs. 18A and 18B schematically illustrate arrangement patterns of
antennas in a state where the first wireless communication device 120 is
superimposed on the second wireless communication device 121. Note that FIG.
17B illustrates the arrangement pattern viewed from the bottom of the second
wireless communication device 121 (a side on which the antennas are not arranged).
Therefore, the arrangement pattern viewed from the top of the second wireless
communication device 121 (a side on which the antennas are arranged) corresponds
to a mirror image of the arrangement pattern illustrated in FIG. 17B.
[0193]
The first wireless communication device 120 and the second wireless
communication device 121 have similar configurations, to those in Embodiment 4
illustrated in FIG. 16 except for the sizes and the number of antennas. Therefore,
description thereof is omitted. Note that the first wireless communication device 120
and the second wireless communication device 121 are each embodied as an
integrated circuit such as an LSI.
[0194]
The first wireless communication device 120 includes two large
transmission antennas 20 and a plurality of small receiving antennas 21. Assume
that the first wireless communication device 120 is a coordinate system with the
center of the first wireless communication device 120 as an origin, the two
transmission antennas 20 are positioned in quadrant II and in quadrant IV. The
plurality of receiving antennas 21 are arranged in a matrix in quadrant I and in
quadrant III so as to form an antenna group 22 in each of quadrant 1 and quadrant III.
The antennas included in the second wireless communication device 121 are similar
to the antennas included in the first wireless communication device 120 except that
two transmission antennas 30 and a plurality of receiving antennas 31 (or two
receiving antenna groups 32) are arranged in different positions.
[0195]
Note that the transmission antennas 20 and 30 are respectively connected to
the connection switching units 210 and 224 via drivers for transmission. The
receiving antennas 21 and 31 are respectively connected to the connection switching
units 210 and 224 via drivers for reception.
[0196]
As illustrated in FIG. 18A, each of the transmission antennas 20 is large
enough to overlap four of the receiving anten+nas 21 arranged in a matrix. With such
a configuration, when a part of the first wireless communication device 120 in which
any one of the transmission antennas 20 is positioned and a part of the second
wireless communication device 121 in which the plurality of receiving antennas 21
are positioned face each other, the one of the transmission antennas 20 surely faces
one or more of the plurality of receiving antennas 21. For example, when the one of
the transmission antennas 20 is in a position shown as A in FIG. 18A, the one of the
transmission antennas 20 overlaps one of the receiving antennas 21.
[0197]
Therefore, when the transmission antennas 20 and the respective receiving
antenna groups 32 face each other and the transmission antennas 30 and the
respective receiving antenna groups 22 face each other as illustrated in FIG. 18B,
wireless communication is established even if positioning accuracy is low. That is to
say, in the present embodiment, wireless communication is established without
precisely adjusting the positional relation between the first wireless communication
device 120 and the second wireless communication device 121. The present
embodiment is suited for a case where it is difficult to precisely position devices.
[0198]
The connection information generation units 209 and 223 respectively
included in the first wireless communication device 120 and the second wireless
communication device 121 perform communication connection update processing 3
similar to the communication connection update processing 1 in Embodiment 1.
Note that, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication IF unit included
in each of the connection information generation units 209 and 223 includes a
transmission IF unit to which a transmission antenna is to be connected and a
reception IF unit to which a receiving antenna is to be connected, and thus is capable
of transmitting and receiving a signal at a time.
[0199]
FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing the communication connection update
processing 3. The following describes processing performed by the first wireless
communication device 120 and processing performed by the second wireless
communication device 121 in parallel while comparing them with each other, with
reference to FIG. 19. The communication connection update processing 3 is
automatically performed upon powering on the first wireless communication device
120 and the second wireless communication device 121.
[0200]
In a step S31, the first wireless communication device 120 transmits a test
signal from each of the transmission antennas 20 and detects whether each of the
receiving antennas 21 receives a signal. In a step S41, the second wireless
communication device 121 transmits a test signal from each of the transmission
antennas 30 and detects whether each of the receiving antennas 31 receives a signal.
Here, the two transmission antennas 20 are each connected to the connection
information generation unit 209 and simultaneously transmit test signals. The same
applies to the two transmission antennas 30 included in the second wireless
communication device 121.
[0201]
Processing in the step S31 is performed until, in each of the two receiving
antenna groups 22, any of the receiving antennas 21 receives a test signal, The same
applies to processing in the step S41.
[0202]
In a step S32, any receiving antenna receiving the test signal is selected
based on the communication quality, and the selected receiving antenna is connected
to the connection information generation unit 209. In a step S42, any receiving
antenna receiving the test signal is selected based on the communication quality, and
the selected receiving antenna is connected to the connection information generation
unit 223.
[0203]
In a step S33, the first wireless communication device 120 transmits the
identification information of each of the transmission antennas 20 and the
connection information of each of the transmission antennas 20 (identification
information of each of modules connected to the transmission antennas 20). Here,
the identification information and the connection information are transmitted
alternately from the two transmission antennas 20 a plurality of times through the
switching transmission processing described in Embodiment 1.
[0204]
Also in the step S33, the selected receiving antenna 21 receives information.
[0205]
In a step S43, the identification information of each of the transmission
antennas 30 is transmitted through the switching transmission processing.
Furthermore, the selected receiving antenna 31 receives information.
[0206]
In judgment in a step S34, when the first wireless communication device
120 judges that the identification information is not received, processing returns to
the step S31. In judgment in a step S44, when the second wireless communication
device 121 judges that the identification information is not received, processing
returns to the step S41.
[0207]
When the identification information is received, the connection information
and the instruction information are generated (S35, S36, S45, S46). The instruction
information is then transmitted to the connection switching unit 210 or the
connection switching unit 224 so that switching is performed.
[0208]
By the above-mentioned processing, one or more antennas for use in
wireless communication are connected to respective one or more modules in an
appropriate manner.
[0209]
Note that, in the present modification, in order for the connection
information generation units 209 and 223 to perform the positional change detection
processing, a confirmation signal may be transmitted/received using one of the
transmission antennas 20 and the receiving antennas 31- corresponding to the one of
the transmission antennas 20, and using one of the transmission antennas 30 and the
receiving antennas 21 corresponding to the one of the transmission antennas 30.
[0210]
[Modification 1]
FIG. 20 illustrates an example in which the wireless communication device
in Embodiment 5 described above is applied to a mobile phone. FIG. 21 illustrates a
state where the mobile phone is separated into a first housing 501 and a second
housing 502.
[0211]
A mobile phone 500 is a sliding-type mobile phone and includes the first
housing 501 and the second housing 502. The first housing 501 is provided with
operation keys 503, and the second housing 502 is provided with a display panel
504.
[0212]
The first housing 501 is further provided with a guide member 510 that is
L-shaped in cross-section. The guide member 510 fits in a groove 512 formed in the
second housing 502 to connect the first housing 501 and the second housing 502 in a
slidable manner. As described above, the first housing 501 and the second housing
502 are connected to each other by a guide mechanism composed of the guide
member 510 and the groove 512 so that the first housing 501 and the second housing
502 are movable relative to each other.
[0213]
A first wireless communication device 520 is provided in a part of the first
housing 501 facing the second housing 502. A second wireless communication
device 530 is provided in a part of the second housing 502 facing the first housing
501. The second wireless communication device 530 is elongated in a direction in
which the second housing 502 slides. Therefore, the second wireless communication
device 520 is configured to keep facing the first wireless communication device 520
even when the first housing 501 and the second housing 502 slide up and down
relative to each other so that the size of the mobile phone 500 changes.
[0214]
There is an antenna arrangement area 540 in each of the first wireless
communication device 520 and the second wireless communication device 530. In
the antenna arrangement area 540, the transmission antennas and the receiving
antenna groups are arranged so that the transmission antennas and the receiving
antenna groups included in the first wireless communication device 520 and the
transmission antennas and the receiving antenna groups included in the second
wireless communication device 530 face each other before and after the sliding
motion, as illustrated in FIGs. 18A and 18B.
[0215]
FIG. 22 shows a relation among the first wireless communication device
520, the second wireless communication device 520 and peripheral components
included in the mobile phone 500. The first housing 501 includes a picture signal
generation unit 550 for generating a signal of a picture to be displayed on the display
panel 504. The picture signal generation unit 550 is connected to a relay terminal
included in the first wireless communication device 520. The second housing 502
includes the display panel 504, and a display control unit 551 for controlling the
display panel 504 so that a picture is displayed on the display panel 504. The display
control unit 551 is connected to a relay terminal included in the second wireless
communication device 520.
[0216]
With the above-mentioned configuration, the picture signal output from the
picture signal generation unit 550 is input into the display control unit 551 via the
first wireless communication device 520 and the second wireless communication
device 530. As a result, a picture is displayed on the display panel 504.
[0217]
As described above, at least part of cable (signal lines) included in the
mobile phone 500 can be replaced with two wireless communication devices.
[0218]
Note that technology of establishing communication between circuit boards
using a wireless communication interface is applicable to, in addition to the
sliding-type mobile phone, a clamshell mobile phone, a wireless communication
connecter for connecting movable parts of equipment such as a robot and the like.
[0219]
[Modification 2]
FIG. 23 illustrates an example in which a wireless communication device in
Embodiment 5 described above is applied to a display device 600.
[0220]
The display device 600 includes a display unit 601, a stand 602 and a
coupling member 610 for coupling the display unit 601 to the stand 602 so that they
can turn relative to each other around a vertical axis. The coupling member 610
includes a first member 611 attached to the display unit 601 and a second member
612 attached to the stand 602. A signal line 605 for transmitting a picture signal and
the like are connected to the stand 602.
[0221]
FIG. 24 illustrates a cross-section of a principal part of the coupling member
610.
[0222]
A cylindrical rotary shaft 621 is provided in a bottom plate of the first
member 611. One end of the rotary shaft 621 (the lower end of the rotary shaft 621
in FIG. 24) has a flange. On the other hand, an opening 622 into which the rotary
shaft 621 is inserted is formed in a top plate of the second member 612. By the
rotary shaft 621 being inserted into the opening 622, the first member 611 and the
second member 612 included in the coupling member 610 are made to turn relative
to each other.
[0223]
A first wireless communication device 630 is provided in a bottom face of
the first member 611 on a center axis of the rotary shaft 621. On the other hand, a
cylindrical bearing member 623 inserted into the rotary shaft 621 is provided to the
second member 612. A second wireless communication device 640 is provided in a
top face of the bearing member 623. Note that, although FIG. 24 illustrates a state
where the bearing member 623 is spaced from the rotary shaft 621, in an assembled
state of the coupling member 610, the bearing member 623 is fixed to the second
member 612 while being inserted into the rotary shaft 621 as indicated by alternate
long and two short dashes lines. In a state where the first wireless communication
device 630 and the second wireless communication device 640 are in contact with
each other, close-coupled wireless communication is established. Note that, when
the first member 611 and the second member 612 turn relative to each other, the
rotary shaft 621 and the bearing member 623 turn relative to each other. As
described above, the first wireless communication device 630 and the second
wireless communication device 640 are attached to respective members that are
coupled together so as to turn relative to each other.
[0224]
An electrode 625 is provided on an outer circumference of the bearing
member 623, and an electrode 626 is provided on an inner circumference of the
opening 622. Electrodes 627 and 628 are respectively provided on an inner
circumference and an outer circumference of the rotary shaft 621. Power to be
supplied to the display unit 601 is delivered between the electrodes 625 and 627, and
between the electrodes 626 and 628.
[0225]
FIG. 25 schematically illustrates an arrangement pattern of antennas
included in each of the first wireless communication device 630 and the second
wireless communication device 640. Note that FIG. 25 illustrates the first wireless
communication device 630 viewed from the second wireless communication device
640-side. In FIG. 25, antennas 50 and 51 included in the first wireless
communication device 630 are indicated by solid lines, and antennas 60 and 61
included in the second wireless communication device 640 are indicated by chain
lines.
[0226]
The first wireless communication device 630 includes the transmission
antenna 50 positioned in the center thereof, and the plurality of receiving antennas
51 circumferentially arranged around the transmission antenna 50. The second
wireless communication device 640 includes the plurality of transmission antennas
60 circumferentially arranged around the transmission antenna 50, and the plurality
of receiving antennas 61 positioned in a part facing the transmission antenna 50 and
in a part around the transmission antenna 50.
[0227]
With such a configuration, it is possible to establish close-coupled wireless
communication regardless of the angle between the first wireless communication
device 630 and the second wireless communication device 640 when they turn
relative to each other around the transmission antenna 50.
[0228]
In the present modification, one or more antennas connected to respective
one or more modules are switched through processing similar to the communication
connection update processing 3 in Embodiment 5. When the angle between the first
wireless communication device 630 and the second wireless communication device
640 is changed, a change in positional relation is detected in the positional change
detection processing, and the communication connection update processing 3 is
performed.
[0229]
[Embodiment 6]
In Embodiments 1, 2, 3 and 4 described above, a distance between any two
adjacent antennas included in the first device is equal to the integer multiple of a
distance between any two adjacent antennas included in the second device, in a
longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. Note that the first device
indicates the first electronic circuit device or the first wireless communication device,
and the second device indicates the first electronic circuit device or the first wireless
communication device.
[0230]
On the contrary, the distance between any two adjacent antennas included in
the first device may be slightly larger or smaller than the integer multiple of the
distance between any two adjacent antennas included in the second device, in a
longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction.
[0231]
First devices 117, 118 and 119 described later each have a similar
configuration to the first device 100 in Embodiment 1, but differ from the first
device 100 in the number and the arrangement of antennas. A second device 112
described later has a similar configuration to the first device 100 in Embodiment 1.
[0232]
For comparison, the following describes a case where the distance between
any two adjacent antennas included in the first device is equal to the integer multiple
of the distance between any two adjacent antennas included in the second device, in
a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction.
[0233]
FIGs. 26A and 26B each schematically illustrate the first device 117 and the
second device 112 each in a connection state. FIG. 26A illustrates a case where
antennas 71 included in the first device 117 and antennas 72 included in the second
device 112 are each in optimum positions. FIG. 26B illustrates a case where the -
positions of the antennas 71 are slightly shifted. Wireless communication between
electronic circuit devices closely relates to a distance between antennas, the
communication sensitivity and a facing area of two antennas facing each other. The
facing area of two antennas facing each other indicates, in an orthogonal projection
of each pair of coils viewed in a direction along a center line of one coil of the pair,
an area that is enclosed by the one coil and overlaps with an area enclosed by the
other coil of the pair.
[0234]
Here, as with the first device 117 and the second device 112, in the case
where a distance between any two adjacent antennas included in the first device is
equal to the integer multiple of a distance between any two adjacent antennas
included in the second device, maximum performance is achieved when a center of
each antenna included in the first device and a center of each antenna included in the
second device coincide with each other. When the centers do not coincide with each
other, however, it is difficult to detect a direction in which the devices should be
shifted to improve the sensitivity.
[0235]
FIGs. 27A and 27B each schematically illustrate the positional relation
between antennas included in the first device 118 and the antennas included in the
second device 112 that are configured such that the distance between any two
adjacent antennas included in the first device 118 is slightly larger than the distance
between any two adjacent antennas included in the second device 112 in a
longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction.
[0236]
In FIG. 27A, four antennas 73 (7301, 7302, 7304, 7305) around an antenna
73 in the center have the same receiving signal intensity. When the positional
relation between the antennas included in the first device 118 and the antennas
included in the second device 112 illustrated in FIG. 27A is changed to that
illustrated in FIG. 27B, the receiving signal intensity differs among the antennas
7301, 7302, 7303, 7304 and 7305 included in the first device 118. The receiving
signal intensity of the antenna 7301 is simply the lowest, and the receiving signal
intensity of the antenna 7305 is simply the highest. In such a case, the first device
118 should be shifted in a direction from one of the antenna 73 having lower
receiving signal intensity to another one of the antenna 73 having higher receiving
signal intensity. Note that a direction in which the second device 112 should be
shifted is opposite to the direction in which the first device 118 should be shifted.
[0237]
FIGs. 28A and 28B each schematically illustrate the positional relation
between antennas included in the first device 119 and the antennas included in the
second device 112 that are configured such that the distance between any two
adjacent antennas included in the first device 119 is slightly smaller than the
distance between any two adjacent antennas included in the second device 112 in a
longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction.
[0238]
In FIG. 28A, four antennas 75 around an antenna 75 in the center have the
same receiving signal intensity. When the positional relation between the antennas
included in the first device 119 and the antennas included in the second device 112
illustrated in FIG. 28A is changed to that illustrated in FIG. 28B, the receiving
signal intensity differs among the antennas 7501, 7502, 7503, 7504 and 7505
included in the first device 119. The receiving signal intensity of the antenna 7501 is
simply the highest, and the receiving signal intensity of the antenna 7505 is simply
the lowest. In such a case, the first device 119 should be shifted in a direction from
one of the antenna 75 having lower receiving signal intensity to another one of the
antenna 75 having higher receiving signal intensity.
[0239]
In each of FIGs. 27A and 28A, the facing area of the antennas included in
each of the first devices 118 and 119 and the antennas 72 included in the second
device 112 is made to be larger than a half of an area enclosed by an outline of each
of the antennas 72 (four sides of each of the antennas 72 when each of the antennas
72 is assumed to be square-shaped). That is to say, the facing area falls within a
range that enables the antennas included in each of the first devices 118 and 119 to
keep facing the antennas 72 included in the second device 112. Note that, when a
size of each of the antennas included in each of the first devices 118 and 119 is
different from that of each of the antennas 74 included in the second device 112, the
facing area is set based on antennas each having a smaller size.
[0240]
Therefore, in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction, a
distance D1 between any two adjacent antennas 73 included in the first device 118 is
made to be larger than "N D2", which is the product of N (N is a natural number)
and a distance D2 between any two adjacent antennas 72 included in the second
device 112, and to be smaller than "N D2 + L'', which is the sum of "N D2" and a
length L of each of the antennas 74 in each of a longitudinal direction and in a
transverse direction.
[0241]
N D2