Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – Infrared responsive
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-24
2001-01-16
Hannaher, Constantine (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
Infrared responsive
C250S2140AL, C359S199200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175115
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for catching infrared rays in an on-vehicle signal transmission system such as transceivers and the like using the infrared rays, the system being mounted inside a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, as a means for releasing a user's or driver's both hands from his on-vehicle transceiver to provide a hands-free type on-vehicle transceiver, a transmitter
11
using infrared rays for transmitting a sound and a PTT control signal have been used, as shown in FIG.
3
.
In a conventional on-vehicle signal transmission system, as shown in FIGS.
4
(A) and
4
(B), a light receiving element
12
receives infrared rays issued from the transmitter
11
, which is carried by the driver. In construction, the light receiving element
12
is disposed in an appropriate surface of a receiver
13
mounted in a front panel and like members of the vehicle. Such appropriate surface of the receiver
13
is a surface oppositely disposed from the transmitter
11
, for example such as an upper surface of the receiver
13
as viewed in FIG.
4
(A), or a front surface of the receiver
13
as viewed in FIG.
4
(B).
In any of the conventional on-vehicle signal transmission systems each having the above construction, sunlight is apt to directly hit the light receiving element
12
. Due to this, the conventional systems often malfunction or become inoperative. Of these conventional systems, one called “Directly-plug-in-cigarette-lighter type” has been widely used since this type of system requires least wiring in installation. However, this type of system is most affected by the direct light of the sun.
As described above, the conventional signal transmission system using the infrared rays is affected by the direct light of the sun, and often becomes inoperative or malfunctions. The principal cause of such malfunction is to be sought in the fact that the light receiving element
12
is completely saturated with the direct light of the sun. In other words, it is possible to discriminate a desired signal from other signals, provided that the light receiving element
12
is not saturated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Under such circumstances, the present invention was made. Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for catching infrared rays in an on-vehicle signal transmission system such as transceivers and the like using the infrared rays, wherein the system is mounted inside a vehicle and free from any affection of the direct sunlight to perform a signal transmission using the infrared rays in a good and stable manner.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
A method for catching infrared rays in an on-vehicle signal transmission system using the infrared rays, comprising the steps of:
emitting the infrared rays from a transmitter toward a floor surface of the vehicle, the transmitter being carried by a driver of a vehicle; and
installing a light receiving element in the vehicle in a manner such that the light receiving element is oppositely disposed from the floor surface, the light receiving element being adapted to receive the infrared rays.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
An apparatus for catching infrared rays in an on-vehicle signal transmission system using the infrared rays, comprising:
a transmitter carried by a driver of a vehicle, the transmitter being provided with a light emitting element adapted to emit the infrared rays toward a floor surface of the vehicle; and
a receiver provided with a light receiving element, the light receiving element being installed in the vehicle in a manner such that the light receiving element is oppositely disposed from the floor surface so as to receive the infrared rays.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
The apparatus as set forth in the second aspect of the present invention, wherein:
a reflecting plate is mounted on the receiver; and
the reflecting plate reflects the infrared rays toward the light receiving element, the infrared rays having been reflected from clothes of the driver, the vehicle's seat and floor, and like members of the vehicle.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
The apparatus as set forth in the third aspect of the present invention, wherein:
the reflecting plate is adjustable in its angle of reflection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5072209 (1991-12-01), Hori et al.
patent: 5583485 (1996-12-01), Van Lente et al.
patent: 5627669 (1997-05-01), Orino et al.
Browdy and Neimark
Gabor Otilia
Hannaher Constantine
Temco Japan Co., Ltd.
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