Patent Application
20070297811
Various embodiments of the present invention include an infrared receiver and infrared bridge device that are capable of detecting, monitoring, and/or joining a pre-established infrared communications link. This advantage and other advantages over the prior art will be evident in light of the many functions and features described herein.
A sampling module 108 generates a sequence of sampled data 110 from the received signal 106. A plurality of processing modules 120, 120′, 120″, etc. are included, wherein each processing module is capable of detecting and decoding data in a different one of a plurality of data formats. Each processing module 120, 120′, 120″, analyzes the sequence of sampled data for its particular data format. When a processing module detects its data format, it generates a detection signal 124 and decodes the sequence of sampled data 122 into decoded data 128, 128′ or 128″. In an embodiment of the present invention, controller module 130 receives the detection signal 124 from the processing module 120, 120′, 120″ that detected its data format, and disables the other processing modules by deasserting their corresponding processing module enable signals 122.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing modules 120, 120′ and 120″ each include a dedicated state machine that is configured to detect and decode data in either a serial infrared (SIR) data format, a medium infrared (MIR) data format, a fast infrared (FIR) data format, an very fast infrared (VFIR) or ultra fast infrared (UFIR) data format in accordance with the IrDA standards. One or more of the data formats can operate at different data rates. For instance, there are five standard data rates currently used in the SIR data format and two standard data rates for the MIR data format. Consequently, one or more of the dedicated state machines is further operable to detect the particular data rate employed by the existing link, and incorporate this detected data rate in the detection signal 124 provided to controller module 130.
While the description above has focused on processing modules 120, 120′ and 120″ each supporting a single data format, in addition, one or more of the processing modules 120, 120′ and/or 120″ can optionally support multiple data formats. In this fashion, at least one of the plurality of processing modules 120, 120′ and/or 120″ analyzes the sequence of sampled data 110 for at least two of the plurality of data formats, and when one these data formats is detected, the processing module generates a detection signal 124 that indicates the detected data format (and optionally the data rate) and decodes the sequence of sampled data 110 into decoded data 128, 128′ or 128″ based on the detected data format. For instance, a dedicated state machine can be employed for the SIR, MIR and UFIR formats, however, a single state machine could be used to detect and decode both the FIR and VFIR data formats. Similarly, other combinations are likewise possible within the broad scope of the present invention.
In operation, infrared receiver 125 may be exposed to an infrared input signal 102 that corresponds to a pre-established communications link. Sampling module 108 generates the sequence of sampled data 110 from received signal 106 at a very high sample rate, so as to capture data at the highest possible data rate. Controller module 130 asserts all of the processing module enable signals 122 and each processing module analyzes the sequence of sampled data in attempt, such as by detecting the timing of bit transitions, searching for periodic frame data or other periodic data, to detect the data rate and lock in on the sequence of sampled data 110 with its own format. The processing module 120, 120′, 120″ that has the data format and a data rate that corresponds to the data format of the infrared input signal should achieve lock. In response, this particular processing module asserts its respective detection signal 124.
In an embodiment of the present invention, controller module 130 includes a digital processor that launches an interrupt service routine in response to the assertion of detection signal 124 from one of the processing modules 120, 120′, 120″, etc. Controller module 130, determines which of the processing modules 120, 120′, and 120″ generated the interrupt, and disables the remaining processing modules by deasserting their corresponding processing module enable signals 122. The processing module that remains enabled, decodes the sequence of sampled data into decoded data 128, 128′ or 128″ from the corresponding format and at the corresponding data rate.
While processing modules 120, 120′ 120″, etc. have been described as state machines and controller module 130 has been described as a digital processor, in alternative embodiments, these devices can be implemented using a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. The memory may include a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when the processing module modules 120, 120′, 120″ and/or controller module 130 implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.
Infrared receiver 125′ further includes decimation module 140 that decimates the sequence of sampled data 110 for one or more of the processing modules 120, 120′ and 120″ when enabled by controller module 130. In an embodiment of the present invention, decimation module 140 includes a plurality of downsampling filters. As discussed above, before one of the plurality of data formats is detected, the sampling module 108′ is set to a first sample rate. The processing module 120, 120′ or 120″, etc. that is configured to analyze that data rate can be set at a low decimation factor, such as 1. The remaining processing modules are decimated at different decimation factors to down-sample the sequence of sampled data 110 to data rates within range of each processing module's corresponding data rate. After the sample rate 132 is set by controller 130, based on the particular data format and data rate that was detected, decimation module 140 can be disabled by controller module 130 by deasserting decimation module enable signal 142.
In addition, client interface 144 converts decoded data 128, 128′ or 128″ from one of the processing modules 120, 120′ or 120″ into formatted data 126 in the data format of a client device 150. In an embodiment of the present invention, infrared receiver 125′ is implemented as part of an infrared bridge device that is coupled to a client device 150 via a port such as a USB port, Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 488 port, RS 232 port, IEEE 1394 or Firewire port, Ethernet port, or communications port, either standard or proprietary. In an alternative embodiment, infrared receiver 125′ is integrated directly in the client device, such as wireless telephone 52, handheld audio device 54, printer 56, PDA 58, digital camcorder 60 and digital camera 62, or other electronic device that includes an integrated infrared receiver.
The operation of infrared receiver 125′, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, can be further illustrated by the following example. Assume that the infrared receiver 125′ wishes to monitor a pre-established communications link that is using an FIR data rate and data format. Further assume that infrared receiver 125′ include four processing modules 120, 120′, 120″, etc. that are configured, one each for the SIR, MIR, FIR and VFIR data rates and formats.
Controller module 130 initially sets the sampling rate 132, such as to adequately sample a possible 16 Mbits/sec VFIR data stream. Controller 130 enables decimation module 140 by asserting the decimation module enable signal 142. Decimation module passes the sequence of sampled data 110 to the VFIR processing module, it decimates the sequence of sampled data 110 by a decimation factor of 4 for the FIR processing module, it decimates the sequence of sampled data 110 by a decimation factor of 16 for the MIR processing module, and decimates the sequence of sampled data 110 by a decimation factor of 128 for the SIR processing module. Controller 130 also enables each of the four processing modules to analyze their respective input data streams. The FIR processing module achieves lock and generates its corresponding detection signal, 124.
Controller module 130, determines that the detection signal 124 was generated by the FIR processor. Controller module 132 modifies the sample rate 132 to correspond to a slower sample rate, adequate for the 4 Mbit/sec FIR data rate. Controller module 130 deasserts the processing module enable signals 122 for the SIR, MIR, and VFIR processing modules and deasserts the decimation module enable signal 142. The FIR processing module operates to generate decoded data 128, 128′ or 128″ that is formatted by client interface 144 into formatted data 146 in the format of client device 150.
While the descriptions of the embodiments of
In addition, while the foregoing description has focused on a sniffer application that is capable of monitoring the data transmitted over an existing link, the present invention could likewise be implemented in a system having data formats that are compatible with multiple access that allows a new entrant to join a pre-existing link.
In an embodiment of the present invention, infrared emitter module 170 includes a light emitting diode, laser diode or other photo-emitting device that is capable of producing a modulated output within the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Encoding module 162 can be implemented using a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. The memory may include a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when the encoding module 162 implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of data formats include at least one of: a serial infrared data format, a medium infrared data format, a fast infrared data format, a very fast infrared data format, and an ultra fast infrared data format.
As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the term “substantially” or “approximately”, as may be used herein, provides an industry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As one of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “operably coupled”, as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “operably coupled”. As one of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “compares favorably”, as may be used herein, indicates that a comparison between two or more elements, items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.
The various circuit components can be implemented using 0.35 micron or smaller CMOS technology. Provided however that other circuit technologies, both integrated or non-integrated, may be used within the broad scope of the present invention. Likewise, various embodiments described herein can also be implemented as software programs running on a computer processor. It should also be noted that the software implementations of the present invention can be stored on a tangible storage medium such as a magnetic or optical disk, read-only memory or random access memory and also be produced as an article of manufacture.
Thus, there has been described herein an apparatus and method, as well as several embodiments including a preferred embodiment, for implementing an infrared receiver and an infrared bridge device. Various embodiments of the present invention herein-described have features that distinguish the present invention from the prior art.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modified in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments other than the preferred forms specifically set out and described above. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
