Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention rela-tes to electric
signal trans~ission systems and, more particularly,
the invention relates to systems for transmission and
reception of remote contro] siqnals.
The invention can be used in wireless
- remote control systems Eor controlling movable
objects within a visability range.
A radio channel is widely used nowadays for
wireless control.
Known in the art is the type FSG 2500 radio
control device ("Gluckauf", No. 8, 1967, K. Weber et
al. "Portable Station for Remote Control of Mining
Machnery via Radio", pp. 16-21) comprising a portable
control desk and a receiving antenna, a radio
receiver, a decoder and actuating relays mounted on a
mining machine. This prior art dévice has a draw-
back: the radio channel is susceptible to elec-tro-
magnetic noise from electric power networks,
starters, control equipment, welding apparatus, etc.
The operation of the prior art device depends on
propagation of radiowaves, which can be screened by
metal structures and other electrically conductive
objects; this is especially noticeable when the radio
system is used inside a workshop, tunnel or mine. When
the transmitting antenna of the portable control unit
is mounted on the protective helmet, the radiowaves can
adversely affect the human organism. Under favourable
conditions for propagation of radiowaves (e.g. via
guide waves) the machine can be controlled at a dis-
tance of a few hundred metres without visual monitor-
ing of the situation in the zone of operation of
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the controlled object and thi3 may be a ~erious hazard to the
operatin~ personnel.
In~rared comrnunication channels have recently found wide
application for wirele~s remote control over short distances
of 30 to 5O m.
The prior art, which i5 the close~t to the claimed
invention in technical e~sence i8 a system ~or transmission
and reception of signals for rernote control by means of infra-
red radiation (~R, B? 2. 337.386).
The prior art 6ystem comprises a portable control desk
intended for conversion of information on the position of
controls into a control signal and for transmission o~ this
signal. The system also comprises the following units adapted
for mounting on the controlled object: a control si~nal re-
ceiver, a timing pulse selector whose input is connected to
the output of the control signal receiver, a pulse generator,
a pulse distributer whose zero setting input i8 connected to
output of the timin~ pulse selector and to the zero setting
input of the pulse generator, an output of which is connected
to the timing input of the pulse distributer, a re~ister unit
who~e timing inpu~s are electrically connected to the outputs
of the pulse distributer, while the outputs are connected to
the inputs of a unit of actuating elernents; th0 data input is
connected to the output of the control slgnal receiver. ~he
prior art system is equipped with a portable control desk
having an infrared communication channel.
The in~rared comrnunication channel is not susceptible to
the effect of electromagnetic waves in the radio range, the
control, as a rule~ is possible only within direct visibility
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of the controlled object, and current conductive objects have
no effect on the infrared radiation. ~he infrared radiation
imparts no harmful effect on human organism. ~his prior art
~ystem i~ le~ expensive and more technologicall~- advanced but
it has an infrared communicaticn channel featuring some disad-
vantages.
Infrared radiation propagate~ along a straight line and
is subject to reflection from the surface oP various bodies.
~he reflection factor is generaly within 0.1 - 0.6 depending
on the 3urface material. In addition, the infrared radiation
is scattered on ~mo~e and dust particle~ su~pended in air.
Therefore, the infrared radiation receiver usually receives
both straight line and scattered radiation. In a clo~ed space
(room~ workshop, tunnel) the ~raction of scattered or reflect-
ed radiation i~ large so that at a distance of 3 to 6 m the
operator can effect control regardles~ of the orientation of
the radiators of the remote control desk. At a greater dis-
-tance between t~,e desk and the controlled object (up to 10 -
20 m) the fraction of the reflected flux drops down, while in
a free qpace there is no reflection of the infrared rays 80
that ~e operator must orient the portable desk towards the
con'rolled object.
Safety regulations r~quire that a wireless remote control
9ystom i9 designed ~o that the controlled objec-t is switched
off a~ soon as the communication channel become~ inoperative
Thus, the system must be reqtarted when the communication is
restored. In the process of operation the operator m~y uninten-
tionally go out of the control zone or occupy for some time
quch a position that the straight-line radiation flu~ does not
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reach the receiver while the reYlected signal is too weak or
absent. In thi~ case the controlled object i~ 3witched off
automatically. This results in premature l~ear of the starters
and mechanisms of the controlled object, i~e. the functional
reliability is reduced. Thus the prior art system is characte-
rized by low functional reliabilit~ due to random (unexpected
by the operator) disconneotions of the controlled object under
normal (not emer~ency) conditions.
An object of the invention is to increase the func-tional
reliability of a 3ystem for tran~mi~sion and reception of
remote control signals.
This object is attained by providing a system for tran3-
mission and reception of remote control signals comprising a
portable control desk intended fo;^ conversion of information
on the po~ition of the control mechaniqm~ into a command sig-
nal and for transmission of this sign~l to ~ controlled ob-
ject, units adapted for mounting on the controlled object
includin~ a control signal receiver, a timing pulse selector
who~e input i9 conr-ected to the output of the control signal
receiver, a pu]se generator, a pulse distributer whose zero
settin~ input is connected to the output o$ the timing pulse
selector and to the input of the pul~e generator zero setting
device whose output i~ connected to the timing input o-~ the
pul~e distributer, a unit of actuating elements whose outFuts
are conn~cted to the control circuit3 of the control obaect,
a register unit whose timing input3 are electrically connect-
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ed to the output3 of the pul9e distributer, the output~ areconnected to the inputs of the units of actuating elements
while the data input is connected to the output of the control
si~nal receiver; according to the invention, the system
includes the following devices to be moun~ed on the controlled
object: a pulse counter whose zero setting input is connected
to the out?ut of the timing pulse selector while the comple-
menting input i9 connected to one output of the pulse distri-
buter, a delay element whose input is connected to the output
of the pulse counter Nhile the output i9 connected to the zero
setting input of the register unit, a si~nalling unit whose
input i5 connected to the output of the pul~e ~ounterl a
switching unit whose inputs are connected to the outputs of
the pulse distribu~er while the outputs are connected to the
corresponding timing inputs of the register unit; the control
input of the switching unit i9 connected to the DutpUt cf the
pulse counter.
The invention makes it possible to eliminate sudden dis-
connection~ of the system for transmission and reception of
remote control signals, to reduce the wear of the ~tarter and
electromechanical drive. In addition, the operator'~ labour
conditions are improved.
The invention is further de3cribed by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig, ~ is a block diagram of the system for transmission
and reception of remote ¢ontrol signals, according to the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a ~unctional di~gram of the portable control
desk, according to the invention;
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Fig. 3 is a functional diagram o~ the control signal
receiver, according to the invention;
Fig. 4 i3 a schematic diagram of the pul3e generator,
according to the invention;
Fig~ 5 is a schematic diagram of the signalling unit,
according to the invention.
A system for transmiqsion and recep.ion of remote control
signals comprises a portable con-trol desk 1 (Fig. ~) used for
conversion of informa-tion on the position of the control mecha-
nisms into a command signal and for transmission o~ this sig-
nal to h controlled object, units adapted for mounting on the
controlled object including a control signal receiver 2, a tim
ing pulse selector 3, a pulse generator 4, and the following
element~ connected in series: a pulse distributer 5 with out-
puts, a switching unit 6, a register unit 7, a unit 8 having
actuatin~ elements, the outputs of the unit 8 being connected
to the controlled object (not shown in Fi~ The zero set-
ting input of the pulse generator 4 i9 connected to the output
of the timing pulse selector 3, while the output i~ connected
to the clock input of the pulse distributer 5,
Tha sy~tem for transmi!~ion and reception of remote cont-
rol ~ignals also comprises the following units ada~ted for
mountinæ on the controlled object: a pulse counter 9, a delay
elemerlt ~0 who~e input is connected to the output of the
pulse co~nter 9, a signalling unit 11 who3e input is connect-
ed to the output of the pulse counter 9. The zero setting
input of the pulse counter 9 is connected to the output of the
timin~ pulse selector 3, while the complementing input of the
counter 9 is connected to one of the outputs o~ the pulse
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distibutor 5. The output of the delay element 10 is
connected to the zero setting input of the register
unit 7. The control input of the switching unit is
connected to the output of the pulse counter 9. The
timing inputs of the register unit 7 are connected to
- the respective output of the switching unit 6, while
the data input is connected to the output of the
control signal receiver 2.
The timing pulse selector 3 is made in the
form of a delay unit delaying the pulse leading edge;
the unit includes capacitor 12 and resistor 13.
Connected to the outputs of the resistor 13 is a
diode 14 whose anode is connected to the junction of
the resistor 13 and the capacitor 12.
The switching unit 6 includes resistors
151, 152,...,15n, the first output of each resistor
being connected to the respective output of the dis-
tributor 5; a transistor 16 and diodes 171,
172,...,17n, whose cathodes are connected to the
collector of the transistor 16, while the anode of
each diode 171, 172,...,17n, is connected to the
second output of the respective resistor 151,
152,...,15n,. The emitter of the transistor 16 is
connected to a common bus while the base of the
transistor 16, which is a control input of the
switching unit 6, is connected to the output of the
pulse counter 9.
The register unit 7 includes sequential
recording registers 181, 182,...,18n,. The timing
inputs of the registers 181, 182,.. ,18n are con-
nected to the respective outputs of the switching
unit. The data inputs of the registers 181,
182,...,18n are all connected to the data input of
the register unit 7 connected to the output of the
control signal receiver 2. The zero set-ting inputs
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of the registers 181, 182,...,18n are all connected
to the zero setting input of the register unit 7
connected to the output of the delay elemen-t 10.
The unit 8 of actuating elerrlents includes
relays 191, 192,.. ,19n, some winding leads of which
are all connected to a terminal of a power supply
unit (not shown), transistors 201, 202,...,20n, the
collector of each of these transistors being con-
nec-ted to the other lead of the winding of the
respective relay 191, 192,.. ,19n,. The base of each
transistor 201, 202,...,20n, is connected to the
proper output of the register unit 7 through a
respective resistor 211, 212,...,21n. The contacts
221, 222,...,22n of the relays 191, 192,...,19n, are
connected to control circuits 231, 232,.. ,23n of the
controlled object (not shown).
The delay~element 10 includes a capacitor
24 and a resistor 25. The arrows A show the direc-
tion of infrared radiation, the lines B stand for the
direction of propagation of sound waves.
The portable control desk 1 comprises
controls 26 (Fig. 2), a coder 27 whose input is con-
nected to the output of the controls 26, a radiator
28, a switch 29 comprising a transistor 30 and a
resistor 31. One terminal of the resistor 31 is
connected to the base of the transistor 30, while the
other output is connected to the coder 27. The
emitter of the transistor 30 is connected to the
common bus while the collector thereof is connected
to the radiator 28.
The portable control desk 1 also comprises
a storage battery 32 connected to the radiator 28, a
threshold device 33 connected to the radiator 28, an
indicator 34 connected to the radiator 28, a switch
35 comprising a transistor 36 and a resis-
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tor 37. One terminal of the resist4r 37 i~ connected to the
base of the transistor 36, while the other terminal is connect-
ed to the output of the thre~hold device 33. The emitter o~ the
transistor 36 is colLnected to the common bu~ while the collector
thereof i3 connected to the indicator 34. Connected to the radi-
ator 28 is one terminal of a damping resistor 38 whos~ other
terminal i3 connected to a te~minal 39, which is also connected
to the cathode o~ a zener diode 40 who~e anode is connected to
the common bus~
The control signal receiver 2 comprises th0 following com-
ponents connected in series: a photoelectric receiver 41 (Fig.3),
a bandpass filter 42, an attenuator 43, an amplifier 44,
and an amplitude detector 450 The output of the amplifier 44 is
connected to the input of the attenua~or 43 through a feedback
circuit. The amplitud~ detector 45 includes a diode 47 whose
anode is connected to the output of the amplifier 44, and a ca
pacitor 48 connected to the cathode of the diode 47 and to the
common bus.
~ he pulse generator 4 comprise3 a quartz-controlled re~o-
nator 49 (Fig. 43, a frequency divider 50~ resi3torq ~1, 52,
some terminal~ of which are all connected -to the frequency di-
~ider 50. The ~econd terminal o~ the re3istor 51 i~ connected
to the resonator 49 and to tha frequency divider 50. The ~econd
terminal of the re~ist~r 52 i3 ¢onnected to the quartz-control-
l~d resonatOr 49 ~nd ~o the capacitor 53.
The signalling unit 11 comprises NAND elements 54, 55, 56
(Fig. 5), an amplifier 57, Qn acoustic radiator 58 connected in
serie~. ~he output of the N~ND element 56 i~ connected through
a re~ist~r 59 to the input of the NA~D element 54 and is con-
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nected to the input of this NAND element 56 through a
resistor 59 and a capacitor 60.
The system for transmission and reception
of remo-te control signals operates as follows:
Since the infrared frequency spectrum is
not affected by noise, it is possible to use simple
time division of the control signals. Timing pulses,
e.g., with duration of 3 ms, are produced through
equal time intervals, e.g. 48 ms. In the gap between
the timing pulses there can be located control pulses
(22 commands), each pulse having duration of 1 ms,
for example. The appearance of a control pulse in
one of the twenty-two time positions indicates to the
fact that a required command has been sent.
This command is executed at the receiving
end if the respective control pulse is sequentially
confirmed in two-to-four series. This increases the
reliability of the control signal transmission~
In the communication channel the radiation
of the portable control desk 1 (Fig. 1) is received
by the control signal receiver 2. The portable
control desk 1 is used for forming trains of control
pulses modulated on the infrared frequency band. The
control pulses are separated by timing pulses whose
duration is much longer than -the duration of the
control pulses. The first timing pulse demodulated
by the receiver 2 and isolated by means of the timing
pulse selector 3 resets the pulse distributor 5, the
pulse counter 9 and switches off the pulse generator
4. The pulse generator 4 and the pulse distributor 5
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start operating as soon as the timing pulse is over.
Thus, cyclic synchronization of the pulse distri-
butors of the sending and receiving ends of the
system is ef-fected. In the process of operation of
the pulse distributor 5 a signal is taken off from
one of its outputs and "one" is recorded in the pulse
counter 9 but the timing pulse following this signal
resets the counter 9. A zero signal from the output
of the pulse counter 9 is applied to the control
input of the switchi.ng unit 6. In this case the
switches of the unit 6 remain to be conductive
allowing the output pulses of the distributor 5~to
pass to the timing inputs of the register unit 7
whose data input receives a train of pulses from the
output of the receiver 2. The commands are recorded
in those registers 181, 182,...,18n of the register
unit 7, in which the timing input and the data input
are fed with pulses from the output of the pulse
distributor 5 and from the control signal receiver 2
respectively. The logic one signals from the outputs
of the registers 181, 182,...,18n in which the
command had been recorded, cause operation of the
respective relays 191, 192,...,19n of the unit 8 of
actuating elements whose contacts 221, 222,...,22n
close the control circuits of the respective actuat-
ing mechanisms of the controlled object.
If the straight-line radiation of the port-
able control desk 1 does not reach the receiver 2 and
the reflected signal is weak or absent, i.e. the
communication channel disappears, the pulse counter 9
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is not reset. During the next cycle of operation of
the pu]se distributor 5 the "one" signal is recorded
at the output of the pulse counter 9. This results
in switching-on of the signalling unit 11 emitting a
noise signal to warn the operator of the channel
failure, and in closing the switches of the unit 6.
This provides storage of data in the register unit 7.
If the operator does not restore the com-
munication channel during the delay time of the
element 10 equal to 3 - 4 s, the output signal of the
element 10 resets all registers 181, 182,...,18n of
the register unit 7 so that the controlled object is
switched of~.
, If the communication channel is restored
within 3 - 4 s, the first received timing pulse
resets the counter 9 and the output signal of this
counter 9 switches off the signalling unit 11 and
renders the switches of the unit 6 conductive to
enable the operator to continue his control of the
controlled object.
Thus, sudden and unexpected for the
operator disconnection of the controlled object asso-
ciated with a loss of a communication channel is
eliminated and this increases the function reliabi-
lity of the system for transmission and reception ofremote control signals.
The claimed system is advan-tageous in that
it provides operative monitoring of the transmission
of the commands sent via the infrared communication
channel and provides execution of the commands in
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case of breaking the communication channel during a
period required for remedying the break, and this
improves the reliability of the control. Further-
more, the claimed system is not susceptible to the
S effect of electromagnetic noise from power electric
circuits, starting devices and electric welding
apparatus. The da-ta communication channel, which is
used in the claimed system, significantly improves
the safety since the control is effected within the
range of direct visibility of the controlled object.
The infrared radiation, on which the claimed system
is based, has no adverse effect on human organism.
The system for transmission and reception of remote
control signals is technologically effective.
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