Patent · US Expired

Infrared network transceiver apparatus

US5191461A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
8References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 1991
Grant dateMar 2, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B10/50
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is for an illumination transmitter. The transmitter projects a signal onto a planar reflective surface such as the ceiling of an open office environment. The transmitter includes a plurality of illumination sources positioned in a line wherein the line has a predetermined orientation to the planar surface. The illumination sources are preferably infrared LEDs. The transmitter has means for jointly aiming the illumination sources toward a desired location on the planar surface. The location on the planar surface is usually used to allow multiple transmitters coupled to infrared receivers to allow communication between computers in a LAN. The transmitter also includes means for maintaining the predetermined orientation between the planar surface and the line. The orientation is usually parallel to allow transmitters located large distances from the illumination to project a relatively small illumination spot onto the planar surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.