Optical communication unit

Abstract

An optical communication unit has a pair of cable-side communication units provided for a full duplex communication system connected to each other with a pair of optical fiber cables, has apparatus-side communication units provided for full duplex communication system directly connected to the cable-side communication units respectively each to form a closest contact state therebetween, and provides controls for a speed to double speed in full duplex system by using an infrared ray IR between the closely contacted units.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical communication unit provided in an apparatus executing communication using optical signals comprising: 
 a light emitting section for emitting optical signals;    a driving section for driving said light emitting section;    a control section for changing a driving force of said driving section; and    a switching section for giving an instruction for changing a driving force to said control section.    
     
     
         2 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1;  wherein said control section changes a quantity of light emitted by said light emitting section as a driving force of said driving section.  
     
     
         3 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1;  wherein said control section changes a transmission speed of an optical signal as a driving force to said driving section.  
     
     
         4 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1;  wherein said switching section gives an instruction for switching a driving force to said control section by detecting connection between an optical signal and an apparatus as a destination for transmission.  
     
     
         5 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1;  wherein said switching section gives an instruction for switching a driving force to said control section by detecting connection between an apparatus as a receiver of an optical signal and an optical cable unit for transferring the optical signal.  
     
     
         6 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1;  wherein said switching section has a sensor for outputting a change instruction signal to said control section by detecting connection.  
     
     
         7 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1;  wherein said switching section has a hardware switch for giving an instruction for changing a driving force to said driving section.  
     
     
         8 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 1  further comprising a light receiving section for receiving an optical signal.  
     
     
         9 . An optical communication unit according to claim  8 ; wherein said light receiving section and said light emitting section are covered with a same lens.  
     
     
         10 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 8  further comprising an optical filter for cutting off a visual light on a light path to said light emitting section as well as to said light receiving section.  
     
     
         11 . An optical communication unit provided in an apparatus for executing communication by using optical signals comprising: 
 a light emitting section for transmitting an optical signal to an apparatus as a communicating partner;    a light receiving section for receiving an optical signal from said apparatus as a communicating partner; and    a shielding section for preventing incidence of an optical signal from said light emitting section to said light receiving section.    
     
     
         12 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 11  further comprising a connecting section with an optical cable unit, said optical communication unit transmitting and receiving signals to and from said apparatus as a communicating partner via said optical cable unit.  
     
     
         13 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 11  further comprising an optical filter for cutting off a visual light on a light path to said light emitting section as well as to said light receiving section.  
     
     
         14 . An optical communication unit provided between apparatuses each executing optical communication and transferring an optical signal comprising: 
 an optical cable for transferring an optical signal; and    a signal transmitting/receiving section comprising a connecting section provided at the edge of said optical cable for connection to said apparatuses, a light receiving section for receiving an optical signal from said apparatuses and transmitting the optical signal through said optical cable; and a light emitting section for transmitting the optical signal transmitted via said optical cable to said apparatus.    
     
     
         15 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said optical cable has a pair of paths for transferring optical signals in different directions respectively.  
     
     
         16 . An optical communication unit according to  claim 15  comprising a shielding section for preventing incidence of an optical signal from said light emitting section to said light receiving section.  
     
     
         17 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said light receiving section comprises a first converging lens for converging an optical signal from said apparatus and sending the signal into said optical cable, and said light emitting section comprises a second converging lens for converging an optical signal transmitted through said optical cable and sending the optical signal to said apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said light receiving section has a first modulating/demodulating section for receiving an optical signal transmitted from said apparatus, converting the optical signal to an electric signal and also for demodulating said electric signal to a light signal and sending the optical signal into said optical cable; and 
 said light emitting section has a second modulating/demodulating section for receiving the optical signal transferred through said optical cable and converting the optical signal to an electric signal and also for demodulating said electric signal to an optical signal and transmitting the optical signal to said apparatus.    
     
     
         19 . An optical communication unit according to claim  17 ; wherein said light receiving section and said light emitting section are covered with a same lens.  
     
     
         20 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said light receiving section has a circuit changing an available area thereof according to a communication speed of an optical signal.  
     
     
         21 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said light receiving section has a circuit changing an available area thereof according to a transmission distance of an optical signal.  
     
     
         22 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said light receiving section and said light emitting section are integrated to each other, and at the same time are covered with a piece of converging lens.  
     
     
         23 . An optical communication unit according to claim  14 ; wherein said light receiving section and said light emitting section comprise a single converging lens for converging an optical signal from said apparatus as well as from said optical cable.