U.S. patent application number 12/176579 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-06 for wireless network device with a signal detection function and switching method for the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Z-COM, INC.. Invention is credited to Jui Lin Hsu, Chia Fang Wu, Tsung Ming Yang.
Application Number | 20080274773 12/176579 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37718273 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080274773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu; Jui Lin ; et
al. |
November 6, 2008 |
WIRELESS NETWORK DEVICE WITH A SIGNAL DETECTION FUNCTION AND
SWITCHING METHOD FOR THE SAME
Abstract
A wireless network device is provided for switching into a first
functional mode and a second functional mode according to the
source of received power. The wireless network device includes a
wireless network communication module, a processor, a power module,
and a voltage regulator. The wireless network communication module
is utilized for transceiving wireless network signal, and the
processor is connected to the wireless network communication
module. The power module selectively receives a power from one of a
battery and a computer. The voltage regulator is connected to the
processor, for selectively switching into the first functional mode
when receiving the power form the battery, or switching into the
second functional mode when receiving the power from the
computer.
Inventors: |
Hsu; Jui Lin; (Hsinchu,
TW) ; Wu; Chia Fang; (Hsinchu, TW) ; Yang;
Tsung Ming; (Hsinchu, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
APEX JURIS, PLLC
12360 LAKE CITY WAY NORTHEAST, SUITE 410
SEATTLE
WA
98125
US
|
Assignee: |
Z-COM, INC.
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
37718273 |
Appl. No.: |
12/176579 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11195710 |
Aug 3, 2005 |
|
|
|
12176579 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/574 ;
370/311 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 52/0277 20130101;
Y02D 30/70 20200801; H04W 48/16 20130101; Y02D 70/142 20180101;
H04W 88/02 20130101; H04W 24/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/574 ;
370/311 |
International
Class: |
H04B 1/38 20060101
H04B001/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 26, 2005 |
TW |
094113321 |
Claims
1. A wireless network device provided with a first functional mode
and a second functional mode, comprising: a wireless network
communication module for transceiving a wireless network signal; a
processor connected to the wireless network communication module; a
power module for selectively receiving a power from one of a
battery and a computer; and a voltage regulator connected to the
processor, for selectively switching into the first functional mode
when receiving the power form the battery, or switching into the
second functional mode when receiving the power from the
computer.
2. The wireless network device according to claim 1, wherein the
first functional mode is a wireless network signal detection
mode.
3. The wireless network device according to claim 2, further
comprising: a detection module connected to the wireless network
communication module, for detection wireless network signals.
4. The wireless network device according to claim 2, further
comprising: a network signal detection switch for starting the
wireless network signal detection mode.
5. The wireless network device according to claim 2, further
comprising: an indication unit connected to the processor, for
showing detection result of the detection module.
6. The wireless network device according to claim 1, wherein the
second functional mode is a wireless NIC mode.
7. The wireless network device according to claim 6, further
comprising: a wireless network detection software, which is
executed in the wireless NIC mode.
8. A method of switching functions of a wireless network device
with a first functional mode and a second functional mode,
comprising steps of: starting the wireless network device;
receiving a power from one of a battery and a computer; and
switching the wireless network device into the first functional
mode when receiving the power from the battery, and switching the
wireless network device into the second functional mode when
receiving the power from the computer.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first functional
mode is a wireless network signal detection mode.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of switching
into the wireless network signal detection mode further comprises:
detecting a feedback packet; receiving the feedback packet;
processing the feedback packet to generate a detection result.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second functional
mode is a wireless NIC mode.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of switching
into the wireless NIC mode further comprises: executing a wireless
network detection software.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/195,710, filed
on Aug. 3, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a wireless network device provided
with two functional mode and method of switching for the same, and
more particularly to a switching determination according to a
source of the power received by the wireless network device.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Thanks to a public wireless network gradually being created
everywhere, users have increasing chances to use wireless local
area network (WLAN) in public places. Users do not, however,
actually carry out wireless networking at all times, everywhere.
They must turn on devices provided with a wireless networking
function, such as, for example, a PDA or a portable computer, to
determine whether a wireless network signal is present through a
wireless network utility working with an internal or external
wireless network device prior to use of the wireless networking
service.
[0006] A general external wireless network device, as shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,633,583, is a wireless communication receiver using a
universal serial bus (USB) as an interface, in which a signal
conversion circuit is used to convert a wireless signal received
from an RF module into a signal based on USB protocol, or convert
and transfer a digital signal based on USB protocol to the RF
module, and then send out the signal through an antenna.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless device connected to a PC host
16 through a USB host interface 14 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,782,245. The wireless device is structured with an antenna 11
receiving and transmitting signals and connected to a receiver 12
for converting the signals according to the frequency of received
signals into digital signals. The signals are then transmitted to a
microcontroller unit 13 for decoding the signals and debugging, and
next converting the signals into USB-based signals transmitted to
the PC host 16 through the host interface 14. All the above devices
are supplied with electric power by a power supply 15.
[0008] However, in view of the single function and structure
provided in the wireless module and the lack of a full layout of
wireless network, it is complicated and inefficient to detect the
network signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a wireless network
device which is able to switch into a first functional mode or a
second functional mode according the source of the power.
[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a wireless network
device is provided for switching into a first and a second
functional mode according to the source of received power. The
wireless network device includes a wireless network communication
module, a processor, a power module, and a voltage regulator. The
wireless network communication module is utilized for transceiving
wireless network signal, and the processor is connected to the
wireless network communication module. The power module selectively
receives a power from one of a battery and a computer. The voltage
regulator is connected to the processor, for selectively switching
into the first functional mode when receiving the power form the
battery, or switching into the second functional mode when
receiving the power from the computer.
[0011] For example, in a preferred embodiment, the first functional
mode is a wireless network signal detection mode, while the second
functional mode is a wireless NIC mode. When the wireless network
device receives the power from the battery, the wireless network
device switches into wireless network signal detection mode, to
scan the wireless network signals independently without being
connected to a computer and finally gives a result.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a wireless network
device of prior art;
[0014] FIG. 2A is a schematic view illustrating a wireless network
device according to this invention;
[0015] FIG. 2B is a schematic view illustrating application of the
wireless network device according to this invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the circuit of wireless network
device according to this invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of switching of the
wireless network device functioning to detect signals according to
this invention; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] In this invention, a wireless network device provided with a
first functional mode and a second functional mode is disclosed.
The first functional mode is wireless signal detection mode, while
the second functional mode is wireless NIC mode. A detection module
for detecting wireless signals is provided in addition to the
conventional wireless device, and the device is designed with a
voltage determination mechanism to switch the device functions
according to different load voltage types.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2A, for an embodiment of a wireless network
device 20, a conventional wireless USB NIC comprises a network
signal detection switch 23 and a status indicating lamp 25
installed therein. When the wireless network device 20 works
independently, the switch 23 must be manually switched on with a
battery provided internally to detect whether a wireless signal
exists in a specified space. The lamp 25 indicates the status of
signal; the lamp 25 is not limited to the lamp depicted in the
figure and may be replaced with, for example, one or a plurality of
LEDs, an LCD, an OLED, or a 7-segment display, as shown in FIG.
1.
[0021] When the wireless network device 20 is connected to a PC 27
through a USB interface port 21, as shown in FIG. 2B, the voltage
regulator thereof detects a load voltage when the device works
independently and then switches to a general wireless NIC mode. The
battery power is not consumed in detection of the wireless signal
because the power is applied by the PC 27 and wireless network
detection software installed in the PC 27 is executed by the PC 27
instead of the wireless network detection mechanism of the wireless
network device.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the circuit of the wireless
network device provided according to this invention. As shown in
FIG. 2A, the wireless network device includes a wireless network
communication module 30, a voltage regulator 31, a power module 32,
an interface unit 33, a detection module 34, a battery 35, a
processor 36, and a indication unit 37.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, the wireless network communication
module 30 transceives wireless network signal with the combination
of an antenna module 301, an RF module 302, and a baseband module
303. The RF processing and baseband modulation functions are
designed in the hardware module, in which the RF module works for
frequency synthesis, data conversion, and noise filtering, while
the baseband processing works for message coding, encryption and
decryption, frequency hop (FH), and packet processing. The antenna
module 301 is connected for achievement of wireless
communication.
[0024] Further, in order to detect the wireless network signal, the
detection module 34 is connected to the baseband module 303 of the
wireless network communication module 30, and after the antenna
module 301 receives the wireless signal, the detection module 34
eliminates background noise and ambient interference accompanying
the signal and meanwhile adjusts the detection range to determine
the source of the signal.
[0025] The wireless network communication module 30 is connected to
the processor 36 to convert the wireless signal received by the
wireless network communication module 30 into a digital signal and
then transmit the same to the PC or transmit the digital signal to
the wireless network device 20 from the PC through the interface
unit 33. The processor 36 then converts the signal into an RF
signal and transmits the same from the wireless network
communication module 30. The indication unit 37 is connected to the
processor 36, and the processor 36 converts the detection result
into electric power to drive the indication unit 37 in the
embodiment, such as the indicating lamp in FIG. 2A or an LED, an
OLED, or an LCD device, to emit light. The indication unit 37 in
the embodiment shows the wireless network signal, the strength
thereof, or a wireless network identification message thereof.
Alternatively, the indication unit 37 may be implemented in the
manner of sound, vibration, or a combination of the manners
mentioned above.
[0026] The voltage regulator 31 is connected to the processor 36
and the power module 32 to receive the message of load voltage and
then determine the functions of switching with the load voltage
passing through the device, such as a wireless network mode or a
wireless network signal detection mode. The power module 32 is
connected to an internal or external battery 35 or an interface
unit 33 to manage the power of device, in which the interface unit
33 is a USB, IEEE1394, or PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association) interface to the PC. When the wireless
network device 20 according to this invention works independently,
the battery 35 is the power source; at this time the voltage
regulator 31 determines the load voltage of the device and then
switches to the wireless network signal detection mode. When the
device is connected to the PC through the interface unit 33, it
switches to the wireless NIC mode. At this time the PC supplies
electric power. With the switching mechanism, the versatile
wireless network device that detects the network signal without the
PC's help is achieved.
[0027] After the device is turned on by the switch, the signal
indicating device shows the wireless network signal, strength
thereof, or the wireless network identification message. The signal
indicating device is, for example, an LED-based indicating lamp or
an LCD, or is implemented as a sound, a vibration, or a combination
of the implementations mentioned above.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of switching of the
wireless network device to detect signals according to this
invention. The main steps of the method include the following. The
wireless network device according to this invention must be turned
on (step S401). The wireless network device may work independently
with power supplied by the battery, or may be connected to the PC
supplying power thereto. The voltage regulator in the device
detects the load voltage of the device (step S403). The voltage
varies with the power supply. If, for example, the battery supplies
power, the voltage may be 3.3 V, and if the PC supplies the power
through the interface, the voltage may be 5 V. According to the
determination of voltage regulator to the load voltage, the device
is switched to the wireless network signal detection mode or the
wireless NIC mode (step S405). An example of switching to the
wireless network signal detection mode is given in a preferred
embodiment of this invention. At the time of entry into the
wireless network signal detection mode, a surrounding wireless
network signal is scanned and detected by the detection module
(step S407). Finally, a scan result is submitted (step S409).
[0029] In a flow chart shown in FIG. 5, the preferred embodiment is
described. Initially, the power of wireless network device is
provided by the battery or the PC (step S501). Next, the load
voltage is detected (step S503). The detected voltage is greater or
less than a determination value (step S505). The value is a default
load voltage of wireless network device according to this
invention, and is classified for a plurality of ranks. The source
of the power that the wireless network device can be determined
according to the load voltage, thus switching into different
functional modes is implemented according to the source of the
power.
[0030] In step S505, if the power is received from the PC, the load
voltage is not less than the determination value, switching to the
wireless NIC mode (the first functional mode) is implemented (step
S507). And if the power is received from the battery, the load
voltage is less than the determination value, switching to the
wireless network signal detection mode is implemented (step S509).
At this time, the wireless network device is supplied with less
voltage by the battery, and works independently to detect the
wireless network signal. The scale of voltage, however, is
determined mainly by actual operation, so it is not limited by the
embodiment.
[0031] Next, the processor asks the baseband module to detect the
wireless network signal (step S511). The wireless network
communication module especially scans the wireless network signal
(step S513), and receives feedback packets in a specified time to
detect and then determine upon the received signals whether the
wireless network signal exists (step S515). A result is submitted
(step S517), and the feedback packets sent from the baseband module
are returned to the processor to eliminate background noise and
ambient interference accompanying the signal and detect the range
for determination of the source of the signal and the wireless
network signal (step S519). Finally, the processor shows the result
on the indication unit to inform a user of the status of wireless
network signal (step S521).
[0032] The accompanying drawings in the embodiments are provided
for reference and illustration only and not intended to limit the
terms or scope of this invention.
[0033] To sum up, this invention is a wireless network device
provided with a signal detection function and method of switching
for the same. The device switches the wireless network module upon
the load voltage to the general wireless NIC mode or the wireless
network signal detection mode for achievement of multiple
functions. However, in the description mentioned above, only the
preferred embodiments according to this invention are provided
without limit to claims of this invention; all those skilled in the
art without exception should include the equivalent changes and
modifications as falling within the true scope and spirit of the
present invention.
* * * * *