JP4833178B2 - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communicator connected to a computer and operating under an operating condition selected by a user from a plurality of different operating conditions .

  There is already an electrical actuator that operates under an operating condition selected by a user among a plurality of different operating conditions. An example of this type of electrical actuator is a communicator. In this example, the communication device has a plurality of different communication conditions, and any one of these communication conditions is selected by the user.

  Conventionally, computers are used to change the operating conditions of this type of electrical actuator. Specifically, the user changes operating conditions using a computer.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, after a user writes setting information on an external recording medium using a computer, the recording medium is inserted into a communication device, and then the communication device reads the setting information from the recording medium. Thus, a technique for changing the setting of communication conditions of a communication device is disclosed.
JP 2006-203289 A

  In the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a computer connected to the same network as the communication device is used to change the setting of the operating condition of the communication device.

  In this conventional technique, in order to change the setting of the communication condition of the communication device, the user has to input data representing the change contents into the computer, which is troublesome.

Against the background described above, the present invention is a communicator that is connected to a computer and operates under an operating condition selected by a user from among a plurality of different operating conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program that can easily reduce the degree of dependence on the execution of the program according to the above and can easily reduce the work that the user must perform in order to change the operating condition.

In order to solve the problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a communication device that switches between a state of functioning as an access point and a state of functioning as a client device according to a user operation,
The communication device is used while connected to a computer used by a user of the communication device, and the computer executes the device management program A to operate the communication device as an access point, while the communication device Execute device management program B to operate as a client machine,
The communication device
An interface connected to the computer;
A first memory area for storing data necessary for the computer to execute the device management program A so that the communication device operates as an access point, the data being unique to the first memory area; Having data representing an ID and communication definition data for defining communication of the access point;
A second memory area for storing data necessary for the computer to execute the device management program B so that the communication apparatus operates as a client machine, and the data is unique to the second memory area; Having data representing an ID and communication definition data for defining communication of the client machine;
A main chip connected to the interface and the first and second memory areas, and outputs a memory selection signal to select any one of the memory areas in response to a signal from the computer and is selected. To input / output data to / from any memory area,
A physically independent switch operated by a user to switch one of the first and second memory areas that is effective for the main chip, and the communication device functions as an access point And what is operated by the user to switch to a state of functioning as a client machine,
A logic IC connected to the main chip, the first and second memory regions, and the switch, wherein a path of the memory selection signal between the main chip and the first and second memory regions is Switching according to the operation of the switch, thereby switching one of the first and second memory areas that is valid for the main chip;
Including
The computer determines whether the access point corresponding to the valid memory area is the access point according to the ID received from the first and second memory areas that are valid for the main chip. A communication device is provided that determines whether the device is a client device and selects and executes one of the device management programs A and B corresponding to the effective memory area according to the result.
The following aspects are obtained by the present invention. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is given a number, and is described in a form that cites other section numbers as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that the present invention can employ and combinations thereof, and the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof are limited to the following embodiments. Should not be interpreted. That is, it should be construed that it is not impeded to appropriately extract and employ the technical features described in the present specification as technical features of the present invention although they are not described in the following embodiments.

  Further, describing each section in the form of quoting the numbers of the other sections does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each section from being separated from the technical features described in the other sections. It should not be construed as meaning, but it should be construed that the technical features described in each section can be appropriately made independent depending on the nature.

(1) A connection device that connects a computer and an electrical operating device that operates under operating conditions selected by a user among a plurality of different operating conditions,
An interface connected to the computer;
A plurality of memory areas respectively associated with the plurality of operating conditions, wherein the contents of each operating condition of the electrical operating device are determined by data stored in each memory area;
A main chip connected to the interface and the plurality of memory areas, and outputs a memory selection signal to select any one of the memory areas according to a signal from the computer, and any one selected To input / output data to / from the memory area,
A physically independent switch operated by a user to switch one of the plurality of memory areas that is valid for the main chip;
A logic IC connected to the main chip, the plurality of memory areas, and the switch, wherein a path of the memory selection signal between the main chip and the plurality of memory areas is determined according to an operation of the switch. Switching, thereby configured to switch one of the plurality of memory areas that is valid for the main chip, and
The plurality of memory areas are connection devices that are recognized as the same device in a state where they can be distinguished from each other by the computer.

  In this connection device, one of the plurality of memory areas is enabled for the main chip in response to a manual operation of the switch by the user. Since these memory areas are respectively associated with a plurality of operating conditions of the electrical actuator, any one of these memory areas is selected by manual operation. That is, it means that the user does not need to input data to the computer and is selected.

  If each memory area stores data for defining the corresponding operating conditions in advance (that is, when the manufacturer ships as a product), the customer user simply operates the switch. Thus, the operating conditions can be changed.

  Therefore, according to the connection device according to this section, the user does not need to input data to the computer with relatively advanced prior knowledge in order for the user to change the operating condition. In addition, it is easy to reduce the degree to which the operating condition changes depend on the computer program.

  The presence of a computer is not required to select an operating condition, but once an operating condition is selected, it may be necessary to perform processing on the electrical actuator that conforms to the selected operating condition. is there.

  In this case, according to this connection apparatus, despite the number of memory areas, the computer can recognize the memory areas as the same device in a state where they can be distinguished from each other. As a result, the computer need not change the access procedure (including memory addressing) to the selected memory area, regardless of which memory area is selected.

  Therefore, according to this connection apparatus, the access procedure (software for access) by the computer can be made common among the memory areas even though there are a plurality of memory areas. Is possible. As a result, it is easy to reduce the burden imposed on computer design by the number of memory areas.

  In addition, for example, the connecting device can be designed so as to be physically separated from the electrical actuator, or can be designed to be incorporated in the electrical actuator.

(2) Each of the plurality of memory areas has a unique ID in order to represent that it is associated with each of the plurality of operating conditions, and to be identifiable from each other by the computer,
The connection device according to (1), wherein the computer executes an application program that conforms to an ID supplied from the effective memory area via the main chip.

  In this connection device, each of the plurality of memory areas has a unique ID. Therefore, the computer is an application that conforms to the ID supplied via the main chip from the memory area effective for the main chip. Run the program.

  Therefore, according to this connection apparatus, the computer can surely recognize the selected memory area even though the memory area is selected regardless of the computer.

(3) The electrical actuator is a communication device,
The plurality of operating conditions are a plurality of different communication conditions for the communication device,
The connection device according to (1) or (2), wherein the switch is operated to select any one of the plurality of communication conditions.

(4) The electrical actuator is a communication device,
The plurality of operating conditions include a condition that the communication device functions as an access point and a condition that the communication device functions as a client device,
The switch according to (1) or (2), wherein the switch is operated to select either a state in which the communication device functions as an access point or a state in which the communication device functions as a client device.

(5) The plurality of memory areas are all formed in the same serial EEPROM, or formed in a plurality of different serial EEPROMs, respectively, according to any one of items (1) to (4). Connection equipment.

(6) including a signal line for connecting the main chip and the logic IC to each other;
The logic IC is configured to switch the path in response to a path switching signal supplied from the computer via the main chip and the signal line, thereby allowing the computer to operate the switch without operating the switch. The connection device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein a memory area that is effective for the main chip is switched among a plurality of memory areas.

  According to this connection device, the selection of the memory area can be performed not only by the manual operation of the switch by the user but also by the computer.

(7) The computer stores predetermined data in the first one of the plurality of memory areas, and then supplies the path switching signal to the logic IC via the main chip and the signal line. Thus, instead of the first memory area, another memory area is made effective for the main chip, and in that state, the predetermined data stored in the first memory area is corrected as necessary. The connection device according to item (6), which is copied to the another memory area.

  According to this connection device, when the connection device is manufactured, the data to be stored in each of the plurality of memory areas is not completely common to each other. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary for the operator to store the common data using a computer. As a result, the work efficiency is improved and it is easy to avoid the occurrence of product defects due to the operator's mistake.

  Hereinafter, some of more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, a communication device 12 for wireless communication incorporating a connection device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) used by a user of the communication device 12. 14 is shown connected. The communication device 12 is a product manufactured and shipped by a manufacturer.

  The communication device 12 has a switch 20 (for example, a slide switch type, but other types may be used) operated by a user, and functions as an access point according to the operation of the switch 20. Switching between the state and the state of functioning as a client machine. For example, the off state of the switch 20 corresponds to the selection of the access point, while the on state of the switch 20 corresponds to the selection of the client machine. The communication device 12 and the PC 14 are connected to each other via USB.

  In FIG. 2, the internal configuration of the PC 14, the internal configuration of the communication device 12, and the internal configuration of the connection device 10 are conceptually represented by a block diagram. In the PC 14, a CPU 30 as a processor, an HDD (hard disk drive) 32, and a RAM 34 are connected to each other via a bus 36. The HDD 32 stores various application programs including a main program described later and device management programs (software for operating the communication device 12) A and B described later. A USB host controller 38 as an interface is connected to the bus 36.

  The device management program A is a program executed on the PC 14 to operate the communication device 12 as an access point, whereas the device management program B is executed on the PC 14 to operate the communication device 12 as a client device. It is a program.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the communication device 12 is configured to include a wireless communication unit (indicated by “RF” in FIG. 2) 40 and the connection device 10 described above.

  A main antenna 42 and a sub antenna 44 are connected to the wireless communication unit 40. The wireless communication unit 40 is used both when the communication device 12 operates as an access point and when it operates as a client device. That is, the wireless communication unit 40 is used in common for the access point and the client machine.

  The connection device 10 is configured to include the switch 20 described above, the main chip 50, the logic IC 52, and the first and second memories 60 and 62. The main chip 50 operates to return the attribute of the USB device externally connected to the PC 14 to the PC 14 in accordance with a command from the PC 14. The first and second memories 60 and 62 function as USB devices for the PC 14, respectively.

  In the main chip 50, a ROM 72 and a RAM 74 are connected to each other via a bus 76. A USB target controller 78 as an interface and a MAC (Media Access Controller) 80 are connected to the bus 76. The USB target controller 78 is detachably attached to the USB host controller 38 of the PC 14 via the USB cable 82.

  In order to operate the communication device 12 as an access point, the PC 14 executes the above-described device management program A for managing the access point. That is, in this embodiment, a so-called software access point is realized. On the other hand, in order to operate the communication device 12 as a client device, the PC 14 executes the above-described device management program B for managing the client device.

  Each of the first and second memories 60 and 62 is configured as a serial EEPROM which is an example of a serial memory. The first and second memories 60 and 62 are physically independent of each other. When the communication device 12 functions as an access point, the first memory 60 stores data for defining communication of the access point in advance. The first and second memories 60 and 62 are recognized as the same USB device by the PC 14 in a state where they can be distinguished from each other.

  Specifically, the first memory 60 is accessed from the second memory 62 as “01” as the product ID for enabling the PC 14 to identify, the MAC address A as the MAC address of the access point, and the access A communication condition A as a point communication condition (for example, signal power) and a country code A as an access point country code are stored in the first memory 60 in advance.

  Similarly, “02” as the product ID for enabling the PC 14 to identify the second memory 62 from the first memory 60, the MAC address B as the MAC address of the client machine, and the client machine The second memory 62 stores in advance a communication condition B as a communication condition (for example, signal power) and a country code B as a country code of the client machine (an example of locale information).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main chip 50 has a data input terminal DI, a data output terminal DO, a clock terminal CLK, and a chip select terminal CS that outputs a chip select signal as a memory selection signal. Similarly, each of the first and second memories 60 and 62 has a data input terminal DI, a data output terminal DO, a clock terminal CLK, and a chip select terminal that receives a chip select signal from the main chip 50. CS. Both the first and second memories 60 and 62 output serial data from the data output terminal DO.

  The data input terminal DI of each of the memories 60 and 62 is connected to the data input terminal DI of the main chip 50 through a common signal line. Further, the data output terminal DO of each of the memories 60 and 62 is connected to the data output terminal DO of the main chip 50 through a common signal line. The clock terminals CLK of the memories 60 and 62 are connected to the clock terminal CLK of the main chip 50 through a common signal line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the logic IC 52 includes one chip select terminal 90 corresponding to one chip select terminal of the main chip 50 and two chip select terminals corresponding to the two memories 60 and 62, respectively. CS92 and 94. The logic IC 52 further includes a terminal 98 to which a terminal of a signal line 96 extending from the switch 20 is connected, and terminals of two signal lines (GPIO [0], GPIO [1]) 100 and 102 extending from the main chip 50. It has two terminals 104 and 106 to be connected.

  In FIG. 3, the logic IC 52 is shown in a logic circuit diagram. In FIG. 3, “SK” added to each of the memories 60 and 62 is an abbreviation for shift clock, but means the clock terminal CLK shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the main chip 50, the switch 20, the path switching signal unit 107, and the indicator 108 in addition to the logic IC 52.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main chip 50 includes a clock terminal EECLK, a data input terminal EEDI, a data output terminal EEDO, a chip select terminal EECS, and an LED drive terminal LED_ACT for driving an LED as the indicator 108. Have

  The clock terminal EECLK of the main chip 50 is connected in common to the two clock terminals SK of the two memories 60 and 62. Similarly, the data input terminal EEDI of the main chip 50 is connected in common to the two data input terminals DI of the two memories 60 and 62. Similarly, the data output terminal EEDO of the main chip 50 is connected in common to the two data output terminals DO of the two memories 60 and 62.

The chip select terminal CS of the first memory 60 is connected to the output terminal of the first AND circuit 110, while the chip select terminal CS of the second memory 62 is connected to the output terminal of the second AND circuit 112. Each of the AND circuits 110 and 112 has two input terminals, and one input terminal is commonly connected to the chip select terminal EECS of the main chip 50.

  The other input terminal of the first memory 60 and the other input terminal of the second memory 62 are connected to each other by a signal line 114, and a knot circuit 116 is connected to the signal line 114. Yes. Therefore, signals of opposite levels are input to these input terminals. A signal line 118 extending from the switch 20 is further connected to the signal line 114. The signal from the switch 20 is switched between a high level signal and a low level signal according to the operating position of the switch 20.

  In the present embodiment, when the signal from the switch 20 is at a high level (when the switch 20 is on the 3.3V side as shown in FIG. 3), the first AND circuit 110 has a low level signal. On the other hand, a high level signal is input to the second AND circuit 112. On the other hand, when the signal from the switch 20 is at a low level (as shown in FIG. 3, the switch 20 is on the GND side), a high level signal is input to the first AND circuit 110. On the other hand, a low level signal is input to the second AND circuit 112.

  Therefore, when the switch 20 is in the on state and the signal thereafter is at the high level, when the chip select terminal EECS of the main chip 50 is switched from the low level to the high level, the output signal of the second AND circuit 112 is at the high level. On the other hand, since the output signal of the first AND circuit 110 is at a low level, only the second memory 62 is enabled.

  Therefore, even if a high level signal is input from the data input terminal EEDI of the main chip 50 to the data input terminal DI of any memory, only the second memory 62 outputs data to the main chip 50 from the data output signal DO. Become.

  On the other hand, when the switch 20 is in the OFF state and the signal thereafter is at the low level, when the chip select terminal EECS of the main chip 50 is switched from the low level to the high level, the output signal of the first AND circuit 110 is changed. Since the output signal of the second AND circuit 112 becomes low level while it becomes high level, only the first memory 60 is validated.

  Therefore, only the first memory 60 outputs data from the data output signal DO to the main chip 50 regardless of the memory data input terminal DI of the high-level signal input from the data input terminal EEDI of the main chip 50. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the path switching signal unit 107 includes a first signal line 120 extending from the GPIO [0] terminal of the main chip 50 and a second signal line 122 extending from the GPIO [1] terminal of the main chip 50. Have. The first signal line 120 is connected to a portion connected to the second AND circuit 112 out of two portions of the signal line 114 separated by the knot circuit 116. On the other hand, the second signal line 122 is connected to a portion connected to the first AND circuit 110 among two portions of the signal line 114 separated by the knot circuit 116.

  Therefore, when a high level signal is output from the GPIO [0] terminal, the second memory 62 is enabled by the second AND circuit 112, whereas when a high level signal is output from the GPIO [1] terminal. The first memory 60 is enabled by the first AND circuit 110.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the first memory 60 (access point) is selected, the first LED 124 that is turned on when the first memory 60 (access point) is selected, and the second memory 62 (client machine) is selected. And a second LED 126 as a second light source that is turned on. The first LED 124 and the second LED 126 are configured to emit light of different colors so that they can be distinguished from each other by the user.

  The first LED 124 is connected to the input terminal of the first AND circuit 110 (a terminal reflecting the signal level of the switch 20) via the third AND circuit 130, while the second LED 126 is connected to the first AND circuit 110 via the fourth AND circuit 132. It is connected to the input terminal of the 2-AND circuit 112 (terminal that reflects the signal level of the switch 20).

  In FIG. 4, the above-mentioned main program executed by the CPU 30 in the PC 14 is conceptually represented by a flowchart.

  When this main program is executed, first, in step S1, it is awaited that a predetermined condition is satisfied. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, a command signal for setting the signal of the chip select terminal CS of the main chip 50 to a high level is output to the main chip 50 in step S2. As a result, the signal of the chip select terminal CS of the main chip 50 becomes high level.

  When the signal at the chip select terminal CS of the main chip 50 becomes a high level, the first and second memories 60 and 62 that are currently selected by the switch 20 are made valid for the main chip 50.

  Next, in step S3, a product ID request signal is output to the main chip 50. Subsequently, in step S4, it is awaited that the product ID of the currently selected one of the first and second memories 60 and 62 is received from the main chip 50. When the product ID is received, the type of the received product ID is recognized in step S5.

  That is, it is recognized whether the product ID of the first memory 60 as the USB device corresponding to the access point or the product ID of the second memory 62 as the USB device corresponding to the client machine. Specifically, in this step S5, whether or not the received product ID is “01”, that is, whether or not it is the product ID of the first memory 60 as the USB device corresponding to the access point. It is judged.

  If the product ID is “01”, the determination in step S5 is YES, and in step S6, the currently selected memory is the first memory 60, and the access point corresponds to it. It is recognized. That is, according to the user's request (operation of the switch 20), the communication device 12 is recognized as an access point, and the data in the first memory 60 is recognized as access point data. Thereafter, in step S8, the device management program A is selected.

  On the other hand, when the product ID is “02”, the determination in step S5 is NO, and in step S7, the currently selected memory is the second memory 62, and the corresponding one is as follows. Recognized as a client machine. That is, according to the user's request (operation of the switch 20), the communication device 12 is recognized as an access point, and the data in the second memory 62 is recognized as data for the client device. Thereafter, in step S9, the device management program B is selected.

  In any case, subsequently, in step S10, a setting information request signal for instructing the main chip 50 to read the setting information relating to communication from the currently selected memory 60 or 62 is output.

  Thereafter, in step S11, the main chip 50 reads the setting information from the currently selected memory 60 or 62, and waits for the PC 14 to receive the read setting information. When the PC 14 receives the setting information, in step S12, the received setting information is described in the registry of the PC 14, and the selected device management program functions as an access point or a client machine for the communication device 12. To be executed.

  This is the end of the execution of the main program.

  FIG. 5 conceptually shows a flowchart of operations performed in the main chip 50 as a result of the main program being executed by the CPU 30 of the PC 14.

  When this program is executed, first, in step S101, it is awaited that the signal of the chip select terminal CS of the main chip 50 becomes high level. When it becomes high level, in step S102, it is awaited to receive the aforementioned product ID request signal from the PC. If received, the product ID is read from the selected memory 60 or 62 in step S103. Thereafter, in step S104, the read product ID is transmitted to the PC.

  Thereafter, in step S105, it is awaited to receive the setting information request signal from the PC 14. If received, the setting information is read from the selected memory 60 or 62 in step S106. Thereafter, in step S107, the read setting information is transmitted to the PC.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the function of the communication device 12 is switched between the access point and the client device, and the product ID and locale information associated therewith (for example, the country code shown in FIG. 2). Can be switched by the switch 20.

  By the way, when the user has to input data to the PC 14 using the software of the PC 14 for the above switching, the user usually has a relatively advanced prior knowledge (for switching). It is necessary to know what information is required to be input to the PC 14 and how the information is required to be input to the PC 14. Therefore, when the user must perform the above switching using the software of the PC 14, the user's operation (operation for changing the setting) necessary for the switching is easily advanced and complicated, and the switching is performed. For this reason, the burden imposed on the software of the PC 14 tends to increase.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the switching is performed by the user's operation of the switch 20, the user does not need to input data to the PC 14 for the switching. Therefore, the work necessary for the user for the switching becomes user-friendly, and the burden imposed on the software of the PC 14 for the switching is reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since a unique ID, that is, a unique product ID is assigned to each of the two memories 60 and 62, the two memories 60 and 62 are respectively set as the same USB device by the PC 14. In spite of the recognition, the PC 14 can recognize the identity of the currently selected one of the two memories 60 and 62, and select and execute an application that suits it. Secured.

  This is the end of the execution of this program.

  FIG. 6 conceptually shows, in a flowchart, a method for manufacturing a communication device 12 for wireless communication incorporating the connection device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In this method, in order to select one of the two memories 60 and 62 in the manufacturing stage of the communication device 12 (calibration of the communication device 12 and writing of communication management data to the communication device 12). In addition, a GPIO signal is used instead of the signal of the switch 20. As a result, the memory 60 or 62 is automatically switched without requiring any work intervention.

  In addition, in order to implement this method, the communication device 12 in the manufacturer uses an inspection computer for executing the inspection program (which is basically the same as the PC 14 shown in FIG. 1 and is not shown here). Temporarily connected. After the manufacture of the communication device 12 is completed, the inspection computer is removed from the communication device 12.

  FIG. 6 conceptually shows the inspection program in a flowchart. When this inspection program is executed, first, in step S201, data necessary for calibration of the communication device 12 to be inspected is acquired. Next, in step S202, in order to select the first memory 60, the signal of GPIO [1] is set to the high level.

  Subsequently, in step S203, the acquired data is written into the selected first memory 60. Thereafter, in step S204, the data written therein is read out from the selected first memory 60 and stored in the RAM (corresponding to the RAM 34) of the inspection computer.

  Subsequently, in step S205, necessary correction is applied to the data stored in the RAM of the inspection computer. For example, information related to the product ID is incremented or decremented by one.

  Thereafter, in step S206, the data with the necessary corrections is read from the RAM of the inspection computer. Subsequently, in step S207, the GPIO [0] signal is set to the high level. Thereafter, in step S208, the latest data is read from the RAM of the inspection computer, and the read data is written to the selected second memory 62.

  This completes the execution of this inspection program.

  In addition, in any of the embodiments described above, two memories 60 and 62 are used to switch the function of the communication device 12 between the access point and the client device. However, while the communication device 12 continues to function as an access point or a client device, other communication conditions of the communication device 12 are switched (for example, switching between 20 MHz mode and 40 MHz mode, etc.) It is possible to implement the invention in such a way that two or more memories are used for performing the switching of conditions.

  As described above, some of the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are exemplifications, and are based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art including the aspects described in the section of [Disclosure of the Invention]. The present invention can be implemented in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

It is a perspective view which shows the communication apparatus 12 with which the connection apparatus 10 according to 1st Embodiment of this invention was incorporated with the personal computer 14 connected to it. It is a functional block diagram which shows the communication apparatus 12 and the personal computer 14 which are shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a logic circuit diagram showing the logic IC 52 shown in FIG. 2 together with a main chip 50, a switch 20, a path switching signal unit 107, and an indicator 108 connected thereto. 3 is a flowchart conceptually showing a main program shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart conceptually showing an operation performed in the main chip 50 as a result of the main program shown in FIG. 4 being executed by the CPU 30 of the personal computer 14. It is a flowchart which represents notionally the inspection program run in the computer for an inspection connected to the communication apparatus 12 in order to manufacture the communication apparatus 12 with which the connection apparatus 10 according to 2nd Embodiment of this invention was incorporated.

Claims (7)

A communication device that switches between a state of functioning as an access point and a state of functioning as a client device according to a user operation,
  The communication device is used while connected to a computer used by a user of the communication device, and the computer executes the device management program A to operate the communication device as an access point, while the communication device Execute device management program B to operate as a client machine,
  The communication device
  An interface connected to the computer;
  A first memory area for storing data necessary for the computer to execute the device management program A so that the communication device operates as an access point, the data being unique to the first memory area; Having data representing an ID and communication definition data for defining communication of the access point;
  A second memory area for storing data necessary for the computer to execute the device management program B so that the communication apparatus operates as a client machine, and the data is unique to the second memory area; Having data representing an ID and communication definition data for defining communication of the client machine;
  A main chip connected to the interface and the first and second memory areas, and outputs a memory selection signal to select any one of the memory areas in response to a signal from the computer and is selected. To input / output data to / from any memory area,
  A physically independent switch operated by a user to switch one of the first and second memory areas that is effective for the main chip, and the communication device functions as an access point And what is operated by the user to switch to a state of functioning as a client machine,
  A logic IC connected to the main chip, the first and second memory regions, and the switch, wherein a path of the memory selection signal between the main chip and the first and second memory regions is Switching according to the operation of the switch, thereby switching one of the first and second memory areas that is valid for the main chip;
  Including
  The computer determines whether the access point corresponding to the valid memory area is the access point according to the ID received from the first and second memory areas that are valid for the main chip. A communication device that determines whether the device is a client device, and selects and executes one of the device management programs A and B corresponding to the effective memory area according to the result. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication definition data stored in the first memory area includes a MAC address of the access point, a communication condition of the access point, and locale information of the access point. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication definition data stored in the second memory area includes a MAC address of the client device, a communication condition of the client device, and locale information of the client device. . When the main chip receives an ID request signal from the computer, the main chip receives the ID from the first and second memory areas that are valid for the main chip, and sends the received ID to the computer. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which transmits the communication device. 5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second memory areas is formed in the same serial EEPROM, or formed in a plurality of different serial EEPROMs. . A signal line connecting the main chip and the logic IC to each other;
The logic IC is configured to switch the path in response to a path switching signal supplied from the computer via the main chip and the signal line, thereby allowing the computer to operate the switch without operating the switch. 6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second memory areas that is effective for the main chip is switched. The computer stores predetermined data in the first one of the first and second memory areas, and then supplies the path switching signal to the logic IC via the main chip and the signal line. Thus, instead of the first memory area, another memory area is made effective for the main chip, and in that state, the predetermined data stored in the first memory area is corrected as necessary. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the information is copied to the other memory area.

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