10/33
4.3
Main Function
The objective of the CEREC Radio Device is to obtain a reliable wireless data connection
between a stationary milling unit and a mobile acquisition unit. The wireless network
that is created can then be used to transmit time constraint data.
For the acquisition units and milling units there is no difference between the CEREC
Radio Device and a wired LAN; the connection is completely transparent.
4.4
Network Unit
The CEREC Radio Device comprises a number of wireless
network units
that together
create a wireless network. These network units implement a proprietary Sirona protocol
specially developed to comply with time constraint transmission requirements that
followed from the CEREC Radio Device use cases.
The basic functionality of a network unit is to convert incoming Ethernet data into a
number of wireless packages and forward these to one or more selected neighboring
network units and vice versa. This functionality is comparable to an Ethernet network
switch. As such, this network can be used as a wireless LAN and is completely
transparent for any Ethernet communication.
Using this functionality, a link between two network units can support the data
communication of an acquisition unit and milling unit.
A network unit can appear in four roles:
●
Directly connected to a milling unit using a LAN cable and powered by the supplied
wall adapter.
●
Built into an acquisition unit where it is directly connected to the internal PC via a
LAN cable and powered via the USB 3.0 connection of the PC.
●
Connected to another network unit via a LAN cable and powered by the wall adapter.
●
Connected to a LAN infrastructure, i.e. to a hub or switch and powered by the wall
adapter.
The schematic representation of a network unit is shown below.