FR2779015A1 - MULTI-NETWORK SUPPLY DEVICE USING A SINGLE CABLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device connecting via cables (C) at least one electrical device (30-33) to at least two networks (20-25) for the power supply or the transmission or reception of data. According to the invention, the device comprises a protection circuit (40) against overvoltages located upstream of a sheath (45) containing all of the cables (C) for connecting the electrical appliance (s) to the networks.

Description

The present invention relates to power supply and

  protection of electrical appliances.

  Recent technological developments have favored the multiplication, in both professional and private environments, of devices supplied with electrical energy via the network.

electric (said sector).

  Some of these devices also require connection to other networks, whether public, such as telecommunications networks allowing data to be exchanged by telephone, fax, computer, etc., or private, such as antenna cabling networks. television for example. These other networks generally carry signals carried by low currents

  voltage can be modulated according to variable frequencies.

  In environments where each device is connected to the power and / or communication network (s) necessary for its operation, the multiplication of devices leads to a proliferation of wired links, which is disadvantageous: from a functional point of view, because the connections are not optimized the fact that the connections to the various networks are made by means of generally wall sockets limits the possibilities of installation of the devices, except to use wired extensions for each connection. But such extensions then considerably complicate the connections, * from the point of view of the cost of the installation and from the aesthetic point of view, because

  the multiplication of sockets and possibly extensions.

  We therefore understand that there is a significant need for simplification of the

  circuits for connection to the networks mentioned above.

  Such a simplification should go in the direction of grouping the different wired links between devices and networks. However, a grouping of this type would be difficult to implement because of the shielding necessary to avoid interference between the cables connected to different networks. Indeed, the radiation of cables carrying high frequency signals is likely to significantly disturb the current of cables connected to the mains. In addition, conventional shields do not avoid influences between cables due to disturbances such as overvoltages

  which can be generated by lightning discharges for example.

  Finally, electrical appliances can be damaged by

overvoltages mentioned above.

  W It is therefore understood that the solutions currently known for connecting electrical devices to various networks have drawbacks which constitute a limitation for the implementation of applications.

  multiple using said networks.

  The object of the invention is to make it possible to produce a power supply device for electrical devices connected to various networks, such as for example power supply networks, telephone networks or television antenna wiring networks, said device for simplifying

  considerably the wired links connecting the devices to the different networks.

  A second object of the invention is to make it possible to produce a supply device 2 as described above, ensuring the protection of the links and of the devices against accidental overvoltages which may be due to

phenomena such as lightning.

  To achieve these goals, the invention proposes a connection device connecting via cables at least one electrical appliance to at least two networks for the electrical supply or the transmission or reception of data, characterized in that it comprises a overvoltage protection circuit located upstream of a sheath containing all of the connection cables of the or

  electrical appliance (s) to networks.

  Preferred, but non-limiting aspects of the device according to the invention are as follows: - it comprises connectors downstream of said sheath for connecting the device (s)

  electrical appliance (s) in networks.

  - the connectors are integrated in a single box.

  the connectors are integrated in a plurality of boxes connected by connection means carrying at least part of the signals

  carried by the cables contained in said sheath.

  - the connection means are cables similar to those contained

in the sheath.

  - The connection means are pin connectors.

  - the sheath connects the boxes in series to the protection circuit.

  - Each box has a single connection means.

  - at least one housing has at least two connection means for

different characteristics.

  - at least one box has an electrical or electronic circuit.

  - the sheath contains a coaxial cable, three power supply cables

  and at least one pair of twisted wires.

  Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on

  reading of the following description, made by way of example with reference to the drawings

  attached, in which: Figure la is a schematic representation of a set of electrical devices connected to different networks according to a known solution, Figure lb is a schematic representation of a variant of the assembly of Figure la, comprising protection devices against overvoltages, FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a supply device according to the invention, FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a feeding device according to the invention, FIG. 2c is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a feeding device according to the invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the section of an assembly of cables used in the device according to the invention, FIG. 4a is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a connector used in the device f according to the invention, z FIG. 4b is a schematic representation of a second mode of

  production of a connector used in the device according to the invention.

  With reference to FIG. 1 a, fixed sockets such as wall sockets 14 assembled in a strip 5 allow the connection of devices to networks 20 to 24. In the embodiment shown, the socket 10 is connected to the electrical network audience 20, sockets 11 and 13 are connected to the telephone network 21 and 23, socket 12 is connected to a network 22 of television antennas and socket 14 is connected to a network 24 for receiving digital signals. The environment described may also include other sockets connected to other networks such as a network for transmitting television programs or access to the Internet by cable, which is represented by the socket 15

connected to the network 25.

  The diagram in FIG. 1a also represents a personal computer provided with a modem, an answering machine 31, a telephone 32 and a television set 33, each of these devices being connected to two networks so as to form a set L of eight links. The matrix below details the connections between the devices and the sockets: Computer 30 Answering machine 31 Telephone 32 Television 33

X X X X

he X X

12 X

13 X

  It can be seen that this configuration, which only implements a limited number of devices, already requires connecting said devices to fixed sockets by

eight wired links.

  As mentioned in the introduction, devices that are not protected against overvoltages are liable to be damaged by overvoltages which can be caused in supply and data transmission networks, for example by lightning discharges reaching these networks. . It is advantageous to protect the devices, in particular those comprising electronic circuits implementing fragile components, by devices for

  earthing of overvoltages known to those skilled in the art (PAF devices).

  FIG. 1b represents a set of known type comprising the same apparatuses, networks and sockets as those of FIG. 1a, and PAF devices placed immediately downstream of sockets 10 to 15. These PAF devices each include an electronic circuit making it possible to dispose of unwanted overvoltages to earth occurring on the networks to which the sockets are connected. Such protection devices for low voltage networks are well known, and will not be described in more detail in the present text. The devices are here connected to the sockets via PAF devices,

  so as to be protected from overvoltages which may come from networks

  Referring now to Figure 2a, a filter 40 is integrated in the strip 5 which includes a set of sockets identical to those of the previous figures. This filter comprises one or more circuits making it possible to drain to the 2 earth the overvoltages likely to come from different networks. A housing comprising a filter of this type is also known per se, in particular by the

document DE 9100130.7.

  A sheath 45, comprising a set of cables C able to convey the signals of the networks 20 to 25, connects the filter 40 to a housing 50. The devices 30 to 33 are connected to the housing 50 by means of connectors of said housing 50 adapted to each connection, and each connected to the cable of set C corresponding to

desired signal type.

  As has been said, the sheath 45 comprises cables capable of carrying signals of very different characteristics. According to the state of the art, the fact of 3o making neighboring on the one hand cables transmitting high frequency signals such as for example those of the telephone network 21 with on the other hand power cables connected to the sector leads to disturbances of food

  delivered by cables connected to the sector.

  Figure 3 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the sheath and cables of the assembly C. The sheath 45 contains a coaxial cable C1 for the transmission of video signals, three cables forming a set C2 for the power supply, the three cables corresponding respectively to neutral, to phase and to ground, and two pairs C3 and C4 of twisted wires for

  transmission of signals such as those carried by telephone lines.

  Existing shields, if they make it possible to remedy this drawback io during normal operation of the networks, do not guarantee protection against disturbing influences between cables following overvoltages. The fact of placing a device for eliminating overvoltages upstream of the set of cables C therefore allows cables to convey different signals under good conditions in a confined space. The set of cables C and the sheath 45 can be produced using known materials, such as in particular those described in the catalogs of manufacturers such as Pirelli (reference EV6

  M AE 2X0.75 + 6 * 0.22) or Filotex (study cable reference N 38327), for example.

  This configuration has, compared to the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the advantage of bringing the connectors making it possible to connect the devices to the networks close to said devices, without using a plurality of wired links. extending between devices and outlets. The use of the single sheath 45 thus makes it possible to simplify

  considerably the connections necessary for the operation of the devices.

  In addition, the fact of placing upstream of this sheath 45 a filter 40 for delivering regular signals to the cables of the assembly C makes it possible on the one hand to produce this sheath 45 in a reduced bulk, and on the other hand to protect

electronics.

  Figure 2b shows a second embodiment of the invention. The devices are no longer connected here to a single box 50, but to modules

  M1 to M8 each of which has the connector corresponding to the desired link.

  Here again, a sheath 45 comprises a set of cables for transmitting all the signals necessary for the operation of the devices. This set of cables leads to a first connection module M1 for connecting the computer 30 to the mains via the cable of the set C connected to the

socket 11.

  The module M1 is connected to a second module M2 by a connection 60 which transmits all the signals carried by the cables of the assembly C. This connection 60 can consist of a set of cables similar to those of the assembly C connected to the cables of the assembly C by contact pads, an electrical connector capable of receiving a connection plug from the computer 30

  being connected to the pad of the cable of the assembly C connected to the sector.

  The connection 60 can also be made in the form of a pin connector, suitable for conducting all the signals of the assembly C. Such a connector can use, for example as illustrated in FIG. 4a, a printed i5 circuit provided with conductive tracks identical 70 each connected to one of the cables of the assembly C. Such a connector can in another embodiment shown in FIG. 4b include cells dedicated to the connection for a specific type of signal. In FIG. 4b, the two cells 71 and 72 are thus dedicated to the connection of the cables C3 and C4 of FIG. 3, and the cells 73 and 74 are dedicated to the connection of a coaxial cable and of power supply cables , respectively. The various cells of the connector can be metallized so as to form a ground plane in order to avoid interference between cells. In an intermediate embodiment between the two aforementioned, the connector comprises a printed circuit with tracks and gathers on pins specifically dimensioned the connection of selected signals or

the supply by the sector.

  In the case of FIG. 2b, the module M2 is provided with a connector

  to connect the modem of computer 30 to the telephone network.

  It is thus possible according to the invention to connect as many modules as desired, each module being connected to the previous one by a connection similar to connection 60 and comprising in this embodiment a connector of a particular type for connecting a device to a cables of assembly C. It is also possible, in a configuration not shown in the figure, to integrate in a single module all the connectors intended for a particular device, so that said device derives its energy from food

  and the other signals necessary for its operation of said single module.

  In this configuration, it is thus possible to dedicate to each device a module comprising only the connectors necessary for the operation of the device. FIG. 2c represents an embodiment of the invention having two specific independent features: on the one hand, the filter 40 is here integrated into a "master" socket outlet comprising a female socket for connection to the mains, * d On the other hand, two additional modules M9 and M10 are connected to cables C. These two modules are different from modules M1 to M8, because they fulfill a function which is specific to them, such as current counting or its ripple. These boxes can thus contain components fulfilling any function known per se to those skilled in the art. In addition, these modules can, like modules Ml to M8, include connectors

  for connecting additional devices.

  According to a variant of the invention not shown in Figures 2a to 2c, the filter 40 can, instead of being integrated in the strip 5, be incorporated in a housing separate from the strip. Said box is then connected by wire links to the various networks via the fixed sockets 10 to 15, or connected to the cables C of the

  sheath 45, said sheath coming directly from strip 5.

  According to another variant of the invention, the filter 40 comprises, in addition to circuits making it possible to clip the overvoltages, means for filtering the signals in frequency and / or in phase and / or other characteristics according to any known method, in order to to guarantee the quality of the signals transmitted by the entire cable C

to devices.

  According to yet another variant of the invention, certain cables of the assembly C can transmit several signals of different types simultaneously. The sheath 45 can thus according to the invention contain fewer cables than networks to which the device is connected. The transmission of at least two different types of signals by a single cable then uses, according to known techniques, means of modulation at the input, multiplexing, and demodulation at the output of the different signals conveyed by the cable. In this variant, it is

  also possible to combine all signals on a single cable.

  Finally, it is also possible according to the invention not to make all the modules of FIGS. 2b and 2c pass through all of the cables of C, certain cables stopping at a given module beyond which no device requires

  the signal from the cable in question.

Claims (11)

  1. Connection device connecting via cables (C) at least one electrical appliance (30-33) to at least two networks (20-25) for the electrical supply or the transmission or reception of data, characterized in that that it includes a protection circuit (40) against overvoltage located upstream of a sheath (45) containing all of the cables (C) for connection of the   electrical appliance (s) in networks.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises downstream of said sheath connectors for connecting the (s) appliance (s) electrical (s) to networks.   3. Device according to claim 2. characterized in that the   connectors are integrated in a single housing (50).   4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the connectors are integrated in a plurality of boxes (M1-M10) connected by connection means carrying at least part of the signals conveyed by   the cables (C) contained in said sheath (45).   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means   connection cables are similar to those contained in the sheath.   6. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means   connection are pin connectors (70-74).   7. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that   the sheath connects the boxes in series to the protection circuit. 1l   8. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that   each box has a single connection means.   i5 9. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that   at least one housing has at least two connection means with different characteristics.   10. Device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that   io at least one box has an electrical or electronic circuit.   11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the sheath (45) contains a coaxial cable (C1), three cables (02)   power supply and at least one pair (C3, C4) of twisted wires.