JP2000278292A - Information wall socket - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an information wall socket with which communication of digital AV data is attained at high transmission rate in the order of Mbps applicable by an Ethernet and the IEEE 1394-1995 standards by utilizing a telephone wiring, which is in widespread use in present Japanese homes, or a bus type topology information wiring employed for an ISDN wiring most spread in a digital communication system. SOLUTION: The information wall socket is provided with a wall socket frame 10 having a wiring holder 33 to which information wires 17 installed on a wall face are connected, a 1st connector provided in a room for connection to information wires 20 of a terminal, and an information exchanger section 13 for relay, exchange and processing of information with the information wires 20 of the terminal. The information exchange section 13 is freely attached to/detached from the wall socket frame 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information outlet used for wiring information indoors such as an office or a house.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in offices and houses, characters,
Information wiring is provided for transmitting various data signals such as audio and video from the outside to an indoor terminal device. This information wiring is usually wired on the back side of the wall, and is physically connected directly to a connector (outlet) to electrically distribute signals so that signals can be taken out indoors.

[0003]

However, in recent years, a request for an increase in the amount of information has necessitated an update to a communication device that realizes a new communication system. In some cases, it is necessary to change the topology or redo the connection at the outlet, and in many cases, the wiring work cost is higher than the equipment replacement cost.

[0004] Particularly in a house, there is a problem that it is difficult to change the topology of information wiring due to the structure of the house, and the connection change work is expensive compared to home electric appliances.

[0005] The present invention utilizes information wiring of a bus type topology used for telephone wiring which is widely used in current Japanese homes and ISDN wiring which is most widely used as a digital communication system. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information outlet that enables digital AV communication at a high speed of the order of Mbps such as Ethernet, IEEE 1394-1995, and the like.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide general users who are not specialists with the same feeling as lifelines.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an outlet frame having a wiring holder for connecting information wiring laid on a wall, and an information terminal for connecting information wiring of a terminal device.
Having a first connector provided on the room side, relaying information between the information wiring of the wall surface and the information wiring of the terminal device,
An information outlet, comprising: an information exchange unit that performs exchange or information processing.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the information outlet according to the present invention is applied to information wiring in a house. A social communication network 1 such as a telephone or ISDN is drawn into a home, and information is wired to each room in the home in a bus topology. The information wiring 3 is branched by the required number of information outlets 4 in each room, and the information outlet 4 and the terminal 5,
By connecting between 6, 7, 8 TV5, 6, PC7,
8. Information is distributed to terminals such as electric appliances 9. Thereby, these terminals can communicate with a social communication network or between devices in a home.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the information outlet 4 of the present embodiment viewed from the inside of the room.
And a multimedia service outlet 12 for branching information wiring and extracting information. This multimedia service outlet 12 is used for Ethernet or
An outlet frame 10 having an information exchange unit 13 that can be exchanged for each communication system such as IEEE 1394-1995, and a power supply unit 14 for supplying electric power to the information exchange unit 13 are provided. Further, the outlet frame 10 has a projection 15 as a takeout means for easily attaching and detaching the information exchange section 13. By pushing the projection 15, the information exchange section 13 can be easily detached from the outlet frame 10 as described later. The power supply unit 14 includes a battery 16 for backup.

FIG. 3 shows an information outlet 4 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device viewed from the wall surface side. The multimedia service outlet 12 is connected to an information wiring cable 17 for wiring between adjacent multimedia service outlets and an AC cable 18 for feeding power.

Although the multimedia service outlet 12 is arranged in parallel with the power outlet 11 in the present embodiment, an AC cable 18 for feeding power may be laid from a power outlet installed at another location. .

FIG. 4 shows an information outlet 4 according to the present embodiment.
It is the perspective view seen from the room side, such as the outlet frame body 10 in the state which detached the information exchange part 13 from. The multimedia service outlet 12 is provided with a recess 111 into which the information exchange unit 13 is fitted. The recess 1
A guide 19 for preventing erroneous insertion such as erroneous insertion of the information exchange unit 13 is provided on the lower surface of the unit 11. Also, a ridge 131 (see FIG. 5) is provided on the information exchange unit 13 side corresponding to the shape.

In this embodiment, a guide is used to prevent erroneous insertion. However, other methods such as a pin may be used.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the information exchange unit 13 according to the present embodiment. The information exchange section 13 is provided with two outlets 36 (corresponding to the first outlet of the present invention) for inserting the information cable 19 from the terminal. The LED 21 indicates the operation state of the information exchange unit 13. The operating state differs depending on the communication method, but generally, the electric connection state or the communication state is displayed by blinking.

Further, the projection 131 is formed on the lower surface of the information exchange section 13, and a projection 22 for taking out the information exchange section 13 is formed on the rear surface thereof. The projections 22 can be easily taken out of the information exchange section 13 in conjunction with the projections 15 as described later. Also,
An edge connector (female) 23 (corresponding to the third connector of the present invention) is further provided on the back surface of the information exchange unit 13. The edge connector 23 is a connector for exchanging signals with the wall wiring, but is not limited to the edge type and may be a pin connector or the like.

FIG. 6 shows an information outlet 1 according to the present embodiment.
3 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. The cross section is roughly in the direction indicated by the cross section a in FIGS. The power supply unit 14 is the AC cable 1
8, the information exchange unit 13 supplies power required for operation. In the present embodiment, power is supplied by an electromagnetic induction method. Reference numeral 27 denotes an electromagnetic induction power supply circuit on the power supply unit 14 side, and a corresponding electromagnetic induction power receiving circuit 28 is arranged on the information exchange unit 13 side. With this electromagnetic induction system, the information exchange unit 13 can be easily attached and detached, and the power supply line can be prevented from being short-circuited when it is not attached. However, other power supply methods such as a pin method and an edge method may be used.

When such an information exchange unit 13 is mounted on the outlet frame 10, the projection 22 on the back surface of the information exchange unit 13 hits the upper end of a lever 26 provided inside the recess 111 of the outlet frame 10, and The lever 26 is rotated clockwise in FIG. On the other hand, since the lower end of the lever 26 is connected to the tip of the rod portion 151 which is an extension of the projection 15 provided on the outlet frame 10, the projection 1
5 protrudes from the outlet frame 10 to the outside.

When the projection 15 is pressed, the rod 1 is pressed.
The lower end of the lever 26 connected to the lever 51 rotates in the opposite direction, and the upper end of the lever 26 pushes the projection 22 in the opposite direction while rotating in the counterclockwise direction, and the information exchange section 13 pops out. As a result, the information exchange section 13 can be easily taken out.

Further, an opening 29 is provided in the rod 151 where the projection 15 extends to the lever 26.
Further, the opening 29 is provided with the information exchange unit 13,
When the lever 26 is moved, the lever 29 is opened, power can be fed from the power supply circuit 27 to the power receiving circuit 28 by induction, and when the information exchange unit 13 is removed, the opening 29 is blocked according to the movement of the lever 26 that moves accordingly. Electromagnetic induction does not work. This improves security. As a mechanism for opening and closing the opening 29, for example, a shutter (not shown) for opening and closing the opening 29 is provided on the rod 151, so that it can be caught by a claw (not shown) fixed to the outlet frame 10. The shutter may be opened and closed in accordance with the movement of the rod 151.

The outlet frame 10 corresponding to the edge connector (female) 23 on the back of the information exchange section 13
At the position, the edge connector (male) 2 connected to it
4 (corresponding to the second connector of the present invention). Further, the edge connector 24 is connected to the wiring holder 3.
3 and can exchange information with the information cable 17 on the wall surface connected to the wiring holder 33.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram functionally showing the information outlet of the present embodiment. The power supply unit 14 is supplied with power from the AC cable 18 and supplies power to the power supply circuit 27 via the AC / DC converter 30. The backup battery 16 can also supply power.

The connector frame 10 has an edge connector 2
4 and a wiring holder 33 connected thereto are provided,
The information cable 17 on the wall surface side is connected to the wiring holder 33.

The information exchange unit 13 includes an edge connector 23
And a connector 3 connected to the information cable 20 on the room side
6 and a signal transmission circuit 37, a signal relay circuit 38, and an information processing circuit 39 for receiving and processing signals from the connectors 23 and 36, and perform electrical relay, logical relay, and information processing of information, respectively. Each circuit 37, 3
8 and 39 are supplied with power from the power receiving circuit 28. In addition, the operation state of the information processing is displayed by the LED 20. The electrical relay is called a hub function, and performs electrical relay, reproduction, and distribution of signals. A logical relay is, for example, a bridge,
Depending on the destination of the packet, such as a router, the relay destination is selected or the conversion process is performed when the communication method is different, such as when the wall surface is wired and the room surface is a wireless network. At this time, it is also possible to use a method in which a specific packet is set not to be relayed and, for example, access to harmful information in a child room is prohibited. Information processing is, for example, operation management,
Remote management of PCs connected to the information wiring, such as operation setting and status grasp of information outlets, is performed.

FIG. 8 is an information outlet according to another embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view seen from the room side.
This is an example in which a power supply unit 64 is installed beside a multimedia service outlet 60 having a plurality of information exchange units 61, 62, and 63. The point that the power supply is performed from the lateral direction and that a plurality of information exchange units are supplied with power by one power supply unit are different points from the above-described embodiment.

[0026]

As is clear from the above description, even if the communication system changes, it can be easily dealt with without rewiring, the wall can be built in, the design is simple, and the space is the same as the lifeline. Users can use it with peace of mind.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of information wiring in a house according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the information outlet according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view of the information outlet according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 as seen from behind;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view of the information outlet according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 when the information exchange unit is removed from the information outlet;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an information exchange unit of the information outlet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the information outlet in one embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functions of the information outlet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front of an information outlet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Social communication network 2 Gateway apparatus 3 Information wiring 4 Information outlet 5, 6TV 7, 8PC 9 Electrical equipment 10 Outlet frame 11 Power outlet 12 Multimedia service outlet 13, 61, 62, 63 Information exchange part 14 Power supply part 15 Information Replacement section removal projection 16 Backup battery 17 Information cable (side wall) 18 AC cable 19 Guide for preventing incorrect insertion 20 Information cable (room side) 21 LED 22 Removal projection pressing projection (take-out means) 23 Edge connector (female) 24 Edge Connector (male) 26 Lever 27 Power supply circuit 28 Power receiving circuit 29 Opening 30 AC / DC converter 33 Wiring holder 36 Connector 37 Signal transmission circuit 38 Signal relay circuit 39 Information processing circuit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An outlet frame having a wiring holder for connecting information wiring laid on a wall, and a first connector provided on a room side for connecting information wiring of a terminal device, An information outlet, comprising: an information exchange unit that relays, exchanges, or processes information between the information wiring of the wall surface and the information wiring of the terminal device. 2. The information outlet according to claim 1, wherein said information exchange unit has an information processing circuit, and access control is possible from outside for each information outlet. 3. The information exchange section has a detachable structure with respect to the outlet frame, and the outlet frame has a second connector connected to the wiring holder. The unit has a third connector connected to the second connector, and the outlet frame is provided with a takeout means used to remove the information exchange unit from the outlet frame. The information outlet according to claim 1, wherein the information outlet is provided. 4. The information outlet according to claim 3, wherein said take-out means uses a lever mechanism. 5. The information outlet according to claim 1, wherein the outlet frame is provided with a power supply unit for supplying power to an active element of the information exchange unit. 6. The power supply unit supplies power to the information exchange unit in an inductive manner by using an electromagnetic induction power supply circuit provided in the power supply unit and an electromagnetic induction power reception circuit provided in the information exchange unit. The information outlet according to claim 5, characterized in that: 7. When the information exchange unit is attached to the outlet frame, the power supply unit is shielded. When the information exchange unit is detached from the outlet frame, the power supply unit is connected to the information exchange unit. The information outlet according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising a shield opening mechanism for shielding and opening so as to be opened to the side. 8. An information outlet according to claim 7, wherein said shield opening mechanism and said take-out means are interlocked. 9. The information outlet according to claim 5, wherein the power supply unit includes a backup battery.