JP2002077000A - Power line communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the interference or disturbance caused by leakage signals between adjacent partial communication networks with a simple constitution. SOLUTION: A power line communication system is provided with a plurality of partial communication networks which communicate to each other by using low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12 as transmission lines, a communication connecting line 32 which communicates a plurality of adjacent partial communication networks to each other, and connecting sections 31a and 31b which connect the distribution lines L11 and L12 to the communication connecting line 32. The system is also provided with an on-pole converter 10 which manages the partial communication networks communicated to each other through the communication connecting line 32 for communication as one partial communication network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a pole-mounted transformer connected between a high-voltage distribution line and a low-voltage distribution line for distributing electric power supplied to home appliances, wherein the low-voltage distribution line is connected to a low-voltage distribution line. The present invention relates to a power line communication system in which a partial communication network used as an existing communication line is connected to an existing communication network such as a public network using a predetermined communication line such as an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to reduce costs and effectively use existing facilities without adding new communication facilities, "power line modems" that perform communication using existing power lines (also referred to as power lines) have been introduced. Attention has been paid. This power line modem
Houses inside and outside, buildings, factories, connected by power lines
By networking electrical products such as stores and the like, various processes such as control of these products and data communication can be performed.

[0003] In addition, the wired digital communication other than the networking of electric appliances, that is, the network communication using a plurality of power line modems outside the home which are multiplexed and connected, includes Internet communication using a personal computer. Can be

Here, a conventional power line communication system will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the pole transformer TA on which the power pole 2 is arranged converts a high voltage of the high voltage distribution line L10 into a low voltage, and distributes power to the low voltage distribution line L11 that draws the low voltage to a plurality of houses. The pole converter 10 is disposed near the pole transformer TA, connected to the low-voltage distribution line L11, and connected to the optical fiber 1. The optical fiber 1 is connected to an existing communication network such as a public network or a specific wide area communication network.

Each low-voltage distribution line L11 is connected to a house 41
Is connected to the gateway device 11 arranged near the watt-hour meter of the present invention, and further connected to each device in the house via the distribution board 3 in the house 41. Here, the in-home device interface devices 12 and 13 are interface devices for realizing high-speed communication, are connected to an in-home outlet, and perform connection processing between the low-voltage distribution line L11 and devices such as telephones and personal computers.

That is, in this power line communication system, one partial communication network can be constituted by the low voltage distribution line L11 which is physically branched by the pole transformer TA and realizes the same communication line. Communication control such as synchronization control and address management in this partial communication network is performed by the pole converter 10. When the gateway device 11 exists, the pole conversion device 10 manages up to the gateway device 11 and
1 is managed by the pole conversion device 10,
The communication control of the devices connected to the low-voltage distribution line L11 in the house 41 is performed. Note that the home device interface device 14 may be directly connected without the intervention of the gateway device 11. In addition, pole conversion devices 10 and 20
Converts the electrical signals on the partial communication networks N1 and N2 into multiplexed optical signals and outputs the multiplexed optical signals onto the optical fiber 1, and demultiplexes the optical signals on the optical fiber 1 and converts them into electrical signals. Output on the partial communication network.

[0007] In order to realize high-speed communication on the partial communication network, OF communication is required on the partial communication network.
DM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)
Using a signal, as shown in FIG. 6, the carrier interval ΔF =
Tone # 3 to tone # 104 as 4.3125 KHz
Are used. These tones are
Used in appropriate combination according to the transmission state,
High-speed multicarrier transmission will be realized. As a result, about 3 Mbps on the partial communication network
Data transmission.

[0008]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional power line communication system, a partial communication network having a pole transformer TA as a branch point can be formed. However, as shown in FIG. N1, N
The signal on 2 is a pole transformer TA, a high voltage distribution line L10,
And mutually leak through the pole transformer TB.

Here, each of the partial communication networks N1, N
2 requires high-precision synchronization control in order to perform high-speed communication. For example, signal leakage from the partial communication network N1
2 is an uncontrolled asynchronous signal, and the leaked signal interferes with the signal in the partial communication network N2 and disturbs the transmission in the partial communication network N2, while the signal leakage from the partial communication network N2 is As an asynchronous signal not controlled by the network N1, this leaked signal interferes with the signal in the partial communication network N1,
There is a problem that transmission in the partial communication network N1 is obstructed.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a power line communication system that can prevent interference or interference due to a leak signal between adjacent partial communication networks with a simple configuration.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a power line communication system according to the present invention is connected between a high voltage side distribution line and a low voltage distribution line for distributing electric power supplied to home appliances. In a power line communication system in which a partial communication network using a low-voltage distribution line as an existing communication line is connected to the existing communication network using a predetermined communication line, a plurality of adjacent partial communication A communication connection line for communication-connecting a network, connection means for connecting the low-voltage distribution line and the communication connection line, and communication of the plurality of partial communication networks communicatively connected by the communication connection line as one partial communication network Management means for managing.

According to the present invention, the plurality of adjacent partial communication networks are communicatively connected via the connection means using the communication connection line and the connection means, and the management means is connected to the plurality of communication networks connected by the communication connection line. The partial communication network is managed as one partial communication network.

A power line communication system according to the next invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the connection means is provided on a low-voltage distribution line near the pole transformer.

According to the present invention, the connection means is provided on the low-voltage distribution line near the pole transformer, and the communication connection line can be disposed in the same manner as the existing high-voltage distribution line.

A power line communication system according to the next invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the connection means is provided at a position where low-voltage distribution lines of each partial communication network are close to each other.

According to the present invention, the connection means is provided at a position where the low-voltage distribution lines of the respective partial communication networks are close to each other, and the length of the communication connection line is shortened to connect the respective partial communication networks. .

The power line communication system according to the next invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a transformer provided between the connection means and the communication connection line and having a high-pass filter characteristic is further provided. I do.

According to the present invention, when connecting the connection means to the communication connection line, the power frequency is cut off by interposing a transformer having a high-pass filter characteristic, and the communication connection line only outputs signals related to communication. Transmits and avoids the physical connection of low voltage distribution lines before connection.

A power line communication system according to the next invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a noise removal filter is further provided between the communication connection line and each of the transformers.

According to the present invention, a noise removing filter is further provided between the communication connection line and each of the transformers to remove noise other than the communication frequency.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a power line communication system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power line communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power line communication system illustrated in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which the connection units 31a and 31b and the communication connection line 32 are further provided in the configuration of the power line communication system illustrated in FIG. That is, the low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12, which are transmission media of the respective partial communication networks N1 and N2 of the power line communication system shown in FIG. 5, are interconnected by the connection portions 31a and 31b and the communication connection line 32. The communication connection line 32 is realized by a normal communication cable such as a coaxial cable. Accordingly, the low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12 become one partial communication network using one low-voltage distribution line from the viewpoint of the communication function. Other configurations are the same as those of the power line communication system shown in FIG. 5, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As a result, one partial communication network formed by the low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12 and the communication connection line 32 is managed by the pole conversion device 10. In this case, the signals on the low-voltage distribution line L11 side and the low-voltage distribution line L12 side are synchronized, and from the low-voltage distribution line L11 side to the low-voltage distribution line L12 side via the pole transformers TA and TB and the high-voltage distribution line L10. The leaked signal does not interfere with or interfere with the signals on the other low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12 because the interference reduction mechanism between the synchronized signals provided by the OFDM-based power line modem normally works.

Here, in order to prevent power from moving between the low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12, the connecting portions 31a and 3
1b, as shown in FIG. 2, one-to-one transformers Ta and Tb each having a high-pass filter characteristic for blocking a power frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz in Japan) are interposed. For example, in the connection part 31a, the coupling part 51a that couples with the low-voltage distribution line L11 that is a power line, the power frequency of the signal transmitted through the coupling part 51a is cut off, and only the high-frequency signal for communication is used. A transformer T having a high-pass filter characteristic of passing through the filter and performing communication coupling with another low-voltage distribution line L12 and performing physical separation.
a are sequentially connected from the low-voltage distribution line L11 side toward the communication connection line 32 side. As shown in FIG. 3, the connection sections 31a and 31b are further provided with noise removal filters 52a and 52b for removing frequencies other than the communication frequency on the communication connection line 32 side of the transformers Ta and Tb. Is also good. Thereby, the signal of the communication frequency can be reliably transmitted between the low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12.

The pole converter 10 includes a low-voltage distribution line L11,
Synchronous control of signals transmitted on L12 and low-voltage distribution line L
11, and also performs overall control including address control connected to L12.

In the above-described embodiment, the connecting portion 3
1a and 31b are provided near pole transformers TA and TB,
Although the communication connection line 32 is arranged along with the existing high-voltage distribution line L10 or the installation of the optical fiber 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the low-voltage distribution line L11 and the low-voltage distribution line L12 are arranged.
Is connected to each of the low-voltage distribution lines L11 and L12,
Connection parts 33a and 33b having the same configuration as 1a and 31b may be provided, and the connection parts 33a and 33b may be connected by the communication connection line. In particular, the low-voltage distribution line L11
And a house connected to the low-voltage distribution line L12 may be connected at a position close to the house. In this case, the length of the communication connection line 34 can be extremely shortened as compared with the configuration of the connection portions 31a and 31b and the communication connection line 32 shown in FIG. Also becomes easier.

In the above-described embodiment, the partial communication networks respectively corresponding to the two pole transformers TA and TB are connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more adjacent transformers may be connected. The respective corresponding partial communication networks may be connected.

In this embodiment, the adjacent partial communication networks are mutually connected by the communication connection line 32, and the pole converter 10 manages the communication as one partial communication network. Since a simple configuration can be realized without providing the device 20 and the conventional two partial communication networks can be performed by a single synchronization control, signal interference due to a leak signal does not occur and interference is eliminated. , Good communication can be maintained.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of adjacent partial communication networks are communicatively connected via the connection means using the communication connection line and the connection means, and the management means is provided with the communication connection line. Since a plurality of partial communication networks connected by lines are managed for communication as one partial communication network, only one device performs management of each partial communication network and connection processing with an external communication network. Therefore, a power line communication system can be constructed with a simple configuration, and a partial communication network connected by a single synchronization control is synchronously controlled, so that signal interference due to a leakage signal does not occur. This has the effect that interference is eliminated and good communication can be maintained.

According to the next invention, the connection means is provided on the low-voltage distribution line near the pole transformer, and the communication connection line can be installed in the same manner as the high-voltage distribution line. This has the effect of reducing the time and labor required for installing the wires and connecting means.

According to the next invention, the connection means is provided at a position where the low-voltage distribution line of each partial communication network is close to the connection means,
Since the length of the communication connection line is shortened to connect the respective partial communication networks, there is an effect that the connection configuration between the respective partial communication networks is simplified and the installation of the connecting means is also facilitated.

According to the next invention, when connecting the connection means to the communication connection line, the power frequency is cut off by interposing a transformer having a high-pass filter characteristic, and the communication connection line is used only for signals related to communication. To prevent physical connection of the low-voltage distribution lines before connection, ensuring insulation between the low-voltage distribution lines and ensuring that only signals related to communication can be reliably transmitted with a simple configuration. To play.

According to the next invention, a noise removal filter is further provided between the communication connection line and each of the transformers,
Since noise other than the communication frequency is removed,
There is an effect that a signal related to communication between the respective partial communication networks can be reliably transmitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power line communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a connection unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an application example of the connection unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application example of the power line communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional power line communication system.

6 is an OF used in the power line communication system of FIG.
It is a figure showing a DM signal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional power line communication system.

[Description of Signs] 1 Optical fiber, 2, 3 telephone pole, 10 high-voltage distribution line, 1
1,21 gateway device, 12,13,14,22
Home interface device, 31a, 31b33a,
33b connection part, 32, 34 communication connection line, 51a, 5
1b coupling unit, 52a, 52b noise removal filter, T
a, Tb transformer, TA, TB Transformer on pole, L1
1, L12 low voltage distribution line, 41-43 house.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A transformer on a pole connected between a high-voltage distribution line and a low-voltage distribution line for distributing power supplied to home equipment is used as a separation point, and the low-voltage distribution line is used as an existing communication line. In a power line communication system in which a partial communication network is connected to an existing communication network using a predetermined communication line, a communication connection line for communication-connecting a plurality of adjacent partial communication networks, the low-voltage distribution line and the communication connection line A power line communication system comprising: a connection unit that connects the plurality of partial communication networks connected by the communication connection line; and a management unit that performs communication management of the plurality of partial communication networks as one partial communication network. 2. The power line communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection means is provided on a low-voltage distribution line near the pole transformer. 3. The power line communication system according to claim 1, wherein said connection means is provided at a position where a low-voltage distribution line of each partial communication network is adjacent. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transformer provided between said connection means and said communication connection line, said transformer having a high-pass filter characteristic. Power line communication system. 5. The power line communication system according to claim 4, further comprising a noise removal filter provided between said communication connection line and each of said transformers.