JP2002111046A - Contactless coupler system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contactless coupler system which can prevent dirt from being deposited on light emission and reception surfaces. SOLUTION: This contactless coupler system comprises an outlet box 1 and an outlet 2 inserted into the outlet box 1, prevents dirt from being deposited on the light reception and emission surfaces of a light receiving element 16 and a light emitting element 17 by holding the outlet 2 inside the outlet box 1 so that it faces obliquely up and arranging the light receiving element 16 and light emitting element 17 above the internal wall of an insertion path 14 where the outlet 2 is inserted, and wipes and cleans those light reception and emission surfaces by a cleaning part 23 when the outlet 2 is inserted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a non-contact coupler system for coupling communication between devices by optical communication, and more particularly to improvement of convenience.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system (coupler system) for coupling equipment such as a camera to a telecommunications network for the purpose of monitoring a rising water condition of a river outdoors has been developed. In such a system, an outlet box that receives information from a device such as a camera via an optical fiber and transmits the information to the telecommunication network via the optical fiber is used. This outlet box is provided at various places outdoors and couples an optical fiber from the equipment with an optical fiber on the telecommunications network side.

That is, a user of the outlet box aligns the optical axes of the optical fiber on the equipment side and the optical fiber on the outlet box side and connects them in a communicable manner.

[0004]

As described above, in the above-described conventional coupler system, since the optical fibers are connected to each other, the procedure up to the connection such as alignment of the optical axes is complicated and the convenience is low. Therefore, the signal transmitted by the optical fiber is temporarily converted to an optical signal using an infrared light emitting / receiving element, communication is performed between the equipment side and the outlet box using this optical signal, and the optical fiber signal is again transmitted at the outlet box side. A non-contact type coupler system which converts the data into a signal and transmits the converted signal has been considered.

[0005] However, since many outlet boxes are arranged outdoors, there is a problem in that dirt adheres to the light receiving surface or the light emitting surface of the infrared light receiving / emitting element and communication efficiency is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a non-contact coupler system capable of preventing the accumulation of dirt on a light receiving and emitting element.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art comprises an outlet box, a power supply device inserted into the outlet box, receiving power from the outlet box, and mutually transmitting light. A non-contact coupler system comprising an outlet for communication, wherein the outlet box has an opening for inserting an outlet on a side surface thereof, and an insertion path having a slope such that the height increases toward the inside. , A first optical communication unit disposed on the inner wall of the insertion path, and a power supply unit that supplies power by being electromagnetically coupled to an outlet side, wherein the outlet includes the first optical communication unit on a side surface thereof. And a second optical communication unit that performs optical communication between the first and second communication units. Since the outlet is inserted into the insertion path and held obliquely upward, dust is prevented from being deposited on the optical communication unit of the outlet box.

[0008] Preferably, the first optical communication section on the outlet box side is installed above the inner wall of the insertion path. Thereby, accumulation of dirt is more effectively prevented.

Further, it is preferable that the outlet box further has a support means for maintaining an inserted state of the outlet inserted in the insertion path of the outlet box. As a result, even when the outlet in the loose insertion state is inserted obliquely upward, the outlet is prevented from dropping.

[0010] Preferably, the outlet and the insertion path on the outlet box side are provided with means for preventing erroneous insertion.

Further, the present invention for solving the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example is an outlet box which supplies power to an outlet on the device side and performs optical communication with the outlet. And an insertion path for receiving the outlet, and support means for maintaining the inserted state of the outlet.

Further, the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art is directed to an outlet box which is inserted obliquely upward into an outlet box, held therein, receives power supply from the outlet box side, and And an optical communication unit for optically communicating with the outlet box, characterized in that a cleaning unit is provided on a side surface thereof for cleaning a light emitting surface and a light receiving surface of the optical communication unit on the outlet box side.

[0013] It is also preferable that the outlet includes a light emitting unit that emits light when optical communication with the outlet box is established.

Further, the light emitting section emits light in a predetermined first color when power is supplied from the outlet box side, and further emits light in a predetermined second color when optical communication with the outlet box side is established. It is preferable to emit light.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the non-contact coupler system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of outlet boxes 1 installed outdoors and an outlet 2 connected to equipment such as a camera. Here, the outlet box 1 is connected to a telecommunications network.

The outlet box 1 includes a head 11, a columnar portion 12, and a cylindrical portion 13. The tube part 13 is buried underground. The columnar portion 12 is slidable inside the cylindrical portion 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the columnar portion 12 has an opening on a side surface thereof, and an insertion path 14 through which the outlet 2 can be inserted obliquely upward is formed from the opening.
A permanent magnet 15 is attached. FIG.
2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. In the upper part of the inner wall of the insertion path 14,
A light receiving element 16 and a light emitting element 17 are mounted, which are connected via a converter 18 to a telecommunications network. A coil unit 19 connected to a power supply is arranged near the insertion path 14.

In the outlet box 1, the columnar portion 12 is usually housed in the cylindrical portion 13 and is covered by the head portion 11. In use, the columnar portion 12 is pulled out of the cylindrical portion 13 and locked. At this time, the opening of the insertion path 14 is exposed, and the outlet 2 is inserted into the insertion path 14 for use.

The outlet 2 is loosely inserted into the insertion path 14 of the outlet box 1. At this time, a magnetic material such as iron is attached to the distal end of the outlet 2 as shown in FIG. 3 so as to be attracted by the permanent magnet 15 disposed at the far end of the insertion path 14. As a result, the outlet 2 is supported, and the inserted state is maintained. The permanent magnet 15 and the magnetic body on the outlet 2 side correspond to the support means of the present invention. Note that the supporting means may be a claw provided to be able to protrude and retract on the inner wall of the insertion path 14.

A light emitting element 21 facing the light receiving element 16 when inserted into the insertion path 14
And the light receiving element 22 facing the light emitting element 17 and the cleaning unit 2
3 are provided. Further, inside the outlet 2, a coil section 24 which is electromagnetically coupled with the coil section 19 at the time of insertion and receives power supply, a light emitting element 21 and a light receiving element 2 are provided.
2 which is connected to the communication device 2 and exchanges signals with the equipment side.
And are arranged. Further, an LED circuit 26 is provided near the end of the outlet 2 on the device side. The light receiving element 16 and the light emitting element 1 as the first optical communication unit
7 and the light receiving element 22 and the light emitting element 21 as the second optical communication unit perform optical communication by receiving and emitting infrared light.

Here, the cross-sectional shape of the insertion path 14 and the outlet 2 is preferably, for example, a trapezoid or a trapezoid, so that the outlet 2 can be inserted into the insertion path 14 only in a predetermined direction. . Such a cross-sectional shape corresponds to a means for preventing erroneous insertion of the present invention.

The cleaning unit 23 is configured such that the outlet 2
When it is inserted into the insertion path, the light receiving surface or the light emitting surface of the light receiving element 16 and the light emitting element 17 provided on the inner wall of the insertion path are wiped and cleaned. The cleaning unit 23 is, for example, a brush, a nonwoven fabric, or another fiber.

The light emitting element 21, light receiving element 22, converter 25 and LED circuit 26 on the outlet 2 side are
From the power supply. The converter 25 converts a signal from the device side into an optical signal to drive the light emitting element 21, and converts a signal received by the light receiving element 22 into a signal to the device side and outputs the signal to the device side. Further, the converter 25 detects the carrier (carrier signal) of the optical signal on the downstream side (the signal received by the light receiving element 22), outputs a detection signal (DCD) that becomes Low at the time of detection, and further outputs A carrier signal (a carrier signal for transmitting a signal by the light emitting element 21) from the upstream side is detected, and a detection signal (U
CD).

As shown in FIG. 4, the LED circuit 26 includes a first LED 31 that emits red light and a second LED 31 that emits green light.
ED32. The anode A of the first LED 31 receives a DCD signal via the first driver 33. The anode A of the first LED 31
Is connected to the coil unit 24 via the resistor R2.

The anode A of the second LED 32 receives a UCD signal via a second driver 34. The anode A of the second driver 34 is
It is connected to the coil section 24 via the resistor R3. 1st L
The cathode K of the ED 31 and the second LED 32 is connected to a resistor R
1 is grounded.

The first driver 33 and the second driver 3
4, the DCD and UCD signals are respectively Lo.
In the case of w, the corresponding first LED 31 and second LED 32
Lights up. Accordingly, the LED circuit 26 is turned off when in the non-contact state, the first LED 31 is turned on when a downstream optical carrier is detected, and the second LED 32 is turned on when an upstream optical carrier is detected. Therefore, when the power supply is normal but no upstream or downstream carrier is detected (in a case where communication is not possible), it lights up in red or green. Furthermore, when the power supply is normal and both carriers are detected (when communication is possible), both red and green light up and appear orange. Here, red or green corresponds to the first color of the present invention, and orange corresponds to the second color of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the non-contact coupler system according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description,
A case will be described in which a video camera is assumed as a device and an image captured by the video camera is transmitted to a monitoring device on a telecommunication network. An outlet 2 is connected to the video camera.

The user pulls out the columnar portion 12 of the outlet box 1 from the cylindrical portion 13 and locks it, and inserts the outlet 2 obliquely upward into the insertion path 14 opened on the side surface of the columnar portion 12. At this time, the cleaning unit 23 attached to the outside of the outlet 2 wipes and cleans the light receiving surface and the light emitting surface of the light receiving element 16 and the light emitting element 17 on the outlet box 1 side. Then, the magnetic material attached to the tip of the outlet 2 is attracted by the permanent magnet 15, and the inserted state of the outlet 2 is maintained.

At this time, the coil portion 19 of the outlet box 1 and the coil portion 24 of the outlet 2 are electromagnetically coupled to each other, so that the power supply voltage is supplied to the outlet 2 side. Then, the light receiving element 16 on the outlet box 1 side and the light emitting element 21 on the outlet 2 side, and the light emitting element 17 and the light receiving element 22 face each other, and the upstream optical carrier and the downstream optical carrier are detected by the converter 25 of the outlet 2. Then, the LED circuit 26 lights up in orange. Here, since the LED circuit 26 is provided at the end on the equipment side (camera side), the user can check the LED circuit 26 to know that the LED circuit 26 has been normally connected.

When the user starts photographing with the camera, the signal from the camera is converted into an optical signal by the converter 25, and this optical signal is transmitted from the light emitting element 21 on the outlet 2 side to the light receiving on the outlet box 1 side. The optical signal transmitted to the element 16 and received by the light receiving element 16 is further converted by the converter 18 into a signal on the telecommunication network side (for example, a signal for an optical fiber) and transmitted through the telecommunication network.

On the other hand, a signal arriving at the outlet box 1 from the telecommunication network is converted into an optical signal by the converter 18 to drive the light emitting element 17 and transmitted to the light receiving element 22 at the outlet 2 side. Then, the converter 25 on the outlet 2 converts this optical signal and transmits it to the device side.

[0031]

According to the present invention, there is provided a non-contact coupler system comprising an outlet box and an outlet inserted into the outlet box to receive power from the outlet box and perform optical communication. An insertion passage having an opening for inserting an outlet on a side surface and having a slope so as to become higher toward an inner side, and a first passage disposed on an inner wall of the insertion passage.
A second optical communication unit comprising: an optical communication unit; and a power supply unit that supplies power by being electromagnetically coupled to the outlet side, wherein the outlet performs optical communication with the first optical communication unit on a side surface thereof. Since the non-contact coupler system includes the non-contact coupler system, it is possible to prevent dirt from accumulating on the light receiving and emitting elements because the insertion path has a slope.

Further, according to the present invention, since the first optical communication section is arranged above the inner wall of the insertion path, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of dirt on the light receiving / emitting element.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a non-contact coupler system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the outlet box according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outlet according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit for controlling the LED circuit 26;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 outlet box, 2 outlets, 11 heads, 12 pillars, 13 cylinders, 14 insertion paths, 15 permanent magnets, 16, 22 light receiving elements, 17, 21 light emitting elements,
18, 25 converter, 19, 24 coil unit, 23 cleaning unit, 26 LED circuit, 31 first LED, 32 second
LED, 33 first driver, 34 second driver.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yamato Miura 7-3-16 Kikuna, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Oi Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiki Eiji 5676F Terms (reference) 5F089 AA01 AB17 AC11 AC17 CA21 EA01 EA06 EA10

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A non-contact coupler system comprising an outlet box, and an outlet inserted into the outlet box, receiving power from the outlet box and performing optical communication with each other, wherein the outlet box is An insertion path having an opening for inserting an outlet on a side surface thereof, an insertion path having a slope so as to become higher toward an inner side, a first optical communication section disposed on an inner wall of the insertion path, A power supply unit that supplies power by electromagnetically coupling the power supply unit, wherein the outlet has a second side that performs optical communication with the first optical communication unit on a side surface thereof.
A non-contact coupler system comprising an optical communication unit. 2. The non-contact coupler system according to claim 1, wherein the first optical communication unit on the outlet box side is installed above an inner wall of the insertion path. 3. The non-contact coupler system according to claim 1, further comprising a support unit for maintaining an inserted state of the outlet inserted in the insertion path of the outlet box. system. 4. The non-contact coupler system according to claim 1, wherein the outlet and the outlet of the outlet box are provided with means for preventing erroneous insertion. system. 5. An outlet box for supplying power to an outlet on a device side and performing optical communication with the outlet, the insertion path receiving the insertion of the outlet obliquely upward, and the insertion of the outlet. An outlet box comprising: support means for maintaining a state; 6. An outlet which is inserted obliquely upward into an outlet box, is held therein, receives power from the outlet box side, and performs optical communication with the outlet box. An outlet, wherein a cleaning unit is provided on a side surface of the optical communication unit for cleaning a light emitting surface and a light receiving surface of the optical communication unit. 7. The outlet according to claim 6, wherein
An outlet, comprising: a light emitting unit that emits light when optical communication with the outlet box is established. 8. The outlet according to claim 7, wherein
The light emitting section emits light in a predetermined first color when power is supplied from the outlet box side, and further emits light in a predetermined second color when optical communication with the outlet box side is established. Outlet to feature.