JP2005278082A - Vehicle information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle information communication system capable of normally controlling on-vehicle apparatuses by preventing occurrence of interference between PLC networks. <P>SOLUTION: A master 40 of each of the PLC networks 20, 40 is respectively connected to a main power line 30, nodes (slaves 50) are interconnected by a sub power line 36 so as to supply power through the main power line 30 also to the slaves 50 through the master 40, and the main power line 30 and the sub power line 36 are connected via an existing inductor 43 in each master 40. A signal outputted to outside the PLC networks 10, 20 is attenuated because the signal passes through the inductor 43 in each master 40 without fail. Similarly a signal intruded to the PLC network 10(20) through the main power line 30 from the other PLC network 20(10) is attenuated because the signal passes through the inductor 43 in each master 40 without fail. Thus, the interference between the PLC networks 10, 20 can be prevented without the need for additionally inserting an inductor to the main power line 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle information communication technology including an in-vehicle device control technology using power line communication (PLC) that uses a power line for supplying power to a load and transmits a control signal together with the power.

  Power line communication (hereinafter referred to as “PLC”) is used as a communication method for controlling various electrical equipment such as power windows and wipers mounted on automobiles.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the configuration of an in-vehicle device control system using a PLC as an example of a vehicle information communication system. The system shown in FIG. 3 is a master controller that controls power from a battery (not shown) via a relay connector (J / C) 72 connected to the main power line 71 and a plurality of loads 73 constituting the electrical equipment. (Hereinafter simply referred to as a master) 74 and a slave controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a slave) 75. The slave 75 is a controller provided for each load 73, and the master 74 is a controller that controls each load 73 via each slave 75. In this system, the master 74 transmits a communication signal M to the slave 75 to be communicated via the sub power line 77 in the PLC network 76 connected to each other by the relay connector 72. The slave 75 receives the communication signal M via the sub power line 77 and transmits a communication signal S indicating the state of the load 73 controlled by the slave 75 to the master 74 via the sub power line 77. The master 74 transmits a communication signal M corresponding to the communication signal S received from the slave 75. The master 74 and each slave 75 thus control each load 72 while communicating with each other via the sub power line 76. (See Patent Document 1)

  The in-vehicle device control system using the PLC can perform normal control operations because the communication between the master and each slave is performed stably when the PLC network exists alone as shown in FIG. It is. However, as shown in FIG. 4, when the two PLC networks 80 and 90 are adjacent to each other via the main power line 71, the control operation may become abnormal due to interference between the PLC networks 80 and 90. . For example, in the case of FIG. 4, the communication signal SigA transmitted / received between the master 83 and the slave 84 in the PLC network 80 enters the PLC network 90 adjacent to the PLC network 80 via the main power line 71, Will interfere with communication. On the contrary, the communication signal SigB in the PLC network 90 enters the PLC network 80 via the main power line 71 and interferes with the communication in the PLC network 80.

  As a conventional technique for solving this type of problem, interference between PLC networks can be prevented by inserting an inductor into a common power line between PLC networks connected to a pole transformer that supplies power to a general home or office. There is something to prevent. (See Patent Document 2)

By applying this prior art to the in-vehicle device control system shown in FIG. 3, that is, by separately inserting an inductor in the main power line 71 and the sub power line between the two PLC networks 80 and 90, the signal causing the interference is transmitted to the main power line. 71 can be blocked. However, in a system for driving and controlling equipment mounted on a vehicle, it is difficult to secure a space for inserting an inductor, and the cost increases due to the addition of the inductor, so that it is not suitable for practical use.
JP 2003-118509 A JP 2001-358618 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent interference between PLC networks connected to a common main power line without separately inserting an inductor into the main power line. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information communication system using a programmable PLC.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a vehicle information communication system according to the present invention is a vehicle information communication system having a plurality of PLC networks connected to a common main power line, among a plurality of nodes existing in the PLC network. Any one node is connected to the main power line, and nodes in the PLC network are connected to each other by a sub power line so that power from the main power line is supplied to other nodes through the one node. In addition, the main power line and the sub power line are connected through an existing inductor in the one node.

  By configuring as described above, a signal exiting from the PLC network, that is, a signal leaking to the main power line is necessarily attenuated because it passes through the inductor in the one node. Similarly, a signal entering from the other power line communication network through the main power line is attenuated because it always passes through the inductor in the one node. Therefore, it is possible to prevent interference between PLC networks connected to the common main power line without inserting an inductor separately in the main power line.

  In the vehicle information communication system according to the present invention, an existing impedance securing circuit such as an LC resonance circuit in the one node may be used as the inductor.

  The vehicle information communication system according to the present invention prevents interference between PLC networks connected to a common main power line by using an existing inductor in one node in the PLC network as an inductor for signal attenuation. There is no need to separately insert an inductor for signal attenuation into the main power line or the like. Therefore, it is possible to easily and inexpensively realize a system that can perform accurate in-vehicle device control without malfunction due to interference between PLC networks.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the best mode for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  Fig.1 (a) is a conceptual diagram which shows the form example of the vehicle equipment control system which is an example of the vehicle information communication system of this invention. In FIG. 1A, reference numerals 10 and 20 denote PLC networks, which are close to each other so that interference of communication signals with each other becomes a problem. The PLC networks 10 and 20 are each connected to a main power line 30 that transmits power from a battery (not shown).

  Each PLC network 10, 20 has four nodes, that is, one master 40 (40A, 40B) and three slaves 50 (50A, 50B), and the master 40 of each PLC network 10, 20 is wired. It is connected to the main power line 30 via the harness 35 (35A, 35B). The master 40 also has a relay connector function. The master 40 and the slave 50 of each PLC network 10 and 20 are connected to each other by the sub power line 36 (36A, 36B) so that the power from the main power line 30 is also supplied to each slave 50 through the master 40. It has become. The slave 50 is a controller provided for each load 55 (55A, 55B), and the master 40 is a controller that controls each load 55 via each slave 50.

FIG. 1B shows the internal configuration of the master 40 and the slave 50.
The master 40 includes a transmission / reception unit 41, a band pass filter (BPF) 42, and an impedance securing inductor 43. The transmission / reception unit 41 and the band pass filter 42 are connected by a signal line 45. The band pass filter 42 is connected to the sub power line 36 and passes only a communication signal in a predetermined band superimposed on the sub power line 36. The transmission / reception unit 41 communicates with each slave 50 through the bandpass filter 42 while using the sub power line 36 as a signal transmission line. The impedance securing inductor 43 is inserted in the middle of the power line 44 connecting the transmission / reception unit 41 and the main power line 30, and the wire harness 35 is connected between the impedance securing inductor 43 and the transmission / reception unit 41. The power transmitted from the main power line 30 through the wire harness 35 and the like is supplied to the transmission / reception unit 41 and the like in the master 40, and to each slave 50 through the impedance securing inductor 43 and the sub power line 36 in the master 40. Supplied.

  Each slave 50 includes a transmission / reception unit 51, a band pass filter 52, an impedance securing inductor 53, and a load control device 54. The transmission / reception unit 51 and the band pass filter 52 are connected by a signal line 56. The band pass filter 52 is connected to the sub power line 36 and allows only the communication signals M (MA, MB) and S (SA, SB) in a predetermined band superimposed on the sub power line 36 to pass therethrough. The transmission / reception unit 51 communicates with the master 40 through the bandpass filter 52 while using the sub power line 36 as a signal transmission line. The impedance securing inductor 53 is inserted in the middle of the power line 57 connecting the transmission / reception unit 51 and the sub power line 36. The power transmitted to the slave 50 through the sub power line 36 is supplied to the transmission / reception unit 51 and the like through the impedance securing inductor 53. The load control device 54 receives the communication signal M from the master 40 via the transmission / reception unit 51, controls the load 55 according to the communication signal M, and transmits / receives the communication signal S according to the state of the load 55 and the like. 51 to the master 40.

The PLC operation of the in-vehicle device control system configured as described above is as follows.
The master 40A of the first PLC network 10 transmits the communication signal MA through the sub power line 36 in the first PLC network 10 to the slave 50A to be communicated. The slave 50A that has received the communication signal MA from the master 40A transmits a communication signal SA indicating the state of the load 55A controlled by the slave 50A to the master 40A via the sub power line 36A of the second PLC network 10. Master 40A transmits communication signal MA corresponding to communication signal SA received from slave 50A. In this way, the master 40A and each slave 50A of the first PLC network 10 control each load 55A while communicating with each other via the sub power line 36A of the first PLC network 10.

  The master 40B of the second PLC network 20 transmits the communication signal MB through the sub power line 36B of the second PLC network 20 to the slave 50B to be communicated. The slave 50B that has received the communication signal MB from the master 40B transmits the communication signal SB indicating the state of the load 55B controlled by the slave 50B to the master 40B via the sub power line 36B of the second PLC network 20. Master 40B transmits communication signal MB according to communication signal SB received from slave 50B. Thus, the master 40B and each slave 50B of the second PLC network 20 communicate with each other via the sub power line 36B of the second PLC network 20, and control the respective loads 55B.

  When each PLC network 10, 20 performs master-slave communication by PLC, a part of the communication signal transmitted / received in each PLC network 10, 20 leaks to the main power line 30 via the wire harness 35. . However, the signal leaking from the PLC networks 10 and 20 to the main power line 30 is necessarily attenuated because it passes through the impedance securing inductor 43 in the master 40. Similarly, signals entering the PLC networks 10 and 20 from the outside are attenuated because they always pass through the impedance securing inductor 43 in the master 40. As a result, interference between the PLC networks 10 and 20 is prevented.

  As described above, the in-vehicle device control system according to the present embodiment uses the existing inductor 43 in the master 40 which is one node of each PLC network 10 and 20 connected to the common main power line 30 as an inductor for signal attenuation. By using this, interference between the PLC networks 10 and 20 is prevented. According to this system configuration, there is no need to separately insert a signal attenuating inductor into the main power line 30 or the like. Therefore, a system that can perform accurate in-vehicle device control without malfunction due to interference between the PLC networks 10 and 20 is provided. It can be realized easily and inexpensively.

  In the above embodiment, the impedance securing inductor 53 in the master 40 is used as an inductor for signal attenuation. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the LC resonance circuit 46 in the master 40 is used for signal attenuation. It may be used as an inductor (that is, an impedance securing circuit).

  In the above embodiment, power is supplied to each slave 50 through the master 40. However, power is supplied to the master 40 and the remaining slaves 50 through any one of the slaves 50, and the one slave 50 is connected. It is also possible to use the existing inductor 53 as an inductor for signal attenuation.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. can be made as appropriate. In addition, the configuration, the number, the arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

(A) is a conceptual diagram which shows the form example of the vehicle equipment control system which is an example of the vehicle information communication system of this invention, and (b) is a conceptual diagram which shows the form example of a PLC network. It is a conceptual diagram which shows another example of a form of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle equipment control system in which the PLC area exists independently. It is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle equipment control system in which the interference between adjacent PLC areas becomes a problem.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 PLC network 30 Main power line 35 (35A, 35B) Wire harness 36 (36A, 36B) Sub power line 40 (40A, 40B) Master 50 (50A, 50B) Slave 41 Transceiver 42 Band pass filter 43 Inductor for securing impedance (Existing inductor)
44 Power line 46 LC resonance circuit 51 Transmission / reception unit 52 Band pass filter 53 Impedance securing inductor 54 Load control device 55 (55A, 55B) Load M (MA, MB) Communication signal S (SA, SB) Communication signal

Claims (2)

In a vehicle information communication system having a plurality of power line communication networks connected to a common main power line,
Connecting any one of a plurality of nodes existing in the power line communication network to the main power line and supplying power from the main power line to other nodes through the one node; A vehicle information communication system, wherein nodes in a power line communication network are connected to each other by a sub power line, and the main power line and the sub power line are connected via an existing inductor in the one node.   2. The vehicle information communication system according to claim 1, wherein an impedance securing circuit in the one node is used as the inductor.

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