JP2006020121A - Plug type device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device with which a user can easily and intuitively understand communication quality or possibility to participate in network at a connection point when connecting an equipment to a power line communication network. <P>SOLUTION: The plug device of an equipment having a power line communication function is provided with a power line communication state notifier in it. The communication state notifier receives information such as the possibility of participation in a power line network from a power line communication module, communication quality, terminal operation state, and power source supply state; and notifies it to a user in intuitive and simple manner by way of light, sound, heat, vibration or the like, so that the material for determining the installation of a power line communication terminal is provided to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power plug type device used for a device that performs power line communication.

  There is a power line communication system as a communication system using a power line as a medium. The power line communication system can perform data transmission between devices simply by inserting a power plug of a device having a power line communication function into an arbitrary outlet, and a network via a power line can be constructed.

  However, as a characteristic of the medium called a power line, there is a characteristic that the signal is attenuated due to the influence of the impedance characteristic of the device inserted into the outlet, or the device itself becomes a noise source. Communication that satisfies the quality is not always possible, and the communication quality greatly depends on the physical location of the outlet to be inserted. Therefore, there is a need for a function that can easily determine how much communication quality can be ensured, including whether or not a device can be connected.

As a device for determining communication quality of conventional power line communication, there is a power line exploration device (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and the communication quality between two points can be confirmed by using this device. In addition, there is a product such as a power line communication bridge device (PLC (Power Line Communication) bridge) in the shape of an adapter. This PLC bridge lights up when communication on the power line is established, and informs the user to that effect. It has a function to notify. Hereinafter, although the term “electric light line” is used, it is synonymous with a power line stretched around a utility pole or indoors.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-271712

  However, in the case of the above-described power line exploration device, the user uses a device having a power line communication function and uses a device (power line exploration device) for detecting another transmission line state each time the user connects to the power line communication network. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the transmission path state and determine whether or not to participate in the network and the communication quality. In addition, every time the device is connected to another outlet due to movement of the device or the like, the same determination must be made using the power line exploration device, which is very laborious.

  Moreover, although the user can intuitively determine whether or not to join the network from the lighting of the LED, the PLC bridge in the shape of an adapter has a problem that the available outlets are limited based on the shape. In addition, when the power line communication module is built in the device, it is determined whether or not the outlet can be used while the user confirms the display on the device side (monitor display, built-in LED, etc.). This is a labor of the user.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and when connecting a device to a power line communication network, the user intuitively grasps whether or not to join the network at the connection point, the communication quality, and the state of the communication device. An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a power plug type device of the present invention is a power plug type device in power line transmission that performs communication between devices via a power line, and is connected to the power line to supply power and A power supply unit that receives communication data transmitted via a power line, a power supply cable that connects the device that receives power supply and the power supply unit, and a power line communication state notification that indicates the communication state of the power line detected by the device And a signal line for transmitting the communication state of the power line detected by the device to the power line notification unit.

  In addition, the power line communication state notification unit includes a light emitter, a display device, a vibration device, a heating element, a sound generator, and the like.

  According to the power plug device of the present invention, in a power line communication terminal whose communication quality greatly depends on the physical position of the outlet to be inserted, power line communication such as whether or not to participate in the network placed in the outlet, communication quality, etc. By expressing the state intuitively and simply, the user can easily determine the connection state of the power line communication terminal. In addition, since the communication state can be indicated not only by display but also by light, heat generation, sound, and vibration, it can be determined using not only visual but also auditory and tactile sensations.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating connection between a power line communication terminal and a power line.

  It is a figure which shows the state by which the power line communication terminal 101 connected to the power line was connected to the power line 102 using the power plug apparatus 103, and the power line communication terminal 110 using the power plug 111. The power line communication terminals 101 and 110 receive power supply from the power line 102 via the power supply units 104 and 112 inserted into the socket 100 and use the power line 102 as a medium for data communication. The same power lines 106 and 114 are used for power supply and data communication. Data is separated by power source separation sections 105 and 113 provided in the power line communication terminals 101 and 110, and the data is processed by the power line communication terminals 101 and 110. When the power plug device 103 is inserted into the socket 100, a power line communication module 107 for controlling power line communication in the power line communication terminal 101 and a power line module in another power line communication terminal 110 in the power line communication network. The communication link is established with 115, and communication between the power line communication terminal 101 and the power line communication terminal 110 is started. When the power line communication module 107 detects that a communication link has been established, the power line communication module 107 passes through the communication state notification signal line 109 to the power line communication state notification unit 108 provided in the power plug device 103. A signal indicating the establishment of a communication link is sent.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of one embodiment of the power plug device 103. Each embodiment described below has the same structure as this figure. Reference numeral 200 denotes a power plug device main body, 201 denotes a power supply unit having a metallic (or conductive) terminal inserted into a power socket, 202 denotes a cable, and 203 denotes a power line communication state notification unit. Reference numeral 210 denotes a cross-sectional view of the cable 202. 211 is a cable coating, 212 is a power supply line, 213 is a communication state notification signal line connected to the power line communication state notification unit 203, and corresponds to 109 in the description of FIG. The arrangement of each line is an example, and is not limited to this arrangement, and the cable cross section may not be circular.

  Next, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A configuration of a power plug device 300 using a light emitter for the power line communication state notification unit 203 is shown. Reference numeral 303 denotes a light-emitting body attached to the power line communication state notification unit 203, and 302 denotes a cable, in which a power supply line 212 and a signal line 213 are collected.

  Although the establishment of the communication link has been described above, the establishment of the communication link is performed by detecting a beacon frame from the control station in the case of a network in which the control station exists, or authentication by a security management terminal in a network having a security function. Including completion, receipt of a delivery confirmation from a terminal that actually communicates. In the case of an ad hoc network without a control station, it means reception of a delivery confirmation from a terminal that performs actual communication.

  In any of these cases, when the power line communication module 107 in the power line communication terminal 101 detects that a communication link has been established, a signal notifying the power line communication state notifying unit 108 via the signal line 109 is sent. When the signal is transmitted and the signal is received, the power line communication state notifying unit 108 turns on the light emitter 303 attached thereto.

  When there is no terminal having another power line communication function in the network, or when the signal of the control station or security management terminal cannot be detected due to poor transmission path characteristics, the light emitter 303 is turned off. Will remain. As a result, when the user inserts the power plug device 300 into the outlet, the user can easily visually recognize whether or not the user can enter the network by looking at the power plug device 300.

  In particular, in the case of communication using a power line, the communication state is best if it is easily affected by noise around the outlet connected to the power line communication terminal and the communication state can be recognized when the power plug device 300 is inserted into the outlet. Since the outlet can be searched, a user-friendly system can be configured.

  In this embodiment, an example in which lighting of one light emitter indicates only the presence or absence of establishment of a communication link has been shown. Status (whether it is in low power consumption mode), communication quality status (communication status is good or bad), etc., and the display means is not only turned on and off, but can also express the power line communication status by flashing, blinking speed, etc. Good.

  Furthermore, a plurality of light emitters may be attached to one power plug device, and the combination of the power line communication states may be expressed by a combination of lighting, extinguishing, and blinking. In order to perform these multiple displays, the power line communication module 107 sends data indicating the state to the power line communication state notification unit 108, and the power line communication state notification unit 108 emits a display that matches the received state data. This is performed using the body 303.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a power plug device 400 according to this embodiment, which has a display device 403 as a power line communication state notification unit 203. A typical example of the display device is a liquid crystal display device. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  When the power plug device 400 is inserted into an arbitrary outlet for supplying power to a device having a power line communication function, a communication link is established between the power line communication module existing in the device and other terminals in the power line communication network. Establishing. The communication link establishment method is the same as that shown in the first embodiment. When the power line communication module in the device detects that the communication link has been established, a signal notifying the establishment of the communication link is sent from the power line communication module to the power line communication state notifying unit 108 through the signal line 109. When receiving, the power line communication state notifying unit 108 displays the fact on the display device 403.

  When there is no terminal having another power line communication function in the network, or when the signal of the control station and the security management terminal cannot be detected due to poor transmission path characteristics, a communication link cannot be established. Contents (characters, level meters, etc.) that indicate that the link has not been established are displayed. As a result, the user can easily visually recognize whether the power plug device 400 can enter the network when the power plug device 400 is inserted into the outlet.

  In this embodiment, an example is shown in which one display device clearly indicates whether or not a communication link is established. However, the display contents include the presence or absence of power supply, the operating status of the terminal itself (whether it is in a low power consumption mode or not). ) Communication quality may be acceptable. Furthermore, a plurality of display devices may be attached to one power plug device, and the combination of the power line communication states may be expressed by a combination thereof.

(Embodiment 3)
The operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the vibration device 303 is used as the power line communication state notification unit 203. When a power plug device 300 for supplying power to a device having a power line communication function is inserted into an arbitrary outlet, a communication link is established between a power line communication module existing in the device and another terminal in the power line communication network. Establishing. This communication link is established by detecting a beacon frame from a control station in the case of a network where a control station exists, or completing authentication by a security management terminal in a network having a security function, from a terminal that actually performs communication. Includes receipt of delivery confirmation. In the case of an ad hoc network without a control station, it means reception of a delivery confirmation from a terminal that performs actual communication.

  In any of these cases, when the power line communication module 107 in the power line communication terminal 101 detects that a communication link has been established, a signal notifying the power line communication state notifying unit 108 via the signal line 109 is sent. When the signal is transmitted and the signal is received, the power line communication state notification unit 108 vibrates the vibration device 303 attached to the power line communication state notification unit 203.

  If there is no terminal with other power line communication function in the network, or if the signal of the control station and security management terminal cannot be detected due to poor transmission path characteristics, the communication link cannot be established. The notification unit 303 remains unvibrated.

  As a result, when the user inserts the power plug device 300 into the outlet, the user can easily and tactilely recognize whether or not the power plug device 300 can enter the network.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the power line communication state notification unit 303 indicates only the presence or absence of establishment of a communication link is shown. However, when the power line communication state notification unit 303 is vibrated, the presence or absence of power supply, The operating state of the terminal (whether it is in the low power consumption mode), the quality of communication quality or the like may be used. In addition, it is assumed that it vibrates when the link is established, but conversely, it may be notified to the user by vibrating only when the link is not established within a certain time. Furthermore, the combination of the power line communication states and the communication quality level may be expressed by vibration intensity and vibration cycle.

  Furthermore, a plurality of vibration devices may be attached to one power plug device, and the combination of the power line communication states may be expressed by a combination of the vibrations. In order to vibrate the plurality of vibration devices, the power line communication module 107 sends data informing the state to the power line communication state notification unit 108, and the power line communication state notification unit 108 vibrates in accordance with the received state data. Is performed using the power line communication state notification unit 303.

(Embodiment 4)
The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a heating element 303 is used as the power line communication state notification unit 203. When a power plug device 300 for supplying power to a device having a power line communication function is inserted into an arbitrary outlet, a communication link is established between a power line communication module existing in the device and another terminal in the power line communication network. Establishing. This communication link is established by detecting a beacon frame from a control station in the case of a network where a control station exists, or completing authentication by a security management terminal in a network having a security function, from a terminal that actually performs communication. Includes receipt of delivery confirmation. In the case of an ad hoc network without a control station, it means reception of a delivery confirmation from a terminal that performs actual communication.

  In any of these cases, when the power line communication module 107 in the power line communication terminal 101 detects that a communication link has been established, a signal notifying the power line communication state notifying unit 108 via the signal line 109 is sent. When the signal is sent and the signal is received, the power line communication state notification unit 108 causes the heating element 303 attached to the power line communication state notification unit 203 to generate heat.

  If there is no terminal with other power line communication function in the network, or if the transmission path characteristics are poor and the signal of the control station or security management terminal cannot be detected, the communication link cannot be established. do not do. As a result, when the user inserts the power plug device 300 into the outlet, the user can easily recognize visually whether or not the power plug device 300 can enter the network by viewing a device that displays a change amount corresponding to the amount of heat generation. can do. It is also possible to tactilely recognize the amount of heat generated by touching the power line communication state notification unit 303.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the amount of heat generated by the heating element 303 added to the power line communication state notifying unit 203 indicates only whether or not a communication link is established. Presence / absence, operation state of own terminal (whether or not in low power consumption mode), communication quality may be acceptable. Further, although heat is generated when the link is established, conversely, the user may be notified by generating heat only when the link is not established within a certain time. Further, the communication quality level may be expressed by the heat generation amount.

  Furthermore, a plurality of heating elements may be attached to one power plug device, and the combination of the power line communication states may be expressed by a combination of the heat generation. In order to perform these multiple displays, the power line communication module 107 sends data notifying the state to the power line communication state notification unit 108, and the power line communication state notification unit 108 generates heat corresponding to the received state data. This is performed using the heating element 303 added to the line communication state notification unit 203.

  Since the heating element used in the present invention touches the skin of the human body and the like, it is only necessary to detect the temperature and the amount of heat generation of the heating element. Of course, the temperature and the heating value do not harm the human body and the device.

(Embodiment 5)
The operation of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the sound generator 503 is used as the power line communication state notification unit 203. Further, in the present embodiment, a telephone set 504 including a power line communication module 107 that transmits voice using a power line network is connected to the power plug type device 500.

  When a power plug device 500 for supplying power to a device having a power line communication function is inserted into an arbitrary outlet, communication is performed between the power line communication module 107 existing in the device and other terminals in the power line communication network. Establish a link. This communication link is established by detecting a beacon frame from a control station in the case of a network in which a control station exists, or completing authentication by a security management terminal in a network having a security function, from a terminal that actually performs communication. Includes receipt of delivery confirmation. In the case of an ad hoc network without a control station, it means reception of a delivery confirmation from a terminal that performs actual communication.

  In any of these cases, when the power line communication module in the device detects that the communication link has been established, a signal informing the power line communication state notification unit 108 is transmitted from the power line communication module 107, The sounding body 503 added to the power line communication state notifying unit 203 that has received the signal emits a sound. Note that the notification means may express the power line communication state not only with the pitch, the length of the sound, and the silence, but also with an alarm, a melody, and voice. In this case, a good quality sound can be obtained by using a speaker as a sounding body. The signal transmitted from the power line communication module 107 to the power line communication state notification unit 108 may be code information that is analyzed by the power line communication state notification unit 108 and converted into sound information. The sound information itself to be sounded may be used.

  When the user inserts the power plug device 500 into an outlet using the sound generator 503 provided in the power plug device 500, the information from the power line communication module 107 provided in the casing of the telephone 504 is not visually recognized. Can be obtained more clearly by hearing. Note that an alarm, a melody, and voice may be transmitted as information from the telephone set 504 by using the sounding body 503 as a speaker.

  In the present embodiment, the telephone is described as a power line communication terminal. However, the telephone need not be a telephone as long as it can store or output sound information.

  In the above-described embodiments, the communication state notification signal line (wired) has been described. However, a wireless transmission unit is provided in the power line module of the power line communication terminal, and a wireless reception unit is provided in the communication state notification unit of the power plug device. By providing the communication state wirelessly, the communication state notification signal line can be eliminated. In this case, it is only necessary to use a general power line as it is and add only the power plug device portion.

  The power plug device according to the present invention is effective for detecting the possibility of communication when used with a power plug connected to a device that performs power line communication.

The figure which shows the connection of the power line communication terminal and power line which are used for this invention Structure diagram of the power plug device of the present invention The block diagram at the time of using a light-emitting body for the power line communication state notification part in one embodiment of this invention The block diagram at the time of using a display apparatus for the power line communication state notification part in one embodiment of this invention The block diagram at the time of using a speaker for the power line communication state notification part in one embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Socket 101,110 Power line communication terminal 102 Power line 103 Power plug apparatus 104,112 Power supply part 105,113 Power supply separation part 106,114 Power line 107,115 Power line communication module 108 Power line communication state notification part 109 Signal line DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 Power plug 200,300,400,500 Power plug apparatus 201,301,401,501 Power supply part 202,302,402,502 Cable 203,303 Power line communication state notification part 211 Cable coating 212 Power supply line 213 Communication state Signal line for notification 403 Display device 503 Sound generator 504 Telephone

Claims (6)

A power plug type device in power line transmission that performs communication between devices via a power line,
A power supply unit connected to the power line and receiving communication data transmitted through the power supply and the power line;
A power supply cable connecting the device to receive power supply and the power supply unit;
A power line communication state notification unit indicating a communication state of the power line detected by the device;
A power plug type device comprising: a signal line for transmitting a communication state of a power line detected by the device to the power line notification unit. The power plug type device according to claim 1, wherein the power line communication state notification unit is a light emitter. 2. The power plug type device according to claim 1, wherein the power line communication state notification unit is a display device. 2. The power plug type device according to claim 1, wherein the power line communication state notification unit is a vibration device. The power plug type device according to claim 1, wherein the power line communication state notification unit is a heating element. The power plug type device according to claim 1, wherein the power line communication state notification unit is a sounding body.

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