JP2006319665A - Wiring accessory for power line communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable power line communication by a plurality of items of communications equipment, while ensuring power for other equipment. <P>SOLUTION: Plug-in ports 3a of a plurality of modular jacks 3, to which a modular plug additionally provided on the end of a communication cables are each connected so as to be inserted/withdrawn, are provided on the end surface of a housing 1 and a plurality of pairs of plug blade insertion ports 20, 20 are juxtaposed on the bottom face of the housing 1. A plurality of pairs of blade receivers 21, 21 to be connected to the power line via a power supply cable 4 and a communications interface portion 5 are housed in the housing 1. Thus, the power line communication can be performed by the plurality of items of communications equipment, such as a computer via the communication cables to be connected to the plurality of modular jacks 3; and moreover, when the plug blades of the power supply plug of the equipment, such as a computer are inserted into the plug inserting port 20 provided on the top face of the housing 1, power can be supplied to the equipment via the blade receivers 21 in the housing 1 and the power supply cable 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power line communication wiring device for performing data communication using a power line wired indoors such as an office or a house.

In recent years, a local area network (LAN) in which a plurality of computers are connected is rapidly spreading in offices and houses. A communication cable (so-called LAN cable) is usually used as a communication medium for connecting computers in such a LAN. However, when a new LAN is introduced into an existing office or house, the labor and cost of wiring work are reduced. In some cases, a radio system using radio waves is employed in consideration (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-79977 A

  By the way, although power line communication (Powre Line Communication) which performs data communication using the indoor wiring (power line) for electric power feeding is proposed conventionally, superposition and separation of electric power and a signal for communication are carried out in such power line communication. An apparatus (PLC modem) to perform is required, and such a PLC modem is connected to an outlet provided on a wall surface via a power cord and connected to a communication device such as a computer via a communication cable. However, if the PLC modem occupies the outlet, it will be difficult to secure the power supply for the computer and other devices. Further, when connecting a plurality of communication devices, a separate line concentrator such as a hub is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power communication wiring device capable of power communication with a plurality of communication devices while securing the power supply of other devices.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is formed in a substantially box shape with a power cable connected to a power line wired indoors by plugging and connecting a power plug attached to the tip to an outlet. And a power cable communication modem that modulates and demodulates a signal for power line communication via a power line housed in the housing and connected to the power cable, and a power line communication modem housed in the housing. A communication interface for interfacing with a communication device, a plurality of connectors provided on the surface of the housing to connect the communication device and the communication interface so that the communication cable can be inserted and removed, and a power cable housed in the housing. And a plurality of pairs of blade receivers connected in parallel to the power line, and plug blades of power plugs of other equipment Blade insertion slots pairs for connection to the receiving blades by entering is characterized in that provided on the surface of the housing.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, a permanent magnet for fixing the housing to the construction surface is exposed on the back surface of the housing.

  According to the present invention, power can be supplied to another device via a plurality of pairs of blade receivers, and a plurality of communication devices can be connected to a plurality of connectors via a communication cable. There is an effect that power communication can be performed by a plurality of communication devices while securing a power source.

(Embodiment 1)
The power line communication wiring device A1 of the present embodiment includes a power cable 4 connected to a power line wired indoors by plugging and connecting a power plug 4a attached to the tip as shown in FIG. And a housing 1 into which the power cable 4 is drawn. However, in the following description, the vertical and horizontal directions are defined with reference to FIG. 1A, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is defined as the front-rear direction.

  The housing 1 is made of a flat, substantially box-shaped synthetic resin molded product. The power cable 4 is drawn from the left side, and the connector (RJ-45) attached to the tip of the communication cable (CAT5 LAN cable) on the lower side. The plug ports 3a of the eight receiving connectors (modular jacks 3 of RJ-45) to which the respective modular plugs are removably connected are exposed in a line. Further, a plurality of pairs (four pairs) of plug blade insertion ports 20 and 20 into which plug blades of power plugs of other devices are inserted are arranged on the upper surface of the housing 1 (see FIG. 1C). A plurality of pairs (four pairs) of blade receivers 21 and 21 for receiving the plug blades inserted into the plug blade insertion port 20 are housed in 1. Further, a plurality of display elements (light emitting diodes) LD are exposed at the lower front of the housing 1.

  In addition, permanent magnets 12 and 12 are respectively exposed at the left and right ends of the rear surface of the housing 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the housing 1 can be fixed to the construction surface (side surface of the desk D) by magnetically attaching the permanent magnets 12 and 12 to the side plate or the like of the steel desk D.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the power line communication wiring device A1. A total of four pairs of blade receivers 21 are connected in parallel to a pair of electrical paths connected to the power line via the power cable 4, and the communication interface unit 5 is connected via the DC-cut capacitor C and the insulation transformer T. Further, a power supply unit 6 composed of an AC / DC converter is connected.

  The communication interface unit 5 is connected to the secondary side of the insulation transformer T and is superimposed on the power line with a transmission / reception unit 7 for transmitting / receiving a power line communication signal (hereinafter referred to as a communication signal) to / from the power line. PLC modem 8 having a demodulating function for demodulating a data signal from a communication signal of a predetermined format transmitted by the transmitter and a modulation function for modulating transmission data on the side of a communication device such as a computer into a communication signal of a predetermined format, and each modular jack 3 A LAN controller 9 for transmitting data to and from a communication device via a communication cable connected in accordance with a standard such as 100BASE-TX, and a CPU as main components, and control of the entire communication interface unit 5 The control part 10 to perform is comprised. For example, the control unit 10 controls the display unit 11 in order to notify that the data (packet) filtering is performed between the PLC modem 8 and the LAN controller 9 or that data transmission is in progress. 11 has a function of causing a plurality of display elements LD to emit light. The communication interface unit 5 is operated by a DC power source created by the power source unit 6.

  Thus, since the power line communication wiring device A1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of modular jacks 3 connected in parallel to the LAN controller 9, it also functions as a line concentrator (hub). Power line communication can be performed by a plurality of communication devices such as a computer via a communication cable connected to the jack 3, and a power plug of a device such as a computer is connected to the plug blade insertion port 20 provided on the upper surface of the housing 1. If the plug blade is inserted, power can be supplied to the device via the blade receiver 21 in the housing 1 and the power cable 4.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view. However, since the basic configuration of the power line communication wiring device A2 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the power line communication wiring device A1 of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. .

  The present embodiment is characterized in that USB is used as an interface between the communication device and the PLC modem 8 in the communication interface unit 5 instead of 100BASE-TX in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, on the lower surface of the housing 1, instead of the insertion port 3a of the modular jack 3, the insertion side (hereinafter referred to as the USB connector) attached to the tip of the communication cable (USB cable). A plurality of (eight) USB connector receiving side (hereinafter referred to as USB jack) 15 insertion ports 15a to which plugs are removably connected are exposed in a line. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a USB controller 16 for performing data transmission with a communication device in accordance with the USB standard via a communication cable (USB cable) connected to the USB jack 15 is a LAN controller 9. Is provided in the communication interface unit 5 instead.

  Thus, if each USB jack 15 of the power line communication wiring device A2 of this embodiment and the USB jack of the personal computer are connected by a USB cable, a plurality of personal computers can perform power line communication via the USB cable. it can.

1 shows Embodiment 1 of the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a top view. FIG. It is a circuit block diagram same as the above. It is a perspective view same as the above. Embodiment 2 of this invention is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, (c) is a top view. It is a circuit block diagram same as the above. It is a perspective view same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 3 Modular jack 3a Plug 4 Power supply cable 5 Communication interface part 6 Power supply part 7 Transmission / reception part 8 PLC modem 9 LAN controller 20 Plug blade insertion slot

Claims (2)

  A power plug attached to the tip is plugged into an outlet and connected to a power line wired indoors, a housing that is formed in a substantially box shape into which the power cable is drawn, and is housed in the housing A power line communication modem that modulates and demodulates a signal for power line communication via a power line connected to the power cable, a communication interface that is housed in the housing and that interfaces between the power line communication modem and the communication device, and a surface of the housing A plurality of connectors provided so that communication cables that connect the communication device and the communication interface are removably inserted; and a plurality of pairs of blade receivers housed in the housing and connected in parallel to the power lines through the power cable. Multiple pairs of blade inserts for inserting the blades of power plugs of other equipment and connecting them to the blade holder Wiring accessories for power line communication, wherein a mouth is provided on the surface of the housing.   The wiring apparatus for power line communication according to claim 1, wherein a permanent magnet for fixing the housing to the construction surface is exposed on the back surface of the housing.

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