JP2008236291A - Power line communication modem - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PLC modem which can be connected to a desired outlet without using a two-way plug etc. <P>SOLUTION: Disclosed is the power line communication modem M1 for performing communication by superposing data on a power line. On one wall surface of a housing 1 which houses a circuit part 5 for power line communication, a plug 2 is provided which can be inserted into outlet insertion slots and on the other wall surface of the housing 1, an insertion slots 4 of a service outlet are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power line communication modem.

  Power Line Communication (PLC) is a technology that uses a power transmission line such as a distribution line that sends power from a substation to each home or an indoor distribution line that runs around the home as a signal transmission path, A power line communication modem (hereinafter also referred to as “PLC modem”) is used to superimpose data on the power line and to extract data from the power line.

  When this PLC modem is connected to an indoor power distribution line, it is necessary to insert a power plug attached to the PLC modem into an outlet outlet (connection port) such as an indoor wall outlet. One of these will be dedicated.

  At this time, there is no particular problem if there is a margin in the connection port of the outlet, but if another electrical device is already connected to the outlet to which the PLC modem is to be connected and there is no margin in the connection port, for example, a two-plug plug is used. It is necessary to increase the number of units to be installed, or to connect to another outlet having a margin, which is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a PLC modem that can be connected to a desired outlet without using two plugs or the like.

  A PLC modem according to a first aspect of the present invention is a PLC modem for performing communication by superimposing data on a power line, and is plugged into a wall of a housing that houses a circuit unit for power line communication. A plug that can be inserted into the mouth is provided, and a service outlet is provided on the other wall surface of the housing.

  The PLC modem according to the first aspect of the present invention can be directly plugged into an indoor wall outlet or the like, and a service outlet port is provided on the wall surface of the housing that houses the circuit unit for power line communication. ing. Therefore, the PLC modem can be connected to the power line without occupying one of the connection ports such as the wall outlet. In other words, even if the outlet to be connected is already occupied by another electrical device, one of the outlet connection ports is for the PLC modem, and the electric device to which the connection port is connected is By reconnecting to the service outlet of the PLC modem, the PLC modem can be connected to a desired outlet without using two plugs or the like. Moreover, since it can be directly plugged into the outlet, the PLC modem can be connected to the power line in the immediate vicinity of the power line, and the PLC signal can be injected into the power line more efficiently than when connected via a table tap or the like. . As a result, the communication quality can be improved and the transmission distance can be increased.

  A PLC modem according to a second aspect of the present invention is a PLC modem for performing communication by superimposing data on a power line, and includes a power cord from one wall surface of a housing that houses a circuit unit for power line communication. And a power plug is provided at the tip of the power cord, and an outlet for a service outlet is provided on the other wall surface of the housing.

  A PLC modem according to a second aspect of the present invention is a table tap type PLC modem in which a power cord is extended from a housing that houses a circuit unit for power line communication. An entrance is provided. Therefore, the PLC modem can be connected to the power line without occupying one of the connection ports such as a wall outlet.

  It is preferable that a noise filter for blocking or attenuating noise in a frequency band used for power line communication is provided between the service outlet and the power source. In this case, since the noise filter is provided between the service outlet and the power source, the noise from the electric device connected to the service outlet can be blocked or attenuated by the noise filter. Thereby, it is possible to connect the electric device without affecting the quality of PLC communication.

  According to the PLC modem of the present invention, it is possible to connect to a desired outlet without using two plugs or the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a PLC modem of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of a PLC modem M1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an internal circuit of the PLC modem M1. The PLC modem M1 is used by being directly plugged into a power outlet (not shown) disposed on a wall or the like of the room, and the power outlet is inserted into one wall surface of the modem body (housing) 1 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A pair of plugs (metal fittings) 2 to be inserted into the mouth are provided. An ether connector 3 to which an Ethernet cable (not shown) is connected is disposed on the wall surface 1a opposite to the surface on which the pair of plugs 2 are provided. Further, the other wall 1b of the modem body 1 is provided with a plug socket 4 for a service outlet.

  An internal circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is provided inside the plug body 1. The internal circuit includes a PLC modem circuit unit 5 for performing PLC communication. The PLC modem circuit unit 5 includes a power supply unit and a PLC modem unit. The power supply unit converts a commercial power supply of 100V supplied via the plug 2 into a voltage necessary for the operation of the PLC modem unit, for example, DC 5V, and outputs the converted voltage to the PLC modem unit. Further, the PLC modem unit modulates the data input from the Ethernet connector 3 and superimposes it on the voltage / current of the power line and sends it to the power line side. The commercial power supply with the data signal input from the power line superimposed thereon On the other hand, the data signal is separated and demodulated and transmitted to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer via the Ethernet connector 3. As the power supply unit and the PLC modem unit, configurations conventionally used can be appropriately adopted.

  The internal circuit of the PLC modem M1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a noise filter 6 for blocking noise generated in general equipment from flowing to the power line through the power outlet. And a pair of coils 7 and a capacitor 8. A fuse 9 is disposed on the input side of one of the coils. The fuse 9 isolates the faulty part from the power supply system in order to prevent an abnormal current from flowing due to the current exceeding the rating flowing through the coil 7 and when a fault such as a breakdown of the capacitor 8 occurs due to deterioration. It is also intended to prevent the capacitor 8 from breaking down when a lightning surge or the like enters. Although a breaker can be used in place of the fuse 9, the breaker is disadvantageous in that the PLC modem M1 becomes large and expensive. Further, as a countermeasure against the lightning surge, it is conceivable to insert the arrester 10 in the input side line of the pair of coils. However, this arrester 10 may be destroyed when a large current enters, and it may be deteriorated over time. Therefore, by inserting the fuse 9, even when a failure occurs in the arrester 10, it is possible to isolate the failure occurrence part and maintain the PLC communication as it is.

  The PLC modem M1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a service outlet insertion port on the wall surface of the modem body 1, so that the PLC modem M1 can be connected to the power line without occupying one connection port such as a wall outlet. Can be connected to. Further, since it can be plugged directly into the outlet, the PLC modem M1 can be connected to the power line in the immediate vicinity of the power line, and the PLC signal can be injected into the power line more efficiently than when connected via a table tap or the like. it can. As a result, the communication quality can be improved and the transmission distance can be increased.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a PLC modem M2 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an internal circuit of the PLC modem M2. The PLC modem M2 is a table tap type PLC modem in which a power cord is extended from a housing that houses a circuit unit for power line communication. The power cord is provided from one wall surface 11a of a modem body (housing) 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. 12a extends and a power plug 12b is provided at the tip of the power cord 12a. Further, the other wall surface 11b of the modem body 11 is provided with an Ethernet connector 13 to which an Ethernet side cable (not shown) is connected and a plug socket 14 for a service outlet.

  An internal circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the plug body 1. The internal circuit includes a PLC modem circuit unit 15 for performing PLC communication. Since the configuration of the PLC modem circuit unit 15 is the same as that of the PLC modem circuit unit 5, the description thereof is omitted.

  The internal circuit of the PLC modem M2 according to the present embodiment is provided with a noise filter 16 for blocking noise generated in general equipment from flowing to the power line through the power outlet. Unlike the noise filter 6, the noise filter 6 includes two pairs of coils 17 a and 17 b and a capacitor 18 inserted between each pair of coils. A fuse 19 is disposed on the input side of one of the coils. The fuse 19 prevents the abnormal current from flowing due to the current exceeding the rating flowing through the coils 17a and 17b, and when a failure such as a breakdown of the capacitor 18 occurs due to deterioration. The purpose is to cut off, and the purpose is to prevent the capacitor 18 from breaking down when a lightning surge or the like enters.

  The PLC modem M2 according to the present embodiment is provided with the service outlet plug 14 on the wall surface of the modem body 11, so that the PLC modem M2 can be connected without occupying one of the connection outlets such as the wall outlet. Can be connected to a power line.

  In the above embodiment, the number of service outlets is 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be 2 or more.

  It should be noted that the embodiment disclosed this time is merely an example in all respects and is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the meanings described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a perspective explanatory view of an embodiment of a PLC modem of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal circuit of the PLC modem shown by FIG. It is perspective explanatory drawing of other embodiment of the PLC modem of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the internal circuit of the PLC modem shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Modem main body 3 Ether connector 4 Plug insertion port 5 PLC modem circuit part 6 Noise filter 7 Coil 8 Capacitor 11 Modem main body 12 Power cord 13 Ether connector 14 Plug insertion port 15 PLC modem circuit part 16 Noise filter 17 Coil 18 Capacitor M1 M2 PLC modem

Claims (3)

  A power line communication modem for performing communication by superimposing data on a power line, and a plug that can be inserted into an outlet socket is provided on one wall surface of a housing that houses a circuit unit for power line communication. A power line communication modem, characterized in that a service outlet is provided on the other wall surface of the housing.   A power line communication modem for performing communication by superimposing data on a power line, wherein a power cord is extended from one wall surface of a housing for storing a circuit portion for power line communication, and a power plug is connected to the tip of the power cord And a service outlet plug is provided on the other wall surface of the housing.   The power line communication according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a noise filter for blocking or attenuating noise in a frequency band used for power line communication is provided between the service outlet and the power source. modem.

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