JP2010028563A - Connection structure for plc transmission line - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide connection structure for a transmission line in a network system using PLC (Power Line Communication) wherein stable communication can be performed even when a number of terminal devices are connected. <P>SOLUTION: The transmission line includes a PLC master unit modem, a PLC repeater connected via a communication line to each of post-branch ports of a first branch adapter connected to the PLC master unit mode, a floor inlet distribution panel 3b to which a power line connecting port of the PLC repeater is connected, and a PLC slave unit modem to which a terminal device is connected while interposing a power line from the floor inlet distribution port 3b. The power line connecting port of the PLC repeater is connected at a midpoint position in the array of branch points of the distribution panel 3b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure of a transmission line in a transmission line using PLC communication in which a PLC main unit modem and a large number of PLC child unit modems connected to a terminal device are connected to the transmission line via a PLC repeater. Is.

  A network system using a so-called PLC (Power Line Communication) technology that performs communication by superimposing a signal for data transmission on a power line that supplies power has been put into practical use. The basic technology of communication using PLC is to modulate a digital signal for data transmission into an analog high-frequency signal, and superimpose the analog high-frequency signal obtained by this modulation process on the power line through which AC power is supplied. It is to transmit and to perform processing of separating an analog high frequency signal superimposed on a power line and demodulating it into a digital signal, and transmitting the digital signal to a terminal device. A PLC modem is used as a communication device for performing these processes. Various network systems in which various terminal devices are connected to the PLC modem have been proposed and put into practical use.

  For a network system using a PLC modem, particularly a system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below, each terminal device constituting the network has a PLC modem (hereinafter referred to as a PLC modem). , "PLC cordless handset modem" and a PLC modem for controlling the operation of the PLC cordless handset modem (hereinafter referred to as "PLC master phone modem") via a power line has been proposed. Yes.

  Non-Patent Document 1 describes a network system example using a PLC modem in an apartment building. In this system example, the PLC main unit modem is connected to the transformer that constitutes the power receiving equipment of the apartment house, and the power line wired from this transformer to each house is connected to the distribution board installed in each house. An example is shown in which a PLC cordless handset modem is connected to a power line wired from the distribution board to each room.

  Further, as a technique for ensuring communication reliability in a network system using PLC communication, for example, as described in Patent Document 3 below, a PLC repeater is arranged in the network system, and this PLC It has been proposed to connect a PLC slave modem via a repeater.

  Patent Document 4 below describes an island network that transmits and receives information in each gaming hall as a centralized monitoring and management system for gaming halls, each gaming hall, various management terminals (servers / clients), certificate authority terminals (servers / servers). A two-layer network composed of a global network outside the game hall that transmits and receives mutual information of clients) has been proposed. Further, Patent Document 4 discloses information in which an information signal is superimposed as a high frequency signal on a commercial 100V or 200V power line supplied to the gaming machine and the island computer connected to the island network, and is superimposed on the power line. The addition of power line superimposed signal modulation / demodulation means for separating signals is described.

JP 2008-42623 A JP 2008-72579 A JP-A-2005-286631 JP 2007-44217 A Ohm Co., Ltd., High Speed Power Line Communication System (PLC) and EMC, pages 26-27, Figure 2.5, issued on November 20, 2007

  Build a network system using PLC communication in one building or building, and connect a large number of terminal devices to this network system, for example, more than 2000 (up to about 2400) terminal devices. In order to operate the network system stably, it is necessary to solve the following problems.

  (1) The first problem is to reduce the loss due to branching. In a large-scale system equipped with a large number of terminal devices, it is necessary to branch a power line serving as a transmission path for data transmission into a large number by a distribution board. However, when the number of branches increases, a loss (loss) associated with the branching occurs. Also become big. In addition, noise is generated from a large number of terminal devices connected to the network system, and this noise enters a power line serving as a transmission path to reduce communication reliability. For this reason, in PLC communication, it is considered necessary to reduce the loss caused by the transmission path between the PLC master modem and the PLC slave modem to 60 dB or less.

  In order to solve the first problem, as described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, a system for controlling the operation of the PLC slave unit based on the control of the PLC master unit modem, or a PLC repeater It is desirable to adopt. However, Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3 disclose specific means for reducing loss due to branching, which is the first problem, in a network system using PLC communication in which a maximum of 2400 terminal devices are connected. Is not disclosed.

  (2) The second problem is how to secure the maximum effective speed of communication in the network system and secure a high-speed response between the PLC master unit modem and the PLC slave unit modem and stable communication. Conventionally, the CSMA-CA method has been adopted as means for ensuring the effective communication speed. In the CSMA-CA system, since multiple access is performed based on carrier sense, high-speed response and high-speed transmission are possible. However, in a system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, noise increases. Therefore, the CSMA-CA method cannot perform stable carrier sense, and it is difficult to realize stable communication.

  In order to perform stable communication in a network system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, a polling system in which a PLC slave modem called by the polling processing of the PLC master modem responds is suitable. Since the response time is determined by the polling period of the PLC master modem, high-speed response is impossible. In the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 and Patent Document 3 as well, in a network system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, in order to ensure the maximum effective speed and stable communication which are the second problem, the configuration of the transmission path of the network No means for branching the transmission path into a large number is disclosed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a stable and high effective speed even when a large number of terminal devices of 2400 at the maximum are connected to this network system by solving the above-described problems in a network system using PLC communication. An object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure for a network transmission line.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a PLC master unit modem and a post-branch port of the first branch adapter connected to the PLC master unit modem via a communication line. A connected PLC repeater, a floor entrance distribution board connected to a power line connection port of the PLC repeater, a PLC slave modem connected from the floor entrance distribution board via a power line, and the PLC slave modem A PLC communication transmission line connection structure comprising: a connected terminal device;
The power line connection port of the PLC repeater is connected to the midpoint position of the branch point of the floor entrance distribution board.

  The invention according to claim 2 relates to the connection structure of the PLC communication transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the second branch adapter connected from the floor entrance distribution board via the power line is provided. The PLC slave modem is connected to a post-branch port of the second branch adapter.

  The invention according to claim 3 relates to the connection structure of the PLC communication transmission line according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second branch adapters include a plurality of high-frequency transformers. A circuit connected to form a circuit is provided, and the primary side of the high-frequency transformer constituting the bridge circuit is the pre-branch port or the post-branch port for connecting an external device such as the PLC slave modem. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the midpoint position of each branch of the A phase (in-phase) and B phase (reverse phase) of the floor entrance distribution board. In the PLC slave unit modem connected to the PLC repeater via the power line, the PLC slave unit modem 9 in which the in-phase and the reverse phase are connected is mixed. (Reverse phase connection) is eliminated, and it is possible to provide a transmission path connection structure of a network system using PLC communication that eliminates the loss associated with the reverse phase connection.

  Furthermore, the present invention has a connection structure in which a second branch adapter connected from the floor entrance distribution board via a power line is provided, and a PLC slave modem is connected to a post-branch port of the second branch adapter. Therefore, it is possible to provide a transmission line capable of performing stable PLC communication even if the transmission line is branched into a large number.

  In a network system using PLC communication to which the present invention is applied, a plurality of PLC repeaters are interposed between one PLC master unit modem and a PLC slave unit modem connected to the communication port of each terminal device. The transmission path connecting the PLC master unit modem, the PLC repeater unit, and the PLC slave unit modem has a network configuration using a power line or a communication line. Furthermore, this network configuration has a configuration in which a plurality of PLC repeaters are installed under the control of a single PLC master modem, and a large number of PLC slave modems are installed under the control of this PLC repeater. The base unit modem is configured to be connectable to an existing or new host management system equipped with a server.

  In this way, in order to realize a network system in which a large number of terminal devices are connected, the PLC master modem is connected to the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter, and the PLC is connected to each post-branch port of the first branch adapter. The relay unit is connected. Further, the power line connection port of the PLC repeater is connected to the floor entrance distribution board, and a second branch adapter is provided on the transmission line connecting the floor entrance distribution board to the PLC slave unit modem. In this configuration, a PLC slave unit modem connected to a terminal device is connected to each post-branch port, so that a maximum of 2400 terminal devices can be connected to the network. Further, the PLC master modem performs polling control in order to communicate with the PLC slave modem via the PLC repeater. In order to perform this polling control, the PLC master modem transmits a master clock signal (hereinafter referred to as “synchronization signal”) serving as a reference to a PLC repeater at a predetermined time interval, for example, 10 ms to 50 ms. It has.

  In the network system using the PLC communication having the above-described configuration, the PLC master unit modem, the PLC relay unit, and the PLC slave unit modem perform polling control according to the following procedures 1) to 4).

  1) The PLC master modem transmits (transmits) a reference synchronization signal (first synchronization signal) to the PLC repeater at a predetermined time interval. Then, the PLC repeater synchronizes with the first synchronization signal, and transmits a new second synchronization signal to the PLC slave modem under the control in a state where synchronization is established with the PLC master modem. The PLC slave modem receives this second synchronization signal and synchronizes with the PLC repeater. As a result, the PLC repeater is already synchronized with the PLC master unit modem, so that the PLC master unit modem, the PLC repeater unit, and the PLC slave unit modem all serve as reference signals for the PLC master unit modem. Synchronize with As described above, each PLC repeater and the PLC slave modem operate in accordance with the polling control of the PLC master modem while being synchronized with the first synchronization signal of the PLC master modem.

  2) For performing data transmission based on the condition that all of the PLC master modem, the PLC repeater, and the PLC slave modem described in 1) are synchronized with the first synchronization signal of the PLC master modem. Set the master frame. The master frame includes a first synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting the first synchronization signal, a second synchronization signal transmission band for transmitting the second synchronization signal, a specific repeater band, and a PLC slave unit modem. Sets an emergency call band for transmitting information related to an emergency call and a user data transmission band to the PLC repeater.

The first synchronization signal transmission band described above includes the first synchronization signal and the transmission right information for performing the polling control obtained by the PLC master modem referring to the polling table from the PLC master modem to the PLC repeater. Used to transfer to modem. The specific repeater band is used by the PLC repeater to transfer the transmission right information received from the PLC master modem to the PLC slave modem. Thereby, the PLC master unit modem, the PLC relay unit, and the PLC slave unit modem can share the same transmission right information on the same time axis.
The transmission right information described above indicates, for example, the right (transmission right) to perform data transmission when communication (transmission) is performed between the PLC master modem and the PLC relay machine.

  3) Further, the user data transmission band set in the master frame is a common band for the PLC master modem, the PLC relay device, and the PLC slave device to transmit user data. The user data indicates information acquired from the terminal device by the PLC slave modem connected to the terminal device. Further, this user data includes user data in the downlink direction instructed to be transmitted to the PLC master modem from a server or the like provided in a host management system connected to a network using PLC communication.

  4) Communication between the PLC master modem and the PLC relay is a communication means for polling the PLC relay by referring to a polling table preset by the PLC master modem in synchronization with the first synchronization signal. Is adopted. Further, the transmission of the second synchronization signal to the PLC repeater and the PLC slave modem connected to the PLC repeater is generated in synchronization with the first synchronization signal transmitted from the PLC master modem. The second synchronization signal can be transmitted to the PLC slave modem by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) method in which code multiplexing means is added to frequency multiplexed transmission. Thus, the PLC master modem, the PLC repeater, and the PLC slave modem communicate with each other while establishing synchronization with the first synchronization signal transmitted by the PLC master modem on the same time axis.

  Subsequently, an embodiment according to a transmission line connection structure in a network system using PLC communication of the present invention will be described. The present invention uses PLC communication in which a large number of terminal devices, for example, a large-scale game hall, with 2000 or more (up to about 2400) pachinko gaming machines or pachinko gaming machines connected to terminal devices such as pachislot gaming machines. The present invention can be effective when applied to a transmission line of a conventional network system. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a case where the present invention is applied to a large-scale game hall will be described as an example.

First, a configuration example of a network system using PLC communication in a large-scale game hall will be described.
In such a large-scale game hall, a monitoring room for monitoring the status of each floor is installed, and a LAN (local area network) system including a server (store server) is arranged in this monitoring room. It is installed. The network system using PLC communication according to the present invention can be connected to a LAN system (hereinafter referred to as “higher management system”) including this server. In the following description, the terminal device connected to the PLC slave modem will be described as a pachinko gaming machine or a pachislot gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as “gaming machine”).

[System configuration]
Next, a configuration example of a network system using PLC communication for applying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 to 3 are diagrams showing a configuration example of a network system in a game hall in which a large number of gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines are installed. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall system configuration of a network system using PLC communication in a game hall, and FIG. 2 is a distribution board for each floor (hereinafter referred to as “floor entrance part”) from a power receiving facility in the game hall. Fig. 3 shows an example of the power line route to the power board) and the transmission path route including the power line from the floor entrance distribution board to the gaming machine. Fig. 3 shows the game hall as a three-story building. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a network system.

  Large-scale game halls, for example, game halls with more than 2000 pachinko and pachislot machines (up to about 2400) are built from buildings with multiple floors (3-5 floors). May be configured. On each floor, a large number of pachinko machines are arranged in rows, in units of so-called “gaming machine islands”, and the “gaming machine islands” are arranged in a plurality of rows in the horizontal or vertical direction of the floor. In such a building, a power receiving facility (A) for supplying power to a large number of gaming machines and various facilities and lighting devices installed on each floor is installed on the roof (or basement).

  As shown in FIG. 1, AC 6.6 KV is guided to the power receiving facility (A) by a high voltage line, and is converted to AC 100 V (or 200 V) by the transformer 1. Then, the converted AC 100 V power supply is branched by, for example, a six-branch distribution board 2 and supplied to a plurality of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Via a power line 4a. The plurality of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are provided in a distribution board room (for example, the distribution board shown in FIG. 3) provided on a predetermined floor (floor (BI) in the example shown in FIG. 1). In the board room (F)). These floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are composed of, for example, 32 branch distribution boards. In addition, the floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c,... Are used as distribution boards for supplying power to the gaming machines, lighting equipment and other equipment installed on each floor. In some cases, it is installed separately.

  The building example of the game hall shown in FIG. 3 shows an example in which a distribution board room (F) and a monitoring room in the hall (D) are installed on the floor (B1). In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the floor where the gaming machine 8 is installed in a normal gaming hall has a predetermined interval (hereinafter referred to as “intra-island gap”) with the two gaming machines 8 facing each other. Are arranged, and a plurality of gaming machines 8 arranged facing each other are arranged in the lateral direction to form a so-called “gaming machine island”, and the plurality of gaming machine islands C1, C2, C3,. A plurality of layouts are arranged in the vertical (horizontal) direction or in the vertical and horizontal directions via passages. A device for supplying a game ball to the gaming machine 8 shown in FIG.

  For example, a 32-branch island distribution board 5 is installed in the gap between the islands of the gaming machine islands C1, C2, C3,. The island distribution board 5 may be an existing island distribution board. Each of these island distribution boards 5 is connected by a power line 4b from the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,... For gaming machines in the distribution board room (F) through the ceiling or the floor. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the power line 4c branched from the island distribution board 5 installed in each gaming machine island C1 etc. is an outlet installed with a predetermined interval in the gap in the island of each gaming machine island. Connect to Cn1, Cn2,.

  As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the outlets Cn1 to Cn3,... Installed in the gaming machine island are connected to the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter 7, and the branch of the second branch adapter is connected. A PLC slave modem 9 is connected to the rear port via a communication line 10d. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the second branch adapter 7 is a four-branch adapter having four post-branch ports, and one PLC slave modem 9 is connected to each post-branch port. Show.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 2), the RS232CI / F port of the PLC slave modem 9 is connected to one of the gaming machines 8 constituting the gaming machine island. In addition, RS232CI / F etc. are used for the communication port of the game machine 8 connected with the PLC cordless handset modem 9, for example. In addition, the PLC slave device modem 9 connected to each gaming machine 8 is a gap in the island of the gaming machine island, and is installed as equipment in the gaming machine island away from the casing of each gaming machine 8.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a conversion transformer 6 that converts AC100V to AC24V is connected to the outlets Cn1 to Cn3,... Connected from the other branch point of the island distribution board 5 through the power line 4c. To do. The conversion transformer 6 is a transformer for supplying AC 24V serving as drive power for the gaming machine 8, and for example, the drive power of AC 24V is supplied from one conversion transformer 6 to four to five game machines 8 through the power line 4d. To do. Therefore, the number of conversion transformers 6 is set to an appropriate number according to the number of gaming machines 8 constituting the gaming machine island.

  In this way, the transmission path (power line 4c → communication line 10d) connecting the island distribution board 5 and the gaming machine 8 and the path 4c → 4d of the power line supplied from the island distribution board 5 to the gaming machine 8 Another system, that is, the power line path 4c → the conversion transformer 6 → 4d supplied from the island distribution board 5 to the gaming machine 8 forms a bypass path.

  The second branch adapter 7 includes means for branching the transmission path into a large number, reduction of branch loss associated with the multiple branches of the high-frequency signal superimposed on the power line, and matching of impedances in the upstream and downstream directions in the transmission path. This is an adapter for branching provided for the purpose.

  Subsequently, based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the PLC master unit modem (first unit) that transmits the first synchronization signal to the floor entrance distribution boards 3 b, 3 c,... Connected to the island distribution board 5. A means for connecting to the first master modem) 13 via a transmission line will be described.

  As described above, in the distribution board room (F), a large number of floor entrance distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d,... Are installed to supply power to each floor. Among these, several different floor entrance distribution boards, for example, the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,..., Etc., supply power to the island distribution boards 5 installed on each floor (B1) and (B2). Used to supply. And the AC100V connection port (line side) of the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the branch point of the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,... For supplying power to these island distribution boards 5 through the power line 4e. . Further, the communication line connection port of the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the post-branch port of the first branch adapter 15 via the communication line 10c. As a result, the PLC repeater 16 is connected to each post-branch port of the first branch adapter 15, and the PLC repeater 16 is connected to any one of the floor entrance distribution boards 3b, 3c,. become. The configuration of the first and second branch adapters 7 and 15 will be described later.

  Further, the pre-branch port of the first branch adapter 15 is connected to the line side (communication line) port of the PLC master modem 13 in the communication mode via the communication line 10b. As a result, the first synchronization signal generated by the PLC master modem 13 and the user data transmitted to the PLC master modem 13 from the store server 12 or the like, which will be described later, are transmitted to the PLC repeater 16 in the downlink direction of the PLC communication. It is possible to transmit to the PLC slave modem 9 under the control of the PLC repeater 16 via the. Also, the user data in the upward direction, that is, general presentation information displayed on the gaming machine 8, information on the big hits generated on the gaming machine 8, information related to detection signals such as fraudulent activity, etc. It becomes possible to transmit to the PLC master unit modem 13 via the PLC repeater 16 and further from the PLC master unit modem 13 to the store server 12 or the like.

  Generally, a large-scale game hall is provided with a monitoring room (D) in the hall for monitoring the status of each floor with a monitoring camera. In addition, in the game hall, a network system based on the LAN 11 for grasping information on the operating status of each gaming machine 8, the appearance status, the number of occurrences of jackpots, etc. is constructed, and the monitoring room (D) in the hall has this A terminal device (hereinafter referred to as “PC terminal”) 19 including a store server (hall computer) 12 connected to the LAN and a personal computer is installed.

  The network system using the PLC communication described above can be connected to the network system using the existing LAN 11. A method for connecting to the network system using the LAN 11 will be described as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the Ethernet (registered trademark) connection port of the first PLC master modem 13 is connected to the Ethernet (registered trademark) connection port of the second PLC master modem 14 via the LAN cable 10a. . Further, the power supply connection port of the second PLC master modem 14 is connected to the power line 4f branched from the floor entrance distribution board 3a. This floor entrance distribution board 3a is a floor entrance distribution board different from the distribution board to which the island distribution board 5 is connected, and is connected to an outlet 17 or the like disposed on the monitoring room (D) wall in the hall. The floor entrance distribution board which supplies AC100V by the power line 4g branched from the power line 4f.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the AC 100 V port of the PLC slave unit modem 18 is connected to the outlet 17 already arranged on the wall of the monitoring room (D) in the hall and the Ethernet ( A registered trademark connection port is connected to the LAN 11.

The outlet 17 shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 3) includes a wall of the monitoring room (D) in the hall from the existing power line 4g branched from the power line 4f that connects the second master modem 14 and the distribution board 3a. It is an existing outlet installed at. Then, the PLC slave unit modem 18 is connected to the outlet 17, and the PLC slave unit modem 18 is connected to the LAN 11 in the hall via a LAN cable.
The power line 4g connecting the outlet 17 from the distribution board 3a may be distributed via another distribution board (see FIG. 3) as long as it is independent of the island distribution board. The communication lines 10b and 10c can be twisted pair cables, and the LAN cable 10a can be a cable cable of 100BASE-TX specifications.

  The first PLC master unit modem 13, the second PLC master unit modem 14, the first branch adapter 15, and the plurality of PLC repeaters 16 are connected to the floor entrance distribution board distribution boards 3a, 3b, 3c. , ... are installed in the floor distribution panel room (F) where they are concentrated. As a result, the wiring work for connecting these devices becomes easy and the length of the wiring can be shortened, so that the transmission loss can also be reduced.

  Furthermore, the intra-hall LAN 11 may be configured to be connected to the center server 21 of the central monitoring center (E) via the WAN 20. The center server 21 is provided, for example, for centrally monitoring a plurality of stores (game halls).

[Configuration of PLC modem]
Next, a configuration example of the PLC modem used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic circuit configuration example of the PLC master modems 13 and 14, FIG. 5-1 is also a PLC slave modem 9, and FIG. 5-2 is a circuit configuration example of the PLC slave modem 18. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the PLC repeater 16.

(Configuration of PLC main unit modem)
As shown in FIG. 4, the PLC master modem 13 (14) includes an Ethernet PHY unit 31, an Ethernet MAC unit 32, a PLC / MAC unit 33, which are connected to an Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN cable (100BASE-TX). PLC / TX-PHY unit 34, D / A conversion unit 35, low-pass filter (LPF) unit 36, driver (DV) unit 37, line coupling unit 38 connected to AC100V power line, gain switch (GSW) unit 39, A band-pass filter (BPF) unit 40, an AD conversion unit 41, a PLC / RX-PHY unit 42, a PLL control unit 43, a control unit 44, a power supply unit 45, and the like are included. The control unit 44 described above includes a CPU 44a, a ROM 44b serving as storage means, and a RAM 44c.

  The above-described control unit 44 controls the overall operation of the PLC master modem 13 (14) and the operations of the Ethernet MAC unit 32 and the PLC / MAC unit 33 by various control programs stored in the ROM 44b. To do. Further, the power supply unit 45 includes an AC-DC converter or the like for supplying a direct current power source such as DC5V to each circuit unit described above.

  The Ethernet PHY unit 31 described above is a circuit unit that manages a PHY layer (Physical layer) of transmission or reception data. The Ether MAC unit 32 is a circuit unit that manages the MAC layer (Media Access Control layer) of transmission or reception data based on the control of the control unit 44, and the PLC / MAC unit 33 is transmitted or received based on the control of the control unit 44 It is a circuit unit that manages the MAC layer of the PLC for data.

  The PLC / TX-PHY unit 34 is a circuit unit that processes data processed by the PLC / MAC unit 33 as data for transmission, and the D / A conversion unit 35 is processed by the PLC / TX-PHY unit 34. The LPF unit 36 is a filter circuit unit that removes unnecessary bands from the data converted into high-frequency analog signals by the D / A conversion unit 35. The data of the high frequency analog signal from which the unnecessary band is removed by the LPF unit 36 is sent to the line coupling unit 38 by the DV unit 37, and the line coupling unit 38 performs a process of superimposing it on the power line. In this way, digital signal data input from the LAN cable line (100BASE-TX) to the Ethernet PHY unit 31 is converted into a high-frequency analog signal, which is superimposed on the power line that passes AC 100 V from the line coupling unit 38 and transmitted. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the high-frequency analog signal superimposed on the power line is input to the line coupling unit 38 in the PLC main unit modem 13 (14), the line coupling unit 38 performs a process of separating the high-frequency analog signal to separate it. The high frequency analog signal is sent to the GSW unit 39. The GSW unit 39 is a circuit unit that performs gain adjustment (amplification processing or the like) of an input high-frequency analog signal. The high frequency analog signal whose gain has been adjusted by the GSW unit 39 is sent to the BPF unit 40 that removes unnecessary bands, and the unnecessary bands of frequencies are removed. The high frequency analog signal from which the unnecessary band is removed by the BPF unit 40 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 41. The digital signal converted into the digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 41 is processed as PLC reception data by the PLC / RX-PHY unit 42, and the PLC / MAC unit 33, the Ethernet MAC unit 32, and the Ethernet PHY unit 31 are processed. To the LAN base 100BASE-TX (10a).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the line coupling unit 38 serving as a line side port has two terminals of a communication line connection port and a power line connection port for connecting AC100V, and switches either of these terminals by an internal switch. Or it can be used together.

The ROM 44b of the PLC master modem 13 includes various programs for performing the following processing.
1) A process of transmitting the first synchronization signal to each PLC repeater 16 at a predetermined time interval, for example, an interval of 10 ms to 50 ms is performed. This process constitutes a first synchronization signal transmission means. Upon receiving this synchronization signal, each PLC repeater 16 immediately establishes synchronization with this synchronization signal and performs processing for transmitting the second synchronization signal to the PLC slave modem 9 under the control of the PLC repeater 16.

  2) When the control data of the surveillance camera transmitted from the server 12 or the like is stored in the RAM 44c, the process of transmitting the user data to the PLC slave modem 9 instructed from the server 12 or the like based on the polling control To do. In this transmission process, user data is transmitted to the instructed PLC slave modem 9 via the PLC relay device 16 with reference to a polling table stored in advance in the ROM 44b. In addition, it receives user data transmitted from the PLC relay device 16 as uplink user data, and performs control for transmitting the received data to the server 12 or the like.

  3) To avoid collision of data transmission when polling control, that is, polling to the PLC slave modem 9 that relays the PLC repeater 16 in synchronization with the first synchronization signal, that is, when data transmission is requested. Control (transmission right control). In this polling control, for example, when the PLC master modem 13 transmits the first synchronization signal to the PLC relay 16, the beacon information (BC1) in which the address information of the transmission right is added to the synchronization signal is transmitted to the PLC relay. The process which transmits to 16 is performed. This address information becomes information indicating the transmission right of the transmission path.

(Configuration of PLC slave unit modem)
The circuit configuration of the PLC slave unit modem 9 shown in FIG. 5A is basically the same as that of the PLC master unit modem 13 (14) shown in FIG. 4, but performs serial communication with the terminal device (game machine 8). RS232 I / F (interface) unit 46 is provided. The line coupling unit 38 on the line side includes a terminal for connecting to the second branch adapter 7 via the communication line 10d.
The circuit configuration of the PLC slave unit modem 18 shown in FIG. 5B is a configuration in which the RS232 I / F (interface) 46 in the circuit configuration of the PLC slave unit modem 9 shown in FIG. .

The ROM 44b of the PLC slave modem 9 includes a program for performing the following processing. That is, the reception of the second synchronization signal (beacon BC2 signal) transmitted from the PLC repeater 16 and the process of receiving the address information transmitted from the PLC repeater 16 are performed. When user data is stored in the RAM 44c, a process of transmitting the user data to the PLC relay device 16 is performed in synchronization with the second synchronization signal. As described above, the user data indicates information transmitted from the gaming machine 8 such as information on the jackpot generated in the gaming machine 8 or information on the abnormality detection signal. Furthermore, when user data is transmitted from the store server 12 via the PLC master modem 13 or the like, a process of transmitting this user data to the gaming machine 8 is performed.
Furthermore, a program for performing processing for transmitting this information to the PLC repeater 16 when information relating to an emergency call is transmitted from the gaming machine 8 connected to the PLC slave modem 9 is provided.

(Configuration of PLC repeater)
The circuit configuration of the PLC repeater 16 shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as that of the PLC master modem 13 (14) shown in FIG. 4, but the line coupling unit 38 serving as a line side port is a communication for connecting to a communication line. Two terminals of a line connection port and an AC100V (power line) connection port are provided, and any one of these terminals can be switched or mixedly used by an internal switch.

The ROM 44b of the PLC relay machine 16 includes various programs that perform the following processing.
1) Synchronization is established based on the first synchronization signal (beacon BC1 signal) received from the PLC master modem 13, and a new second synchronization signal (beacon BC2 signal) is sent to the PLC slave modem 9 under control. ) Is transmitted.
2) A process of transmitting user data received from the PLC slave modem 9 to the PLC master modem 13 is performed. Furthermore, the process which transmits the information regarding the emergency call received from the PLC cordless handset modem 9 to the PLC master set modem 13 is performed.
3) A process of transmitting information (address information) related to the transmission right received from the PLC master modem 13 to the PLC slave modem 9 is performed.

[Branch adapter configuration]
Then, the structure of the 1st branch adapter 15 and the 2nd branch adapter 7 is demonstrated. Conventionally, a high-frequency transformer that branches in two directions is used as a means for branching a transmission line. However, in order to connect a large number of gaming machines 8 on a network as in the present invention, for example, four transmission lines are used. There arises a need to use a branch adapter having means for branching more than branching. Furthermore, such a branch adapter needs to have a function for satisfying the requirements described in 1) to 3) below.

  1) Since the transmission path is branched into a large number, branch loss increases, but this is minimized. Furthermore, bidirectional impedance matching is taken.

  2) AC 100V as a power line can be coupled, and when a branch adapter composed of a high-frequency transformer is realized, insulation between the primary and the ground and between the primary and secondary is ensured. Furthermore, when the PLC modem (or PLC relay machine) is connected to all the post-branch ports of the branch adapter, and when the PLC modem (or PLC relay machine) is not connected to a part of the post-branch port Thus, the termination resistor can be automatically or manually opened or connected, and the above-described bidirectional impedance (downward and upward) can be matched.

  3) Since this is a network connecting a large number of gaming machines of 2400 at the maximum, one transmission path is configured to be capable of multi-branching so that a maximum of 16 branches can be performed.

  The first and second branch adapters 15 and 7 employed in the present invention have a structure in which a plurality of small high-frequency transformer elements composed of ferrite cores are multiplexed so as to form a bridge-structured circuit. A branch adapter consisting of can be used.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit configuration example in which the branch adapter 15 (7) employed in the system of the present invention has a four-branch configuration. Each high-frequency transformer element shown in FIG. 7 can be manufactured in a small shape of about 1 cm ³ , and a plurality of high-frequency transformer elements are arranged on a substrate to form a circuit, thereby forming one branch. The adapter can be unitized.

  The branch adapter shown in FIG. 7 connects five transformer elements (51-1) to (51-5) so as to form a circuit having a bridge structure, and has four branch output terminals (post-branch ports). It is set as the structure provided with. The embodiment of the branch adapter shown in FIG. 7 shows an example used as the second branch adapter 7 etc. shown in FIG. 1, and includes four transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5). A PLC slave unit modem 9 is connected to each post-branch port on the primary side.

  The configuration of the four-branch branch adapter shown in FIG. 7 is as follows. That is, the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) constituting this branch adapter is connected to one branch terminal of the distribution board 5 as a pre-branch port. Then, one of the secondary sides of the transformer element (51-1) is connected as a connection point 52a to a conductive wire connecting the transformer element (51-2) and one of the secondary sides of the transformer element (51-4). To do. Further, the other secondary side of the transformer element (51-1) is connected as a connection point 52b to a conducting wire connecting the transformer element (51-3) and one secondary side of the transformer element (51-5).

  Furthermore, the other secondary side of the transformer element (51-2) and the transformer element (51-4) is connected to the other secondary side of the transformer element (51-3) and the transformer element (51-5). The points 53a and 53b are connected, and the connecting points 53a and 53b are connected via a 50Ω resistor 54. Further, a capacitor 55 is connected to the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) connected to the island distribution board 5, and the primary sides of the transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5) are also connected via the capacitor 55. The PLC slave modem 9 is connected.

  In the branch adapter having the configuration shown in FIG. 7, even if the primary side of the transformer element (51-1) is connected to the power line 4b from the island distribution board 5 that supplies AC100V with the primary side of the transformer element (51-1), Since only the high-frequency signal that is cut and becomes transmission data flows through the branch adapter, loss due to branching is reduced. Furthermore, since the transformer elements (51-1) to (51-5) are connected to form a bridge configuration, the secondary side of the transformer elements (51-2) to (51-5) constituting the branch adapter. The primary side of the transformer element (51-1) has the same impedance in the upstream direction and the downstream direction, that is, impedance matching can be achieved both in the downstream and upstream directions of the transmission path. As a result, even if the transmission path is branched into four, it is possible to minimize the loss at the branch. In addition, since the capacitor 55 is connected to the primary side of each transformer element (51-1) to (51-5) and the primary side is connected to an external device or the like, the transformer primary and secondary insulation and branching It becomes possible to secure the withstand voltage of the adapter.

FIG. 8 shows the transformer element (51-5) in the branch adapter shown in FIG. 7, when it is not necessary to connect the PLC slave unit 9 to one of the primary sides of the transformer element, for example, the transformer element (51-5). In this example, a 50Ω termination resistor 56 is connected to the primary side to match the impedance described above.
Note that a 16-branch branch adapter can be manufactured by arranging the circuit having the bridge structure shown in FIG. 7 as one unit and arranging four of these units so as to form a bridge structure.

[Connection between floor entrance distribution board and PLC relay 16]
Next, a method of connecting the PLC relay machine 16 and the floor entrance distribution board 3b installed at the floor entrance or the like via the power line 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a single-phase three-wire circuit generally composed of one neutral wire L0 and electric wires L1 and L2 having a potential difference of 100V from the rooftop distribution board 2 to the floor entrance distribution board 3b. As shown in FIG. 9, the A phase and the B phase are formed on the single-phase three wires. Therefore, the communication from the PLC master modem 13 to the first branch adapter 15 to the PLC repeater 16 to the floor entrance distribution board 3b to the island distribution board 5 to the second branch adapter 7 to the PLC slave modem 9 A large number of PLC slave modems 9 installed in transmission lines via the lines 10b, 10c, 10d and the power lines 4e, 4b, 4c are PLC slave modems 9 connected to the A phase and the B phase different from each other in the wiring work. There is a possibility of mixing. As described above, when there is a PLC slave unit modem 9 connected to different A phase and B phase, a reverse phase loss occurs, so that a specific PLC slave unit modem 9 may be unable to communicate. Therefore, in the present invention, the connection structure between the PLC relay 16 and the floor entrance distribution board 3b is configured as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which the floor entrance distribution board 3b has, for example, a structure of 32 branches, that is, the A phase on one side and the B phase on the other side each have 16 branches. The structure wired by the line is shown. When the floor entrance distribution board 3b having such a 32-branch configuration is used, the middle point or the middle of each branch of the A phase (in-phase) and the B phase (reverse phase) in the floor entrance distribution board 3b The power line connection port of the PLC repeater 16 is connected near the point. The middle point or near the middle point of each of the A phase (in-phase) and B phase (reverse phase) branches in the center of the array of 16 branch points arranged on the A phase side in FIG. Breaker (b8) serving as a branch point located at the center of an array of 16 branch points arranged on the B phase side and the position of the breaker (a8) serving as a branch point located or a breaker (a9) not shown The breaker (b9) not shown is located at the center or near the center of the branch point arranged on the A phase side, near the center or near the center of the branch point arranged on the B phase side. Indicates a branch point.

  Thus, when the power line connection port of the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the middle point of each of the A phase (in-phase) and B phase (reverse phase) branches of the floor entrance distribution board 3b, or near the middle point, the floor entrance The PLC slave unit modem 9 that can minimize the branching loss of the distribution board 3b and is connected to the PLC repeater 16 via the power line is a PLC slave unit in which the in-phase and the reverse phase are connected. Since the modems 9 are not mixed (reverse phase connection), it is possible to eliminate the loss associated with the reverse phase connection.

  When the power line connection port of the PLC relay 16 is connected to the middle point of each branch of the A phase (in-phase) and B phase (reverse phase) of the floor inlet distribution board 3b or near the middle point, the floor inlet distribution board The reason why the branch loss of 3b can be minimized is as follows.

  For example, when the power line connection port of the PLC relay 16 is connected to the breaker (a1) located at the end of one branch of the floor entrance distribution board 3b, one or more of the other breakers (a2) to (a16) Is connected to an island (game machine island) distribution board 5. Accordingly, the high-frequency signal that has flowed through the PLC repeater 16 sequentially flows from the breaker (a1) to the other breakers (a2) to (a16) in the A phase in the floor entrance distribution board 3b. To (a16), the branching loss increases as it flows in the direction. Therefore, the PLC slave unit modem 9 connected via the breaker (a2) and the breaker (a16) is affected by the difference in the branch loss.

Similarly, when the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the breaker (a16) located at the other branch end of the floor entrance distribution board 3b, the breaker (a15) and the breaker (a1) The connected PLC slave modem 9 is affected by the difference in the branch loss.
Therefore, if the PLC relay 16 is connected to the middle point of each branch of the A phase (in-phase) and B phase (reverse phase) of the floor entrance distribution board 3b or near the middle point of the branch, The difference in the branch loss of the high-frequency signal flowing from the branch point near the point to the other breaker is smaller than that in the case where it is connected to the branch end of the floor entrance distribution board 3b. As a result, when the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the middle point of each branch of the A phase (in-phase) and B phase (reverse phase) of the floor entrance distribution board 3b or close to the middle point, the connection to the PLC slave modem 9 This is because the influence of the branch loss caused by the floor distribution board 3b can be reduced, and the difference in the branch loss for each PLC slave modem 9 can be reduced.

  FIG. 10 shows an example in which a 16-branch floor entrance distribution board 3b is wired with three wires. Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, as described based on FIG. 9 described above, the power line connection port of the PLC repeater 16 is connected to the breaker (8) near the midpoint of the 16 branches.

[Connection between second branch adapter 7 and island distribution board 5]
Then, the connection method of the 2nd branch adapter 7 installed in each game machine island of a floor and the island distribution board 5 is demonstrated based on FIG.11 and FIG.12.
The connection between the second branch adapter 7 and the island distribution board 5 is arranged at a position closest to the island distribution board 5 among the outlets wired from the island distribution board 5 and installed in the gaming machine island. It is desirable to connect the input side (pre-branch port) of the second branch adapter 7 to an outlet. FIG. 11 shows the second branch to the power line 4 (power line 4c connected to the breaker (1)) that supplies power to the outlet located closest to the 16-branch island distribution board 5 by two-wire wiring. An example in which the pre-branch port of the adapter 7 is connected is shown. On the other hand, FIG. 12 shows a power line 4 (breaker (a1) and breaker (b1)) for supplying power to an outlet located closest to the island distribution board 5 of 32 branches (16 branches on one side) by three-wire wiring. An example in which the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter 7 is connected to both of the power lines connected to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the outlets in the island wired from the island distribution board 5 (outlets Cn1, Cn2, etc. shown in FIG. 2) are arranged at positions closest to the island distribution board 5 By connecting the pre-branch port of the second branch adapter 7 to the outlet, the distance of the transmission path is shortened, so that the branch loss within the island can be minimized and the reverse phase loss can be eliminated. When there is no need to install a distribution board on the gaming machine island, the second branch adapter 7 is connected to an outlet installed at the island entrance or the like branched from the distribution board 3b on the floor.

  The transmission line connection structure in the network system using PLC communication according to the present invention described above has been described by taking a network system using PLC communication installed in a large-scale game hall as an example. In addition to amusement halls, PLCs installed in production lines on manufacturing sites where many production facilities and personal computers are located, hospitals, schools, and laboratories where many measuring devices and personal computers are located The present invention can also be applied to a transmission line of a network system using communication.

It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a system configuration | structure about the network system for implementing the connection structure of the transmission path in the network system using PLC communication of this invention. In FIG. 1, it is a figure for demonstrating the example of the path | route of the power line from a power receiving installation to a floor entrance distribution board, and the transmission path from this floor entrance distribution board to a game machine. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example of a network when the system configuration | structure shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a three-story game hall. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control circuit for the PLC master modem shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the control circuit about the PLC cordless handset modem which has connected the game machine shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the control circuit about the PLC cordless handset modem connected to LAN in a hall | hole shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the control circuit about the PLC repeater shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the circuit structural example of a 4-branch branch adapter about the branch adapter shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the usage example about the branch adapter of 4 branches shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating the connection system of the floor entrance distribution board shown in FIG. 1, and a PLC relay machine. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating another connection system about the connection system of the floor entrance distribution board and PLC relay machine shown in FIG. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating the connection system of the island distribution board shown in FIG. 1, and a 2nd branch adapter. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating another connection system about the connection system of the island distribution board shown in FIG. 1, and a 2nd branch adapter.

Explanation of symbols

2: Distribution board 3a, 3b, 3c, ...: Floor entrance distribution board 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g: Power line 5: Island distribution board 6: Conversion transformer
7: Second branch adapter 8: Terminal device (game machine)
9: PLC slave modem 10b, 10c, 10d: communication line 10a: LAN cable 11: LAN in the hall
12: Server (store server)
13: PLC master modem 14: Second PLC master modem 15: First branch adapter 16: PLC repeater 17: Outlet 21: Center server 44: Control unit 44a: ROM
51-1, 51-2, 51-3, ...: High frequency transformer element 55: Capacitor

Claims (3)

A PLC repeater connected via a communication line to each of the PLC master modem, the post-branch port of the first branch adapter connected to the PLC master modem, and the power line connection port of the PLC repeater were connected In a network system using PLC communication, comprising: a floor entrance distribution board; a PLC slave modem connected from the floor entrance distribution board via a power line; and a terminal device connected to the PLC slave modem. A transmission line connection structure,
A PLC communication transmission line connection structure, wherein a power line connection port of the PLC repeater is connected to a midpoint position of a branch point of the floor entrance distribution board.   A second branch adapter connected from the floor entrance distribution board via the power line, wherein the PLC slave modem is connected to a post-branch port of the second branch adapter; The PLC communication transmission line connection structure according to claim 1.   The first and second branch adapters include a circuit in which a plurality of high-frequency transformers are connected to form a bridge circuit, and a primary side of the high-frequency transformer that forms the bridge circuit is an external device such as the PLC slave unit modem. The PLC communication transmission line connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection port is a pre-branch port or a post-branch port for connecting a device.

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