JP2010192382A - Communication relay connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote common use of a communication relay unit to attain cost reduction. <P>SOLUTION: A communication relay connector includes a first connector 10 with which a wire from a first communication device is connected, a second connector 20 with which a wire from a second communication device to be communicated with the first communication device is connected, and the communication relay unit 30 having a plurality of terminals 37 respectively connected with the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 and relaying communication between the first and second communication devices via the plurality of terminals 37. The first connector 10 has a communication address setting means 13 for setting a conductive pattern corresponding to a communication address used in communication to a setting terminal 37b in the plurality of terminals 37 of the communication relay unit 30. The communication relay unit 30 detects the communication address from the conductive pattern which is set to the setting terminal 37b by the communication address setting means 13 and relays communication between the first and second communication devices using the communication address. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication relay connector that relays communication between a first communication device and a second communication device.

  Vehicles such as passenger cars and freight cars are equipped with a wide variety of electric devices such as motors that constitute air conditioners, wipers, and power windows. A wire harness is routed in order to transmit electric power, a control signal, and the like to the electric device. The wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and a connector that accommodates a terminal fitting connected to an end of the electric wire. The electric wire is a so-called covered electric wire including a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that covers the core wire.

  Built-in connector with built-in circuit elements to connect electronic devices such as various actuators and electronic control units (ECU: Electronic Control Unit) such as computers via a network by data communication as connectors for the wire harness described above (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). This type of built-in connector has a lead frame in which a circuit element or the like is mounted in a housing.

  The connector with a built-in function shown in Patent Document 1 is provided with at least one connection part for setting a communication address and a ground potential in a removable state and is electrically connected to each corresponding connection part. The electrode unit is provided, and the CPU receives a communication address setting based on the potential level of each connection unit. Then, the electrode part is removed according to the communication address to be set, and the connection part connected to the electrode part is determined to set the communication address.

JP 2005-285411 A

  When communication is performed by connecting a plurality of function built-in connectors to a common communication line, a non-volatile memory in which a communication address and ID (identification data) can be set as described above is set in a built-in circuit in advance. For example, it is possible to transmit / receive signals between the connectors with built-in functions. However, it is necessary to set the ID etc. individually for the built-in function connector, and if it has the same appearance, it may be misconnected. Prevention of assembly has been attempted. That is, there has been a problem that it is difficult to share the connector with a built-in function. In addition, when the function built-in connector needs to be provided with an allocation function such as an ID, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication relay connector that can contribute to cost reduction by sharing a communication relay unit.

  The communication relay connector according to claim 1, which has been made in accordance with the present invention in order to solve the above-described problem, includes a first connector in which an electric wire connected to the first communication device is electrically connected, and a communication target of the first communication device. A second connector electrically connected to a second communication device connected to the second communication device, and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to each of the first connector and the second connector, and the first connector A communication relay unit that relays communication between one communication device and the second communication device via the plurality of terminals, wherein the first connector is a plurality of terminals of the communication relay unit. A communication address setting means for setting a continuity pattern corresponding to a communication address used in the communication to a setting terminal arbitrarily defined in the communication terminal, and the communication relay unit includes the communication address A unit that detects a communication address from a continuity pattern set in the setting terminal by a setting unit and relays communication between the first communication device and the second communication device using the communication address. Features.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a setting terminal is determined for a plurality of terminals of the communication relay unit, a communication address setting means for setting a conduction pattern corresponding to the communication address used in the communication relay unit. Is provided in the first connector. When the first connector is connected to the communication relay unit, the communication address setting means sets the conduction pattern in the setting terminal. The communication relay unit detects a communication address from the set conduction pattern, and relays communication between the first communication device and the second communication device using the communication address.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the communication relay connector according to claim 1 described above, wherein the first communication device is a master communication device, and a plurality of electric wires connected to the first connector are connected to the master communication device. It has a power line, a communication line, and a ground line which are electrically connected.

  According to the present invention described in claim 2, the first connector is connected to the power supply line, the communication line, and the ground line connected to the master communication device, and is connected to the communication address used in the communication relay unit. Communication address setting means for setting a pattern is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication relay connector according to the first or second aspect, the communication relay unit changes the number of the setting terminals that are valid from the plurality of setting terminals. And a guiding member for guiding the connection position of the first connector.

  According to the present invention described in claim 3, the guide member of the communication relay unit is located at the connection position of the first connector that changes the number of setting terminals from among the plurality of setting terminals of the communication relay unit. Guide the first connector.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first connector is provided with the communication address setting means for setting the conduction pattern corresponding to the communication address used in the communication relay unit, and the communication relay unit sets the communication pattern. Since the communication address is detected from the continuity pattern set in the terminal for use and the communication is relayed using the communication address, communication address setting means is provided in the first connector, and the first connector is connected to the communication relay unit. Since the communication relay unit can recognize the communication address simply by connecting to the communication relay unit, it is not necessary to provide the communication relay unit with an ID function or the like, and the communication relay unit can be shared. In addition, when connecting the wire to the first communication device to the first connector, when the wire is routed, etc., the communication address setting means may be provided in the first connector, so that the communication address can be assigned accurately. it can. Therefore, since the communication relay unit can be shared, it is possible to contribute to the cost reduction of the communication relay connector. Further, since the communication address setting means is provided in the first connector, the communication address can be confirmed by the first connector alone, so that the convenience of the communication address confirmation work can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the first connector is a connector to which the power line, the communication line, and the ground line are connected. In addition, since the communication address can be inspected, the number of work steps can be reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the first connector that changes the number of setting terminals from among the plurality of setting terminals of the communication relay unit. Since the guiding member is guided to the connection position, the ratio between the setting terminal and the other terminals among the plurality of terminals corresponding to the first connector of the communication relay unit can be changed. Further commonality can be achieved.

1 is an exploded view showing a schematic configuration of a communication relay connector according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first connector shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the fitting state of the communication relay connector shown by FIG. It is a system block diagram which shows the state which integrated the communication relay connector in the vehicle communication system. It is a perspective view for explaining other examples 1 of the 1st connector. It is a side view which shows the terminal part of the communication relay unit shown by FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fitting example of the first connector to the communication relay unit illustrated in FIG. 6, where (a) illustrates a position ST1, (b) illustrates a position ST2, and (c) illustrates a position ST3. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the other example 2 of a 1st connector. It is a side view which shows the terminal part of the communication relay unit shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of fitting of the 1st connector with respect to the communication relay unit shown by FIG. 8, (a) has shown the state A, (b) has shown the state B, (c) has shown the state C, respectively.

  An embodiment in which a communication relay connector according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle communication system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 4, the communication relay connector 1 of the present invention includes a first connector 10, a second connector 20, and a communication relay unit 30 to which the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are connected. Is configured. The plurality of communication relay connectors 1 are mounted on the vehicle and incorporated in the vehicle communication system 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle communication system 2 includes the plurality of communication relay connectors 1, the master communication device 3, and the plurality of electronic devices 4 that are the communication targets of the master communication device 3. Yes. Each of the plurality of communication relay connectors 1 relays communication between the master communication device 3 and the plurality of electronic devices 4.

  The master communication device 3 corresponds to the first communication device in the above-described claims, and is an electronic control unit (ECU) such as a computer. The master communication device 3 is communicably connected to each of the plurality of communication relay connectors 1 via the wire harness 5.

  The wire harness 5 includes a power line 51, a ground line 52, and a communication line 53. In the wire harness 5, a power line 51, a ground line 52, and a communication line 53 are branched toward a connection position with the communication relay connector 1, and a terminal 54 is provided at the tip of each electric wire. .

  The electronic device 4 corresponds to the second communication device in the above-described claims, and is connected to the communication relay connector 1 via the electric wire 6 so as to be communicable. For example, various electronic devices such as a door switch, a trunk switch, a door lock status switch, a door key control unit, a fuse junction box, a card slot unit, various status switches, and a shift position switch are used as the plurality of electronic devices 4. The electric wire 6 is a covered electric wire including a conductive core wire and an insulating covering portion that covers the core wire.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first connector 10 of the communication relay connector 1 includes a female connector housing 11, a plurality (six in the figure) of receiving portions 12 formed in the female connector housing 11, and A communication address setting unit 13 and a press-fitting portion 14 into which the communication address setting unit 13 is press-fitted.

  The female connector housing 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with synthetic resin or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of accommodating portions 12 include a plurality (three in the figure) of first accommodating holes 12 a and a plurality (three in the figure) of second accommodating holes 12 b. Yes. And if the terminal 54 of the wire harness 5 and the terminal 37a of the communication relay unit 30 are inserted from the opposing direction, the 1st accommodation hole 12a will accommodate them in the state electrically connected.

  The plurality of second accommodation holes 12 b are formed continuously with the press-fit portion 14. The plurality of second accommodation holes 12b are selectively inserted with short pins 13b of the communication address setting means 13 to be described later, and setting terminals 37b of the communication relay unit 30 are inserted in the opposite direction. When inserted from above, it is accommodated in an electrically connected state.

  The communication address setting unit 13 sets a continuity pattern corresponding to a communication address used for communication in the vehicle communication system 2 to a setting terminal 37 b arbitrarily determined among the plurality of terminals 37 of the communication relay unit 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication address setting means 13 is formed in a plurality of types (three types in the drawing) corresponding to each conduction pattern, and one corresponding to the conduction pattern is used.

  The communication address setting means 13 has a base portion 13a and a short pin 13b standing from the base portion 13a toward the second accommodation hole 12b, and is integrally formed of a conductive member. The short pins 13b are selectively disposed in a state where the short pins 13b are spaced from each other along the direction in which the plurality of second accommodation holes 12b are arranged. The short pin 13b is formed with a length that can be electrically connected to the setting terminal 37b of the communication relay unit 30 in the second accommodation hole 12b when the base portion 13a is press-fitted into the press-fit portion 14. Therefore, the communication address setting unit 13 sets the communication address by selectively shorting the plurality of terminals 37a of the communication relay unit 30.

  In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the description, a case will be described in which a maximum of three short pins 13b are provided and binary numbers 1 to 3 are set as communication addresses. Instead of this, when a value of 4 or more is set as the communication address, it can be handled by providing four or more short pins 13b. When the binary number 0 is used, the communication address setting means 13 does not form the short pin 13b but forms only the base 13a.

  The press-fitting part 14 is formed in a similar shape that is slightly smaller than the base part 13a so that the base part 13a of the communication address setting means 13 can be press-fitted. That is, the press-fit portion 14 prevents the press-fitted base portion 13a from falling.

  Next, the second connector 20 of the communication relay connector 1 has a female connector housing 21 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The female connector housing 21 has an accommodating portion (not shown) that accommodates the end portion of the electric wire 6 connected to each of the plurality of electronic devices 4. The second connector 20 is not directly related to the present invention, and the basic configuration is the same as that of a conventional female connector.

  Next, the communication relay unit 30 of the communication relay connector 1 includes a communication relay device 31, a housing 32, a plurality of first terminals 37 corresponding to the first connector 10, and a second connector, as shown in FIG. And a plurality of second terminals 38 corresponding to 20.

  The communication relay device 31 can be realized by an arbitrary configuration such as an integrated circuit, a plurality of discrete components, a micro processor, a DSP (digital signal processor), an ASIC (application specific IC), and the like. For example, the first terminal 37 and the second terminal 38 are electrically connected. In the present embodiment, the communication relay device 31 will be described in the case where an IC chip or the like is sealed with a synthetic resin and formed into a flat box shape.

  The housing 32 is formed in a flat box shape with an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing 32 includes a unit housing 32, a cover portion 33, and a holding portion 34.

  The unit housing 32 has a pair of hood portions 35 and 36. The mating first connector 10 enters the inside of the hood portion 35 and engages with the first connector 10. The mating second connector 20 enters the hood portion 36 on the inner side, and engages with the second connector 20.

  The cover part 33 is comprised with the insulating synthetic resin, and is formed in flat form. The cover portion 33 is attached to the unit housing 32 to form a housing space for the communication relay device 31 therein. The holding unit 34 holds the communication relay device 31 and holds a plurality of first terminals 37 and a plurality of second terminals 38.

  The plurality of first terminals 37 correspond to the terminals in the claims as shown in FIG. As described above, the plurality (six in FIG. 1) of the first terminals 37 are the connection terminals 37a and the remaining three are the setting terminals 37b. The connection terminal 37 a enters the first accommodation hole 12 a of the first connector 10 and is electrically connected to the terminal 54 of the electric wire 5.

  The setting terminal 37b enters the second housing hole 12b of the first connector 10, and when the short pin 13b of the communication address setting means 13 exists in the inside, the setting terminal 37b is electrically connected to the short pin 13b. One of the three setting terminals 37b is grounded in the communication relay device 31 or the like. In the present embodiment, one setting terminal 37b adjacent to the connection terminal 37a shown in FIG. 1 is grounded, and a predetermined voltage (for example, 5 V) is applied to the other two setting terminals 37b.

  With such a configuration, the setting terminal 37b that is short-circuited by the communication address setting unit 13 due to the fitting between the first connector 10 to which the communication address setting unit 13 is set and the communication relay unit 30 is low level. Further, the setting terminal 37b that is not short-circuited is at a high level.

  The plurality of second terminals 38 are a plurality of lead frames made of conductive metal. The plurality of second terminals 38 are arranged in parallel with each other so as to protrude outward from the edge of the communication relay device 31 and at a predetermined interval. Then, each of the plurality of second terminals 38 is electrically connected to each of the electric wires 6 by fitting into the second connector 10 and the communication relay unit 30.

  The communication relay device 31 described above can identify whether or not the first connector 10 is fitted and the conduction pattern by monitoring changes in the voltage level of the two setting terminals 37b to which a predetermined voltage is applied. it can. Then, the communication relay device 31 detects the communication address with the electronic control device 3 by comparing the specified conduction pattern with a predetermined communication address table. The communication address table is stored in a built-in memory or the like, and is a table for detecting one communication address from the conduction pattern.

  When the communication relay device 31 receives the first information corresponding to the detected communication address from the master communication device 3 via the first connector 10, the electronic device 4 indicated by the circuit identification data or the like included in the first information. And the detected communication address is added to the second information received from the electrical device 4 via the second connector 20 and transmitted from the first connector 10 to the master communication device 3.

  Next, an example of the operation (action) of the communication relay connector 1 in the vehicle communication system 2 configured as described above will be described below.

  In the communication relay system 2 shown in FIG. 4, the master communication device 3 and the wire harness 5 are connected. The first connector 10 of the communication relay connector 1 is connected from the wire harness 5 to the end of the branch wire harness, and the communication address setting means 13 corresponding to the communication address used at the branch point is press-fitted into the first connector 10. Is done. In this embodiment, a continuity testing device or the like is connected to the first connector 10 in this state to check the continuity state of each terminal 5. At this time, the communication address assigned to the first connector 10 can also be confirmed by confirming the state of the short pin 13b of the communication address setting means 13 with the continuity checking device, and therefore a process for confirming the communication address. Can be eliminated. If there is an error in setting the communication address, the communication address setting means 13 corresponding to the first connector 10 is exchanged. If the communication address is set correctly, the connection with the communication relay unit 30 is awaited.

  Further, one side of the electric wire 6 is connected to each of the plurality of electronic devices 4. The other side of the electric wire 6 is connected to the second connector 20 of the communication relay connector 1. Then, the communication relay connector 1 is fitted to the first connector 10, and the communication relay device 31 starts operating by supplying power from the power line 51. The communication relay connector 1 specifies a conduction pattern based on the state of the setting terminal 37b, detects a communication address corresponding to the conduction pattern from the communication address table, and stores it. When each of the plurality of communication relay connectors 1 executes such processing, a communication address in the communication relay system 2 is assigned to each communication relay connector 1. That is, it is possible to eliminate the process in which the master communication device 3 assigns a communication address to each communication relay connector 1 and the operation in which the worker sets the communication address in the communication relay connector 1 as in the prior art. Then, the communication relay connector 1 relays communication between the master communication device 3 and the plurality of electronic devices 4 connected to the second connector 20 as described above.

  According to the communication relay connector 1 described above, the first connector 10 is provided with the communication address setting means 13 for setting a conduction pattern corresponding to the communication address used in the communication relay unit 30, and the communication relay unit 30 is set to the setting terminal. Since the communication address is detected from the continuity pattern set in 37b and the communication is relayed using the communication address, the communication address setting means 13 is provided in the first connector 10, and the first connector 10 is communicated. Since the communication address can be recognized by the communication relay unit 30 simply by connecting to the relay unit, it is not necessary to provide the communication relay unit 30 with an allocation function such as an ID, and the communication relay unit 30 can be shared. Can do. Further, when connecting the wire harness 5 (electric wire) to the master communication device 3 to the first connector 10, the communication address setting means 13 may be provided in the first connector 10 when the wire harness 5 is routed. Therefore, the communication address can be assigned accurately. Therefore, since the communication relay unit 30 can be shared, the cost of the communication relay connector 1 can be reduced. In addition, since the communication address setting means 13 is provided in the first connector 10, the communication address can be confirmed in the state of the first connector 10 alone, so that the convenience of the communication address confirmation work can be improved. .

  Further, according to the communication relay connector 1, since the first connector 10 is a connector to which the power line 51, the communication line 53, and the ground line 52 are connected, the communication address is also inspected at the time of connector continuity inspection or the like. Therefore, the work man-hours can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the communication address setting unit 13 is used for the first connector 10 of the communication relay connector 1 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and instead of this, an embodiment in which the communication address setting means 13 is provided in the second connector 20 described above may be employed.

  Further, the communication relay connector 1 described above can be further shared. More specifically, if the structure is such that the guide member guides the connection position of the first connector 10 that changes the number of setting terminals 37b among the plurality of setting terminals 37b of the communication relay unit 30, the communication relay unit Of the plurality of terminals 37 corresponding to one first connector 10, the ratio between the setting terminal 37b and the other connection terminals 37a can be changed, so that further commonality can be achieved.

  An example of such a communication relay connector 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS. In addition, since the basic composition of the communication relay connector 1 is the same as embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to a common part and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, the first connector 10 described above includes two first housing holes 12 a for housing the six wire harnesses 5 in the female connector housing 11 and two terminals 37 of the communication relay unit 30. It has two third receiving holes 12c and 12d in which the communication address setting means 13 can be inserted and the two terminals 37 can be short-circuited.

  The communication relay unit 30 has twelve terminals 37. The communication relay unit 30 is formed such that the inside of the hood portion 35 of the unit housing 32 is substantially equal in height to the first connector 10 and larger than the width of the first connector 10. A plurality of rail-shaped guide members 39 are provided on the inner wall of the hood portion 35 of the unit housing 32. As shown in FIG. 6, five guide members 39 are provided on the upper inner wall 35a of the hood portion 35, and four guide members 39 are provided on the lower inner wall 35b facing the upper inner wall 35a. The position where the six terminals 37 corresponding to the positions P1 to P3 enter the first housing hole 12a of the first connector 10 out of the twelve terminals 37 of the communication relay unit 30 is determined as the upper inner wall 35a. The guide members 39 of the lower inner wall 35b are defined in cooperation with each other.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the terminal 37 corresponding to the position P1 enters the first accommodation hole 12a of the first connector 10, and the terminal 37 corresponding to the positions P2 and P3 is the first connector 10 of the first connector 10. A case will be described in which the first connector 10 is positioned at the position ST1 in the hood portion 35 that enters the third accommodation hole 12d and the terminal 37 does not enter the third accommodation hole 12c. At this time, the three guide members 39 from the left side wall of the upper inner wall 35a of the hood portion 35 are engaged with the three groove portions 15 formed on the upper surface of the female connector housing 11 of the first connector 10, and The first connector 10 is fitted into the hood portion 35 while the two guide members 39 on the lower inner wall 35 b are engaged with the two groove portions 15 formed on the lower surface of the female connector housing 11.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the terminal 37 corresponding to the position P2 enters the first housing hole 12a of the first connector 10, and the terminal 37 corresponding to the position P1 is the third housing hole 12c of the first connector 10. The terminal 37 corresponding to the position P3 enters the third housing hole 12d of the first connector 10, and the first connector is located at the position ST2 in the hood portion 35 where the terminal 37 does not enter the third housing hole 12c. A case where 10 is positioned will be described. At this time, among the five guide members 39 on the upper inner wall 35 a of the hood portion 35, the three guide members 39 in the center are inserted into the three groove portions 15 formed on the upper surface of the female connector housing 11 of the first connector 10. The first connector 10 is fitted into the hood portion 35 while being engaged and the three guide members 39 of the lower inner wall 35 b are engaged with the two groove portions 15 formed on the lower surface of the female connector housing 11.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the terminal 37 corresponding to the position P3 enters the first accommodation hole 12a of the first connector 10, and the terminal 37 corresponding to the positions P1, 2 is the third accommodation of the first connector 10. The case where the 1st connector 10 is located in position ST3 in the hood part 35 which penetrates into the hole 12c and the terminal 37 does not enter into the 3rd accommodation hole 12d is demonstrated. At this time, three guide members 39 from the right side wall of the upper inner wall 35a of the hood portion 35 are engaged with the three groove portions 15 formed on the upper surface of the female connector housing 11 of the first connector 10, and The first connector 10 is fitted into the hood portion 35 while the three guide members 39 on the lower inner wall 35 b are engaged with the two groove portions 15 formed on the lower surface of the female connector housing 11.

  Next, an example in which the above-described third accommodation holes 12c and 12d are formed in the first connector 10 of the communication relay connector 1 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS. . Since the basic configuration of the communication relay connector 1 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The female connector housing 11 of the first connector 10 is provided with the first accommodation hole 12a in the central portion and the third accommodation holes 12c and 12d on both sides thereof. And it is set as the structure which detects the conduction | electrical_connection pattern by the combination of the mounting state of the two communication address setting means 13 with respect to each 3rd accommodation hole 12c, 12d. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, it is determined whether the setting terminal 37b corresponding to each of ID-1 and ID-2 is in an open state or short-circuited by the communication address setting means 13. It is detected by the relay unit 30 and a communication address corresponding to the detected state is detected. 10A shows a state A in which both ID-1 and ID-2 are open, and FIG. 10B shows a state B in which ID-1 is short and ID-2 is open. FIG. 10C shows a state C in which ID-1 is open and IC-2 is short. Thus, even if it comprises the communication relay connector 1, the effect of embodiment mentioned above can be acquired.

  As described above, the above-described embodiments are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication relay connector 10 1st connector 13 Communication address setting means 20 2nd connector 30 Communication relay unit 31 Communication relay apparatus 32 Housing 37 1st terminal (terminal)
37a connection terminal 37b setting terminal 39 guide member

Claims (3)

The 1st connector to which the electric wire connected to the 1st communication apparatus was electrically connected, and the 2nd connector to which the electric wire connected to the 2nd communication apparatus used as the communication object of the 1st communication apparatus was electrically connected And a plurality of terminals electrically connected to each of the first connector and the second connector, and communication between the first communication device and the second communication device via the plurality of terminals. In a communication relay connector having a communication relay unit that relays
The first connector has a communication address setting means for setting a conduction pattern corresponding to a communication address used in the communication to a setting terminal arbitrarily determined among a plurality of terminals of the communication relay unit,
The communication relay unit detects a communication address from the continuity pattern set in the setting terminal by the communication address setting means, and uses the communication address between the first communication device and the second communication device. A communication relay connector, which is a unit that relays communication. The first communication device is a master communication device;
The communication relay connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electric wires connected to the first connector have a power line, a communication line, and a ground line electrically connected to the master communication device.   The communication relay unit includes a guide member for guiding the connection position of the first connector so as to change the number of the setting terminals that are effective from among the plurality of setting terminals. The communication relay connector according to claim 1 or 2.

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