JP2014239628A - Power distribution board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power distribution board which secures a communicable area of a radio communication unit without impairing the design.SOLUTION: A power distribution board includes: a housing 1 having a box shaped body 11 housing a trunk breaker 21 and a branch breaker 22 and a lid 12 which covers an opening of the body 11; and an antenna 31 which is electrically connected with a communication module 32 for communicating with an exterior device provided at the exterior of the housing 1 and transmits and receives a radio signal. The antenna 31 is provided at the lid 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution board.

  Conventionally, there is a distribution board provided with a wireless communication unit that communicates with an external device such as a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller or a monitor in order to visualize power consumption and respond to demand response (for example, see Patent Document 1). ). The wireless communication unit transmits, for example, the power used for each branch circuit and the measurement result of the power generated by solar power generation to the external device using a wireless signal.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-223481

  However, the conventional distribution board has a problem that the antenna of the wireless communication unit is provided on the outside of the casing, and the appearance of the distribution board is deteriorated and the design is impaired.

  It is also desired to secure a communicable area of the wireless communication unit so that communication can be performed even when the positional relationship between the wireless communication unit and the external device is separated.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said reason, The objective is to provide the distribution panel which can ensure the communicable area of a radio | wireless communication unit, without impairing a design.

  The distribution board of the present invention is electrically connected to a box-shaped main body for storing a breaker, a casing having a lid covering the opening of the main body, and a communication module communicating with an external device provided outside the casing. And an antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio signal, wherein the antenna is provided on the lid.

  In this distribution board, the lid is preferably provided with a plurality of antennas, and the communication module preferably has a diversity function.

  In this distribution board, the plurality of antennas preferably have different directivities.

  In the distribution board, the plurality of antennas includes a first directional antenna and a second directional antenna, and the first directional antenna has a 0 degree direction and a 180 degree direction in a plane. It is preferable that the second directional antenna has a high gain in the 90-degree direction and the 270-degree direction in the plane.

  In this distribution board, the plurality of antennas are composed of a plurality of directional antennas having a high gain in one specific direction in a plane, and each of the plurality of directional antennas is in the plane in the directional antenna. It is preferable that the gain is high in any one direction equally divided by the number.

  In this distribution board, it is preferable that the plurality of antennas include one omnidirectional antenna and one or more directional antennas.

  In this distribution board, it is preferable that the lid is provided with a plurality of the antennas having different frequency bands, and the communication module transmits / receives a radio signal using at least one of the plurality of antennas. .

  In this distribution board, the communication module and the antenna are preferably connected by a twisted pair wire.

  In this distribution board, it is preferable that the communication module and the antenna are electrically connected by electromagnetic coupling.

  In this distribution board, it is preferable that the antenna and the lid are integrally formed.

  In this distribution board, it is preferable that any one of the plurality of lids having different antenna characteristics is attached to the main body.

  In this distribution board, the lid is preferably configured to be detachable from the main body.

  The distribution board preferably includes a measurement unit that measures power supplied to the load via the breaker, and the communication module transmits a measurement result of the measurement unit to the external device.

  In this distribution board, the wireless communication unit is preferably built in the housing.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the antenna is provided on the cover having a sufficient installation space, there is an effect that the communicable area of the wireless communication unit can be secured without impairing the design.

It is a schematic block diagram of the distribution board of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the electricity distribution panel of Embodiment 2. It is a graph which shows the directivity of the 1st, 2nd directional antenna. It is a schematic block diagram of the lid | cover and antenna of another structure. It is a graph which shows the directivity of the 3rd-6th directional antenna. It is a schematic block diagram of the lid | cover and antenna of another structure. It is a graph which shows the directivity of the 7th-9th directional antenna and an omnidirectional antenna. It is a schematic block diagram of the lid | cover and antenna of another structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
In FIG. 1, the schematic block diagram of the distribution board of this embodiment is shown. The distribution board of the present embodiment includes a housing 1 and an antenna 31 of the wireless communication unit 3. The housing 1 has a box-shaped main body 11 that houses the main breaker 21 and the branch breaker 22, and a lid 12 that covers the opening of the main body 11. The antenna 31 is electrically connected to a communication module 32 that communicates with an external device provided outside the housing 1, and transmits and receives radio signals. The antenna 31 is characterized by being provided on the lid 12. Below, the structure of the distribution board of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.

  The housing 1 is made of a synthetic resin molded product or the like, and includes a rectangular box-shaped main body 11 having an open front surface and a rectangular lid 12 that covers the opening of the main body 11.

  The main body 11 houses therein a main breaker 21, a plurality of branch breakers 22, a current limiter 23, and a measurement unit 24, and is fixed to a wall surface. The main breaker 21 is inserted in the main electric circuit connected to the commercial power source, and conducts or cuts off the main electric circuit. Each of the plurality of branch breakers 22 is inserted into a branch circuit that is branched from the main circuit and connected to a load, and conducts or blocks the branch circuit. The current limiter 23 is connected to the front stage of the main breaker 21 and limits the input current to a contracted amperage value or less. The measurement part 24 measures the electric current which flows through each branch electric circuit, and calculates the electric power used supplied to load from a measurement result for every branch electric circuit. Further, the measuring unit 24 may be configured to measure the value of the current flowing through the main electrical circuit and calculate the total power used. Furthermore, the measurement unit 24 may be configured to measure the value of current flowing through both the main electric circuit and the branch electric circuit to calculate the power used. Moreover, when a photovoltaic power generation unit is connected to the distribution board, the measuring unit 24 may be configured to measure the power generated by solar power generation or the power selling power. The main breaker 21, the branch breaker 22, the current limiter 23, and the measuring unit 24 described above are well known in the art and will not be described in detail.

  The lid 12 of the housing 1 has an upper end connected to the upper end of the main body 11 via a hinge, and is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 11.

  The wireless communication unit 3 communicates with an external device (not shown) such as a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller or a monitor, for example, and transmits the measurement result of the measurement unit 24 using a wireless signal. The wireless communication unit 3 according to this embodiment includes an antenna 31 and a communication module 32 that communicates with an external device by transmitting and receiving wireless signals using the antenna 31, and is built in the housing 1. Specifically, the communication module 32 is housed in the main body 11 and the measurement result of the measurement unit 24 is input. The antenna 31 is provided on the back surface of the lid 12. The back surface of the lid 12 refers to a surface that faces the opening of the main body 11 when the lid 12 is closed. In addition, the antenna 31 and the communication module 32 are connected by a cable 33 formed of a highly versatile twisted pair wire in order to reduce costs. The type of the cable 33 is not limited to the twisted pair wire, and may be configured by a general coaxial cable or the like.

  As described above, the wireless communication unit 3 of this embodiment is built in the housing 1, the communication module 32 is accommodated in the main body 11, and the antenna 31 is provided on the back surface of the lid 12. Therefore, the antenna 31 is not exposed from the housing 1 when the lid 12 of the housing 1 is closed, so that the appearance of the distribution board is not deteriorated and the design is not impaired. Moreover, since the cover 12 has a sufficient installation space for the antenna 31, the degree of freedom of the shape, size, type, and the like of the antenna 31 is high, and a large gain and desired directivity can be obtained. Moreover, since the lid 12 constitutes the outer shell of the distribution board and is made of a synthetic resin molded product, attenuation of the radio signal by the lid 12 can be suppressed. Therefore, the communicable area of the wireless communication unit 3 can be secured, and even if the positional relationship between the distribution board (wireless communication unit 3) and the external device is separated, the wireless communication unit 3 and the external device Communication with is possible.

  Moreover, since the antenna 31 and the communication module 32 are connected by the cable 33 which consists of a highly versatile twisted pair wire, the distribution board of this embodiment is realizable at low cost. In the present embodiment, the antenna 31 and the communication module 32 are connected using the cable 33. However, the antenna 31 and the communication module 32 may be electrically connected by electromagnetic coupling. In the case of such a configuration, the trouble of wiring the antenna 31 and the communication module 32 can be omitted.

  The position, size, shape, and the like shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and the antenna 31 is not limited to this, and is provided on the lid 12 so as to obtain desired antenna performance.

  In the present embodiment, the communication module 32 is built in the housing 1, but the antenna 31 may be provided on the lid 12 and only the communication module 32 may be provided outside the housing 1.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, one antenna 31 is provided on the lid 12, whereas in this embodiment, a plurality of antennas 31 having different directivities are provided on the lid 12, and the communication module 32 has a diversity function. It has the characteristics in having. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 2, the schematic block diagram of the distribution board of this embodiment is shown. In the present embodiment, a first directional antenna 311 and a second directional antenna 312 are provided as the plurality of antennas 31. The first directional antenna 311 and the second directional antenna 312 are antennas (directional antennas) having a high gain in a specific direction in a horizontal plane. FIG. 3 shows the directivity in the horizontal direction of the first directional antenna 311 and the second directional antenna 312. The gain G1 of the first directional antenna 311 is high in the 0 degree direction and 180 degree direction in the horizontal plane, and the gain G2 of the second directional antenna 312 is in the 90 degree direction and 270 degree direction in the horizontal plane. high.

  Thus, the first directional antenna 311 and the second directional antenna 312 having different directivities are provided on the lid 12. The communication module 32 has a diversity function of transmitting and receiving a radio signal using the two antennas (first directional antenna 311 and second directional antenna 312). Normally, it is difficult to improve the gain in all directions with one antenna. However, by using the first and second directional antennas 311 and 312 having different directivities in the diversity function, it is possible to improve the gain in a pseudo manner. Directional gain can be improved. As a result, the communicable area of the wireless communication unit 3 can be expanded, and communication between the wireless communication unit 3 and the external device can be performed regardless of the positional relationship between the distribution board (wireless communication unit 3) and the external device. It becomes possible. Furthermore, due to the diversity function, one of the first and second directional antennas 311 and 312 is used, and the gain is obtained in a direction shifted by 90 degrees in the horizontal direction with respect to the angle at which the expected radio signal is incident. Since it is small, the influence of multipath etc. can be suppressed and level deterioration due to fading can be prevented.

  The first, second directional antennas 311, 312 are only examples of the position, size, shape, etc. shown in FIG. 2 and are not limited to this, so that desired antenna performance can be obtained. Provided on the lid 12.

  Moreover, although the 1st directional antenna 311 and the 2nd directional antenna 312 were comprised with the antenna (directional antenna) with a high gain in two specific directions in a horizontal surface, one specific direction in a horizontal surface. Alternatively, an antenna with high gain (directional antenna) may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, as the plurality of antennas 31 provided on the lid 12, a third directional antenna 313, a fourth directional antenna 314, and a fifth directional antenna having a high gain in one specific direction in the horizontal plane. A directional antenna 315 and a sixth directional antenna 316 may be provided. FIG. 5 shows the directivity in the horizontal direction of the third to sixth directional antennas 313 to 316. The gain G3 of the third directional antenna 313 is high in the 0 degree direction in the horizontal plane. The gain G4 of the fourth directional antenna 314 is high in the 90-degree direction in the horizontal plane. The gain G5 of the fifth directional antenna 315 is high in the 180 degree direction in the horizontal plane. The gain G6 of the sixth directional antenna 316 is high in the 270 degree direction in the horizontal plane. That is, each of the third to sixth directional antennas 313 to 316 is provided on the lid 12 so as to have different directivities, and any one of the horizontal planes equally divided by the number of directional antennas (four). Gain is high in one direction.

  As described above, the lid 12 is provided with the third to sixth directional antennas 313 to 316 having different directivities. The communication module 32 has a diversity function of transmitting and receiving a radio signal using the four antennas (third to sixth directional antennas 313 to 316). Therefore, by using the third to sixth directional antennas 313 to 316 having different directivities with the diversity function, the gain in all directions can be improved in a pseudo manner. As a result, the communicable area of the wireless communication unit 3 can be expanded, and communication between the wireless communication unit 3 and the external device can be performed regardless of the positional relationship between the distribution board (wireless communication unit 3) and the external device. It becomes possible. The number of directional antennas is not limited to four, and may be a plurality of numbers different from four. Further, the third to sixth directional antennas 313 to 316 are examples of the position, size, shape, and the like shown in FIG. 4 and are not limited thereto, so that desired antenna performance can be obtained. Provided on the lid 12.

  In the above-described example, the directional antennas (first to sixth directional antennas 311 to 316) having a high gain in a specific direction in the horizontal plane are used. You may use the omnidirectional antenna which has. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, as a plurality of antennas 31, a seventh directional antenna 317, an eighth directional antenna 318, and a ninth directional antenna 319 having a high gain in one specific direction in a horizontal plane And an omnidirectional antenna 310 having an equal gain in all directions in a horizontal plane. FIG. 7 shows the horizontal directivities of the seventh to ninth directional antennas 317 to 319 and the omnidirectional antenna 310. The gain G7 of the seventh directional antenna 317 is high in the 0 degree direction in the horizontal plane. The gain G8 of the eighth directional antenna 318 is high in the 120 degree direction in the horizontal plane. The gain G9 of the ninth directional antenna 319 is high in the 240 degree direction in the horizontal plane. The gain G0 of the omnidirectional antenna 310 has a uniform gain in all directions in the horizontal plane.

  Thus, the omnidirectional antenna 310 and the seventh to ninth directional antennas 317 to 319 having different directivities are provided on the lid 12. And the communication module 32 has a diversity function which transmits / receives a radio signal using these four antennas (omnidirectional antenna 310, 7th-9th directional antennas 317-319). Therefore, by using the omnidirectional antenna 310 and the seventh to ninth directional antennas 317 to 319 having different directivities in the diversity function, the gain in all directions can be improved in a pseudo manner. As a result, the communicable area of the wireless communication unit 3 can be expanded, and communication between the wireless communication unit 3 and the external device can be performed regardless of the positional relationship between the distribution board (wireless communication unit 3) and the external device. It becomes possible. The number of directional antennas is not limited to three, and may be different from three. Further, the omnidirectional antenna 310 and the seventh to ninth directional antennas 317 to 319 are examples of the position, size, shape, and the like shown in FIG. The lid 12 is provided so as to obtain performance.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of antennas 31 are used to improve the gain in all directions in the horizontal plane. However, the gain is not limited to the horizontal plane, and the same applies to planes other than the horizontal plane (for example, vertical planes). The gain can be improved using this technique.

  In the above-described example, the communication module 32 has a diversity function of transmitting and receiving a radio signal using a plurality of antennas 31 having different directivities. However, the communication module 32 uses a plurality of antennas 31 having different frequency bands. You may comprise so that a radio signal may be transmitted / received. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of antennas 31 provided on the lid 12 include a low frequency antenna 3101 corresponding to a relatively low frequency band and a high frequency antenna 3102 corresponding to a relatively high frequency band. Also good. The communication module 32 transmits / receives a radio signal using at least one of the low frequency antenna 3101 and the high frequency antenna 3102 to communicate with an external device. Note that the communication module 32 is one of the low frequency antenna 3101 and the high frequency antenna 3102 that is most suitable for the situation, such as the one capable of more stable wireless communication or the one having a higher transmission speed. You may comprise so that it may communicate with one external apparatus using an antenna. Alternatively, the low-frequency antenna 3101 and the high-frequency antenna 3102 may be configured so that external devices with which communication is performed are different.

  In this way, the low frequency antenna 3101 and the high frequency antenna 3102 having different frequency bands are provided on the lid 12. Then, the communication module 32 transmits / receives a radio signal using at least one of the low frequency antenna 3101 and the high frequency antenna 3102 to communicate with an external device. Thereby, communication with an external device can be stabilized without interference of radio signals. The number of antennas 31 having different frequency bands is not limited to two, and a plurality of different antennas may be used. Further, the low-frequency antenna 3101 and the high-frequency antenna 3102 are examples of the position, size, shape, and the like shown in FIG. 8 and are not limited thereto, and are provided on the lid 12 so as to obtain desired antenna performance. .

  In the present embodiment, the antenna 31 is provided on the back surface of the lid 12, but the lid 12 and the antenna 31 may be configured integrally. For example, the lid 12 in which the antenna 31 is incorporated in advance is molded so that the antenna 31 is located inside the lid 12 or on the back surface side or the front surface side. By configuring in this way, it is possible to save the operator from installing the antenna 31 on the lid 12.

  Further, by combining antennas 31 having different directivities and frequency bands, a plurality of lids 12 having different characteristics of the antennas 31 are prepared in advance, and the operator has antenna characteristics according to the distribution board situation of the distribution board. 12 may be selected and attached to the main body 11. In addition, the situation of an installation place can consider the positional relationship between a distribution board and an external device, the presence or absence of an obstruction, the surrounding wireless environment, etc. Thus, by preparing in advance a plurality of lids 12 having different antenna characteristics, the operator does not need to combine a plurality of antennas 31 so as to obtain desired antenna characteristics, and the workability can be improved. .

  Furthermore, you may comprise the lid | cover 12 and the main body 11 so that attachment or detachment is possible. By configuring in this way, for example, even if there is a change in the situation of the installation location after installation of the distribution board, it can be replaced with a lid 12 having antenna characteristics according to the situation of the installation location after the change. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 11 Main body 12 Lid 21 Main breaker 22 Branch breaker 23 Current limiter 24 Measuring part 3 Wireless communication unit 31 Antenna 32 Communication module 33 Cable

Claims (14)

A box-shaped main body for storing the breaker, and a housing having a lid covering the opening of the main body;
An antenna that is electrically connected to a communication module that communicates with an external device provided outside the housing and that transmits and receives radio signals;
The distribution board, wherein the antenna is provided on the lid. A plurality of the antennas are provided on the lid,
The distribution board according to claim 1, wherein the communication module has a diversity function. The distribution board according to claim 2, wherein the antennas have different directivities. The plurality of antennas includes a first directional antenna and a second directional antenna,
The first directional antenna has a high gain in a 0 degree direction and a 180 degree direction in a plane,
The distribution board according to claim 3, wherein the second directional antenna has a high gain in a 90-degree direction and a 270-degree direction in the plane. The plurality of antennas are composed of a plurality of directional antennas having a high gain in one specific direction in a plane,
The distribution board according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of directional antennas has a high gain in any one direction obtained by equally dividing the plane by the number of the directional antennas. The distribution board according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of antennas includes one omnidirectional antenna and one or more directional antennas. A plurality of the antennas having different frequency bands are provided on the lid,
The distribution board according to claim 1, wherein the communication module transmits and receives a radio signal using at least one of the plurality of antennas. The distribution board according to claim 1, wherein the communication module and the antenna are connected by a twisted pair wire. The distribution board according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the communication module and the antenna are electrically connected by electromagnetic coupling. The distribution board according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the antenna and the lid are integrally formed. The distribution board according to claim 10, wherein any one of the plurality of lids having different antenna characteristics is attached to the main body. The distribution board according to claim 11, wherein the lid is configured to be detachable from the main body. A measurement unit for measuring the power supplied to the load via the breaker;
The distribution panel according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the communication module transmits a measurement result of the measurement unit to the external device. The distribution board according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the communication module is built in the housing.

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