JP2015095878A - Communication device, communication system and measurement device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device, a communication system, a measurement device capable of preventing interference among transmission channels when performing power line carrier communication of plural transmission channels by using an identical power distribution line.SOLUTION: A communication device 30A of a slave unit 3 performs a power line carrier communication via a single-phase three-wire electric power system W1 for supplying the power from a commercial power supply to the users. A communication unit 31A of the communication device 30A transmits and receives a first signal which is used for A route communication with a master unit via L1-N1 phases and transmits and receives a second signal which is used for B route communication with a controller via L2-N1 phases.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication system, and a measurement device using power line carrier communication.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, there is one in which a parent device 501, a controller 502, and a child device 503 are connected to a power distribution system W100. The distribution system W100 is a system that supplies electric power to consumers from a commercial power source 510 managed by an electric power company. And the main | base station 501, the controller 502, and the subunit | mobile_unit 503 mutually perform power line carrier communication via the power distribution system W100 (for example, refer patent document 1).

  A step-down transformer 505 is disposed in an electrical room of a building such as an apartment house or a building, and the primary side of the transformer 505 is connected to a commercial power source 510. The power distribution system W100 is connected to the secondary side of the transformer 505, and each consumer receives power from the power distribution system W100. And the subunit | mobile_unit 503 installed in each consumer has the function of a watt-hour meter, measures the consumption of electric power in each consumer, and reads the meter-reading data according to this measurement result for every fixed time. Generate. The subunit | mobile_unit 503 transmits the produced | generated meter-reading data by power line carrier communication (PLC: Power LineCommunications) via the power distribution system W100.

  One master unit 501 is provided for a plurality of slave units 503, and acquires meter reading data for each slave unit 503. Then, a host management apparatus (not shown) managed by the electric power company collects meter reading data from each of the parent devices 501 provided for each predetermined range in the supply area via a wide area communication network such as the Internet.

  The controller 502 is housed in a distribution board installed in each consumer, acquires various data such as meter reading data from the slave unit 503 of each consumer, and uses this data to control the equipment 504 in the consumer. Display control for displaying meter reading data on a monitor is performed.

JP 2011-217148 A

  In the communication system shown in FIG. 11, a parent device 501, a controller 502, and a child device 503 constitute a communication device that communicates with each other via a power distribution system W100. The power distribution system W100 includes a signal transmission path (hereinafter referred to as A route) between the master unit 501 and the slave unit 503, and a signal transmission path (hereinafter referred to as B route) between the controller 502 and the slave unit 503. It is composed.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the power distribution system W100 uses a single-phase three-wire power distribution system that uses three power distribution lines. The power distribution system W100 includes two voltage electrodes L100 and L200 and a neutral electrode N100. The voltage electrode L100 and the voltage electrode L200 have a voltage of 200V, and the voltage electrode L100 and the neutral electrode N100 have a voltage of 100V and the voltage electrode L200− 100V is generated between the sex electrodes N100. The A route, which is a transmission path between the parent device 501 and the slave device 503, and the B route, which is a transmission path between the controller 502 and the slave device 503, are phases (L100) composed of combinations of the voltage electrode L100 and the neutral electrode N100. -N100 phase).

  That is, the communication of the A route by the parent device 501 and the child device 503 and the communication of the B route by the controller 502 and the child device 503 use the same phase of the distribution system W100 as a transmission path. In this conventional communication system, there is a possibility that communication failure occurs due to interference between the A route communication by the parent device 501 and the child device 503 and the B route communication by the controller 502 and the child device 503.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and its purpose is a communication device capable of suppressing interference between transmission lines when performing power line carrier communication of a plurality of transmission paths using the same distribution system, It is to provide a communication system and a measuring device.

  The communication device of the present invention is a communication device that performs power line carrier communication via three or more distribution lines that supply power from a commercial power source to consumers, and is used for communication with a first communication terminal. The first signal is exchanged via the first phase that combines the two distribution lines, and the second signal used for communication with the second communication terminal is the first phase. Is provided with a communication unit that transmits and receives via a second phase that is a combination of different distribution lines.

  In the present invention, the communication unit is provided with a set of output ports that output signals, and includes a switch that switches the connection destination of the output path of the output port to the first phase or the second phase, When the first signal is output from the output port, the switch connects the output path of the output port to the first phase, and when the second signal is output from the output port, It is preferable to connect the output path of the output port to the second phase.

  In the present invention, the communication unit is provided with a set of input ports for inputting signals, and the second signal received via the first phase and the second phase received via the first phase. It is preferable to provide an adder circuit that outputs the above signal to the input port.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the combination of the distribution lines constituting the first phase and the combination of the distribution lines constituting the second phase are fixed to a predetermined combination.

  In the communication device of the present invention, the third communication terminal carries the power line between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal via three or more distribution lines that supply power to the consumer from the commercial power source. The third communication terminal transmits and receives a first signal used for communication with the first communication terminal via a first phase in which two distribution lines are combined. The second communication system that transmits and receives a second signal used for communication with the second communication terminal via a second phase that is a combination of the distribution lines different from the first phase. It is a communication device used for one communication terminal, and determines whether or not to change the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase, and determines the first phase after the change Information regarding the phase determining unit to be changed and the first phase after the change via the first phase before the change. Characterized in that it comprises a communication unit for transmitting to the third communication terminal.

  In this invention, it has a monitoring part which monitors a communication environment for every phase from which the combination of the above-mentioned distribution line differs mutually, and the phase determination part changes the phase where the communication environment is the best based on the monitoring result of the monitoring part It is preferable to use the first phase later.

  In this invention, the communication unit is provided with a set of input ports to which signals are input, and includes a switch that switches the combination of the distribution lines to be connected to the input path of the input port, and the monitoring unit includes: It is preferable to switch the phase to be monitored by switching the switch.

  In this invention, it is preferable to provide a time measuring unit that measures time, and the phase determining unit determines a combination of the distribution lines constituting the first phase according to a time zone.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the third communication terminal carries the power line between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal via three or more distribution lines that supply power from the commercial power source to the consumer. A communication system for performing communication, wherein the third communication terminal is configured to combine a first signal used for communication with the first communication terminal by combining the two distribution lines. The second signal used for communication with the second communication terminal is transmitted and received via the second phase that is a combination of the distribution lines different from the first phase. It is characterized by that.

  In this invention, the first communication terminal determines whether to change the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase, and determines the first phase after the change. , Information about the first phase after the change is transmitted to the third communication terminal via the first phase before the change, and the third communication terminal transmits the information based on the received information. It is preferable to set the first phase.

  In this invention, the third communication terminal monitors the communication environment for each phase in which the combination of the distribution lines is different from each other, transmits the monitoring result to the first communication terminal, and the first communication terminal. Preferably, the first phase is determined based on the received monitoring result.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the third communication terminal switches a phase to be monitored by switching a combination of the distribution lines that are connection destinations of a signal input path.

  The measuring device of the present invention performs power line carrier communication via a measuring unit that measures consumption of resources in a consumer, and three or more distribution lines that supply power to the consumer from a commercial power source, and the measuring unit And a communication unit that transmits the measurement result of the power line carrier communication, wherein the communication unit transmits a first signal used for communication with the first communication terminal installed outside the consumer 2 The second signal used for communication with the second communication terminal installed in the consumer is exchanged via the first phase combining the distribution lines of the book and the first phase. Are exchanged via a second phase which is a combination of different distribution lines.

  As described above, in the communication device, the communication system, and the measurement device of the present invention, the communication by the first communication terminal and the third communication terminal and the communication by the second communication terminal and the third communication terminal are: A different phase of a distribution system composed of three or more distribution lines is used as a signal transmission path. Therefore, in this invention, when performing the power line carrier communication of a some transmission path using the same power distribution system, there exists an effect that the interference between transmission paths can be suppressed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the subunit | mobile_unit of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a communication system same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows a power distribution system same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main | base station same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a controller same as the above. It is a graph which shows the frequency characteristic of the signal attenuation amount same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows another structure of a subunit | mobile_unit same as the above. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a parent device according to a second embodiment. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a controller same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows another structure of the main | base station same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional communication system. It is a block diagram which shows a power distribution system same as the above.

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

(Embodiment 1)
In the communication system of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the parent device 1, the controller 2, and the child device 3 are connected to the power distribution system W1. The power distribution system W1 is a system that supplies power to consumers from a commercial power source 6 managed by a power company. And each of the main | base station 1, the controller 2, and the subunit | mobile_unit 3 performs power line carrier communication via the power distribution system W1. The base unit 1 corresponds to the first communication terminal, the controller 2 corresponds to the second communication terminal, and the handset 3 corresponds to the third communication terminal.

  A step-down transformer 5 is disposed in an electrical room of a building such as an apartment house or a building, and the primary side of the transformer 5 is connected to a high-voltage system on the commercial power source 6 side. The power distribution system W <b> 1 is connected to the secondary side of the transformer 5, and each customer receives power from the power distribution system W <b> 1 stepped down by the transformer 5. And the subunit | mobile_unit 3 installed in each consumer has the function of a watt-hour meter (measuring device), measures the consumption of electric power in each consumer, and reads the meter-reading data according to this measurement result. Generate every fixed time. The subunit | mobile_unit 3 transmits the produced | generated meter-reading data by the power line carrier communication (PLC) via the power distribution system W1.

  One master unit 1 is provided for a plurality of slave units 3 and acquires meter reading data for each slave unit 3. Then, a host management device (not shown) managed by the electric power company collects meter reading data from each of the parent devices 1 provided for each predetermined range in the supply area via a wide-area communication network such as the Internet.

  The controller 2 is housed in a distribution board in which the power distribution system W1 is drawn in each consumer, acquires various data such as meter reading data from the slave unit 3 of each consumer, and uses this data for the equipment 4 in the consumer. Device control to be controlled, display control to monitor and display meter reading data to the consumer, and the like are performed. The controller 2 may be installed outside the above distribution board.

  In the communication system shown in FIG. 2, the power distribution system W <b> 1 includes a signal transmission path (hereinafter referred to as A route) between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3, and a signal transmission path between the controller 2 and the slave unit 3 (hereinafter, (Referred to as B route).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution system W <b> 1 uses a single-phase three-wire distribution system using three distribution lines. The distribution system W1 is composed of two voltage electrodes L1, L2, and one neutral electrode N1, 200V between the voltage electrode L1 and the voltage electrode L2, and 100V between the voltage electrode L1 and the neutral electrode N1. 100V is generated between the L2 and the neutral electrode N1. That is, the distribution system W1 has three phases with different combinations of distribution lines. The first phase is a phase composed of a combination of the voltage electrode L1 and the neutral electrode N1 (L1-N1 phase), and the second phase is a phase composed of a combination of the voltage electrode L2 and the neutral electrode N1 ( (L2-N1 phase) The third phase is a phase (L1-L2 phase) composed of a combination of the voltage electrode L1 and the voltage electrode L2.

  In this embodiment, the A route, which is a signal transmission path between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3, and the B route, which is a signal transmission path between the controller 2 and the slave unit 3, use different phases as transmission paths. Use. Further, a signal used by the parent device 1 and the child device 3 for communication of the A route (between the parent device 1 and the child device 3) is referred to as a first signal. A signal used by the controller 2 and the slave unit 3 for communication on the B route (between the controller 2 and the slave unit 3) is referred to as a second signal. Further, a combination of distribution lines to which the first signal is transmitted is a first phase, and a combination of distribution lines to which the second signal is transmitted is a second phase. In the present embodiment, the first phase is fixed to the L1-N1 phase, and the second phase is fixed to the L2-N1 phase.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, base unit 1 includes communication unit 11, amplifiers 12 and 13, a pair of capacitors 14, and a pair of capacitors 15. In the base unit 1 of FIG. 4, the communication unit 11, the amplifiers 12 and 13, the pair of capacitors 14, and the pair of capacitors 15 constitute a communication device 10 </ b> A.

  One set of output ports 11 a of the communication unit 11 is connected to the L1-N1 phase via the amplifier 12 and the capacitor 14. One set of input ports 11 b of the communication unit 11 is connected to the L1-N1 phase via the amplifier 13 and the capacitor 15. That is, the output port 11a and the input port 11b use the L1-N1 phase as a signal transmission path. The capacitors 14 and 15 function as a high frequency filter that allows the signal frequency to pass.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the controller 2 includes a communication unit 21, amplifiers 22 and 23, a pair of capacitors 24, a pair of capacitors 25, and a control unit 26. In the controller 2 of FIG. 5, the communication unit 21, the amplifiers 22 and 23, the pair of capacitors 24, and the pair of capacitors 25 constitute a communication device 20A.

  One set of output ports 21 a of the communication unit 21 is connected to the L2-N1 phase via an amplifier 22 and a capacitor 24. One set of input ports 21b of the communication unit 21 is connected to the L2-N1 phase via an amplifier 23 and a capacitor 25. That is, the output port 21a and the input port 21b use the L2-N1 phase as a signal transmission path. The capacitors 24 and 25 function as a high frequency filter that allows signal frequencies to pass.

  The control unit 26 performs device control for controlling the device 4 in the consumer using the signal (data) received by the communication unit 21, display control for monitoring and displaying meter reading data for the consumer, and the like.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the slave unit 3 includes a communication unit 31A, amplifiers 32 and 33, a pair of capacitors 34, a pair of capacitors 35, a pair of capacitors 36, a switch 37, and a measurement. A section 38 and a switch 39 are provided. 1, the communication unit 31A, the amplifiers 32 and 33, the pair of capacitors 34, the pair of capacitors 35, the pair of capacitors 36, and the switch 37 constitute a communication device 30A. To do.

  The communication unit 31A includes a set of output ports 31a. One output port 31a is connected to the neutral electrode N1 via the amplifier 32 and the capacitor 34. The other output port 31 a is connected to a switch 37 via an amplifier 32 and a capacitor 34. The switch 37 is composed of a relay or the like, and connects the other output port 31a to the voltage electrode L1 or the voltage electrode L2 by switching the contact. That is, the output path of the set of output ports 31a of the communication unit 31A is connected to the L1-N1 phase or the L2-N1 phase by the switching operation of the switch 37.

  The communication unit 31A includes a set of input ports 31b. One set of input ports 31b is connected to the L1-N1 phase via an amplifier 33 and a capacitor 35. Further, the set of input ports 31b is also connected to the L2-N1 phase via the amplifier 33 and the capacitor 36. That is, the input of the amplifier 33 is connected to both the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase, so that the first signal from the L1-N1 phase and the second signal from the L2-N1 phase are input. The adder 33A is input to the port 31b.

  The capacitors 34, 35, and 36 function as high frequency filters that allow the signal frequency to pass.

  The measuring unit 38 measures the amount of power supplied to consumers via the power distribution system W1 (the amount of power consumed by each consumer), and generates meter reading data corresponding to the measurement results at regular intervals. 31 A of communication parts transmit the produced meter-reading data to the main | base station 1 and the controller 2 by the power line carrier communication via the power distribution system W1.

  The switch 39 is a contact device that conducts and cuts off the power distribution system W1 leading to the consumer, and opens and closes the contact according to the opening request and closing request received by the communication unit 31A from the base unit 1.

  And the communication part 31A of the subunit | mobile_unit 3 switches the switch 37 to the L1-N1 phase side, when transmitting a 1st signal (for example, meter-reading data) to the main | base station 1, and sends a 1st signal to L1-. Send to N1 phase. Communication unit 11 of base unit 1 receives the first signal via the L1-N1 phase. In addition, when transmitting the second signal (for example, meter reading data) to the controller 2, the communication unit 31A of the slave unit 3 switches the switch 37 to the L2-N1 phase side and sends the second signal to the L2-N1. Send to phase. The communication unit 21 of the controller 2 receives the second signal via the L2-N1 phase.

  Moreover, the 1st signal which the communication part 11 of the main | base station 1 transmits to the subunit | mobile_unit 3 is sent out to L1-N1 phase. The 2nd signal which the communication part 21 of the controller 2 transmits to the subunit | mobile_unit 3 is sent to L2-N1 phase. And the communication part 31A of the subunit | mobile_unit 3 can receive both a 1st signal and a 2nd signal by the adder 33A which inputs both L1-N1 phase and L2-N1 phase.

  Therefore, the power line carrier communication between the parent device 1 and the child device 3 (between the communication device 10A and the communication device 30A) is performed via the L1-N1 phase, and between the controller 2 and the child device 3 (the communication device 20A and the communication device). Power line carrier communication (between 30A) is performed via the L2-N1 phase. That is, the communication of the A route by the parent device 1 and the child device 3 (communication device 10A, communication device 30A) and the communication of the B route by the controller 2 and the child device 3 (communication device 20A, communication device 30A) are the distribution system. A different phase of W1 is used as a transmission line. When the A route and the B route are set in the different phases of the distribution system W1, the first signal and the B route transmitted through the A route are compared with the case where the A route and the B route are set in the same phase of the distribution system W1. Interference with the second signal transmitted is suppressed.

  FIG. 6 shows the frequency characteristic of the received signal level that appears at the measurement point of the B route when a signal is transmitted through the A route. X0 is the level of the signal transmitted to the A route. X1 is the received signal level at the measurement point of the B route when the A route and the B route are set in the same phase of the distribution system W1. X2 is a received signal level at the measurement point of the B route when the A route and the B route are set in different phases of the distribution system W1. Further, in FIG. 6, the signal attenuation when the A route and the B route are set in the same phase of the distribution system W1 is Y1, and the signal attenuation is set when the A route and the B route are set in the different phase of the distribution system W1. Let the amount be Y2. As shown in FIG. 6, the signal attenuation amount is larger when the A route and the B route are set in the different phase of the distribution system W1 than when the A route and the B route are set in the same phase of the distribution system W1. (Y2> Y1). That is, compared with the case where the A route and the B route are set in the same phase of the distribution system W1, the interference between the A route and the B route is suppressed when the A route and the B route are set in different phases of the distribution system W1. I understand that In particular, the tendency is remarkable in the frequency band F1 of the KHz band used for power line carrier communication.

  As described above, the communication of the A route by the parent device 1 and the child device 3 and the communication of the B route by the controller 2 and the child device 3 use a different phase of the distribution system W1 as a signal transmission path. Therefore, the communication system using the parent device 1 (communication device 10A), the controller 2 (communication device 20A), and the child device 3 (communication device 30A) of the present embodiment performs power line carrier communication using the same distribution system W1. When performing, the interference between A route and B route can be suppressed.

  Moreover, the subunit | mobile_unit 3 may use the communication part 31B which comprises 1 set of output ports 31c and 1 set of output ports 31d, as shown in FIG. One set of output ports 31c is connected to a voltage electrode L1 and a neutral electrode N1 via an amplifier 310 and a capacitor 311. Further, the set of output ports 31d is connected to the voltage electrode L2 and the neutral electrode N1 via the amplifier 312 and the capacitor 313. 7, the communication unit 31B, the amplifiers 33, 310, and 312, the pair of capacitors 35, the pair of capacitors 36, the pair of capacitors 311, and the pair of capacitors 313 are included in the communication device. 30B is configured.

  And the communication part 31B of the subunit | mobile_unit 3 sends out a 1st signal to L1-N1 phase using the output port 31c, when transmitting a 1st signal to the main | base station 1. FIG. Communication unit 11 of base unit 1 receives the first signal via the L1-N1 phase. Further, when transmitting the second signal to the controller 2, the communication unit 31B of the slave unit 3 sends the second signal to the L2-N1 phase using the output port 31d. The communication unit 21 of the controller 2 receives the second signal via the L2-N1 phase.

  Therefore, also in the configuration of FIG. 7, the power line carrier communication between the parent device 1 and the child device 3 is performed via the L1-N1 phase, and the power line carrier communication between the controller 2 and the child device 3 is performed in the L2-N1 phase. Is done through. That is, the A route communication by the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3 and the B route communication by the controller 2 and the slave unit 3 use a different phase of the distribution system W1 as a signal transmission path. When the A route and the B route are set in the different phases of the distribution system W1, the first signal and the B route transmitted through the A route are compared with the case where the A route and the B route are set in the same phase of the distribution system W1. Interference with the second signal transmitted is suppressed.

  In the first embodiment, the power line carrier communication between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3 is performed via the L1-N1 phase, and the power line carrier communication between the controller 2 and the slave unit 3 is performed using the L2-N1 phase. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, power line carrier communication between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 3 is performed via the L2-N1 phase, and power line carrier communication between the controller 2 and the slave unit 3 is performed via the L1-N1 phase. There may be.

(Embodiment 2)
The base unit 1 of this embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG. 8, and the controller 2 has the configuration shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  A first signal is transmitted to the A route (between the parent device 1 and the child device 3), and a second signal is transmitted to the B route (between the controller 2 and the child device 3). And in this embodiment, the combination of the distribution line which comprises the 1st phase in which the 1st signal is transmitted, and the combination of the distribution line which constitutes the 2nd phase in which the 2nd signal is transmitted are It changes according to the communication environment of each phase. That is, in the present embodiment, the first phase and the second phase are dynamically set according to the communication environment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the base unit 1 includes a communication unit 11, amplifiers 12 and 13, a pair of capacitors 14, a monitoring unit 16, a phase determination unit 17, switches 18 and 19, a pair of capacitors 110, and a pair of capacitors 111. Is provided. 8, communication unit 11, amplifiers 12 and 13, a pair of capacitors 14, monitoring unit 16, phase determination unit 17, switches 18 and 19, and a pair of capacitors 110 The pair of capacitors 111 constitutes the communication device 10B.

  The monitoring unit 16 monitors the communication environment for each phase in which the combination of the distribution lines of the distribution system W1 is different from each other.

  The phase determination unit 17 determines whether to change the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase, and changes the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase. The later first phase is determined.

  The communication unit 11 includes a set of output ports 11a. One output port 11a is connected to the neutral electrode N1 via the amplifier 12 and the capacitor. The other output port 11 a is connected to the switch 18 via the amplifier 12 and the capacitor 14. The switch 18 is configured by a relay or the like, and connects the other output port 11a to the voltage electrode L1 or the voltage electrode L2 by switching the contact. That is, the output path of one set of output ports 11 a of the communication unit 11 is connected to the L1-N1 phase or the L2-N1 phase by the switching operation of the switch 18.

  The communication unit 11 includes a set of input ports 11b. The switch 19 is configured by a relay or the like, and has a function of switching a combination of distribution lines to be a connection destination of an input path of a set of input ports 11b by switching contacts. The input path of the pair of input ports 11b of the communication unit 11 is to connect and block the L1-N1 phase via the capacitor 110 and the L2-N1 phase via the capacitor 111 individually by the switching operation of the switch 19. Can do. The capacitors 110 and 111 function as a high frequency filter that allows signal frequencies to pass.

  During normal communication, the switch 18 connects the output path of the output port 11a to either the L1-N1 phase or the L2-N1 phase (first phase), and the switch 19 The input path 11b is connected to both the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase. That is, when the input of the amplifier 13 is connected to both the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase, the first signal from the L1-N1 phase and the second signal from the L2-N1 phase are input. An adder 13A that inputs to the port 11b is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the controller 2 includes a communication unit 21, amplifiers 22 and 23, a pair of capacitors 24, a control unit 26, a switch 27, a pair of capacitors 28, and a pair of capacitors 29. In the controller 2 of FIG. 9, the communication unit 21, amplifiers 22 and 23, a pair of capacitors 24, a switch 27, a pair of capacitors 28, and a pair of capacitors 29 constitute a communication device 20B. .

  The communication unit 21 includes a set of output ports 21a. One output port 21 a is connected to the neutral electrode N <b> 1 via the amplifier 22 and the capacitor 24. The other output port 21 a is connected to the switch 27 via the amplifier 22 and the capacitor 24. The switch 27 is configured by a relay or the like, and connects the other output port 21a to the voltage electrode L1 or the voltage electrode L2 by switching the contact. That is, the output path of one set of output ports 21 a of the communication unit 21 is connected to the L1-N1 phase or the L2-N1 phase by the switching operation of the switch 27.

  The communication unit 21 includes a set of input ports 21b. One set of input ports 21b is connected to the L1-N1 phase via an amplifier 23 and a capacitor 28. Further, the set of input ports 31b is also connected to the L2-N1 phase via the amplifier 23 and the capacitor 29. That is, the input of the amplifier 23 is connected to both the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase, so that the first signal from the L1-N1 phase and the second signal from the L2-N1 phase are input. An adder 23A is configured to be input to the port 21b. The capacitors 28 and 29 function as a high frequency filter that allows signal frequencies to pass.

  In the present situation, the first phase used for the communication of the A route [between the parent device 1 (communication device 10B) and the child device 3 (communication device 30A)) is assumed to be the L1-N1 phase. Further, the second phase used for communication between the B route [(between the controller 2 (communication device 20B) and the slave device 3 (communication device 30A)) is an L2-N1 phase.

  The base unit 1 executes the monitoring operation by the monitoring unit 16 at regular intervals. Specifically, when the monitoring operation is started, the switch 19 switches the connection destination of the input path of the input port 11b in the order of the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase. The monitoring unit 16 measures the received signal strength and the noise strength of the signal received from the L1-N1 phase when the connection destination of the input path of the input port 11b is the L1-N1 phase. Furthermore, when the connection destination of the input path of the input port 11b is the L2-N1 phase, the monitoring unit 16 measures the received signal strength and noise strength of the signal received from the L2-N1 phase. That is, the monitoring unit 16 of the base unit 1 can individually monitor the communication environment of each phase by the switching operation of the switch 19.

  Based on the monitoring results (received signal strength and noise strength of each phase) of the monitoring unit 16, the phase determination unit 17 selects one of the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase that has a better communication environment ( The phase with the best communication environment) is the first phase after the change, and the other is the second phase after the change. Here, the first phase after the change is the L2-N1 phase, and the second phase after the change is the L1-N1 phase. The communication environment of each phase is quantitatively obtained based on the received signal strength and noise strength of each phase.

  And the communication part 11 is the information (1st phase information) regarding the 1st phase (L2-N1 phase) after a change via the L1-N1 phase which is the 1st phase of the present condition (before a change). Transmit to handset 3. Then, after the communication unit 11 transmits the first phase information, the switcher 18 switches the output path of the output port 11a to the L2-N1 phase.

  When receiving the first phase information, the communication unit 31A of the slave unit 3 recognizes that the first phase used for the communication of the A route is changed from the L1-N1 phase to the L2-N1 phase. Further, the communication unit 31A can also recognize that the first phase used for B route communication is changed from the L2-N1 phase to the L1-N1 phase based on the first phase information. And the information (2nd phase information) regarding the 2nd phase (L1-N1 phase) after a change is transmitted to the controller 2 via the L2-N1 phase which is the 2nd phase of the present condition (before a change). .

  When receiving the second phase information, the communication unit 21 of the controller 2 recognizes that the second phase used for B route communication is changed from the L2-N1 phase to the L1-N1 phase. Then, the switch 27 switches the output path of the output port 21a to the L1-N1 phase.

  Thereafter, when transmitting the first signal to the parent device 1, the communication unit 31A of the child device 3 switches the switch 37 to the L2-N1 phase side and transmits the first signal to the L2-N1 phase. Communication unit 11 of base unit 1 receives the first signal via the L2-N1 phase. In addition, when transmitting the second signal to the controller 2, the communication unit 31A of the slave unit 3 switches the switch 37 to the L1-N1 phase side and sends the second signal to the L1-N1 phase. The communication unit 21 of the controller 2 receives the second signal via the L1-N1 phase.

  Moreover, the 1st signal which the communication part 11 of the main | base station 1 transmits is sent out to L2-N1 phase. The second signal transmitted by the communication unit 21 of the controller 2 is sent to the L1-N1 phase. And the communication part 31A of the subunit | mobile_unit 3 can receive both a 1st signal and a 2nd signal by the adder 33A which inputs both L1-N1 phase and L2-N1 phase.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, base unit 1 determines the phase to be used for A route communication according to the communication environment. In general, the A route has a longer communication distance than the B route and the communication environment is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, in this communication system, a phase having a good communication environment is used for communication of the A route. Therefore, the communication system using the parent device 1, the controller 2, and the child device 3 of the present embodiment can improve communication reliability regardless of the communication environment for each phase.

  Moreover, it replaces with the structure which the main | base station 1 monitors the communication environment for every phase, and the subunit | mobile_unit 3 may monitor the communication environment for every phase. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the monitoring unit 16 and the switch 19 in the parent device 1. And the subunit | mobile_unit 3 is equipped with the structure similar to the monitoring part 16 and the switch 19 of the main | base station 1, monitors a communication environment (at least communication environment of A route | root) for every phase, and this monitoring result is used as the main | base station 1 Send to. That is, it is preferable that the subunit | mobile_unit 3 switches the phase used as the monitoring object by switching the combination of the distribution line used as the connection destination of the input path of the input port 31b.

  And the phase determination part 17 of the main | base station 1 determines the 1st phase used for communication of A route based on the received monitoring result. In the configuration in which the slave unit 3 monitors the communication environment for each phase, the communication environment for each consumer can be monitored. Therefore, the master unit 1 can communicate with the A route in consideration of the individual communication environment for each consumer. The first phase to be used can be determined.

  Moreover, the main | base station 1 may be provided with the time measuring part 112 instead of the monitoring part 16, as shown in FIG. The timer unit 112 has a function of measuring the current time. In addition, in the main | base station 1 of FIG. 10, the communication part 11, amplifier 12,13, a pair of capacitor | condenser 14, the phase determination part 17, the switch 18, the pair of capacitor | condenser 110, a pair of capacitor | condenser 111, The timing unit 112 constitutes the communication device 10C. In this case, the A route is [between the parent device 1 (communication device 10C) and the child device 3 (communication device 30A)).

  And the administrator of this system measures the time fluctuation | variation of the communication environment of each phase, and determines beforehand the combination of the distribution line which comprises a 1st phase for every time slot | zone. The phase determination unit 17 stores the time zone information of the first phase (the optimum combination of distribution lines determined in advance for each time zone). And the phase determination part 17 determines the combination of the distribution line which comprises a 1st phase according to the time slot | zone based on the timing result of the time measuring part 112 with reference to the time slot | zone information of a 1st phase. Accordingly, since the first phase used for the communication of the A route is determined corresponding to the communication environment that changes according to the time zone such as daytime or nighttime, the phase in which the communication environment is good for each time zone is determined as A. It can be used for route communication.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, not only the L1-N1 phase and the L2-N1 phase but also the L1-L2 phase may be used as a signal transmission path. In this case, the first phase and the second phase are selected from the L1-N1 phase, the L2-N1 phase, and the L1-L2 phase.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the distribution system W1 is not limited to the single-phase three-wire distribution system, and the same effect as described above can be obtained as long as the distribution system includes three or more distribution lines. .

  Furthermore, in each above-mentioned embodiment, the subunit | mobile_unit 3 measures the consumption of the supply medium of gas, water, and heat in each consumer, The measuring device which produces | generates the meter-reading data according to this measurement result for every fixed time It may be.

  The above-described communication device 30A (or 30B) is a communication device that performs power line carrier communication via three or more distribution lines that supply power from the commercial power supply 6 to consumers. The communication device 30A (or 30B) includes a communication unit 31A (or 31B). Communication unit 31A (or 31B) transmits and receives a first signal used for communication with base unit 1 (first communication terminal) through a first phase in which two distribution lines are combined. . Further, the communication unit 31A (or 31B) transmits a second signal used for communication with the controller 2 (second communication terminal) to a second phase that is a combination of distribution lines different from the first phase. To give and receive.

  Moreover, the subunit | mobile_unit 3 is connected between the main | base station 1 (1st communication terminal) and the controller 2 (2nd communication terminal) via the 3 or more distribution line which supplies electric power to a consumer from the commercial power source 6. FIG. (Third communication terminal) performs power line carrier communication. The subunit | mobile_unit 3 transmits / receives the 1st signal used for communication between the main | base stations 1 via the 1st phase which combined two distribution lines. Moreover, the subunit | mobile_unit 3 transmits / receives the 2nd signal used for communication between the controllers 2 via the 2nd phase which is a combination of the distribution line different from a 1st phase. The communication device 10A (or 10B or 10C) is a communication device used for the parent device 1 of such a communication system. The communication device 10A (or 10B or 10C) determines whether or not to change the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase, and determines the first phase after the change. Is provided. Furthermore, the communication device 10A (or 10B or 10C) includes a communication unit 11 that transmits information about the first phase after the change to the child device 3 via the first phase before the change.

  The communication system described above is connected between the master unit 1 (first communication terminal) and the controller 2 (second communication terminal) via three or more distribution lines that supply power to the consumer from the commercial power source 6. Then, the slave unit 3 (third communication terminal) performs power line carrier communication. In this communication system, handset 3 transmits and receives a first signal used for communication with base unit 1 via a first phase in which two distribution lines are combined. Furthermore, the subunit | mobile_unit 3 transmits / receives the 2nd signal used for communication between the controllers 2 via the 2nd phase which is a combination of the distribution line different from a 1st phase.

  The above-mentioned subunit | mobile_unit 3 (measurement apparatus) is provided with the measurement part 38 which measures the consumption of the resource in a consumer. Furthermore, the subunit | mobile_unit 3 performs power line carrier communication via the 3 or more distribution line which supplies electric power to a consumer from the commercial power source 6, and transmits the measurement result of the measurement part 38 by power line carrier communication (or 31A) (or 31B). The communication unit 31A (or 31B) is a first signal obtained by combining two distribution lines with the first signal used for communication with the parent device 1 (first communication terminal) installed outside the consumer. Give and receive through the phases of. Further, the communication unit 31A (or 31B) uses a combination of distribution lines different from the first phase for the second signal used for communication with the controller 2 (second communication terminal) installed in the consumer. Give and receive through the second phase.

1 Master unit (first communication terminal)
2 Controller (second communication terminal)
3 Slave unit (third communication terminal)
10A, 10B, 10C Communication device 20A, 20B Communication device 30A, 30B Communication device 31A, 31B Communication unit 31a Output port 31b Input port 33A Adder 37 Switch L1, L2 Voltage electrode N1 Neutral electrode

Claims (13)

A communication device that performs power line carrier communication via three or more distribution lines that supply power to a consumer from a commercial power source,
The first signal used for communication with the first communication terminal is transmitted / received via the first phase in which the two distribution lines are combined, and used for communication with the second communication terminal. A communication unit that transmits and receives the second signal to be transmitted and received through a second phase that is a combination of the distribution lines different from the first phase. A set of output ports for outputting signals is provided in the communication unit,
A switch for switching the connection destination of the output path of the output port to the first phase or the second phase;
When the first signal is output from the output port, the switch connects an output path of the output port to the first phase, and the second signal is output from the output port. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an output path of the output port is connected to the second phase. A set of input ports for inputting signals is provided in the communication unit,
An addition circuit is provided for outputting the first signal received via the first phase and the second signal received via the second phase to the input port. 2. The communication device according to 2.   The combination of the distribution lines constituting the first phase and the combination of the distribution lines constituting the second phase are fixed to a predetermined combination. Any one of the communication apparatuses. A third communication terminal performs power line carrier communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal via three or more distribution lines that supply power to a consumer from a commercial power source. The communication terminal transmits and receives a first signal used for communication with the first communication terminal via a first phase obtained by combining two distribution lines, and the second communication terminal. Used in the first communication terminal of the communication system for exchanging the second signal used for communication with the first signal via the second phase that is a combination of the distribution lines different from the first phase. A communication device,
Determining whether or not to change the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase, and a phase determining unit for determining the first phase after the change;
A communication unit comprising: a communication unit that transmits information on the first phase after the change to the third communication terminal via the first phase before the change. A monitoring unit that monitors the communication environment for each phase in which the combination of the distribution lines is different from each other,
The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the phase determination unit sets the phase having the best communication environment as the first phase after change based on a monitoring result of the monitoring unit. A set of input ports for inputting signals is provided in the communication unit,
A switch that switches the combination of the distribution lines to be connected to the input path of the input port,
The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring unit switches a phase to be monitored by switching the switch. It has a timekeeping part that keeps time,
The communication device according to claim 5, wherein the phase determination unit determines a combination of the distribution lines constituting the first phase according to a time zone. A communication system in which a third communication terminal performs power line carrier communication between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal via three or more distribution lines that supply power to a consumer from a commercial power source. And
The third communication terminal transmits and receives a first signal used for communication with the first communication terminal via a first phase in which two distribution lines are combined, and the second communication terminal A communication system, wherein a second signal used for communication with the communication terminal is exchanged via a second phase that is a combination of the distribution lines different from the first phase. The first communication terminal determines whether or not to change the combination of the two distribution lines constituting the first phase, determines the first phase after the change, and after the change Sending information about the first phase to the third communication terminal via the first phase before the change,
The communication system according to claim 9, wherein the third communication terminal sets the first phase based on the received information. The third communication terminal monitors the communication environment for each phase in which the combination of the distribution lines is different from each other, and transmits the monitoring result to the first communication terminal.
The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the first communication terminal determines the first phase based on the received monitoring result.   The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the third communication terminal switches a phase to be monitored by switching a combination of the distribution lines serving as a connection destination of a signal input path. Power line carrier communication is performed via a measurement unit that measures the consumption of resources at a consumer and three or more distribution lines that supply power from a commercial power source to the consumer, and the measurement result of the measurement unit is transmitted to the power line carrier. A communication unit that transmits by communication,
The communication unit transmits and receives a first signal used for communication with a first communication terminal installed outside the consumer via a first phase in which two distribution lines are combined. The second signal used for communication with the second communication terminal installed in the consumer is exchanged via the second phase which is a combination of the distribution lines different from the first phase. A measuring device characterized by that.

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