JP2021018467A - Information communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information communication unit which can be attached to and detached from an installation surface rapidly.SOLUTION: An information communication unit according to the present invention has an information communication unit body provided with a communication module M, and a dock B embedded in an installation plane W and electrically connected to an information communication cable C. The information communication unit body A has an embedded part A1 embedded in the installation plane W and an exposed part A2 exposed from the installation plane W. The dock B has a housing part B1 for housing the embedded part A1. The housing part B1 has an opening facing to a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane direction of the installation plane W. The embedded part A1 and the housing part B1 respectively have connection terminals Ac, Bc. A connection direction d1 of the connection terminals Ac, Bc is substantially in parallel to the opening direction of the housing part B1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an information communication unit that is mounted on a wall surface or the like and interconnects networks.

In recent years, the following methods have been widely adopted as communication methods in each room indoors such as houses and companies.
That is, an information control board (a control board that collectively manages information such as electric power and CATV in addition to LAN) for receiving communication data from the WAN is provided, and each room has an information outlet on the installation surface such as a wall. (LAN connection part to connect the connector of the information communication cable, power outlet, coaxial cable connection port, outlet where the connector connection part of the telephone line is placed facing the surface plate), and the information control panel and LAN connection part This is a method of connecting an information and communication cable.

Further, conventionally, inventions relating to an information communication unit that forms an access point of a wireless LAN by connecting to the above-mentioned information outlet have been proposed.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes an information communication unit that enables wireless LAN connection and wired LAN connection at the same time, and can prevent bulkiness when attached to an information outlet.

This information and communication unit includes a front side divided casing and a back side divided casing, and an electronic board provided with a first connection portion connected to an information and communication cable and a converter are housed therein.
Further, in this information communication unit, the first connection portion and the converter are configured to be adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, so that the outer shape thereof can be formed vertically, and the information outlet can be embedded in the unit embedded portion of the information outlet. Used in.

With such a configuration, the information communication unit can be embedded in any unit without being bulky when attached to the information outlet, and by having an outer shape that matches the shape of each unit embedded portion in the vertically long shape of the information outlet. It can be freely attached and detached to the part.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-157738

However, in the information communication unit described in Patent Document 1, the connecting portion between the front side divided casing and the back side divided casing is embedded in the wall surface.
With such a configuration, it is difficult to quickly remove only the front side split casing, and the convenience of work is lost at the time of internal inspection or replacement due to a failure of the information communication unit or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information communication unit capable of quickly attaching and detaching to and from an installation surface.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes an information communication unit main body provided with a communication module, and a dock embedded in an installation surface and electrically connected to an information communication cable.
The information and communication unit main body has a buried portion embedded in the installation surface and an exposed portion exposed from the installation surface.
The dock has an accommodating portion for accommodating the buried portion.
The accommodating portion opens in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the surface direction of the installation surface.
The embedded portion and the accommodating portion each include a connection terminal that is electrically connected to each other.
The connection direction of the connection terminal is substantially parallel to the opening direction of the housing portion.

According to the present invention, each connection terminal is connected by accommodating the exposed portion in the accommodating portion and pushing it in a direction substantially parallel to the opening direction of the accommodating portion. Further, from this state, the connected state of each connection terminal is eliminated by pulling the exposed portion in a direction substantially parallel to the opening direction of the accommodating portion.
That is, if the installer embeds the dock in the installation surface while connected to the information communication cable, the information communication unit main body forming the access point can be quickly attached to and detached from the installation surface with a simple operation. It becomes possible.
Further, as a result, the information communication unit main body can be handled independently, so that it is possible to flexibly respond to changes in communication standards, for example.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the embedded portion and the accommodating portion include positioning means.
The positioning means is provided with a guide groove provided in either one of the embedded portion and the accommodating portion to slide and guide the embedded portion in the connection direction, and a guide protrusion provided on the other and fitted into the guide groove. And are provided.

With such a configuration, the buried portion and the accommodating portion are positioned in the accommodating space of the accommodating portion, and the information and communication unit main body and the dock can be attached and detached more smoothly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide groove and the guide protrusion are provided in plurality.
The plurality of guide grooves and the plurality of guide protrusions are arranged asymmetrically when viewed from the connection direction, respectively.

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent an unexpected installation error such that the buried portion is turned upside down and accommodated in the accommodating portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information communication unit main body and the accommodating portion include attachment / detachment means.
The attachment / detachment means includes an engaging projection formed on the outer peripheral surface of the embedded portion, an engaging disengaging portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the embedded portion and the exposed portion, and continuously provided on the engaging projection. An engaging groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion and engaged with the engaging projection is provided.
The engaging protrusion is separated from the engaging groove as the disengaging portion is displaced in the direction facing the protruding direction of the engaging protrusion.

With such a configuration, the connection state between the information and communication unit main body and the dock is stably maintained, and by operating the disengagement portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the exposed portion, the engagement protrusion is formed. The engaged state with the engaging groove can be quickly released.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of the attachment / detachment means is provided.

With such a configuration, the connection state between the information communication unit main body and the dock can be maintained more stably.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pair of disengagement portions are arranged symmetrically when viewed from the connection direction.

With such a configuration, when the installer uses the pair of disengagement portions to separate the engagement projection from the engagement groove, the installer can use the pair of disengagement portions to connect the information communication unit main body. It becomes possible to pinch. That is, this makes it easier for the installer to apply a force to the pair of disengagement portions, and it becomes possible to easily cancel the engagement state and the connection state.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information communication unit that can be quickly attached to and detached from the installation surface.

It is a figure which shows the information communication unit main body which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the dock which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the installation method of the dock which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the installation method of the dock which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the installation method of the information communication unit main body which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an end view and the sectional view in the installed state of the information communication unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the installed state of the information communication unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the installation state of the information communication unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the information communication unit according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
The embodiments shown below are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Further, in these figures, reference numeral 1 indicates an information communication unit according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information communication unit 1 is embedded in an information communication unit main body A provided with a communication module M (see FIG. 6) and an installation surface W (see FIG. 8), and is an information communication cable. It includes a dock B that is electrically connected to C (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 1, the information communication unit main body A has a buried portion A1 embedded in the installation surface W and an exposed portion A2 exposed from the installation surface.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the information and communication unit main body A as viewed from the buried portion A1 side, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the information and communication unit main body A.

The buried portion A1 is roughly formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and protrudes from the back side surface of the exposed portion A2.

Further, the buried portion A1 includes a connection terminal Ac that is electrically connected to the accommodating portion B1 (see FIG. 2).
The connection terminal Ac is provided on the side surface of the side facing the exposed portion A2, and projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface direction of this side surface.

Further, in the buried portion A1, a pair of engaging projections Ae formed in a substantially triangular columnar shape protruding outward from substantially the center of both long side surfaces, and an exposed portion from substantially the center of both long side surfaces. A pair of disengagement portions U extending toward A2 are provided.
The pair of disengagement portions U are connected to the arm portion Ua formed in a substantially L shape when viewed from above and the pair of arm portions Ua so as to extend from the tip thereof to the front side surface side. It is composed of the disengagement piece Ub.

The pair of arm portions Ua extend along the surface direction of the long side surface of the buried portion A1 and the surface direction of the back side surface of the exposed portion A2, and the engaging projections Ae are continuously provided on the buried portion A1 side.
The pair of disengagement pieces Ub are provided so as to project outward from substantially the center of both long side surfaces of the exposed portion A2, and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the connection direction d1 as shown in FIG. 1 (b). Has been done.

Further, the buried portion A1 is provided with guide grooves Ag on both long side surfaces thereof for sliding and guiding the buried portion A1 in the connection direction d1 (see FIG. 6).
Two guide grooves Ag are provided on each long side surface, and are formed along the surface direction of each long side surface, substantially parallel to the connection direction d1, and over the entire length of the short side of each long side surface.

Further, the buried portion A1 is provided with a plurality of heat exhaust holes h on both long side surfaces thereof, and a label sticking portion At slightly recessed on the exposed portion A2 side is provided on the back side surface thereof.
A label containing information about the information / communication unit main body A, such as a model number and a date of manufacture, is attached to the label affixing portion At.

The exposed portion A2 is roughly formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and on the upper part of the front side thereof, the power supply unit A2a for switching the power ON / OFF of the information communication unit main body A and the operating state of the information communication unit main body A are confirmed. A confirmation lamp A2b is provided, and a modular jack hole A2c for connecting the information modular jack m2 (see FIG. 6) and the information communication cable is provided at the lower part of the front side thereof.

Further, the exposed portion A2 is provided with a plurality of heat exhaust holes h on the back side surface thereof.

Here, the pair of disengagement portions U are formed of a flexible material such as resin.
Further, in the buried portion A1 and the exposed portion A2, through holes T penetrating inside each of the pair of disengagement portions U are provided in succession to the buried portion A1 and the exposed portion A2 along the extending direction. ing.
With such a configuration, the pair of engaging protrusions Ae and the pair of disengaging portions U each have a protruding direction of the pair of engaging protrusions Ae with the base end of the pair of arm portions Ua on the embedded portion A1 side as a fulcrum. It is possible to displace along.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dock B has a substantially bottomed square tube shape that opens in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the surface direction of the installation surface W and has a storage space V for accommodating the buried portion A1 inside. It has an accommodating portion B1 and a dock main body B2 connected to the accommodating portion B1.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the dock B as viewed from the accommodating portion B1 side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the dock B as viewed from the dock main body B2 side. Further, the dock B shown in FIG. 2B is turned upside down with respect to the dock B shown in FIG. 2A.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the accommodating portion B1 includes a connection terminal Bc that is electrically connected to the buried portion A1.
The connection terminal Bc is provided on the bottom surface of the accommodating portion B1 and projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface direction of the bottom surface.

Further, the accommodating portion B1 is provided with four guide protrusions Bg fitted to each guide groove Ag and a pair of engagement grooves Be engaging with the engagement protrusions Ae on the inner peripheral surface thereof. ..
Two guide protrusions Bg are provided on each long side surface, and are formed along the surface direction of each long side surface, substantially parallel to the connection direction d1, and over the entire length of the short side of each long side surface.

The positioning means P (see FIG. 5) is configured by the guide protrusion Bg and the guide groove Ag described above.
Further, the attachment / detachment means Q (see FIG. 7) is configured by the pair of engagement grooves Be, the pair of disengagement portions U and the pair of engagement protrusions Ae described above.
The number of guide grooves Ag and guide protrusions Bg does not necessarily have to be four, and may be any number.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the dock main body B2 is roughly formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a female terminal B2b for a cable to be connected to the information communication cable C is provided on the bottom surface thereof.

Further, the dock main body B2 is provided with a plurality of locking projections B2a on the outer peripheral surface thereof to be locked in the locking holes 3a of the switch mounting frame 3 (see FIG. 3).

Further, the dock main body B2 is provided with a plurality of heat exhaust holes h on both long side surfaces thereof, and a label sticking portion Bt slightly recessed on the accommodating portion B1 side is provided on the back side surface thereof.
A label containing information on the dock B, such as a model number and a date of manufacture, is attached to the label affixing portion Bt.

Next, a method of installing the information communication unit 1 on the installation surface W will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
For convenience of explanation, the installation surface W is omitted in FIGS. 3 to 5.

First, the installer accommodates the dock B inside the switch box 2 shown in FIG.
Here, the switch box 2 is embedded in the installation surface W, and has a plurality of pair of cable insertion holes 2a provided above and below the installation surface W. Then, the male terminal Ca of the information communication cable C, which is an Internet line, is inserted into the inside of the switch box 2 from the outside through the cable insertion hole 2a in the lower center.

Therefore, the installer accommodates the dock B inside the switch box 2 with the male terminal Ca connected to the female terminal B2b for the cable.
In the present embodiment, the switch box 2 is configured as a triple type having three pairs of cable insertion holes 2a and a pair of screw fixing holes 2b described later, but is an information communication unit. Of course, 1 can be applied to switch boxes such as 1 station, 2 stations, and 4 stations.

Next, the installer covers the switch mounting frame 3 shown in FIG. 3 on the dock B housed in the switch box 2 and fixes the switch mounting frame 3 to the switch box 2.
Here, the switch mounting frame 3 is roughly configured in a substantially rectangular frame shape, and is provided on both long side surfaces of the switch mounting frame 3 and a plurality of locking holes 3a for locking the locking projections B2a, and above and below the plurality of locking holes 3a. It has a pair of screw insertion holes 3b through which the fixing screw S is inserted.
Further, the switch box 2 has a plurality of pairs of screw fixing holes 2b above and below the switch box 2 into which the screws S are screwed.

Therefore, the installer inserts the housing portion B1 of the dock B housed in the switch box 2 into the switch mounting frame 3 and locks each locking projection B2a into each locking hole 3a.
At this time, the pair of screw insertion holes 3b and the pair of screw fixing holes 2b communicate with each other.
Then, the installer inserts the pair of screws S into the pair of screw insertion holes 3b and screwes them into the pair of screw fixing holes 2b.
By doing so, the dock B, the switch box 2 and the switch mounting frame 3 are in the manner shown in FIG. 4, and the dock B is stably positioned inside the switch box 2.

Next, the installer brings the switch plate mounting frame 4 shown in FIG. 4 into contact with the upper end and the lower end of the switch mounting frame 3 and mounts the switch plate mounting frame 3 on the switch mounting frame 3.
Here, the switch plate mounting frame 4 is roughly configured in a substantially thin plate shape and a substantially rectangular frame shape.
Further, the means for connecting the switch mounting frame 3 and the switch plate mounting frame 4 is the same as the conventional one, for example, in a plurality of small holes 3c of the switch mounting frame 3 and a plurality of small holes 4a of the switch plate mounting frame 4. Means for screwing the machine screw s (see FIG. 6) are preferably used.

Next, the installer attaches the switch plate 5 shown in FIG. 4 to the switch plate mounting frame 4.
Here, the switch plate 5 is roughly formed in a substantially thin plate shape, and is provided with a substantially rectangular through window portion 5a through which the accommodating portion B1 is inserted.
Further, the means for connecting the switch plate mounting frame 4 and the switch plate 5 is the same as the conventional one, for example, a plurality of ridges 4b of the switch plate mounting frame 4 and a plurality of ridges 4b provided on the back surface of the switch plate 5. A means for fitting the ridge groove 5b (see FIG. 6) is preferably used.
In this embodiment, three through-window portions 5a are arranged at equal intervals in accordance with the three switch boxes 2. The number of the through window portions 5a is naturally changed according to the type of the switch box to which the information communication unit 1 is applied, such as 1 station, 2 stations, 4 stations, and the like.

Through the above steps, as shown in FIG. 5, the dock B, the switch box 2, the switch mounting frame 3, the switch plate mounting frame 4 and the switch plate 5 are assembled and installed on the installation surface W.
In the present embodiment, as other information and communication units, the F-type plugging information and communication unit X1 constituting the F-type plug to which the antenna cable or the like is connected and the plug to which the outlet plug is connected are connected to the switch box 2. The plug receiving information communication unit X2 that constitutes the receiving is attached.

Then, the installer attaches the information communication unit main body A to the dock B, so that the mode shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (b) is obtained.
That is, the installer fits each guide groove Ag into each guide protrusion Bg and slides the information communication unit main body A to connect the connection terminals Ac and Bc, and accommodates the embedded portion A1 in the accommodation space V.

FIG. 6 is an end view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX'of FIG. 5 (b).
In FIG. 6, the information communication unit main body A is shown in an end view, and other members are shown in a cross-sectional view.

As shown in FIG. 6, the connection direction d1 of the connection terminals Ac and Bc is substantially parallel to the opening direction of the accommodating portion B1.

Further, in the communication module M inside the information communication unit main body A, the first board M1 in which the wireless communication module m1 is formed and the second board M2 in which the information modular jack m2 is formed are connected to the connection terminals m1e and m2e. It is configured by being electrically connected with.

Further, inside the dock B, a dock board N provided with a connection terminal Bc and a female terminal B2b for a cable is arranged.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the assembled buried portion A1 and the accommodating portion B1 cut along the YY'line of FIG.
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the assembled embedded portion A1 and the accommodating portion B1 cut along the ZZ'line of FIG.
In FIG. 7A, the information modular jack m2 and the connection terminal m2e are omitted, and the second board M2 is shown by a dotted line.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the four guide grooves Ag and the four guide protrusions Bg are arranged asymmetrically when viewed from the connection direction d1.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the pair of substantially triangular columnar engaging projections Ae are inclined toward the connection terminal Ac, and the side surface different from the inclined surface hits the inner peripheral surface of the engaging groove Be. By contacting them, the connection mode between the information and communication unit main body A and the dock B is stably maintained.

Further, the installer displaces the pair of disengagement portions U in the directions facing the protrusion direction d2 of the engagement protrusions Ae, thereby separating the engagement protrusions Ae from the engagement groove Be and engaging them. The state can be eliminated.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the information communication unit 1 is installed below, for example, an indoor wall surface (installation surface W).
Note that FIG. 8 shows only the exposed portion A2 exposed from the wall surface (installation surface W) in the information communication unit 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, the information communication unit 1 can perform wireless communication with an information communication device such as a PC, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal without hindering the handling of other cables.
Further, the information communication unit 1 can perform wired communication with an information communication device by using an information communication cable as needed.

According to the present embodiment, the installer quickly attaches / detaches the information / communication unit main body A forming the access point to / from the installation surface W by a sliding operation along the connection direction d1. It becomes possible.
Further, as a result, the information communication unit main body A can be handled independently, so that it is possible to flexibly respond to, for example, a change in the communication standard.

Further, the positioning means P positions the buried portion A1 and the accommodating portion B1 in the accommodating space V of the accommodating portion B1, and enables smoother attachment / detachment work between the information communication unit main body A and the dock B. ..

Further, the four guide grooves Ag and the four guide protrusions Bg are arranged asymmetrically when viewed from the connection direction d1, so that, for example, the embedded portion A1 is inverted upside down and accommodated in the accommodating portion B1. It is possible to prevent unexpected installation mistakes such as accidental installation.

Further, the attachment / detachment means Q stably maintains the connection state between the information communication unit main body A and the dock B, and the engagement release piece Ub exposed from the installation surface is operated to engage with the engagement projection Ae. The engagement state with the groove Be can be quickly released.

Further, by providing a pair of attachment / detachment means, the connection state between the information communication unit main body A and the dock B can be more stably maintained.

Further, since the pair of disengagement portions U are arranged symmetrically with respect to the connection direction d1, the installer uses the pair of disengagement portions U to place the engagement protrusions Ae on the engagement groove Be. The information and communication unit main body A can be sandwiched through the pair of disengagement portions U when the parts are separated from the above. That is, this makes it easier for the installer to apply a force to the pair of disengagement portions U, and it is possible to easily cancel the engagement state and the connection state.

The shapes and dimensions of each component shown in the above-described embodiment are examples, and can be variously changed based on design requirements and the like.

For example, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the buried portion A1 is provided with the guide groove Ag and the accommodating portion B1 is provided with the guide protrusion Bg. On the contrary, the embedded portion A1 is provided with the guide protrusion and the accommodating portion B1 is provided with the guide protrusion B1. A guide groove may be provided.

1 Information communication unit A Information communication unit body A1 Embedded part A2 Exposed part A2a Power supply part A2b Confirmation lamp A2c Modular jack hole Ac Connection terminal Ag Guide groove Ae Engagement protrusion At Label sticking part U Engagement disengagement part Ua Arm part Ub Release piece M Communication module M1 First board m1 Wireless communication module m1e Connection terminal M2 Second board m2 Information modular jack m2e Connection terminal B Dock B1 Storage part V Storage space B2 Dock body B2a Locking protrusion B2b Female terminal Bc connection for cable Terminal Bg Guide protrusion Be Engagement groove Bt Label sticking part N Dock base P Positioning means Q Attaching / detaching means h Heat exhaust hole 2 Switch box 3 Switch mounting frame 4 Switch plate mounting frame 5 Switch plate C Information communication cable S Screw s Machine screw d1 Connection direction d2 Protrusion direction W Installation surface

Claims (6)

It is equipped with an information communication unit body equipped with a communication module and a dock embedded in the installation surface and electrically connected to the information communication cable.
The information and communication unit main body has a buried portion embedded in the installation surface and an exposed portion exposed from the installation surface.
The dock has an accommodating portion for accommodating the buried portion.
The accommodating portion opens in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the surface direction of the installation surface.
The embedded portion and the accommodating portion each include a connection terminal that is electrically connected to each other.
An information communication unit whose connection direction of the connection terminal is substantially parallel to the opening direction of the accommodating portion. The embedded portion and the accommodating portion include positioning means.
The positioning means is provided with a guide groove provided in either one of the embedded portion and the accommodating portion to guide the embedded portion by sliding in the connection direction, and a guide protrusion provided on the other and fitted into the guide groove. The information communication unit according to claim 1, wherein is provided with. A plurality of the guide groove and the guide protrusion are provided.
The information communication unit according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of guide grooves and the plurality of guide protrusions are arranged asymmetrically when viewed from the connection direction, respectively. The information communication unit main body and the accommodating portion include attachment / detachment means.
The attachment / detachment means includes an engaging projection formed on the outer peripheral surface of the embedded portion, an engaging disengaging portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the embedded portion and the exposed portion, and continuously provided on the engaging projection. An engaging groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating portion and engaged with the engaging projection is provided.
The information according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engaging protrusion is separated from the engaging groove as the disengaging portion is displaced in a direction facing the protruding direction of the engaging protrusion. communication unit. The information communication unit according to claim 4, wherein the attachment / detachment means are provided in pairs. The information and communication unit according to claim 5, wherein the pair of disengagement portions are arranged symmetrically when viewed from the connection direction.