JP3687657B2 - Home network equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a home network device to which a power line communication module can be attached.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, networks have become familiar, and attention has been paid to applications in various fields such as remote operation of home devices and security management by building networks in the home.
[0003]
In order to promote such networking in the home, it is necessary to support various communication standards, but conventional communication devices are configured to insert an interface board corresponding to the required communication standard into the equipment. There were many things, and the insertion part also exposed many outside (for example, refer patent document 1).
[0004]
In addition, the interface board having the power line communication function is fixed to the main body of the apparatus and cannot be removed.
[0005]
FIG. 4 shows the conventional communication apparatus, in which 100 is a shelf, 101 is an interface board, and 102 is a connector provided on the interface board 101.
[0006]
About the communication apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the attachment method is demonstrated.
[0007]
Usually, the communication device is used in a state where at least one interface board 101 is inserted into a plug-in portion (not shown) in the shelf 100 via a connector 102. In this case, only communication according to the communication standard of the inserted interface board 101 can be performed. Therefore, when it is necessary to newly support another communication standard, the interface board 101 corresponding to the desired communication standard is inserted into the shelf 100. In this case, the connector 102 on the interface board 101 and the connector 102 in the shelf 100 are fitted.
[0008]
Through the above operation, it was possible to cope with a new communication standard and to expand the network.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-226862 (page 2-3, FIG. 1)
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional communication apparatus has a problem that the insertion portion is exposed and there is a risk of intrusion of dust, insects, and the like.
[0011]
Moreover, many power line communication modules were built-in from the beginning, and none were removable.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a home network device having an attachment portion that allows a power line communication module to be attached and detached, and that is free from the intrusion of dust and the like.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the home network device main body of the present invention includes an attachment portion on which a communication module can be attached to the home network device main body. According to this configuration, the communication module can be retrofitted as an option, and the function can be expanded when necessary.
[0014]
Moreover, communication means other than power line communication are provided. According to this configuration, it is possible to control not only a home network based on simple power line communication but also a wide range of devices by integrating networks using other communication media.
[0015]
In addition, a connector for connecting a communication module is provided in the mounting portion. According to this configuration, the communication module can be easily mounted without complicated wiring and without erroneous connection.
[0016]
Moreover, the cover which can be fitted and removed with the nail | claw which has elasticity with the hole of a home network apparatus main body for covering an attaching part is provided. According to this configuration, the attachment portion can be covered. In addition, the cover can be easily attached and detached because it is fitted with elastic nails.
[0017]
Moreover, the attachment part is provided in the front surface of the home network equipment main body. By adopting this configuration, the communication module can be detached from the front surface without removing the home network device from the wall surface when it is attached to the wall surface.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
[0019]
(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a home network device main body, 2 is a communication module mounting portion provided in the home network device main body 1, and 3 is a communication module attached to the communication module mounting portion 2 for performing power line communication. 4 is a power cord of the home network device body 1, 5 is an interface connector provided in the home network device body 1, and 6 is a connector for attaching the communication module 3 to the home network device body 1. 3 is provided in a recess for inserting 3, and 9 indicates a connector for connecting to the home network device main body 1.
[0021]
2, 20 is a home network device (home network device main body 1 with the communication module 3 in FIG. 1), 21 is a home communication line connected to the home network device 20, and 22 is connected by a communication line 21. Home network device 23, a communication line for connecting the home network device 20 and the outside network, 24 a power line for connecting the home network device 20 and the home device 22 by power line communication, and 25 for connection by power line communication Household appliances that are used. The communication line 21 is connected to the interface connector 5 in FIG.
[0022]
A home network device is connected to a device in the home via a communication line, and performs communication according to a communication standard to perform various controls.
[0023]
The communication standards mentioned here include communication standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), USB, RS-485, JEM-A, and IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, and Bluetooth using wireless. In addition, home appliances refer to home appliances such as a television, an air conditioner, and a lighting fixture. Furthermore, in order to control household appliances, the structure which installs a relay apparatus between household appliances and a communication line, and controls a relay apparatus may be sufficient.
[0024]
Hereinafter, the operation in the above configuration will be described using an example of controlling the air conditioner in the house from outside the house.
[0025]
First. A user operates a personal computer or a terminal that can be connected to a network from a network outside the home, and sends an air conditioner operation start request signal to the home network device 20 via the communication line 23 connected to the network outside the home. As a means for sending a signal, there are an electronic mail method and a method using a dedicated data server. Next, the home network device 20 receives an air conditioner operation start request signal, and the home network device 20 sends an operation start request signal to the air conditioner via the communication line 21 connected to the target air conditioner. Then, the air conditioner that has received the signal starts operating. On the other hand, a response signal indicating normal operation in response to the operation start request is returned from the air conditioner to the home network device 20 via the communication line 21. The home network device 20 that has received the response signal sends the contents to a terminal operated by the user via e-mail or a dedicated data server.
[0026]
In addition to a home network using a dedicated communication line in the house, a home network based on power line communication can be easily constructed by attaching the communication module 3 to the mounting portion 2. In this case, the home device 25 and the home network device 20 connected to the power line 24 can communicate. Since the electric wire 24 is wired in advance in the home, a home network can be constructed without performing new wiring work. Since many of the devices used in the home are connected to the power line 24, the number of devices connected to the network can be easily increased. Except for using the electric light line 24 instead of the dedicated communication line 21 as the communication line, it is the same as the case where the air conditioner is operated, and therefore the detailed description is omitted.
[0027]
In addition, in order to connect the home network device main body 1 and the communication module 3, there is a method in which the home network device main body 1 and the communication module 3 are respectively provided with a connector 6 and a connector 9 for connection.
[0028]
As described above, by providing the communication module mounting unit 2 in the home network device body, in addition to the home network using the conventional dedicated line, the home network using the power line communication can be easily constructed after the home network device is installed. be able to. When power line communication is no longer necessary, the network can be easily removed by removing only the communication module 3. Further, even when the communication module 3 fails, it can be easily replaced in a short time because it can be easily detached from the communication module mounting portion 2. Further, by connecting using the connector 6 of the home network device body 1 and the connector 9 of the communication module 3, wiring errors can be eliminated, and the communication module can be attached to the home network device body without special skills. it can.
[0029]
It is also possible to install the home network device main body with the communication module mounted on the communication module mounting portion 2 first, and use both the home network using the dedicated line and the network using the power line from the beginning.
[0030]
Although an example in which a home network using the dedicated communication line 21 is first constructed and a network using the power line 24 is added later, the home network can be used only in the network using the power line 24.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the example has been described in which the home network device body 1 and the communication module 3 are connected by connectors, but it is not always necessary to directly fit the connectors, and the home network device body 1 and the communication module 3 are not necessarily connected. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the harness is interposed.
[0032]
In the case of supporting a plurality of communication standards, it is also possible to control the devices connected to the respective communication lines in association with each other.
[0033]
(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0034]
In FIG. 3, 7 is a cover, 8 is a claw portion, and 10 is a hole portion. The cover 7 serves to cover the communication module mounting portion 2, and the hole 10 of the home network device body 1 and the cover 7 are hooked by the claw portion 8.
[0035]
A procedure for mounting the communication module 2 in this configuration will be described.
[0036]
First, in order to remove the cover 7, the claw portion 8 is operated so that a certain level of force is applied. Since the claw portion 8 is made of an elastic material, the hole portion 10 and the cover 7 of the home network device main body 1 have an appropriate catch. Although the cover 7 cannot be removed by a normal impact, it has a structure that can be removed by applying a certain level of force. After removing the cover 7, the communication module 3 is attached to the attachment portion 2. The communication module 3 is fixed to the home network device body 1 by screwing or hooking with a claw. Thereafter, the cover 7 and the home network device body 1 are combined, the claw portion 8 of the cover 7 and the hole 10 of the home network device body 1 are fitted, and the cover 7 is attached to the home network device body 1.
[0037]
Since the control of the device using the home network is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted.
[0038]
Note that the communication module 3 is attached to the communication module mounting portion 2 in order to construct a network using power lines. However, the communication module mounting portion 2 has a shape that allows the communication module 3 to enter, and thus is not aesthetically pleasing and is not suitable for dust, insects, etc. However, by adopting this configuration, the home network device main body 1 can be provided with the mounting portion 2 without deteriorating the aesthetics. From the dust and insect insertion, the home network device main body can be provided. 1 can be defended.
[0039]
In addition, by bringing the attachment part 2 to the front surface with the home network device main body 1 attached to a substantially vertical wall surface, the communication module can be installed without removing the home network device main body 1 from the wall surface in a state attached to the wall surface. Can be installed.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the communication module can be easily attached to the home network device body by providing the home network device body with the mounting portion for attaching the communication module, and a network using a power line can be constructed. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a home network device main body according to a first embodiment of a home network device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a connection diagram of a home network according to a first embodiment of the home network device of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a home network device main body in Embodiment 2 of the home network device according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional home network device.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Home network equipment main body 2 Attachment part 3 Communication module 4 Power cord 5 Interface connector 6 Connector of home network equipment main body 7 Cover 8 Claw part 9 Connector 10 of communication module Hole part 20 Home network equipment 21 For communicating with domestic equipment Communication line 22 Domestic device 23 connected by communication line Communication line 24 connecting the inside and outside of the house 24 Electric light line 25 Domestic device corresponding to the electric light line

Claims (6)

A power line communication module for controlling an electrical device using a power line is connected to a home network device body that is connected to a home electrical device, communicates with the outside via the Internet network, and controls the home electrical device from outside the home. A home network device provided with a mounting portion to be attached, wherein the power line communication module is removable. An electrical device is controlled by one or more communication means other than power line communication, and a plurality of electrical devices are controlled by one or more communication means other than power line communication and power line communication when the power line communication module is installed. 1. The home network device according to 1. The home network device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein connectors for connection at the time of mounting are provided on the home network device main body and the power line communication module. The home network device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the home network device main body has a cover that covers the mounting portion and is removable when the power line communication module is mounted. The home network device according to claim 4, wherein the cover includes a claw portion having elasticity, and the claw portion is hooked and attached to a hole provided in a mounting portion of the home network main body. 6. The home network device main body has an attachment portion that is attached to a substantially vertical wall surface, and the power line communication module is attached from the front surface of the wall surface with the home network device main body attached to the wall surface. A home network device according to any one of the above.

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