JP4075011B2 - Duct insertion type antenna device and in-building communication method using this antenna device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a duct insertion type antenna apparatus and an in-building communication method suitable for transmitting information using, for example, an air conditioning duct.
[0002]
[Related background]
When a new data transmission path such as a LAN (Local Area Network) is provided in an existing building such as an office building, it is desired to install a data transmission device such as a wireless transceiver on the ceiling or the like from the viewpoint of appearance. However, many air conditioning ducts and piping for electrical equipment are installed behind the ceiling, which is a factor that hinders the propagation of radio waves. Moreover, the back of the ceiling is often partitioned by a fire wall, and it is difficult to construct a wireless transmission path that spans the fire wall and extends to adjacent sections.
[0003]
On the other hand, a transmitter / receiver is placed at both ends of a hollow metal pipe placed in a ventilation duct or a tunnel for construction in an underground space facility, and the metal pipe is used as a wave waveguide, for example, in an underground construction site It has been proposed that wireless communication be performed between the mobile phone and the ground (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-223095
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a ventilation duct or a metal pipe is installed on the premise that it is used for wireless communication, a transmitter / receiver may be incorporated at both ends in advance. However, when trying to perform wireless communication using an existing air conditioning duct, there is a problem in how to install the transceiver (antenna). In particular, air-conditioning ducts in existing buildings are provided exclusively behind the ceiling and are often covered with a heat insulating material. For this reason, it cannot be denied that the construction for incorporating the transmitter / receiver into the existing air-conditioning duct becomes large.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is, for example, that it can be easily installed in an existing air-conditioning duct, and is simple and suitable for forming a wireless communication line using the air-conditioning duct. An object of the present invention is to provide a duct insertion type antenna device having a structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an in-building communication method capable of realizing a wide range of wireless communication in a building using the duct insertion type antenna device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention inserts a rod-shaped sensor unit from the outside of an air conditioning duct as one form of a temperature sensor or humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity of air flowing in the air conditioning duct. We focus on the so-called duct insertion type sensor, which is structured to be attached to the air conditioning duct.
[0008]
Therefore, the duct insertion type antenna device according to the present invention is mounted by using a sensor mounting hole formed in the wall surface of the air conditioning duct,
In particular, an antenna support attached to the outside of the air conditioning duct via a cylindrical antenna attachment jig attached to the hole is inserted into the air conditioning duct through the cylinder portion of the antenna attachment jig. A rod-shaped antenna element to be positioned is protruded, and a plug for external connection of the antenna element is further provided on the antenna support.
[0009]
Incidentally for said antenna element, it is preferable to the base end portion provided detachably to the antenna support. Further, it is desirable that the antenna support has a built-in transmitter / receiver or a connector (connector) for externally connecting the transmitter / receiver.
[0010]
Further, the in-building communication method according to the present invention uses the above-described duct insertion type antenna device, and a plurality of ducts are laid in the building through a radio wave shielding body such as a fire wall or a floor body. Each of the duct insertion type antenna devices is installed, and wireless communication is performed using the inside of the duct as a radio wave transmission path. Incidentally, the said duct consists of the air-conditioning duct and / or pipe space which were laid in the ceiling part or the floor part, or were provided through the upper and lower floors.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a duct insertion type antenna device and an in-building communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to an embodiment, and illustrates a state in which the antenna device is attached to an air-conditioning duct 1 laid on a ceiling of an existing structure. The air conditioning duct 1 having a fluid passage having a square cross section is made of a metal such as aluminum or tin, and is fixed to a beam or wall on the back of the ceiling and laid in the building for ventilation, room temperature adjustment, etc. Used. In addition, the air-conditioning duct 1 may be laid by wrapping a heat insulating material (not shown) around its outer peripheral surface. In particular, the air conditioning duct 1 is generally provided through a fire wall that partitions a building into a plurality of regions.
[0012]
An antenna device according to the present invention attached to such an air conditioning duct 1 is schematically composed of a synthetic resin (plastic) antenna support 10 that forms a box-shaped housing, and the antenna support 10 is connected to the air conditioning duct. 1 includes an antenna mounting jig 20 for mounting to the antenna 1 and an antenna element 30 projecting perpendicularly to one surface of the antenna support 10. The antenna support 10 is provided with a connection plug (connector) 40 for connecting the antenna element 30 to an external transceiver (not shown).
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the antenna mounting jig 20 has a predetermined length inserted into a sensor mounting round hole (hole) 2 previously drilled in the air conditioning duct 1. A cylindrical portion 21 having a length L and a fixing flange 22 provided at one end of the cylindrical portion 21 are provided. The antenna mounting jig 20 is fixed to the wall surface of the air-conditioning duct 1 with screws using a plurality of U-shaped cuts 23 provided at the edge of the flange 22. Further, a plurality of engaging projections 24 are provided on the surface of the flange 22 opposite to the side where the cylindrical portion 21 is provided, around a circular opening formed by the cylindrical portion 21. These engaging projections 24 are used for fixing (attaching) the antenna support 10 to the antenna mounting jig 20, and have a rivet shape whose head is enlarged in diameter, or a tip portion thereof is L It consists of a hook-like thing bent into a letter shape.
[0014]
On the other hand, the antenna support 10 attached to the antenna mounting jig 20 described above has a columnar pedestal 11 for attaching the antenna element 30 to the substantially central portion of one surface thereof as shown in FIG. I have. The pedestal portion 11 is of a size that can be inserted into the cylindrical portion 21 of the antenna mounting jig 20, and a screw hole (not shown) is provided at the tip thereof. The round rod-shaped antenna element 30 having substantially the same diameter as the pedestal portion 11 is integrated coaxially with the pedestal portion 11 by screwing the base end portion thereof into a screw hole provided at the distal end of the pedestal portion 11 so as to support the antenna. Attached to the body 10. Further, the antenna element 30 is electrically connected to the connection plug 40 by mounting the antenna element 30 to the pedestal portion 11.
[0015]
The antenna support 10 is provided with a clamper 12 made of a ring-shaped plate located at the base of the pedestal 11 so as to be rotatable at a predetermined angle simultaneously with the pedestal 11. The clamper 12 has a plurality of engagement holes 13 each composed of a guide hole into which the above-described engagement protrusion 24 is fitted, and an engagement groove that is connected to the guide hole and engages with the distal end portion of the engagement protrusion 24. Is provided. The clamper 12 is provided with a lever 14 that protrudes from the edge of the clamper 12 and extends to the upper end of the antenna support 10.
[0016]
The mounting of the antenna support 10 provided with the clamper 12 to the antenna mounting jig 20 described above is performed in a state where the lever 14 is moved to the attaching / detaching position of the antenna support 10. Then, the antenna element 30 protruding from the antenna support 10 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 21 of the antenna mounting jig 20 and pushed into it, and the antenna mounting jig 20 described above is inserted into the engagement hole (guide hole) 13 of the clamper 12. The engaging projections 24 are respectively fitted. In this state, the lever 14 is shifted to the fixed position to rotate the clamper 12, and the engagement protrusions 24 are engaged with the engagement holes (engagement grooves) 13, respectively. The jig 20 is firmly coupled (fixed). The removal is performed by shifting the lever 14 to the attachment / detachment position and releasing the engagement between the clamper 12 and the engagement protrusion 24.
[0017]
Thus, according to the antenna device having such a structure, the antenna with the antenna element 30 attached can be obtained by inserting the opening 20 having a predetermined dimension that has been drilled in the wall surface of the air conditioning duct 1 in advance and attaching the antenna mounting jig 20. The antenna device can be easily installed in the air conditioning duct 1 simply by attaching the support 10 to the antenna attachment jig 20. If the transmitter / receiver is connected via the connection plug 40 provided on the antenna support 10, it is possible to easily perform wireless communication using the inside of the air conditioning duct 1 as a propagation path of radio waves. Therefore, even when the space in the building is partitioned by the fire wall 5 or the like as shown in FIG. 4, wireless communication is effectively performed through the air conditioning duct 1 laid through the fire wall 5. It becomes possible to do.
[0018]
The air-conditioning duct 1 generally has a size of about several tens of centimeters on one side, and the frequency band used for this type of wireless communication is 2.4 GHz. Therefore, as the antenna element 30 in such a frequency band, it is sufficient that its effective length is 10 cm or less. 30 can be positioned.
[0019]
However, when the antenna device is attached from the outside of the wall provided outside the air conditioning duct 1, for example, the antenna mounting jig provided with the cylindrical portion 21 having a length L corresponding to the distance between the air conditioning duct 1 and the wall. The tool 20 is prepared, the antenna mounting jig 20 is attached from the outside of the wall, and the cylindrical portion 21 is fitted into the hole formed in the air conditioning duct 1. The antenna element 30 is attached with a rod-like intermediate member (not shown) interposed between the antenna element 30 and the base 11 so that the height of the antenna element 30 attached to the antenna support 10 is changed. It's fine
[0020]
In this way, even when the mounting position of the antenna support 10 with respect to the air conditioning duct 1 is away from the air conditioning duct 1, the antenna element 30 can be reliably positioned at the substantially central portion of the air conditioning duct 1. . Therefore, the antenna device can be easily attached to the air conditioning duct 1 without impairing the function as an antenna.
[0021]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, it is of course possible to project the antenna element 30 on the antenna support 10 in a fixed manner. Further, the antenna element 30 may be replaced according to the radio communication specification, specifically according to the frequency (wavelength) of the radio wave to be used. Moreover, it is also possible to attach the antenna device using not only an air conditioning duct but also a pipe space penetrating the building over its upper and lower floors. If such a pipe space is used, wireless communication over a plurality of floors divided up and down on the floor surface of each floor as well as in a building partitioned in a plane by a fire wall becomes possible.
[0022]
For example, when a wide range of wireless communication over the entire building consisting of multiple floors is realized via the air conditioning duct and the pipe space, the antenna device attached to the air conditioning duct 1 and the antenna device attached to the pipe space are relayed. The electrical connection may be made through a container. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an antenna device having a simple structure that can be easily incorporated into an air-conditioning duct laid in an existing building, and to reduce the cost of adding a data transmission path. In practice, a great effect can be obtained. Further, even in a building partitioned by a fire wall or the like, it is possible to achieve effects such as wireless communication over a wide range beyond the fire wall.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an attached state to an air conditioning duct.
2 is a view showing an example of an antenna mounting jig in the antenna device shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an antenna support and an antenna element in the antenna device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a form of wireless communication in a building via an air conditioning duct.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning duct 5 Fire wall 10 Antenna support body 11 Base part 12 Clamper 20 Jig for antenna attachment 21 Tube part 22 Flange part 30 Antenna element 40 Plug for external connection

Claims (4)

An antenna device to be attached to a sensor mounting hole bored in a wall surface of an air conditioning duct,
A cylindrical antenna attachment jig that is attached in advance to the hole,
An antenna support attached to the outside of the air conditioning duct via the antenna mounting jig;
A rod-shaped antenna element that is provided on the antenna support, is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the antenna mounting jig and is positioned inside the air conditioning duct,
A duct insertion type antenna apparatus comprising: a plug for external connection of the antenna element provided on the antenna support.   The duct insertion type antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna support includes a transceiver or is connected to the transceiver. An in-building communication method using the duct insertion type antenna device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A plurality of duct insertion type antenna devices are respectively installed in ducts laid through a radio wave shielding body such as a fire wall or a floor in a building, and wireless communication is performed using the inside of the duct as a radio wave transmission path. An in-building communication method characterized by the above. The in-building communication method according to claim 3 , wherein the duct is composed of an air-conditioning duct and / or a pipe space that is laid on a ceiling portion or a floor portion, or provided through an upper and lower floor.

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