JP7228760B2 - Transmitting device, receiving device, transmission system and transmission method - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to transmitters, receivers, transmission systems and methods, and more particularly to transmitters, receivers, transmission systems and methods for communicating over electrical lines that supply voltage.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a power line communication system that communicates using a power line has been provided (see Patent Document 1, for example). The power line communication system described in Patent Document 1 is applied to, for example, an air conditioning management system for managing air conditioners in a building, and includes a master unit provided in one room of the building and a slave unit provided in each living room. The parent device and each child device are electrically connected by a power line, and power supply voltage is supplied from the parent device to each child device via the power line.

In this power line communication system, for example, when information is transmitted from the parent device to the child device, the parent device superimposes a voltage signal corresponding to the information on the power supply voltage and supplies the voltage signal to the child device. Then, the child device separates the voltage signal from the power supply voltage supplied from the parent device, converts the separated voltage signal (analog signal) into a digital signal, and acquires information from this digital signal.

JP-A-2014-53807

In the power line communication system of Patent Literature 1, the longer the power line, the greater the attenuation of the voltage signal, so an amplifier is required to increase the communication distance. In addition, since this power supply line communication system has a configuration in which a voltage signal is superimposed on the power supply voltage, it is easily affected by noise from electrical equipment connected to the same power supply line. you need a filter.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a transmitting device, a receiving device, a transmission system, and a transmission method that are less susceptible to noise while increasing the communication distance.

A transmission device according to an aspect of the present disclosure transmits transmission data to an electric line with a voltage supply unit that supplies voltage. The transmission device includes a connection section, a load section, a switching section, and a control section. The connecting portion is electrically connected to the electric circuit. The load section delays or leads the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section. The switching unit switches between a state in which the current flows through the load unit and a state in which the current does not flow. The control unit controls switching of states by the switching unit. The connection unit receives a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing a signal on the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit. The control unit controls the switching unit in synchronization with the phase of the signal included in the superimposed voltage so that a current corresponding to the transmission data flows through the electric path.

A receiving device according to an aspect of the present disclosure uses a load unit that delays or leads the phase of a current with respect to a voltage supplied through an electric circuit by a voltage supply unit that supplies a voltage, and supplies a current according to transmission data. is received from a transmitting device that transmits to the electric line. The receiving device includes a current measuring section and a signal extracting section. The current detector measures the waveform of the current flowing through the electric circuit. The signal extraction unit extracts a current signal including the transmission data transmitted from the load unit from the waveform of the current measured by the current measurement unit. The signal extraction unit extracts the current signal from the current measured by the current measurement unit using apparent power and effective power.

A transmission system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the transmitting device and the receiving device.

A transmission method according to an aspect of the present disclosure transmits transmission data to an electric line with a voltage supply unit that supplies voltage, and delays or advances the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit. A transmitting device used in a transmitting device that includes a switching unit that switches between a state in which the current flows and a state in which the current does not flow in a load unit that causes the current to flow, and receives a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing a signal on the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit. used in The transmission method controls the switching section in synchronization with the phase of the signal included in the superimposed voltage so that the current corresponding to the transmission data flows through the electric path.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to increase the communication distance and reduce the influence of noise.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a transmission system including the same transmission device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a distribution board in the transmission system; FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the correspondence relationship between connectors and branch breakers in the same transmission system. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of the transmission device of the same. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the waveform of the voltage detected by the transmitting device and the control for switching the state of the switching unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a receiving device included in the transmission system; FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the current waveform detected by the receiving device and the unit data. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a transmission system according to Modification 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a transmission device according to Modification 2. As shown in FIG.

The embodiments and modifications described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and modifications. Other than the following embodiments and modifications, various modifications can be made according to the design and the like within the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure.

(embodiment)
The transmission system 50 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG.

(1) Outline The transmission system 50 (see FIG. 2) of the present embodiment is a system for checking the state of the wiring A1 after the wiring A1 is installed in a new building, for example. The wiring A1 is an electric wire that connects the distribution board 1 and the connector B1 and supplies power from the distribution board 1 to the connector B1. More specifically, the wiring A1 is an electric wire that connects the secondary terminal of the branch breaker 3 installed in the distribution board 1 and the connector B1. The connector B1 is mainly installed inside the building and electrically connected to the distribution board 1 via the wiring A1. The connector B1 may be installed outside the building as well as inside the building. Although this embodiment exemplifies the case where the building is a detached house, it is not limited to this example. As long as the distribution board 1 can be installed, the building may be, for example, each dwelling unit of an apartment complex, an office, a store, a factory, a hospital, or the like.

The term “connector” as used in the present disclosure includes a hanging ceiling rosette installed on the ceiling of a building, etc., as well as an outlet. In the following description, connector B1 is an outlet. Also, the “connector” referred to in the present disclosure refers to a connector corresponding to the wiring A1 one-to-one. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, when a plurality of (here, two) receptacles B11 to which plugs can be connected are connected to one branch breaker 3 by one wiring A1, a plurality of receptacles All of the ports B11 are the same single connector B1. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, when a plurality of outlets B11 are connected to different branch breakers 3 with different wires A1, the plurality of outlets B11 are different connectors B1.

The “wiring state” referred to in the present disclosure includes a state of whether or not the wiring A1 is connected in a state in which power can be supplied from the distribution board 1 to the connector B1. That is, if the state of the wiring A1 is normal, current (alternating current) flows through the wiring A1 when both the main breaker 2 of the distribution board 1 and the branch breaker 3 to which the wiring A1 is connected are in a conductive state. obtain. On the other hand, if the state of the wiring A1 is abnormal, no alternating current flows through the wiring A1 even if both the main breaker 2 and the branch breaker 3 to which the wiring A1 is connected are in a conductive state.

The transmission system 50 includes a transmitter 10 and a receiver 20, as shown in FIG.

The transmitter 10 is connectable to the connector B1. The transmitter 10 is used by being connected to the connector B1 to which the wiring A1 to be checked is connected.

The receiver 20 receives the detection result of the detector 5 that detects the alternating current flowing through the wiring A1. In this embodiment, the detection unit 5 is provided in the distribution board 1 as described later. Therefore, the detector 5 is not an essential component of the transmission system 50 .

The transmission device 10 outputs transmission data to the distribution board 1 via the wiring A1. Here, the transmission data is data representing the identifier of the transmitting device 10, for example.

The receiving device 20 confirms the state of the wiring A1 by acquiring the transmission data based on the detection result of the detection unit 5 . That is, the receiving device 20 receives transmission data from the transmitting device 10 connected to the connector B1 connected to the wiring A1 by referring to the detection result of the alternating current flowing through the wiring A1. By acquiring the transmission data, the receiving device 20 can determine that the distribution board 1 is connected to the connector B1 to which the transmitting device 10 is connected in a state in which power can be supplied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the receiving device 20 can confirm the state of the wiring A1 by determining whether transmission data is acquired based on the detection result of the detection unit 5 .

(2) Configuration Hereinafter, the transmission system 50 of this embodiment will be described in detail. The transmission system 50 includes a transmitter 10 and a receiver 20, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the operator uses the transmission system 50 to check the states of the plurality of wires A1 (electric circuits) respectively connecting the distribution board 1 and the plurality of connectors B1. That is, in the present embodiment, there are a plurality of connectors B1, and the plurality of connectors B1 are electrically connected to the plurality of branch breakers 3 in the distribution board 1 via a plurality of wirings A1, respectively. . Note that the number of wires A1 and the number of branch breakers 3 may not be the same. That is, one branch breaker 3 may be connected to two or more wirings A1.

(2-1) Distribution Board First, the distribution board 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the top, bottom, left, and right of FIG. stipulate. Specifically, the horizontal direction is defined as the direction in which the main breaker 2 and the branch breaker 3 are arranged, and the front-rear direction is defined as the direction in which the bottom of the cabinet body 1100 and the receiving device 20 are arranged. Further, a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the up-down direction.

The distribution board 1 includes a cabinet 1000, a master breaker 2, a plurality of branch breakers 3, a detector 5, and a receiver 20, as shown in FIG.

The cabinet 1000 includes a box-shaped cabinet body 1100 with an open front and a lid that closes the opening of the cabinet body 1100 . In FIG. 3, illustration of the lid is omitted. Inside the cabinet 1000, a main breaker 2 (voltage supply unit), a plurality of branch breakers 3, a detection unit 5, and a receiving device 20 are accommodated.

The main breaker 2 has a primary side terminal 4 and a secondary side terminal. In the distribution board 1 of the present embodiment, a single-phase three-wire system is assumed as a power distribution system. connected In addition, the secondary side terminal of the main breaker 2 is connected to the conductive bar of the first voltage pole (L1 phase), the conductive bar of the second voltage pole (L2 phase), and the conductive bar of the neutral pole (N phase). It is Each conductive bar is formed of a conductive member in the shape of a long plate that is elongated in the left-right direction.

A plurality of branch breakers 3 are divided into upper and lower sides of the conductive bar of the neutral pole, and a plurality of each are arranged so as to line up in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, 12 branch breakers 3 are arranged laterally above the conductive bar of the neutral pole. In addition, 12 branch breakers 3 are arranged in a horizontal direction below the conductive bar of the neutral pole.

Each branch breaker 3 has a pair of primary side terminals and a pair of secondary side terminals. The branch breaker 3 is available for 100V and 200V. A pair of primary side terminals included in the branch breaker 3 for 100V are electrically connected to one of the conductive bar of the first voltage pole and the conductive bar of the second voltage pole and the conductive bar of the neutral pole, respectively. be. A pair of primary side terminals included in the branch breaker 3 for 200V are electrically connected to the conductive bar of the first voltage pole and the conductive bar of the second voltage pole, respectively. Thus, each branch breaker is supplied with AC voltage from the commercial power supply 500 via the main breaker 2 . In this embodiment, the path between the pair of primary terminals of the branch breaker 3 and the main breaker 2 corresponds to the electric line L1.

Also, the corresponding wiring A1 is electrically connected to the secondary side terminal of the branch breaker 3 . The wiring A1 connected to the secondary side terminal of each branch breaker 3 includes, for example, lighting fixtures, air conditioners, television receivers, hot water supply equipment, and wiring fixtures such as connector B1 or wall switches as loads. or more are connected.

The detector 5 is configured to detect an alternating current flowing through the electric line L1. The detection unit 5 has a current sensor 5a composed of, for example, a current transformer (CT: Current Transformer).

The receiving device 20 has a measurement function of measuring an alternating current passing through at least one of the main breaker 2 and the branch breaker 3 in the distribution board 1, and a function of extracting a current signal including transmission data based on the measured alternating current. have. The receiving device 20 outputs transmission data included in the extracted current signal to an external device. Here, the external device is, for example, a personal computer (desktop type, laptop type, etc.). Note that the external device is not limited to a personal computer, and may be a mobile information terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal. Furthermore, the external device may be a dedicated device used in the transmission system 50, but is not limited to this example. For example, a general-purpose personal computer may function as the receiving device 20 by executing specific software on the general-purpose personal computer. In this case, even a general-purpose personal computer corresponds to an external device.

Further, the receiving device 20 has a function (communication function) to communicate with a controller configured to control a device compatible with HEMS (Home Energy Management System) (hereinafter referred to as a HEMS compatible device). may A controller is a device arranged outside the cabinet 1000 . Here, HEMS-compatible devices include, for example, smart meters, solar power generation devices, power storage devices, fuel cells, electric vehicles, air conditioners, lighting fixtures, water heaters, refrigerators, television receivers, and the like. Note that HEMS-compatible devices are not limited to these devices.

The communication method between the receiving device 20 and the controller is, for example, a 920 MHz band specified low-power radio station (radio station not requiring a license), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other communication standards. It may be wireless communication using radio waves as a medium. Also, the communication method between the receiving device 20 and the controller may be wired communication conforming to a communication standard such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network).

Also, as a communication protocol for communication between the receiving device 20 and the controller, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark), ECHONET Lite (registered trademark), or the like may be used.

(2-2) Transmitter Next, the transmitter 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. FIG. The transmission device 10 transmits transmission data to the electric line L1 between the main breaker 2 that supplies the AC voltage. The transmission device 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 100 and a connection section 11 . The transmission device 10 includes a transmission voltage detection section 12 , a control section 13 , a switching section 14 and a load section 15 inside a housing 100 .

The connecting portion 11 includes a blade 111 for a voltage line (L line) and a blade 112 for a neutral wire (N line). The blades 111 and 112 protrude from the housing 100 . In this embodiment, the transmitter 10 can be connected to the connector B1, which is an outlet with a two-pole ground. Also, the transmitter 10 can be connected to both the connector B1 for 100V and the connector B1 for 200V. In other words, the connecting portion 11 is electrically connected to the electric line L1 with the main breaker 2 that supplies the AC voltage.

The sending device 10 has a computer system with a processor and memory. The computer system functions as the transmission voltage detection unit 12 and the control unit 13 by the processor executing appropriate programs. The program may be prerecorded in a memory, or may be provided by being recorded in a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card or through an electric communication line such as the Internet.

The transmission voltage detection unit 12 is electrically connected to the blade 111 of the voltage line and the blade 112 of the neutral line. The transmission voltage detector 12 detects the waveform of the AC voltage supplied from the main breaker 2 .

The load section 15 delays or leads the phase of the alternating current with respect to the phase of the alternating voltage supplied by the main breaker 2 . The load unit 15 is, for example, a capacitor (capacitance component). The capacitance of the capacitor is on the order of several μF. The load section 15 advances the phase of the alternating current by 90 degrees with respect to the phase of the alternating voltage supplied by the main breaker 2 .

The switching unit 14 switches between a state (on state) in which alternating current flows through the load unit 15 and a state (off state) in which alternating current does not flow. The switching unit 14 has a normally open a-contact, and is controlled by the control unit 13 to open and close the electric path connecting the wiring A1 (the blade 111 of the voltage line) and the load unit 15 .

The control unit 13 controls switching of states by the switching unit 14 . Specifically, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 so that an alternating current corresponding to transmission data to be transmitted flows through the electric line L1.

In this embodiment, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 in synchronization with the phase of the AC voltage detected by the transmission voltage detection unit 12 according to transmission data to be transmitted. The control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 according to the transmission data to be transmitted at the zero cross point of the AC voltage waveform detected by the transmission voltage detection unit 12 . Further, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 at zero cross points for each cycle of the detected AC voltage waveform according to the transmission data to be transmitted.

Here, the zero cross point, which is the timing for controlling the switching unit 14, is the rising timing at which the value of the detected AC voltage changes from a negative value to a positive value. It is usually difficult to control the switching section 14 at the same time that the value of the detected AC voltage becomes the same as the zero cross point. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 13 changes the value of the detected AC voltage so as to increase, and when it reaches a predetermined value (for example, "-a") smaller than the value "0", switching is performed. It controls the unit 14 (see times t1, t2, t3 and t4 in FIG. 6). Note that the zero cross point, which is the timing for controlling the switching unit 14, may be the falling timing at which the value of the detected AC voltage changes from a positive value to a negative value.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit so that the ON state and the OFF state are alternately switched at zero cross points for each cycle of the AC voltage according to the transmission data to be transmitted. 14.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 to open and close the electrical path connecting the wiring A1 and the load unit 15, thereby transferring the transmission data (current signal) via the wiring A1 to the distribution board 1. Output to That is, the transmission device 10 outputs transmission data by switching the connection between the load section 15 of the transmission device 10 and the wiring A1 according to the transmission data to be transmitted.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the transmission device 10 includes the load unit 15, which is a capacitor that advances the phase of the AC current by 90 degrees with respect to the phase of the AC voltage supplied by the main breaker 2, the transmission device 10 In the current signal to be transmitted, the phase of the alternating current leads the phase of the alternating voltage by 90 degrees.

In this embodiment, the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 for each cycle of the detected AC voltage according to the data to be transmitted. The value of the output AC current represents the ON state or OFF state of the switching section 14 . Since the control unit 13 controls the switching unit 14 for each cycle of the waveform of the AC voltage detected for transmitting the transmission data, the unit data represented by the value of the AC current for one cycle is At least one is included in the transmission data. In other words, the transmission data consists of at least one unit data.

(2-3) Receiving Device Next, the receiving device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. The receiving device 20 receives transmission data from the transmitting device 10 . The receiving device 20 includes a current measuring section 21, a receiving voltage detecting section 22, and a signal extracting section 23, as shown in FIG.

The receiving device 20 has a computer system with a processor and memory. The computer system functions as the reception voltage detection unit 22 and the signal extraction unit 23 by the processor executing appropriate programs. The program may be prerecorded in a memory, or may be provided by being recorded in a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card or through an electric communication line such as the Internet.

The current measurement unit 21 measures the waveform of the alternating current flowing through the electric line L1 to which the main breaker 2 that supplies the alternating voltage is connected. Specifically, the current measurement unit 21 is electrically connected to the detection unit 5 described above, and measures the alternating current flowing through the electric line L1 from the output of the current sensor 5a. In this embodiment, the current measurement unit 21 and the current sensor 5a are separate, but they may be integrated. That is, the current measuring section 21 may have the current sensor 5a.

The current measurement unit 21 has an analog-to-digital conversion function, and converts the measured alternating current, which is an analog signal, into a digital signal. The current measuring unit 21 converts an analog signal as an alternating current corresponding to one cycle of the alternating voltage supplied from the main breaker 2 into a digital signal for each cycle.

The reception voltage detection unit 22 detects the waveform of the AC voltage in the electric line L1. The reception voltage detection unit 22 converts the detected AC voltage, which is an analog signal, into a digital signal.

The signal extraction unit 23 extracts a current signal including transmission data transmitted from the load unit 15 from the AC current waveform (digitalized AC current waveform) measured by the current measurement unit 21 . Specifically, the signal extraction unit 23 detects the phase of the AC voltage waveform (digitized AC voltage) detected by the reception voltage detection unit 22 and the phase of the AC current waveform (digital phase of the digitized alternating current) to extract a current signal for each cycle of the alternating voltage (digitized alternating voltage).

For example, the signal extraction unit 23 applies vector calculation to the waveform of the alternating current measured by the current measurement unit 21 corresponding to one cycle of the alternating voltage (digitized alternating voltage). The signal extraction unit 23 decomposes the alternating current measured by the current measurement unit 21 into two components so that the angle is 90 degrees, and extracts a current signal including transmission data.

The signal extractor 23 calculates a current effective value using the detected current signal value for each cycle. The signal extraction unit 23 identifies unit data based on the calculated current effective value for each cycle. For example, the signal extraction unit 23 sets the value of the unit data included in the transmission data to 1 when the calculated effective current value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The signal extraction unit 23 sets the value of the unit data included in the transmission data to 0 when the calculated effective current value is less than the predetermined value.

FIG. 8 shows the result of extracting the AC voltage for each cycle and the result of specifying the unit data for each cycle. In FIG. 8, one cycle is T0. In FIG. 8, an alternating current that changes with the period T0 is detected in periods T0 at times t11 to t12 and times t13 to t14. On the other hand, the value of the alternating current of period T0 is "0" in each of period T0 from time t12 to t13 and from time t14 to t15. In addition, since the current effective value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value in period T0 at each of time t11 to t12 and time t13 to t14, the value "1" is specified as the unit data. During periods T0 at times t12 to t13 and times t14 to t15, the effective value of the current is less than the predetermined value, so the value "0" is specified as the unit data.

When all the unit data included in the transmission data are specified and the reception device 20 acquires the transmission data, the reception device 20 outputs the acquired transmission data to an external device.

(3) Operation (3-1) Operation of Transmitting Device When the connecting portion 11 of the transmitting device 10 is connected to the connector B1, voltage supply from the main breaker 2 to the transmitting device 10 is started.

The transmission voltage detector 12 detects the waveform of the supplied AC voltage.

The control unit 13 controls the state of the switching unit 14 in synchronization with the phase of the AC voltage detected by the transmission voltage detection unit 12 so that an AC current corresponding to the transmission data to be transmitted flows through the electric line L1. At this time, while the switching unit 14 is in the ON state, an alternating current flows through the load unit 15, so the phase of the alternating current leads the phase of the alternating voltage supplied by the main breaker 2 by 90 degrees. is occurring.

Since the control unit 13 controls the state of the switching unit 14 according to the transmission data to be transmitted, an alternating current representing the transmission data flows through the electric line L1.

(3-2) Operation of Receiving Apparatus Current measurement unit 21 measures the waveform of the alternating current flowing in electric line L1 from the output of current sensor 5a. Furthermore, the current measurement unit 21 converts the measured alternating current, which is an analog signal, into a digital signal.

The reception voltage detection unit 22 detects the waveform of the AC voltage in the electric line L1. At this time, the reception voltage detection unit 22 converts the detected AC voltage, which is an analog signal, into a digital signal.

The signal extraction unit 23 extracts a current signal including transmission data transmitted from the load unit 15 based on the alternating current waveform (digitized alternating current waveform) measured by the current measurement unit 21 .

The signal extractor 23 calculates a current effective value using the detected current signal value for each cycle. The signal extraction unit 23 identifies unit data based on the calculated effective current value.

After specifying all the unit data contained in the transmission data, the receiving device 20 outputs the transmission data including all the specified unit data to an external device.

(4) Advantages In PLC (Power Line Communication) in which a voltage signal is superimposed on an AC voltage, the voltage signal is attenuated by the resistance of the power line, the length of the wiring, the number of branches of the wiring, and the like. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the current signal is superimposed on the current waveform as in the transmission device 10 of this embodiment, the current signal is not attenuated. Therefore, the communication distance can be lengthened compared with PLC. In addition, in the configuration in which the current signal is superimposed on the current waveform as in the transmission device 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the influence of noise compared to the PLC.

Furthermore, since the PLC uses a transformer, a complicated control circuit is required, but the transmission device 10 of the present embodiment can be realized with a relatively simple circuit. Moreover, since it is not necessary to use an amplifier or a noise filter, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost accordingly.

Also, in order to superimpose the current signal on the current waveform, it is conceivable to use a resistor as the load section 15 instead of the capacitor. When a resistor is used as the load unit 15, a current value (for example, 10 mA) corresponding to the sensitivity of the current sensor 5a needs to flow through the electric line L1, and the power consumption of the resistor is large (for example, 10 W), and there is concern about heat generation. There is

Therefore, in the present embodiment, since a capacitor is used as the load section 15, heat generation of the load section 15 can be suppressed. Further, by using a capacitor as the load section 15, the phase of the AC current can be advanced with respect to the phase of the AC voltage. Therefore, the receiving device 20 can easily extract the current signal containing the transmission data transmitted by the transmitting device 10 by using the vector operation.

(5) Modifications The above-described embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways according to design and the like, as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Modifications are listed below. It should be noted that the modified examples described below can be applied in appropriate combination with the above-described embodiment.

(5-1) Modification 1
In the above embodiment, the transmission system 50 is configured to include the transmitting device 10 and the receiving device 20, but is not limited to this configuration.

A transmission system 50A according to this modification will be described below with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected to the component of the same structure as the said embodiment, and the description is abbreviate|omitted suitably.

The transmission system 50A includes a transmitter 10, a receiver 20, and a signal superimposing unit 30.

The signal superimposing unit 30 is provided between the main breaker 2 and the branch breaker 3 . Specifically, the signal superimposing unit 30 is electrically connected to the electric line L1. The signal superimposing unit 30 superimposes a predetermined signal on the AC voltage supplied from the master breaker 2 . Here, the frequency of the superimposed signal is higher than the frequency of the AC voltage supplied from the main breaker 2 .

The transmission voltage detection unit 12 of the transmission device 10 measures an AC voltage (voltage after superimposition) on which a predetermined signal is superimposed, extracts a predetermined signal from the measured voltage after superimposition, and measures the waveform of the predetermined signal. do.

Based on the waveform of the predetermined signal measured by the transmission voltage detection unit 12, the control unit 13 of the transmission device 10 synchronizes with the phase of the predetermined signal so that an alternating current corresponding to the transmission data flows through the electric line L1. to control the state of the switching unit 14 .

The signal extracting unit 23 of the receiving device 20 extracts the current signal including the transmission data transmitted in synchronization with the phase of the predetermined signal based on the alternating current (digitized alternating current) measured by the current measuring unit 21. to extract.

(5-2) Modification 2
In the above embodiment, the transmitter 10 may further include a resistor 16 as a resistor connected in series with the load section 15 .

For example, the transmission device 10 of this modification may include a resistor 16 between the switching section 14 and the load section 15 (see FIG. 10). Alternatively, the transmitter 10 may include the resistor 16 so that the switching section 14 is positioned between the resistor 16 and the load section 15, or the load section 15 may be positioned between the resistor 16 and the switching section 14. A resistor 16 may be provided so as to do so.

Alternatively, transmitter 10 may comprise two resistors 16 . In this case, the transmitter 10 provides two resistors 16 such that the load section 15 is positioned between the two.

By providing the resistor 16 connected in series with the load section 15, the inrush current to the load section 15 can be reduced.

(5-3) Modification 3
In the above-described embodiment, the signal extraction unit 23 is configured to extract the current signal including the transmission data using vector calculation, but the configuration is not limited to this.

The signal extractor 23 may extract the current signal using the apparent power and the effective power.

When the apparent power is P1 and the effective power is P2, Equation 1 "cos θ=P2/P1" holds. where P1 is the product of the current rms value and the voltage rms value.

In addition, the equation 2 "Ic=Ir×sin θ" holds between the current value Ic extracted as the current signal and the current effective value Ir of the alternating current.

The signal extractor 23 calculates cos θ using Equation 1, and obtains θ from the result. The signal extraction unit 23 extracts the current signal by calculating Ic using the obtained θ and Equation 2. FIG.

(5-4) Modification 4
In the above embodiment, when an electrical device such as a lighting device is connected to the connector B1 other than the connector B1 to which the transmission device 10 is connected, a dimming signal or the like of the lighting device is periodically transmitted to the electric line L1 as a noise signal. may flow to In other words, the noise signal may appear with the same period as the period of the AC voltage. Here, the noise signal does not always have the same phase as the AC voltage supplied from the main breaker 2 . Therefore, the current signal extracted by the receiving device 20 may contain this noise signal. If the current signal contains a noise signal, there is a possibility that the accuracy of the calculation of the current effective value will be lowered.

Therefore, when specifying unit data for each cycle of the AC voltage, the signal extraction unit 23 calculates the effective current of the current signal for one cycle corresponding to the unit data specified in the previous cycle (one cycle before). The unit data to be identified this time is identified by using the value (previous effective value) and the current effective value (current effective value) of the current signal for one cycle corresponding to the unit data to be identified this time.

Specifically, when the absolute value of the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value, the signal extraction unit 23 determines that the unit data to be identified this time is the previously identified unit data. judged to be different. When the absolute value of the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is less than a predetermined judgment value, the signal extraction unit 23 determines that the unit data to be identified this time is the same as the previously identified unit data. I judge.

For example, when the switching unit 14 is on, the waveform of the current signal shown from time t11 to t12 in FIG. 8 is obtained, and when the switching unit 14 is off, time t12 to A waveform of the current signal indicated by t13 is obtained. That is, the current effective value when the unit data is "0" is different from the current effective value when it is "1".

Therefore, when the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value, it can be judged that the state of the switching section 14 has been switched. That is, when the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value and the unit data identified last time is "0", the signal extraction unit 23 determines that the unit data to be identified this time is Specify "1". When the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value and the unit data identified last time is "1", the signal extraction unit 23 determines that the unit data to be identified this time is "0". ”.

Moreover, when a plurality of unit data are the same, their current effective values can also be regarded as the same. Therefore, when the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is less than a predetermined judgment value, it can be judged that the state of the switching section 14 has not been switched. That is, when the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is less than a predetermined judgment value and the unit data identified last time is "0", the signal extraction unit 23 determines that the unit data to be identified this time is Specify "0". When the difference between the previous effective value and the current effective value is less than a predetermined judgment value and the previously identified unit data is "1", the signal extraction unit 23 determines that the unit data to be identified this time is "1". ”.

Thereby, even if the current signal contains a noise signal, the accuracy of specifying the unit data can be improved.

(5-5) Other Modifications In the above embodiment, the detection unit 5 is configured to have the current sensor 5a, which is a CT sensor, but is not limited to this configuration. The detection unit 5 may have a plurality of current sensors that detect AC current flowing through the load (wiring A1) connected to each of the plurality of branch breakers 3 . In this case, each current sensor is a Rogowski coil. Further, the plurality of current sensors are not limited to the Rogowski coils described above, and may be Hall elements, magnetoresistive elements such as GMR (Giant Magnetic Resistances) elements, shunt resistors, and the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the load section 15 is configured to be a capacitor, but the configuration is not limited to this. The load section 15 may be an inductor. In this case, the load section 15 can delay the phase of the AC current with respect to the phase of the AC voltage.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 13 is configured to control the state of the switching unit 14 for each cycle of the AC voltage detected by the transmission voltage detection unit 12, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 13 may control the state of the switching unit 14 every half cycle of the AC voltage detected by the transmission voltage detection unit 12 . Alternatively, the control unit 13 may control the state of the switching unit 14 for each other period.

Further, in the above embodiment, the receiving device 20 is configured to be housed in the cabinet 1000 of the distribution board 1, but is not limited to this configuration. Some functions of the receiving device 20 may be housed in the cabinet 1000 and other functions may be provided outside the cabinet 1000 . Alternatively, receiving device 20 may be provided outside cabinet 1000 .

Further, in the above embodiment, the transmission system 50 is applied to check the state of the wiring A1 as an example. However, transmission system 50 may be applied to other applications. For example, when the occurrence of an earthquake is detected, the transmission device 10 may output an alternating current corresponding to transmission data indicating that an earthquake has occurred. In this case, for example, the receiving device 20 cuts off the main breaker 2 upon receiving transmission data indicating that an earthquake has occurred.

A function similar to that of the transmission device 10 described above may be embodied by a transmission method, a computer program, a non-temporary recording medium recording the program, or the like. The transmission method of the transmission device 10 according to one aspect is used in a transmission device that transmits transmission data to the electric line L1 with the voltage supply unit (main breaker 2) that supplies an AC voltage. The transmission device 10 includes a switching unit 14 that switches between a state in which an alternating current flows and a state in which an alternating current does not flow in a load unit 15 that delays or leads the phase of an alternating current with respect to the phase of an alternating voltage supplied by a voltage supply unit. Prepare. The transmission method controls the switching unit 14 so that an alternating current corresponding to transmission data flows through the electric line L1. A program according to one aspect is a program for causing a computer to execute a transmission method.

The transmitting device 10 in this disclosure includes a computer system. A computer system is mainly composed of a processor and a memory as hardware. The functions of the transmission device 10 in the present disclosure are realized by the processor executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be recorded in advance in the memory of the computer system, may be provided through an electric communication line, or may be recorded in a non-temporary recording medium such as a computer system-readable memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive. may be provided A processor in a computer system consists of one or more electronic circuits, including semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or large scale integrated circuits (LSIs). The integrated circuit such as IC or LSI referred to here is called differently depending on the degree of integration, and includes integrated circuits called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). In addition, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that is programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a logic device capable of reconfiguring the bonding relationship inside the LSI or reconfiguring the circuit partitions inside the LSI may also be adopted as the processor. can be done. A plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip, or may be distributed over a plurality of chips. A plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or may be distributed in a plurality of devices. A computer system, as used herein, includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Accordingly, the microcontroller also consists of one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits or large scale integrated circuits.

In addition, it is not an essential configuration of the transmission device 10 that a plurality of functions of the transmission device 10 are integrated in one housing, and the components of the transmission device 10 are provided dispersedly in a plurality of housings. may be Furthermore, at least part of the functions of the transmission device 10 may be realized by a cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

A function similar to that of the receiving device 20 described above may be embodied by a receiving method, a computer program, a non-temporary recording medium recording the program, or the like. A receiving method for the receiving device 20 according to one aspect is used in a receiving device that receives transmission data from the transmitting device 10 . The transmission device 10 uses the load section 15 that delays or leads the phase of the AC current with respect to the phase of the AC voltage supplied via the electric line L1 by the voltage supply section (main breaker 2) that supplies the AC voltage. An alternating current corresponding to the transmission data is transmitted to the electric line L1. The receiving method measures the waveform of the alternating current flowing in the electric line L1 connected to the voltage supply unit that supplies the alternating voltage, and the transmission data transmitted from the load unit 15 is obtained from the waveform of the alternating current measured by the current measurement unit. Extract the current signal containing A program according to one aspect is a program for causing a computer to execute a receiving method.

The receiving device 20 in the present disclosure includes a computer system. A computer system is mainly composed of a processor and a memory as hardware. The function of the receiving device 20 in the present disclosure is realized by the processor executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be recorded in advance in the memory of the computer system, may be provided through an electric communication line, or may be recorded in a non-temporary recording medium such as a computer system-readable memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive. may be provided A processor in a computer system consists of one or more electronic circuits, including semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or large scale integrated circuits (LSIs). A plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip, or may be distributed over a plurality of chips. A plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or may be distributed in a plurality of devices. A computer system, as used herein, includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Accordingly, the microcontroller also consists of one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits or large scale integrated circuits.

In addition, it is not an essential configuration of the receiving device 20 that a plurality of functions of the receiving device 20 are integrated in one housing, and the components of the receiving device 20 are provided dispersedly in a plurality of housings. may be Furthermore, at least part of the functions of the receiving device 20 may be realized by the cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

(summary)
As described above, the transmitter (10) of the first aspect transmits transmission data to the electric line (L1) with the voltage supply unit (for example, main breaker 2) that supplies voltage. A transmitter (10) includes a connection section (11), a load section (15), a switching section (14), and a control section (13). The connecting portion (11) is electrically connected to the electric line (L1). The load section (15) delays or leads the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section. A switching unit (14) switches between a state in which current flows through the load unit (15) and a state in which current does not flow. A control unit (13) controls switching of states by the switching unit (14). A control unit (13) controls a switching unit (14) so that a current corresponding to transmission data flows through an electric line (L1).

According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the communication distance and reduce the influence of noise. Moreover, heat generation of the load section (15) can be suppressed by providing the load section (15) that delays or leads the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section.

In the transmitter (10) of the second aspect, in the first aspect, the load section (15) is a capacitive component (for example, a capacitor).

According to this configuration, heat generation of the load section (15) can be suppressed by using a capacitive component as the load section (15).

The transmitter (10) of the third aspect, in the second aspect, further comprises a resistor (resistor 16) connected in series with the load (15).

According to this configuration, the inrush current to the load section (15) can be reduced by providing the resistance section.

The transmission device (10) of the fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, further comprises a transmission voltage detection section (12) for detecting the voltage supplied from the voltage supply section. A control section (13) controls the switching section (14) in synchronization with the phase of the voltage detected by the transmission voltage detection section (12).

According to this configuration, the transmission clock of the transmission data to be output can be stabilized by using the phase of the voltage for controlling the switching section (14).

In the transmitter (10) of the fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, the control section (13) causes the switching section (14) to is controlled according to the transmission data.

According to this configuration, the inrush current to the load section (15) can be reduced by controlling the switching section (14) at the zero cross point.

In the transmitter (10) of the sixth aspect, in the fifth aspect, the control section (13) controls the switching section (14) at the zero cross point of each cycle of the voltage waveform.

According to this configuration, since the switching section (14) is controlled for each cycle of the voltage waveform, the device for acquiring the transmission data can acquire the transmission data accurately.

In the transmission device (10) of the seventh aspect, in the first to third aspects, the connection section (11) receives the superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing the signal on the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section. The control section (13) controls the switching section (14) in synchronization with the phase of the signal included in the superimposed voltage.

According to this configuration, the communication speed can be improved by superimposing the signal on the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit.

In the transmission device (10) of the eighth aspect, in the seventh aspect, the frequency of the signal superimposed on the voltage is higher than the frequency of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section.

According to this configuration, since the frequency of the signal superimposed on the voltage is higher than the frequency of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit, the communication speed can be improved. Furthermore, for example, when a capacitor is used as the load section (15), the current flowing through the electrical path (L1) increases, so the S/N ratio can also be improved.

The receiving device (20) of the ninth aspect causes the current to lag or lead with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit (for example, the main breaker 2) through the electric circuit (L1). Transmission data is received from a transmission device (10) that transmits a current corresponding to transmission data to an electric line (L1) using a load section (15). A receiver (20) includes a current measuring section (21) and a signal extracting section (23). A current measurement unit (21) measures the waveform of the current flowing through the electric line (L1). A signal extraction unit (23) extracts a current signal including transmission data transmitted from the load unit (15) from the current waveform measured by the current measurement unit (21).

According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the communication distance and reduce the influence of noise.

The receiver (20) of the tenth aspect, in the ninth aspect, further comprises a reception voltage detector (22) for detecting the waveform of the voltage in the electric line (L1). A signal extraction unit (23) extracts a current signal using the phase of the voltage waveform detected by the reception voltage detection unit (22) and the phase of the current waveform measured by the current measurement unit (21). .

According to this configuration, the current signal can be extracted by, for example, vector calculation using the phase and the phase of the waveform of the current measured by the current measuring section (21).

In the receiver (20) of the eleventh aspect, in the ninth or tenth aspect, the signal extractor (23) extracts the current from the current measured by the current measuring unit (21) using the apparent power and the effective power. Extract the signal.

With this configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of current signal extraction.

In the receiving device (20) of the twelfth aspect, in the tenth or eleventh aspect, the transmission data transmitted by the transmitting device (10) is composed of one or more unit data. A signal extractor (23) identifies unit data for each voltage cycle.

According to this configuration, the signal representing the unit data can be one cycle of the voltage. Therefore, the transmission device that transmits the unit data can stabilize the transmission clock of the transmission data to be output.

In the receiver (20) of the thirteenth aspect, in the twelfth aspect, the signal extractor (23) extracts the current for each cycle of the current signal, and compares the extracted current value with the previously extracted current value. is calculated, and the unit data is specified based on the difference.

According to this configuration, it is possible to further reduce the influence of the noise signal included in the current signal and to specify the unit data.

A transmission system (50) according to a fourteenth aspect comprises a transmitting device (10) according to any one of the first to ninth aspects and a receiving device (20) according to any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects. .

According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the communication distance and reduce the influence of noise. Moreover, since the transmission device (10) includes the load section (15) that delays or leads the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section, heat generation of the load section (15) can be suppressed.

The transmission method of the fifteenth aspect is used in a transmission device (10) that transmits transmission data to an electric line (L1) with a voltage supply section (for example, main breaker 2) that supplies voltage. The transmission device (10) includes a switching unit ( 14). The transmission method controls the switching unit (14) so that a current corresponding to transmission data flows through the electric line (L1).

According to this transmission method, it is possible to increase the communication distance and reduce the influence of noise.

2 main breaker (voltage supply part)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 transmission device 11 connection unit 12 transmission voltage detection unit 13 control unit 14 switching unit 15 load unit 16 resistor (resistance unit)
20 receiver 21 current measurement unit 22 reception voltage detection unit 23 signal extraction unit 30 signal superimposition unit 50 transmission system L1 electric line

Claims (9)

A transmitting device that transmits transmission data to an electric line with a voltage supply unit that supplies voltage,
a connecting portion electrically connected to the electric circuit;
a load section that delays or leads the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply section;
a switching unit that switches between a state in which the current flows through the load unit and a state in which the current does not flow;
A control unit that controls switching of the state by the switching unit ,
the connection unit receives a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing a signal on the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit;
The control unit controls the switching unit in synchronization with the phase of the signal included in the superimposed voltage so that a current corresponding to the transmission data flows through the electric path.
transmitter. the frequency of the signal superimposed on the voltage is higher than the frequency of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply;
The transmitting device according to claim 1. The load part is a capacitive component,
3. The transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2. further comprising a resistance unit connected in series with the load unit;
The transmitting device according to claim 3. A transmission device that transmits the current according to transmission data to the electric line by using a load unit that delays or advances the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied through the electric line by the voltage supply unit that supplies the voltage. A receiving device for receiving the transmission data from
a current measuring unit that measures the waveform of the current flowing through the electric circuit;
a signal extraction unit that extracts a current signal containing the transmission data transmitted from the load unit from the waveform of the current measured by the current measurement unit;
The signal extraction unit extracts the current signal from the current measured by the current measurement unit using apparent power and effective power.
receiving device. The transmission data transmitted by the transmission device is composed of one or more unit data,
The signal extraction unit identifies the unit data for each cycle of the voltage.
The receiving device according to claim 5. The signal extractor is
extracting the current for each cycle of the current signal;
calculating the difference between the extracted current value and the previously extracted current value, and specifying the unit data based on the difference;
The receiving device according to claim 6. A transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
A receiving device according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
transmission system. a state in which transmission data is transmitted to an electrical path with a voltage supply unit that supplies voltage, and the current flows through a load unit that delays or advances the phase of the current with respect to the phase of the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit; A transmission method used in a transmission device that includes a switching unit that switches between a non-flowing state and a non-flowing state, and that receives a superimposed voltage in which a signal is superimposed on the voltage supplied by the voltage supply unit,
controlling the switching unit in synchronization with the phase of the signal included in the superimposed voltage so that the current corresponding to the transmission data flows through the electric path;
transmission method.

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