JPH06252808A - Distribution line carrier communication method and repeater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate disable communication caused by a leaked communication signal between different distribution lines via an earth without changing a frequency of the communication signal between the different distribution lines. CONSTITUTION:When a simultaneous command signal is sent simultaneously from a center equipment 1 to repeaters 2-1-2-3, since the repeater 2-1 sends the received simultaneous command signal to a distribution line 5-1 immediately, terminal equipments 3-1-3-4 immediately activate hot water supply devices 6-1-6-4. However, after the repeater 2-2 delays the received command signal by one minute, since the signal is sent to a distribution line 5-2, even when the simultaneous command signal of the distribution lines 5-1-5-3 is leaked to other distribution lines via an earth at a neutral point of transformers 4-1-4-3, it is prevented that signals are superimposed and congestion is caused.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distribution line carrier communication for transmitting various kinds of information using a distribution line, and more particularly to a structure of a distribution line carrier communication method and a relay device for relaying a simultaneous command.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A distribution line carrier communication system using a distribution line as a communication signal transmission line, as shown in FIG. 4, transmits a variety of commands or collects information from terminals, and a center device 1 and this center device. After receiving the command signal transmitted from the device 1, the relay devices 2-1 to 2-which send the command signal to the distribution line.
3 and a plurality of terminal devices 3 connected to the distribution line 3-
1 to 3-n. In such a distribution line carrier communication system, communication by polling for reading the information of the terminal device 3 on the side of the center device 1 and simultaneous command communication for giving the same command from the center device 1 to all the terminal devices 3 all at once. is there. This simultaneous command communication includes time adjustment of a clock provided in the terminal device, load control for simultaneously turning on and off loads such as an air conditioner and an electric water heater connected to the terminal device.

By the way, in the distribution line carrier communication, since the distribution line is used as a transmission line, there are inconveniences as described below.
The distribution line goes out from the transformer 4 shown in FIG.
It does not intersect with other distribution lines, but each transformer transformer 4
The middle point is grounded as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, the transformer transformers 4-1 and 4-2 shown in FIG.
Therefore, the distribution line on the terminal device side is not directly connected, but the middle point of the transformer transformers 4-1 and 4-2 is connected through the ground. Therefore, a communication signal leaks through the ground between the power distribution line on the relay device 2-1 side and the power distribution line on the relay device 2-2 side. In such a conventional distribution line carrier communication system, from the center device 1 to FIG.
The simultaneous command signal as shown in FIG.
When simultaneously transmitted to 2-3, each relay device 2-1 and 2-
3 shows the received simultaneous command signal as shown in FIGS.
As shown in (D), the signals are simultaneously sent to the distribution line.

However, since communication signals leak between different power distribution lines as described above, the simultaneous command signals overlap each other due to the leakage and congestion occurs. Therefore, the terminal device 3 receives the simultaneous command signals. There is a risk that communication will be disabled due to the inability to do so. here,
The congestion will be described. Even if the central device 1 simultaneously outputs simultaneous command signals to the relay devices 2-1 to 2-3,
Since the phase of each simultaneous command signal leaking through the ground of the transformer transformer 4 described above differs depending on the condition of the line connecting the center device 1 and each relay device and the condition of the distribution line on the downstream side of the relay device. The signal waveform may be deformed due to the overlap of the simultaneous command signals,
If the phases differ by 180 degrees, the signal waveform disappears, and such a phenomenon occurs is called congestion.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, conventionally, the frequency of the communication signal output from the relay device is changed for each distribution line, and the communication signal leaks through the above-mentioned midpoint ground of the transformer. Even so, we try not to adversely affect each other. However, if such a method is adopted,
Since the frequency of the communication signal is different for each distribution line, the transmission / reception frequency of the relay device or terminal device connected to the distribution line must be adjusted for each distribution line. It has a drawback that it cannot be easily switched to another distribution line.
In addition, as described above, in order to change the relay device or the terminal device between the distribution lines having different communication signals, the receiver of the relay device or the terminal device needs to be provided with the reception frequency switching device. There is also a drawback that the cost of the communication system becomes high.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional distribution line carrier communication system, since the communication signal between different distribution lines leaks through the midpoint earth of the transformer, the center device sends a simultaneous command. When the relay device which receives the signal simultaneously sends out the simultaneous command on each power distribution line, the simultaneous command signals are overlapped via the ground, and there is a drawback in that congestion occurs and communication is disabled. . In order to avoid this drawback, the frequency of the communication signal may be changed for each different distribution line, but this requires that the transmission / reception frequency of the relay device or the terminal device be different for each distribution line. However, there is a drawback in that devices and terminal devices cannot be easily transferred between different distribution lines. Therefore, if a frequency switching device is attached to the relay device or the terminal device in order to enable the relay device or the terminal device to be relocated between the distribution lines of different communication frequencies,
As a result, there is a drawback that the cost of the relay device and the terminal device increases.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and eliminates the incommunicability caused by the leakage of the communication signal between the different distribution lines through the ground without changing the frequency of the communication signal between the different distribution lines. It is an object of the present invention to provide a distribution line communication method and a relay device capable of performing the above.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a distribution line carrier communication method in which a plurality of relay devices relay a simultaneous command signal transmitted from a center device and send out to each power distribution line. It has a configuration in which the sending time of the simultaneous command signal sent to each distribution line is different.

As another configuration, the present invention is a distribution line carrier communication method in which a plurality of relay devices relays a time adjustment command signal transmitted from a center device and sends the time correction command signal to each power distribution line. The time correction command signal after changing the correction time of the time correction command signal to be different from each other, and the sending time of the time correction command signal changed by each relay device to each of the distribution lines is indicated by the time correction command signal after change. It has a different structure according to the correction time.

[0010]

In the distribution line carrier communication method of the present invention, the plurality of relay devices delay the simultaneous command signals received from the center device by different times and send them to the respective distribution lines. This prevents the simultaneous command signals on different power distribution lines from congesting due to leakage.

As another function of the configuration, the plurality of relay devices correct the correction times of the time correction command signals received from the center device so that they are different from each other, and delay the time corresponding to this correction to correct the time. Since the transmission times of the command signals on the respective distribution lines are made different from each other, this prevents the time adjustment command signals on different distribution lines from congesting due to leakage.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a distribution line communication system to which a distribution line carrier communication method and a relay device of the present invention are applied. Reference numeral 1 is a center device for transmitting various commands to the terminal device 3, 2-1 to 2-3 are relay devices for relaying communication signals received from the center device 1 and sending them to the power distribution lines 5-1 to 5-3, 3-1 to 3-8 are power distribution lines 5-1 and 5-
2, terminal devices 4-1 to 4-3 are transformer transformers, 5-1 to 5-3 are transformer transformers 4-1 to 4-3.
The distribution lines 6-1 to 6-8 from the terminal devices 3-1 to 3-1
It is an electric water heater connected to 3-8. The center device 1 and each of the relay devices 2-1 to 2-3 are connected to each other through a communication line such as a public network or a dedicated line.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed example of the relay device 2 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 21 denotes a communication unit that transmits and receives signals to and from the center device 1 (not shown), 22 denotes a communication unit that transmits and receives signals to and from a power distribution line (not shown), 23 denotes a control unit that performs relay control operation, and 24 temporarily stores received signals. A memory unit, 25 is an address setting unit for setting an address in the relay device, and 26 is a timer for measuring time.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When a central command signal for turning on the electric water heaters 6 at the same time is transmitted from the center device 1 as shown in FIG. 3 (A),
This simultaneous command signal is transmitted through the communication line to the relay devices 2-1 to 2-1.
The relay devices 2-1 to 2-3 are transmitted to the router 2-3 and simultaneously receive the simultaneous command signal. Here, the relay devices 2-1 to 2-1
It is assumed that the addresses 2-3 are 1, 2, 3, and 4 and that the time until the simultaneous command signal is received by the terminal device is within 2 minutes. It is also assumed that the address is preset in the address setting unit 25 of each relay device 2 shown in FIG. 2, and that the transmission delay time of the simultaneous command signal is set in correspondence with the set address. .

For example, it is assumed that the relay device 2-1 is set to the address 1 and the transmission command signal transmission delay time is set to 0 minutes. Therefore, when the relay device 2-1 receives the simultaneous command signal from the center device 1 through the communication section 21 as described above, the control section 23 immediately receives this received signal from the communication section 22 as shown in FIG. It is sent out on the line 5-1. On the other hand, it is assumed that address 2 is set in the relay device 2-2 and the transmission delay time of the simultaneous command signal is set to 1 minute. Therefore, when the relay device 2-2 receives the simultaneous command signal from the center device 1 by the communication unit 21, the control unit 23 temporarily stores the received control signal in the memory unit 24 and then activates the timer 26. At this time, the timer 26 is set to time up with the delay time (1 minute) set by the address setting unit 25. As a result, the timer 26 times out 1 minute after being started by the control unit 23 and notifies the control unit 23 of this. When the timer 26 times out, the control unit 23 reads the simultaneous command signal stored in the memory unit 24 and sends it to the power distribution line 5-2 at the timing shown in FIG. 3 (C). Similarly, since the relay device 2-3 is set to the address 3 and the delay time of the simultaneous command signal is set to 2 minutes, this relay device 2 is set.
-3, after receiving the simultaneous command signal from the center device 1, sends the simultaneous command signal to the power distribution line 5-3 after 2 minutes as shown in FIG. 3 (D).

Therefore, the terminal devices 3-1 to 3-4 connected to the power distribution line 5-1 receive the simultaneous command signal immediately after the simultaneous command signal is transmitted from the center device 1, and the electric water heater. Turn on 6-1 to 6-4. Distribution line 5-2
The terminal devices 3-5 to 3-8, which are connected to, receive the simultaneous command signal one minute after the simultaneous command signal is transmitted from the center device 1, and turn on the electric water heaters 6-5 to 6-8. Turn on. Similarly, the terminal device (not shown) connected to the power distribution line 5-3 receives the simultaneous command signal 2 minutes after the simultaneous command signal is transmitted from the center device 1, and turns on the electric water heater (not shown). To

Next, the center device 1 sends the time adjustment command signals for adjusting the time at a time all at once to the relay devices 2-1 to 2-3.
When it is transmitted to the relay device 2-1, the relay device 2-1 immediately sends the received time adjustment command signal to the power distribution line 5-1. Therefore, the terminal device 3-connected to the power distribution line 5-1
Reference numerals 1 to 3-4 correct the clocks of the electric water heaters 6-1 to 6-4 at time a. On the other hand, the control device 23 of the relay device 2-2 changes the received time adjustment command signal to a time +1 minute, stores it in the memory unit 24, and one minute later, it becomes a time +
The time adjustment command signal changed to 1 minute is sent to the power distribution line 5-2. Accordingly, the terminal devices 3-5 to 3-8 connected to the power distribution line 5-2 adjust the time of the timers of the electric water heaters 6-1 to 6-4 to a hour + 1 minute. Similarly, the relay device 2
-3 is the time correction command signal received from the center device 1
Change to the hour + 2 minutes and set the changed time adjustment command signal to 2
After a minute, it is sent to the power distribution line 5-3. As a result, the terminal device (not shown) connected to the power distribution line 5-2 adjusts the timer of the electric water heater (not shown) to a time +2 minutes. It is assumed that the control unit 23 of the terminal devices 2-1 and 2-3 changes the time adjustment command change time based on the above-mentioned transmission delay time set in the address setting unit 25. The changed time adjustment command signal is stored in the memory unit 24.

According to the present embodiment, the simultaneous command signals transmitted from the center device 1 are sent to the relay devices 2-1 to 2-3.
After receiving this simultaneous command signal, the distribution lines 5-1 to 5
Since the time until sending out to the -3 is mutually shifted, the middle point earth of the transformer transformers 4-1 to 4-3 connected to the distribution lines 5-1 to 5-3 by these simultaneous command signals is set. Even if it leaks to another power distribution line via this, there is no simultaneous command signal on this other power distribution line, so the simultaneous command signals do not overlap and become congested as in the conventional system, preventing communication failure. can do. Therefore, the reliability of communication using the distribution line communication system can be improved. The frequencies of the signals transmitted through the power distribution lines 5-1 to 5-3 may be the same, and the terminal devices 3-1 to 3-8 and the like can be easily relocated to different power distribution lines and the relay device 2- Similarly, if addresses 1-2 are also reset, they can be easily transferred to different power distribution lines, and the above effect can be obtained without increasing the cost of each device.

[0019]

As described above, according to the distribution line carrier communication method and the relay device of the present invention, the communication signal between different distribution lines can pass through the ground without changing the frequency of the communication signal between different distribution lines. It is possible to eliminate the communication failure caused by the leakage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a distribution line carrier communication method and a relay device of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed example of a relay device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a time chart when a simultaneous command signal is transmitted in the distribution line carrier communication system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional distribution line carrier communication system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed example of a conventional distribution line carrier communication system.

FIG. 6 is a time chart when transmitting a simultaneous command signal in the distribution line carrier communication system shown in FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Center device 2-1 to 2-3
... Relay device 3-1 to 3-8 Terminal device 4-1 to 4-3
... Transformer transformer 5-1 to 5-3 Distribution line 6-1 to 6-8
… Electric water heater

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a distribution line carrier communication system in which a plurality of relay devices relay a simultaneous command signal transmitted from a center device and send it to each power distribution line, the relay device sends it to each power distribution line. The transmission method of the distribution line carrier is characterized in that the sending times of the simultaneous command signal are different from each other. 2. A time adjustment command signal relayed by each relay device in a distribution line carrier communication system in which a plurality of relay devices relays the time correction command signal transmitted from the center device and sends out to each power distribution line. Of the time adjustment command signal changed by each of the relay devices to each other in accordance with the correction time indicated by the time adjustment command signal after the change. A distribution line carrier communication method characterized by being different. 3. A relay device for relaying a signal transmitted from a center device and transmitting the signal to a power distribution line, a storage means for receiving and temporarily storing a broadcast command signal transmitted from the center device, and the broadcast device. After the command signal is received, a preset time is measured, and when the preset time is finished by the clock means, the simultaneous command signal stored in the storage means is read out and the distribution is performed. A relay device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the signal on an electric line. 4. In a relay device for relaying a signal transmitted from a center device and sending it out on a power distribution line, the correction time of a time correction command signal transmitted from said center device is changed only by a preset predetermined time. Adjusting means, a storage means for temporarily storing the time adjustment command signal changed by the correction means, a time measuring means for measuring the predetermined time after receiving the time adjustment command signal, and the predetermined time by the time measuring means. A relay device comprising: a transmission unit that reads out the changed time correction signal stored in the storage unit and sends the time correction signal to the power distribution line when the time has been measured.