JPH11274990A - Wiring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiring system by which devices are connected even in a building with less margin of a ceiling height without causing effects on its living environment. SOLUTION: Terminals 20a-20d for making communication with an optical signal are provided to computers 10a-10d on a floor 1a on which the computers 10a, 10b are installed and on a floor 1b on which the computers 10c, 10d are installed and adaptors 30a-30d for making communication with the terminals 20a-20d by an optical signal are placed on ceiling faces 3a, 3d immediately above the terminals 20a-20d, and the adaptors 30a-30d are wired along the ceilings and walls in communication enabled manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiring system for connecting devices in a building, and in particular, to a building having no ceiling height without affecting a living environment. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiring system capable of connecting devices within the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an office or the like, it is desirable that wiring such as power supply wiring, telephone wiring, and connection wiring for OA equipment can be taken out at a desired position on the floor. Therefore, conventionally, such wiring is arranged under the floor and can be taken out at a desired position.
For example, something like an OA floor has been adopted.

[0003]

However, in the conventional OA floor, since it is necessary to secure a space for arranging wiring, the floor is raised. The ceiling height is low enough to affect the environment, which is not desirable.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem. Even in a building where the ceiling height is not sufficient, the equipment in the building is not affected without affecting the living environment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiring system capable of connecting between them.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a wiring system according to the first aspect of the present invention is a wiring system for connecting devices in a building, and performs wireless communication. It has a plurality of paired communication means, one of the communication means is provided on each of the devices, the other of the communication means is provided on the ceiling or wall of the building, and the other between the communication means is along the ceiling or wall Wired for communication.

[0006] With such a configuration, communication is performed between the devices as follows. First, a source device transmits a signal such as a data signal to one of the communication units provided in the device. Next, the signal received by one of the communication means is transmitted wirelessly to the other of the corresponding communication means. Next, on the other side of the communication means, the signal received by the other side of the communication means corresponding to the transmission destination device is transmitted via wiring along the ceiling or wall. Next, in the other communication means, the signal received by one of the corresponding communication means is transmitted wirelessly. Then, on one side of the communication means, the received signal is transmitted to the destination device.

Here, the communication means only needs to be able to transmit and receive signals in at least one direction. However, if it is possible to transmit and receive signals in both directions, it is more preferable since the devices can communicate with each other.

The other of the communication means may be provided at any location as long as it is a ceiling surface or a wall surface. However, a position where the distance to one of the communication means is shortest, for example, one of the communication means It is preferable to provide it on the ceiling surface directly above.

When a large number of devices are connected, it is necessary to distinguish between a source device and a destination device with respect to a signal to be communicated.
This may be performed by providing a control device for identifying / controlling a signal to be communicated. In this case, the control means may be provided in each device, may be provided in one or the other of the communication means, or may be independently provided so as to concentrate wiring from the other of the communication means. It may be provided.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the term "device" has at least one function of outputting a signal to the outside or inputting a signal from the outside. For example, information processing devices such as word processors and computers, communication devices such as telephones, faxes and modems, OA devices such as copiers, home appliances such as televisions, lighting devices, air conditioners, and audio devices are applicable. "Communication means"
A device that performs communication using electromagnetic waves or the like includes a device that performs communication using radio waves, a device that performs communication using light, and the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wiring system according to the first aspect, wherein the communication means is capable of transmitting and receiving signals in both directions.
With such a configuration, signals are mutually transmitted and received between the devices.

Here, in consideration of easiness and completeness of construction, it is preferable that all communication means be capable of transmitting and receiving signals in both directions. Considering that only necessary communication means, for example, when there are a large number of devices, only communication means provided in a device capable of bidirectional communication can transmit and receive signals in both directions. preferable.

[0013] Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wiring system according to the first or second aspect, the communication means communicates by an optical signal.

With such a configuration, communication is performed by optical signals between one and the other of the communication means. In the third aspect of the present invention, the "optical signal" refers to a signal that uses visible light or its vicinity in the electromagnetic wave spectrum, and includes ultraviolet light, infrared light, and the like.

Further, in the wiring system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wiring system according to the third aspect, the other of the communication means is provided on a ceiling surface directly above one of the communication means.

With such a configuration, one of the communication means provided in the transmission source device transmits an optical signal toward the ceiling directly above, and receives the optical signal from the other communication means. You. On the other hand, on the other side of the communication means corresponding to the transmission destination device, a signal received downward is transmitted as an optical signal, and is received by one of the corresponding communication means.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a wiring system according to the present invention includes a computer 1 installed on two floors 1a and 1b in a building.
This is applied to connect between 0a to 10d.

First, the overall configuration of the wiring system according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a wiring system according to the present invention. In the figure, a computer 10a and a computer 10b are installed on the floor 1a.

The computer 10a is provided with a terminal 20a for transmitting and receiving data by an optical signal, and the terminal 20a and the computer 10a are connected by a signal line so that data can be transmitted and received. The computer 10b is provided with a terminal 20b having the same function as the terminal 20a, and they are similarly connected by signal lines so that data can be transmitted and received.

The floor 1 directly above the terminal 20a
An adapter 30a for transmitting and receiving data to and from the terminal 20a by an optical signal is provided on the ceiling surface 3a of the terminal a, and the ceiling surface 3a directly above the terminal 20b is provided with:
An adapter 30b having the same function as the adapter 30a is provided.

A signal distribution panel 40a for distributing signals is provided outside the floor 1a. The signal distribution panel 40a has a wiring 7 for transmitting a signal from the adapter 30a.
a and a wiring 7b for transmitting a signal from the adapter 30b are connected.

On the other hand, on the floor 1b, a computer 10
c and a computer 10d. Each of the computers 10c and 10d has a terminal 2
Terminals 20c and 20d having the same function as that of the terminal 0a are provided, and they are similarly connected by signal lines so that data can be transmitted and received.

An adapter 30 is provided on the ceiling surface 3b of the floor 1b directly above each of the terminals 20c and 20d.
Adapters 30c and 30d having the same function as a are provided.

Outside the floor 1b, there is provided a signal distribution panel 40b for distributing signals, and the signal distribution panel 40b has wires 7 for transmitting signals from the adapter 30c.
c and a wiring 7d for transmitting a signal from the adapter 30d are connected. The signal distribution board 40a and the signal distribution board 40b are connected to each other by a wiring 7e.

The wirings 7a to 7d are all provided along the ceiling and the wall. Next, Terminal 20
The configuration of a will be described. FIG. 2 shows the terminal 20a.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. In addition, each terminal 2
0a to 20d have the same function, so that only the configuration of the terminal 20a will be described below, and the description of the other components will be omitted.

The terminal 20a includes a transmission / reception control unit 21 for controlling data transmission / reception, a storage unit 22 for storing data from the computer 10a and data from the adapter 30a, and data input / output between the computer 10a and the storage unit 22. 23, an O / E converter 24 that performs mutual conversion between electric signals and optical signals, and an O / E converter 24 that converts data in the storage unit 22 into data signals under the control of the transmission / reception controller 21. The transmission unit 25 includes a transmission unit 25 that transmits data, and a reception unit 25 that receives a data signal from the O / E conversion unit 24 as data under the control of the transmission / reception control unit 21.

Therefore, when the data to be transmitted and the fact thereof are input from the computer 10a via the I / F 23, the transmission / reception control unit 21 causes the storage unit 22 to transmit the data.
Then, the input data is stored, and the transmission unit 25 converts the stored data into a data signal, which is an electric signal, and outputs the data signal. Then, in the O / E converter 24, the converted data signal is transmitted to the adapter 30a by an optical signal.

On the other hand, the O / E converter 24
When the optical signal is received, the O / E converter 24 converts the received optical signal into a data signal. Next, the data signal is input to the reception unit 26 by the transmission / reception control unit 21, converted into data that can be handled by the computer 10 a, and the converted data is stored in the storage unit 22. Then, the computer 10a
The received data is obtained by accessing the data stored in the storage unit 22.

Each of the adapters 30a to 30d is
The adapter 30a has the same function as that of the E conversion unit 24. When an optical signal is received from the terminal 20a, the adapter 30a converts the optical signal into a data signal which is an electric signal, and converts the signal into a data signal. When a data signal is received from the wiring 7a, the data signal is transmitted to the terminal 20a by an optical signal.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
For example, when transmitting data from the computer 10a to the computer 10d, the computer 10a first transmits data to be transmitted to the terminal 20a. Here, the data to be transmitted includes the destination address of the destination computer 10d and the source computer 10d.
a source address and the contents of the required actual data,
It is included.

Next, in the terminal 20a, the received data is converted into a data signal and transmitted to the adapter 30a by an optical signal. In the adapter 30a, when an optical signal is received from the terminal 20a, it is converted into a data signal and transmitted to the wiring 7a.

On the other hand, in the adapter 30d, data is transmitted from the adapter 30a via the wiring 7a along the ceiling and the wall, the signal distribution panels 40a and 40b installed outside the floors 1a and 1b, and the wiring 7d along the ceiling and the wall. A signal is transmitted. When a data signal is received from the adapter 30a,
This is transmitted to the terminal 20d by an optical signal. In the terminal 20d, when receiving the optical signal from the adapter 30d, it is converted into a data signal and stored in the storage unit 22d.
Is stored in

When the computer 10d accesses the data stored in the storage unit 22 of the terminal 20d, it determines that the transmission destination address included in the data is its own. Is obtained.

Similar data is transmitted to the other terminals 20b and 20c. When the computers 10b and 10c connected to the terminals access the data, the transmission destination addresses included in the data are changed. Since it is determined that the data does not belong to the user, the data is not taken into the computers 10b and 10c.

The case where data is transmitted from the computer 10a to the computer 10d has been described above.
Data is transmitted and received between the computers 10a to 10d in the same manner.

Thus, the terminals 20a to 20a
d is provided in each of the computers 10a to 10d, and the adapter 3
0a to 30d are provided on the ceiling surfaces 3a and 3b, and the adapter 30
a to 30d are communicablely wired along the ceiling and the wall, so that even in a building with a ceiling height that is less than the conventional one, the computer 10a in the building can be used without affecting the living environment. To 10d can be connected.

Further, since the total wiring amount is reduced and the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced. In addition, the number of wirings can be reduced and the labor for wiring can be reduced. Mistakes can be prevented.

Further, since the terminals 20a to 20d and the adapters 30a to 30d are capable of transmitting and receiving data signals in both directions, data can be transmitted and received between the computers 10a to 10d. Get better.

Further, since the terminals 20a to 20d and the adapters 30a to 30d transmit and receive data signals by optical signals, the generation of noise during communication is reduced as compared with the case of using radio waves. Therefore, the reliability of communication can be improved.

Further, the adapters 30a to 30d are connected to the ceiling surfaces 3a and 3b just above the terminals 20a to 20d.
Terminals 20a to 20d and adapter 3
The distance between 0a to 30d can be made relatively short, so that the reliability of communication can be further improved.

In the above embodiment, the computers 10a to 10d are connected as devices. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information processing devices such as word processors and computers, telephones, faxes, modems, and the like. Communication devices, OA devices such as copiers, home appliances such as televisions, lighting devices, air conditioners, audio devices, and the like may be connected.

In the above embodiment, the terminals 20a to 20d and the adapters 30a to 30d transmit and receive data signals in both directions. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminals 20a to 20d transmit and receive data signals in both directions. For devices that are not required, for example, devices that only input data,
Data signals may be transmitted and received in one direction. With such a configuration, the cost can be reduced.

Further, in the above embodiment, the terminals 20a to 20d and the adapters 30a to 30d are
Although the data signal is transmitted and received by the optical signal, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data signal may be transmitted and received by an electromagnetic wave (for example, radio wave) other than the optical signal.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the adapters 30a to 30d are provided on the ceiling surfaces 3a and 3b just above the terminals 20a to 20d, but the present invention is not limited to this. May be provided at a location or a wall surface.

In this case, it is preferable that the directions of the light emitting / receiving surfaces of the terminals 20a to 20d and the adapters 30a to 30d for transmitting and receiving the optical signals are freely changeable. With such a configuration, for example, the computer 1
Even if terminals 0a to 10d are moved, terminals 20a to 20d
d and the directions of the light emitting / receiving surfaces of the adapters 30a to 30d need only be changed.
The arrangement of d can be changed relatively easily.

[0046]

As described above, according to the wiring system according to the present invention, even in a building having a marginal ceiling height as compared with the related art, it can be installed in the building without affecting the living environment. The effect that a certain device can be connected can be obtained. Furthermore, since the total wiring amount is reduced and the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced and
Since the number of wirings is reduced and wiring work is reduced, there is also obtained an effect that the construction period can be shortened and construction errors can be prevented.

According to the wiring system of the second aspect of the present invention, since signals can be transmitted and received between the devices, the effect that the usability is further improved can be obtained.

Further, according to the wiring system according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the occurrence of noise during communication can be reduced as compared with the case of using radio waves, the reliability of communication is improved. The effect that it can be obtained is also obtained.

Further, according to the wiring system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the distance between one of the communication means and the other can be relatively short, so that the reliability of communication can be further improved. The effect is also obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a wiring system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b Floor 3a, 3b Ceiling surface 7a-7e Wiring 10a-10d Computer 20a-20d Terminal 30a-30d Adapter 40a, 40b Signal distribution board

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wiring system for connecting devices in a building, comprising a plurality of communication means for performing wireless communication, one of said communication means being provided in each of said devices, A wiring system, wherein the other is provided on a ceiling surface or a wall surface of the building, and the other of the communication means is communicably wired along the ceiling or the wall. 2. The wiring system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means is capable of transmitting and receiving signals in both directions. 3. The wiring system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means performs communication by an optical signal. 4. The wiring system according to claim 3, wherein the other of said communication means is provided on a ceiling surface directly above one of said communication means.