MULTI-FUNCTION POWER LINE COMMUNICATION MODULE
Technical Field The present invention relates to a power line communication (PLC) modem, and more particularly, to a PLC module that simply constructs a device requiring PLC using a PLC modem.
Background Art Power line communication (PLC) is defined as a technique of loading high-frequency signals on power supply lines to transmit the signals. The PLC is known as a very effective communication method because it can be constructed using power lines without requiring additional lines and operated only by connecting the power lines to a power supply using an inexpensive PLC chip and Plug & Play method and it guarantees convenience of movement and installation. Such power line communication can be applied to various fields including super-high speed Internet communication, Internet phone, home networking for control of home electronic appliances, home banking, remote monitoring systems and so on. Furthermore, power line communication requires a low installation cost because it can use the existing optical communication cables and does not need communication charge. Power line communication needs a PLC modem. Conventional devices requiring the PLC function have PLC modems detachably mounted on their PCBs or attached to ' the their outer parts to enable power line communication. A
typical example is an electronic watthour meter. A conventional electronic watthour meter is constructed such that a PLC modem is included in the watthour meter or detachably attached to the watthour meter to perform power line communication. The PLC modem requires a ,• CPU as an indispensable constitutional element in response to the necessity for additional software configuration in consideration of impedance variations in power lines and noises in addition to a hardware data interface for carrying out a communication function.
Disclosure of Invention 'Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-function PLC module that makes a device for collecting information from a predetermined object, such as power and gas metering, water supply, water level, thermal value and so on, execute its function using a CPU of a PLC modem and transmit the collected information to a central system through power line communication. That is, the present invention provides a PLC module that provides an information collecting function. The multi-function PLC module of the present invention comprises a PLC modem including a CPU for loading data on a carrier oscillating frequency and outputting it, a carrier amplifier for voltage-amplifying the data output from the CPU, a power amplifier for outputting a carrier signal output from the carrier amplifier to a line coupler coupled to a low-voltage power line, a filter/amplifier for
filtering/amplifying data received through the line coupler connected to the low-voltage power line, and the line coupler including an interface connected to the low-voltage power line to transmit and receive data. The multi-function PLC module further comprises a plurality of input ports for receiving data from data collection and measurement objects; a display means for displaying the data processed by the CPU; and a power supply for supplying operation voltages required for operations of the ■ respective components of the PLC module from a power line. The CPU includes a program, for processing data collected through the input ports from objects each of which has a PLC modem set therein, to generate information required for transmitting the data to a predetermined central system.
Brief Description of the Drawings Further objects' and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function PLC module according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a multi-function PLC module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to
the accompanying drawings. For reference, like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout several views . FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function PLC module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multi-function PLC module includes an input port unit 10 for receiving data from data collection and measurement objects Si to Sn, a CPU 20 including a program for processing the data input through the input port unit 10 to generate information required for transmitting the data to a predetermined central system and controlling data transmission, a display unit 30 for displaying the data processed by the CPU 20, a filtering/amplifying unit 40 for transmitting and receiving data, a line coupler 50 composed of a data interface with a low-voltage power line Gl for transmission/reception of data to/from the central system, and a power supply 60 for supplying operation voltages required for operations of the respective components of the PLC module from the low-voltage power line Gl . The CPU 20 includes an A/D converter 21 for converting analog data input through channels CH0 to ' CHn from the input port unit 10 into digital data, a processing unit 22 for calculating, converting and storing the digital data, a memory 23 for storing the processed data, a carrier control unit 24 for loading data to be transmitted on a power wave and outputting the power wave, and a control unit 25 for processing, transmitting and displaying data according to a program installed therein. The filtering/amplifying unit 40 includes a carrier amplifier 41 for voltage-amplifying the data output from the CPU 20, a power amplifier 42 for outputting a carrier
signal output from the carrier amplifier 41 to the line coupler 50 connected to the low-voltage power line Gl, and a filter/amplifier 43 for transmitting data received through the line coupler 50. The display unit 30 includes an LCD unit 32 for displaying data and an LCD driver 31 for driving the LCD unit 32. The PLC module further includes an input/output port unit 70 through which data is input/output from/to terminals. The CPU 20 further includes a data input/output unit 26 for receiving programs, data and information from the terminals coupled to the data input/output port unit 70 and outputting stored data and print data. The present invention arranges the input port unit 10 in a PLC modem to receive data collected or measured from an object having the PLC modem and requiring power line communication. The input port unit 10 includes a plurality of ports 1 ' to n, which are applied to remote metering, water supply, reclaimed water, hot water, gas, water level and so on to collect various data items . The CPU 20 controls the transmission of data through the low-voltage power line Gl and includes the program for generating information required for transmitting the data to the central system. For instance, when the CPU 20 is used for a water level sensing alarm device that sense a water level and transmits it to a central system, a program that converts the data received from the water level sensing alarm device into data to be transmitted to the central system, compares the data with a reference water level to generate alarm ■ data and generates data for displaying the water level data is installed in the CPU 20.
The multi-function PLC module has at least one data input/output port unit 70 connected to a terminal and a printer. The data of the PLC module can be downloaded to the terminal and new program data can be input or set to the PLC module through the data input/output port unit 70. Furthermore, data can be printed by the printer connected to the data input/output port unit 70. The data output port 70 uses serial data communication. In this embodiment, the data input/output port unit 70 includes two input ports and two output ports. The multi-function PLC module is installed at a position requiring power line communication to transmit collected ' information to the central system, and a predetermined program for processing ' the collected information and transmitting the processed information is installed in the CPU 20 of the PLC module such that the PLC module performs its function. Data is directly received from the objects SI to Sn or a measurement value of a measurement instrument is received through the input port unit 10, and the received data is converted into digital data by the A/D converter of the CPU 20. The digital data is processed by the processing unit 22 according to a predetermined program, stored in an internal memory, transmitted and/or displayed. Specifically, the data processed by the processing unit 22 is provided to the display unit 30 and displayed through the display unit 32. When the data processed and generated by the control unit 25 is transmitted to the central system, the carrier control unit 24 loads the data on a power wave and outputs the power wave. The output data is amplified by the filtering/amplifying unit 40 and transmitted through the
line coupler 50 coupled to the low-voltage power line Gl . In the case where data is received from the central system, the data is received from the low-voltage power line Gl through the line coupler 50 and transmitted to the 5 CPU 20 via the filtering/amplifying unit 40. The above-described data transmitting/receiving process is identical to that of the conventional PLC modem. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a multi-function PLC module according to another embodiment of the present 10 invention. The multi-function PLC module according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a power switch 80 arranged in a predetermined load. The CPU 20 further includes a load control unit that remotely control the power switch 80 according to a predetermined 15 program or controls the power switch 80 in response to collected data. In this embodiment, the PLC module can be constructed such that a central controller remotely controls the load .or an event of the load is controlled in response to '20 predetermined collected information .< When the central system remotely turns off the load (a lamp, for instance) , for example, data about turning off the lamp is transmitted to the PLC module. Then, the PLC module receives the data and controls the power switch 80 25 to block AC voltage supplied to the load, thereby turning off the lamp. Furthermore, when information collected from the input port unit 10 corresponds to an event condition requiring the lamp to be turned off, the CPU 20 controls the power 30 switch 80 to turn off ' the lamp. This function is installed in the CPU 20 as a program to construct the load control
unit .
Industrial Applicability As described above, the multi-function PLC module of the present invention collects data, processes the collected data and displays the processed result . Furthermore, transmission of data to a remotely located place can be carried out only by using the PLC module and a program for executing the function of the PLC module without constructing a device requiring power line communication .
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments , it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims . It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention .