JP2012244605A - Power line communication system and bypass circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to effectively suppress a decrease in signal intensity due to the operation of an electric device and to prevent the spread of electrical inconveniences around an information processing apparatus.
A power source, a plurality of information processing devices, and a power line for connecting the power source to the plurality of information processing devices and other electric devices and transmitting and receiving signals by the plurality of information processing devices. In the power line communication system, the power line includes a plurality of child power lines that branch from the power source to the plurality of information processing devices and are connected to the plurality of information processing devices. In the power line communication system, inductors are respectively attached in series, and bypass means for connecting the plurality of child power lines via a capacitor is attached.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a power line communication system in which an information processing apparatus or the like transmits and receives signals using a power line, and a bypass circuit used therefor.

  Conventionally, a technique of using a power line as a communication line is called power line communication, PLC (Power Line Communication), etc., and has been put into practical use. In a system using power line communication (hereinafter referred to as a power line communication system), a power source such as a battery, an information processing device such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), and other electric devices (loads) are connected by a single power line. The

  FIG. 1 is a wiring example of a power line communication system mounted on a vehicle. In this power line communication system, a battery is connected to loads A and B and ECUs # 1, # 2, and # 3 by a power line via a J / B (Junction / Block). Each ECU can send and receive signals to and from other ECUs via J / B and power lines.

  By the way, in this type of power line communication system, there is a problem that the impedance of the load is lowered depending on the operation state of the load, and the impedance of the entire system is thereby lowered, thereby causing energy loss of the carrier wave. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing such a state. In the figure, 12 [V] exemplifies the operating voltage of the ECU or the like. When energy loss of the carrier wave occurs, the signal strength decreases and a communication error occurs. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the direction in which the carrier energy flows out at this time.

  In order to prevent such inconvenience, for example, it is conceivable to insert an inductor in J / B to prevent carrier energy from flowing into the load or J / B. FIG. 4 is a wiring example of a power line communication system in which an inductor is inserted in J / B. By inserting the inductor, the impedance between the ECU and the battery or the load B increases, and the AC component is cut off to some extent, so that energy loss of the carrier wave is suppressed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an invention relating to a power supply apparatus having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. In this apparatus, a fuse and an inductor are provided between a battery, an ECU, and a load, and these are housed in a casing, and signals are transmitted and received on a power supply line. Inductors include coils and ferrite beads.

JP 2003-118509 A

  However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, it is necessary to change the internal configuration of the J / B, so that the design change may be troublesome. Further, it cannot cope with a decrease in impedance due to the operation of a load attached at a position such as the load A shown in FIG.

  The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and can effectively suppress a decrease in signal strength due to the operation of an electric device and prevent the spread of electrical inconveniences around the information processing apparatus. A main object is to provide a power line communication system and a bypass circuit used therefor.

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides:
Power supply,
A plurality of information processing devices;
A power line for connecting the power source and the plurality of information processing devices and other electric devices, and for transmitting and receiving signals by the plurality of information processing devices,
A power line communication system comprising:
The power line includes a plurality of child power lines that branch from the power source to the plurality of information processing devices and connected to the plurality of information processing devices,
The plurality of child power lines are each provided with an inductor attached in series, and a bypass means for connecting the plurality of child power lines to each other via a capacitor is attached.
It is a power line communication system.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively suppress a decrease in signal intensity due to the operation of the electric device and to prevent the spread of electrical inconveniences around the information processing apparatus.

In the first aspect of the present invention,
Preferably, the bypass means is means for connecting the plurality of child power lines to one connection point via a capacitor.

  In this way, the symmetry of the signal path characteristics is ensured by unifying the capacitances of the capacitors. As a result, signal amplification processing and the like in each information processing apparatus can be unified, and unnecessary design burden can be reduced.

In the first aspect of the present invention,
The bypass means may be means for connecting the locations between the inductor and the information processing apparatus side in the plurality of child power lines via a capacitor.

In the first aspect of the present invention,
It is preferable that an electric device other than the plurality of information processing devices is not attached between the bypass unit and the plurality of information processing devices in the power line.

In the first aspect of the present invention,
It is preferable that the inductor and the bypass unit are built in a connector that relays a part where the plurality of child power lines are divided.

  In this case, the power line communication system of the present invention may be realized only by replacing the connector, and as a result, troublesomeness associated with unnecessary design changes can be eliminated.

in this case,
The connector comprises a power supply side connector and an information processing device side connector,
The inductor and the bypass means may be built in the power supply side connector.

Also,
The connector comprises a power supply side connector and an information processing device side connector,
The inductor and the bypass unit may be built in the information processing apparatus side connector.

Also,
The connector comprises a power supply side connector and an information processing device side connector,
The inductor is built in the power supply side connector,
The bypass means may be incorporated in the information processing apparatus side connector.

The second aspect of the present invention is:
A bypass circuit used in a power line communication system,
A plurality of input / output terminals on the first side and the second side;
A plurality of power lines in the bypass circuit that connect the plurality of input / output terminals via an inductor;
Bypass means for connecting locations between the first side and the inductor in the plurality of bypass circuit power lines via a capacitor;
It is a bypass circuit provided with.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, by being attached to the power line communication system, it is possible to effectively suppress a decrease in signal strength due to the operation of the electric device and to prevent the spread of electrical inconveniences around the information processing apparatus. can do.

In a second aspect of the invention,
Preferably, the bypass means is means for connecting a portion between the first side of the plurality of bypass circuit power lines and the inductor to one connection point via a capacitor.

  In this way, the symmetry of the signal path characteristics is ensured by unifying the capacitances of the capacitors. As a result, signal amplification processing and the like in each information processing apparatus included in the power line communication system can be unified, and unnecessary design burden can be reduced.

In the second aspect of the present invention,
A first connector and a second connector that can be fitted together,
It is preferable that the first connector and the second connector are configured as a connector that realizes a bypass circuit by fitting.

  In this case, the power line communication system of the present invention may be realized only by replacing the connector, and as a result, troublesomeness associated with unnecessary design changes can be eliminated.

in this case,
The inductor and the bypass means may be built in the first connector.

Also,
The inductor is incorporated in the first connector;
The bypass means may be built in the second connector.

  Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, a power line communication system capable of effectively suppressing a decrease in signal strength due to operation of an electric device and preventing the spread of electrical inconveniences around the information processing apparatus, and a bypass used for the power line communication system A circuit can be provided.

It is an example of wiring of the power line communication system mounted in the vehicle. It is a figure which shows a mode that the impedance of a load falls with the operating condition of a load, and this reduces the impedance of the whole system. It is the figure which illustrated the direction where the energy of a carrier wave flows out. It is an example of wiring of the power line communication system which inserted the inductor in J / B. It is an example of wiring of the power line communication system 1 which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows notionally that a bypass means 54 connects child power line 15a, 15b, 15c in star shape. It is a block diagram at the time of seeing the bypass circuit 50 as an independent component. It is a wiring diagram in case the bypass circuit 50 is incorporated in a connector. It is a wiring diagram in case the bypass circuit 50 is incorporated in a connector. It is a wiring diagram in case the bypass circuit 50 is incorporated in a connector.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Basic configuration]
Hereinafter, a power line communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a bypass circuit 50 used for the same will be described with reference to the drawings. The power line communication system 1 and the bypass circuit 50 of the present invention can be applied to various systems and devices, but are particularly preferably applied to an in-vehicle system and an in-vehicle device. When applied to an in-vehicle system or an in-vehicle device, the following battery 10 is an in-vehicle battery, each ECU is an ECU for performing vehicle control, and each load is an in-vehicle electric device (for example, a power window motor). .

  FIG. 5 is a wiring example of the power line communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power line communication system 1 includes a battery 10, a power line 15, a J / B 20, ECUs 30 # 1, 30 # 2, and 30 # 3, loads 40A and 40B, and a bypass circuit 50 as main components. .

  The battery 10 is, for example, a lead storage battery, and functions as a power source that supplies DC power to each ECU or load. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a lithium ion battery or the like may be used, or a device that converts AC power supplied from a commercial power source into DC using an AC-DC converter may be used.

  The power line 15 is, for example, a single harness, and is used as a path for supplying DC power from the battery 10 to each ECU or load, and signals are mainly transmitted and received between the ECUs using the same harness. Such signal transmission / reception is performed, for example, by transmitting / receiving a voltage signal modulated by an AM (Amplitude Modulation) method for modulating the amplitude of a carrier wave.

  The J / B 20 is housed in, for example, a housing, and branches the power line 15 extending from the battery 10. Fuses 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are connected in series in the J / B 20 to the branched power line 15. The fuses 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are blown when a large current greater than or equal to a predetermined value flows to cut off power and signals. As a result, it is possible to prevent inconvenience due to electric leakage or the like.

  Hereinafter, portions of the power line 15 that extend from the fuses 22a, 22b, and 22c and are connected to the ECUs 30 # 1, 30 # 2, and 30 # 3 are referred to as child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c.

  The ECUs 30 # 1, 30 # 2, and 30 # 3 are, for example, microcomputers in which a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like are connected to each other via a bus around a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Other storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disc Drive), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive, CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) drive, EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) and I / O ports , Timer, counter, etc. The ECUs 30 # 1, 30 # 2, and 30 # 3 are operated by DC power supplied from the battery 10.

  The loads 40A and 40B are electric devices that perform various operations. When the power line communication system 1 is mounted on a vehicle, various motors such as a power window motor, a servo motor for an air conditioner, a wiper driving motor, and other electric devices correspond to this. The loads 40A and 40B may be operated by direct current power, or may be operated by alternating current power generated by a DC / AC converter or the like.

[Bypass circuit]
The bypass circuit 50 is attached to each ECU side with respect to the J / B 20 in the child power line 15. The bypass circuit 50 includes inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c connected in series to the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c, and locations between the ECUs and the inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c in the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c. And bypass means 54 to be connected.

  With this configuration, the inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c are inserted between the battery 10 and the loads 40A and 40B and each ECU. As a result, the impedance between the battery 10 and the loads 40A and 40B and each ECU increases, and the AC component is cut off to some extent.

  The bypass means 54 connects each of the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c to one connection point 54f via the capacitors 54a, 54b, and 54c (connects the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c in a star shape). FIG. 6 is a diagram conceptually showing how the bypass means 54 connects the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c in a star shape.

  With this configuration, each ECU can transmit and receive signals mainly only through the sub power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c and the bypass means 54. This is because the presence of the inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c makes it difficult for an AC component, that is, a signal to flow to the battery 10 and the loads 40A and 40B from the bypass unit 54. Therefore, the loads 40A and 40B are not included in the main signal transmission / reception path, and energy loss of the carrier wave can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to effectively suppress a decrease in signal strength due to the operation of the loads 40A and 40B that are electric devices. Further, it is not necessary to change the internal configuration of J / B 20, and the troublesome design change does not occur.

  In this embodiment, a load (electric device) other than the ECUs 30 # 1, 30 # 2, and 30 # 3 is attached between the bypass unit 54 in the power line 15 and the ECUs 30 # 1, 30 # 2, and 30 # 3. It is not done.

  As a result, no load is included in the main signal transmission / reception path, and the energy loss of the carrier wave can be further suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the power line communication system 1 of the present embodiment, the capacitors 54a, 54b, and 54c have substantially the same capacity.

  As a result, the signal attenuation can be made the same between any ECUs (the symmetry of the characteristics of the signal path is ensured). As a result, signal amplification processing and the like in each ECU can be unified, and unnecessary design burden can be reduced.

  By the way, it is also conceivable that the bypass means 54 connects the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c without using a capacitor. However, in this case, if a ground fault or the like occurs around one of the ECUs and the corresponding fuse is blown, the fuses corresponding to the other ECUs are also blown, resulting in an electrical inconvenience occurring around any of the ECUs. Will spread to other ECUs.

  In this regard, in the power line communication system 1 of the present embodiment, since at least one capacitor is inserted in the signal path between all the ECUs, it is possible to prevent the electrical inconvenience such as the ground fault from spreading.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram when the bypass circuit 50 is viewed as an independent component. The bypass circuit 50 includes a plurality of input / output terminals 56 a, 56 b, 56 c on the first side 56, and a plurality of input / output terminals 57 a, 57 b, 57 c on the second side 57. The child power lines 15a, 15b, 15c extending from each ECU are connected to the input / output terminals 56a, 56b, 56c, and the child power lines 15a, extending from the J / B 20 are connected to the input / output terminals 57a, 57b, 57c. 15b and 15c are connected.

  The bypass circuit 50 is formed with a plurality of power lines 58a, 58b, and 58c in the bypass circuit that connect the input / output terminals 56a and 57a, 56b and 57b, 56c and 57c via the inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c, respectively. .

  The bypass means 54 connects each of the locations between the first side 56 and the inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c in the bypass circuit power lines 58a, 58b, and 58c through a capacitor 54a, 54b, and 54c at one connection point 54f. Connect to.

  With this configuration, the bypass circuit 50 that is a main component of the power line communication system 1 is realized. By inserting the bypass circuit 50 in the middle of the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c, the power line communication system 1 effectively suppresses a decrease in signal strength due to the operation of the loads 40A and 40B, which are electric devices, and each ECU. The spread of electrical inconveniences in the vicinity can be prevented.

[Implementation as a connector]
In addition, it is preferable that the bypass circuit 50 according to the present embodiment is incorporated in a connector that relays a part where the power line 15 is divided (more specifically, the child power lines 15a, 15b, and 15c).

  Originally, the power line 15 is often relayed by a connector at an appropriate place depending on the wiring form of the system and the manufacturing process. Therefore, if the bypass circuit 50 is built in the connector, the power line communication system 1 of the present embodiment may be realized only by replacing the connector. As a result, the troublesomeness associated with unnecessary design changes can be eliminated.

  8 to 10 are wiring diagrams when the bypass circuit 50 is built in the connector. As shown in these drawings, the connector 60 includes a power supply side connector 62 attached to the tip of a power line 15 (connector power lines 15a, 15b, 15c) extending from the power supply side, and a power line 15 (extending from each ECU). The connector sub power lines 15a, 15b, 15c) are composed of an ECU-side connector 64 attached to the tip of the connector sub power lines 15a, 15b, 15c) and can be fitted to each other.

  One of the power supply side connector 62 and the ECU side connector 64 is configured as a plug side connector, and the other is configured as a jack side connector. The inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c, which are components of the bypass circuit 50, and the bypass unit 54 may both be built in either the power supply side connector 62 or the ECU side connector 64, or the inductors 52a, 52b, and 52c. May be built in the power supply side connector 62, and the bypass means 54 may be built in the ECU side connector 64.

  FIG. 8 is a wiring example of the power line communication system 1 when both the inductors 52a, 52b, 52c and the bypass means 54 are built in the ECU-side connector 64.

  FIG. 9 is a wiring example of the power line communication system 1 when the inductors 52 a, 52 b, 52 c are built in the power supply side connector 62 and the bypass means 54 is built in the ECU side connector 64.

  FIG. 10 is a wiring example of the power line communication system 1 when both the inductors 52 a, 52 b, 52 c and the bypass means 54 are built in the power supply side connector 62.

  According to the power line communication system 1 of the present embodiment described above and the bypass circuit 50 that is a main component of the power line communication system 1, while effectively suppressing a decrease in signal strength due to the operation of the loads 40 </ b> A and 40 </ b> B that are electric devices, The inconvenience of electrical inconveniences around each ECU can be prevented.

  Further, since the bypass circuit 50 is configured as a connector, the troublesomeness associated with unnecessary design changes can be eliminated.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. And substitutions can be added.

  For example, there are no restrictions on the electrical characteristics of inductors, capacitors, power lines, fuses, etc., connector fitting mode (whether bellows or pins), etc., and any component may be used.

  The ECU is an example of an information processing device, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit), various processors (including a multi-core processor and a multi-thread processing device), an MCU (Micro Control Unit), and the like may be used.

  The number of information processing devices and the number of loads (electric devices) are not particularly limited, and the present invention can be applied to any system including a plurality of information processing devices and one or more loads (electric devices). .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power line communication system 10 Battery 15 Power line 15a, 15b, 15c Child power line 20 J / B
22a, 22b, 22c, 22d Fuse 30 # 1, 30 # 2, 30 # 3 ECU
40A, 40B Load 50 Bypass circuit 52a, 52b, 52c Inductor 54 Bypass means 54a, 54b, 54c Capacitor 56 First side 56a, 56b, 56c Input / output terminal 57 Second side 57a, 57b, 57c Input / output terminal 58a, 58b, 58c Power line in bypass circuit 60 Connector 62 Power supply side connector 64 ECU side connector

Claims (13)

Power supply,
A plurality of information processing devices;
A power line for connecting the power source and the plurality of information processing devices and other electric devices, and for transmitting and receiving signals by the plurality of information processing devices,
A power line communication system comprising:
The power line includes a plurality of child power lines that branch from the power source to the plurality of information processing devices and connected to the plurality of information processing devices,
The plurality of child power lines are each provided with an inductor attached in series, and a bypass means for connecting the plurality of child power lines to each other via a capacitor is attached.
Power line communication system. The power line communication system according to claim 1,
The bypass means is means for connecting the plurality of child power lines to one connection point via a capacitor,
Power line communication system. The power line communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
The bypass means is means for connecting a location between the inductor and the information processing apparatus side in the plurality of child power lines via a capacitor.
Power line communication system. A power line communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Between the bypass means in the power line and the plurality of information processing devices, no electric equipment other than the plurality of information processing devices is attached.
Power line communication system. The power line communication system according to claim 1, wherein
The inductor and the bypass means are built in a connector that relays the divided portions of the plurality of child power lines,
Power line communication system. A power line communication system according to claim 5,
The connector comprises a power supply side connector and an information processing device side connector,
The inductor and the bypass means are built in the power supply side connector,
Power line communication system. A power line communication system according to claim 5,
The connector comprises a power supply side connector and an information processing device side connector,
The inductor and the bypass means are built in the information processing apparatus side connector,
Power line communication system. A power line communication system according to claim 5,
The connector comprises a power supply side connector and an information processing device side connector,
The inductor is built in the power supply side connector,
The bypass means is built in the information processing apparatus side connector,
Power line communication system. A bypass circuit used in a power line communication system,
A plurality of input / output terminals on the first side and the second side;
A plurality of power lines in the bypass circuit that connect the plurality of input / output terminals via an inductor;
Bypass means for connecting locations between the first side and the inductor in the plurality of bypass circuit power lines via a capacitor;
A bypass circuit comprising: The bypass circuit according to claim 9, wherein
The bypass means is means for connecting a location between the first side of the plurality of bypass circuit power lines and the inductor to one connection point via a capacitor.
Bypass circuit. A first connector and a second connector that can be fitted together,
The first connector and the second connector are fitted to each other, so that the bypass circuit according to claim 9 or 10 is configured as a connector.
Bypass circuit. The bypass circuit according to claim 11,
The inductor and the bypass means are built in the first connector,
Bypass circuit. The bypass circuit according to claim 11,
The inductor is incorporated in the first connector;
The bypass means is built in the second connector,
Bypass circuit.

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