POWER LINE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

• US 20100026087A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Yoshinori, Morita, Tomohiro, Kuriyama, Shuichi, Tokunaga, Yoshimi
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/3
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/20 Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards installations of bus-bars H02G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/46 Boxes; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/56 Cooling; Ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2039 characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/00 Screening of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic fields devices for absorbing radiation from an antenna H01Q17/00

Abstract

To improve a communication performance of a communication apparatus by configuring a communication board provided with a PLC signal processor so as to be used in common in other apparatuses, the communication apparatus which performs communication through a power line and a transmission medium different from the power line includes: a power board which is provided with a power unit connected to the power line; an interface board which is separately formed from the power board and is provided with an interface for performing communication through the transmission medium; and a communication board which is separately formed from the power board and the interface board and is provided with a power line communication unit for performing communication through the power line and a connection unit electrically connectable to the power board and the interface board.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus which performs communication through a power line and a transmission medium different from the power line, the communication apparatus comprising:

a power board which is provided with a power unit connected to the power line;

an interface board which is separately formed from the power board and is provided with an interface for performing communication through the transmission medium; and

a communication board which is separately formed from the power board and the interface board, and is provided with a power line communication unit for performing communication through the power line and a connection unit electrically connectable to the power board and the interface board.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit includes:

a first connector which includes a transmission path for a power line communication signal and is electrically connectable to the power board; and

a second connector which includes a transmission path for a communication signal transmitted and received through the interface and is electrically connectable to the interface board.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first connector is away from the second connector.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the power board includes a coupler for separating and coupling the power line communication signal, and

wherein the first connector is disposed in the vicinity of the coupler.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication board is perpendicular to both the power board and the interface board.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a casing which accommodates the power board, the interface board, and the communication board;

a power plug which is provided on a surface of the casing; and

a heat radiator which radiates heat generated from the communication board,

wherein a base portion of the power plug is connected to the power board, and

wherein the heat radiator holds the communication board and at least a part of the heat radiator is disposed at a location facing the power board so as not to overlap with the power plug.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the heat radiator includes:

an extender which extends from the communication board at a location facing the power board; and

a regulator which regulates displacement of an end portion of the extension portion toward the power board.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is an interface for wireless communication.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is an interface for a coaxial cable.