INPUT/OUTPUT APPARATUS AND REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20110285212A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Kushiro, Noriyuki, Higuma, Toshiyasu, Koizumi, Yoshiaki, Yabe, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,306,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

An input/output apparatus is provided which is capable of preventing electric shock without reinforcing the insulation of a power-supply unit and capable of connecting to a USB, a LAN, or the like. An input/output apparatus includes a power-supply circuit that uses electric power as the power supply of the present apparatus, which is generated in a resonance circuit by an induction of an AC magnetic field from the resonance circuit on the apparatus main body side, and a communication circuit that transmits and receives a signal between a resonance circuit of the present apparatus and a resonance circuit on the apparatus main body side, and capable of being insulated from the power supply of the apparatus main body by receiving electric power from the apparatus main body in a non-contact state and by communicating with the apparatus main body in a non-contact state, thereby.

Claims

1. An input/output apparatus that is provided with an electric apparatus connected with a commercial power supply and transmits and receives a signal to and from said electric apparatus, the input/output apparatus comprising:

a resonance circuit formed of a coil that is electromagnetically coupled with a coil provided with said electric apparatus and a capacitor;

power receiving means that converts an AC voltage generated in said resonance circuit by electromagnetic induction to a predetermined constant voltage;

communication means that generates a high-frequency magnetic field between said coil of said electric apparatus and said resonance circuit and that transmits and receives a signal; and

an input/output unit that transmits and receives a signal to and from an external device,

wherein the input/output apparatus supplies electric power from the coil of said electric apparatus to said power receiving means via said resonance circuit and transmits and receives a signal between the coil of said electric apparatus and said resonance circuit with modulating the power source frequency by the signal.

2. The input/output apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input/output unit adopts a start-stop synchronous serial communication unit.

3. The input/output apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input/output unit is a LAN connection unit.

4. The input/output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input/output unit is a USB connection unit.

5. The input/output apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input/output unit is a memory card I/F unit.

6. The input/output apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input/output unit is a parallel input/output port.

7. A remote control apparatus that has an I/F unit in a remote control body and is connected to an electric apparatus that is connected to a commercial power supply through a power-supply line and a communication line,

wherein said remote control body includes a power supply circuit having a coil at an output edge and a communication circuit having a coil at an input edge,

said I/F unit includes

power receiving means that has a resonance circuit formed of a coil that is electromagnetically coupled with a coil of said power supply circuit and a capacitor and that converts an AC voltage generated in said resonance circuit by electromagnetic induction from the coil of said power supply circuit to a predetermined constant voltage,

communication means that has a resonance circuit formed of a coil that is electromagnetically coupled with a coil of said power supply circuit and a capacitor and generates a high-frequency magnetic field between the coil of said communication circuit and said resonance circuit to transmit and receive a signal, and

an input/output unit that transmits and receives signals to and from external devices,

wherein said remote controller body operates said power supply circuit so that said power receiving means receives an AC voltage generated in said resonance circuit when communication is performed between said input/output unit and said electric apparatus.

9. The remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein said input/output unit adopts a start-stop synchronous serial communication unit.

10. The remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein said input/output unit is a LAN connection unit.

11. The remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein said input/output unit is a USB connection unit.

12. The remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein said input/output unit is a memory card I/F unit.

13. The remote control apparatus of claim 7, wherein said input/output unit is a parallel input/output port.

8. A remote control apparatus that has an I/F unit in a remote control body and is connected to an electric apparatus that is connected to a commercial power supply through a power-supply line and a communication line,

wherein said remote control body includes a power supply circuit having a coil at an output edge and a communication circuit having an optical wireless medium that transmits and receives a signal via light at an output edge,

said I/F unit includes

power receiving means that has a resonance circuit formed of a coil that is electromagnetically coupled with a coil of said power supply circuit and a capacitor and converts an AC voltage generated in said resonance circuit by electromagnetic induction from the coil of said power supply circuit to a predetermined constant voltage voltage,

communication means that transmits and receives a signal via light with the optical wireless medium of said communication circuit, and

an input/output unit that transmits and receives a signal to and from an external device, and

wherein said remote controller body operates said power supply circuit so that said power receiving means receives an AC voltage generated in said resonance circuit when communication is performed between said input/output unit and said electric apparatus.