DETECTING DEVICE AND DETECTING METHOD

• US 20130335105A1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Washiro, Takanori
• Granted Patent: US 9,335,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/654
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2513 Arrangements for monitoring electric power systems, e.g. power lines or loads; Logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2611 Measuring inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

The present technology relates to a detecting device and a detecting method that enable a state change of power lines to be detected with a simple circuit configuration. For example, when electronic devices 10A and 10B are connected to outlets 24-1 and 24-2 at the same time, a reader/writer 26 is notified of a device IDA and an outlet ID1 and a device IDB and an outlet ID2. In this case, a controller 27 controls a switch 91-1 and temporarily turns off power lines connecting the outlet 24-1 and the reader/writer 26 and then turns on the power lines immediately. Thereby, when the switch 91-1 is turned off, the reader/writer 26 is notified of only the device IDB and the outlet ID2. Therefore, the controller 27 can determine that the electronic device 10B is connected to the outlet 24-2. Then, the controller 27 can determine that the electronic device 10A is connected to the outlet 24-1. The present disclosure can be applied to indoor wiring of a table tap or power lines.

Claims

1. A detecting device comprising:

a first storage element that is disposed on power lines, generates driving power on the basis of an alternating-current signal communicated through the power lines, load-modulates the alternating-current signal communicated through the power lines, and outputs stored first identification information through the power lines;

a communication unit that receives the first identification information output by the first storage element through the power lines; and

a detecting unit that detects states of the power lines on the basis of the received first identification information.

2. The detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein the detecting unit detects that an electronic device is connected to the power lines and disconnection is generated in the power lines, on the basis of the received first identification information.

3. The detecting device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of outlets that feed power to the electronic device,

wherein a plurality of first storage elements is connected in parallel to one of positive and negative sides of the power lines connected to the plurality of outlets and output the stored first identification information through the power lines, when the electronic device is connected to the outlet and the power lines become a closed circuit, and

the detecting unit detects that the electronic device is connected to the outlet, on the basis of reception of the first identification information.

4. The detecting device according to claim 3,

wherein the communication unit receives second identification information output by a second storage element, which is incorporated in the electronic device connected to the power lines and is configured equally to the first storage element, through the power lines, and

the detecting unit associates the received first identification information and second identification information with each other and manages the identification information.

5. The detecting device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a switching unit that performs switching such that one of the plurality of first storage elements corresponding to the plurality of outlets is connected to the communication unit.

6. The detecting device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a providing unit that provides the states of the power lines detected by the detecting unit to a user.

7. The detecting device according to claim 2,

wherein the storage element is connected to positive and negative sides of the power lines and regularly outputs the stored identification information through the power lines, and

the detecting unit detects that the disconnection is generated in the power lines, on the basis of non-reception of the identification information.

8. The detecting device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a blocking unit that is provided on the power lines and blocks an input/output of the alternating-current signal.

9. A detecting method of a detecting device that includes a first storage element which is disposed on power lines, generates driving power on the basis of an alternating-current signal communicated through the power lines, load-modulates the alternating-current signal communicated through the power lines, and outputs stored first identification information through the power lines and detects states of the power lines, the detecting method comprising:

a communication step of causing the detecting device to receive the first identification information output by the first storage element through the power lines; and

a detection step of causing the detecting device to detect the states of the power lines on the basis of the received first identification information.