Power line communication apparatus and connecting device

• US 7,501,913 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Igata, Yuji, Hanada, Tsunehiro, Yamashita, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US11/675,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20070190840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 333/132, 340/310.01, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 375/259, 307/40
• US Class Current: 333/132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A cable connecting device for power line communication includes: a first wiring line 231 and a second wiring line 232 through which AC power is capable of being supplied; a power plug 120 which is electrically connected to the first wiring line 231 and the second wiring line 232 and whose wiring lines are capable of being supplied with AC power; an Ethernet port 110 through which a communication signal is capable of being input and output; a power line communication modem 220 that is connected to the Ethernet port 110 and that is connected to the second wiring line 232 through which a communication signal is transmitted by using AC power input to the power plug 120 through the first wiring line 231 between the power plug 120 and the Ethernet port 110; a filter 210 disposed on the first wiring line 231 and having high impedance in at least a frequency band used for power line communication rather than a frequency band used for AC power; and connectors 101 to 104 which axe electrically connected to the first wiring line 231 between the filter 210 and the power line communication modem 220 and to which AC power from the first wiring line 231 is capable of being supplied.

Claims

1. A power line communication apparatus that superimposes a signal having a first frequency on power having a second frequency lower than the first frequency, comprising:

a first connector to which the power is input;

a communication circuit that superimposes the signal on the power input to the first connector;

a power supply circuit that supplies the power input to the first connector to the communication circuit;

a second connector that outputs the power input to the first connector to the outside of the power line communication apparatus; and

a single filter that has impedance characteristics in which impedance corresponding to the first frequency is higher than impedance corresponding to the second frequency,

wherein the first connector is connected to the power supply circuit through the single filter, and the first connector is connected to the second connector through the single filter.

2. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is connected to the first connector through a first line and transmits the signal onto the first line,

the power supply circuit is connected to the first connector through a second line and supplies the power input to the first connector to the communication circuit through the second line,

the single filter is provided on the second line between the first connector and the power supply circuit, and

the second connector is provided on the second line between the single filter and the power supply circuit.

3. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a selector that disconnects the second connector from the second line and connects the second connector to the first line.

4. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a surge absorber that is provided between the second connector and the single filter so as to absorb surge.

5. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second line has a connection point to which the second connector is connected, and

the surge absorber is provided between the single filter and the connection point.

6. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the single filter is connected to the first connector through a line including an approach path and a return path and has passive elements on the approach path and the return path.

7. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the passive elements have substantially the same characteristic values.

8. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the passive elements are inductors.

9. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the passive elements are configured to include only inductors.

10. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first frequency is in a megahertz band.

11. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the megahertz band is 1.705 MHz to 80 MHz.

12. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second frequency is 60 Hz.

13. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is a plug.

14. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit converts AC components of the power to DC components and supplies the converted power to the communication circuit.

15. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the power supply circuit converts the AC components of the power to the DC components by using a switching element.

16. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second connector is an outlet.

17. The power line communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of the outlets are provided.

18. A connecting device for a power line communication apparatus that superimposes a signal having a first frequency on power having a second frequency lower than the first frequency, comprising:

a first connector to which the power is input;

a power supply circuit that supplies the power input to the first connector to a communication circuit that superimposes the signal on the power;

a second connector that outputs the power input to the first connector to the outside of the power line communication apparatus; and

a single filter has impedance characteristics in which impedance corresponding to the first frequency is higher than impedance corresponding to the second frequency,

wherein the first connector is connected to the power supply circuit through the single filter, and the first connector is connected to the second connector through the single filter.