Dual wiring system

• US 8,238,755 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masahiro, Ueno, Takeshi, Oogi, Kazufumi, Yoneyama, Kenichi, Hamaguchi, Hideshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanderpuye, Kenneth N
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLDEKIDAN, HIBRET ASNAKE
• Application Number:
  US11/988,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20090110407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,420 Days
• Field of Search: 398/135, 398/140, 398/138, 398115-117, 439/638, 307/147
• US Class Current: 398/135
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/164 Connecting locations formed by flush mounted apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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

A dual wiring system with improved function expandability is provided. A base unit is mounted in a wall surface of a structure, and connected to both of an electric power line and an information line previously installed in the structure. Each of function units has at least one of functions for providing electric power from the electric power line, outputting information from the information line and inputting information into the information line when connected with the base unit. The base unit is detachably connected with one of the function units by use of a joining member, so that electric power is supplied from the base unit to the function unit through a power transmission means, and a signal transmission between the base unit and the function unit is obtained through a signal transmission means.

Claims

1. A dual wiring system comprising:

a plate-shaped base unit adapted in use to be mounted in a wall surface of a structure, and connected to both of an electric power line and an information line installed in said structure;

a plate-shaped function unit having at least one of functions for providing electric power from said electric power line, outputting information from said information line, and inputting information into said information line, when connected with said base unit;

a power transmission means configured to supply the electric power from said base unit to said function unit;

a signal transmission means configured to make a signal transmission between said base unit and said function unit; and

a joining means configured to detachably connect said function unit to said base unit,

wherein said base unit has a housing, which is formed with a rear portion embedded in said wall surface, front portion having at least one of an outlet configured to receive a power plug of an electric appliance, a switch configured to turn on/off the electric appliance, and a side portion having a same size and shape as a side portion of said function unit and having said power transmission means and said signal transmission means to detachably connect said function unit to said base in a direction along said wall surface, and

wherein said function unit and said base unit are connectable so that said side portions contact each other; and

wherein said base unit is formed with a main housing detachably connected to said function unit by use of said joining means, and a gate housing having terminals connectable to said electric power line and said information line, and wherein said gate housing and said main housing have a pair of a module port and a module connector, which are detachably connected to each other to simultaneously establish both of supplying the electric power from said gate housing to said main housing, and making a signal transmission between said gate housing and said main housing.

2. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power transmission means is configured to supply the electric power from said base unit to said function unit in a noncontact manner by means of electromagnetic coupling.

3. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said signal transmission means is configured to make the signal transmission between said base unit and said function unit in a noncontact manner by means of optical coupling.

4. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base unit and said function unit has a pair of an electric power port and an electric power connector, which are detachably connected to each other to supply the electric power from said base unit to said function unit in a noncontact manner by means of electromagnetic coupling as said power transmission means, and a pair of an information signal port and an information signal connector, which are detachably connected to each other to make a signal transmission between said base unit and said function unit in a noncontact manner by means of optical coupling as said signal transmission means.

5. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base unit has a housing, which is formed with a rear portion having terminals to be connected to said electric power line and said information line, and a front portion further having a power transmission means and a signal transmission means.

6. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said joining means comprises engaging portions formed on each of said base unit and said function unit and a joining member configured to slidably contact the engaging portions and make the mechanical connection between said base unit and said function unit such that a region of said joining member is engaged to the engaging portion of said base unit and the remaining region of said joining member is engaged to the engaging portion of said function unit.

7. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power transmission coupler transmits electric power from said base unit to said function unit in a noncontact manner by means of electromagnetic coupling.

8. A dual wiring system comprising:

a plate-shaped base unit mountable in a wall surface of a structure and connected to both of an electric power line and an information line installed in said structure;

a plate-shaped function unit, which provides electric power from said electric power line, outputs information from said information line, and inputs information into said information line, when connected with said base unit;

a power transmission coupler, which transmits electric power from said base unit to said function unit;

a signal transmitter, which transmits a signal between said base unit and said function unit; and

a joining assembly, which detachably connects said function unit to said base unit,

wherein said base unit includes a housing, which is formed with a rear portion embedded in said wall surface, a front portion having an outlet, which receives a power connector of an electric appliance, and a side portion having a same size and shape as a side portion of said function unit and including said power transmission coupler and said signal transmitter to detachably connect said function unit to said base unit in a direction along said wall surface, and

wherein said base unit is formed with a main housing detachably connected to said function unit by use of said joining means, and a gate housing having terminals connectable to said electric power line and said information line, and wherein said gate housing and said main housing have a pair of a module port and a module connector, which are detachably connected to each other to simultaneously establish both of supplying the electric power from said gate housing to said main housing, and making a signal transmission between said gate housing and said main housing.

9. The dual wiring system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said signal transmitter transmits a signal between said base unit and said function unit in a noncontact manner by means of optical coupling.