Communications system

• US 9,148,232 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Keisuke, Shinoda, Hiroshi, Terada, Takahide, Sakano, Junichi, Onda, Kohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanderpuye, Ken
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDHU, AMRITBIR K
• Application Number:
  US13/885,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20130236189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 398/116
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/30 for compensation of, or protection against, temperature or moisture effects ; for improving power handling capability H01P1/04, H01P1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/808 Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system

Abstract

In order to provide a communication system which performs a communication while maintaining high voltage insulation, a control circuit which is operated at a low voltage, and a controlled circuit which is operated at a high voltage are connected through a propagation layer having a waveguide structure, thereby performing a communication. In particular, a displacement current (surge current) flows between a high voltage circuit and a low voltage circuit due to a potential fluctuation which occurs in the high voltage circuit A surge current protection circuit is provided, and applying an input which is out of rating to the communication module and the low voltage circuit due to such a surge current is prevented.

Claims

1. A communication system which performs a communication between a control logic circuit which is operated using a first voltage and a circuit to be controlled which is operated using a second voltage, the system comprising:

a multilayer substrate formed by laminating, in this order;

a communication substrate layer;

a metal conductor forming a first antenna;

an insulating layer; and

a waveguide;

a first communication module mounted on the multilayer substrate, the first communication module converting a control signal from the control logic circuit to a first carrier frequency;

a second antenna which receives the control signal which is converted to the first carrier frequency by passing through the first antenna and the waveguide; and

a second communication module which reversely converts the control signal which is received in the second antenna, and converted to the first carrier frequency to a base band frequency,

wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage;

wherein the waveguide includes;

dielectric layers and conductor layers interposed between the dielectric layers; and

a first opening portion and a second opening portion corresponding to the first and second antennas, respectively, such that the control signal arrives at the second antenna by passing through the first antenna, the waveguide, and the first and second opening portions, and

wherein the insulating layer maintains DC electrical insulation between the first antenna, the second antenna, and the conductor layer of the waveguide.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the first antenna is connected to the first communication module through a first surge protection current circuit, and the second antenna is connected to the second communication module through a second surge protection current circuit.

3. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the first antenna is provided in a dielectric layer of the waveguide.

4. The communication system according to claim 3,

wherein the dielectric layer of the waveguide is formed of two dielectric layers, and a metal conductor layer which forms the first antenna is provided between the two dielectric layers.

5. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein converting of the control signal into a carrier frequency is performed by switching the carrier frequency using a control signal which is expressed in binary.

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

a third communication module which converts another control signal from the control logic circuit into a second carrier frequency;

a third antenna;

a fourth antenna which receives the another control signal which passes through the third antenna and the waveguide, and is converted to the second carrier frequency; and

a fourth communication module which reversely converts another control signal, which is received by the fourth antenna, and is converted into the second carrier frequency, into a base band frequency.

7. The communication system according to claim 6,

wherein the waveguide includes

a first opening portion which corresponds to the first antenna;

a second opening portion which corresponds to the second antenna;

a third opening portion which corresponds to the third antenna; and

a fourth opening portion which corresponds to the fourth antenna,

wherein the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency are the same as each other, and

wherein a first communication channel is realized between the first and second communication modules, and a second communication channel is realized between the third and fourth communication modules, by providing shields so that the first and second opening portions, and the third and fourth opening portions are separated.

8. The communication system according to claim 6,

wherein the waveguide includes

a first opening portion which corresponds to the first antenna;

a second opening portion which corresponds to the second antenna;

a third opening portion which corresponds to the third antenna; and

a fourth opening portion which corresponds to the fourth antenna,

wherein the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency are different from each other, and a first communication channel is realized between the first and second communication modules, and a second communication channel is realized between the third and fourth communication modules when the second antenna selectively receives the control signal which is converted to the first carrier frequency, and when the fourth antenna selectively receives another control signal which is converted to the second carrier frequency.