FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
& The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
1.TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
MODULAR COMMUNICATION DEVICE
2. APPLICANT:
Name: KERLINK
Nationality: France
Address: 1 rue Jacqueline Auriol, 35235 Thorigne-Fouillard, France.
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed:
2
Technical field
The invention relates to the field of modular electronic devices, in particular
for digital wireless communications.
5 Technological background
The Internet of things consists in allowing everyday objects to automatically
communicate data with a wireless network. For example, a water meter equipped
with a communications module may automatically communicate a water reading to
the company managing the invoicing of the water consumption.
10 Hub gateways, also referred to as base stations, have the role of radio
reception and transmission of data coming from and intended for communications
modules present in their area of coverage and also of relaying these data to
equipment in charge of processing them, for example servers accessible over a
network based on the IP protocol (Internet Protocol).
15 Several radio access technologies are available for the implementation of
networks of communications modules. Purely by way of non-limiting illustration, the
technologies LoRa™, Sigfox™ or else WM-Bus (Wireless Meter Bus), which are
notably based on different types of modulation, may be mentioned.
These technologies have in common the provision of long-range
20 communications which allow the number of gateways to be reduced by increasing
the coverage of the latter.
It is advantageous to provide gateways with a modular structure supporting
one or more boards arranged within a rack, each allowing a network or a particular
service to be connected. However, in the absence of software intelligence on the
25 boards, notably in the absence of assignment of an address for each board, each
board must be specifically designed according to the rank that it occupies in the
rack.
Summary
One idea on which the invention is based is to provide a structure
30 compatible with mass production of interchangeable boards.
3
Certain aspects of the invention derive from the idea of being able to supply
peripheral boards that are independent of their rank in a modular device, for
example a network interconnection device.
Certain aspects of the invention derive from the idea of being able to supply
5 standardized connection boards.
Certain aspects of the invention derive from the idea of being able to
operate without backplane.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a modular communication
device comprising
10 - a master element comprising a control unit designed to generate electrical
signals of the serial type, furthermore comprising N bidirectional electrical
control input-outputs, each electrically connected to the control unit,
- a series of modular elements, each modular element comprising:
o an upstream connection interface comprising a series of N upstream
15 input-output terminals disposed in locations forming a predetermined
pattern,
o a downstream connection interface comprising a series of N
downstream input-output terminals disposed in locations forming the
same predetermined pattern,
20 o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links, each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal situated in a
location of rank i within the predetermined pattern of the upstream
connection interface to a downstream input-output terminal situated
in a location of rank i-1 within the predetermined pattern of the
25 downstream connection interface, in such a manner as to form a
circular permutation between the ranks of the upstream and
downstream input-output terminals electrically connected in pairs,
and in which one of the electrical links is a local control link
connected to an electronic communications module for which the
30 electrical signals of the serial type are intended, in which the
upstream input-output terminal connected to said local control link is
an upstream local control terminal disposed in a location of
4
predetermined rank within the pattern of the upstream connection
interface, in such a manner that the location of the upstream local
control terminal within the pattern of the upstream connection
interface is the same location for all the modular elements,
5 in which the modular elements are connected to one another via the upstream and
downstream connection interfaces, the upstream connection interface of each
modular element and the downstream connection interface of each modular element
being complementary and designed to connect the downstream input-output
terminals of a modular element to the upstream input-output terminals of same rank
10 of the next modular element, in which the upstream input-output terminals of the first
modular element are connected to the bidirectional electrical control input-output
terminals of the master element.
By virtue of these features of the invention, a network interconnection
device may be obtained in which:
15 - the connection between the various modular elements is standardized.
This allows a gain in modularity with respect to the prior art.
- the communications are bidirectional through the electrical links and the
upstream and downstream input-output terminals.
- any type of electrical signal may be communicated across the network
20 interconnection device.
In some embodiments, the modular communication device according to the
invention may furthermore comprise one or more of the features hereinbelow.
In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to generate an
25 electrical signal multiplexed onto one of the N bidirectional electrical control inputoutputs, the electrical signal comprising first control signals intended for a first
electronic communications module of a first modular element of the series of
modular elements and second control signals intended for a second electronic
communications module of a second modular element of the series of modular
30 elements, the first control signals and the second control signals being multiplexed
over time.
5
In some embodiments, the series of modular elements comprises a number
of modular elements greater than or equal to N.
In some embodiments, the number of modular elements of the series of
modular elements is greater than N, and a rank i of the first modular element in the
5 series of modular elements and a rank j of the second modular element in the series
of modular elements have a relationship j=i[N], such that the first modular element
and the second modular element are connected in series to said bidirectional
electrical control input-output.
In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to generate an
10 electrical signal multiplexed onto two of the N bidirectional electrical control inputoutputs, the electrical signal comprising first control signals intended for a first
electronic communications module of a first modular element of the series of
modular elements and second control signals intended for a second electronic
communications module of a second modular element of the series of modular
15 elements, the first control signals and the second control signals being multiplexed
over time.
In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to generate an
electrical signal multiplexed over all of the N bidirectional electrical control inputoutputs, the multiplexed electrical signal comprising control signals intended for
20 each of the electronic communications modules of the modular elements of the
series of modular elements, the control signals being multiplexed over time. In some
embodiments, each modular element comprises a peripheral board and a
connection board which are connected to each other. The connection board may be
situated upstream or downstream of the peripheral board.
25 According to one embodiment in which the connection board is situated
upstream of the peripheral board,
- the peripheral board comprises:
o the downstream connection interface, the peripheral board
furthermore comprising:
30 o an intermediate interface comprising a series of N upstream inputoutput terminals disposed in locations forming a second
predetermined pattern,
6
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links, each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal situated in a
location of rank i within the predetermined pattern of the intermediate
interface to a downstream input-output terminal situated in a location
5 of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the downstream
connection interface of the peripheral board, in which one of the
electrical links is the local control link, the location of the upstream
local control terminal within the pattern of the intermediate interface
being the same location for all the peripheral boards,
10 - the connection board comprises:
o the downstream connection interface, the connection board
furthermore comprising:
o an intermediate interface comprising a series of N downstream inputoutput terminals disposed in locations forming the same second
15 predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links, each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal situated in a
location of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the
downstream connection interface of the connection board to a
20 downstream input-output terminal situated in a location of rank i-1
within the predetermined pattern of the intermediate interface, in such
a manner as to form a circular permutation between the ranks of the
upstream and downstream input-output terminals electrically
connected in pairs,
25 the peripheral board and the connection board being connected together via the
intermediate interfaces, the intermediate interface of the connection board and the
intermediate interface of the peripheral board being complementary and designed to
connect the upstream input-output terminals of the intermediate interface of the
peripheral board to the downstream input-output terminals of same rank of the
30 intermediate interface of the connection board.
Alternatively, in the embodiment in which the connection board is situated
downstream of the peripheral board,
7
- the peripheral board comprises:
o the upstream connection interface, the peripheral board furthermore
comprising:
o an intermediate interface comprising a series of N downstream input5 output terminals disposed in locations forming a second
predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links, each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal situated in a
location of rank i within the predetermined pattern of the upstream
10 connection interface to a downstream input-output terminal situated
in a location of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the
intermediate interface of the peripheral board, in which one of the
electrical links is the local control link, the location of the local control
terminal within the pattern of the intermediate interface having the
15 same location for all the peripheral boards,
- the connection board comprises:
o the downstream connection interface, the connection board
furthermore comprising:
o an intermediate interface comprising a series of N upstream input20 output terminals disposed in locations forming the same second
predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links, each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal situated in a
location of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the
25 intermediate interface of the connection board to a downstream inputoutput terminal situated in a location of rank i-1 within the
predetermined pattern of the downstream connection interface, in
such a manner as to form a circular permutation between the ranks of
the downstream and upstream input-output terminals electrically
30 connected in pairs,
the peripheral board and the connection board being connected together via the
intermediate interfaces, the intermediate interface of the connection board and the
8
intermediate interface of the peripheral board being complementary and designed to
connect the downstream input-output terminals of same rank of the intermediate
interface of the peripheral board to the upstream input-output terminals of the
intermediate interface of the connection board.
5 By virtue of these features, a network interconnection device may be
obtained in which:
- the connection boards are identical. This allows a gain in cost with respect
to the prior art as boards with a single reference suffice.
- the connection between the various peripheral boards is standardized.
10 This allows a gain in modularity with respect to the prior art.
- the communications are bidirectional through the electrical links and the
upstream and downstream input-output terminals.
- any type of electrical signal may be communicated across the network
interconnection device.
15 In one embodiment, the peripheral board comprises the electronic
communications module, the electronic communications module being configured to
communicate wirelessly with connected objects, and the electrical signals emitted by
the control unit are intended for the connected objects.
Depending on its functionalities, the electronic communications module
20 may include all kinds of electrical and electronic components, notably printed circuit,
microprocessor, switches, capacitors, transistors, diodes, resistors, radio interfaces,
analog-digital converters (ADC) and digital-analog converters (DAC), etc.
The electronic communications module is designed to receive electrical
signals, for example radio signals, from a device or from a network, for example
25 from a radio network, and to transmit them to the control unit. The electronic
communications module is furthermore designed to receive electrical signals from
the control unit and to transmit them to a device or a network, for example a radio
network.
In one embodiment, the electronic communications module comprises a
30 radio terminal designed to be connected to a radio antenna so as to emit radio
signals, the electronic communications module comprising a baseband processing
9
module designed to demodulate the electrical signals in order to obtain radio signals
intended for connected objects.
In one embodiment, the radio terminal is furthermore designed to be
connected to a radio antenna for receiving radio signals originating from connected
5 objects, the baseband processing being furthermore designed to demodulate the
radio signals in order to obtain electrical signals intended for the control unit.
In one embodiment, the baseband processing module is configured to use
radio protocols selected from within the list consisting of: SigFox, LoRa, WM-Bus, ZWave.
10 In one embodiment, the input-output terminals of the downstream and
upstream connection interfaces respectively comprise mutually complementary male
and female connectors, the male connector having an electrically conducting pin
and the female connector having an electrically conducting orifice designed to
establish an electrical connection with the conducting pin.
15 In one embodiment, the input-output terminals of the two intermediate
interfaces respectively comprise mutually complementary male and female
connectors, the male connector having an electrically conducting pin corresponding
to an upstream or downstream input-output terminal and the female connector
having an electrically conducting orifice designed to establish an electrical
20 connection with the conducting pin.
In one embodiment, the electrical signals comprise logic control signals, for
example a signal of the serial link, interrupt, input/ouput, chip select, etc. type. The
electrical signals may also comprise data signals, for example clock update or global
positioning data.
25 A data hub gateway is provided including the modular communication
device according to any one of the embodiments described hereinabove and a
network interface designed to establish a connection between a network and the
control unit.
Brief description of the figures
30 The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, features
and advantages of the latter will become more clearly apparent in the course of the
10
following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, presented
solely by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings.
- Figure 1 is a diagram showing a network interconnection device of modular
design.
5 - Figure 2 is a diagram showing the network interconnection device in figure
1, communicating with connected objects.
- Figure 3 is a diagram of a modular element according to a first embodiment.
- Figure 4 is a diagram of daisy-chaining of modular elements according to
the first embodiment.
10 - Figure 5 is a diagram of daisy-chaining of modular elements according to a
second embodiment.
- Figure 6 shows a variant of connectivity of the peripheral boards and of the
connection boards.
- Figure 7 shows a diagram of daisy-chaining of modular elements according
15 to one embodiment.
Detailed description of embodiments
Figure 1 shows a network interconnection device 1 according to the
invention. Such a device, also called base station or gateway, has a modular design
so as to transmit electrical signals between a master element 3 and modular
20 elements 2.
The modular elements 2 are connected together by daisy-chaining, one of
the modular elements 2 being directly connected to the master element 3.
The master element 3 comprises all the software intelligence of the network
interconnection device 1. The modular elements 2 comprise radio transmission
25 peripheral boards 4 designed to convert control signals received from the master
element into instructions for or coming from a remote object using radio protocols.
The master element 3, also referred to as motherboard, comprises a
control unit 6. Such a control unit 6 is for example a central processing unit, or CPU,
designed to execute instructions stored on a medium (not shown) in order to
30 generate or to transmit electrical signals.
11
The master element 3 furthermore comprises an electrical power supply
port 7 or a battery for supplying the network interconnection device 1 with electrical
energy.
The master element 3 furthermore comprises an interface 8 with a device
5 or a network. For example, the interface 8 is a RJ45 cable port.
Optionally, the master element 3 furthermore comprises a coaxial cable
port, for example designed to receive an antenna for a Global Positioning System,
or GPS (not shown).
The master element 3 comprises N bidirectional electrical control input10 outputs 9, each electrically connected to the control unit 6. In the example shown in
figure 1, the master element 3 comprises 3 electrical control input-outputs.
The network interconnection device 1 comprises at the most as many
modular elements 2 as it comprises electrical control input-outputs 9. In the example
in figure 1, the network interconnection device 1 comprises 3 modular elements 2 at
15 the most.
The modular elements 2 may be standardized, as described hereinbelow.
Each modular element 2 comprises upstream input-output terminals 10
disposed according to a linear pattern on an upstream connection interface 11.
For example, the upstream input-output terminals 10 are male electrical
20 pins.
Each modular element 2 comprises downstream input-output terminals 18
also disposed according to this linear pattern on a downstream interface 12.
For example, the downstream input-output terminals 18 are female
electrical sockets.
25 Each modular element 2 comprises electrical links connecting the upstream
input-output terminals 10 and the downstream input-output terminals 18 in pairs in a
circular permutation.
These electrical links are for example links of the Universal Series Bus, or
USB, type.
30 In the example in figure 1, each modular element 2 is composed of one
connection board 5 and of one peripheral board 4.
12
A connection board 5 comprises the upstream connection interface and an
intermediate interface 13 comprising a series of N downstream input-output
terminals 15. The connection board 5 furthermore comprises electrical links 16
connecting the N upstream input-output terminals 10 to the N downstream input5 output terminals 15, in pairs, according to a circular permutation. This connection
board 5 allows the electrical signals to be routed without any software intelligence.
In the example in figure 1, the downstream input-output terminals 15 of the
intermediate interface 13 are female electrical sockets, three in number and
disposed according to the same linear pattern as the terminals of the interfaces 10
10 and 12.
A peripheral board 4 comprises the downstream connection interface 12
and an intermediate interface 14 comprising a series of N upstream input-output
terminals 17 disposed according to the same pattern as the downstream inputoutput terminals 15 of the intermediate interface 13.
15 In the example in figure 1, the upstream input-output terminals 17 of the
intermediate interface 14 are male electrical pins, three in number and disposed
according to the same linear pattern.
The peripheral board 4 furthermore comprises electrical links 19 connecting
the N upstream input-output terminals 17 to the N downstream input-output
20 terminals 18 of same rank in the pattern, in pairs.
One of the electrical links 19 of the peripheral board 4 is a local control link
comprising an electronic communications module 20.
The electronic communications module 20 of the i-th modular element 2
receives the signal addressed to it by the control unit 6 of the master element 3 via
25 the i-th upstream input-output terminal 9.
The male plugs and the female sockets are pluggable in pairs so as to
enable an electrical connection.
The pluggable connection of a peripheral board 4 onto a connection board
5 provides a modular element 2. The modular element 2 is also pluggable onto a
30 second modular element 2 in order to provide a modular network interconnection
device 1.
13
Thus, the network interconnection device 1 allows electrical signals,
including control information, to be addressed to each electronic communications
module 20 of the modular elements without a need for a software or hardware
mechanism.
5 Notably, the modular elements may be readily plugged into one another,
because they are designed to be standardized. For example, they may be mass
produced.
Notably, the circular permutation of the electrical links between the inputoutput terminals of the upstream and downstream interfaces of the modular
10 elements 2 allows each downstream input-output terminal of the master element 3
to be connected to the electronic communications module of a modular element 2, in
particular. The rank of the modular element 2 determines to which downstream
input-output terminal of the master element 3 it is connected.
The rank of the modular element 2 refers to its place in the chain of
15 modular elements 2 daisy-chained together with respect to the master element 3.
The operation of such a network interconnection device 1 will now be
described with reference to figure 2.
Figure 2 shows a network interconnection device 1 such as that in figure 1,
comprising two modular elements 21 and 22.
20 The network interconnection device 1 allows the Internet 25 to be
interconnected with other networks. In figure 2, the networks shown are networks
using radio technologies: SigFox 27 and LoRa 26.
The network interconnection device 1 comprises two electrical links 30 and
31, each connected to the control unit 6 and each passing through the network
25 interconnection device 1 via the two modular elements 21 and 22. The modular
element 21 is of rank 1 and the modular element 22 is of rank 2.
The modular element 21 comprises an electrical module 20 (not shown)
connected to an antenna 29. The radio antenna 29 is compatible with the LoRa 26
network.
30 The modular element 22 comprises an electrical module 20 (not shown)
connected to an antenna 28. The radio antenna 28 is compatible with the SigFox 27
network.
14
The electrical connection 30 is electrically connected to the electrical
module 20 comprising the antenna 29, whereas the electrical connection 31 is
electrically connected to the electrical module 20 comprising the antenna 28.
The control unit 6 emits and receives electrical signals from and to the radio
5 antennas 28 and 29.
The electrical signals are notably inter-board connection signals of the
serial type. For example, these signals are of the type:
 serial link signals
 interrupt signals
10  input/output signals
 chip select signals
 power supply signals.
The electrical signals include control and data information.
For example, the control unit 6 generates a request serial signal which is
15 channeled via the electrical connection 30 up to the radio antenna 29.
The request signal is transmitted in the form of radio waves via the radio
antenna 29. The radio waves emitted are compatible with the LoRa 26 network.
The request signal is received by a water meter 32 equipped with an
antenna 33.
20 The water meter 32 responds to this request signal with a data signal
comprising the latest reading from the water meter 32.
This data signal is channeled via the electrical connection 30 up to the
control unit 6.
For example, the control unit 6 generates a serial signal for updating the
25 time which is channeled via the electrical connection 31 up to the radio antenna 28.
The connected watch 34 receives the time-update signal via the SigFox 27
network.
Similarly, it is possible to control other connected objects (not shown) such
as:
15
 a tracker, for example a dog collar,
 an RFID tag,
 a refrigerator,
 a surveillance video-camera,
5  connected lamps, for example urban infrastructure lamps, etc.
Other technologies may be envisioned, as long as an additional modular
element 2 is provided and equipped with a radio antenna for the desired technology.
Here, two exemplary embodiments of a modular element will be described
with reference respectively to figures 3 and 4 and to figure 5.
10 Figure 3 shows one exemplary embodiment of a peripheral board 4 and of
a connection board 5. The peripheral boards 4 shown in this exemplary embodiment
are standardized boards, mass produced in an identical manner to one another. The
same goes for the connection boards 5.
The peripheral board 4 comprises a support 23 in the form of a horizontal
15 tray, made for example of insulating plastic.
One of the lateral edges 24 of the support 23 is equipped with a connection
element comprising the downstream connection interface 12 and the intermediate
interface 14.
The intermediate connection interface 14 protrudes upward from the upper
20 surface of the support 23 and the downstream connection interface 12 protrudes
downward from the lower surface of the support 23.
The N upstream input-output terminals 17 of the intermediate interface 14
are disposed facing the N downstream input-output terminals 18 of the upstream
interface 12. Each of the N upstream input-output terminals 17 is connected to the
25 downstream input-output terminal 18 facing it by an electrical link 19.
The support 23 comprises the electronic communications module 20.
The electronic communications module 20 comprises a printed circuit 35
and logic electrical components, together with means of connecting an antenna 29.
16
In the example in figure 3, the antenna 29 is composed of two emitters Tx
38 and 39 and of two receivers Rx 36 and 37 in order to enable a bidirectional
communication in duplex mode.
The means of connection are for example four coaxial cable ports for
5 attaching an emitter or a receiver onto each one.
An electrical link 40 electrically connects the printed circuit 35 and the
electrical link 19 between the upstream input-output terminal 14 and the
downstream input-output terminal 18.
This electrical link 40 is disposed on the electrical link 19 which connects
10 input-output terminals 17 and 18 of rank 1. In order to enable the daisy-chaining of
the modular elements 2 together and the communication of electrical signals to each
of them, all the peripheral boards 4 must be designed by disposing the electrical link
40 on the electrical link 19 of terminals of the same rank. On the other hand, there is
no reason that rank 1 should be chosen for all the peripheral boards 4. Any given
15 rank could equally be chosen for all the boards, for example the rank 2.
A connection board 5 is also shown in figure 3. The connection board is a
vertical tray, made for example of insulating plastic.
The N upstream input-output terminals 10 are disposed on the upper edge
of the vertical tray. The N downstream input-output terminals 15 are disposed on the
20 lower edge of the vertical tray.
The N upstream input-output terminals 10 of the intermediate interface 11
are disposed facing the N downstream input-output terminals 15 of the downstream
interface 13. Each of the N upstream input-output terminals 10 is connected to the
downstream input-output terminal 15 by an electrical link 16, in a circular
25 permutation.
As shown, the upstream input-output terminal 10 of rank 1 is connected to
the downstream input-output terminal 15 of rank N. The upstream input-output
terminal 10 of rank i is connected to the downstream input-output terminal 15 of rank
i-1. This choice shown in figure 3 is arbitrary and the circular permutation could be
30 formed in the other direction. For example, another production standard may be
chosen in which the upstream input-output terminal 10 of rank N is connected to the
downstream input-output terminal 15 of rank 1 and the upstream input-output
17
terminal 10 of rank i is connected to the downstream input-output terminal 15 of rank
i+1.
Up to N peripheral boards and N connection boards may be assembled
together in order to obtain the network interconnection device 1.
5 For this purpose, the downstream input-output terminals 15 of a connection
board 5 must be aligned with the upstream input-output terminals 17 of a peripheral
board 4 and be plugged in. A modular element 2 is then obtained, as shown in figure
4.
Then, the operation must be repeated with a new connection board 5 and a
10 new peripheral board 4.
Each modular element 2 may be connected to another modular element 2
by plugging the upstream input-output terminals 10 of the upstream connection
interface 11 of the connection board 5 of a first modular element 2 into the
downstream input-output terminals 12 of the downstream connection interface 12 of
15 the peripheral board 4 of a second modular element 2.
The master element 3 shown in figure 4 comprises a support 41 in the form
of a horizontal tray, made for example of insulating plastic.
In order to daisy-chain the modular elements 2 onto the master element 3,
the modular element 2 of rank 1 must be plugged into the master element 3 by
20 means of the downstream input-output terminals 9 and of the upstream input-output
terminals 10.
Advantageously, the dimensions of the supports 23 and 41 are
substantially identical. Notably, the length of the lateral edge 24 is identical to that of
the lateral edge 25.
25 Advantageously, the dimensions of the connection boards 5 are
substantially identical to the dimensions of the lateral edges 24 and 42.
The alignment of the upstream input-output terminals 17 and of the
downstream input-output terminals 18, of the upstream input-output terminals 11
and of the downstream input-output terminals 13 notably allows an improvement in:
30  the compactness of the network interconnection device 1;
18
 the facilitation of the plugging of the peripheral boards 4 and of the
connection boards 5 into one another;
 the mass production of standardized peripheral boards.
Figure 5 shows one variant embodiment of modular elements 2 in which
5 there is no connection board 5. In figure 5, four modular elements 2 are daisychained together.
The elements identical or similar to those in the preceding figures are
referenced using the same numbers.
Notably, a modular element 2 comprises a support 23 similar to that
10 described with reference to figures 3 and 4.
Each modular element 2 is of identical design.
The upstream input-output terminals 10 are directly connected to the
downstream input-output terminals 18 by circular permutation.
This variant allows the assembly of network interconnection devices to be
15 simplified by reducing the number of elements to be daisy-chained to one another.
Figure 6 shows one embodiment of the invention in which the daisychaining of the peripheral boards is made possible by connecting together
connection boards 5 having a first pattern of disposition of the upstream input-output
terminals 10 on their upstream connection interface 11 different from a second
20 pattern of disposition of the downstream input-output terminals 15 on their
intermediate interface 13.
In this embodiment of the invention, the upstream input-output terminals 17
of the peripheral boards 4 are disposed according to the second pattern and the
downstream input-output terminals 13 of the peripheral boards are disposed
25 according to the first pattern in order to make possible the daisy-chaining of the
peripheral boards 4 by means of the connection boards 5.
With reference to figure 7, a diagram of daisy-chaining of modular elements
2 is shown.
In this diagram, the number N of bidirectional electrical control input-outputs
30 is equal to four and the number of modular elements 2 is equal to 5.
19
The master element 3 comprises the control unit 6 (not shown) which is
designed to generate electrical signals of the serial type for each of the four
bidirectional electrical control input-output terminals 9 electrically connected to the
control unit 6 of the master element.
5 The four electrical line chains carrying the electrical signals are shown
starting from the four terminals 9, each with a different dashed-line format, except
that the first electrical line chain starting from the first terminal 9 is shown as a solid
line.
As shown, each electrical line chain supplies a respective electronic
10 communications module 201, 202, 203 and 204 according to the rank of the terminal
9 to which the electrical line chain is attached.
Notably, in this figure, the electronic communications module 201 is
electrically powered and supplied with control signals via the electrical line shown as
a solid line.
15 This electrical line is not interrupted after the electronic communications
module 201. On the contrary, this electrical line continues via the connection
between the upstream terminal 10 of rank 1 and the downstream terminal 15 of rank
2 of the modular element 2.
Thus, the control signals and the electrical power supply carried by the
20 electrical line connected to the terminal 9 of rank 1 of the master element 3 are
channeled up to the downstream terminal 15 of the modular element 2 of rank 4.
A fifth modular element 2 may be connected to the modular element 2 of
rank 4 following the same principle as previously described.
The electrical line shown as a solid line therefore also supplies the
25 electronic communications module 205 of the modular element 2 of rank 5.
The control signals carried by the electrical line shown as a solid line
therefore supply power to both the electronic communications module 201 of the
modular element of rank 1 and the electronic communications module 205 of the
modular element 2 of rank 5.
30 Advantageously, the terminal 9 of rank 1 of the master element 3 is able to
deliver a signal over the whole length of the electrical line shown as a solid line. This
signal comprises the control signal intended for the electronic communications
20
module 201 and the control signal intended for the electronic communications
module 205, the two control signals being multiplexed over time.
Although figure 7 shows the example of a daisy-chaining of five modular
elements 2 using four terminals 9 of the master element 3, the same principle may
5 be applied to any given number of modular elements and of terminals 9 of the
master element.
Similarly, although the electronic communications modules shown in figure
7 are connected to the upstream terminal 10 of rank 1, it is possible to design
modular elements whose electronic communications modules are connected to an
10 upstream terminal 10 of another predefined rank, for example the last rank as
shown in figure 1. The daisy-chaining of a number of modular elements 2 greater
than the number of terminals 9 of the master element 3 would also be possible
following the same principle as previously described.
Advantageously, in order to allow the modular elements to be connected to
15 one another without worrying about their rank, the master element 3 is designed to
deliver, via each of its terminals 9, a signal comprising the control signals intended
for each of the electronic communications modules 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205. The
control signals are then multiplexed over time so as to only form a single signal
distributed over each of the electrical lines.
20 Generally speaking, it is possible to permute the rank of the modular
elements 2 shown in figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 as long as the master element 3 is
able to deliver, via each of its terminals 9, a signal comprising the control signals
intended for each of the electronic communications modules 20 carried by each of
the modular elements 2.
25 It is also possible to allow the permutation of rank of two modular elements
2 of given ranks by delivering a time-multiplexed signal comprising the control
signals intended for each of these modular elements 2 of ranks defined by the two
terminals 9 of corresponding rank.
Although the invention has been described in association with several
30 particular embodiments, it goes without saying that it is not in any way limited to
these and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described,
together with their combinations, if the latter fall within the framework of the
invention.
21
Notably, the patterns of the input-output terminals illustrated in the figures
are illustrative examples. The input-output terminals may be disposed according to
any other geometrical pattern, for example in a zigzag or wavy line, in a grid, in
concentric rings, in polygonal patterns such as for example a staggered
5 configuration, etc.
Notably, a peripheral board may be equipped on its intermediate interface
and on its downstream interface with all male plugs; in this case, the connection
board will be equipped with all female plugs. Conversely, a peripheral board may be
equipped on its intermediate interface and on its downstream interface with all
10 female plugs, and in this case the connection board will be equipped with all male
plugs.
The use of the verb “comprise” or “include” and of its conjugated forms
does not exclude the presence of elements or of steps other than those mentioned
in a claim. The use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” for an element or a step does
15 not exclude, unless stated otherwise, the presence of a plurality of such elements or
steps.
In the claims, any reference sign between parentheses should not be
interpreted as a limitation of the claim.
22
WE CLAIM:
1. A modular communication device (1) comprising
- a master element (3) comprising a control unit (6) designed to generate
electrical signals of the serial type, furthermore comprising N bidirectional
5 electrical control input-outputs (9), each electrically connected to the control
unit (6),
- a series of modular elements (2), each modular element (2) comprising:
o an upstream connection interface (11, 14) comprising
a series of N upstream input-output terminals (10, 17) disposed in locations
10 forming a predetermined pattern,
o a downstream connection interface (12, 13) comprising a series of N
downstream input-output terminals (18, 15) disposed in locations
forming the same predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links (16, 19), each bidirectional
15 electrical link connecting an upstream input-output terminal (10)
situated in a location of rank i within the predetermined pattern of the
upstream connection interface (11) to a downstream input-output
terminal (18) situated in a location of rank i-1 within the
predetermined pattern of the downstream connection interface (12),
20 in such a manner as to form a circular permutation between the ranks
of the upstream (10) and downstream (18) input-output terminals
electrically connected in pairs, and in which one of the electrical links
(16, 19) is a local control link (40) connected to an electronic
communications module (20) for which the electrical signals of the
25 serial type are intended, in which the upstream input-output terminal
(17, 10) connected to said local control link (40) is an upstream local
control terminal disposed in a location of predetermined rank within
the pattern of the upstream connection interface (11), in such a
manner that the location of the upstream local control terminal within
30 the pattern of the upstream connection interface (11) is the same
location for all the modular elements (2),
in which the modular elements (2) are connected to one another via the
upstream (11) and downstream (12) connection interfaces, the upstream connection
23
interface (11) of each modular element (2) and the downstream connection interface
(12) of each modular element (2) being complementary and designed to connect the
downstream input-output terminals (18) of a modular element (2) to the upstream
input-output terminals (10) of same rank of the next modular element (2),
5 in which the upstream input-output terminals (10) of the first modular element
(2) of the series are connected to the bidirectional electric input-output control
terminals (9) of the master element (3),
and in which the series of modular elements (2) comprises a number of modular
elements (2) greater than N.
10 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to
generate an electrical signal multiplexed onto one of the N bidirectional
electrical control input-outputs (9), the electrical signal comprising first
control signals intended for a first electronic communications module (20) of
a first modular element (2) of the series of modular elements and second
15 control signals intended for a second electronic communications module (20)
of a second modular element (2) of the series of modular elements, the first
control signals and the second control signals being multiplexed over time.
3. The device as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which a rank i of the first
modular element (2) in the series of modular elements (2) and a rank j of the
20 second modular element (2) in the series of modular elements (2) has a
relationship j=i[N], in such a manner that the first modular element and the
second modular element are connected in series to said bidirectional
electrical control input-output (9).
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to
25 generate an electrical signal multiplexed onto two of the N bidirectional
electrical control input-outputs (9), the electrical signal comprising first
control signals intended for a first electronic communications module (20) of
a first modular element (2) of the series of modular elements and second
control signals intended for a second electronic communications module (20)
30 of a second modular element (2) of the series of modular elements, the first
control signals and the second control signals being multiplexed over time.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to
generate an electrical signal multiplexed over all of the N bidirectional
electrical control input-outputs (9), the multiplexed electrical signal
24
comprising control signals intended for each of the electronic
communications modules (20) of the modular elements (2) of the series of
modular elements, the control signals being multiplexed over time.
6. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which each modular
5 element (2) comprises a peripheral board (4) and a connection board (5),
- the peripheral board (4) comprising:
o the downstream connection interface, the peripheral board (4)
furthermore comprising:
an intermediate interface (14) comprising a series of N upstream input-output
10 terminals (17) disposed in locations forming a second predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links (19), each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal (17) situated in a
location of rank i within the predetermined pattern of the intermediate
interface to a downstream input-output terminal (18) situated in a location
15 of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the downstream
connection interface of the peripheral board (4), in which one of the
electrical links (19) is the local control link (40), the location of the
upstream local control terminal within the pattern of the intermediate
interface (14) being the same location for all the peripheral boards (4),
20 - the connection board (5) comprising
o the downstream connection interface (11), the connection board (5)
furthermore comprising:
o an intermediate interface (13) comprising a series of N downstream
input-output terminals (15) disposed in locations forming the same
25 second predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links (16), each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal (10) situated in a
location of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the
downstream connection interface (11) of the connection board (5) to
30 o a downstream input-output terminal (15) situated in a location of rank i-1
within the predetermined pattern of the intermediate interface (13), in
such a manner as to form a circular permutation between the ranks of
the upstream (10) and downstream (15) input-output terminals
electrically connected in pairs,
25
the peripheral board (4) and the connection board (5) being connected
together via the intermediate interfaces (13, 14), the intermediate interface (13) of
the connection board (5) and the intermediate interface (14) of the peripheral board
(4) being complementary and designed to connect the upstream input-output
5 terminals (17) of the intermediate interface (14) of the peripheral board (4) to the
downstream input-output terminals (15) of same rank of the intermediate interface
(13) of the connection board (5).
7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which each modular
element (2) comprises a peripheral board (4), and a connection board (5),
10 - the peripheral board (4) comprising:
o the upstream connection interface (14), the peripheral board (4)
furthermore comprising:
o an intermediate interface (12) comprising a series of N downstream
input-output terminals (18) disposed in locations forming a second
15 predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links (19), each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal (17) situated in a
location of rank i within the predetermined pattern of the upstream
connection interface (14) to a downstream input-output terminal (18)
20 situated in a location of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of
the intermediate interface (18) of the peripheral board (4), in which one of
the electrical links (19) is the local control link (40), the location of the
local control terminal within the pattern of the intermediate interface (12)
being the same location for all the peripheral boards,
25 - the connection board (5) comprising:
o the downstream connection interface (13), the connection board (5)
furthermore comprising:
o an intermediate interface (11) comprising a series of N upstream inputoutput terminals (10) disposed in locations forming the same second
30 predetermined pattern,
o a plurality of bidirectional electrical links (16), each bidirectional electrical
link connecting an upstream input-output terminal (10) situated in a
location of rank i within the second predetermined pattern of the
intermediate interface (11) of the connection board (5) to a downstream
26
input-output terminal (15) situated in a location of rank i-1 within the
predetermined pattern of the downstream connection interface (13), in
such a manner as to form a circular permutation between the ranks of
the downstream (15) and upstream (10) input-output terminals
5 electrically connected in pairs,
the peripheral board (4) and the connection board (5) being connected together via
the intermediate interfaces (11, 12), the intermediate interface (11) of the connection
board (5) and the intermediate interface (12) of the peripheral board (4) being
complementary and designed to connect the downstream input-output terminals (18)
10 of the intermediate interface (12) of the peripheral board (4) to the upstream inputoutput terminals (10) of same rank of the intermediate interface (11) of the
connection board (5).
8. The device as claimed in either of claims 6 and 7, in which the
peripheral board (4) comprises the electronic communications module (20), the
15 electronic communications module being configured for communicating wirelessly
with connected objects, and in which the electrical signals emitted by the control unit
(6) are intended for the connected objects (32, 34).
9. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the
electronic communications module (20) comprises a radio terminal designed to be
20 connected to a radio antenna (29) so as to emit radio signals, the electronic
communications module (20) comprising a baseband processing module designed
to demodulate the electrical signals in order to obtain radio signals intended for
connected objects.
10. The device as claimed in claim 9, in which the terminal radio is
25 furthermore designed to be connected to a radio antenna (29) for receiving radio
signals originating from connected objects, the baseband processing module being
furthermore designed to demodulate radio signals in order to obtain electrical
signals intended for the control unit (6).
11. The device as claimed in either of claims 9 and 10, in which the
30 baseband processing module is configured to use protocols for long-distance radio
communications, selected from within the list consisting of: SigFox, LoRa, WM-Bus,
Z-Wave.
12. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the
input-output terminals of the downstream and upstream connection interfaces (11
27
and 12) respectively include mutually complementary male connectors and female
connectors, the male connector having an electrically conducting pin and the female
connector having an electrically conducting orifice designed to establish an electrical
connection with the conducting pin.
5 13. The device as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, in which the
input-output terminals of the two intermediate interfaces (13 and 14) respectively
include mutually complementary male and female connectors, the male connector
having an electrically conducting pin corresponding to an upstream or downstream
input-output terminal and the female connector having an electrically conducting
10 orifice designed to establish an electrical connection with the conducting pin.
14. A data hub gateway including the modular communication device as
claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 and a network interface designed to establish a
connection between a network and the control unit (6).