DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF INVENTION
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING SAME, AND POWER
5 CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[00011 The invention relates to a wireless communication apparatus, a
wireless communication system having the same, and a power consumption
10 management apparatus including the wireless communication apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[00021 Heretofore, in wireless communication apparatuses, such as a PHs
repeater and a wireless gateway router, that relay wireless communication,
15 a technique is known in which electric power is supplied from a wall socket
via an AC adapter (see JP2007- 25 1247A, for example; hereinafter referred
to as Document 1).
[00031 In a wireless communication apparatus described in Document 1
above, in a case where the apparatus is connected to a wall socket which is
20 shared with another household electrical appliance, the AC adapter of the
wireless communication apparatus may need to be unplugged from the wall
socket when it is desired to temporarily prioritize use of the household
electrical appliance. In such a case, wireless communication cannot be
performed until the AC adapter of the wireless communication apparatus is
again connected to the wall socket. Particularly when the wireless
communication apparatus is applied to a home energy management system
(HEMS) in which lighting devices and household electrical appliances
(so-called smart appliances) in a residence are integrally controlled,
5 communication in the residence and control of the household electrical
appliances may be interrupted. The same situation occurs when, due to
overcurrent or the like, a branch breaker that is connected to a hstribution
line of a wall socket to which the AC adapter of the wireless communication
apparatus is connected breaks the circuit.
10
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] The present invention has been made in order to solve the
above-described problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to
provide a wireless communication apparatus that enables power supply to
15 be secured at normal times except during a power outage, a wireless
communication system including the same, and a power consumption
management apparatus including the wireless communication apparatus.
[0005] In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication
apparatus of the present invention is connected to a distribution power line
20 in a distribution board by wire, and operates on electric power supplied
from the distribution power line.
[0006] In the present invention, it is preferable that the wireless
communication apparatus is arranged inside of a casing of the distribution
board.
[0007] In the present invention, it is preferable that a main body of the
wireless communication apparatus is housed inside a casing of the
distribution board, and an antenna unit is arranged to be exposed outside
the casing.
5 [0008] In the present invention, it is preferable that the wireless
communication apparatus is connected on an outside of a casing of the
distribution board.
[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the wireless
communication apparatus includes a first communication unit configured
10 to communicate with an outside in accordance with a first protocol, a
second communication unit configured to communicate with an external
device in accordance with a second protocol over a radio wave, and a data
conversion unit configured to convert communication data so as to enable
communication between the first communication unit and the second
15 communication unit.
[0010] A management apparatus of the present invention includes the
wireless communication apparatus, a power measurement unit configured
to measure electric power consumed in the external device, and a control
unit configured to control operation of the external device with the second
20 communication unit based on a measurement result by the power
measurement unit.
[0011] A wireless communication system of the present invention includes
the wireless communication apparatus and a power meter that has a
communication function and is connected to the distribution power line.
[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the wireless
communication apparatus includes a first communication unit configured
to communicate with the power meter, a second communication unit
configured to communicate with a wireless device over a radio wave, and a
5 communication data conversion unit configured to convert communication
data so as to enable communication between the first communication unit
and the second communication unit.
[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that communication
between the power meter and the first communication unit is power line
10 communication.
[0014] The wireless communication apparatus of the present invention is
configured so as to be connected to a distribution power line in a
distribution board and to operate with electric power being supplied
directly from the distribution power line, thus ensuring that the power
15 supply is not lost at normal times except during a power outage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[00151 FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless
communication system according to one embohment of the present
20 invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless
communication apparatus and peripherals thereof that are applied to the
wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless
communication system to whch a conventional wireless communication
apparatus is applied, as a reference example;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless
5 communication system according to a variation of the embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless
communication apparatus and peripherals thereof included in the wireless
communication system according to the variation of the embodiment of the
10 present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a HEMS
controller included in the wireless communication system according to the
variation of the embodiment of the present invention.
15 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[00l6l Description of a wireless communication system including a
wireless communication apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present invention will be given with reference to the diagrams.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of the wireless communication
20 system. In FIG. 1, broken lines indicate wireless connection. A wireless
communication system 100 includes: a distribution board 1 that distributes
and supplies electric power to locations in a residence; a smart meter
(power meter) 2 that has a communication function; and various household
electrical appliances 3 such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator, and a
washing machine. The distribution board 1 and the smart meter 2 are
connected by a power line 30. In a casing 1B of the distribution board 1, a
HEMS management apparatus 10 that has a communication function is
provided. The distribution board 1 includes a main breaker 11 and at
5 least one branch breaker 12. A solar power generator 4, a fuel cell 5, a
storage battery 6, an electric vehicle 7, an information processing terminal
8, and the like, in addition to the household electrical appliances 3, are
connected to the distribution board 1, as necessary. The household
electrical appliances 3, the electric vehicle 7, and the information
10 processing terminal 8 are connected to the respective branch breakers 12.
Electric power required for operating the household electrical appliances 3,
the electric vehicle 7, and the information processing terminal 8 is supplied
from a commercial power supply, the storage battery 6, or the like. In the
storage battery 6, electrical charge from the solar power generator 4 and
15 the fuel cell 5, for example, is stored. Output terminals of the solar power
generator 4, the fuel cell 5, and the storage battery 6 are connected to the
power line 30, for example, via a power conditioner(s). The solar power
generator 4, the fuel cell 5, and the storage battery 6 can be used for
private power generation during a power outage.
20 [0018] In the present embodiment, the HEMS management apparatus 10
(distribution board I), the household electrical appliances 3, the solar
power generator 4, the fuel cell 5, the storage battery 6, the electric vehicle
7, the information processing terminal 8, and the like constitute a HEMS
network 1A so that they can communicate with each other. Note that it is
not necessary for all the devices that are connected to the distribution
board 1 to have a communication function with the HEMS management
apparatus 10 (distribution board I), and some of the devices may have a
communication function with the HEMS management apparatus 10. The
5 devices may have a function to communicate therebetween. A device in
the HEMS network 1A may also communicate with the HEMS
management apparatus 10 via another device in the HEMS network 1A.
Although it is desirable that communication in the HEMS network 1A is
performed wirelessly considering easiness of movement of the household
10 electrical appliances 3 and carrying out addition thereof or the like, such
devices that are not frequently moved may be configured to perform
communication by wire.
[0019] The HEMS management apparatus 10 manages: power generation
by the solar power generator 4 and the fuel cell 5; charging and hscharging
15 of the storage battery 6; power consumption of devices such as the
household electrical appliances 3; and the like. That is, the HEMS
management apparatus 10 manages a power generation amount and a
power consumption amount of each of the devices in the HEMS network
1A. A power generating status of the solar power generator 4 and the fuel
20 cell 5, a charging status of the storage battery 6, and a power consumption
status of the household electrical appliances 3 and the like can be displayed
with an information processing terminal 8. It is possible to optimize an
electric power flow by operating the information processing terminal 8 or
the like, as necessary to set operations of the respective devices, while
confirming information displayed on the information processing terminal 8.
The information processing terminal 8 may be a dedicated monitor
installed on a wall face in the vicinity of the distribution board 1, or may be
a mobile information processing terminal such as a smartphone.
5 [00201 The smart meter 2 is wired-connected to the distribution board 1 by
the power line 30. The smart meter 2 supplies electric power that is
supplied from a power transmission line 60 to the distribution board 1, and
measures and displays electric power that is supplied from the power
transmission line 60 to the distribution board 1 (or the smart meter 2 may
10 display electric power consumed in the residence that is measured by a
power measurement unit 14 (described later) in the HEMS management
apparatus 10). The smart meter 2 has a communication function as
described above, and is connected to a server 50 of an electric power
company via a smart meter 2 that is installed in another residence, or the
15 like, so as to constitute a smart meter network 2A. Communication
between a plurality of the smart meters 2 and communication between the
smart meter 2 and the server 50 are performed by wire or wirelessly.
[0021] The smart meter 2 and the distribution board 1 (HEMS
management apparatus 10) communicate by power line communication
20 (PLC) using the power line 30. For example, by receiving time-based rate
information and power supply information that are transmitted from the
electric power company and reflecting the information on power
consumption in the residence, a more advanced HEMS can be constituted
and operated. More specifically, when an electricity rate differs depending
on the time of day, the HEMS management apparatus 10 controls the
household electrical appliances 3 such that the household electrical
appliances 3 operate preferentially in time slots in which the rate is low,
and as a result the monthly electricity expense can be reduced.
5 [00221 FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of the distribution board 1 of the
present embodiment. The distribution board 1 has the HEMS
management apparatus 10, a main breaker 11, and a plurality of branch
breakers 12. The main breaker 11 is connected to the branch breakers 12
through a trunk line 13, which is a distribution power line extending from
10 the main breaker 11. The main breaker 11 has an input side terminal l l a
and an output side terminal llb. The input side terminal l l a of the main
breaker 11 is connected to the smart meter 2 through the power line 30.
The output side terminal l:Lb of the main breaker 11 is connected to the
branch breakers 12 and the HEMS management apparatus 10 through the
15 trunk line 13. Each branch breaker 12 is branched from the trunk line 13
and supplies electric power to wall sockets of a distribution line that is
provided in correspondence with the branch breaker 12. Each branch
breaker 12 breaks the circuit of the distribution line associated therewith
when an overcurrent flows via a wall socket of the distribution line to a
20 load such as a household electrical appliance 3. When a sum of the
currents that flow through the respective branch breakers 12 becomes
excessive, the main breaker 11 operates to break the circuits of all the
distribution lines.
[0023] The HEMS management apparatus 10 is directly connected to the
trunk line 13 (including conduction bar and fixture) that extends from the
main breaker 11, and operates on electric power supplied from the trunk
line 13. Note that the HEMS management apparatus 10 may be
connected to a dedicated branch breaker 12 which is adapted for supplying
5 electric power to the HEMS management apparatus 10, among a plurality
of branch breakers 12 that are connected to the trunk line 13. In either
case, the HEMS management apparatus 10 is directly connected to the
distribution power line in the distribution board 1 by wire. The HEMS
management apparatus 10 has a power measurement unit 14 and a
10 wireless communication apparatus 15. The HEMS management
apparatus 10 includes a function of measuring electric power that is
consumed in the residence, a function of managingtcontrolling the
household electrical appliances 3 or the like via the HEMS network lA,
and a function of communicating with the smart meter 2. The power
15 measurement unit 14 is connected to the trunk line 13, and measures
electric power consumed in the residence. Note that the power
measurement unit 14 is also connected to each of branch paths in the trunk
line 13 to respective branch breakers 12, and also measures electric power
supplied to the respective branch breakers 12 from the main breaker 11.
20 That is, the power measurement unit 14 measures a total amount of
electric power consumed in the residence. Note that the power
measurement unit 14 may measure electric power that is generated in the
residence by the solar power generator 4 or the like. Information
regarding electric power measured by the power measurement unit 14 is
transmitted to the smart meter 2 via a PLC modem 16 or transmitted to
the information processing terminal 8 via a transmission unit 18.
[00241 The wireless communication apparatus 15 has the PLC modem 16,
a control unit 17, the transmission unit 18, a receiving unit 19, an antenna
5 20, and a power supply unit 21. A main body of the wireless
communication apparatus 15 includes the PLC modem 16, the control unit
17, the transmission unit 18, the receiving unit 19, and the power supply
unit 21. The main body of the wireless communication apparatus 15 is
arranged in a casing 1B of the distribution board 1 along with the antenna
10 20. The wireless communication apparatus 15 includes an input terminal
15a. In the present embodiment, the input terminal 15a is directly
connected to the trunk line 13 that is extended from the output side
terminal llb of the main breaker 11. Also, the power supply unit 21 is
directly connected to the input terminal 15a (that is, the power supply unit
15 21 is directly connected to the trunk line 13). The power supply unit 21
converts alternate current electric power supplied from the trunk line 13 to
direct current electric power, and supplies the direct current electric power
to each unit of the wireless communication apparatus 15.
100251 The wireless communication apparatus 15 includes a first
20 communication unit 15A that communicates with the smart meter 2 (power
meter), a second communication unit 15B that communicates with wireless
devices such as the household electrical appliances 3 over radio waves, and
a control unit 17 (communication data conversion unit) that controls each
unit of the wireless communication apparatus 15. The first
communication unit 15A is configured by the PLC modem 16, the control
unit 17, and the like, and is configured to perform two-way communication
with the smart meter 2 by wire. The PLC modem 16 is directly connected
to the trunk line 13, superimposes a high frequency information signal on
5 an alternating current that flows in the trunk line 13, and performs
two-way communication with the smart meter 2 by wire. The second
communication unit 15B is configured by the control unit 17, the
transmission unit 18, the receiving unit 19, the antenna 20, and the like,
and is configured to perform two-way communication wirelessly with the
10 household electrical appliances 3 and the like in the HEMS network 1A.
Lo0261 The control unit 17 controls each unit of the wireless
communication apparatus 15. For example, the control unit 17 transmits
information of the household electrical appliances 3 and the like in the
HEMS network lA, which is obtained via the receiving unit 19, to the
15 smart meter 2 via the PLC modem 16 or to the information processing
terminal 8 via the transmission unit 18. Also, the control unit 17
transmits information that is transmitted from the electric power company
and obtained via the smart meter 2 and the PLC modem 16 to the
information processing terminal 8 via the transmission unit 18, and causes
20 the transmission unit 18 to transmit, based on the information, a signal to
control the household electrical appliances 3 and the like in the HEMS
network 1A. Here, since a protocol (first protocol) of wired communication
between the PLC modem 16 and the smart meter 2 is different from a
protocol (second protocol) of wireless communication in the HEMS network
lA, the control unit 17 functions as a protocol conversion unit
(communication data conversion unit). The control unit 17 converts the
protocol of communication data between the two protocols using this
function, and thereby converts the communication data so as to enable
5 communication therebetween. That is, the control unit 17 has a gateway
function that converts data between the protocol of the PLC with which the
first communication unit 15A including the PLC modem 16 transmits and
receives and the protocol of the HEMS network 1A with which the second
communication unit 15B including the transmission unit 18 and the
10 receiving unit 19 transmits and receives.
[0027] Note that the control unit 17 may control operations of the devices
in the HEMS network 1A based on a power consumption amount measured
by the smart meter 2 and an electric power amount (power generation
amount and power consumption amount in HEMS network 1A) measured
15 by the power measurement unit 14.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless communication system 200 in which
the technique described in Document 1 is applied to a conventional
distribution board 201, as a reference example. The wireless
communication system 200 has a HEMS controller 210 instead of the
20 HEMS management apparatus 10 of the present embodiment. The HEMS
controller 210 has a wireless communication apparatus (wireless
communication apparatus to which electric power is supplied from a wall
socket) that is described in Document 1, and manages communication in a
HEMS network 1A. The HEMS controller 210 has a control function of
the household electrical appliance 3 or the like via the HEMS network 1A.
An AC adapter (not shown) of the HEMS controller 210 is connected to a
wall socket that branches from a distribution board 201, and supplies
electric power to the HEMS controller 210. This HEMS controller 210
5 does not have the power measurement unit 14, and an electric power
measurement unit 214 that has an electric power measurement function is
provided in the HEMS network 1A separately from the HEMS controller
210. Note that the electric power measurement unit 214 is connected to
the trunk line 13 in the distribution board 201 similarly to the power
10 measurement unit 14.
[0029] In the reference example in FIG. 3, since wireless communication is
performed through walls of a building between the smart meter 2 installed
outside a residence and the HEMS controller 210 installed inside the
residence, communication quality could be degraded due to attenuation of a
15 radio wave depending on the structure of the building (arrangement of
reinforcing steel or the like, material and thickness of walls) or the like.
Also, when a household electrical appliance 3 is connected to a plug socket
that is adjacent to a plug socket to which the AC adapter of the HEMS
controller 210 is connected, noise generated by the household electrical
20 appliance 3 may enter the HEMS controller 210 via the wall socket and the
AC adapter. In such a case, the noise may exert an adverse effect on the
communication quality of the HEMS controller 210.
[0030] In contrast to this, in the wireless communication system 100 of the
present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the HEMS management apparatus
10 that includes the wireless communication apparatus 15 is directly
connected to the distribution power line (trunk line 13) in the distribution
board 1. Therefore, a configuration corresponding to the aforementioned
AC adapter is not required. Accordingly, the configuration of the wireless
5 communication system 100 can be simplified, and cost reduction can be
realized. Also, a configuration corresponding to the electric power
measurement unit 214 is incorporated in the HEMS management
apparatus 10 in the distribution board 1. That is, the HEMS management
apparatus 10 includes the power measurement unit 14 connected to the
10 trunk line 13. Therefore, time and effort of installing the configuration
separately can be saved.
[00311 Moreover, in the wireless communication system 100 of the present
embodiment, since communication between the smart meter 2 outside the
residence and the HEMS management apparatus 10 inside the residence is
15 performed by wire, good communication quality can be stably secured and
communication reliability can be improved without being affected by the
structure of the building. Note that the communication between the
smart meter 2 and the HEMS management apparatus 10 is power line
communication using the existing power line 30, which is the distribution
20 power line. Therefore, since installing of a communication line separately
is not required, cost, time, and effort for installing the wireless
communication system 100 can be reduced. Particularly in collective
housing such as a condominium, power line communication is often
adopted as the communication method in the smart meter network 2A. In
such a case, a standardized apparatus for power line communication can be
used as the communication apparatus mounted on each of the smart
meters 2. Accordingly, the configuration of the smart meter 2 can be
further simplified, and further cost reduction of the wireless
5 communication system 100 can be realized.
[0032] Moreover, the HEMS management apparatus 10 of the present
embodiment can be, because being provided inside the distribution board 1,
located in a place relatively distant from the household electrical
appliances 3 (household electrical appliances 3 are not normally installed
10 in the vicinity of the distribution board 1). Accordingly, noise generated by
the household electrical appliances 3 attenuates before reaching the HEMS
management apparatus 10, and as a result communication quality
degradation of the wireless communication apparatus 15 caused by the
noise generated by the household electrical appliances 3 can be suppressed.
15 100331 FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a wireless communication
system according to a variation of the present invention. FIG. 5
illustrates a configuration of a wireless communication apparatus and
peripherals thereof included in the variation. FIG. 6 illustrates a
configuration of a HEMS controller 310 used for the variation. The
20 wireless communication system 300 differs from the wireless
communication system 100 in that the wireless communication system 300
includes a distribution board 301 that has a power measurement
communication apparatus 314 instead of the distribution board 1, and
further includes the HEMS controller 310. The power measurement
communication apparatus 314 includes a function of measuring electric
power consumed in the residence, a function of communicating with a
smart meter 2, and a function of communicating with the HEMS controller
310. The power measurement communication apparatus 314 of the
5 present embodiment hffers from the HEMS management apparatus 10 of
the wireless communication system 100 in that a control function of the
household electrical appliance 3 or the like is not included.
Communication with a household electrical appliance 3 or the like via a
HEMS network 1A and control of the household electrical appliance 3 or
10 the like are managed by the HEMS controller 310. That is, the power
measurement communication apparatus 314 shown in the example in FIG.
5 performs wireless communication with the HEMS controller 310 as
shown in FIG. 4. The HEMS controller 310 communicates with the
household electrical appliances 3, a solar power generator 4, a fuel cell 5, a
15 storage battery 6, an electric vehicle 7, and an information processing
terminal 8, in a residence.
roo341 That is to say, the distribution board 301 is provided with the power
measurement communication apparatus 314. The power measurement
communication apparatus 314 measures electric power consumed in the
20 residence and performs communication such as notification of the
measured electric power to the HEMS controller 310. The HEMS
controller 310 controls power generation by the solar power generator 4
and the fuel cell 5, charging and discharging of the storage battery 6, power
consumption of devices such as the household electrical appliances 3, and
the like. A power generating status of the solar power generator 4 and the
fuel cell 5, a charging status of the storage battery 6, and a power
consumption status of the household electrical appliance 3 and the like can
be displayed with the information processing terminal 8. The functions
5 and the like of the information processing terminal 8 are similar to those of
the example in FIG. 1 above.
[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of the distribution board 301 of
the variation. The hstribution board 301 has the power measurement
communication apparatus 314, a main breaker 11, and a plurality of
10 branch breakers 12. The main breaker 11 is connected to the branch
breakers 12 via a trunk line 13, whch is the distribution power line
extending from the main breaker 11. The main breaker 11 has an input
side terminal l l a and an output side terminal llb. The input side
terminal l l a of the main breaker 11 is connected to the smart meter 2
15 through a power line 30. The output side terminal l l b of the main
breaker 11 is connected to the branch breakers 12 and the power
measurement communication apparatus 314 through the trunk line 13.
Each branch breaker 12 is branched from the trunk line 13 and supplies
electric power to wall sockets of a distribution line that is provided so as to
20 be associated with the branch breaker 12. Each branch breaker 12 breaks
the circuit of the hstribution line associated therewith when an
overcurrent flows via a wall socket of the distribution line to a load such as
the household electrical appliance 3. When a sum of currents that flow
through the respective branch breakers 12 becomes too large, the main
breaker 11 operates to break the circuits of all the distribution lines.
[0036] The power measurement communication apparatus 314 is directly
connected to the trunk line 13 that extends from the main breaker 11, and
operates on electric power supplied from the trunk line 13. Note that the
5 power measurement communication apparatus 314 may be connected to a
dedicated branch breaker 12 which is adapted for supplying electric power
to the power measurement communication apparatus 314, among a
plurality of branch breakers 12 that are connected to the trunk line 13. In
either case, the power measurement communication apparatus 314 is
10 directly connected to the distribution power line in the distribution board
301 by wire. The power measurement communication apparatus 314
includes a power measurement unit 14 and a wireless communication
apparatus 15. The power measurement unit 14 is connected to the trunk
line 13, and measures electric power consumed in the residence.
15 Information regarding electric power measured by the power measurement
unit 14 is transmitted to the smart meter 2 via a PLC modem 16 or
transmitted to the HEMS controller 310 or the information processing
terminal 8 via a transmission unit 18. Here, since a protocol (first
protocol) of wired communication between the PLC modem 16 and the
20 smart meter 2 is different from a protocol (second protocol) of wireless
communication between the HEMS controller 310 and the power
measurement communication apparatus 314 in the HEMS network lA, a
control unit 317 functions as a protocol conversion unit (communication
data conversion unit).
LO0371 The HEMS controller 310 includes, as shown in FIG. 6, a first
communication unit 315A that communicates with the power measurement
communication apparatus 314, a second communication unit 315B that
communicates with the household electrical appliance 3 or the like, and a
5 control unit 327 that controls each unit of the HEMS controller 310. The
first communication unit 315A includes a first transmission unit 318A, a
first receiving unit 319A, and a first antenna 320A. The second
communication unit 315B includes a second transmission unit 318B, a
second receiving unit 319B, and a second antenna 320B. The control unit
10 327 transmits information of the household electrical appliance 3 or the
like in the HEMS network lA, which is obtained via the second receiving
unit 319B, to the power measurement communication apparatus 314 via
the first transmission unit 318A or to the information processing terminal
8 via the second transmission unit 318B. Also, the control unit 327
15 transmits information that is transmitted from the electric power company
and obtained via the power measurement communication apparatus 314
and the first receiving unit 319A to the information processing terminal 8
via the second transmission unit 318B, and causes the second transmission
unit 318B to transmit, based on the information, a signal to control the
20 household electrical appliance 3 and the like in the HEMS network 1A.
LO0381 The control unit 327 may control operations of the devices in the
HEMS network 1A based on a power consumption amount measured by the
smart meter 2 and an electric power amount (power generation amount
and power consumption amount in HEMS network 1A) measured by the
power measurement communication apparatus 314.
[0039] Here, when the protocol (second protocol) of the wireless
communication between the HEMS controller 310 and the power
measurement communication apparatus 314 differs from a protocol (third
5 protocol) of the wireless communication between the HEMS controller 310
and each of the other devices, the control unit 327 functions as a protocol
conversion unit (communication data conversion unit). Note that, when
the protocol of the wireless communication between the HEMS controller
310 and the power measurement communication apparatus 314 is the same
10 as the protocol of the wireless communication between the HEMS
controller 310 and each of the other devices, the second communication
unit 315B may be omitted.
[00401 In the wireless communication system 200 shown in FIG. 3 as a
reference example, a compatibility problem may occur because the smart
15 meter network 2A and the HEMS network 1A will develop independently.
On the contrary, in the wireless communication system 300 shown in FIGS.
4 and 5 as a variation of the wireless communication system according to
the present invention, the following effects will be produced. That is, the
power measurement communication apparatus 314 can absorb the
20 difference between the communication methods of respective networks
(absorb the difference by the control unit 317 as a data conversion unit),
and accordingly the respective networks can be developed with a degree of
freedom. For example, when the communication method of the HEMS
network 1A is changed, by causing the power measurement communication
apparatus 314 to deal therewith appropriately, the evolution of the HEMS
network 1A may not be hampered, since the specification of the smart
meter 2 is less likely to be affected. The same can apply to the case where
the communication method of the smart meter network 2A is changed.
5 [00411 As described above, since the wireless communication apparatus 15
of the present embodiment is configured to be directly connected to the
trunk line 13, which is the distribution power line in the distribution board
1, and operate on electric power supplied from the trunk line 13, the power
supply thereto cannot be lost in normal times except for a power outage
10 period.
[0042] The wireless communication apparatus 15 of the present
embodiment has a configuration in which the main body of the wireless
communication apparatus 15, which is configured by the PLC modem 16,
the control unit 17, the transmission unit 18, the receiving unit 19, the
15 power supply unit 21, and the like, is covered and protected by a casing 1B
of the distribution board 1. Accordingly, dust or the like can be prevented
from entering the wireless communication apparatus 15 even with
long-term use, and occurrence of a fire caused by an electric leakage at a
connection portion can be prevented.
20 Lo0431 Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration
of the aforementioned embodiment, except for that at least the wireless
communication apparatus 15 is directly connected to the trunk line 13,
which is the distribution power line in the distribution board 1, and
operates on electric power supplied from the trunk line 13.
roo441 Moreover, the present invention can be modified in various ways.
For example, an aspect may be adopted in which a main body of a wireless
communication apparatus 15, which is configured by a PLC modem 16, a
control unit 17, a transmission unit 18, a receiving unit 19, a power supply
5 unit 21, and the like, is arranged inside a casing 1B of a distribution board
1, and an antenna 20 is arranged to be exposed outside the casing 1B of the
distribution board 1. In this aspect, with the antenna 20 arranged outside
the casing lB, wireless communication performance with each of devices in
a HEMS network 1A can be improved. Particularly in a case where the
10 casing 1B is formed by a metallic material, degradation of the wireless
communication performance due to electrostatic shielding can be
suppressed.
[0045] A wireless communication apparatus 15 may be arranged outside a
casing 1B of a distribution board 1. In this aspect, the wireless
15 communication apparatus 15 is preferably connected on an outside of the
casing 1B of the distribution board 1. In this case, the present invention
can be applied to a distribution board with limited housing space. Also,
without newly providing a dedicated distribution board 1, a wireless
communication system 100 of the present invention can be constructed
20 with using an existing distribution board 201. The same effect as
described above can be obtained in a case where the casing 1B is formed by
a metallic material.
LO0461 A configuration may be adopted such that wireless communication
is used between a smart meter 2 and a first communication unit 15A. In
this case, a PLC modem 16 for power line communication is not required,
and a transmissionlreceiving unit for performing wireless communication
with the smart meter 2 is provided along with an antenna. Note that
when a physical layer in the communication method of a smart meter
5 network 2A is the same as a physical layer in the communication method of
a HEMS network lA, a configuration may be adopted such that a
transmission unit 18, a receiving unit 19, and an antenna 20 of a second
communication unit 15B are shared by a first communication unit 15A.
Lo0471 The wireless communication apparatus 15 and the wireless
10 communication system 100 can be widely applied to a various wireless
communication networks other than the HEMS network 1A.
Consequently, the electric power measured by a power measurement unit
14 is not limited to electric power consumed in a residence, and may be
electric power consumed in a predetermined closed region.
15
CLAIMS
1. A wireless communication apparatus that is connected to a
distribution power line in a distribution board by wire, and that operates
on electric power supplied from the distribution power line.
2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim I,
wherein the wireless communication apparatus is arranged inside of a
casing of the distribution board.
3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein a main body of the wireless communication apparatus is housed
inside a casing of the distribution board, and an antenna unit is arranged
to be exposed outside the casing.
4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected on an outside
of a casing of the distribution board.
5. A wireless communication system comprising:
the wireless communication apparatus according to any one of
claims 1 to 4, and
a power meter that has a communication function and is connected
to the distribution power line.
6. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein
the wireless communication apparatus comprises:
a first communication unit configured to communicate with the
5 power meter;
a second communication unit configured to communicate with a
wireless device over a radio wave; and
a communication data conversion unit configured to convert
communication data so as to enable communication between the first
10 communication unit and the second communication unit.
7. The wireless communication system according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein communication between the power meter and the first
communication unit is power line communication.
15
8. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims
5 to 7, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is embedded in a
power measurement communication apparatus that measures electric
power consumed in a predetermined region and communicates with the
20 power meter and the wireless device.
9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the wireless communication apparatus comprises:
a first communication unit configured to communicate with an
outside in accordance with a first protocol;
a second communication unit configured to communicate with an external device in accordance with a second protocol over a radio wave; and a data conversion unit configured to convert communication data so as to enable communication between the first communication unit and the second communication unit.
10. A power consumption management apparatus comprising: the wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9;
a power measurement unit configured to measure electric power consumed in the external device; and a control unit configured to control operation of the external device with the second communication unit based on a measurement result by the power measurement unit.