JP2005094508A - Separable media converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize electrical-optical mutual conversion using an existing electrical wiring system, and eliminate the need for new equipment for drawing in optical fibers and wiring.
An apparatus A includes an electro-optical conversion circuit 11, a transmission processing circuit 12 for reproducing transmission data from a received signal and outputting a transmission signal to the electro-optical conversion circuit 11, and maintenance monitoring for performing a transmission function test. The circuit 13, the electrical interface circuit 14, the power receiving circuit 15 for the power from the device B, and the operation state display circuit A for transmitting the operation state signal of each part to the device B. The device B includes an operation state display circuit B and a power supply circuit 23. If the media converter is configured with two housings, the device A that realizes the electro-optical conversion function and the device B that has the power feeding function, the optical fiber only needs to be wired up to the device A. Never do.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a separation-type media converter, and more specifically, is configured to be separated into a first device having an electric-light conversion function and a light-electric conversion function and a second device having a power feeding function, The present invention relates to a separation-type media converter in which both are connected using a normal electric cable.

  When it is necessary to transmit a signal over a long distance of several hundred meters or more such as a LAN, it is generally carried out by optically converting the signal, and at that time, the electric signal and the optical signal are mutually converted. A media converter is used.

  In addition, signal transmission using electric cables is widely performed in connection of LANs, computers, and peripheral devices. In connection with an electric cable, high frequency loss of the electric cable is large, and it is difficult to transmit a high-speed signal over a long distance. In addition, when it is necessary to lay a large number of electric cables, there arises a problem that electromagnetic waves radiated from the electric cables interfere with other cables and crosstalk that deteriorates signal quality occurs.

  Furthermore, radiation noise from electrical cables often affects other electronic devices such as televisions, and at the same time, it is also affected by external electromagnetic noise such as lightning. In order to avoid such problems and perform good signal transmission over a long distance, it is effective to apply optical communication using an optical fiber.

  A function that converts electrical signals and optical signals to each other when long-distance signal transmission is required while existing equipment is used, or when signal wiring that passes outdoors such as between buildings is required. Many media converters are used.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a conventional media converter includes an electronic circuit that converts an electric signal and an optical signal in a single device casing, and encoding / decoding suitable for optical signal transmission. An electronic circuit having a monitoring function for performing processing or detecting communication interruption due to disconnection of an optical fiber is built in. The media converter interface includes both an interface used for connection with an existing device and an optical fiber interface used for communication with an opposing media converter or an optical transmission / reception circuit built in a PC, HUB, etc. The optical fiber is directly connected to the configuration.

JP 2002-261869 A JP 2002-261789 A

  In order to operate the media converter, it is necessary to supply power to an internal electronic circuit, so that conventionally the media converter itself is often required to be installed in a machine room that accommodates a LAN device or the like. However, the signal transmission cable that enters and exits the machine room is often laid with electrical cables, and the piping space for laying electrical cables is also predicated on the laying of electrical cables. Many. Therefore, in order to draw the optical fiber into the machine room etc. while avoiding the problems inherent to the optical fiber such as breakage due to sharp bending and increase in transmission loss, a new optical fiber drawing facility is provided or the drawing work is performed again. There was a problem that it was necessary.

  Furthermore, recently, an FTTH service using an optical fiber as a broadband Internet access line has been performed, and a media converter is used as an interface between a user device such as a PC and a network device of a communication carrier. At that time, in order to install a media converter in the vicinity of the user equipment, it is necessary to draw an optical fiber into a general house. However, unlike a building that houses an office, etc., the drawing of the optical fiber is considered. There is almost no problem, and the above-mentioned problems in the drawing of the optical fiber become more remarkable.

  In addition, when the optical fiber cannot be pulled in, it is possible to install a media converter outdoors and connect it to the user device using a metal cable such as UTP. In this case, when installing the media converter A power source is required, and a new power source construction is required.

  As a means for avoiding the above-mentioned problem, for example, a combination of a device such as a HUB having a function of supplying power to other devices as specified in IEEE 802.3af and a conventional media converter composed of one housing is combined. It is possible to install the media converter in a part where the optical fiber can be easily pulled in such as outdoors. However, in this case, in order to check the display of the LED or the like for monitoring the operation state of the media converter, it is necessary to go to the place where the media converter is installed, and there is a disadvantage that the operation becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize an electrical-optical mutual conversion using an existing electrical wiring system, and to draw in an optical fiber or connect a wiring. An object of the present invention is to provide a separation-type media converter that does not require installation of new equipment.

  The present invention has been made to achieve such an object, and the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an electro-optical conversion unit having a function of mutually converting an electric signal and an optical signal, and the electric- A transmission processing unit that supplies transmission data to the optical conversion unit and reproduces the reception data from the received signal; a maintenance monitoring function unit having a monitoring function of each unit and a function of a transmission function test with the opposing device; In a separation-type media converter composed of an electrical interface function unit that transmits and receives transmission data to and from an external device, and a power supply device, the electro-optical conversion unit, the transmission processing unit, the maintenance monitoring function unit, and the A first device including an electrical interface function unit; a second device separated from the first device; and including the power supply device; the first device and the second device; Above And operating status display function unit for transmitting and receiving an operation state signal parts, characterized by comprising an electrical cable between the first and second devices.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the deterioration of the received data signal sent from the first device is compensated and output to the external device, and the external device The second apparatus is provided with a repeater function unit that compensates for deterioration of a transmission data signal transmitted from the first apparatus and transmits the signal to the first apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first device and the second device are connected by a multi-core electric cable, and each core wire of the multi-core cable is connected. The transmission data signal, the reception data signal, and the operation state signal are transmitted and fed using a multi-core cable, and a multi-core connector is connected to both ends of the multi-core cable, thereby simultaneously connecting various signal lines and power feeding lines together. It is possible to do this.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the status display signal transmitted from the first device is frequency-multiplexed or time-division multiplexed on the received data signal to provide one or a pair. And a status display signal transmitted from the second device is frequency-multiplexed or time-division multiplexed to a transmission data signal and transmitted through one or a pair of signal lines.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a power supply current is superimposed on the various electric cables for signal transmission or core wires to supply power.

  As described above, it is difficult to perform the wiring by the optical fiber using the wiring system constructed on the assumption of the wiring by the electric cable, and it is necessary to configure a new wiring system for the optical fiber wiring.

  In the separation-type media converter according to the present invention, the media converter functions as a first apparatus having a built-in transmission process and a maintenance monitoring function necessary for the conversion of electric signals and optical signals, signal transmission, and a power supply function. This is realized by two housings of the apparatus 2 and connecting between them with a conventionally used electric cable. Furthermore, the operation state signal of the first device is transmitted to the second device, and LED display or the like is performed according to the operation state signal on the second device side. This makes it possible to install a function for mutually converting electrical and optical signals outside an area where a device having an electrical interface such as a machine room is installed, and for drawing an optical fiber into the machine room or the like. There is no need to install new equipment.

  In addition, the power source for driving the first device that mutually converts the electrical signal and the optical signal is also fed from the second device side via an electric cable, so that it can be used even in places where there is no feeding facility such as outdoors. -Realize optical interconversion function. In addition, since the operation state of the first device can be displayed on the second device side installed in the machine room or the like, the operation of the media converter can be performed without going to the installation location of the first device even when a failure occurs. The state can be grasped and the operation becomes easy, and at the same time, the degree of freedom of the installation location of the first device is improved.

  In addition, in optical transmission realized using a media converter, electrical-optical mutual conversion can be realized using an existing electrical wiring system, and it is necessary to install new equipment for optical fiber drawing and wiring. Absent.

  As described above, the separation-type media converter of the present invention is configured by separating the first device having the electrical-optical conversion function and the optical-electrical conversion function and the second device having the power feeding function. The media converter function is realized by connecting with a normal electrical cable. The existing signal transmission electrical cable or electrical cable can be used without directly drawing the optical fiber into the machine room where the LAN device is installed. Signals can be transmitted using piping or the like provided for placement, and there is an effect that it is not necessary to prepare new equipment necessary for drawing in optical fibers or to perform drawing work.

  Further, by transmitting the operation state signal of the first device to the second device and displaying it on the second device side, it becomes possible to monitor the operation state of the first device from the machine room, and the operation It becomes easy.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the first device including the electro-optical conversion unit, the transmission processing unit, the maintenance monitoring function unit, and the electric interface function unit is separated from the first device, and the power source A second device having a built-in device, an operation state display function unit that is provided in the first device and the second device, and transmits and receives an operation state signal of each unit, and an electric cable that connects the first and second devices Therefore, even if there is no wiring facility for optical fiber wiring, install the media converter by diverting the existing electrical cable wiring facility without installing new equipment. At the same time, it can be installed even when there is no power supply. Furthermore, since the operation state of the media converter installed in a place away from the machine room or the like can be monitored without going to the installation place, the operation is easy.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a first embodiment of a separation-type media converter according to the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 is an optical fiber, 2 is an electric cable for signal transmission, 3 is a power line, and 4 is an operating state signal. Cable, 5 is an electrical cable, 10 is one device A, 11 is an electrical-optical conversion circuit, 12 is a transmission processing circuit, 13 is a maintenance monitoring circuit, 14 is an electrical interface circuit, 15 is a power receiving circuit, and 16 is an operating state. Display circuits A and 20 are the other devices B, 21 and 22 are electrical connectors, 23 is a power supply circuit, and 24 is an operation state display circuit B.

  The device A regenerates transmission data from the electro-optical conversion circuit 11 that mutually converts an electric signal and an optical signal, and the reception signal output from the electro-optical conversion circuit 11, and also to the electro-optical conversion circuit 11. A transmission processing circuit 12 for outputting a transmission signal; a maintenance monitoring circuit 13 for performing an operation setting / operation state monitoring of each unit and a transmission function test between an external device on the electrical side and an external device on the optical side; It incorporates an electrical interface circuit 14 that transmits and receives signals to and from the apparatus.

  Further, the power receiving circuit 15 having a function of converting the power sent from the device B through the power line into the voltage level of the internal circuit, and the operation state signals of the respective parts are subjected to processing such as parallel-serial conversion. After the operation, the operation state display circuit A is configured to transmit to the device B.

  In addition, the device B receives and restores the operation state signal transmitted from the device A, and displays an operation state display circuit B that displays the operation state signal by an LED and the like, power supply to the electric circuit in the device B, and power supply function to the device A The power supply circuit 23 having Furthermore, two electrical connectors 21 and 22 for connecting the external device on the electrical side and the device A are incorporated. In the first embodiment, the electrical connectors 21 and 22 are directly connected inside the apparatus B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when a media converter is configured with two housings of a device A that mainly realizes an electrical-optical conversion function and a device B that has a power feeding function, the optical fiber only has to be wired to the device A. By installing the device A in a place where an optical fiber can be wired without using a special optical wiring facility, including outdoors, the function of the media converter can be realized without making a major change or addition to the existing facility. In addition, since the signal transmission state on the optical side can be monitored on the apparatus B side by the operation state display circuit 24, it is not necessary to go to the installation place of the apparatus A when confirming the operation, and the operation becomes easy.

  In the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation state of the device A is transmitted to the device B. However, the operation state of the device B can be transmitted to the device A as necessary.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining Embodiment 2 of the separation-type media converter according to the present invention, and shows a repeater function that compensates for signal degradation for signals transmitted between devices constituting the separation-type media converter. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure added. Reference numeral 25 in the figure denotes a repeater circuit, and other components having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, in contrast to the basic configuration shown in FIG. 1, the deterioration of the electric signal in the signal transmission electric cable 2 connecting between the device A and the device B is compensated and output to the electric side external device, Further, a repeater circuit 25 that compensates for signal deterioration in the electric cable between the electric-side external device and the device B and outputs the signal to the device A is added.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the signal transmission distance is the sum of the deterioration amount of the electrical signal in the connection between the device A and the device B and the deterioration amount of the electrical signal in the connection between the device B and the electric side external device. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the connection distance between the device A and the device B when connecting the external device on the electric side. However, in the configuration of the second embodiment, the repeater circuit 25 provided in the device B is used. Since signal degradation due to the connection between the device A and the device B and the connection between the device B and the external device on the electrical side is compensated, the respective connection distances can be extended to the maximum length defined by the transmission characteristics of the electric cable. That is, it is not necessary to consider the connection distance between the device A and the device B when connecting the electrical side external device.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining a third embodiment of the separation-type media converter according to the present invention, and is an example of the configuration of the separation-type media converter that performs connection using a multicore cable and a multicore connector. In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a multi-core electric cable, 17 and 26 denote multi-core electric connectors, and other components having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  3 is different from the basic configuration of the separation-type media converter described in the first embodiment in that the connection between the device A and the device B is performed by the multi-core electric cable 6, and the device A and the device B are connected. By using the multi-core electrical connectors 17 and 26 at the connection point of the multi-core electric cable 6, the necessary connection can be performed by a single connection operation.

  The core wires in the multi-core electric cable 6 are assigned for main signal transmission, power feeding, and operation state signal transmission, respectively. In the third embodiment, the basic separation configuration described in the first embodiment has been described. However, even the configuration of the second embodiment can be similarly connected using a multicore electric cable. As the multi-core electric cable, a general UTP cable or the like can be used, and a special cable is not necessary.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus A for explaining the embodiment 4 of the separation-type media converter according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the structure of the separation-type media converter apparatus A for multiplexing and transmitting the main signal and the operation state signal. An example is shown. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the apparatus B. In the figure, reference numeral 7 is a signal line, 18 and 28 are multiplexing circuits, 19 and 27 are separation circuits, and other components having the same functions as those in FIG.

  The configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a modification of the configuration described in the first embodiment. The device A includes a multiplexing circuit 18 that multiplexes the main signal and the operation state signal, and a separation circuit 19 that separates the main signal and the operation state signal from the signal transmitted from the device B.

  The same applies to apparatus B. Although the multiplexing circuit 28 differs depending on the multiplexing method, the multiplexing circuit 28 can be constituted by a MUX circuit in the case of time division multiplexing, and can be constituted by a modulation circuit and a mixer circuit in the case of frequency multiplexing. Further, the separation circuit 27 can be configured by a DEMUX circuit in the case of time division multiplexing, and can be configured by a filter circuit and a demodulation circuit in the case of frequency multiplexing.

  In the configurations described in the first, second, and third embodiments, it is necessary to prepare an operation state signal transmission cable or core wire separately from the main signal transmission cable or core wire. This increases the diameter of the core cable. On the other hand, in the configuration of the fourth embodiment, since the operation state signal is superimposed on the main signal transmission cable by time division multiplexing or frequency multiplexing, another cable or core wire is used for transmission of the operation state signal. There is no need to prepare.

  In the fourth embodiment, the case where the multiplexing / demultiplexing function is added to the configuration of claim 1 has been described, but the configuration of claims 2 and 3 is also similar between the devices A and B. The same effect can be obtained by adding a multiplexing circuit and a separation circuit.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the device A for explaining the fifth embodiment of the separation-type media converter according to the present invention, and shows an example of the configuration of the separation-type media converter A that superimposes the power supply current on the signal line and transmits it. Is shown. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the apparatus B. Reference numerals 29 and 30 in the figure are transformers, and other components having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a modification of the configuration described in the first embodiment. The signal transmission electric cable 2 is differentially transmitted using a pair of signal lines for each transmission and reception. In addition, transformers 29 and 30 are added to the connection portion between the devices A and B and the signal transmission electric cable 2. As shown in FIG. 7, on the device B side, the power supply circuit 23 is connected to the intermediate tap of the transmission and reception transformer 29 to transmit the power supply current superimposed on the signal line. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus A side is configured to take out the superimposed power source current by connecting the intermediate tap of the transmission and reception transformer 30 to the power reception circuit 15 in the same manner.
As a result, it is not necessary to prepare a new cable or core wire for power supply, and the number of cables or the number of core wires can be reduced.

  The fifth embodiment is an example in which the power source current is superimposed on the main signal transmission cable or the core wire, but the power source current can also be superimposed on the operation state signal cable 4 or the core wire by the same configuration method. Further, the same configuration can be applied to the case described in the fourth embodiment in which the main signal and the operation state signal are multiplexed and transmitted.

  The present invention is configured separately into a first device having an electrical-optical conversion function and an optical-electrical conversion function and a second device having a power feeding function, and both are connected using a normal electrical cable. The separable media converter is capable of performing electrical-optical interconversion using an existing electrical wiring system, and does not require installation of new equipment for optical fiber drawing or wiring. Can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram for demonstrating Example 1 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating Example 2 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating Example 3 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the apparatus A for demonstrating Example 4 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the apparatus B for demonstrating Example 4 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the apparatus A for demonstrating Example 5 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the apparatus B for demonstrating Example 5 of the separation type media converter which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 Signal transmission electric cable 3 Power line 4 Operation state signal cable 5 Electric cable 6 Multi-core electric cable 7 Signal line 10 One apparatus A
11 Electric-Optical Conversion Circuit 12 Transmission Processing Circuit 13 Maintenance Monitoring Circuit 14 Electric Interface Circuit 15 Power Receiving Circuit 16 Operating State Display Circuit A
17, 26 Multi-core electrical connectors 18, 28 Multiplexing circuits 19, 27 Separation circuit 20 The other device B
21 and 22 Electric connector 23 Power supply circuit 24 Operation state display circuit B
25 Repeater circuit 29, 30 Transformer

Claims (5)

An electrical-optical conversion unit having a function of mutually converting an electrical signal and an optical signal, a transmission processing unit that supplies transmission data to the electrical-optical conversion unit, and reproduces reception data from a reception signal; A separate type comprising a maintenance monitoring function unit having a monitoring function of each unit and a transmission function test function with a facing device, an electrical interface function unit for transmitting / receiving transmission data to / from an external device, and a power supply device In media converter,
A first device including the electro-optical conversion unit, the transmission processing unit, the maintenance monitoring function unit, and the electric interface function unit;
A second device separated from the first device and incorporating the power supply;
An operation state display function unit that is provided in the first device and the second device, and that transmits and receives an operation state signal of each unit;
An electric cable for connecting the first and second devices. A separation-type media converter, comprising:   Compensating for degradation of the received data signal sent from the first device and outputting to the external device, and compensating for degradation of the transmitted data signal sent from the external device to the first device 2. The separation type media converter according to claim 1, wherein a repeater function unit for sending is provided in the second device.   The first device and the second device are connected by a multi-core electric cable, and a transmission data signal, a reception data signal, and an operation state signal are transmitted and fed using each core wire of the multi-core cable, and 3. The separation-type media converter according to claim 1, wherein a multi-core connector is connected to both ends of the multi-core cable to enable simultaneous connection of various signal lines and power supply lines.   The status display signal sent from the first device is frequency-multiplexed or time-division multiplexed on the received data signal and transmitted through one or a pair of signal lines, and the status display signal sent from the second device 4. The separation type media converter according to claim 3, wherein the transmission data signal is frequency-multiplexed or time-division multiplexed and transmitted through one or a pair of signal lines. The separation-type media converter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a power supply current is superimposed on the various signal transmission electric cables or core wires to supply power.

Images