JP2011166550A - Optical communication device, communication harness, and optical communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical communication device which can achieve mixture of communications based on a predetermined protocol and optical communications, a communication harness containing the optical communication device, and an optical communication system containing the optical communication device. <P>SOLUTION: The optical communication device includes transceiver parts 2a and 2b connected to connection parts 10 and 10 which are connected with communication lines 4 and 4 for electric communication respectively and a converter 3. Each of the transceiver parts 2a and 2b transmits and receives a signal in a predetermined protocol (CAN). The converter 3 converts a signal received by each of the transceiver parts 2a and 2b into an optical signal, receives each optical signal after the conversion and converts the optical signal into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to each of the transceiver parts 2a and 2b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system capable of suppressing ringing in a communication line by connecting between communication apparatuses that perform electrical communication and once converting them into an optical signal, thereby improving communication quality between the communication apparatuses. The present invention relates to an optical communication device, a communication harness, and an optical communication system capable of realizing a mixture of electrical communication and optical communication based on this protocol.

  A lot of ECUs (Electronic Control Units) are mounted on the vehicle, and each ECU is connected via a communication line and cooperates while exchanging information with each other. The control and the control related to the comfort of the passenger compartment are realized. When an electronic device mounted on a vehicle performs communication, CAN (Control Area Network) is widely adopted as a communication protocol (protocol).

  In recent years, the number of ECUs mounted on vehicles tends to increase, so that it is necessary to connect many ECUs with one communication line (CAN bus) and to communicate with each other between many ECUs. In the future, EVs (Electric Vehicles) and HEVs (Hybrid EVs) are expected to spread, and the number of ECUs installed in vehicles is expected to increase.

  However, when many ECUs are connected with a single communication line composed of UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cables, ringing occurs due to repeated signal reflections due to impedance mismatches at the branch portions, and the signal waveform undulates. Waveform. For this reason, it becomes difficult to determine a signal based on a threshold value, resulting in a problem that communication quality deteriorates. Ringing limits the number of ECUs that can be connected to one communication line, the branch position in one communication line, and the length of one communication line.

  As the function of the entire communication system increases and the number of devices increases, the influence of electromagnetic noise on the communication line and other signal lines cannot be ignored. In particular, with the spread of EVs and HEVs, high voltage cables are routed in vehicles. In order to eliminate the influence of electromagnetic noise, it is desirable to use a shielded (STP: Shielded Twisted Pair) communication line. However, conventionally used ECUs are configured to transmit and receive signals using a UTP cable, and it is not realistic to change all the connectors and the like in order to support STP.

  In order to prevent ringing, the communication system is configured to divide a plurality of communication lines, connect ECUs to different communication lines, and limit the number of nodes connected to one communication line. In these configurations, different communication lines are connected by a gateway (GW) that controls transmission and reception of data. However, in the configuration in which the GW is included in the communication system in order to limit the number of nodes per communication line, the number of parts of the entire communication system increases and the cost of the entire system increases.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to employ optical communication via an optical cable that is not affected by electromagnetic noise. In the field of vehicles, a configuration in which a part is realized by optical communication has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-219353 A

  As described above, CAN is widely used in communication between conventional ECUs. Even when a part is realized by optical communication, it is desirable that each ECU can use a communication function based on CAN as it is. This is because, if the CAN communication function can be used, a communication system can be constructed by connecting a conventional ECU.

  In particular, in the CAN protocol, each node constantly monitors a communication line in order to perform arbitration processing for communication collision. Even when each node transmits itself, the transmission process is continued when the signal transmitted to the communication line matches the signal transmitted by itself, and the transmission process is stopped when they do not match. Even when a part of the communication is optical communication, it is necessary to configure between optical communication and electrical communication so that each node can detect both signals transmitted by itself and signals transmitted from others.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical communication device capable of realizing a mixture of communication based on a predetermined protocol and optical communication, and the optical communication device. And an optical communication system including the optical communication device.

  An optical communication apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of connection portions that are respectively connected to a plurality of communication lines, and signals that are respectively connected to the plurality of connection portions and that are generated based on a predetermined protocol. A plurality of transmission / reception units that transmit and receive via a line, and signals that are respectively output from the plurality of transmission / reception units are received and electro-optically converted, and the electro-optically converted signals are photoelectrically converted into electrical signals, and then sent to the plurality of transmission / reception units. A converter for outputting, a plurality of light emitting units for electro-optically converting signals output from the plurality of transmitting and receiving units, and a hybrid unit for mixing optical signals from the plurality of light emitting units, It has a plurality of light receiving sections that receive the optical signal mixed by the hybrid section, photoelectrically convert it into an electrical signal, and output each of the signals.

  The optical communication apparatus according to the second invention is characterized in that the predetermined protocol is CAN (Control Area Network).

  The optical communication apparatus according to a third aspect is characterized in that the hybrid part is made of transparent resin or glass.

  The optical communication device according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the plurality of light emitting units are arranged on one end side of the hybrid unit and the plurality of light receiving units are arranged on the other end side.

  The optical communication apparatus according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that the plurality of light emitting units and the plurality of light receiving units are mixedly disposed on both end sides of the hybrid unit.

  In the optical communication device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of light emitting units (or light receiving units) arranged on one end side of the hybrid unit are connected to the plurality of light receiving units (or light emitting units) arranged on the other end side. It is characterized by facing.

In the optical communication device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the plurality of light emitting units (or light receiving units) on one end side of the hybrid unit is mixed with the plurality of light receiving units (or light emitting units) on the other end side. It is arrange | positioned in the position rotated centering on the axis | shaft of a part.

  A communication harness according to an eighth invention includes a plurality of the communication lines and the optical communication device according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, to which the plurality of communication lines are connected. To do.

  An optical communication system according to a ninth aspect is the optical communication system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the plurality of communication lines are connected to a plurality of communication devices, and the plurality of communication lines are connected. And an optical communication device.

In the present invention, signals received from a communication line by a plurality of transmission / reception units based on a predetermined protocol are output to a converter and input to a plurality of light emitting units of the converter, respectively. In the plurality of light emitting units, the input signal is converted into an optical signal (the presence or absence of light). Optical signals are emitted from the plurality of light emitting units, respectively, and are mixed in the hybrid unit. The mixed optical signal is received by the receiving unit. At this time, each optical signal emitted from the plurality of light emitting units is received by each of the plurality of light receiving units without being distinguished. Each of the plurality of light receiving units receives the optical signal mixed from the hybrid unit, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the transmission / reception unit. A signal output from the light receiving unit of the converter to the transmission / reception unit is input by the transmission / reception unit and transmitted to the communication line based on a predetermined protocol.
Each signal received by a plurality of transmission / reception units is converted into an optical signal that is not affected by electromagnetic noise or ringing, then mixed and output to all transmission / reception units without distinction. A node that transmits an electrical communication signal via each transmission / reception unit monitors the signal transmitted by the node via an optical communication device while reducing the number of nodes of each communication line by separating the electrical communication line. And communication based on a predetermined protocol can be continued. It is effective to use an existing CAN protocol as the predetermined protocol.

  In the present invention, the hybrid portion is made of a transparent resin or glass. In this case, the loss of optical signal intensity is reduced, and light propagation is efficient. Preferably, the transparent resin or glass is covered with a metal sleeve to shield light from the outside.

  In the present invention, a plurality of light emitting units may be arranged on one end side of the hybrid unit, and a plurality of light receiving units may be arranged on the other end side. In this case, transmission / reception of optical signals becomes efficient.

  In the present invention, a plurality of light emitting units and a plurality of light receiving units may be mixed and arranged on both end sides of the hybrid unit. In this case, the flexibility of the wiring connected to the converter is improved.

  In the present invention, a plurality of light emitting units and a plurality of light receiving units arranged on both ends of the hybrid unit may be arranged at positions facing each other. In this case, the light from the light emitting unit can be efficiently received by each light receiving unit.

  In the present invention, the plurality of light emitting units and the plurality of light receiving units disposed on both ends of the hybrid unit may be disposed symmetrically at positions rotated around the axis of the hybrid unit. In this case, the light emitted from the light emitting unit can be efficiently received not only by some of the light receiving units but also by each of the light receiving units.

  According to the present invention, a communication system in which optical communication is mixed can be easily constructed by connecting an electrical communication line to each of a plurality of transmission / reception units. Furthermore, when a signal received by one transmitter / receiver and input to a converter is emitted as an optical signal from the light emitting unit of the converter, not only a receiver connected to another transmitter / receiver but also the same transmitter / receiver The connected receiving unit receives the light without discrimination and inputs it to the transmitting / receiving unit. As a result, even if optical signals are mixed, it is possible to always monitor signals transmitted to the communication line including the signals transmitted by itself, and it is possible to mix communication based on a predetermined protocol and optical communication. Can be realized.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a modification of the converter of the optical communication device in the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication system including an optical communication device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication device according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a converter of an optical communication device in a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication system including an optical communication device according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, an optical communication apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication device 1 according to the first embodiment. The optical communication device 1 includes connection units 10 and 10 connected to communication lines 4 and 4, transmission / reception units 2 a and 2 b, and a converter 3.

  The connection unit 10 is a connector to which the communication line 4 that is a UTP cable is connected. Each of the connection units 10 and 10 is connected to the transmission / reception unit 2a or 2b by a metal wire 11.

  Each of the transmission / reception units 2a and 2b includes a transmission unit 20 and a reception unit 21, and realizes communication according to the CAN protocol via the communication line 4 connected by the connection unit 10. The transmission / reception units 2a and 2b are connected to the converter 3 by metal wires 11, 11,.

  The reception unit 21 of the transmission / reception unit 2a or 2b detects a differential signal in the communication line 4 in accordance with the CAN protocol, converts it into a digital signal (0: dominant / 1: recessive), and converts the signal from the reception terminal Rx to the converter 3 Output to. The transmission unit 20 of the transmission / reception unit 2a or 2b receives the digital signal output to be transmitted from the converter 3 from the transmission terminal Tx, converts it into a differential signal, and transmits it to the communication line 4 in accordance with the CAN protocol.

  The converter 3 receives the signals output from the transmission / reception units 2a and 2b, temporarily converts them into optical signals, receives all the converted optical signals again and converts them into electrical signals, and sends them to the transmission / reception units 2a and 2b. Output to send. The converter 3 includes two light-emitting units 30 and 30 that perform electro-optical conversion, a hybrid unit 31 that hybridizes light converted from the light-emitting units 30 and 30, and two photoelectric units that convert light mixed by the hybrid unit 31. Light receiving units 32 and 32 are provided.

  The light emitting units 30 and 30 have a bottomed cylindrical metal box, and include a light emitting element installed therein so that the optical axis is coaxial with the box. For example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as the light emitting element. An opening for outputting light from the LED to the outside is formed in one bottom of the metal box. The light emitting units 30 and 30 are juxtaposed on one end surface of the columnar hybrid unit 31 described later so that the opening and the light emitting surface of the LED face the inside of the hybrid unit 31.

  The light emitting units 30 and 30 receive digital signals output from the transmission / reception units 2a and 2b, and emit light according to the received signals to output optical signals. The light emitting units 30 and 30 are turned off in response to the received digital signal “1 (recessive)” and turned on in response to “0 (dominant)”.

  Similar to the light emitting units 30 and 30, the light receiving units 32 and 32 have a bottomed cylindrical metal box, and include a light receiving element installed therein so that the optical axis is coaxial with the box. For example, a PD (Photo Diode) is used as the light receiving element. An opening for allowing the PD to receive light from the outside is formed at one bottom of the metal box. The light receiving portions 32 and 32 are arranged side by side on the end surface of the hybrid portion 31 opposite to the light emitting portions 30 and 30 so that the opening and the light receiving surface of the PD face the inside of the hybrid portion 31.

  The light receiving units 32 and 32 convert the lighting and extinction of the light received from the hybrid unit 31 into digital signals and output them to the transmission / reception units 2a and 2b. When the light receiving units 32 and 32 do not receive light via the hybrid unit 31 (when the light intensity is less than a certain value), the digital signal “1 (recessive)” is output and light is received. When the light intensity is a certain value or more, “0 (dominant)” is output.

  The hybrid part 31 is a transparent resin having a cylindrical shape. Glass may be used for the hybrid portion 31. The hybrid part 31 is covered with a metal sleeve to shield light from the outside. Further, the hybrid part 31 may be configured by a hollow cylindrical metal sleeve, or may be configured by filling a transparent resin in the metal sleeve. When one or both of the two light emitting units 30 and 30 installed on one end face of the hybrid unit 31 emit light, the inside of the hybrid unit 31 shines and is received by both the light receiving units 32 and 32.

  With such a configuration, in the optical communication device 1, the signal received by the one transmission / reception unit 2 a is once converted into an optical signal by the converter 3 and received by both the two light receiving units 32 and 32. The signals are output to the two transmission / reception units 2a and 2b without distinction. Therefore, the signal transmitted to the communication line 4 connected to one transmission / reception unit 2a is always monitored not only by the communication line 4 but also by the communication line 4 connected by the transmission / reception unit 2b. Further, arbitration processing based on the CAN protocol can be performed on the communication lines 4 and 4 connected to the transmission / reception units 2a and 2b, respectively.

  By using the optical communication apparatus 1 in this way, it is possible to realize a mixture of communication based on the CAN protocol and optical communication.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment, the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 32 connected to the same transmitting / receiving unit 2a or 2b are provided on both end surfaces of the hybrid unit 31, and the light emitting surface and the light receiving surface are provided. It was set as the structure arrange | positioned so that it may oppose. However, the configuration of the converter 3 is not limited to this. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a modification of the converter 3 of the optical communication device 1 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the positions of the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 32 connected to the same transmission / reception unit 2 a or 2 b are arranged symmetrically at positions rotated about the axis of the hybrid unit 36. As described above, the positions of the light emitting sections 30 and 30 and the light receiving sections 32 and 32 may be rotationally symmetric positions as shown in FIG.

  Moreover, the shape of the hybrid part 31 or 36 is not limited to a cylinder. For example, a quadrangular prism or an ellipsoid may be used. Alternatively, a waveguide formed on a glass substrate or a semiconductor substrate may be used. Further, although the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 32 are configured to be housed in a cylindrical metal box, the structure is not limited to this as long as deterioration of light coupling efficiency or intrusion of stray light does not cause a problem.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication system 60 including the optical communication device 1 according to the first embodiment. The optical communication system 60 is applied to, for example, an in-vehicle communication system that connects various control devices arranged in a vehicle and transmits and receives data based on CAN. An optical communication system 60 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3 includes an optical communication device 1 and communication lines 4 and 4 connected to the optical communication device 1, and connectors for a plurality of ECUs 5, 5,. Are connected to the communication harness 40 having the communication lines 4 and 4 respectively.

  By configuring the communication harness 40, the communication lines 4 and 4 are connected only by connecting the ECUs 5, 5,..., 5 and communication and light based on CAN without a gateway for controlling data transmission / reception. The optical communication system 60 in which communication is mixed can be easily constructed. As a result, communication can be realized in accordance with the conventional CAN protocol while suppressing the influence of ringing.

  In the first embodiment, the system capable of mixing electrical communication and optical communication based on CAN has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to CAN, and can be applied to communication based on a protocol that constantly monitors and detects a collision including a signal transmitted to the communication line 4, particularly a signal transmitted by itself.

  The optical communication device 1 according to Embodiment 1 has a configuration having two connection portions 10 and 10. However, the number of connection portions 10 is not limited to two, and a configuration having an arbitrary number of connection portions 10 according to the design may be employed. For example, when the number of connection units 10 is four, four sets of light emitting units 30 and light receiving units 32 in the converter 3 are also required.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, an optical communication apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing a second embodiment thereof. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the optical communication device 7 according to the second embodiment. The optical communication device 7 includes connection units 10, 10, 10, and 10 connected to communication lines 4, 4, 4, and 4, transmission / reception units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and a converter 3a.

  The connection unit 10 is a connector to which the communication line 4 that is a UTP cable is connected. The connection units 10, 10, 10, and 10 are connected to the transmission / reception units 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, or 2 d by metal wires 11, respectively.

  Each of the transmission / reception units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d includes a transmission unit 20 and a reception unit 21, and realizes communication according to the CAN protocol via the communication line 4 connected by the connection unit 10. The transmission / reception units 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d are connected to the converter 3a by metal wires 11, 11,.

  The reception unit 21 of the transmission / reception unit 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d detects a differential signal in the communication line 4 in accordance with the CAN protocol, converts it to a digital signal (0: dominant / 1: recessive), and receives a reception terminal. Output from Rx to converter 3a. The transmission unit 20 of the transmission / reception unit 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d accepts a digital signal output to be transmitted from the converter 3a from the transmission terminal Tx, converts it into a differential signal, and communicates with the communication line according to the CAN protocol. 4 to send.

  The converter 3a receives the signals output from the transmission / reception units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d and converts them once into optical signals, receives all the converted optical signals again, converts them into electrical signals, and transmits / receives them. Output to parts 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d for transmission. The converter 3a includes light emitting units 30, 30, 30, and 30 that perform electro-optical conversion, a hybrid unit 37 that hybridizes light converted by the light emitting units 30, 30, 30, and 30, and light mixed by the hybrid unit 37. Light receiving units 32, 32, 32, and 32 that perform photoelectric conversion are provided.

  The light emitting units 30, 30, 30, 30 have a bottomed cylindrical metal box, and include a light emitting element installed therein so that the optical axis is coaxial with the box. For example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as the light emitting element. An opening for outputting light from the LED to the outside is formed in one bottom of the metal box. Two light emitting units 30, 30, 30, and 30 are installed on both end surfaces of the cylindrical mixed portion 37 described later so that the opening and the light emitting surface of the LED face the inside of the hybrid portion 37.

  The light emitting units 30, 30, 30, and 30 receive the digital signals output from the transmission / reception units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, and emit light according to the received signals, thereby outputting an optical signal. The light emitting units 30, 30, 30, and 30 are turned off in response to the received digital signal “1 (recessive)” and turned on in response to “0 (dominant)”.

  The light receiving parts 32, 32, 32, 32 have a bottomed cylindrical metal box like the light emitting parts 30, 30, 30, 30 and are installed so that the optical axis is coaxial with the box inside. Provided with a light receiving element. For example, a PD (Photo Diode) is used as the light receiving element. An opening for allowing the PD to receive light from the outside is formed at one bottom of the metal box. Two light receiving portions 32, 32, 32, and 32 are installed on both end surfaces of the hybrid portion 37 so that the opening and the light receiving surface of the PD face the inside of the hybrid portion 37. Accordingly, the light emitting portions 30 and 30 and the light receiving portions 32 and 32 are mixedly disposed on both end surfaces of the hybrid portion 37.

  The light receiving units 32, 32, 32, 32 convert the lighting and extinction of the light received from the hybrid unit 37 into digital signals and output them to the transmitting / receiving units 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, and 2 d. When the light receiving units 32, 32, 32, and 32 do not receive light via the hybrid unit 37 (when the light intensity is less than a certain value), the light receiving units 32, 32, 32, and 32 output a digital signal “1 (recessive)” Is received (when the light intensity is above a certain value), “0 (dominant)” is output.

  The hybrid part 37 is a transparent resin having a cylindrical shape. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the converter 3a of the optical communication device 7 in the second embodiment. The hybrid unit 37 includes two light receiving units 32 and 32 and two light emitting units 30 and 30 on both end surfaces. At one end face of the hybrid unit 37, the two light emitting units 30 and 30 (or the two light receiving units 32 and 32) are located symmetrically with respect to the axis of the hybrid unit 37. Further, on one end face, the light emitting units 30 and 30 and the light receiving units 32 and 32 are arranged at rotationally symmetric positions with respect to the axis of the hybrid unit 37. The light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 32 connected to the same transmitting / receiving unit 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d are configured such that the light emitting surface and the light receiving surface face each other. When at least one of the four light emitting units 30, 30, 30, 30 installed on both end surfaces of the hybrid unit 37 emits light, the hybrid unit 37 shines and is received by all the light receiving units 32, 32, 32, 32. Is done.

  With such a configuration, in the optical communication device 7, the signal received by one transmission / reception unit 2 a is once converted into an optical signal by the converter 3 a and is converted into any one of the four light receiving units 32, 32, 32, 32. Are also received and output to the four transmitting / receiving units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d without distinction. Therefore, the signal transmitted to the communication line 4 connected to one transmission / reception unit 2a is transmitted not only by the communication line 4 but also by the communication lines 4, 4, 4 connected to the transmission / reception units 2b, 2c, and 2d. Always monitored. Further, arbitration processing based on the CAN protocol can be performed on the communication lines 4, 4, 4, and 4 connected to the transmission / reception units 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, respectively.

  By using the optical communication device 7 in this way, it is possible to realize a mixture of communication based on the CAN protocol and optical communication. In the second embodiment, the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 32 are mixed on one end surface of the hybrid unit 37. However, the light emitting units 30, 30, 30, and 30 are provided on one end surface of the hybrid unit 37. It is good also as a structure arrange | positioned and light-receiving part 32,32,32,32 is arrange | positioned at the other end surface of the hybrid part 37. FIG. Moreover, the light of one light emission part 30 should just be the structure light-received by each light-receiving part 32, and what is necessary is just to arrange | position suitably according to the shape of the hybrid part 37. FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical communication system 61 including the optical communication device 7 according to the second embodiment. The optical communication system 61 is applied to, for example, an in-vehicle communication system that transmits and receives data based on CAN by connecting various control devices arranged in a vehicle. An optical communication system 61 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 6 includes an optical communication device 7 and communication lines 4, 4, 4, 4 connected to the optical communication device 7, and includes a plurality of ECUs 5, 5,. .., 5 are connected to a communication harness 41 having connectors 5 for communication lines 4, 4, 4 and 4, respectively.

  By configuring the communication harness 41, communication lines 4, 4, 4, and 4 are connected only by connecting the ECUs 5, 5,..., 5, and communication based on CAN and optical communication without GW. Can be easily constructed. As a result, communication can be realized in accordance with the conventional CAN protocol while suppressing the influence of ringing.

  The optical communication device 7 has been described with respect to a system that can mix electrical communication and optical communication based on CAN. However, the present invention is not limited to CAN, and can be applied to communication based on a protocol that constantly monitors and detects a collision including a signal transmitted to the communication line 4, particularly a signal transmitted by itself.

  The optical communication device 7 according to the second embodiment has a configuration including four connection portions 10, 10, 10, and 10. However, the number of connection portions 10 is not limited to four, and any number of connection portions 10 may be provided depending on the design.

  It should be considered that the disclosed Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 are examples in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 7 Optical communication apparatus 10 Connection part 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Transmission / reception part 3, 3a Converter 30 Light emission part 31, 36, 37 Hybridization part 32 Light reception part 4 Communication line 40, 41 Communication harness 60, 61 Optical communication system

Claims (9)

A plurality of connection portions respectively connecting to a plurality of communication lines;
A plurality of transmission / reception units respectively connected to the plurality of connection units and transmitting / receiving signals generated based on a predetermined protocol via the plurality of communication lines;
A converter that receives and electro-optically converts signals output from the plurality of transmitting / receiving units, photoelectrically converts the electro-optically converted signals into electric signals, and outputs the signals to the plurality of transmitting / receiving units, respectively.
The converter
A plurality of light emitting units for electro-optically converting signals output from the plurality of transmitting / receiving units, respectively;
A hybrid unit that mixes optical signals from the plurality of light emitting units;
An optical communication device comprising: a plurality of light receiving units that receive the optical signals mixed by the hybrid unit, photoelectrically convert them into electrical signals, and output the signals. The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined protocol is CAN (Control Area Network). The optical communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid unit is made of a transparent resin or glass. The plurality of light emitting units are arranged on one end side of the hybrid unit, and the plurality of light receiving units are arranged on the other end side. Optical communication device. The optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of light emitting units and the plurality of light receiving units are mixedly disposed on both ends of the hybrid unit. . The plurality of light emitting units (or light receiving units) arranged on one end side of the hybrid unit are opposed to the plurality of light receiving units (or light emitting units) arranged on the other end side. The optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The plurality of light emitting units (or light receiving units) on one end side of the hybrid unit is rotated around the axis of the hybrid unit with respect to the plurality of light receiving units (or light emitting units) on the other end side. The optical communication device according to claim 1, wherein the optical communication device is disposed in the optical communication device. A communication harness comprising: the plurality of communication lines; and the optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to which the plurality of communication lines are connected. A plurality of communication lines to which a plurality of communication devices are respectively connected, and an optical communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to which the plurality of communication lines are connected. Optical communication system.

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