TWI479814B - Non-isolated ac-dc power converter applied to broadband power line network device - Google Patents

Description

Non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit for broadband power line network devices

The present invention relates to a power conversion circuit, and more particularly to a non-isolated AC/DC converter circuit for use in a high speed power line network device.

Due to advances in technology, personal computers and the Internet have penetrated into families and become an integral part of life. Many computers in the home can use the Internet to exchange information, share data, or print data. The use of Power Line Communication (PLC) system is one of the many ways to connect computers. It uses the electrical wires in the home to connect computers.

Please refer to the first figure, which is a schematic diagram of a broadband power system (broadband PLC system). Since various areas of the general family, such as rooms, study rooms, living rooms, and kitchens, have many power outlets, these parallel power sockets can be used to supply broadband power lines in addition to AC power. Communication Systems. As can be seen from the first figure, the power plug 105 of the personal computer 100 can be inserted into the first power outlet 110 for providing power to the personal computer 100. The personal computer 100 can also be connected to another computer in any position in the home, such as the notebook computer 200, by using a power line in the power outlet.

In general, the so-called broadband power line system uses a plurality of broadband power line network devices to transmit an Ethernet signal of 10 Mbps or more. If other network systems are not using high-speed Ethernet signals for transmission or transmission speeds below 10 Mbps, the network system is not a broadband network system. To simplify the description, the following power line network devices are all broadband power line network devices.

As can be seen from the first figure, the network route 115 of the personal computer 100 is inserted into a first power line network device 120 and the first power line network device 120 is inserted into a second power socket 125. Similarly, the notebook computer 200 is inserted. The network route 215 is inserted into a second power line network device 220 and the second power line network device 220 is reinserted into a third power outlet 225. In this way, the connection between the personal computer 100 and the notebook computer 200 can be achieved. Also, the broadband power line communication system is completed.

It is well known that the power outlet is supplied with an AC high voltage of 110V or 220V. Therefore, the trace layout in the power line network device must have strict specifications to prevent the user from being exposed to the high voltage of the AC under any circumstances and causing Danger.

Therefore, how to design a power line network device to make the line layout conform to specifications, and to effectively reduce the line layout area and reduce the cost of the broadband power line network device is the object of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a non-isolated AC/DC converter circuit for use in a broadband power line network device. Use a minimum of coupling components (Ethernet signal coupling unit) on the board to isolate high voltage, in addition to preventing damage to the user, reducing the size of the board, reducing the size of the broadband power line network device and reducing the broadband power line. The cost of a network device.

The present invention provides a broadband power line network device, comprising: a power line network device, comprising: a circuit board, which is divided into a primary side area and a secondary side area, and the primary side area and the secondary side area Between the first distance and the first distance; a power conversion circuit is disposed in the primary side region of the circuit board, the power conversion circuit has a pair of power receiving ends for receiving an alternating current power source and converted into a direct current power source; a network control chip, Arranging in the primary side region of the circuit board and receiving the DC power supply; a network connector disposed in the secondary side region of the circuit board and transmitting or receiving an external network signal; and an Ethernet signal a coupling component disposed between the primary side region of the circuit board and the secondary side region, the Ethernet signal coupling component receiving the external network signal of the secondary side region and Generating an internal network signal, or receiving the internal network signal of the primary side region and generating the external network signal according to the secondary side region; wherein the network control crystal Receiving the internal network signal and converting it into a modulated network signal, outputting the power line network device by the pair of power receiving ends, or receiving the modulated network signal input by the pair of power receiving ends and converting to the internal The network signal is then passed to the Ethernet signal coupling component.

In order to better understand the above and other aspects of the present invention, the preferred embodiments are described below, and in conjunction with the drawings, the detailed description is as follows:

Please refer to the second figure, which is a schematic diagram of a power line network device. The power line network device 160 includes a power plug 106, a power conversion circuit 170, a network control chip 180, an Ethernet signal coupling component 190, and a network connector 195. The network connector 195 of the power line network device 160, such as an RJ45 socket, can be plugged into a network path to connect to a personal computer (not shown). When the data is transmitted, an external network signal (S1) generated by a personal computer (not shown) is input to the Ethernet signal coupling element 190. The Ethernet coupling component 190 generates an internal network signal (S2) based on the external network signal (S1) and inputs the network control chip 180.

Basically, the external network signal (S1) cannot be directly input to the network control chip 180. Therefore, the power line network device 160 utilizes the Ethernet signal coupling component 190 to receive the external network signal (S1) and sense the internal network signal (S2) and input the network control chip 180. In general, the Ethernet signal coupling component 190 can be a signal transformer that generates an internal network signal (S2) via receiving an external network signal (S1).

Next, the network control chip 180 modulates the internal network signal (S2) and outputs the modulated network signal (S3). The modulated network signal (S3) is output from the power plug 106 to other power line network devices (not shown) via the power conversion circuit 170.

Conversely, after the power plug 106 receives the modulated network signal (S3) output by other power line network devices (not shown), it can be transmitted to the network control chip 180 via the power conversion circuit 170. Next, the network control chip demodulates the modulated network signal (S3) to output an internal network signal (S2). The Ethernet signal coupling component 190 generates an external network signal (S1) according to the internal network signal (S2) and transmits it to the personal computer (not shown) via the network connector 195.

Further, the power conversion circuit 170 is connected to the power plug 106, which can receive external AC power, and converts the AC power to a DC power source (Vin) and provides it to the network control chip 180 so that the network control chip 180 can operate normally.

In general, the power line network device 160 is covered by an insulating housing, and the user can only access the power plug 106 and the conductive material (metal) in the network connector 195.

When the power plug 106 of the power line network device 160 is plugged into the power outlet, the user may only be exposed to the conductive material in the network connector 195. In order to prevent user injury, the circuit layout of the circuit board (PCB board) in the power line network device 160 must comply with the safety specifications, so that the user does not cause contact with the conductive material in the network connector 195. Any damage. According to the safety regulations, when the user touches an AC voltage with an amplitude exceeding 42.4V or a DC voltage greater than 60V, the user may be injured. Therefore, greater than the above voltage can be called a dangerous voltage.

In order to prevent user injury, the first method is implemented by using an isolated AC-DC power converter. The so-called isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit isolates the input of the high voltage and the output of the low voltage to ensure the safety of the output to the user. In the isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit, a power transformer is used as the main coupling component.

In other words, the circuit layout of the circuit board in the power line network device 160 separates the power conversion circuit 170 from the primary side region (high voltage side region) of the circuit board, and the network control chip 180, the Ethernet signal The coupling element 190 and the network connector 195 are designed in a secondary side region (low voltage side region) of the circuit board. Furthermore, there is no direct electrical connection between the primary side region and the secondary side region, but the coupling element is utilized as a signal and power transfer between the primary side region and the secondary side region of the board. This ensures that there are no dangerous voltages in the secondary side area.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, which is a schematic diagram of a power line network device completed by using an isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit. Basically, the power line network device 160 is designed on a single circuit board, and a primary side region (high voltage side region) 162 and a secondary side region (low voltage side region) 164 are distinguished on the circuit board. On the surface of the board, the primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164 are completely electrically isolated. That is to say, no layout trace is connected between the primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164.

Furthermore, a coupling element is used between the primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164 to achieve signal and power transfer. The coupling element includes a Y-type capacitor 350, a power transformer 352, an optocoupler 354, and a signal coupler 356.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the power conversion circuit 170 is designed on the primary side region 162 of the circuit board except for the coupling element. Wherein, a lightning catcher 305, a common mode choke 310, a bridge rectifier 315, and a high voltage capacitor are connected between the power plug 106 and the power transformer 352. 320, a switching mode regulator 325, and a snubber 330. Basically, the common mode choke coil 310 is used to eliminate the common mode electromagnetic interference signal on the line, and the bridge rectifier 315 and the high voltage capacitor 320 are used for AC/DC voltage conversion and voltage stabilization. The switching die 325 is voltage converted, and the power transformer 352 is caused to generate the DC power (Vin) required by the network control chip 180 via the buffer 330. The optical coupler 354 can generate a control signal to adjust the switching wafer according to a change in the direct current power source (Vin). The modulated network signal (S3) generated by the network control chip 180 utilizes the signal coupler 356 to generate a corresponding inductively modulated network signal (S3') and outputs the power outlet 106 via the lightning strike protector 350.

In order for the board to conform to the safety specifications, the primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164 must be separated by a safe distance (D) to comply with the safety specifications. For example, this safety distance must be at least greater than 3 mm, for example 5 mm.

Please refer to FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, which are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the circuit board of the power line network device and related components. As shown in the third B-picture, the size of the circuit board is 44 mm × 60 mm, and the circuit board is divided into a primary side region 162 and a secondary side region 164, and there is no layout line between the primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164. Direct electrical connection. The primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164 are separated by a safe distance (D).

As shown in the third C diagram, the relevant components of the power line network device are disposed on the circuit board. The primary side region 162 has a pair of power receiving ends (+, -) connected to a power outlet (not shown). Further, the lightning strike protector 305, the common mode choke coil 310, the bridge rectifier 315, the high voltage capacitor 320, the exchangeable wafer 325, and the buffer 330 are disposed in the primary side region 162. The network control chip 180, the Ethernet signal coupling component 190, and the network connector 195 are disposed in the secondary side region 164. The Y-type capacitor 350, the power transformer 352, the optical coupler 354, and the signal coupling unit 356 span the primary side region 162 and the secondary side region 164.

As can be seen from the third C diagram, the network connector 195 is located in the secondary side region 164, and the secondary side region 164 does not have any dangerous voltage. Therefore, when the circuit board is covered by the insulating case, even if the user touches the conductive material (metal) in the network connector 195, it does not cause any damage.

Furthermore, in order to effectively reduce the area of the board, the first method is implemented by using a non-isolated AC-DC power converter. A non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit reduces the use of coupling components. Basically, the non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit does not isolate the high voltage input and the low voltage output, so it may damage the user's personal safety.

In order to prevent injury to the user, the present invention is also divided into a primary side area and a secondary side area on the circuit board. The primary side region includes both high voltage (dangerous voltage) and low voltage, while the secondary side region includes only low voltage. In other words, the circuit layout of the circuit board in the power line network device 160 separates the power conversion circuit 170 and the network control chip 180 from the primary side area of the circuit board, and the network connector 195 is designed on the circuit board. Secondary side area. Instead of a direct electrical connection between the primary side region and the secondary side region, the Ethernet signal coupling component 190 is utilized as a signal transfer between the primary side region and the secondary side region of the board.

Please refer to FIG. 4A, which is a schematic diagram of a power line network device completed by using a non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit. Basically, the power line network device 160 is designed on a single circuit board, and the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455 are distinguished on the circuit board. On the surface of the board, the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455 are completely electrically isolated. That is to say, no layout trace is connected between the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455.

Furthermore, only the Ethernet signal coupling element is used between the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455 to achieve signal transmission. The Ethernet signal coupling component 190 can be a signal transformer.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the power conversion circuit 170 and the network control chip 180 are all designed on the primary side region 450 of the circuit board. In the power conversion circuit 170, a lightning strike protector 405, a common mode choke coil 410, a bridge rectifier 415, a high voltage capacitor 420, a switching wafer 425, a buffer 430, and the like are connected between the power plug 106 and the network control chip 180. Inductance 435. Basically, the common mode choke coil 410 is used to eliminate the common mode electromagnetic interference signal on the line, and the bridge rectifier 415 and the high voltage capacitor 420 are used for AC/DC voltage conversion and voltage stabilization. The switching chip 425 is voltage-converted, and provides a DC power supply (Vin) required for the network control chip 180 via the buffer 430 and the inductor 435. The modulated network signal (S3) generated by the network control chip 180 is output to the power outlet 106 via the lightning strike protector 450.

Similarly, in order for the board to conform to the safety specifications, the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455 must be separated by a safe distance (D) to comply with the safety specifications.

Please refer to FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, which are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the circuit board of the power line network device and related components. As shown in FIG. 4B, the size of the circuit board is 33 mm×55 mm, and the circuit board is divided into a primary side region 450 and a secondary side region 455, and there is no layout line between the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455. Direct electrical connection. The primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455 are separated by a safe distance (D).

As shown in FIG. 4C, the relevant components of the power line network device are disposed on the circuit board. The power conversion circuit of the primary side region 450 has a pair of power receiving ends (+, -) connected to a power outlet (not shown). Furthermore, the lightning strike protector 405, the common mode choke coil 410, the bridge rectifier 415, the high voltage capacitor 420, the switching chip 425, the buffer 430, the inductor 435, and the network control chip 180 in the power conversion circuit 170 are both It is disposed in the primary side area 450. Only the network connector 195 is disposed in the secondary side region 455. The Ethernet signal coupling element 190 then spans the primary side region 450 and the secondary side region 455.

As can be seen from the fourth C diagram, since the network connector 195 is located in the secondary side region 455, the secondary side region 455 does not have any dangerous voltage. Therefore, when the circuit board is covered by the insulating case, even if the user touches the conductive material (metal) in the network connector 195, it does not cause any damage.

Furthermore, please refer to the fifth figure, which is a circuit diagram of the signal coupling component of the Ethernet. The signal end point of the first side includes at least a TD+TD-, RD+, and RD-signal end; and the signal end point of the second side includes at least a TX-, TX+, RX+, and RX- signal end. Of course, in addition to the above signal endpoints, other signal terminals, such as CT signal terminals, may be included. Furthermore, the signal end point of the first side can be connected to the primary side region 450 and the second side signal end point can be connected to the secondary side region 455; or the signal end point of the second side can be connected to the primary side region 450 and The first side signal end point can be connected to the secondary side region 455.

Obviously, the signal terminals of the primary side region 450 and the signal terminals of the secondary side region 455 are converted to each other by a signal transformer, and are not in contact with each other, and thus can be used as an effective coupling element. At the same time, it is also possible to prevent the dangerous voltage of the primary side region 450 from being transmitted to the secondary side region 455, causing harm to the user.

Furthermore, in order for the Ethernet signal coupling unit 190 to comply with the specifications of the security, the Ethernet signal coupling unit 190 needs to be specially designed. For example, the signal line of the Ethernet signal coupling unit 190 in the fifth figure is isolated in the A area or the B area. In order to comply with the safety regulations. All of the signal lines of the A area in the Ethernet signal coupling unit 190 can be realized by an enameled wire, and all the signal lines of the B area are realized by three layers of insulated wires. Alternatively, all of the signal lines of the B area in the Ethernet signal coupling unit 190 can be realized by an enameled wire, and all of the signal lines of the A area are realized by three layers of insulated wires. In this way, the purpose of isolating dangerous voltages by safety can be effectively achieved.

Therefore, the advantage of the present invention is that the non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit is designed for the power line network device, and the high voltage is isolated from the secondary side region of the circuit board by using a minimum coupling element (the Ethernet signal coupling unit). In addition, in addition to preventing the user from being harmed, the size of the circuit board can be reduced to reduce the size of the power line network device. At the same time, since the present invention uses a network control chip with a high-speed broadband of 10 Mbps or more, the use of a high-speed power line network device can be achieved.

In conclusion, the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present invention. A person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100. . . personal computer

105, 106. . . Power plug

110. . . First power socket

115. . . Web route

120. . . First power line network device

125. . . Second power socket

200. . . Notebook computer

215. . . Web route

220. . . Second power line network device

225. . . Third power socket

160. . . Power line network device

162‧‧‧primary area

164‧‧‧Secondary area

170‧‧‧Power conversion circuit

180‧‧‧Network Control Wafer

190‧‧‧Ethernet signal coupling components

195‧‧‧Network connector

305‧‧‧Lightning strike protector

310‧‧‧Common mode choke coil

315‧‧‧Bridge rectifier

320‧‧‧High voltage capacitor

325‧‧‧Exchange Chip

330‧‧‧buffer

350‧‧‧Y type capacitor

352‧‧‧Power Transformer

354‧‧‧Optocoupler

356‧‧‧Signal coupling unit

405‧‧‧Lightning strike protector

410‧‧‧Common mode choke coil

415‧‧‧Bridge rectifier

420‧‧‧High voltage capacitor

425‧‧‧Switched wafer

430‧‧‧buffer

435‧‧‧Inductance

450‧‧‧primary area

455‧‧‧Secondary area

The first figure is a schematic diagram of a power line communication system.

The second figure is a schematic diagram of a power line network device.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a power line network device completed by using an isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit.

3B and 3C are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a circuit board and related components of the power line network device.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a power line network device completed by using a non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit.

4B and 4C are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a circuit board and related components of the power line network device.

The fifth figure is a circuit diagram of the Ethernet signal coupling component.

106. . . Power plug

170. . . Power conversion circuit

180. . . Network control chip

190. . . Ethernet signal coupling component

195. . . Network connector

405. . . Lightning strike protector

410. . . Common mode choke coil

415. . . Bridge rectifier

420. . . High voltage capacitor

425. . . Switched wafer

430. . . buffer

435. . . inductance

450. . . Primary side area

455. . . Secondary side area

Claims (8)

A broadband power line network device includes: a circuit board, which is divided into a primary side area and a secondary side area, and the primary side area is spaced apart from the secondary side area by a first distance, wherein the primary side area is a high voltage side region, the secondary side region is a low voltage side region, and no layout line is connected between the primary side region and the secondary side region; a power conversion circuit is disposed in the primary side region of the circuit board The power conversion circuit has a pair of power receiving ends for receiving an AC power source and converting to a DC power source; a network control chip disposed in the primary side region of the circuit board and receiving the DC power source; a network connector Disposed on the secondary side region of the circuit board and transmitting or receiving an external network signal; and an Ethernet signal coupling component disposed between the primary side region and the secondary side region of the circuit board Receiving, by the Ethernet signal coupling component, the external network signal of the secondary side region and generating an internal network signal in the primary side region, or receiving the primary side region The internal network signal is generated in the secondary side region to generate the external network signal; wherein the network control chip receives the internal network signal and converts it into a modulated network signal and receives the signal from the power source The terminal outputs the power line network device, or receives the modulated network signal input by the pair of power receiving ends and converts the signal into the internal network signal and transmits the signal to the Ethernet signal coupling component. Broadband power line network installation as described in item 1 of the patent application scope The network connector is an RJ45 socket. The broadband power line network device according to claim 1, wherein the power conversion circuit is a non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit. The broadband power line network device of claim 3, wherein the non-isolated AC/DC power conversion circuit comprises: a lightning strike protector, a common mode choke coil, a bridge rectifier, a high voltage capacitor, and a switching chip. A buffer is coupled to the inductor between the pair of power receiving terminals and the network control chip. The broadband power line network device of claim 4, wherein the modulated network signal outputs the pair of power receiving ends via the lightning strike protector. The broadband power line network device of claim 1, wherein the first distance is a safety distance and the safety distance is at least greater than 3 mm. The broadband power line network device of claim 1, wherein the primary side region includes a dangerous voltage, and the secondary side region does not include the dangerous voltage, wherein the dangerous voltage is an alternating voltage having an amplitude greater than 42.4V. Or a DC voltage greater than 60V. The broadband power line network device of claim 1, wherein the pair of power receiving ends are connected to a power outlet.