Abstract
A single-pair Ethernet device comprises a first input contact and a second input contact, which are configured for electrically contacting a single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair, further comprises a first output contact and a second output contact, which are configured for electrically contacting a single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair, comprises a first conduction path, which in at least one operation state electrically conductively connects the first input contact to the first output contact, and comprises a second conduction path, which in the operation state electrically conductively connects the second input contact to the second output contact.
Claims
1. A single-pair Ethernet device comprising a first input contact and a second input contact, which are configured for electrically contacting a single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair, comprising a first output contact and a second output contact, which are configured for electrically contacting a single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair, comprising a first conduction path, which in at least one operation state electrically conductively connects the first input contact to the first output contact, and comprising a second conduction path, which in the operation state electrically conductively connects the second input contact to the second output contact.
2. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conduction path comprises a first forwarding line and the second conduction path comprises a second forwarding line, wherein the forwarding lines are configured for electrical connection to an apparatus.
3. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a circuit board comprising at least one of the forwarding lines.
4. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the circuit board comprises at least one of the conduction paths.
5. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a bridge plug connector comprising at least one of the forwarding lines.
6. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bridge plug connector comprises at least one of the conduction paths.
7. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 2, comprising an adapter plug connector which is part of an adapter and to which the forwarding lines are electrically conductively connected.
8. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed claim 2, comprising a cable having two cable cores to which the forwarding lines are electrically conductively connected.
9. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conduction path and the second conduction path are each free of forwarding lines.
10. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in at least one further operation state different from the operation state, the first conduction path and the second conduction path are interrupted.
11. The single-pair Ethernet device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plug connector housing which at least partially encloses the first input contact and the second input contact.
12. A single-pair Ethernet system comprising a single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair, comprising a single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair, and comprising at least one electrical connection point for contacting a single-pair Ethernet device, in particular as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection point is connected to the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair and to the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair.
13. A method for installing a single-pair Ethernet system, in particular as claimed in claim 12, wherein the single-pair Ethernet system is provided in the form of a daisy-chain.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a single-pair Ethernet conductor pair is split into an unassembled single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair and an unassembled single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair, and at least one connection point is field-assembled at corresponding ends of the unassembled single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair and of the unassembled single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a pre-assembled single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair and a pre-assembled single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair are provided, and respectively one end of the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair and one end of the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair are combined to form a connection point.
Description
[0030] In the drawings:
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a single-pair Ethernet system with a single-pair Ethernet device,
[0032] FIG. 2 shows part of a chain plug connector of the single-pair Ethernet system in an oblique view,
[0033] FIG. 3 shows the single-pair Ethernet device in an oblique view,
[0034] FIG. 4 shows the single-pair Ethernet device of FIG. 3 in a view from beneath,
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for installing the single-pair Ethernet system,
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a further exemplary embodiment of a method for installing the single-pair Ethernet system,
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device in an oblique view,
[0038] FIG. 8 shows the single-pair Ethernet device of FIG. 7 in a partially opened view,
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device in an oblique view,
[0040] FIG. 10 shows the single-pair Ethernet device of FIG. 9 in a partially opened view,
[0041] FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device in an oblique view,
[0042] FIG. 12 shows the single-pair Ethernet device of FIG. 11 in a partially opened view,
[0043] FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device in an oblique view,
[0044] FIG. 14 shows the single-pair Ethernet device of FIG. 13 in a partially opened view,
[0045] FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device in an operation state, and
[0046] FIG. 16 shows a schematic representation of the single-pair Ethernet device of FIG. 15 in a further operation state.
[0047] In the figures, where objects are shown multiple times, only one of them has been provided with a reference sign.
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a part of a single-pair Ethernet system 42a. The single-pair Ethernet system 42a has a distributor 50a. The distributor 50a comprises a router. Alternatively or additionally, the distributor 50a could comprise a power distributor. The single-pair Ethernet system 42a has a plurality of single-pair Ethernet devices 10a, only one of which is shown and described below. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has an apparatus 52a. The apparatus 52a has a sensor of a smart-home application. Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus 52a could have an actuator of a smart-home application or a network chip of a computer.
[0049] The single-pair Ethernet system 42a has a plurality of single-pair Ethernet input conductor pairs 16a that are identical to each other, and therefore only one of the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pairs 16a is shown in FIG. 1 and only the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a shown is described below. The distributor 50a and the apparatus 52a are electrically conductively connected in the form of a daisy-chain via the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and a single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a. The single-pair Ethernet system 42a has a plurality of single-pair Ethernet output conductor pairs 22a that are identical to each other, and therefore only a part of one of the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pairs 22a is shown in FIG. 1 and only the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a shown is described below. The single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a are formed identically to each other. Alternatively, the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a could be formed differently from each other. The single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a is formed as part of a single-pair Ethernet cable 46a shown in FIG. 2.
[0050] The single-pair Ethernet system 42a has a plurality of electrical connection points 44a that are identical to each other, and therefore only one of the connection points 44a is described below. Alternatively, the connection points 44a could be formed differently from each other. The connection point 44a is used for contacting a single-pair Ethernet device 10a, which will be described in more detail later. The connection point 44a is connected to the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a. The connection point 44a is connected to the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a. The connection point 44a is formed from corresponding ends of the single-pair Ethernet conductor pairs 16a, 22a. The ends of the single-pair Ethernet conductor pairs 16a, 22a each have a sub-chain plug connector 48a, wherein the sub-chain plug connectors 48a are formed identically to each other, and therefore only the sub-chain plug connector 48a of the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a is described below. The sub-chain plug connector 48a of the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a is shown in FIG. 2. The sub-chain plug connector 48a is formed as a simplex plug. The sub-chain plug connectors 48a together form a chain plug connector 49a. The chain plug connector 49a is formed as a duplex plug. The chain plug connector 49a is formed by connecting both sub-chain plug connectors 48a. Alternatively, the chain plug connector 49a could be formed as two separate simplex plugs or as one duplex socket or as two separate simplex sockets.
[0051] The single-pair Ethernet system 42a has a plurality of single-pair Ethernet devices 10a that are formed identically to each other, and therefore only one of the single-pair Ethernet devices 10a is described below. Alternatively, the single-pair Ethernet device 10a could be formed separately from the single-pair Ethernet system 42a. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a first input contact 12a. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a second input contact 14a. The input contacts 12a, 14a serve to electrically contact the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a. The input contacts 12a, 14a are formed as pins of a bridge plug connector 34a. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a first output contact 18a. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a second output contact 20a. The output contacts 18a, 20a serve to electrically contact the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a. The output contacts 18a, 20a are formed as pins of the bridge plug connector 34a. The bridge plug connector 34a is formed as a duplex socket. Alternatively, the bridge plug connector 34a could be formed as two separate simplex sockets or as one duplex plug or as two separate simplex plugs. In the case where the apparatus 52a is formed as a termination apparatus, the bridge plug connector 34a could also be formed as only a single simplex socket or a single simplex socket.
[0052] The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a circuit board 32a. The apparatus 52a is mounted on the circuit board 32a (not shown). The bridge plug connector 34a is electrically conductively connected to the circuit board 32a. The circuit board 32a has a first conductor track 54a. The circuit board 32a has a second conductor track 56a. The conductor tracks 54a, 56a are electrically conductively connected to the apparatus 52a. Alternatively, the conductor tracks 56a could be electrically conductively connected to a dual-core cable that is electrically conductively connected to the apparatus 52a and/or to a connector that is electrically conductively connected to the apparatus 52a. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a first conduction path 24a. The first conduction path 24a electrically conductively connects the first input contact 12a to the first output contact 18a. The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a second conduction path 26a. The second conduction path 26a electrically conductively connects the second input contact 14a to the second output contact 20a. The conduction paths 24a, 26a connect the input contacts 12a, 14a and the output contacts 18a, 20a to the conductor tracks 54a, 56a.
[0053] The first conduction path 24a has a first forwarding line 28a. The second conduction path 26a has a second forwarding line 30a. The forwarding lines 28a, 30a are shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the conduction paths 24a, 26a could have any number of further forwarding lines. The forwarding lines 28a, 30a are formed as sub-regions of the conductor tracks 54a, 56a. The first forwarding line 28a electrically conductively connects a remaining first conduction path to a remaining first conductor track. The second forwarding line 30a electrically conductively connects a remaining second conduction path to a remaining second conductor track. The circuit board 32a has both forwarding lines 28a, 30a. Alternatively, the circuit board 32a could have only one of the forwarding lines 28a, 30a or none of the forwarding lines 28a, 30a. The circuit board 32a has both of the conduction paths 24a, 26a. Alternatively, the circuit board 32a could have only one of the conduction paths 24a, 26a or none of the conduction paths 24a, 26a.
[0054] The single-pair Ethernet device 10a has a plug connector housing 40a. The plug connector housing 40a is part of the bridge plug connector 34a. The plug connector housing 40a partially encloses each of the input contacts 12a, 14a and the output contacts 18a, 20a. Alternatively, the plug connector housing 40a could partially enclose only the input contacts 12a, 14a or only the output contacts 18a, 20a. The input contacts 12a, 14a and the output contacts 18a, 20a each have a sub-region protruding from the plug connector housing 40a. The protruding sub-region serve to contact pins of the sub-chain plug connectors 48a.
[0055] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for installing the single-pair Ethernet system 42a. The single-pair Ethernet system 42a is provided in the form of a daisy chain. In a splitting step 100a, a single-pair Ethernet conductor pair (not shown) is split into an unassembled single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair (not shown) and an unassembled single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair (not shown). The splitting step 100a comprises cutting the single-pair Ethernet conductor pair at an arbitrary location. In an assembly step 110a, the connection points 44a are field-assembled at corresponding ends of the unassembled single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and the unassembled single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a. The assembly step 110a here follows the splitting step 100a. The unassembled single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair and the unassembled single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair correspond to the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a after the assembly step 110a. In an interlinking step 120a, the apparatus 52a is connected to the remainder of the single-pair Ethernet system. The interlinking step 120a comprises contacting the single-pair Ethernet device 10a through the connection point 44a. Here, the interlinking step 120a follows the assembly step 110a.
[0056] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a further method for installing the single-pair Ethernet system 42a. The single-pair Ethernet system 42a is provided in the form of a daisy chain. In a connection step 130a, the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a are provided. Subsequently, one end of the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16a and one end of the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22a are combined to form the connection point 44a. The connection step 130a is followed by the interlinking step 120a, analogously to FIG. 6.
[0057] FIGS. 7 to 16 show five further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions are in essence limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 with respect to components, features and functions which remain the same. To distinguish the exemplary embodiments, the letter a in the reference signs of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 6 has been replaced by the letters b to fin the reference signs of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 7 to 16. With regard to identically denoted components, in particular with regard to components with the same reference signs, reference can in principle also be made to the drawings and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0058] FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device 10b. The single-pair Ethernet device 10b has a bridge plug connector 34b. The bridge plug connector 34b has a first forwarding line 28b. The bridge plug connector 34b has a second forwarding line 30b. The forwarding lines 28b, 30b are shown in more detail in FIG. 8. The bridge plug connector 34b has a first conduction path 24b. The bridge plug connector 34b has a second conduction path 26b. The conduction paths 24b, 26b are formed as T-shaped portions of conductor tracks of the bridge plug connector 34b.
[0059] FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device 10c. The single-pair Ethernet device 10c has a bridge plug connector 34c. The single-pair Ethernet device 10c is free of circuit boards. The bridge plug connector 34c has a first forwarding line 28c. The bridge plug connector 34c has a second forwarding line 30c. The forwarding lines 28c, 30c are shown in more detail in FIG. 10. The single-pair Ethernet device 10c has an adapter plug connector 36c. The adapter plug connector 36c is formed as a simplex plug. Alternatively, the adapter plug connector 36c could be formed as any other type of connector. The forwarding lines 28c, 30c are electrically conductively connected to the adapter plug connector 36c, this being shown in more detail in FIG. 10. The adapter plug connector 36c is used to connect a connector which is electrically conductively connected to an apparatus (not shown). Alternatively, the adapter plug connector 36c could be used to connect to another single-pair Ethernet conductor pair (not shown) to provide a branch of a daisy chain.
[0060] FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device 10d. The single-pair Ethernet device 10d has a bridge plug connector 34d. The single-pair Ethernet device 10d is free of circuit boards. The single-pair Ethernet device 10d has a bridge plug connector 34d. The bridge plug connector 34d has a first forwarding line 28d. The bridge plug connector 34d has a second forwarding line 30d. The forwarding lines 28d, 30d are shown in more detail in FIG. 12. The single-pair Ethernet device 10d has a cable 38d. The cable 38d has two cable cores 58d. The forwarding lines 28d, 30d are electrically conductively connected to the cable cores 58d. The cable 38d has an adapter plug connector (not shown) at an end remote from the bridge plug connector 34d. The cable 38d is electrically conductively connected to an apparatus (not shown). Alternatively, the cable 38d could be used to connect to another single-pair of Ethernet conductor pair (not shown) to provide a branch of a daisy chain.
[0061] FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device 10e. The single-pair Ethernet device 10e has a shorting plug 60e. The shorting plug 60e has conduction paths 24e, 26e, which are shown in more detail in FIG. 14. The conduction paths 24e, 26e are each free of forwarding lines. The conduction paths 24e, 26e are used for direct electrically conductive connection of input contacts 12e, 14e and output contacts 18e, 20e of the shorting plug 60e.
[0062] FIG. 15 schematically illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a single-pair Ethernet device 10f in an operation state. The single-pair Ethernet device 10f is part of a single-pair Ethernet system 42f. The single-pair Ethernet device 10f has a first conduction path 24f and a second conduction path 26f. The first conduction path 24f electrically conductively connects a first input contact 12f and a first output contact 18f. The second conduction path 26f electrically conductively connects a second input contact 14f and a second output contact 20f. The input contacts 12f, 14f and the output contacts 18f, 20f are formed as pins of an interruption connector (not shown). The interruption connector can be plugged to a chain plug connector of a single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair (not shown) and single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair (not shown). Alternatively, the chain plug connector and the interruption connector could be integrally formed, in particular could be identical to each other. The conduction paths 24f, 26f each have two spring contacts 70f, 72f, 74f, 76f. In the operation state, a first spring contact 70f and a second spring contact 72f of the first conduction path 24f and a first further spring contact 74f and a second further spring contact 76f of the second conduction path are directly electrically conductively connected. The operation state is formed as an idle state of the single-pair Ethernet device 10f. In the operation state, the interruption connector provides a shorting plug function, analogously to the single-pair Ethernet device 10e of FIGS. 13 and 14. The single-pair Ethernet system 42f has a bridge plug connector 34f. The bridge plug connector 34f has lateral contact surfaces 62f. The contact surfaces 62f are electrically conductively connected to an apparatus (not shown). In a further operation state different from the operation state, which is shown schematically in FIG. 16, the first conduction path 24f and the second conduction path 26f are interrupted. In the further operation state, the bridge plug connector 34f is plugged into the interruption connector. In the further operation state, the bridge plug connector 34f is disposed between the spring contacts 70f, 72f, 74f, 76f. In the further operation state, the input contacts 12f, 14f and the output contacts 18f, 20f are electrically conductively connected to the contact surfaces 62f. The bridge plug connector 34f has a further first conduction path 64f. In the further operation state, the further first conduction path 64f electrically conductively connects the first input contact 12f and the first output contact 18f. The bridge plug connector 34f has a further second conduction path 66f. In the further operation state, the further second conduction path 66f electrically conductively connects the second input contact 14f and the second output contact 20f. In the further operation state, the single-pair Ethernet device 10f provides a connection of the apparatus to the single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair 16f and the single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair 22f.
REFERENCE SIGNS
[0063] 10 single-pair Ethernet device [0064] 12 first input contact [0065] 14 second input contact [0066] 16 single-pair Ethernet input conductor pair [0067] 18 first output contact [0068] 20 second output contact [0069] 22 single-pair Ethernet output conductor pair [0070] 24 first conduction path [0071] 26 second conduction path [0072] 28 first forwarding line [0073] 30 second forwarding line [0074] 32 circuit board [0075] 34 bridge plug connector [0076] 36 adapter plug connector [0077] 38 Cable [0078] 40 Plug connector housing [0079] 42 single-pair Ethernet system [0080] 44 electrical connection point [0081] 46 single-pair Ethernet cable [0082] 48 sub-chain plug connector [0083] 49 chain plug connector [0084] 50 distributor [0085] 52 apparatus [0086] 54 first conductor track [0087] 56 second conductor track [0088] 58 cable core [0089] 60 shorting plug [0090] 62 contact area [0091] 64 first further conduction path [0092] 66 second further conduction path [0093] 70 first spring contact [0094] 72 second spring contact [0095] 74 first further spring contact [0096] 76 second further spring contact [0097] 100 splitting step [0098] 110 assembly step [0099] 120 interlinking step [0100] 130 connection step
