Monitor device adapter

A monitor device adapter includes first and second conversion circuits, a switch unit, and a monitor interface. The first conversion circuit includes a digital to analog (D/A) converter and a coupler. The second conversion circuit includes an analog to digital (A/D) converter and a decoupler. When the switch unit connects the first conversion circuit to the monitor interface, the D/A converter converts a digital signals representing data into a first analog form data for coupling with a first alternating current (AC) voltage. When the switch unit connects the second conversion circuit to the monitor interface, the decoupler decouples and separates a second analog form data into the second analog form data. The A/D converter converts the second analog form data into digital signals representing data, and outputs the digital signals representing data to the monitor interface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Relevant present application is disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/442,937, 13/442,945, 13/442,953, 13/442,956, 13/442,959, 13/442,965, 13/442,977, 13/442,981, 13/442,988, 13/442,873) having the same title and assigned to the same assignee as named herein.

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to adapters, and particularly, to a monitoring device adapter.

2. Description of Related Art

In a monitoring system, main monitors are connected to cameras through many long cables to communicate with the cameras. Therefore, when another camera needs to be connected to the main monitors, another long cable is needed to be connected between the other camera and the main monitors. This is most inconvenient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a monitor device adapter100includes an enclosure10, an alternating current (AC) power plug20, a monitor interface30, a first conversion circuit40, a second conversion circuit50, a switch unit60, and a voltage conversion circuit200. The AC power plug20is mounted on the enclosure10to be connected to an AC power socket70. The monitor interface30is mounted on the enclosure10to be connected to a main monitor82or a camera80. The switch unit60is connected between the monitor interface30and each of the first and second conversion circuits40and50, to connect either the first conversion circuit40or the second conversion circuit50to the monitor interface30. When the camera80connected to the monitor device adapter100functions as a signal transmission terminal, the switch unit60connects the first conversion circuit40to the monitor interface30. When the main monitor82connected to the monitor device adapter100functions as a signal receiving terminal, the switch unit60connects the second conversion circuit50to the monitor interface30. In the embodiment, the switch unit60is a manual switch.

The first conversion circuit40includes a compression control chip41, a digital to analog (D/A) converter42, a coupler43, and a first AC filter44. The second conversion circuit50includes a decompression control chip51, an analog to digital (A/D) converter52, a decoupler53, and a second AC filter54.

The compression control chip41is connected to the switch unit60. The D/A converter42is connected between the compression control chip41and the coupler43. The coupler43is connected to the AC power plug20through the first AC filter44. The AC power plug20is also connected to the decoupler53through the second AC filter54. The A/D converter52is connected between the decoupler53and the decompression control chip51. The decompression control chip51is connected to the switch unit60.

The voltage conversion circuit200includes a third AC filter210, an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter220, a voltage adjustor230, and a DC filter240. In view of the likelihood of random noise in the commercial AC voltage, the third AC filter210is connected to the AC power plug20to receive the AC voltage, and filters noise from the AC voltage. The AC/DC converter220is connected between the third AC power filter210and the voltage adjustor230, to convert the AC voltage into a DC voltage, and outputs the DC voltage to the voltage adjustor230. The voltage adjustor230adjusts the received DC voltage. In view of the possibility of random noise in the adjusted DC voltage, the DC filter240is connected between the voltage adjustor230and the monitor interface30to filter the noise from the adjusted DC voltage and output the filtered DC voltage to the monitor interface30, to power the camera80or the main monitor82connected to the monitor interface30.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, an example describes a working principle of the monitor device adapter100. A first monitor device adapter101is inserted into a first AC power socket71in a first room300. A second monitor device adapter102is inserted into a second AC power socket72in a second room400. The first AC power socket71is connected to the second AC power socket72through a commercial AC power line90. The first and second monitor device adapters101and102have the same function and structure as the above-mentioned monitor device adapter100. The camera80is connected to the monitor interface30of the first monitor device adapter101in the first room300. The main monitor82is connected to the monitor interface30of the second monitor device adapter102in the second room400.

When the camera80in the first room300functioning as a signal transmission terminal communicates with the main monitor82in the second room400functioning as a signal receiving terminal, the switch unit60of the first monitor device adapter101is switched to connect the first conversion circuit40to the monitor interface30of the first monitor device adapter101, and the switch unit60of the second monitor device adapter102is switched to connect the second conversion circuit50to the monitor interface30of the second monitor device adapter102.

The camera80outputs a digital signal representing data to the monitor interface30of the first monitor device adapter101. The compression control chip41receives the digital signal representing data through the switch unit60, compresses the digital signal representing data into one or more data packets, and outputs the one or more data packets to the D/A converter42. The D/A converter42converts the one or more data packets into an analog form (analog form data) suitable for transmission over an AC voltage which functions as a carrier wave, and outputs the analog form data to the coupler43. The coupler43couples the analog form data to an AC voltage and outputs the AC voltage coupled with the analog form data to the first AC power socket71. The first AC filter44filters any noise from the AC voltage coupled with the analog form data, and outputs the AC voltage coupled with the analog form data to the AC power line90through the AC power plug20and the AC power socket71.

The AC power line90transmits the AC voltage coupled with the analog form data to the second AC filter54through the AC power socket72and the second power plug20in the second room400. The second filter54filters any noise from the AC voltage coupled with the analog form data, and outputs the filtered AC voltage coupled with the analog form data to the decoupler53. The decoupler53decouples and separates the AC voltage coupled with the analog form data into the AC voltage and the analog form data, and outputs the analog form data to the A/D converter52. The A/D converter52converts the analog form data into the one or more data packets, and outputs the one or more data packets to the decompression control chip51of the second monitor device adapter102. The decompression control chip51decompresses the data packet into the digital signals representing data, and outputs the digital signals representing data to the main monitor82through the switch unit60and the monitor interface30in the second room400. Therefore, the first monitor device101in the first room300can communicate directly with the second monitor device102in the second room400through the commercial AC power line90.