JP2001043178A - Switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a switching device capable of easily and inexpensively constructing a system comprising plural personal computers(PC) by providing a hub selector for connecting plural first universal serial bus(USB) hubs so as to be switched to third USB hubs. SOLUTION: This switching device 10 is constituted so that one set of monitor 30 and a peripheral equipment group 40 dealing with USB can be switched to n pieces of PC 20-1 to 20-n. A hub selector 17 is operated while being linked with a monitor selector 12 and has contacts 17-1 to 17-n respectively connected to HUBs 15-1 to 15-n and a common contact 170 connected to a HUB 18. By selectively connecting the common contact 170 to the contacts 17-1 to 17-n, PC 20-1 to 20-n connected to the peripheral equipment group 40 are switched. Thus, the system can easily and inexpensively be constructed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switching device for switchably connecting a USB-compatible peripheral device to a plurality of personal computers each having a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal. The present invention relates to a switching device which enables data exchange and sharing of various devices between the plurality of personal computers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a conventional personal computer system, one monitor is connected to one personal computer, and a keyboard,
It is common to connect peripheral devices such as a mouse in a one-to-one correspondence.

For this reason, when a plurality of personal computers are provided, a peripheral device group such as a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. is required for each personal computer. In order to exchange data, each personal computer must be connected to a LAN (Local AreaNe).
A work board is mounted, and a plurality of personal computers are mutually connected via the LAN board and a LAN hub (LAN-HUB).

[0004]

However, in a configuration in which a monitor and a peripheral device group such as a keyboard and a mouse are respectively connected to a plurality of personal computers, the cost of the entire system is increased, and a specific operator is required. Considering the environment for operating the plurality of personal computers, there is also a problem in operability.

When it is necessary to exchange data and supply various devices between the plurality of personal computers, an L
It is necessary to mount an AN board, and a LA for connecting these plural personal computers to a LAN.
Since an N-HUB is required, the price of the system cannot be denied from this point.

Recently, a personal computer has been provided with a mouse, keyboard, printer, modem, speaker,
USB (Universal) is used as an interface specification for connecting computer peripheral devices such as joystick.
rsal Serial Bus) has been proposed.

[0007] When this USB is adopted, up to 127 peripheral devices can be connected in a star configuration by simply providing one USB connector (USB terminal) in a personal computer.

Therefore, the present invention provides a keyboard and a personal computer for a plurality of personal computers having a USB terminal.
A set of USB-compatible peripheral devices such as a mouse can be connected in a switchable manner, and a plurality of personal computers can exchange data and share various devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switching device capable of easily and inexpensively constructing a system including a computer.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a switching device for switchably connecting a peripheral device compatible with a universal serial bus to a plurality of personal computers each having a universal serial bus terminal. , A plurality of first universal serial bus hubs respectively connected to the universal serial bus terminals of the personal computer, and a second universal serial bus hub interconnecting the first universal serial bus hubs are provided. A third universal serial bus hub connected to the peripheral device; and a hub selector switchably connecting the plurality of first universal serial bus hubs to the third universal serial bus hub. Providing a door.

In the above configuration, a monitor selector for switching a monitor output terminal of the personal computer to the monitor in connection with the hub selector may be further provided.

The above switching device can be built in a monitor, and can be incorporated in a turntable of the monitor or the like.

According to such a configuration, a system can be constructed only by providing a set of USB-compatible peripheral devices such as a keyboard and a mouse for a plurality of personal computers. HUB
It is possible to exchange data and to share various devices between a plurality of personal computers without using any other means, and to construct a system excellent in operability including a plurality of personal computers easily and at low cost.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the switching device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a switching device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a switching device 10 according to this embodiment includes n personal computers (PCs) 20-.
1, 20-2, 20-3,..., 20-n, 1
Monitors 30, keyboard 40-1, mouse 40
-2, USB peripheral device group 4 including printer 40-3
0 is switchably connected.

Here, the personal computer 20-1
20-n are monitor output terminals (RGB terminals)
21-1, 21-2, 21-3,... 20-n and USB terminals 22-1, 22-2, 22-3,.
-N.

The switching device 10 is connected to the RGB terminals 21-1 to 21-20 of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n.
It has an RGB input port 11 to which −n is connected, a monitor selector 12, and an RGB output terminal 13 to which the monitor 30 is connected.

Here, the RGB input port 11 is connected to the RGB terminals 2 of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n.
Port 11- to which 1-1 to 20-n are connected respectively
1, 11-2, 11-3,... 11-n, and the RGB output port 13 has a port 130 to which a monitor is connected.

The monitor selector 12 includes contacts 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-n to which the ports 11-1 to 11-n of the RGB input port 11 are connected, respectively, and the RGB output port 13. A common contact 120 to which the port 130 is connected;
Personal computers 20-1 to 20 connected to the monitor 30 by being selectively connected to 2-1 to 12-n
−n is switched.

The switching device 10 is connected to USB terminals 22-1 to 22 of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n.
-N is connected to the USB port 14 and the USB hub (first
Universal Serial Bus Hub, hereafter simply HUB
15-1, 15-2, 15-3, ... 15-
n, USB hub (second universal serial bus hub, hereinafter simply referred to as HUB) 16, hub selector 1
7, USB hub (third universal serial bus hub, hereinafter simply referred to as HUB) 18, keyboard 40-
1, a USB port 19 to which a USB compatible peripheral device group 40 including a mouse 40-2 and a printer 40-3 is connected.

Here, the USB port 14 is connected to the USB terminals 22-1 of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n.
To ports 14-1 and 14 to which.
, 14-3,... 14-n, and
15-1 to 15-n have a port 1 of the USB port 14.
4-1 to 14-n are connected respectively, and the HU
They are interconnected via B16.

The USB port 19 is connected to a keyboard 40-1, a mouse 40-2,
Ports 19-1 and 19 to which the printer 40-3 and the like are connected
2, 19-3, and 19-m, and the ports 19-1 to 19-m of the USB port 19 are connected to the hub 18.

The hub selector 17 operates in conjunction with the above-described monitor selector 12, and operates as a hub 15.
-1 to 17-n, which are respectively connected to 15-n
7-2, 17-3,..., 17-n and a common contact 170 connected to the HUB 18.
By selectively connecting 0 to the contacts 17-1 to 17-n, the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n connected to the USB peripheral device group 40 are switched.

In the above configuration, assuming that the monitor selector 12 and the hub selector 17 are switched to select the personal computer 20-1 as shown in FIG.
The BG terminal 21-1 is a port 1 of the RGB input port 11.
1-1, a contact 12-1 of the monitor selector 12, a common contact 120, and a port 130 of the RGB output terminal 13 are connected to the monitor 30.

As a result, an image corresponding to the image signal output from the RGB terminal 21-1 of the personal computer 20-1 is displayed on the monitor 30.

The USB terminal 22-1 of the personal computer 20-1 is connected to the port 14 of the USB port 14.
-1, HUB 15-1, contact 17- of hub selector 17
1 and common contact 170, HUB18, USB port 1
9 is connected to the USB peripheral device group 40.

As a result, the keyboard 40-1 and the mouse 40-2 included in the USB peripheral device group 40 enable
An input operation to the personal computer 20-1 becomes possible, and the printer 40-3 can be driven based on print data from the personal computer 20-1.

In this state, the USB terminal 22-1 of the personal computer 20-1 is connected to the USB port 14
Ports 14-1, HUB15-1, HUB16, HU
B15-2, the USB terminal 22- of the personal computer 20-2 via the port 14-2 of the USB port 14.
2 and the port 14- of the USB port 14
1, HUB15-1, HUB16, HUB15-3, U
Connected to the USB terminal 22-3 of the personal computer 20-3 via the port 14-3 of the SB port 14,
Also, the port 14-1 of the USB port 14 and the HUB 15
-1, HUB16, HUB15-n, USB port 14
Personal computer 20 through port 14-n of
The personal computer 20-1 can exchange data with the personal computers 20-2 to 20-n because the personal computer 20-1 is connected to the USB terminal 22-n of the personal computer 20-n.
Various devices connected to -1 to 20-n can also be shared.

In the above description, the monitor selector 12 and the hub selector 17 are, as shown in FIG.
A case has been described in which the personal computer 20-1 is switched to be selected. However, when the monitor selector 12 and the hub selector 17 select the personal computers 20-2 to 20-n, the selected personal computer RG of 20-2 to 20-n
Images corresponding to the image signals output from the B terminals 21-2 to 21-n can be displayed on the monitor 30, and
Keyboard 40-included in USB compatible peripheral device group 40-
1. The mouse 40-2 enables input operations to the selected personal computers 20-2 to 20-n.
The printer 40-3 can be driven based on the print data from the printer 20-n.
Data can be exchanged between 0-1 to 20-n, and various devices connected to the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n can be shared.

As described above, the switching device 10 of this embodiment includes a plurality of personal computers 20-1 to 20
And a plurality of HUBs 15-1 to 15-n respectively connected to the USB terminals 22-1 to 22-n of the HUB 15-n.
HUB 16 that interconnects 1 to 15-n, HUB 18 that is connected to peripheral device group 40, and HUB 15-1 to 1
5-n to the HUB 16 so as to be switchably connected thereto, and monitor the RBG terminals of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n in conjunction with the hub selector 17.
Since the monitor selector 12 is provided so as to be switchably connected to 0, a system including a plurality of personal computers 20-1 to 20-n can be provided simply by providing one monitor 30 and a group of peripheral devices 40. It is possible to construct a plurality of personal computers 20-1 to 20-2 without using a LAN board and a LAN-HUB.
Data can be exchanged between 0-n and various devices connected to the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n can be shared.

The switching device 10 shown in the above embodiment can be built in the monitor 30, for example, or can be built in a turntable (not shown) of the monitor 30.

In the above embodiment, the switching of the personal computer connected to the monitor 30 is performed in the switching device 10. However, the switching of the personal computer to the monitor 30 from the switching device 10 is performed by a circuit. May be removed, and a monitor switching circuit having a configuration different from that of the switching device 10 may be provided.

The personal computers 20-1 to 20-1
The monitor 30 is connected only to a specific one of the personal computers 20-n, for example, the personal computer 20-1.
The image data from another personal computer may be displayed on the monitor 30 by using the sharing function of various devices connected to 20-n.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the switching device according to the present invention.

The switching device 100 according to this embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG.
The switching of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n from the switching device 10 to the monitor 30 shown in FIG.

In this configuration, switching of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n with respect to the monitor 30 is performed by the RG of the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n.
This is performed by the monitor selector 50 directly connected to the B terminal. The other configuration is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

Also in this configuration, a system including a plurality of personal computers 20-1 to 20-n can be constructed only by providing one monitor 30 and a group of peripheral devices 40. LAN-HU
B without using a plurality of personal computers 20
It is possible to exchange data among the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n and to share various devices connected to the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of a system constructed using the switching device 100 shown in FIG.

That is, in the system constructed using the switching device 100 shown in FIG. 2, as described above,
Various devices connected to the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n can be shared.

Therefore, in the system shown in FIG.
By utilizing the function of sharing various devices connected to the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n, the personal computers 20-1 to 20-n are used.
The monitor 30 is connected only to a specific personal computer 20-1 of the other personal computers 2-1.
0-2 to 20-n share the monitor 30 connected to the personal computer 20-1 using the above function.

In such a configuration, a system including a plurality of personal computers 20-1 to 20-n can be constructed only by providing one monitor 30 and a group of peripheral devices 40. Board, LAN
-Data can be exchanged among the plurality of personal computers 20-1 to 20-n without using a HUB, and each personal computer 20-1 to 20-n can be exchanged.
Devices can be shared.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A switching device for switchably connecting peripheral devices compatible with a universal serial bus to a plurality of personal computers each having a universal serial bus terminal, wherein a plurality of first universals respectively connected to the universal serial bus terminals of the personal computer A serial bus hub, a second universal serial bus hub interconnecting the first universal serial bus hub, a third universal serial bus hub connected to the peripheral device, And a hub selector for switchably connecting the first universal serial bus hub to the third universal serial hub. Board, a pair of USB, such as a mouse,
A system can be constructed simply by providing a corresponding peripheral device group. Further, data exchange and various devices can be shared between a plurality of personal computers without using a LAN board, a LAN-HUB, or the like. There is an effect that a system excellent in operability including a personal computer can be easily and inexpensively constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the switching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of a system constructed using the switching device shown in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 100 Switching device 11 RGB input port 12 Monitor selector 13 RGB output terminal 14 USB port 15-1 to 15-n USB hub (first universal serial bus hub) 16 USB hub (second universal serial bus hub) 17 Hub selector 18 USB hub (third universal serial bus hub) 19 USB ports 20-1 to 20-n Personal computer (P
C) 30 monitors 40 Peripheral device group for USB 40-1 Keyboard 40-2 Mouse 40-3 Printer 50 Monitor selector

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A switching device for switchably connecting a peripheral device compatible with a universal serial bus to a plurality of personal computers each having a universal serial bus terminal, wherein the plurality of personal computers are respectively connected to a universal serial bus terminal of the personal computer. A first universal serial bus hub, a second universal serial bus hub interconnecting the first universal serial bus hub, a third universal serial bus hub connected to the peripheral device, A switching device for switching the first universal serial bus hub to the third universal serial bus hub. 2. A switching device for switchably connecting a peripheral device and a monitor compatible with a universal serial bus to a plurality of personal computers each having a universal serial bus terminal and a monitor output terminal. A plurality of first universal serial bus hubs respectively connected to the first universal serial bus hub; a second universal serial bus hub interconnecting the first universal serial bus hubs; and a third universal serial bus connected to the peripheral device. A bus hub; a hub selector switchably connecting the plurality of first universal serial bus hubs to the third universal serial bus hub; and a personal computer linked with the hub selector. Switching device of the monitor output terminal of the computer, characterized by comprising, a monitor selector for connecting to be switched to the monitor.