FR2885239A1 - Multi-channel connector interface forming case for connecting data acquisition modules to data processing unit e.g. microcomputer, has acquisition module`s heel rest with adhesion lug part to cooperate with complementary portion of module - Google Patents

Abstract

The case has a base (11), a cover (12) and several multipin connectors (15-18) provided on its lateral edge to receive complementary connectors of a data acquisition module (14). A heel rest of the module, at level of each connector (15), extends from the base and includes an adhesion lug part for cooperating with a corresponding complementary portion of the module to detachably lock the module in position with respect to the case.

Description

The present invention relates to a box forming a connection interface

multiway.

  Such boxes are well known in the state of the art and are intended to allow the connection of different information acquisition modules to an information processing unit such as for example a microcomputer.

  Such housings have, for example, on their upper face banana bushes and on their lateral side multi-pin connectors, for example of the SUB-D type, which make it possible to connect different types of information acquisition modules.

  Such boxes are used in particular in the educational field to ensure the acquisition of multiple information in computer-assisted experiments for example.

  But other applications of this type of housing are also known.

  Such a housing can then connect to a microcomputer, a wide variety of information acquisition means which are used for example in computer-assisted experiments in electricity, physics, chemistry or in biology.

  The object of the invention is to propose improvements to this type of housing which make it easier to use, handle and store and to improve performance.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a multi-port connection interface housing comprising a base and a cover and a plurality of multi-pin connectors provided on its lateral edge and intended to receive complementary connectors of information acquisition modules, characterized in that what it comprises at each connector of the housing, a support heel of the corresponding information acquisition module, extending from the base of the housing and having at least one portion adapted relief hooking to cooperate with a corresponding complementary portion of the module, to block this module removably in position relative to the housing.

  According to other characteristics: the housing comprises, at least on its lateral edge, protruding parts on either side of each connector, for delimiting with the corresponding heels of the base, cells for receiving the modules; acquisition of information; - The receiving cells of the modules and therefore the corresponding connectors of the housing, are each provided on one side of the housing which has a polygonal section; the upper and lower faces of the housing comprise complementary means for centering and holding the housings in position on each other, to facilitate their stacking; the upper face of the housing comprises ribs delimiting functional zones thereof; it comprises at least one differential digital-to-analog converter whose inputs are each connected to at least one connection element provided on the upper face of the housing and to means for grounding the corresponding input of the converter and of isolating the corresponding connecting member, the operation of which is controlled by control means, in order to allow operation of the differential mode converter from its two inputs or in simple mode from one of its inputs; it comprises at least two analog / digital differential converters associated in a cell and two-way connection members and multi-pin connectors, connected between the corresponding inputs of these two converters in an inverted manner, the channels of one of the connectors being connected to one of the inputs of the converters and the channels of the other connector being connected to the other of the inputs of the converters, but inverted; it comprises several cells of two converters; a two-color light-emitting diode is associated with each connecting lead and with means for controlling their operation, to indicate: that the corresponding connection member is available and that the corresponding converter is operating at maximum speed, for a the first ignition color of the diode, - that the corresponding connection member is available and that the corresponding converter operates at a reduced speed, for a second diode ignition color, - that the corresponding connection member n ' is not available because the corresponding converter is not available, for an extinction of the diode; and - it is connected to an information processing unit through a USB2 connection.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a block diagram illustrating the connection of a state-of-the-art multi-way connection interface box, between different information acquisition modules and a microcomputer-type information processing unit, - Fig.2 represents a top view of a interface housing according to the invention associated with an information acquisition module, - Fig.3 shows a side view of an interface housing according to the invention, illustrating a receiving cell of a module of acquisition of information, - Fig.4 shows a bottom view of a part of a housing and such an information acquisition module, - Fig.5 illustrates the stacking of such housings, - the Fig.6 shows a block diagram illustrating the connection 25 of banana sockets and an analog / digital converter used in the constitution of a housing according to the invention, and - 7 represents a block diagram of a cell of analog / digital converters forming part of the constitution of a housing according to the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the connection of a multichannel connection interface box between information acquisition modules and an information processing unit constituted for example by a microcomputer. .

  In this figure, the microcomputer is designated by the general reference 1 and is connected by any link designated by the general reference 2 to the multichannel connection interface box designated by the general reference 3.

  This comprises for example on its upper surface banana bushes of conventional type, one of which is designated by the general reference 4 in this figure and on its lateral edge, multi-spindle connectors also of conventional type, one of which is, for example designated by the general reference 5, these connectors being for example constituted by connectors of type SUB-D.

  These connectors are then adapted to receive complementary connectors of information acquisition modules, one of which is designated by the general reference 6.

  As indicated above, information acquisition modules of different types can be connected to these connectors and thus to the housing.

  As already indicated above, the object of the invention is to propose improvements to this type of housing.

  Improvements can indeed be made to this type of housing both from an ergonomic point of view for ease of handling, use and storage than electronically to improve performance.

  Thus, for example, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show an exemplary embodiment of an interface housing according to the invention.

  This housing is designated by the general reference 10 in these figures and comprises for example a base and a cover fixed to one another in a conventional manner.

  The base is designated by the general reference 11 and the cover is designated by the general reference 12. An electronic circuit is located in this housing.

  This housing has as illustrated, a polygonal section for example with seven sides, at least some sides such as for example the side 13, are adapted to receive information acquisition modules, one of which is designated by the general reference 14.

  The housing may in fact have a polygonal section, some of whose sides, for example, four in number, forming information input channels, comprise a connector of the type for example SUB-D, ie a multi-pin connector intended for receive a complementary connector of an information acquisition module.

  These connectors are for example designated by the general references 15, 16, 17 and 18 in FIG.

  In fact, these connectors may be each provided in a cell respectively 19, 20, 21 and 22, each formed in a corresponding side of the housing.

  In fact, these cells are for example defined by protruding portions of the housing and more particularly of its lateral edge.

  For example, the lateral edge of the housing described has seven parts projecting laterally, respectively 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 delimiting receiving cells including corresponding information acquisition modules, but also other equipment, organs or connectors.

  In fact, the upper face of the housing may also include radial ribs such as for example the ribs 30 and 31, defining functional areas of the housing.

  Indeed, these ribs may for example delimit a functional zone 32 located on one side of these ribs and a functional zone 33 located on the other side of these ribs.

  The functional zone 33 corresponds in fact to an information input functional zone, for example from multi-pin connectors or still banana bushings, one of which is for example designated by the general reference 34 in this figure, these banana bushings being provided on the upper face of the housing in this functional zone 33 of the upper face of the housing.

  Each banana socket is also associated with a two-color light-emitting diode, one of which is designated by the general reference 35 and is associated with the socket 34 and the operation of which will be described in more detail below.

  Of course, connection members other than banana sockets may be provided on the upper face of the housing, such as a terminal block, etc.

  The functional zone 32 can in turn group other functions of the box, such as, for example, data output, power supply or other.

  It is then conceivable that the particular structure of this housing and in particular its shape, facilitates the handling of the housing and the connection of the information acquisition modules on the corresponding connectors thereof.

  In addition, and as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing comprises, at the level of the cells, hooking means adapted to cooperate with complementary coupling means of the modules for blocking these modules in a detachable manner in position relative to each other. to the case.

  For example, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the housing 10, which therefore comprises the base 11 and the cover 12.

  Also illustrated in these figures, in more detail, a cell for example the cell 19, defined between the projecting portions 23 and 24 of the side edge of the housing.

  The corresponding connector 15 is also illustrated.

  It can then be seen from these figures that the housing 10 has at each connector and therefore each cell a support bead of the corresponding information acquisition module, this bead being designated by the general reference 40 on these figures, extending from the base 11 of the housing and comprising at least one hooked relief portion designated by the general reference 41 in these figures, adapted to cooperate with a corresponding complementary portion of the module for example 14 for lock it in position on the housing.

  This is for example illustrated in Figure 4 where it is seen that the module for example 14 is locked in position relative to the housing 10 through the heel 40 of the base and more particularly to the raised part attachment 41 of the latter, which is then adapted to engage in a corresponding complementary portion, for example recessed, designated by the general reference 42, of the module 14.

  This support bead of the module then delimits with the lateral projecting portions 23 and 24 of the housing, the cell 19 for receiving the acquisition module 14.

  It is then conceivable that this improves the reliability of the attachment of the modules on the housing, which also makes reliable connection of connectors module and housing.

  Similarly and as can be seen more particularly in FIG. 5, the upper and lower faces of the housing may also comprise complementary means for centering and holding the housings in position on one another to facilitate, for example, their stacking.

  For example, in FIG. 5, a stack of three housings designated by the general references 51, 52 and 53 is illustrated.

  In more detail, it can be seen that the upper and lower faces respectively 54 and 55 of the housing 52 for example, that is to say the cover and the base respectively thereof comprise at their central portions, complementary means 56 and 57 for centering and holding in position which are for example in the form of raised parts and complementary recesses, for example semispherical, which can fit into each other, which allows to maintain these housings in position and thus to facilitate their storage and stacking in particular.

  Of course, different possible embodiments of these different means can be envisaged.

  In the exemplary embodiment that has been described, the functional zone 33 of the housing comprises, for example, four receiving cells of four corresponding information acquisition modules, adapted to be connected to connectors of the SUB-D type and bushings. bananas distributed in pairs and each associated with such a connector, to form the information input channels.

  It goes without saying of course that a different number of connectors and sockets can be considered.

  Banana ground sockets are also provided on the upper face of the housing.

  FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of the connection of the banana sockets of the information input channels of the box.

  In fact, such a multichannel connection interface box also comprises at least one differential analog / digital converter which is designated by the general reference 60 in this FIG.

  The inputs of this converter 60 are each connected to at least one banana socket provided on the upper face of the housing, these banana bushings being for example designated by the general references 61 and 62 in this figure and forming a pair of sockets associated with a channel input.

  Switching means are provided between the sockets 61 and 62 and the corresponding inputs of the analog / digital differential converter 60.

  These switching means are for example designated by the general references 63 and 64 in this Figure 6 and are for example constituted by controlled semiconductor switching devices. In fact, these means constitute means for grounding the corresponding input of the converter 60 and the isolation of the corresponding banana bushing 61, 62, the operation of which is controlled by control means designated by the general reference 65 in this figure, to allow operation of the converter 60 in differential mode from its two inputs or in single mode from one of its inputs.

  The control means 65 are for example constituted by any control unit ensuring the management of the operation of the various electronic components of the housing, that is to say in fact in particular the analog / differential digital converters, but also light emitting diodes , for example 66 and 67, associated with these banana bushes, etc.

  The operation of these diodes will be described in more detail later.

  It will then be understood that in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, the banana sockets 61 and 62 are connected to the inputs of the analog / digital differential converter 60 and that the latter can then operate in differential mode from its two inputs.

  If one of the switching means, that is to say the means 63 or the means 64 are switched in the other position, the corresponding input of the converter 60 is then grounded and the corresponding banana socket is isolated.

  The analog-to-digital converter 60 can then operate in single mode from the other input, i.e. actually from the other banana socket.

  Switching the switching means allows the converter to switch from one of its inputs to another.

  A control of the corresponding diode by the control means 65 then allows for example to indicate the availability of the bushing and the operating mode and in particular the acquisition speed of the converter.

  In fact, and as indicated above, the housing according to the invention may for example comprise four input channels each associated with an analog / digital differential converter as described above.

  It is then conceived as illustrated in FIG. 7 that at least two differential analog / digital converters can be associated in a cell. These converters are then connected to banana sockets and multi-pin connectors, for example two-way.

  In this FIG. 7, the associated analog / differential digital converters are designated by the general references 71 and 72.

  Banana bushes respectively 73, 74 and 75, 76 are also associated respectively with the converters 72 and 71.

  Switching means as previously described designated by the general references 77, 78, 79 and 80 are also provided between these banana sockets and the corresponding inputs of the analog / differential digital converters, these switching members being controlled by designated control means. by the general reference 81.

  Light-emitting diodes designated by the general references 82, 83, 84 and 85 are also associated respectively with the sockets 73, 74, 76 and 75.

  In addition, two-way multi-pin connectors such as connectors 86 and 87 are also connected to the converters.

  In fact, it is known that the connectors used in this type of application, may for example be multi-pin connectors with two input channels.

  These inputs of the connectors are also then connected to inputs of the converters of the cell.

  For example, the connector 87 has an input 1 connected to an input of the analog / digital converter 72 through the switching means 78 and an input 2 connected to an input of the analog / digital converter 71 through the switching means 79.

  The inputs of the multi-pin connector 86 are also connected to the other inputs of these analog / digital converters 72 and 71.

  However, these inputs of this connector 86, that is to say the inputs 1 and 2 of this connector 86, are connected in reverse to the corresponding inputs of the converters 71 and 72.

  Thus, for example, the input 1 of the connector 86 is connected to the corresponding input of the analog / digital converter 71 through the switching means 80, while the input 2 of the latter is connected to the corresponding input of the analog / digital converter 72 through the switching means 77.

  This allows for example when single-channel acquisition means are used, to direct the information from them to different analog / digital converters to enable them to operate at maximum acquisition speed.

  Indeed, if for example an analog / digital converter is used in switching between its inputs, it is conceivable that its information acquisition speed is reduced because it switches between its two inputs to achieve this acquisition.

  The control of this operation is of course ensured by the control means 81.

  Furthermore, these means are also adapted to control the switching on / off of light emitting diodes 81 to 85, as well as the ignition color thereof.

  For example, two-color light-emitting diodes may be associated with the various banana sockets of the upper face of the housing, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the control means for their operation may be adapted to indicate that the socket corresponding banana is available and that the corresponding converter operates at maximum speed, for a first diode ignition color, that the corresponding banana socket is available and that the corresponding converter operates at a reduced speed, that is to say in switching between its inputs, for a second color diode ignition, and finally that the corresponding banana socket is not available because the corresponding converter is not available, for a diode extinction.

  This then allows an operator or user to directly view the state of these bushings and possibly modify a connection.

  It goes without saying of course that other embodiments can be envisaged.

  Of course, several cells such as that illustrated in FIG. 7 may be arranged in the housing, depending on the number of information input channels provided.

  The housing can for example be connected through a USB connection such as a USB2 connection to the experience management microcomputer for the control of this housing and retrieval of information conventionally from the converters.

  It is conceivable that such a housing has a number of advantages including its ease of use and handling.

  The particular distribution of the connectors on the side edge of this housing makes it easier to access and therefore connect the acquisition modules.

  The use of the attachment means of the information acquisition modules in the cells of this housing, also improves the safety of the connection by avoiding any accidental release of the modules.

  Moreover, these housings can also be stacked on top of each other, which makes it easier to store them.

  In addition, the particular connection structure of the various connectors, connectors, converters and switching elements also makes it possible to improve the performance of the housing.

  Indeed, this structure makes it possible to solve the performance reduction problems related to the use, for example, of input multiplexing means, as in the packages of the state of the art.

  Indeed, the switching of an input as implemented in the housing according to the invention is very much faster than the establishment time of a multiplexer.

  In addition, this housing provides a clear technical improvement in terms of measurement quality, since it has a gain in noise and common mode differential rejection.

  This housing is also cheaper to achieve insofar as it uses fewer components than the corresponding boxes of the state of the art.

  Similarly, the analog / digital converters integrated in the housing can be operated in differential mode or in simple mode, for example in switched mode between their inputs.

  This makes it possible to optimize the acquisition speed.

  Finally, the use of two-color light-emitting diodes controlled according to the availability of the sockets and the speed for example of acquisition of a converter also makes it possible to indicate to the operators or users, in a very simple way, the state of the sockets.

  Of course, other embodiments may be envisaged.

  For example, the use of banana bushings on the upper face of the housing has been described, but as indicated previously, other connection elements such as for example a terminal block or other types of connectors may well be heard to be considered.

Claims (10)

  A multichannel connection interface housing comprising a base (11) and a cover (12) and a plurality of multi-pin connectors (15, 16, 17, 18) provided on its lateral edge and intended to receive connectors of complementary modules acquisition of information (14), characterized in that it comprises at each connector (15) of the housing, a support bead (40) of the corresponding information acquisition module (14), extending from the base (11) of the housing and comprising at least one raised hooking portion (41) adapted to cooperate with a corresponding complementary portion (42) of the module (14), to block this module (14) demountably in position relative to the housing (10).   Housing according to Claim 1, characterized in that the housing (10) has, at least on its lateral edge, protruding parts (23 to 27) on each side of each connector (15 to 18), for defining with the corresponding heels (40) of the base (11), cells (19 to 22) for receiving the information acquisition modules (14).   3. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the cells (19 to 22) for receiving the modules and therefore the corresponding connectors (15 to 18) of the housing (10) are each provided on one side of the housing (10). which has a polygonal section.   4. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper and lower faces (54, 55) of the housing (52) comprise complementary means (56, 57) for centering and holding in position the housings on top of each other, to make stacking easier.   5. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper face of the housing comprises ribs (30, 31) defining functional areas (32, 33) thereof.   6. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one analog / digital differential converter (60; 71, 72) whose inputs are each connected to at least one connection member (61, 62, 73, 74, 75, 76) provided on the upper face of the housing (10) and means (63, 64; 77, 78, 79, 80) for grounding the corresponding input of the converter and isolating the corresponding connecting member, the operation of which is controlled by control means (65; 81), in order to allow operation of the differential mode converter from its two inputs or in simple from one of his entries.   7. Housing according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least two analog / differential digital converters (71, 72) associating cell and connection members (73 to 76) and multi-pin connectors ( 86, 87), connected between the corresponding inputs of these two converters in an inverted manner, the channels of one of the connectors being connected to one of the inputs of the converters and the channels of the other connector being connected to the other of the inputs of the converters, but inverted.   8. Housing according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises several cells of two converters (71, 72).   9. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a two-color light emitting diode (82 to 85) is associated with each connection member (73 to 76) and control means (81) of their operation. , to indicate: - that the corresponding connection member is available and that the corresponding converter is operating at maximum speed, for a first diode ignition color, - that the corresponding connection member is available and that the corresponding converter operates at a reduced speed, for a second ignition coil of the diode, and - that the corresponding connection member is not available because the corresponding converter is not available, for a diode extinction.   10. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is connected to an information processing unit through a USB2 connection.