JP2001021601A - Electronic equipment and device for diagnosing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic equipment capable of accurately and easily being diagnosed for which of plural equipment breaks down, and capable of efficiently being repaired with respect to the failure, and a device for diagnosing the electronic equipment. SOLUTION: The presence or absence of any failure in each IC chip 12-14 is diagnosed from diagnostic data stored in a memory 21 of electronic equipment 11, and invariable data stored in the memory 21 are compared with invariable data stored in the memory 21 at the time of shipping so that the presence or absence of any failure in the memory 21 can be diagnosed by a computer 31. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of the IC chips 12-14 and the memory 21 breaks down.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus provided with a plurality of devices and a diagnostic device therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In electronic equipment such as a television receiver,
In recent years, since a large number of IC chips are used to realize many functions, even if one of these many IC chips fails and the electronic device does not operate normally,
It is difficult to accurately and easily diagnose which IC chip has failed. For this reason, in a conventional electronic device, each IC chip is sequentially replaced with a new IC chip until the electronic device operates normally.

[0003]

However, the individual IC chips are sequentially replaced with new ICs until the electronic device operates normally.
Since the operation of exchanging a chip is complicated, it has been difficult to efficiently repair a failure in a conventional electronic device.
It is also difficult to accurately and easily diagnose which of the plurality of components has failed, even in a device other than the IC chip. Therefore, the invention of the present application provides an electronic device capable of accurately and easily diagnosing which of a plurality of devices has failed and capable of efficiently repairing the failure, and a diagnostic device therefor. The purpose is.

[0004]

In the electronic device according to the present invention, diagnostic data indicating presence / absence of a failure in at least each of a plurality of devices and invariant data having fixed contents are stored in a storage device. For this reason, the presence or absence of a failure in each of the plurality of devices can be diagnosed from the diagnostic data, and the storage is performed by comparing the invariant data stored in the storage device with the invariable data stored in the storage device at the time of shipment. It is possible to diagnose whether there is a failure in the device. Therefore, even if a plurality of devices and storage devices are provided, it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of them has failed.

In the electronic device according to the second aspect, since the diagnostic data is stored in the storage device by the self-diagnosis, the diagnostic data can be easily stored in the storage device. Therefore, even if a plurality of devices and storage devices are provided, it is possible to more accurately and easily diagnose which of these devices has failed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus diagnostic apparatus comprising:
Diagnose the presence or absence of a failure in each of a plurality of devices from the diagnostic data stored in the storage device of the electronic device, and compare the invariant data stored in the storage device with the invariant data stored in the storage device at the time of shipment. By doing so, the presence or absence of a failure in the storage device is diagnosed. Therefore, even if the electronic device is provided with a plurality of devices and a storage device, it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of them has failed.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment.
A storage device is provided for storing the initial data that includes invariant data and is stored in the storage device when the electronic device is shipped. Therefore, when comparing the invariant data stored in the storage device with the invariant data stored in the storage device at the time of shipment, the invariant data can be easily obtained from the storage device, and the presence or absence of a failure in the storage device of the electronic device can be determined. Diagnosis can be made accurately and easily.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment.
A communication device is provided for inputting, via a line, at least one of diagnostic data and invariant data stored in a storage device of the electronic device and initial data stored in a storage device. Therefore, even if the electronic device or the storage device and the diagnostic device are far apart from each other, the diagnostic data and the invariant data stored in the storage device of the electronic device and the initial data stored in the storage device can be easily read. It is possible to input the information, and it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of the plurality of devices and the storage device in the electronic device has failed.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment.
Since the initial data input from the storage device via the line is stored in the storage device of the electronic device, the storage device that has been diagnosed as a failure and has been replaced can be quickly restored to the state at the time of shipment.

[0010] In the diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment according to claim 7,
Since the storage device that stores the failure data of the plurality of devices and the storage device of the electronic device is provided, statistics of the failure in the plurality of devices and the storage device of the electronic device can be easily obtained.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present invention applied to a television receiver and a diagnostic device therefor will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the first
1 shows an embodiment. The electronic device 11 as a television receiver is provided with IC chips 12 to 14 each of which executes a predetermined function, and is provided via a two-wire bus 17 including a data line 15 and a clock line 16. 12 to 14 are connected to the microcomputer 18. Accordingly, the IC chips 12 to 14 are controlled by the microcomputer 18 via the bus 17.

The microcomputer 18 has an EEPROM
A memory 21 of M is provided, and adjustment data and other data of the electronic device 11 obtained by inspection at the time of shipment are stored in a partial area of the memory 21 at the time of shipment. As the adjustment data, for example, a video IC
There is image distortion adjustment data and brightness adjustment data provided to the control circuit in the chip. On a bus 17 between each of the IC chips 12 to 14 and the microcomputer 18,
Analog switches 22a to 24b are provided. These analog switches 22a to 24b are connected to control lines 25
The microcomputer 18 controls the conduction state and the non-conduction state through.

A computer 3 as a diagnostic device
1, a modem 32 to 34 and a computer 35 are provided, and the computer 35 is provided with a file 36. For example, since the brightness of the image of the television receiver can be adjusted by the user even after shipment, the brightness adjustment data stored in the memory 21 is variable adjustment data whose content is not fixed. On the other hand, the adjustment data for adjustment items that can be adjusted only by the maker but cannot be adjusted by the user at the time of shipment is invariable adjustment data having a fixed content. Then, the initial data including the constant adjustment data and the variable adjustment data and the constant data other than the adjustment data stored in the memory 21 at the time of shipment are accumulated in the file 36.

In the electronic device 11, during normal operation, the microcomputer 18 operates the analog switches 22a to 22a.
Since all of 4b are controlled to be conductive, signals are normally transmitted and received between the microcomputer 18 and the IC chips 12 to 14. However, if the terminal for the data line 15 or the terminal for the clock line 16 is short-circuited to the ground or the power supply in any one of the IC chips 12 to 14, the microcomputer 18 outputs any of the IC chips 12 to 14. The data line 15 or the clock line 16 is maintained at the low logic level or the high logic level even if a signal is transmitted to the
An acknowledgment (ACK) signal is not returned from the C chips 12 to 14 to the microcomputer 18.

For this reason, the microcomputer 18
At this time, it is determined that the terminal for the data line 15 or the terminal for the clock line 16 and the ground or the power supply are short-circuited in any one of the IC chips 12 to 14. Then, the microcomputer 18 once controls all of the analog switches 22a to 24b to be in a non-conductive state, and then controls the analog switches 22a and 22b to be in a conductive state by control via the control lines 25 to 27, and also sets the remaining analog switches to a non-conductive state. The analog switches 23a to 24b are turned off.

The microcomputer 18 has I
The address signal of the C chip 12 and the ACK signal are transmitted to the IC chip 12 via the clock line 16 and the analog switch 22b, and the analog switch 22a and the data line 1 are transmitted.
5 is received from the IC chip 12 via the ACK signal. In this case, if the clock terminal of the IC chip 12 connected to the clock line 16 and the ground or power supply of the IC chip 12 are short-circuited, the clock line 16 is maintained at the low logic level or the high logic level. is there.

For this reason, the microcomputer 18 is connected to the IC via the clock line 16 and the analog switch 22b.
The signal transmitted to the chip 12 and the state of the clock line 16 do not match. As a result, the IC chip 12 cannot receive the ACK signal, and the IC chip 12 receives the ACK signal via the analog switch 22a and the data line 15. Therefore, no ACK signal is returned to the microcomputer 18.

An IC connected to the data line 15
If the data terminal of the chip 12 and the ground or power supply of the IC chip 12 are short-circuited, the data line 15 remains at the low logic level or the high logic level. For this reason, the IC chip 12
a and the microcomputer 18 via the data line 15
Returns an ACK signal to the microcomputer 18
Cannot receive the ACK signal.

Therefore, the microcomputer 18 is connected to the IC via the clock line 16 and the analog switch 22b.
It checks whether the signal transmitted to the chip 12 and the state of the clock line 16 match, or determines whether the ACK signal for the transmission of the address signal and the ACK signal to the IC chip 12 is returned from the IC chip 12. By checking whether or not the clock terminal or the data terminal is short-circuited to the ground or the power supply in the IC chip 12 without being affected by the short-circuit in the IC chips 13 and 14.

If it is determined that a short circuit has occurred in the IC chip 12, the fact is stored in an area of the memory 21 corresponding to the IC chip 12. Then, this time, the analog switch 2 is controlled by the control via the control lines 25 to 27.
With the 3a and 23b conducting and the remaining analog switches 22a, 22b, 24a and 24b in the non-conducting state, a test similar to that described above for the IC chip 12 is performed on the IC chip 13. Further, the inspection is similarly performed on the IC chip 14. That is, in the electronic device 11, the diagnostic data indicating the presence or absence of a short circuit in each of the IC chips 12 to 14 is stored in the memory 21 by self-diagnosis.

If a short circuit occurs in any of the IC chips 12 to 14, the electronic device 11 does not operate normally. In this case, when the user of the electronic device 11 contacts the maker or the dealer, the repair person instructs the electronic device 11 to the computer 31 via the modems 32 and 33 and the telephone line 37.
And the computer 31 is also connected to the computer 35 via the modems 32 and 34 and the telephone line 38. Then, the repair person uses the software installed in the computer 31 to read the IC chip 12 in the memory 21.
By examining the areas corresponding to .about.14, the presence or absence of a short circuit in the IC chips 12 to 14 is diagnosed, and the diagnosis result is displayed on the screen of the computer 31.

On the other hand, the IC chip 1 in the memory 21
Even when the adjustment data stored in the area different from the area indicating the presence / absence of the short circuit in 2 to 14 is destroyed by the failure of the memory 21 itself, the electronic device 11 does not operate normally. For this reason, the repair staff must
The initial data is input from the file 36 through the computer 35, and the invariant data stored in the memory 21 is compared with the invariant data in the initial data. If these invariant data are not equal to each other, the memory 21 fails. Is diagnosed, and the result of the diagnosis is displayed on the screen of the computer 31.

If it is diagnosed that a short circuit has occurred in any of the IC chips 12 to 14, the IC chips 12 to 14 are replaced. Exchange, and file 3
6 is copied to the exchanged memory 21. When the replacement of the failed part or the like is completed, the microcomputer 18 is made to perform the self-diagnosis again according to an instruction from the computer 31, and
By performing the above-described diagnosis again, it is confirmed whether the replacement of the failed part is appropriate. When the repair is completed in this way, the computer 31 stores failure data such as symptoms of the electronic device 11 and repair history.

As is clear from the above description, the self-diagnosis by the microcomputer 18 and the use of the computer 31, the telephone lines 37 and 38, etc.
Which of the C chips 12 to 14 and the memory 21 has failed can be diagnosed accurately and easily, and such accurate and simple diagnosis and the computer 31 and the telephone line 37 can be performed.
38 can be replaced accurately and easily by copying the initial data by using the system 38 or the like.
1 or the use of the telephone lines 37, 38, etc., it is possible to easily confirm the suitability of replacement of the failed part.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment. The second embodiment is an embodiment in which a repair person brings the computer 31 to a place where the electronic device 11 is installed. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, the computer 31 is directly connected to the microcomputer 18 and the modem 33 and the telephone line 37 are not used, and instead, a modem 41 and a computer 42 are provided, Modem 3
It has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the computer 31 is also connected to the computer 42 via the telephone lines 2 and 41 and the telephone line 43.

In the second embodiment, failure data such as symptoms and repair history of the electronic device 11 is stored in the computer 42 in addition to the computer 31. Note that the modem 41 and the computer 42 may be provided in the first embodiment, and if the computer 35 stores failure data such as symptoms and repair history of the electronic device 11, the modem 41 and the computer 42 Is not required in the second embodiment.

In the electronic equipment 11 of the first and second embodiments, the two-wire bus 17 is used.
A line bus may be used. In the electronic device 11 of the first and second embodiments described above, the analog switches 22a to 24b are provided on the bus 17;
A switch other than the analog switches 22a to 24b may be used as long as the switches can individually make the C chips 12 to 14 and the microcomputer 18 conductive and non-conductive.

In the first and second embodiments, the IC chip 12 of the electronic device 11 as a television receiver is used.
Although only the case where a short circuit has occurred in the IC chips 12 to 14 has been described, a case in which a failure other than a short circuit has occurred in the IC chips 12 to 14 or a malfunction has occurred in a device other than the IC chips 12 to 14 or the memory 21 The invention of the present application can also be applied to a case where a failure occurs in an electronic device other than the television receiver.

[0029]

According to the electronic apparatus of the first aspect, even if a plurality of devices and storage devices are provided, it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of them is faulty, and therefore, it is possible to diagnose the fault. It can be repaired efficiently.

In the electronic device according to the second aspect, even if a plurality of devices and storage devices are provided, it is possible to more accurately and easily diagnose which of them has failed. It can be repaired efficiently.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus diagnostic apparatus.
Even if the electronic device is provided with a plurality of devices and storage devices, it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of them has failed, so that the failure of the electronic device can be efficiently repaired. .

In the diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment according to claim 4,
Since the presence or absence of a failure in the storage device of the electronic device can be accurately and easily diagnosed, the failure of the storage device of the electronic device can be efficiently repaired.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment.
Even if the electronic device or the storage device and the diagnostic device are far apart from each other, it is possible to accurately and easily diagnose which of the plurality of devices and the storage device in the electronic device has failed. Equipment failures can be repaired efficiently.

In the diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment according to claim 6,
Since the storage device that has been diagnosed as a failure and has been replaced can be quickly restored to the state at the time of shipment, the failure of the storage device of the electronic device can be repaired more efficiently.

In the diagnostic apparatus for electronic equipment according to claim 7,
Since statistics of failures in a plurality of devices and storage devices of the electronic device can be easily obtained, these statistics and the like can be fed back to the design and manufacture of the electronic device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Electronic equipment, 12-14 ... IC chip (a plurality of devices), 21 ... Memory (storage device), 31 ... Computer (diagnosis device), 32-34 ... Modem (communication device), 35
... computers (storage devices), 37, 38 ... telephone lines (lines), 42 ... computers (storage devices)

Claims (7)

[Claims] A plurality of devices and a storage device are provided, and at least diagnostic data indicating presence / absence of a failure in each of the plurality of devices and invariant data having fixed contents are stored in the storage device. Electronics. 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic data is stored in the storage device by a self-diagnosis. 3. A plurality of devices and a storage device are provided, and at least diagnostic data indicating presence / absence of a failure in each of the plurality of devices and invariant data having fixed contents are stored in the storage device. A diagnostic device for an electronic device, wherein the diagnostic data is used to diagnose the presence or absence of a failure in each of the plurality of devices, and the invariable data stored in the storage device and stored in the storage device when the electronic device is shipped. A diagnostic device for an electronic device that diagnoses the presence or absence of a failure in the storage device by comparing the stored data with the invariable data. 4. The diagnostic device for an electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a storage device that stores the initial data that includes the invariable data and is stored in the storage device at the time of shipment. 5. A communication device for inputting, via a line, at least one of the diagnostic data and the invariable data stored in the storage device and the initial data stored in the storage device. The diagnostic device for an electronic device according to claim 4, wherein 6. The diagnostic apparatus for an electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the initial data input via the line is stored in the storage device. 7. The diagnostic apparatus for an electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a storage device that stores failure data of the plurality of devices and the storage device.