JP2002168915A - Connection structure of inspection equipment to electronic unit and method of inspecting electronic unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an electronic unit inspected by information communication, even when an input and output circuit for the information communication is not connected to a connector for external connection of the electronic unit, or when the input and output circuit for the information communication is not provided in the electronic unit. SOLUTION: In this connection structure for the inspection equipment and the electronic unit, a probe 37 of the inspection equipment 31 is brought into contact with a pad part 27 provided in a circuit board 25 of the electronic unit 21 to be connected, a communication signal is directly transferred between the probe 37 and a terminal (UART port) 23a of a microcomputer 23 through the probe 37, the pad part 27 and a printed wiring 29, so as to conduct inspection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure between an inspection unit and an electronic unit when an electronic unit having a microcomputer is inspected by the inspection unit, and a method of inspecting the electronic unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional connection structure between an inspection machine and an electronic unit. In this connection structure, as shown in FIG. 4, an inspection machine (shipping inspection machine) 5 is connected to the electronic unit 1 via a connector 3 provided on the electronic unit 1.

The electronic unit 1 includes a microcomputer 7 and
At least a variety of input circuits (9, 11, etc.) for receiving external inputs and inputting them to the microcomputer 7, and various output circuits (13, etc.) for receiving outputs of the microcomputer 7 and outputting them to the outside are provided. In the electronic unit 1, an input circuit includes an entry waveform input circuit 9, a communication input circuit 11, and the like, and an output circuit includes a communication output circuit 13 and the like.

The entry waveform input circuit 9 receives an input of an entry waveform (entry signal) for switching the operation mode of the microcomputer 7 between the normal mode and the inspection mode, and gives the input to the microcomputer 7. The communication input circuit 11 receives an input communication signal and supplies the communication signal to the microcomputer 7. The communication output circuit 13 receives a communication signal output by the microcomputer 7 and outputs the communication signal to the outside. Input / output to / from each of the circuits 9, 11, 13 is performed via the connector 3. The microcomputer 7 has a communication function, and has a port 7 for inputting and outputting communication signals.
a, 7b, and port 7c for receiving an entry waveform
At least.

At the time of inspection, the connector 15 on the inspection machine 5 and the connector 3 on the electronic unit 1 are connected.
After inputting an entry waveform from the inspection machine 5 to the electronic unit 1 and switching the operation mode of the microcomputer 7 to the inspection mode,
Various tests of the electronic unit 1 are performed using information communication via the communication input circuit 11 and the output circuit 13.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional connection structure, transmission and reception of communication signals at the time of inspection are performed via the connector 3.
The electronic unit 1 to which the communication input circuit 11 and the communication output circuit 13 are not connected, or the communication input circuit 1
In the electronic unit 1 not provided with the communication output circuit 1 and the communication output circuit 13, there is a problem that the inspection by the information communication cannot be performed.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a case where an input / output circuit for information communication is not connected to a connector for external connection of the electronic unit, or a case where the input / output circuit for information communication is provided in the electronic unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure between an inspection machine and an electronic unit capable of inspecting an electronic unit by information communication even when the electronic unit is not provided, and a method of inspecting the electronic unit.

[0008]

A technical means for achieving the above object is to provide a method for inspecting an electronic unit having a microcomputer having a port through which information can be communicated, by using the inspector and the electronic unit. A connection structure, wherein a pad portion wired and connected to the port of the microcomputer is provided on a circuit board on which the microcomputer is provided, and can be contact-connected to the pad portion, and the electronic device can be connected to the electronic device using information communication. A probe connected to an inspection circuit of the inspection machine for inspecting a unit is provided on the inspection machine side.

Preferably, the probe is protruded from an installation table of an inspection machine on which the circuit board of the electronic unit is installed at the time of inspection, and the circuit board is installed at a predetermined position on the installation table. Accordingly, it is preferable that the positioning is performed so as to contact the pad portion.

Preferably, the pad portion is a land portion of a printed wiring arranged on the circuit board.

Further, preferably, the microcomputer comprises a U
It is preferable that the microcomputer has an ART, and the port of the microcomputer to which the pad section is connected is a UART port.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of inspecting an electronic unit having a microcomputer having a port through which information can be communicated, using an inspection machine. An inspection circuit of the inspection machine which is provided on a circuit board on which the microcomputer is provided, and which can be contact-connected to the pad portion, and which inspects the electronic unit using information communication. A probe connected to the tester is provided on the tester side, and the probe is contacted and connected to the pad portion, using information communication between the microcomputer and the test circuit via the probe and the pad portion. The electronic unit is inspected.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a connection structure between an inspection machine and an electronic unit according to an embodiment of the present invention on the electronic unit side, and FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing composition of the inspection machine side of the connection structure of such an inspection machine and an electronic unit.

First, the configuration of the electronic unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic unit 21 shown in FIG.
It is mounted on a vehicle and controls various on-vehicle devices to be controlled based on various inputs input from a switch or the like. Microcomputer 23 provided in electronic unit 21
Is a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Tran
sceiver: a transmission / reception circuit for asynchronous serial communication), and the terminal 23a of the microcomputer 23 is a UART port. That is, the microcomputer 23 includes a control program for a normal control operation, a communication program for communication by UART, and an inspection program for inspecting various functions of the electronic unit 21 by using information communication using UART. And are provided. Well, this microcomputer 2
No. 3 is not provided with a communication function for the in-vehicle LAN.

Further, on a circuit board 25 on which the microcomputer 23 of the electronic unit 21 is disposed, a pad portion 27 connected to the terminal 23a by wiring is provided near the microcomputer 23. The wiring connection between the terminal 23a and the pad portion 27 is made by a printed wiring (wiring portion) 29,
Is constituted by a land portion provided at the end of the printed wiring 29. Such a pad portion 27
Cannot be used after the circuit board 25 is assembled in the electric connection box or housed in the case.

Next, the configuration of the inspection machine (shipment inspection machine) 31 will be described with reference to FIG. Inspection machine 3 shown in FIG.
1 is for inspecting various functions of the electronic unit 21 at the time of shipment, and generally includes an inspection machine main body (inspection circuit) 3.
3, an installation table 35, and a probe 37.

The mounting table 35 holds the electronic unit 2 during inspection.
This is a table on which one circuit board 25 is installed. This installation table 3
A probe 37 protrudes from an installation surface 35a on which the fifth circuit board 25 is installed. The probe 37 serves as a sending port and a receiving port of a communication signal for information communication at the time of inspection, and is positioned at a predetermined position on the installation surface 35a. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the circuit board 25 is installed at a predetermined position on the installation base 35 with the surface on which the pad portions 27 are provided facing the installation base 35, the tip of the probe 37 is accordingly moved. The probe 37 and the pad portion 27 are connected to come into contact with the pad portion 27.

Between the probe 37 and the main body 33 of the inspection machine,
They are connected by a circuit (including a communication circuit and a connection cable) 39 necessary for transmitting a communication signal.

When the probe 37 is connected to the pad section 27, the inspection apparatus main body 33 is connected to the terminal 23a of the microcomputer 23 via a connection path including the circuit 39, the probe 37, the pad section 27 and the printed wiring 29. Various kinds of inspections are performed by transmitting and receiving a communication signal for inspection with the microcomputer 23 via the connection path. In addition,
The inspection machine main body 33 is provided with a circuit and a function for realizing UART communication with the terminal 23a of the microcomputer 23, and the voltage of a signal output from the probe 37 is output to the terminal 23a of the microcomputer 23. Is adjusted to a state (value, etc.) that can be directly input to.

The connection modes other than the connection mode (connection mode by the pad portion 27 and the probe 37) for performing information communication at the time of the inspection between the electronic unit 21 and the inspection machine 31 are the same as those in the related art. It is connected by a connector or the like.

As the inspection contents, for example, an on / off switch signal is inputted from an input terminal (not shown) of the electronic unit 21 by the inspection machine 31 and the state of the input port (not shown) of the microcomputer 23 is probed. There is a check as to whether or not a signal to the input terminal of the electronic unit 21 is correctly transmitted to the input port of the microcomputer 23 by reading out by information communication through the 37 and the pad section 27.

The microcomputer 23 is instructed to output high and low to an output port (not shown) of the microcomputer 23 by information communication via the probe 37 and the pad 27, and the output port of the microcomputer 23 or The output content of an output terminal (not shown) of the electronic unit 21 connected to the output port is input to the inspection machine 31 to check whether or not the output content conforms to the instructed content.

Further, the probe 37 and the pad 27
Read / write of ROM (not shown) or RAM (not shown) by microcomputer 2
Instruct 3 to check if it is performed correctly,
There is an inspection for determining the type of the program stored in the ROM.

In the present embodiment, the connection between the tester 31 and the input terminals and output terminals (not shown) of the electronic unit 21 is made by a connector or the like. A similar pad portion 27 and probe 37 may be provided for each output port, and input / output of inspection signals may be performed via the pad portion 27 and probe 37.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the probe 37 of the inspection machine 31 is connected to the circuit board 2 of the electronic unit 21.
5 through the probe 37, the pad portion 27, and the printed wiring 29 to directly send and receive a communication signal between the probe 37 and the terminal 23a of the microcomputer 23 for inspection. When the input / output circuit for information communication is not connected to the connector for external connection of the electronic unit 21 or the input / output circuit for information communication is provided in the electronic unit 21. Even if not, the electronic unit 21 can be inspected using information communication.

In addition, as the circuit board 25 of the electronic unit 21 is installed at a predetermined position on the installation base 35 of the inspection machine 31, the probe 37 comes into contact with the pad 27 and is connected thereto. The connection between the probe 37 and the pad 27 can be easily performed.

Furthermore, since the pad portion 27 is a land portion provided at the end of the printed wiring 29 disposed on the circuit board 25, the pad portion 27 can be easily formed.

Since the terminal 23a of the microcomputer 23 to which the pad 27 is connected is a UART port, the communication speed at the time of inspection is improved as compared with the case where communication is performed using the general-purpose input / output port of the microcomputer 23. As a result, the inspection time can be shortened.

Further, since information communication at the time of inspection is performed using the UART function of the microcomputer 23, there is no need to develop a dedicated communication program for information communication for inspection, and the number of software development steps can be reduced. In addition, the dedicated communication program does not need to be stored in the electronic unit, and the ROM capacity of the microcomputer 23 can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the pad portion 27 serving as a connection port for information communication at the time of inspection is connected to the microcomputer 23.
As a modified example, the pad section 27 is connected to a general-purpose input port or a general-purpose output port for inputting / outputting a switch signal of the microcomputer 23, and is connected through these ports. Information communication at the time of inspection may be performed. In this case, the pad section 27 and the probe 37 may be provided for each of the input port and the output port. This modification is advantageous in the case of testing the electronic unit 21 equipped with the microcomputer 23 having no UART.

[0031]

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the probe of the inspection machine is brought into contact with and connected to the pad provided on the circuit board of the electronic unit, and the probe, the pad and the pad are connected to the probe. Since the test can be performed by directly sending and receiving communication signals between the probe and the port of the microcomputer through the wiring section between the port of the microcomputer and the connector, the information communication to the connector for external connection of the electronic unit Even if the input / output circuit for the communication is not connected or the input / output circuit for the information communication is not provided in the electronic unit, the electronic unit can be inspected using the information communication.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as the circuit board of the electronic unit is installed at a predetermined position on the installation table of the inspection machine, the probe comes into contact with and is connected to the pad portion. Therefore, the connection between the probe and the pad section can be easily performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the pad portion is a land portion of the printed wiring arranged on the circuit board, the pad portion can be easily formed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the port of the microcomputer to which the pad portion is connected is a UART port, it is possible to perform the inspection in comparison with the case of performing communication using the general-purpose input / output port of the microcomputer. The communication speed can be improved, and as a result, the inspection time can be reduced.

Further, since information communication at the time of inspection is performed using the UART function of the microcomputer, there is no need to develop a dedicated communication program for information communication for inspection, and the number of software development steps can be reduced. At the same time, it is not necessary to store the dedicated communication program in the electronic unit, and the ROM capacity of the microcomputer can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration on a side of an electronic unit of a connection structure between an inspection machine and an electronic unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connection structure between an inspection device and an electronic unit according to an embodiment of the present invention on the inspection device side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pad portion of the electronic unit is connected to a probe of the inspection device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional connection structure between an inspection machine and an electronic unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 21 Electronic unit 23 Microcomputer 23a Terminal (UART port) 25 Circuit board 27 Pad section 29 Printed wiring 31 Inspection machine 33 Inspection machine main body 35 Installation table 37 Probe

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connection structure between an inspection unit and an electronic unit when an electronic unit including a microcomputer having a port capable of information communication is inspected by the inspection unit, wherein the connection unit is wired to the port of the microcomputer. A pad provided on a circuit board on which the microcomputer is provided, the pad being connectable to the pad, and connected to an inspection circuit of the inspection machine for inspecting the electronic unit using information communication; Is provided on the inspection machine side, wherein the connection structure between the inspection machine and the electronic unit is provided. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the probe is protruded from an installation table of an inspection machine on which the circuit board of the electronic unit is installed at the time of inspection, and the circuit board is installed at a predetermined position on the installation table. 2. The connection structure between an inspection device and an electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is positioned so as to abut the pad portion in accordance with (1). 3. The connection structure between an inspection machine and an electronic unit according to claim 1, wherein the pad portion is a land portion of a printed wiring disposed on the circuit board. 4. The microcomputer according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer has a UART, and the port of the microcomputer to which the pad unit is connected is a UART port. Connection structure between inspection machine and electronic unit. 5. An electronic unit inspection method for inspecting an electronic unit provided with a microcomputer having a port capable of information communication by an inspection machine, wherein a pad portion wired to the port of the microcomputer is connected to the microcomputer. A probe connected to an inspection circuit of the inspection machine, which is provided on a circuit board on which is disposed, is connectable to the pad portion, and inspects the electronic unit using information communication, is provided on the inspection machine side. Wherein the probe is brought into contact with the pad portion, and the electronic unit is inspected using information communication between the microcomputer and the inspection circuit via the probe and the pad portion. Inspection method of electronic unit.