JP2002372564A - Device for recognizing mounting board and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for recognizing a mounting board and its method for confirming unconnected condition and partially connected condition of a means for connecting by the simple method. SOLUTION: Respective pair of terminals (a pair of the terminals 22A, 22B and a pair of the terminals 22C, 22D) are used as the terminals for detecting whether the respective control boards 12, 14 are mounted or not (referred to as mounting detection hereafter) from a plurality of the terminals provided to connectors 16A, 16B of a main control board 10 and a plurality of the terminals provided to convexly shaped parts of the control boards 12, 14. Each pair of the terminals 22A, 22B and 22C, 22D for the mounting detection is arranged at positions which space distance between the terminals as long as possible. When the main control board 10 is connected with the control boards 12, 14, a CPU 24 determines whether each of the control boards 12, 14 is surely inserted into the connectors 16A, 16B of the main control board 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for recognizing a mounting board, and more particularly to a mounting board recognizing apparatus and method for detecting a connection state between a plurality of boards for controlling an image recording apparatus such as a lab system. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image recording apparatus such as a printer, which exposes a photosensitive material based on image data and transfers an image recorded on the photosensitive material to plain paper or the like by this exposure and outputs the same, includes: A plurality of boards for controlling the image recording apparatus are provided, and each board is electrically connected by a connecting means such as a connector, and signals are transmitted and received between the control boards, so that image recording is performed. The function of the device is controlled.

[0003] However, the connection between the substrates by the connection means may lead to unconnection or erroneous connection at the time of manufacturing the image recording apparatus, for example, when the connectors are inserted or when the substrate is inserted into the connector. May not be able to operate normally.

[0004] As a method for preventing disconnection or erroneous connection of the connection means, for example, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-146073.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-146733, a signal line from each control board to a main control board is provided and the output level of the signal line is detected as a method for confirming the mounting of an electronic circuit board of a printing apparatus. By doing
Unconnection can be detected.

Further, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-146073, erroneous connection is prevented by forming a plurality of connectors into different connector shapes.

[0007]

However, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-146573, contact failure due to a half-inserted state of a connecting means such as a connector is not considered, and the connecting means is not used. If the signal line is half-inserted and the signal line for confirming the mounting is conductive, the output level of the signal line is detected, and the half-inserted state of the connection means cannot be detected. Therefore, there is a problem that a connection other than the mounting confirmation signal line may be disconnected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a mounting board recognizing apparatus and method capable of confirming an unconnected state and a semi-connected state of connecting means by a simple method. The purpose is to:

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of circuit boards, connecting means for connecting the plurality of circuit boards, and the connecting means are provided. A determining means for determining a contact state of the connecting means in a conductive state between the pair of terminals, and a mounting board recognition device, wherein the connection width of the connecting means is It is characterized in that the terminals are arranged as far apart as possible.

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of circuit boards are connected by the connection means, and the connection state of the connection means is determined by the determination means in a conductive state between the pair of terminals provided on the connection means. Is determined. That is, the mounting board is recognized by the determining means, and the unconnection can be detected.

At this time, if the distance between the pair of terminals in the connecting means is short, the connection is determined by the determining means when the connection by the connecting means is inclined, but the connection is determined. By using the connection width of the means and arranging a pair of terminals in each connection means as far apart as possible, when the connection by the connection means is inclined and connected, a pair of terminals provided in each connection means is provided. The terminal is no longer connected, and it can be detected that the connection by the connecting means is not reliably performed.

Therefore, it is possible to confirm the unconnected state and the semi-connected state of the connecting means by a simple method.

The mounting board recognition device of the present invention may be provided in, for example, an image recording device. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is an image recording apparatus including: a plurality of circuit boards for controlling various functions for recording an image; and a connection unit that connects the plurality of circuit boards. Determining a contact state of the connection means based on a conduction state between the pair of terminals provided in the connection means, and enabling the pair of terminals in the connection means by utilizing a connection width of the connection means; An image recording apparatus characterized by being arranged as far apart as possible may be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the pair of terminals are provided at both ends of a terminal position of the connection means.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In the invention described in (1), by providing a pair of terminals at both ends of the terminal position in the connection means, when the connection by the connection means is inclined and connected, the determination means reliably determines that the connection is half-connected. Can be. Further, when a pair of terminals are connected, even if the connection by the connecting means is inclined, the terminals provided between the pair of terminals are all connected, so that the connection by the connecting means is reliably performed. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the distance between the pair of terminals is the largest among vacant terminals other than the practical terminals of the connection means. It is characterized in that it is provided at a position.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
In the invention described in the above, by providing the pair of terminals at a position where the distance between the pair of terminals is the most distant among the empty terminals other than the practical terminals of the connecting means, the connection by the connecting means is inclined and connected. In addition, it can be detected that the connection by the connection means is not reliably performed.

Further, since the arrangement position of the pair of terminals is selected from the vacant terminals, the present invention can be easily applied to an existing system, and versatility can be improved.

The connecting means includes a connector having a plurality of terminals provided on any one of the plurality of circuit boards and a plurality of terminals of the connector. Correspondingly, a plurality of connection terminals provided on the remaining circuit board may be used, and the plurality of terminals of the connector may be connected to the plurality of connection terminals provided on the circuit board.

Further, the connecting means may include a connector having a plurality of terminals provided on any one of the plurality of circuit boards, and a connecting means connected to the remaining circuit boards. The connected harness is constituted by a connector having a plurality of terminals connected to the harness corresponding to the plurality of terminals of the connector, and the connector provided on the circuit board is mated with the connector connected to the harness. By doing so, the plurality of terminals of the connector and the plurality of terminals connected to the harness may be connected.

Further, the connecting means includes a harness connected to a plurality of circuit boards,
It may be configured with a connector having a plurality of terminals connected to the harness, and the plurality of terminals may be connected by fitting the connectors.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a circuit board is connected by connecting a plurality of circuit boards by connecting means and judging a contact state of the connecting means based on a conduction state of a pair of terminals provided on the connecting means. A mounting board recognition method for recognizing the mounting of the circuit board, wherein the mounting of the circuit board is recognized using the pair of terminals arranged as far apart as possible using the connection width of the connection means. .

According to the invention of claim 7, according to claim 1,
As described with reference to the mounting board recognition device, it is possible to detect that the connection by the connecting means is not reliably performed.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the present embodiment, image data obtained by reading a photosensitive material such as a photographic film by an image pickup device such as a CCD sensor, an image stored in a CD-ROM, FD (floppy (registered trademark) disk), or the like. The present invention is applied to an image recording apparatus such as a digital lab system that records an image on photographic paper or the like based on data or the like.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a control board of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment has a main control board 10 and a plurality of control boards 12,
The main control board 10 and the control boards 12 and 14 control each function of the image recording apparatus.

Further, a plurality of terminals 1 are provided on the main control board 10.
8 are provided, and a plurality of control boards 12 and 14 for controlling respective functions of the image recording apparatus are inserted into the connectors 16A and 16B. Although FIG. 1 shows two control boards for controlling each function, the number of control boards is not limited to two.

Each of the control boards 12 and 14 has a convex shape to be inserted into the connectors 16A and 16B of the corresponding main control board 10, and the convex portions are connected to the connectors 16A and 16B. It is to be inserted. In addition, a plurality of terminals 2 are provided at portions (projected portions of the control boards 12 and 14) to be inserted into the connectors 16A and 16B.
0 is printed. The plurality of terminals 20 of each of the control boards 12 and 14 are provided corresponding to the plurality of terminals 18 provided on the connector. The main control board 10 and each of the control boards 12 and 14 are electrically connected by contact of the terminals (connection of the terminals).

The plurality of terminals 18, the connector 16A,
16B and the plurality of terminals 20 provided on the convex portion of the control board correspond to the connection means of the present invention.

The connectors 16A of the main control board 10
Plural terminals 18 provided on 16B and each control board 1
Of the plurality of terminals 20 provided on the convex portions 2 and 14, each pair of terminals is a terminal for detecting whether or not each of the control boards 12 and 14 is mounted (hereinafter, referred to as mounting detection). The pair of terminals 22 for mounting detection (a pair of terminals 22A and 22B and a pair of terminals 22C and 22D) shown in FIG.
The distance between the terminals A to 22B and the distance between the terminals 22C to 22D) is provided as far as possible by using an empty terminal.

The distance between a pair of terminals for mounting detection is
Although it is desirable to arrange them at positions near both ends of each substrate, versatility is enhanced by using the terminal at the position where the distance between the pair of terminals is the longest among the empty terminals.

The distance between the pair of terminals is x, the effective insertion length of the control board capable of ensuring conduction, x is the maximum angle between the control boards 12, 14 and the connector 16 capable of ensuring conduction, and θ is the control board. , 14 provided that the distance between the pair of terminals is y, the distance y between the pair of terminals for mounting detection is set so as to satisfy ytan θ <x. Of the connector 16 of the main control board 10 and the pair of terminals for mounting detection in the connector 16 of the main control board 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the above-described circuit for mounting detection is formed on the main control board 10 and the control boards 12 and 14.

The circuit for mounting detection is designed so that the CPU 24 provided on the control board 14 determines whether each of the control boards 12, 14 is securely inserted into the connector 16 of the main control board 10. ing. Note that the CPU 24 provided for mounting detection may be provided on another control board 12 or the main control board 10.

A pair of terminals 2 for detecting mounting of the control board 14
2C and 22D are connected to the CPU 24, respectively. A pair of terminals 22C and 22D for mounting detection provided on the connector 16B of the control board 10 corresponding to a pair of terminals 22C and 22D for mounting detection of the control board 14 have one side. Is grounded,
The other is connected to a pair of terminals 22A for mounting detection provided on the connector 16A into which the control board 12 is inserted. A pair of terminals 22B for mounting detection provided on the connector 16A into which the control board 12 is inserted are grounded. Further, on the control board 12, a pair of terminals 22A and 22B for mounting detection are respectively connected, thereby forming a circuit for mounting detection.

A pair of power supplies (3.3) are connected to the pair of terminals 22C and 22D for detecting mounting on the control board 14, respectively.
V) 26 is applied, and a pair of terminals 22A and 22B for mounting detection and a pair of terminals 22C and 22C
When the 2Ds are connected, the control board 14
And outputs a low-level signal to the CPU 24 to detect a pair of terminals 22A and 22B or a pair of terminals 22C for mounting detection.
When any one of the terminals 22D is not connected, that is, when the circuit for mounting detection is open, a high-level signal is output from the power supply 26 to the CPU 24 of the control board 14. Note that the CPU 24 and the power supply 26 correspond to the determining means of the present invention.

Further, the CPU 24 is connected to a monitor 30 of a display operation unit 28 for performing various displays of the image recording apparatus, and when a circuit for mounting detection is opened,
The circuit for mounting detection is open to the operator, that is,
The control boards 12 and 14 are connected to the connector 16 of the main control board 10.
A display indicating that it is not inserted or half-inserted is performed on A and 16B.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus configured as described above will be described.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, a control board 1 for each function for making the image recording apparatus function is provided.
2 and 14 and the main control board 10, and the control boards 12 and 14 are connected to the main control board 10 as described above. However, the control boards 12 and 14 are connected to the connectors 16 </ b> A and 16 </ b> B of the main control board 10. If the image is not inserted or half-inserted, the image recording apparatus does not function normally.
Therefore, in the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, each control board 1 is connected to the connectors 16A and 16B of the main control board 10.
Mounting detection for detecting insertion or half insertion of 2, 14 is performed.

Next, this mounting detection will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 100, the CPU 24 of the control board 14 determines whether or not the power of the image recording apparatus has been turned on. If the determination is negative, step 100
Step 1 until the determination is positive, that is, the power is turned on.
00 is repeated. In practice, when the power of the image recording apparatus is turned on, the mounting detection process is performed.

When the power of the image recording apparatus is turned on and the determination in step 100 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 102, where the CPU of the control board 14 determines whether or not the mounting detection is at a low level.
24. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when the control boards 12 and 14 are normally inserted into the connectors 16A and 16B of the main control board 10, a low level is input to the CPU 24 of the control board 14, When the circuit for mounting detection is opened when the control boards 12 and 14 are not inserted or half-inserted, the CPU of the control board 14
Since a high level is input to 24, it is possible to determine whether or not the mounting detection is at a low level.

If the determination in step 102 is affirmative, the control boards 12 and 14 have been properly inserted into the connectors 16A and 16B of the main control board 10, respectively.
The process of mounting detection is terminated as it is, and the process proceeds to a process of operating the image recording apparatus.

If the determination in step 102 is negative, that is, one of the control boards 12 and 14 is
If it is determined that the connectors 16A and 16B are not inserted or half-inserted, the process proceeds to step 104.

In step 104, the mounting detection is an error on the monitor 30 of the display / operation unit 28 (in FIG. 3, the mounting detection is indicated as NG). Each control board 1
A display indicating that Nos. 2 and 14 are not inserted or half-inserted is performed, and the process of mounting detection ends.

By the way, a pair of terminals 22 (22A, 22A) on each of the control boards 12, 14 for performing mounting detection.
B, 22C, 22D) and a pair of terminals 22 (22A, 22B) of the connectors 16A, 16B on the main control board 10.
B, 22C, and 22D), when the distance between the terminals is short, as shown in FIG.
When the connector is half-inserted by being inserted into the connectors 16A and 16B of the control board 10 while tilting, FIG.
As shown by the solid line in (B), even when the control boards 12 and 14 are half-inserted, the circuit for mounting detection is not opened and the control boards 12 and 14 are connected to the connector 1 of the main control board 10.
It is determined that they are connected to 6A and 16B. Therefore, in the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, as described above, the pair of terminals 22 (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) of the control boards 12, 14 for performing mounting detection and the main control board 10 In the pair of terminals 22 (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) of the connectors 16A, 16B, the distance between the pair of terminals (terminals 22A to 22B) is respectively.
(The distance between the terminals and the distance between the terminals 22C to 22D) are located as far as possible, so that even if the control boards 12 and 14 are half-inserted, a problem that half insertion cannot be detected as described above may occur. 4B, the circuit for mounting detection is opened, and the control boards 12 and 14 are connected to the connectors 16A and 16B of the main control board 10.
Can be detected half-inserted, that is, not set securely. FIG. 4B shows an example of insertion of the control board 14 into the connector 16B.

As described above, in the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, the distance between the pair of terminals for mounting detection is only separated as much as possible by using the vacant terminals, and the control boards 12 and 1 are mounted.
4 and connectors 16A, 1 provided on the main control board 10.
Uninsertion or half-insertion in the connection with 6B can be detected.

In the above embodiment, the main control board 10 and the control boards 12 and 14 are connected by inserting the control boards 12 and 14 into the connectors 16A and 16B provided on the main control board 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
The invention may be applied to a case where the connector is connected to the upper connector 16, or the invention may be applied to a case where connectors connected to a harness are connected.

In the above embodiment, the connectors 16A, 16A of the control boards 12, 14 and the main control board 10 are used.
In connection of B, prevention of mechanical erroneous connection such as a rib for preventing erroneous connection is performed by the connectors 16A and 16B and the control board 12,
14 or the like.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to an image recording apparatus such as a digital laboratory system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a circuit board such as a control board is connected. If so, the present invention can be applied.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, each connection means is provided by utilizing the connection width of the connection means for connecting a plurality of circuit boards for controlling various functions for recording an image. By disposing the pair of terminals as far apart as possible and judging the contact state of the connecting means by the judging means in a conductive state of the pair of terminals, when the connection by the connecting means is inclined and connected, Since it is possible to detect that the pair of terminals are not connected and the connection by the connecting means is not reliably performed, it is possible to check the unconnected state and the semi-connected state of the connecting means by a simple method. Has the effect of becoming

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a control board of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit for mounting detection of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating mounting detection processing of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining mounting detection when a control board is half-inserted into a connector of a main control board.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the connection between the main control board and the control board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main control board 12, 14 Control board 16 Connector 18 Plural terminals (connector side) 20 Plural terminals (control board side) 22 A pair of terminals 24 CPU

Claims (7)

[Claims] A plurality of circuit boards; connecting means for connecting the plurality of circuit boards; and determining means for determining a contact state of the connecting means based on a conduction state between a pair of terminals provided on the connecting means. Wherein the pair of terminals of the connecting means are arranged as far apart as possible using the connection width of the connecting means. 2. The mounting board recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of terminals are provided at both ends of a terminal position of the connection unit. 3. The mounting board according to claim 1, wherein the pair of terminals is provided at a position where the distance between the pair of terminals is the longest among vacant terminals other than the practical terminals of the connection means. Recognition device. 4. A connector having a plurality of terminals provided on any one of the plurality of circuit boards, and a remaining circuit board corresponding to the plurality of terminals of the connector. Consisting of a plurality of connection terminals provided in
4. The plurality of terminals of the connector and the plurality of connection terminals provided on the remaining circuit boards are connected by inserting the plurality of circuit boards into the connector. The mounting board recognition device according to any one of the above. 5. The connector, comprising: a connector having a plurality of terminals provided on any one of the plurality of circuit boards; a harness connected to the remaining circuit boards; A connector having a plurality of terminals connected to the harness corresponding to the plurality of terminals, wherein the connector provided on the circuit board and the connector connected to the harness are fitted together to form a plurality of connectors. 4. The mounting board recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is connected to a plurality of terminals connected to the harness. 5. 6. The connection means comprises a harness connected to the plurality of circuit boards, and a connector connected to the harness and having a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals are connected by fitting the connectors together. The mounting board recognition device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 7. A mounting board for connecting a plurality of circuit boards by a connecting means and recognizing mounting of the circuit board by judging a contact state of the connecting means based on a conduction state of a pair of terminals provided on the connecting means. A method for recognizing a mounting board, comprising: recognizing mounting of a circuit board using the pair of terminals arranged as far apart as possible using a connection width of the connection means.