JP2008311955A - Relay hub and information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of wiring work, such as wiring routing by reducing the number of wirings constituting a wire harness and reducing the diameter of the wire harness with a simple circuit configuration. <P>SOLUTION: Respective relay hubs are actually connected to a trunk wiring group in parallel. Therefore, the number of wirings of the trunk wiring group becomes the same number of wirings regardless of a distance (length of trunk wiring group) from a control substrate. In other words, increase in the diameter of a wire harness due to the number of many wirings on a base part side (closer to control substrate) is avoided, which occurs when directly wired to respective devices. Each of the relay hubs is made to hold an identification code, and when the held identification code coincides with an identification code received from the trunk wiring group in collation, an instruction signal from the trunk wiring group controls the devices. Consequently, a plurality of relay hubs can be separately controlled by the same trunk wiring group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is provided between a control board to which one end of a basic wiring group is connected and a plurality of devices that transmit and receive signals via the basic wiring group, and manages and controls the transmission and reception of the signals. And an information communication system using the relay hub.

  In recent years, with the increasing number of functions of image processing apparatuses (for example, printer apparatuses), the number of input devices such as sensors and output devices such as motors in the image processing apparatus is increasing. As the number of devices increases, the number of wires for connecting them to the control board increases, and the bundle of wires (hereinafter referred to as “wire harness”) concentrates as it becomes closer to the main control board. In particular, the outer diameter of the wire harness becomes large, and the wiring work of the wire harness becomes complicated as well as the cost increase.

  This is mainly because the control board and the device are wired independently from each other. In order to solve this problem, in Patent Document 1, one information unit is represented by a predetermined number of binary data arrays. And a serial communication system is proposed in which this is transmitted in time series on one data transmission line.

In this Patent Document 1, each bit or a plurality of consecutive bit strings in one information unit of the binary data expresses a physical state in a different event in the order of arrangement, and an arbitrary bit includes a plurality of consecutive information units. The time-series configuration in FIG. 1 represents one physical quantity digitally converted with a predetermined bit length.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-190771

  However, Patent Document 1 includes an A / D converter that can handle analog data in a general serial communication system in which a total of four signals of power supply, GND, data, and clock are cascade-connected. However, this requires a clock necessary for controlling the A / D converter and the microcontroller, resulting in a complicated circuit configuration.

  In other words, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 merely disperses the basic control board, and the original circuit configuration has to be reconstructed, which takes time for development and leads to an increase in cost.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a relay hub capable of reducing the number of wires constituting the wire harness, reducing the wire harness diameter, and improving the wiring work efficiency such as the routing of the wires with a simple circuit configuration. An object is to obtain an information communication system using a relay hub.

  A first invention is provided between a control board to which one end of a main wiring group is connected and a plurality of devices that transmit and receive signals via the main wiring group, and manages and controls the transmission and reception of the signals. A plurality of terminal groups, and a pair of terminals are electrically directly connected to each other, and at least a pair of input / output end connectors that relay the basic wiring group from the control board; Power supply means for supplying power received from the trunk wiring group to connected devices, identification code collating means for collating an identification code received from the trunk wiring group with an identification code held by itself, and the identification code Device control means for controlling the connected devices in time series for each identification code by a command signal received from the basic wiring group when the identification code matches by the verification means; That.

  According to the first invention, even if the relay hub is connected to the main wiring group by the input / output end connector, the main wiring group is connected in parallel to the main wiring group because the input / output end connectors are directly connected. It will be in the state. Therefore, theoretically, the number of core wiring groups does not increase due to an increase in the number of relay hubs.

  In addition, since the input / output signals of a plurality of devices are provided with a function of inputting and outputting time-series for each identification code, the number of wirings can be reduced.

  In the first invention, the device includes a motor for moving each moving body applied to the image processing apparatus, an output device including a solenoid, and an input device including a position detection sensor for detecting the position of each moving body; And at least the output device and the input device are separated and connected to different relay hubs.

  By separating the input device and the output device into different relay hubs, it is only necessary to synchronize the transmission / reception switching control of the signal on the control board with the identification code to be transmitted, thereby simplifying the control.

  In the first invention, the number of devices connected depends on the signal transmission capability of the basic wiring group.

  The power received from the main wiring is limited, and the number of connected devices is set according to this power.

  Furthermore, in the first invention, the power supply by the power supply means further comprises a fuse that detects an overload and disconnects, and a notification means that notifies the control board of the state of the fuse. .

  It is possible to promptly notify (inform) the control board that the power supply has been cut off.

  In the first invention, the identification code is set and held by a manual switch switching operation.

  Since the identification code is assigned by a manual switching operation, visual confirmation is easy, and the identification code for specifying the relay hub is not changed due to noise or the like.

  A second invention is an information communication system using the relay hub, wherein the relay hub is connected in parallel to the trunk wiring group, and different identification codes are assigned to the relay hubs connected in parallel. The control board transmits serially an identification code of each relay hub and a control signal to a device connected to the relay hub specified by the identification code from the control board.

  Although each of the relay hubs appears to be cascade-connected as in the prior art, in reality, the relay hubs are actually connected in parallel to the basic wiring group.

  For this reason, for example, the number of wires in the basic wiring group is the same number regardless of the distance from the control board (the length of the basic wiring group). In other words, there is no increase in diameter due to the number of wires on the base side (side closer to the control board) that occurs when wiring directly to each device.

  Each relay hub holds an identification code, and when the held identification code matches with an identification code received from the trunk wiring group, the device is controlled by a command signal from the trunk wiring group. As a result, the plurality of relay hubs can be controlled separately by the same basic wiring group.

  As described above, in the present invention, with a simple circuit configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of wires constituting the wire harness, to reduce the wire harness diameter, and to improve the wiring work efficiency such as the routing of the wires. Have

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information communication system 10 according to the first embodiment.

  One end of a wire harness 14 that is a basic wiring group is connected to the control board 12. The other end of the wire harness 14 is connected to the relay hub 16.

  The relay hub 16 has an input end connector 18 (see FIG. 2) to which the wire harness 14 is connected and an output in which the wire harness 14 is through-wired (see the direct connection line 20 shown in FIG. 2). And an end connector 22 (see FIG. 2).

  A wire harness 14 for connecting to the input end connector 18 of the next relay hub 16 is connected to the output end connector 22 of the relay hub 16.

  Similarly, the necessary number of relay hubs 16 are connected in a so-called rosary connection, and this connection seems to be cascaded. Are connected in parallel.

  The structures of the relay hubs 16 are all the same, and in the first embodiment, four relay hubs 16 serving as relay boards for the sensors 24 disposed in the respective parts of the apparatus are connected. .

  Here, each relay hub 16 is given an identification code (ID) for identification.

  The ID assignment is preferably performed mechanically with a manual switch or the like provided on the relay hub 16. For example, a dip switch or a rotary switch can be applied. Each ID may be stored in a non-volatile memory or the like (illustrated as a switch ID setting unit 26 in FIG. 2 described later).

  For example, the ID is given in order from the relay hub 16 close to the control board 12. The ID may be given in any order as long as the control board 12 recognizes the correlation between each relay hub 16 and the ID.

  Eight sensors 24 are connected to each relay hub 16. The sensor 24 switches an output signal when a target medium is detected at various places in the apparatus, and the operation power is always supplied from the relay hub 16. In addition, what is necessary is just to respond | correspond by the sensor 24 side, when a current limiting resistance is required in the case of power supply.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a power supply line 28 is indispensable for each of the relay hubs 16 as a wiring constituting the wire harness 14 from the control board 12 (similar to the direct connection line 20 shown in FIG. 2). .

  In FIG. 2, one power supply line 28 is shown, but in actuality, it has two power supply lines (Vcc = 5 V) and a ground line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the direct connection line 20 includes three ID specifying signal lines 30 (shown as one in FIG. 2) and four data transmission / reception signal lines 32 (see FIG. 2). In FIG. 1, one is shown), and one disconnection detection signal line 34 is provided.

  The power supply line 28 is connected to the sensor connector 38 via the fuse 36.

  The eight sensors 24 are connected to the sensor connector 38 and can receive power supply.

  The sensor connector 24 is connected to the sensor interface circuit 40. Detection signals from the sensors 24 are input to the sensor interface circuit 40.

  A receiver (RV) 42 is connected to the ID specifying signal line 30. The receiver 42 receives a binary signal of 3 bits (ID0 to ID2) from the ID specifying signal line 30. That is, in the first embodiment, four relay hubs 16 are connected, and two types of 3-bit signals are applied to identify them. For example, when specifying the relay hub 16 closest to the control board 12, the bit signals are “000” and “001”, and when specifying the next relay hub 16, the bit signals are “010” and “011”. When the relay hub 16 at the final stage is specified, the bit signals may be “101” and “111”.

  As described above, eight sensors 24 are attached to each relay hub 16, and four of the front stage and four of the rear stage are classified by different IDs. Yes. Note that this is a design limitation that the limit is four sensors when transmitting the detection signal of the sensor 24 in time series, and the number of sensors that one ID can cover depends on the improvement in processing speed and the like. Is likely to increase.

  The receiver 42 is connected to the ID recognition unit 44. For this reason, the ID received (and analyzed) by the receiver 42 is sent to the ID recognition unit 44.

  A switch ID setting unit 26 is connected to the ID recognition unit 44.

  As described above, the switch ID setting unit 26 sets the ID of the relay hub 16 on which the switch ID setting unit 26 is mounted by manual operation.

  The ID set by the switch ID setting unit 26 is sent to the ID recognition unit 44. As a result, the ID transmitted from the control board 12 via the ID specifying signal line 30 and the ID assigned to the own relay hub 16 are input to the ID recognition unit 44. The ID recognition unit 44 determines whether or not the control board 12 intends to identify its own relay hub 16 by collating both IDs, and if the IDs match, the output switching unit 46 and The driver 48 connected to the data transmission / reception signal line 32 sends a signal for prompting activation.

  The output switching unit 46 receives the signal from the ID recognition unit 44, and in parallel, from the sensor interface circuit 40, signals from the four sensors 24 belonging to the matched IDs of the eight sensors 24. It is received at (D0 to D3) and sent to the driver 48.

  The driver 48 sends out, for example, amplified data to the control board 12 through the data transmission / reception signal line 32 based on the signal from the output switching unit 46.

  On the control board 12 side, it is recognized that the detection signals from the four sensors 24 connected to the relay hub 16 identified by sending the ID are received in parallel (D0 to D3), and then input from the data transmission / reception signal line 32. The signal will be analyzed.

  A fuse detector 50 is connected to the driver 48. The fuse detection unit 50 has a function of acquiring power supply state information from between the fuse 36 and the sensor connector 38 and sending the result to the driver 48.

  The driver 48 is configured to send this power supply state information to the control board 12 via the disconnection detection signal line 34, so that quick disconnection recognition is possible.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sensor signal reception control routine for receiving a signal from the sensor 24 in the control board 12.

  When this flowchart is started, first, in step 100, a variable (numerical value for specifying ID) n is set to 1, and then the process proceeds to step 102 where a bit signal (3 bits) corresponding to IDn is connected to the wire harness 14 (directly connected). The signal is sent to the ID specifying signal line 30 on line 28).

  Each relay hub 16 connected in parallel to the wire harness 14 receives a 3-bit signal sent from the ID specifying signal line 30 and collates it with its own set ID.

  On the other hand, as shown in step 104, the control board 12 resets and starts the timer, and then proceeds to step 106 to accept 4-bit data from the data transmission / reception signal line 32 (D0 to D3).

  That is, as a result of the ID collation, four-bit signals are transmitted from the four sensors 24 connected to the matching relay hub 16, and are accepted by the control board 12 side.

  In the next step 108, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 110, the timer is stopped, and the process proceeds to step 112.

  Thereby, the control board 12 can receive signals from the four sensors 24 specified by the ID.

  In step 112, it is determined whether or not the variable n has reached 8 (that is, the maximum value of the ID to be specified). If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 114 and the variable n is incremented (n ← n + 1). Then, the process returns to step 102 and the above steps are repeated.

  If the determination at step 112 is affirmative, this routine ends.

  FIG. 4 shows an ID specifying signal line 30 and ID signal transmission / reception signal lines 32 output from each sensor 24 when an ID is specified in the relay hub 16 (when four sensors 24 are specified). It is a timing chart which shows the state of communication.

  The three ID specifying signal lines 30 (ID0 to ID2) are “000” → “001” → “010” → “011” → “100” → “101” → “110” when “ID0 ID1 ID2”. ”→” 111 ”→“ 000 ”→.

  At this time, the data transmission / reception signal line 32 (D0 to D3) performs parallel communication of four signal states in a period during which one ID is maintained (for example, the period t1 to t8 in FIG. 4). Become.

  By transmitting this to the control board 12 in time series every time the ID is sequentially changed, the source of the received signal can be recognized by synchronizing with each period (t1 to t8 in FIG. 4) ( Sensor 24 can be identified).

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the configuration is omitted.

  The feature of the second embodiment is that the device has an output diameter (here, a fan motor), and as shown in FIG. 5, a power supply line driven by a fan motor is connected to a wire harness 214 connected to the relay hub 150. (24 / 0V) 200 (see FIG. 6) is provided.

  In the following, the configuration will be described while comparing with the first embodiment as needed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the fan motor 224 to be connected (referred to as “fan” in FIGS. 5 and 6 and henceforth referred to as “fan 224”) includes an output signal (drive power) and an input signal (fan alarm). Therefore, when the same connector (fan connector 238) as in the first embodiment is applied, the connection port must be divided into input and output. In the embodiment, the number of devices connected to one relay hub 216 (the number of fans attached) is four.

  In addition, the ID assigned to each relay hub 216 is two in the first embodiment, whereas in the second embodiment, one ID is assigned. This is based on the processing capacity of the control board 12, and four devices are the limit of simultaneous control. In the second embodiment, one relay hub 216 has four output devices (fan motors). Because.

  As shown in FIG. 6, six types (12 pieces) of wire harnesses 214 (see FIG. 5) are connected to the input connector 218 in the relay hub 216 of the second embodiment.

  The input connector 218 and the output connector 222 are connected by a direct connection line 220, and the wire harness is relayed to the relay hub 216 at the subsequent stage.

  The direct connection line 220 includes, in order from the top of FIG. 6, a fan motor driving power supply line 200 (two), a control power supply line 28 (two), an ID specifying signal line 30 (three), and an input / output. It comprises a switching instruction (DIR) signal line 202 (one), a disconnection detection signal line 34 (one), and a data transmission / reception signal line 32 (four).

  The relay hub 216 includes a control power supply line 28, a disconnection detection signal line 34, a driver / receiver 204 connected to the data transmission / reception signal line 32, a control power supply line 28, an ID specifying signal line 30, and an input. The receiver 42 connected to the output switching instruction signal line 202, the driver / receiver 204, the ID recognition / input / output switching unit 206 that controls the receiver 42, and the switch ID setting unit 26 connected to the ID recognition / input / output switching unit 206 Drive signal generation unit 208, fuse detection unit 50, fan alarm interface unit 210, fan interface unit 212 connected to drive signal generation unit 208, fan alarm interface unit 210, and fan interface unit 212. And a fan connector 238.

  IDs are output from the control board 12 in a predetermined order (“000” → “001” → “010” → “011” → “100” → “101” → “110” → “111” → “000” → ...) By making two cycles of this ID one cycle, the first half is output control (DIR = H), and the second half is input control (DIR = L), so fan motor drive control and error management are time consuming. You can always do it in the series.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, the relay hub 216 is apparently a so-called cascade connection to the wire harness 214, but electrically, the relay hub 216 is connected in parallel to the wire harness 214. Therefore, there is no problem that the outer diameter of the wire harness 214 becomes larger as the outer diameter of the wire harness 214 becomes closer to the control board 12.

It is a block diagram of the information communication system using the relay hub which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed partially the structure of the relay hub which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a sensor signal reception control routine for receiving a signal from a sensor on a control board according to the first embodiment. 6 is a timing chart showing a communication state of an ID specifying signal line and a data transmitting / receiving signal line when an ID is specified in the relay hub according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the information communication system using the relay hub which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed partially the structure of the relay hub which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. 12 is a timing chart showing a communication state between an ID specifying signal line and a data transmitting / receiving signal line when an ID is specified in the relay hub according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information communication system 12 Control board 14 Wire harness 16 Relay hub 18 Input terminal connector (input / output terminal connector)
20 Direct connection 22 Output connector (input / output connector)
24 Sensor 26 Switch ID Setting Unit 28 Power Supply Line 30 ID Identification Signal Line 32 Data Transmission / Reception Signal Line 34 Disconnection Detection Signal Line 36 Fuse 38 Sensor Connector 40 Sensor Interface Circuit 42 Receiver (Device Control Unit)
44 ID recognition unit (identification code verification means)
46 Output switching unit (device control means)
48 Driver (device control means)

Claims (6)

A relay hub that is provided between a control board to which one end of a main wiring group is connected and a plurality of devices that transmit and receive signals via the main wiring group, and that manages and controls the transmission and reception of the signals. There,
Each having a plurality of terminal groups, the terminals that are paired with each other are electrically directly connected, and at least a pair of input / output end connectors that relay the basic wiring group from the control board,
Power supply means for supplying the power received from the backbone wiring group to connected devices;
An identification code collating means for collating an identification code received from the backbone wiring group and an identification code held by itself;
Device control means for controlling connected devices in time series for each identification code by a command signal received from the basic wiring group when the identification code matches by the identification code verification means;
Having a relay hub.   The device is composed of a motor for moving each moving body applied to the image processing apparatus, an output device including a solenoid, and an input device including a position detection sensor for detecting the position of each moving body, and at least an output. 2. The relay hub according to claim 1, wherein the device and the input device are separately connected to different relay hubs.   The relay hub according to claim 1, wherein the number of devices connected depends on a signal transmission capability of the basic wiring group. The power supply by the power supply means detects an overload and disconnects a fuse;
An informing means for informing the state of the fuse to the control board;
The relay hub according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:   The relay hub according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the identification code is set and held by a manual switch switching operation. An information communication system using the relay hub according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The relay hub is connected in parallel to the backbone wiring group,
Different identification codes are given to the relay hubs connected in parallel,
An information communication system, wherein the control board transmits serially an identification code of each relay hub and a control signal to a device connected to the relay hub specified by the identification code from the control board.

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