JP2014191555A - KVM switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a KVM switch configured to enable easier cable routing and to reduce cost.SOLUTION: A KVM switch comprises: a video terminal to be connected to a video display device via a digital video cable having a twisted pair signal line; a USB terminal which connects to a USB device via a USB cable; a plurality of computer connection terminals to be connected to a plurality of computers; a switching part which selectively connects the video terminal, the USB terminal, and one of the computer connection terminals; and a computer connection cable for connecting the computer connection terminal with the computer. The computer connection cable is configured by adding a USB connector to an end of an original digital video cable having the same configuration with the digital video cable, on the side of the computer, and connecting two data signal pins of the USB connector to the twisted pair signal line included in the original digital video cable.

Description

  The present invention relates to a KVM switch.

  A KVM switch (Keyboard Video Mouse Switch) for switching and operating a plurality of computers with a set of keyboard, monitor, and mouse is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The KVM switch is also called a CPU switch. For example, a USB cable compatible with the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard is used for the connection between the KVM switch and the keyboard and mouse, and the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) standard is used for the connection between the KVM switch and the monitor. Digital video cables such as HDMI cables compatible with the DVI and DVI cables compatible with the DVI (Digital Visual Interface) standard are used. Further, both a USB cable and a digital video cable are used for connection between the KVM switch and each computer.

JP 2005-142907 A

  In the conventional KVM switch, both a USB cable and a digital video cable are used for connection to a computer, so there is room for improvement in terms of the ease of cable handling and the cost of the cable tends to increase. There was a problem.

  Such a problem is not limited to a keyboard, a monitor, and a mouse, but is a problem common to a KVM switch that switches and operates a plurality of computers using both at least one USB device and at least one video device.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the cable handling ease of the KVM switch and reduce the cost of the cable.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention can be realized as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1] A KVM switch,
A video terminal for connecting to a video display device via a digital video cable having a plurality of signal lines including a twisted pair signal line;
A USB terminal for connecting to a USB device via a USB cable;
A plurality of computer connection terminals for connecting to a plurality of computers;
A switching unit that connects the video terminal and the USB terminal and any one of the plurality of computer connection terminals in a switchable manner;
A computer connection cable for connecting the plurality of computer connection terminals and the plurality of computers;
In the computer connection cable, a USB connector is added to an end of the original digital video cable having the same configuration as the digital video cable on the computer side, and two data signal pins included in the USB connector are connected to the original digital video cable. A KVM switch, which is a cable connected to a twisted pair signal line included in the cable.

  In this KVM switch, the configuration of the computer connection cable is such that the USB connector is added to the end of the computer side of the original digital video cable having the same configuration as the digital video cable, and the two data signal pins of the USB connector are the original. Because it is connected to the twisted pair signal line included in the digital video cable, it can transmit and receive digital video signals via the computer connection cable between the KVM switch and the computer, and it conforms to the USB standard. Data signals can also be transmitted and received. This computer connection cable is easier to handle and costs less than a combination of a USB cable and a digital video cable used in a conventional KVM switch. Therefore, with this KVM switch, it is possible to improve the cable handling ease and reduce the cable cost.

[Application Example 2] The KVM switch according to Application Example 1,
In the computer connection cable, the power pin of the USB connector is connected to a power line included in the digital video cable,
The KVM switch further receives power supplied from the computer via the power connection pin and the power line of the computer connection cable via the computer connection terminal, and the KVM switch and the video terminal A KVM switch comprising a power supply unit that supplies operating power to a video display device connected to the USB terminal and a USB device connected to the USB terminal.

  In this KVM switch, since the power pin of the USB connector of the computer connection cable is connected to the power line included in the digital video cable, the power supply unit is supplied from the computer via the power pin and power line of the computer connection cable. Power can be received via the computer connection terminal, and operating power can be supplied to the KVM switch, the video display device, and the USB device. Therefore, in this KVM switch, components such as a plug and an AC adapter can be eliminated, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[Application Example 3] The KVM switch according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2,
The digital video cable is a KVM switch that is compatible with one of the HDMI 1.4 standard and the DVI standard.

  In this KVM switch, it is possible to improve the ease of handling a digital video cable corresponding to one of the HDMI 1.4 standard and the DVI standard and to reduce the cost.

  The present invention can be realized in various modes, and can be realized in the form of, for example, a KVM switch, a KVM switch cable, or the like.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically the structure of the KVM switch 10 in 1st Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the computer connection cable HUCa. It is explanatory drawing which shows the signal arrangement | positioning in each line of each pin of each connector of a computer connection cable HUCa, and a cable. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically the structure of the KVM switch 10 in 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the signal arrangement | positioning in each pin of each connector and each line of a cable of the computer connection cable HUCa in 2nd Example.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. First embodiment:
B. Second embodiment:
C. Variations:

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the KVM switch 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The KVM switch 10 is connected to devices such as a keyboard 320, a mouse 330, and a monitor 310, and is connected to a plurality of computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) 200. It is a switch for switching and operating the PC 200. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the KVM switch 10 is connected to two PCs 200 (PC (1) and PC (2)), and each device and one of the two PCs 200 are connected to be switchable. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the KVM switch 10 includes a KVM switch body 100 and a computer connection cable HUCa for connecting the KVM switch body 100 and each PC 200.

  The KVM switch main body 100 has a terminal for connecting to each device. Specifically, the KVM switch body 100 includes a device HDMI terminal 120 for connection to a monitor 310 as a video display device, and two device USB terminals (for connection to USB devices such as a keyboard 320 and a mouse 330). Device USB terminals (1) and (2)) 130. The device HDMI terminal 120 of the KVM switch body 100 and the monitor 310 are connected via an HDMI cable HCa as a digital video cable. In this embodiment, a cable and a terminal corresponding to the HDMI 1.4 standard are used. Therefore, the HDMI cable HCa is a cable having a plurality of signal lines including a twisted pair signal line. The device USB terminal 130 of the KVM switch body 100 and each USB device (keyboard 320 and mouse 330) are connected via a USB cable UCa. In this embodiment, a cable and a terminal corresponding to the USB 2.0 standard are used. The KVM switch main body 100 also has a USB hub 154 that distributes USB signals handled by the two device USB terminals 130.

  The KVM switch main body 100 also has two PC terminals (PC terminals (1) and (2)) 110 for connection to the PC 200. Each PC terminal 110 includes a standard HDMI terminal 112. Each PC terminal 110 and each PC 200 of the KVM switch body 100 are connected via a computer connection cable HUCa. The configuration of the computer connection cable HUCa will be described in detail later.

  The KVM switch main body 100 is also located between the device HDMI terminal 120 and each PC terminal 110, and connects the device HDMI terminal 120 and one of the two PC terminals 110 in a switchable manner. Located between the selector 140, the USB hub 154, and each PC terminal 110, the USB hub 154 (device USB terminal 130 connected thereto) and one of the two PC terminals 110 can be switched. And a USB switch 152 to be connected. The HDMI selector 140 and the USB switch 152 switch the PC terminal 110 to be connected in response to a switching instruction from the user received by the switching instruction unit 160. By switching operation of the HDMI selector 140 and the USB switch 152 according to the switching instruction, switching of the PC 200 to which each device (the monitor 310, the keyboard 320, the mouse 330) is connected is realized. The HDMI selector 140 and the USB switch 152 correspond to a switching unit in the present invention.

  The KVM switch main body 100 also includes a power supply unit 170 that supplies operating power to the KVM switch main body 100 and devices connected to the KVM switch main body 100 (the monitor 310, the keyboard 320, and the mouse 330).

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the computer connection cable HUCa. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing signal arrangement in each pin of each connector of the computer connection cable HUCa and in each line of the cable. As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the computer connection cable HUCa is such that a USB connector UCN is added to the PC 200 side of the original HDMI cable. Here, the original HDMI cable is a digital video cable having the same configuration as the HDMI cable HCa used for connection with the monitor 310. That is, the original HDMI cable has an HDMI cable Ca having a plurality of signal lines including twisted pair signal lines, and an HDMI connector HCN connected to both ends of the cable Ca. It should be noted that connectors (HDMI connector HCNp and USB connector UCNp) arranged at one end of computer connection cable HUCa (the left end in FIG. 2) are for connecting to HDMI terminal 202 and USB terminal 204 of PC 200. A connector (HDMI connector HCNd) disposed at the other end (the right end in FIG. 2) is a connector (see FIG. 1), and the HDMI terminal of the PC terminal 110 of the KVM switch body 100 112 is a connector for connecting to 112.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the signal arrangement of each pin of the HDMI connector HCN of the computer connection cable HUCa is in principle the same as that of a normal HDMI cable HCa. The configuration of the cable Ca is also the same as that of a normal HDMI cable HCa. That is, in the cable Ca, the signal lines TP1 and TP2 that should originally be connected to the 13th and 14th pins of the HDMI connector HCN constitute a twisted pair. Note that the twisted pair signal lines TP1 and TP2 to be connected to the 13th and 14th pins are available for Ethernet (registered trademark) in the HDMI 1.4 standard (the signal to be connected to the 13th pin). The line can also be used as CEC).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, in the computer connection cable HUCa of this embodiment, the two data signal pins (D + pin and D− pin) of the USB connector UCNp are connected to the signal line TP1, cable CTP1. Connected to TP2. Since the signal lines TP1, TP2 of the cable Ca form a twisted pair, high-speed transfer of USB data signals is possible. Also, the 13th and 14th pins of the HDMI connector HCNd on the KVM switch body 100 side are used for two USB data signals (D + and D−). Therefore, if the computer connection cable HUCa of this embodiment is used, the USB data signal can be transferred between the PC 200 and the PC terminal 110 of the KVM switch body 100.

  In the computer connection cable HUCa of this embodiment, the 13th and 14th pins of the HDMI connector HCNp on the PC 200 side are not connected to any signal line of the cable Ca. For this reason, the PC 200 cannot transmit and receive an Ethernet signal via the computer connection cable HUCa. However, since the PC 200 generally has other Ethernet interfaces, it is unlikely to be a problem. Since pins other than the 13th and 14th pins of each HDMI connector HCN are connected to the corresponding signal lines of the cable Ca in the same manner as the normal HDMI cable HCa, if the computer connection cable HUCa of this embodiment is used, Data transfer conforming to HDMI 1.4 can be performed between the PC 200 and the HDMI terminal 112 of the PC terminal 110 of the KVM switch body 100.

  As described above, the computer connection cable HUCa of the KVM switch 10 according to the present embodiment adds the USB connector UCNp to the PC 200 side of the original HDMI cable having the same configuration as the normal HDMI cable HCa, and the two USB connectors UCNp have It is manufactured by connecting the data signal pins to the signal lines TP1 and TP2 constituting the twisted pair in the cable Ca. Therefore, in this embodiment, the KVM switch body 100 and the PC 200 can transmit and receive signals conforming to the HDMI 1.4 standard excluding Ethernet via the computer connection cable HUCa and comply with the USB standard. The transmitted and received data signals can also be transmitted. The computer connection cable HUCa of this embodiment has the same configuration as the cable for the normal HDMI cable HCa because the cable Ca portion is the same as the combination of the USB cable and the digital video cable used for the conventional KVM switch. The cable is easy to handle. Further, the computer connection cable HUCa of the present embodiment is obtained by adding a USB connector UCN to a cable for a normal HDMI cable HCa, so that it is compared with a combination of a USB cable and a digital video cable used for a conventional KVM switch. The cost is low. Therefore, in the KVM switch of this embodiment, it is possible to improve the cable handling ease and reduce the cost of the cable.

B. Second embodiment:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the KVM switch 10 in the second embodiment. The KVM switch 10 of the second embodiment is different from the KVM switch 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in the configuration of the power supply and the computer connection cable HUCa, and the other points are the KVM switch of the first embodiment. 10 is the same.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment, the power supply unit 170 is connected to the power supply terminal of the HDMI terminal 112 of each PC terminal 110 via a diode 172.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing signal arrangement on each pin of each connector of the computer connection cable HUCa and each line of the cable in the second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the computer connection cable HUCa of the second embodiment has a configuration in which a USB connector UCNp is added to the PC 200 side of the original HDMI cable. In the computer connection cable HUCa of the second embodiment, the power pin (VDD) and the ground pin (GND) of the USB connector UCNp are connected to signal lines corresponding to the power and ground of the cable Ca. Also, the 18th pin of the HDMI connector HCNd on the KVM switch body 100 side is used as power (VDD). Therefore, if the computer connection cable HUCa of the second embodiment is used, in addition to the transfer of the USB data signal between the PC 200 and the PC terminal 110 of the KVM switch body 100, the PC terminal of the KVM switch body 100 from the PC 200 is used. Power can be supplied to 110. The power supplied to the PC terminal 110 is input to the power supply unit 170 via the diode 172. The power supply unit 170 is connected to supply power to the device HDMI terminal 120 and the device USB terminal 130. As a result, the power supply unit 170 supplies operating power to the KVM switch body 100 and the devices (the monitor 310, the keyboard 320, and the mouse 330) connected to the KVM switch body 100 without receiving AC power input from a commercial power supply. Can be supplied.

  According to the USB 2.0 standard, power supply with a maximum current of 500 mA is possible. In the example of FIG. 4, since the KVM switch 10 is connected to two PCs 200, the power supply of the maximum current 1A can be received.

  As described above, in the computer connection cable HUCa of the KVM switch 10 of the second embodiment, the USB connector UCNp is added to the PC 200 side of the original HDMI cable having the same configuration as the normal HDMI cable HCa, and the USB connector UCNp has 2 It is manufactured by connecting two data signal pins to signal lines TP1 and TP2 constituting a twisted pair in the cable Ca and connecting the power pins of the USB connector UCNp to signal lines corresponding to the power of the cable Ca. Therefore, the KVM switch 10 of the second embodiment can be operated by the power supplied from the PC 200 via the computer connection cable HUCa, and can eliminate the need for a plug or an AC adapter.

C. Variations:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

  The configuration of the KVM switch 10 in each of the above embodiments is merely an example and can be variously modified. For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the keyboard 320 and the mouse 330 are illustrated as USB devices connected to the KVM switch 10. However, instead of the keyboard 320 and the mouse 330, or in addition to the keyboard 320 and the mouse 330, there are other devices. USB devices (hard disk drives and printers) may be connected to the KVM switch 10.

  In each of the above embodiments, two PCs 200 are connected to the KVM switch 10 and switching is performed between the two PCs 200. However, the number of PCs 200 that are connected to the KVM switch 10 and are to be switched is as follows. There may be three or more. Further, the computer connected to the KVM switch 10 is not limited to a so-called personal computer, and may be a computer in a broad sense including a server or the like.

  In each of the above embodiments, the HDMI 1.4 standard-compliant cable and terminal are used for transferring video / audio data. However, a digital video cable having a plurality of signal lines including a twisted pair signal line is used. For example, a cable and a terminal corresponding to another standard such as DVI may be used as long as the standard can transfer data. In each of the above embodiments, a cable and a terminal corresponding to the USB 2.0 standard are used for signal transfer for the keyboard 320 and the mouse 330. However, a cable and a terminal corresponding to the USB standard other than USB 2.0 are used. May be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware. Also good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... KVM switch 100 ... KVM switch main body 110 ... PC terminal 112 ... HDMI terminal 120 ... Device HDMI terminal 130 ... Device USB terminal 152 ... USB switch 154 ... USB hub 160 ... Switching instruction | indication part 170 ... Power supply part 172 ... Diode 200 ... PC
202 ... HDMI terminal 204 ... USB terminal 310 ... Monitor 320 ... Keyboard 330 ... Mouse HUCa ... Computer connection cable

Claims (3)

A KVM switch,
A video terminal for connecting to a video display device via a digital video cable having a plurality of signal lines including a twisted pair signal line;
A USB terminal for connecting to a USB device via a USB cable;
A plurality of computer connection terminals for connecting to a plurality of computers;
A switching unit that connects the video terminal and the USB terminal and any one of the plurality of computer connection terminals in a switchable manner;
A computer connection cable for connecting the plurality of computer connection terminals and the plurality of computers;
In the computer connection cable, a USB connector is added to an end of the original digital video cable having the same configuration as the digital video cable on the computer side, and two data signal pins included in the USB connector are connected to the original digital video cable. A KVM switch, which is a cable connected to a twisted pair signal line included in the cable. The KVM switch according to claim 1,
In the computer connection cable, the power pin of the USB connector is connected to a power line included in the digital video cable,
The KVM switch further receives power supplied from the computer via the power connection pin and the power line of the computer connection cable via the computer connection terminal, and the KVM switch and the video terminal A KVM switch comprising a power supply unit that supplies operating power to a video display device connected to the USB terminal and a USB device connected to the USB terminal. The KVM switch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The digital video cable is a KVM switch that is compatible with one of the HDMI 1.4 standard and the DVI standard.

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