JP2014505973A - Electrical wire - Google Patents

Abstract

  The electric wire (110) for connecting two electrical devices has a first section having a first impedance and a predetermined first length, and a second impedance in contact with the first section. And a second section having a predetermined second length. The impedances of the sections (125, 130) in contact with each other are different. In the area of the section (125, 130) in contact with each other, the impedance changing portion (135) exists.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric wire having the configuration described in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

  For example, in the complicated wiring of electrical equipment in automobile technology, building technology, and system engineering, a plurality of electric wires are often laid in a narrow space. If the wiring is changed, i.e. existing equipment is connected to each other in different ways via wires, new equipment is added or existing equipment is removed, establishing proper connection For this purpose, individual identification of the electric wires is often required.

  The identification can be performed based on, for example, a marking provided on the covering portion of the electric wire. For this marking, label and color coding are common. It is also possible to electrically identify the wire by forming the current circuit with the wire. In one embodiment, the signal generator is connected to the two conductors of the wire at one end of the wire, and the signal receiver is connected to the wire at the other end of the wire. The signal formed by the signal generator can have a DC voltage or a low frequency, preferably in the audible range. When the signal reaches the signal receiver, the wire is identified between its two ends. The connection of the various ends of the wire is considered to represent a significant effort for large-scale wiring or wiring that is not easily accessible. Further, during identification, it is usually not possible to use wires for the equipment in the wiring.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric wire that can improve identification. Another subject of this invention is providing the manufacturing method of an electric wire.

  According to the invention, these problems are solved by a wire comprising the arrangement as described in the characterizing part of claim 1 and a method comprising the method steps according to claim 9.

  Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

  An electric wire for connecting two electrical devices has a first section having a first impedance and a first length, and a second impedance and a second length. 2nd section is included. Since the first section is in contact with the second section and the impedance of the sections in contact with each other is different, the impedance changes in the section in the section in contact with each other.

  The position of the impedance change can be detected technically, for example using time domain reflection. Thereby, the full length of a track and the length of two sections can be specified. If the specified length matches the predetermined length of the line to be searched, the line has been discovered.

  Advantageously, the wire is maintained in an operational state in some embodiments to connect two electrical devices during the aforementioned identification. Furthermore, identification can be performed quickly and, in the usual case, only access to one of the ends of the wire is required. If the track is individually coded using the position of the impedance change and is sufficiently tightly connected to the predetermined surrounding environment, the equipment connected to that connection is within the predetermined surrounding environment. The device can be inspected for presence. Therefore, the function or use of the device can be related to the surrounding environment by the above-described configuration of the electrical connection.

  The electric wire may further have one or a plurality of other sections having a predetermined length, with the sections in contact with each other having different impedances. Thereby, the reliability of identification of a connection part can be improved. Furthermore, it is possible to identify an electric wire having a branch path. Wire identification can be performed at any end.

  When more than two sections are provided, the sections in contact with each other in pairs can have different impedances alternately along the line. Certainly, the degree of impedance change can be determined by comparing pulse intensities using time domain reflection, however, the wire identification need not be performed based on multiple different impedance changes. . Rather, it would be sufficient to be able to use two different impedances along the wire, which would help simplify the manufacturing of the line and thereby reduce manufacturing costs.

  An electric wire can include two conductors extending along the line, in which case a dielectric is disposed between the conductors, and the dielectric of the section of the line in contact with each other. The body has different dielectric constants. This allows different impedances to occur in adjacent sections of the wire without having to change the conductor itself. This makes it possible to simplify the production of electric wires based on known electric wires.

  One of the dielectrics can include particles with a high dielectric constant. With this dielectric particle, the dielectric constant of the dielectric can be changed, whereby the impedance of the line in the region of the dielectric can be controlled as desired by the mixing of the particles.

  Along the two sections, two media with different dielectric constants can be mixed with each other in different ratios, so that the dielectric constant along those sections can be influenced through the mixing ratio.

  In one embodiment, the conductors extend coaxially with each other. This can easily affect the dielectric between those conductors, however, it is almost impossible to change the dielectric after the wire is manufactured. As a result, the corresponding coaxial line can be inherently protected from copying or tampering.

  In the second embodiment, the conductors are twisted together. Twisted electrical conductors can be manufactured inexpensively, and such conductors have sufficient signal transmission characteristics for many applications. A dielectric can be provided in the region of the conductor during or after manufacture of the wire. Therefore, the possibility of identifying the electric wire can be adapted or changed before, during or after the electric wire is laid.

  Advantageously, the area of the sections in contact with each other is shorter than the diameter of the wire. Thus, in order to realize a unique measurement, it can be ensured that the side edges of the pulses reflected at the impedance changing portion between the sections in contact with each other are sufficiently steep. Thereby, the identifiability of the electric wire can be improved.

  A method for manufacturing an electric wire includes a step of preparing two conductors extending along a line, a step of preparing a plurality of dielectrics having different dielectric constants, and a section having a predetermined length in contact with each other Providing dielectrics between the conductors in a predetermined section along the line so as to have different impedances.

  In this way, the above-described electric wire can be manufactured at low cost. Here, the method is sufficiently flexible to produce a large number of variations of the manufactured wires, so that individual identification of the manufactured wires can be ensured. In one embodiment, only two different dielectrics are used, and one of the two dielectrics is any peripheral material present, such as air anyway. As a result, the manufacturing can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In one embodiment, the two conductors extend coaxially to each other and the dielectric is between the conductors before or while one of the conductors is surrounded by the other conductor. Is housed in. As already suggested above, in this way an identifiable coaxial wire can be produced that is inherently protected against counterfeiting and tampering.

  In another embodiment, the two conductors are twisted together and at least one of the dielectrics is provided only after the conductors are twisted. Therefore, it is not necessary to adapt a production device for a line provided with twisted conductors at a cost in order to be able to produce the aforementioned electric wires.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The wiring of a plurality of devices is shown. Sectional drawing of the coaxial cable for the wiring shown in FIG. 1 is shown. The side view of the coaxial cable shown in FIG. 2 is shown. The side view of the twisted pair cable for the wiring shown in FIG. 1 is shown. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the cable shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows wiring 100 of a plurality of devices mounted on an automobile 105 and connected to each other using an electric wire 110. FIG. 1 is a principle diagram, and the electric wire 110 described in detail below is not limited to use in the automobile 105. Rather, the wire 110 can be used in essentially any electrical wiring.

  In one embodiment, the purpose of the wire 110 is to extend the ability to electrically identify the wire to the surrounding environment of the track. In this regard, the wires are advantageously mechanically connected to the surrounding environment so that the replacement or work of wires is very cumbersome. For example, the electric wire 110 can be disposed in a wire harness in the automobile 105. In another embodiment, the electric wire 110 can be laid in the building as a built-in cable, or can be laid in Sanwa soil.

  The two devices 115 and 120 shown in FIG. 1 may be arbitrary electrical devices. In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that the electric wire 110 is identified on the first device 115 side. Therefore, the second electrical device 120 can be omitted. In alternative embodiments, the identification can also be performed by the second electrical device 120 or another device connected to the electrical wire 110. Another device may be, for example, a service device or a diagnostic device that is additionally connected to one of the devices 115 and 120 or is replaced with the device and electrically connected to the line 110.

  The electric wire 110 has a first section 125 and a second section 130. The first section 125 has a length L1 and an impedance Z1, and is guided from the first device 115 to the second section 130. The second section 130 has a length L2 and an impedance Z2, and is guided from the first section 125 to the second electrical device 120. The impedance transition part 135 is formed in the line 110 where the first section 125 is in contact with the second section 130.

  For identification of the wire 110, the first device 115 has a signal generator 140 and a sampling device 140, both of which are connected to the same end of the wire 110 in the first section 125. . In order to identify the line 110, in particular, the length of the first section 125, the length of the second section 130, and the size of the impedance transition part 135 as necessary are specified by the first device 115. . In an alternative embodiment, the first electrical device 115 is also connected to another part of the electrical line 110, which connection is advantageously spaced a predetermined distance from the impedance transition 135. It is done.

The electrical connection 110 is identified as follows:
A first electrical pulse is formed using the signal generator 140 and supplied to the end of the wire 100. The sampling device 145 can detect this first pulse. The first pulse propagates to the right through the first section 125 and is partially reflected at the impedance transition 135. The reflected portion of the first pulse forms a second pulse that propagates through the first section 125 to the left in the opposite direction and is sampled by the sampling device 145 for time and amplitude. Can be identified. The portion of the first pulse that is not reflected at the pulse transition 135 forms a third pulse, which propagates along the second section 130 toward the right. At the end of the second section 130, the pulse is also partially reflected by the second device 120 to form a fourth pulse. In order to improve the reflection between the end of the second section 130 and the second device 120, it may be advantageous to establish another impedance transition in this region. For example, it is conceivable that the electrical device 120 is separated from the electric wire 110, or a plurality of conductors of the electric wire 110 are connected to each other in the second electric device 120. The fourth pulse propagates through the second section 130 toward the left side to the impedance transition section 135 and is partially reflected again at the impedance transition section 135. The unreflected portion of the fourth pulse forms a fifth pulse, which propagates through the first section 125 to the left and to the first instrument 115 where it is taken by the sampling device 145. The time and amplitude can be detected.

  From the time interval between the first pulse and the other pulses sampled by the sampling device 145, the length of the first section 125 and the length of the wire 110 under knowledge of the signal propagation speed along the wire 110. Is identified. The length of the second section 130 can be specified from these lengths by subtraction.

  The electric wire 110 is configured such that the length L1 of the section 125 and the length L2 of the section 130 are characteristic for the line 110. If the length L1 of the section 125 and the length L2 of the section 130 match, each having a predetermined length, the wire 110 is identified. If the electric wire 110 is connected to the automobile 105 inseparably or is connected to another surrounding environment, whether or not the equipment 115 is mounted on the predetermined automobile 105 by the equipment 115 in this way. Can be identified. From this specification, the operation method or operation state of the electrical device 115 can be derived. For example, the operation of the device 115 mounted on the automobile 105 that is not a predetermined one can be rejected.

  The above-described specification of the lengths of the sections 125 and 130 of the electric wire 110 can be generalized to an arbitrary number and arrangement configuration of the sections 125 and 130 in contact with each other of the connecting portion 110. In that case, the branching between the individual sections, or even the loop, does not become an obstacle to the above-mentioned identification. Of course, depending on which part of the electric wire 110 the first device 115 is connected to, the specified lengths of the sections 125 and 130 of the electrical connection portion 110 are different, or these sections are In different arrangements.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable 200 corresponding to the electric wire 110 shown in FIG. The coaxial cable 200 includes an inner conductor 205, and the inner conductor 205 is radially surrounded by an inner insulating element 210. A plurality of webs 215 extend radially from the inner insulating element 210 to the outer insulating element 220. A space is formed between the web 215 and the insulating elements 210 and 220. The outer insulating element 220 is surrounded by an outer conductor 230 in the radial direction, and the outer conductor 230 itself is surrounded by a protective jacket 235.

  The void 225 is filled with air or other gas in a known coaxial cable (for example, AirCom Plus). The medium accommodated in the void 225 is disposed between the line 205 and the line 230 and acts as a dielectric that affects the impedance of the coaxial cable 200 through its dielectric constant. In the axial section of the coaxial cable, when the void 225 is filled with a material having a dielectric constant different from that of air or other gas, the coaxial cable 200 has a modified impedance in that section. Yes. Accordingly, an impedance transition portion to an adjacent axial section of the coaxial cable 200 is generated. Alternatively, the percentage of different media can be varied to different heights in multiple sections, for example, by changing the blowing agent concentration in the insulating foam that forms the dielectric of the cable.

  FIG. 3 shows a side view of the coaxial cable 200 shown in FIG. The coaxial cable 200 is divided into a plurality of sections 310 to 370 in the axial direction. Here, in the section 350-370, which is located between the sections 310-340, each paired, the dielectric is filled in the void 225, and the dielectric constant of the dielectric is the section 310-340. This is different from the dielectric constant of the dielectric in the void 225. Therefore, along the axial extension of the coaxial cable 200, the impedance transition occurs between the two sections 310-370 that are in contact with each other.

  Within the scope of manufacturing the coaxial cable 200, the voids 225 can be filled with various dielectrics at regular or irregular intervals. The first dielectric may include air or insulating foam, while the second dielectric may include a material mixed with particles having a high dielectric constant, such as ceramic.

  4 shows a side view of a twisted pair cable 400 corresponding to the electric wire 110 shown in FIG. In accordance with FIG. 2, the twisted pair cable 400 is connected between the device 115 and another device 120. The twisted pair cable 400 includes two conductors 403 and 405 twisted to each other, and is divided into a plurality of sections 410 to 450. Sections 440 and 450 are provided between sections 410-430 in pairs.

  In the sections 440 and 450, the twisted pair cable 400 is surrounded by a substance 460 mixed with particles 470 having a high dielectric constant. Advantageously, the substance 460 is a plastic or adhesive, such as a thermal adhesive or a two-component adhesive, such as a polyester-based, acrylic-based or epoxy-based.

  In alternative embodiments, the material 460 can also be formed by, for example, fixed clamps, which can clamp the twisted pair cable 400 itself, and / or connect the twisted pair cable 400 to its surrounding environment. Can be fixed to.

  In the sections 440 and 450, the substance 460 having the particle 470 such as a dielectric works, so that the impedance of the twisted pair cable 400 is different from the other sections 410 to 430 in those sections. Impedance transitions exist at transitions between adjacent sections 410-450, and the pulses propagating through the twisted pair cable 400 are partially reflected at these transitions.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method 500 for manufacturing the electric wire 110 corresponding to the cable 300 or 400 shown in FIG. 3 or FIG.

  In a first step 505, a conductor is prepared which will later extend along the line 110, 200 or 400. In the case of the coaxial cable 200, the conductor includes an inner conductor 205 and an outer conductor 230. In the case of the twisted pair cable 400, conductors 403 and 405 are included. The wire 110 can also include more than two conductors 205, 230, 403, 405, which are prepared in step 505 and subsequently assembled in the wires 110, 200, 400.

  In the subsequent step 510, a plurality of dielectrics having different dielectric constants are prepared. In one embodiment, only two different dielectrics are used, and one of those dielectrics is present anyway in the region of the prepared conductors 205, 230, 403, 405. Is included. In particular, the medium may include air, insulating foam, plastic or a predetermined arrangement of plastic and air. In another embodiment, various dielectrics are prepared by mixing the same material 460 with high dielectric constant particles 470 in different proportions. Different particles 470 can also be used.

  In the subsequent step 515, the dielectric is in the predetermined sections 125, 130, 310-370, 410-450 along the line 110 and the sections 125, 130, 310 in which the predetermined lengths L 1, L 2 are in contact with each other. -370 and 410-450 are provided between the conductors 205, 230, 403, and 405, respectively, so that they have different impedances Z1 and Z2. In one embodiment, the lengths L1 and L2 of the sections 125, 130, 310-370, and 410-450 can be randomly controlled.

  The method 550 ends here. During the manufacture of electrical wires 110, 200, 400 on an industrial basis, the electrical wire 110 is usually produced with a length that is very long or even no longer restricted, and that line 110 is a subsequent method 500. The steps are cut to the appropriate length and electrical contacts are provided at the ends as required.

Claims (12)

A first section (125) having a first impedance (Z1) and a predetermined first length (L1), a second impedance (Z2) in contact with the first section (125), and A wire (110) for connecting two electrical devices, comprising a second section (130) having a predetermined second length (L2);
The impedance of the sections (125, 130) in contact with each other is different.
The electric wire (110) is characterized in that an impedance changing portion (135) exists in a region of the section (125, 130) in contact with each other.   One or a plurality of other sections having a predetermined length are provided, and the sections (125, 130) in contact with each other have different impedances (Z1, Z2). The electric wire (110) according to claim 1.   3. A plurality of pairs (125, 130) in contact with each other in pairs, having alternating impedances (Z 1, Z 2) along the line (110). Wire (110).   Two conductors (403, 405, 205, 230) extending along the line (110) are provided, and a dielectric (460) is provided between the two conductors (403, 405, 205, 230). The electric wire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a dielectric of the section (125, 130) in contact with each other of the line (110) has a different dielectric constant. (110).   The wire (110) of claim 4, wherein one of the dielectrics (460) comprises particles (470) with a high dielectric constant.   The electric wire (110) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein two media having different dielectric constants are mixed with each other at different ratios in the plurality of sections (125, 130).   The electric wire (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conductors (205, 230) extend coaxially with each other.   The electric wire (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conductors (403, 405) are twisted together.   The electric wire according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the region (135) of the section (125, 130) in contact with each other has a length shorter than the diameter of the line (110). (110). Preparing (505) two conductors (205, 230, 403, 405) extending along the track;
Providing a plurality of dielectrics having different dielectric constants (510);
In the predetermined section (125, 130) along the line (110, 200, 400), so that the sections (125, 130) in contact with each other of the predetermined length (L1, L2) have different impedances, A method (500) for manufacturing an electrical wire (110), comprising the step (515) of providing a dielectric between said conductors (205, 230, 403, 405), respectively. Two conductors extend coaxially with each other,
11. The method of claim 10, wherein a dielectric is received between the conductors (205, 230) before or while one of the conductors (205) is surrounded by the other conductor (230). (500). Twist two conductors (403, 405),
The method (500) of claim 10, wherein the method (500) is provided only after twisting at least one of the dielectrics.

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