JP2015031579A - Device for detecting state of external device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for detecting the state of an external device capable of suppressing the progress of electrochemical corrosion at a terminal more than possible before.SOLUTION: A state detection device 10 comprises: a first terminal 1 for connecting to one connection terminal 21 of an external device 20 having a pair of connection terminals 21, 22; a second terminal 2 for connecting to the other connection terminal 22; a connection connector 11 for accommodating the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2; a potential control circuit unit 3 for applying a prescribed potential to the first terminal 1 for only a prescribed time and setting the potential of the first terminal 1 to a reference potential for other than the prescribed time; and a potential measurement circuit unit 4 for setting the potential of the second terminal 2 to the reference potential for other than the prescribed time and measuring the potential of the second terminal 2 in only a corresponding time zone during the prescribed time. The state detection device 10 detects the state of the external device 20 on the basis of the potential of the second terminal 2 measured by the potential measurement circuit unit 4.

Description

  The present invention relates to an external device state detection device capable of detecting the state of an external device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various electric devices and electronic devices include a connection terminal for detecting an abnormality, a failure, an operating state, or the like in the electric device or the electronic device from the outside. The electrical device and the electronic device connect the connection terminal to a state detection device outside the electrical device and the electronic device, and the state detection device detects the state of the electrical device and the electronic device that are the external devices. The state detection device is electrically connected to the connection terminal of the external device to detect the state of the external device. In this type of external device state detection device, the terminal electrically connected to the connection terminal of the external device may corrode for some reason.

  By the way, as what suppresses corrosion of a terminal, although it is not a state detection apparatus of an external device, the cordless telephone apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is known (for example, refer patent document 1).

  The cordless telephone apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a mobile station 112 and a base station 101 that is connected to charging terminals 113 a and 113 b of the mobile station 112 and charges the battery 116 of the mobile station 112. When the charging terminals 103a and 103b of the base station 101 come into contact with the charging terminals 113a and 113b of the mobile station 112, the base station 101 contacts the charging circuit 102, the charging terminals 103a, 103b, 113a, and 113b from the AC adapter 104. To supply power to the mobile station 112. The mobile station 112 rectifies the supplied electric current with the rectifier circuit 114 and charges the battery 116 via the charge control circuit 115.

  By the way, in the cordless telephone apparatus, when an insulator such as dust and moisture adhere between the charging terminals 103a and 103b of the base station 101 and the charging terminals 113a and 113b of the mobile station 112, the charging terminals 103a, 103b, and 113a. , 113b may progress. In the cordless telephone device of Patent Document 1, the charging polarity reversing unit 105 reverses the potential difference between the charging terminals 103a and 103b of the base station 101 and the charging terminals 113a and 113b of the mobile station 112, thereby preventing corrosion. Progress is suppressed.

  The mobile station 112 includes a control circuit 117 that controls the mobile station 112, a radio circuit 118, a telephone unit 119 that performs operations such as transmission / reception and transmission, and an antenna 120. In addition, the base station 101 includes a control circuit 106 that controls the charging polarity reversing unit 105, an interface circuit 108 connected to the telephone line 107, a radio circuit 109, a control circuit 110 that controls the base station 101, and an antenna 111. And. The charge polarity reversing unit 105 includes four switches 105a to 105d. The base station 101 stops the operation of the charging polarity reversing unit 105 by outputting the transmission / reception detection signal 121 from the control circuit 10 during a call and inputting the transmission / reception detection signal 121 to the control circuit 106. .

  Further, as another device that suppresses corrosion of terminals, for example, an electronic device 200 in which an extension connector 213 of a mobile personal computer 210 and a connection connector 223 of a cradle 220 shown in FIG. For example, see Patent Document 2).

  In the electronic device 200 of Patent Document 2, when the mobile personal computer 210 and the cradle 220 are connected, supply of a charging current for charging the secondary battery 218 of the mobile personal computer 210 and other devices connected to the mobile personal computer 210 are connected. It is configured to allow data communication between them. The mobile personal computer 210 includes a switch element 217 between the terminal pin 214 of the expansion connector 213 and the input / output terminal 216 of the main body circuit 215. The mobile personal computer 210 includes a control unit 231 that controls the switch element 217. The control unit 231 operates the switch element 217 using the switch operation unit 233. The control unit 231 applies an intermittent pulse voltage to the detection terminal pin 234 of the extension connector 213 and measures a change in the potential of the pulse voltage. The control unit 231 detects whether or not the connection terminal of the external device is connected to the expansion connector 213 by the detection mechanism 232 based on a change in the potential of the pulse voltage. When the connection terminal of the external device is connected to the expansion connector 213, the control unit 231 operates the switch element 217 to connect the expansion connector 213 and the main body circuit 215. In the mobile personal computer 210, the voltage applied to the detection terminal pin 234 of the expansion connector 213 is intermittently pulsed, so that the average amount of current flowing between the terminal pins 214 of the expansion connector 213 can be kept low. In the mobile personal computer 210, by suppressing the average amount of current flowing between the terminal pins 214 of the expansion connector 213, it is possible to prevent the terminal pins 214 from corroding even when moisture adheres to the exposed expansion connector 213. It can be done.

  The mobile personal computer 210 includes a secondary battery 218 connected to a main circuit 215 that functions as a personal computer. The cradle 220 includes a cradle circuit 225 and terminal pins 224 connected to the cradle circuit 225 and the terminal pins 214 of the mobile personal computer 210. The cradle 220 includes device-side detection terminal pins 235 that are connected to the detection terminal pins 234 of the mobile personal computer 210. The cradle 220 grounds (GND) the device side detection terminal pin 235 inside the cradle 220. The cradle 220 connects the cradle circuit 225 and an AC cord 226 connected to an external commercial power source.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-46670 JP 2012-222858 A

  By the way, the state detection device of the external device is required to be able to suppress the corrosion of the terminal more, and it is sufficient to apply the device having the configuration for suppressing the corrosion of the terminal in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Instead, there is a need for a terminal that can suppress corrosion of the terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and an object of the present invention is to provide an external device state detection device that can further suppress the progress of electrochemical corrosion at a terminal.

  The external device state detection device of the present invention includes a first terminal that is electrically connected to one connection terminal of an external device having a pair of connection terminals, and a first terminal that is electrically connected to the other connection terminal of the external device. Two terminals, a connector for housing at least the first terminal and the second terminal, a predetermined potential applied to the first terminal only for a predetermined time, and the first terminal except for the predetermined time A potential control circuit unit for setting the potential to a reference potential, and a potential for measuring the potential of the second terminal only during a time period corresponding to the predetermined time period with the potential of the second terminal as a reference potential except during the predetermined time period. A measurement circuit unit, and based on the potential of the second terminal measured by the potential measurement circuit unit, it is determined whether the pair of connection terminals of the external device is non-conductive or conductive, and Features detecting state To.

  In the external device state detection device of the present invention, the progress of electrochemical corrosion at the terminal can be further suppressed.

It is a typical circuit diagram which shows the state detection apparatus of the external device of this embodiment. It is a timing chart explaining operation | movement of the state detection apparatus of the external device of this embodiment. It is a schematic circuit diagram which shows the state detection apparatus of the external device of this embodiment, and a comparison state detection apparatus. It is a block diagram of the conventional cordless telephone apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the conventional mobile personal computer and a cradle.

  Below, the state detection apparatus 10 of the external apparatus 20 of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. 1 and FIG.

  The state detection device 10 is capable of detecting the state of the external device 20 that is electrically connected to the state detection device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the state detection device 10 includes a first terminal 1 that is electrically connected to one connection terminal 21 of the external device 20 having a pair of connection terminals 21 and 22, and the other connection of the external device 20. A second terminal 2 electrically connected to the terminal 22 is provided. The state detection device 10 of the external device 20 stores at least the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2 in a housing (not shown) of the connector 11 for connection. The state detection apparatus 10 includes a potential control circuit unit 3 that applies a predetermined potential to the first terminal 1 only for a predetermined time and sets the potential of the first terminal 1 to a reference potential except during the predetermined time. The state detection apparatus 10 includes a potential measurement circuit unit 4 that measures the potential of the second terminal 2 only during a time period corresponding to a predetermined time period using the potential of the second terminal 2 as a reference potential except during a predetermined time period. . The state detection device 10 determines whether the connection between the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 of the external device 20 is non-conductive or conductive based on the potential of the second terminal 2 measured by the potential measurement circuit unit 4. Detect state.

  Thereby, the state detection device 10 of the external device 20 according to the present embodiment can further suppress the progress of electrochemical corrosion at the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2.

  First, the state detection device 30 to be compared with the state detection device 10 of the external device 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The state detection device 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 is provided separately from the external device 20. The state detection device 30 can detect the operation state, failure, abnormal state, and the like of the external device 20. The external device 20 is electrically connected to various mobile devices such as a charging device for charging a secondary battery built in a portable device such as an interphone handset or a telephone, a mobile phone, and a mobile personal computer to communicate data. Examples include a communication device to perform, a data measuring device capable of capturing measurement data from various measuring devices, and the like. The external device 20 may be, for example, a portable device such as an interphone handset or a telephone, or various mobile devices such as a mobile phone or a mobile personal computer. The external device 20 only needs to be configured to output the state of the external device 20 to the outside via the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22.

  The external device 20 includes, for example, a switch circuit 23 provided between the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 and a control circuit unit (not shown) that controls the switching operation of the switch circuit 23. can do. The external device 20 includes a connector connector housing (not shown) that houses the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22.

  The external device 20 is configured so that the switch circuit 23 is always turned off so that the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 can be in a non-conductive state. In the external device 20, for example, when a specific function of the external device 20 becomes abnormal, the control circuit unit turns on the switch circuit 23 to make the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 conductive. The external device 20 can detect the state of the external device 20 from the outside by detecting the conductive state and the non-conductive state between the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 from the outside. Further, for example, when the external device 20 is various measuring devices, the external device 20 outputs measurement data measured by the external device 20 to the state detection device 30 side via a pair of connection terminals 21 and 22. can do. When the external device 20 outputs measurement data, the control circuit unit may turn on the switch circuit 23. For example, in the case of a portable device including a secondary battery, the external device 20 is configured to send an electrical signal indicating the remaining battery level of the secondary battery built in the external device 20 via a pair of connection terminals 21 and 22. It can be set as the structure output to 30 side.

  In FIG. 3, the state on the external device 20 side described above is illustrated by the switching operation of the switch circuit 23. In FIG. 3, the external device 20 schematically shows a non-conduction state between the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 by turning off the switch circuit 23. When the external device 20 is in a conductive state between the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22, the switch circuit 23 is turned on. When the external device 20 is brought into a predetermined state by the control circuit unit of the external device 20, the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 are brought into conduction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the state detection device 30 includes a first terminal 31 connected to one connection terminal 21 of the external device 20 having a pair of connection terminals 21 and 22, and a first connection connected to the other connection terminal 22. 2 terminals 32. The state detection device 30 includes a potential measurement circuit unit 34 that can measure the potential of the second terminal 32. The potential measurement circuit unit 34 includes, for example, a resistor 34f. One end of the resistor 34f is electrically connected to the reference power supply side to be a high potential, and the other end of the resistor 34f is electrically connected to the second terminal 32. Connected. In the state detection device 30, the other end of the resistor 34f is electrically connected to the input end 34e of the microcomputer. In the state detection device 30, the first terminal 31 connected to one connection terminal 21 of the external device 20 is grounded to the ground via a resistor 34g. The potential measurement circuit unit 34 is configured so that the potential on the second terminal 32 side can be input to the microcomputer. In the potential measurement circuit unit 34, a current flows through the second terminal 32 when the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is in an on state. The central processing unit of the microcomputer can detect a signal corresponding to the state of the second terminal 32 by an appropriate program.

  In other words, the state detection device 30 of the external device 20 always measures the potential on the second terminal 32 side. In the state detection device 30, it is possible to determine whether the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 of the external device 20 is non-conductive or conductive based on the potential on the second terminal 32 side measured by the potential measurement circuit unit 34. . The state detection device 30 determines whether the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is on or off by detecting whether the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 is non-conductive or conductive. be able to.

  By the way, in the state detection device 30, when water or the like adheres between the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32, the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32 are oxidized and electrochemically corroded. . Further, since the state detection device 30 detects the state of the external device 20, a potential difference is always generated between the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32. In the state detection device 30, when water or the like adheres between the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32, if there is a potential difference between the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32, Compared with the case where there is no potential difference, the progress of corrosion of the first terminal 31 and the second terminal 32 tends to increase rapidly.

  In the state detection device 10 of the external device 20 of the present embodiment, in order to suppress the progress of electrochemical corrosion of the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2 in the state detection device 10 while detecting the state of the external device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, a potential control circuit unit 3 and a potential measurement circuit unit 4 are provided.

  Hereinafter, the state detection device 10 of the external device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

  The external device 20 has the same configuration as that connected to the state detection device 30 described above. The state detection device 10 includes a potential control circuit unit 3 that applies a predetermined potential to the first terminal 1 only for a predetermined time and short-circuits the potential of the first terminal 1 to a reference potential except during the predetermined time. The potential control circuit unit 3 can be configured to include, for example, a first transistor 3a that is an npn-type bipolar transistor. The potential control circuit unit 3 is not limited to the first transistor 3a configured by a bipolar transistor, and may be configured using a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) or the like. The potential control circuit unit 3 connects the collector electrode of the first transistor 3a to the reference power supply side. The potential control circuit unit 3 electrically connects the first terminal 1 to a connection point between the collector electrode of the first transistor 3a and the resistor 3b. The potential control circuit unit 3 electrically connects the base electrode of the first transistor 3a and the emitter electrode of the first transistor 3a via the resistor 3c. The potential control circuit unit 3 electrically connects the emitter electrode of the first transistor 3a to the ground. The potential control circuit unit 3 electrically connects the base electrode of the transistor 3a and the output terminal 3e of the microcomputer (not shown) via the resistor 3d. In the potential control circuit unit 3, the operation of the first transistor 3a can be controlled by a control signal from the output terminal 3e of the microcomputer. Note that the microcomputer can include a central processing unit that is driven by an appropriate program. The microcomputer is configured to output a control signal so that the first transistor 3a can be turned on for a predetermined time.

  Further, the potential measurement circuit unit 4 can be configured to include, for example, a second transistor 4a that is a pnp bipolar transistor. The potential measurement circuit unit 4 is not limited to the one in which the second transistor 4a is configured by a bipolar transistor, and may be configured by using a MOSFET or the like. The potential measuring circuit unit 4 connects the emitter electrode of the second transistor 4a to the reference power supply side so as to have a high potential. The potential measurement circuit unit 4 electrically connects the base electrode of the second transistor 4a and the emitter electrode of the second transistor 4a via a resistor 4b. The potential measurement circuit unit 4 electrically connects the base electrode of the second transistor 4a and the second terminal 2 via the resistor 4c. The potential measurement circuit unit 4 connects the collector electrode of the second transistor 4a to the ground via the resistor 4d. The potential measuring circuit unit 4 electrically connects the connection point between the collector electrode of the second transistor 4a and the resistor 4d to the input terminal 4e of the microcomputer. The potential measurement circuit unit 4 inputs the voltage of the collector electrode of the second transistor 4a to the microcomputer. In the potential measurement circuit unit 4, when the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is in the on state, the second transistor 4a is turned on. The microcomputer inputs the voltage of the emitter electrode of the second transistor 4a to the input terminal 4e of the microcomputer in synchronization with a predetermined time in the potential control circuit unit 3 by an appropriate program. The microcomputer can detect a signal corresponding to the state of the second terminal 2 by performing arithmetic processing on the voltage input to the input terminal 4e.

  In other words, the state detection device 10 measures the potential of the second terminal 2 only in a corresponding time period during a predetermined time when the first terminal 1 is connected to the ground. In the state detection device 10, the potential measurement circuit unit 4 short-circuits the second terminal 2 to the reference potential except during a predetermined time. The state detection device 10 determines whether the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 of the external device 20 is non-conductive or conductive based on the potential of the second terminal 2 measured by the potential measurement circuit unit 4. The state detection device 10 determines whether the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is in an on state or an off state by detecting whether the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 is non-conductive or conductive. be able to. In addition, when the external device 20 outputs a signal representing the state of the external device 20 to the connection terminals 21 and 22, the state detection device 10 determines the state of the external device 20 based on the potential of the second terminal 2 according to the signal. Can also be detected. In order to detect the state of the external device 20, the state detection device 10 of the external device 20 according to the present embodiment sets a limit on the potential application time applied between the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2, and other than that The time zone is set to the ground potential. The state detection device 10 places a limit on the potential application time applied between the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2, and sets the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2 to the same potential during other time periods. This prevents the electrochemical corrosion from proceeding to the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2 when the external device 20 is not connected.

  In the state detection device 10, the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2 are housed in the housing of the connection connector 11 that is electrically connected to the external device 20 having the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22. The connection connector 11 may be any connector that can be connected to the external device 20, and various connectors such as a round connector and a square connector can be used. The connector 11 for connection is provided with a terminal pin corresponding to the connection terminal of the external device 20 so that it can be electrically connected to the connection terminal of the external device 20 separately if the connection terminal of the external device 20 is three or more. Just do it. The state detection device 10 can use various materials as the terminal material of the first terminal 1. For example, a material obtained by applying nickel plating to a metal material such as copper can be used. The first terminal 1 is not limited to a terminal material of the first terminal 1, but is not limited to a metal material such as copper plated with nickel, and various materials such as iron-containing copper can be used. The state detection device 10 can use various materials as the terminal material of the second terminal 2. For example, a material obtained by performing nickel plating on a metal material such as copper can be used. The second terminal 2 is not limited to a terminal material of the second terminal 2, but is not limited to a metal material such as copper plated with nickel, and various materials such as iron-containing copper can be used. The same material as the 1st terminal 1 may be used for the 2nd terminal 2, and a different material may be used for it.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the state detection device 10 of the external device 20 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the state detection device 10, the first terminal 1 is electrically connected to the reference power supply side by the potential control circuit unit 3 to have a high potential. In FIG. 2, a state where the potential of the first terminal 1 is high is indicated by “Hi”. In the state detection device 10, the potential control circuit unit 3 applies a predetermined potential to the first terminal 1 only for a predetermined time at predetermined time intervals as a predetermined period, and the first terminal 1 is not connected during the predetermined time. The potential is set to the reference potential. In the state detection device 10, in FIG. 2, the potential of the first terminal 1 is in the “Low” state by setting a predetermined period from time t1 to time t2 as a reference potential. Similarly, the state detection device 10 uses the predetermined period from time t4 to time t5 as a reference potential, so that the potential of the first terminal 1 is in the “Low” state. In the state detection device 10, the potential of the first terminal 1 is in the “Low” state by setting a predetermined period from time t <b> 6 to time t <b> 7 as the reference potential. In the state detection device 10, the potential of the first terminal 1 is in the “Low” state by setting a predetermined period from time t9 to time t10 as the reference potential. The state detection device 10 sets the times t1, t4, t6, and t9 to the same time period.

  In FIG. 2, at time t3, the switch device 23 in the external device 20 is switched from the on state to the off state. The external device 20 is in a state where the state of the external device 20 can be detected from the outside via the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 at time t3. In FIG. 2, the switch device 23 in the external device 20 is switched from the on state to the off state at time t8. The external device 20 is in a state of stopping detecting the state of the external device 20 from the outside via the pair of connection terminals 21 and 22 at time t8.

  In the state detection device 10, the potential measurement circuit unit 4 measures the potential of the second terminal 2 in synchronization with the time when the potential of the first terminal 1 becomes “Low”. In the state detection device 10, even if the potential measurement circuit unit 4 measures the potential of the second terminal 2 in synchronization between the time t 1 and the time t 2 when the potential of the first terminal 1 becomes “Low”, Since the output of the device 20 is in the off state, the second terminal 2 maintains the “Hi” state. On the other hand, in the state detection apparatus 10, the potential measurement circuit unit 4 measures the potential of the second terminal 2 in synchronization between time t4 and time t5 when the potential of the first terminal 1 becomes “Low”. For example, since the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is in the ON state, the second terminal 2 is “Low”. Similarly, in the state detection device 10, if the potential measurement circuit unit 4 measures the potential of the second terminal 2 in synchronization between time t <b> 6 and time t <b> 7 when the potential of the first terminal 1 becomes “Low”. Since the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is in the on state, the second terminal 2 is “Low”. In addition, the state detection device 10 is configured so that the potential measurement circuit unit 4 measures the potential of the second terminal 2 in synchronization between the time t9 and the time t10 when the potential of the first terminal 1 becomes “Low”. Since the switch circuit 23 of the external device 20 is switched to the off state, the second terminal 2 maintains the “Hi” state.

  In the state detection device 10, since the potential of the first terminal 1 and the potential of the second terminal 2 are the same potential in the “Hi” state, it is based on the potential difference between the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2. It is possible to suppress the progress of the electrochemical corrosion.

  In the state detection apparatus 10, the frequency and pulse width of the control signal output from the microcomputer can be adjusted as appropriate. Therefore, in the state detection device 10, the predetermined time is preferably set to the minimum time that can be detected by the central processing unit in order to suppress current consumption when the state detection device 10 is a portable device driven by a battery. For example, when the state detection device 10 is a portable device that is driven by a battery, the state detection device 10 can have a predetermined time of several milliseconds. The state detection device 10 can appropriately set the predetermined time according to the output interval of the external device 20 and the degree of suppression of corrosion of the first terminal 1 and the second terminal 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st terminal 2 2nd terminal 3 Potential control circuit part 4 Potential measurement circuit part 10 State detection apparatus of external apparatus 11 Connector for connection 20 External apparatus 21, 22 Connection terminal

Claims (1)

A first terminal electrically connected to one connection terminal of an external device having a pair of connection terminals; a second terminal electrically connected to the other connection terminal of the external device; at least the first terminal; A connector for housing the second terminal, and a potential control circuit unit that applies a predetermined potential only to the first terminal for a predetermined time and sets the potential of the first terminal to a reference potential except for the predetermined time; A potential measurement circuit unit that measures the potential of the second terminal only during a time period corresponding to the predetermined time period, with the potential of the second terminal as a reference potential other than during the predetermined time period,
Based on the potential of the second terminal measured by the potential measuring circuit unit, the state of the external device is detected by determining whether the pair of connection terminals of the external device is non-conductive or conductive. An external device status detection device.

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